Tips to Increase Your Self-Esteem and Confidence

Whenever one is beset by a situation that he or she is unsure of – facing someone admired, having to perform in front of an audience, or simply talking to others – he or she is facing a goodly amount of stress. Confident people are usually able to face these situations without blinking; but the rest of us will probably melt away and try to run away from the situation.

For most people facing this kind of low self-esteem, these situations present an opportunity for them to make fools out of themselves. This is a very embarrassing prospect.

If you are one of the millions of people that would like to stop fidgeting in front of others, trying to squirrel out of such situations, and being so unsure of yourself when facing presentations, here are a few tips to set you on your way.

1. Competence is Confidence - Some organizations, like the Toastmasters, help those afraid to speak in public toughen up by stressing this credo – and it really works. One secret to confidence and self-esteem is to be able to trust what you are able to do. This comes with a lot of practice and study. Whenever you practice a given skill, you increase your own confidence in your capability to perform even in front of other people.

Before a big presentation, study up. Try to know everything about the topic before you step in front of the audience. If you have practiced way before the presentation, you will be in a better position to knock their socks off.

Practicing in front of supportive people you trust will help you get feedback on how to improve your performance.

2. Believe in Yourself - One of the reasons people are not confident in themselves is the fact that they are already convinced that they will fail even before anything happens. Never underestimate the power of the mind. If you believe you will fail, you indeed will! A better exercise would to be to believe that you can succeed. Set your mind towards succeeding and you probably will!

3. Take Criticisms, whether Good or Bad - Most people are bad at taking criticisms. Instead of taking the criticisms personally, use every comment and suggestion to make yourself better. However, you will also have to look out for some criticisms that were never meant to benefit you. Ignore them and move on.

4. Remain Calm at All Costs - Panicking never benefited anybody. If you are suddenly in a situation where you are unsure of what to do or what will happen, keep your composure. If you don't know the answer, say so calmly. If you do not know what to do, it would not be bad to admit it. However, beneath your cool façade, always try to keep a deliberate, quick thinking, demeanor. This itself could take a lot of practice, but it is well worth it.

5. Don't be Afraid to Fail - Many people are afraid to fail; they quit trying because they are not confident in their skills. If you are afraid to try, you will get stuck where you are. Failure can only make you better. Remember that every great man took risks and failed a lot before arriving at greatness.

6. Don't Base Your Confidence on What People Think Of You - While other’s opinion of you can be important, it should not sway you from thinking that you are important. They do not know you better than you do. If you free yourself from the shackles of peer opinion, you will be free to try new things and learn new skills. It does not matter if they think you cannot accomplish anything – take whatever good that can be gleaned from their advice and move on.

Thomas Bekkar
www.self-confidence-secrets.com

Knowledege VS. Knowing

More and more I am reminded that there is a big difference between "knowledge" and "knowing." There is a major difference between reading a book and "living" the book.

Another common misnomer is that "knowledge is power."

Once again, untrue. Knowledge is nothing more than organized information—organized information will do nothing for you in and of itself. How many know what to do and yet…they don’t do anything with what they know?

Knowledge is an intellectual process—Knowing is a spiritual/emotional process. Knowledge comes from acquiring information—Knowing comes from ownership.
How can you and I continually move from knowledge to knowing—from education to ownership?…Ownership comes from 3 keys:

Study—Application—Repetition!

via Message From The Masters

26 quick tips for living an inspired life

Ask for what you want.

Be who you say you are.

Care about others.

Dare to live your dreams.

Ease through the day.

Find the best fit.

Give to another.

Hug a friend.

Inspire someone to greatness.

Jump over a boundary.

Kick a bad habit.

Leap across a fear.

Mention something uplifting.

Never say never.

Open your mind and heart.

Pursue your innermost passions.

Quit complaining.

Restore your smile.

Set your sights high.

Trust yourself.

Use all the day.

Value everything.

Wait until it feels right.

Xpress yourself.

Yank weeds from your mental garden.

Zoom into the now.

Don't Give Up

When things go wrong, as they sometimes will,When the road you're trudging seems all uphill,When the funds are low and the debts are high,And you want to smile but you have to sigh,When care is pressing you down a bit—Rest if you must, but don't you quit.

Life is odd with its twists and turns,As everyone sometimes learns.And many a person turns aboutWhen an individual might have won had he or she stuck it out.Don't give up though the pace seems slow—You may succeed with yet another blow.

Often the goal is nearer than it seemsTo a faint and faltering woman or man;Often the struggler has given upWhen he or she might have captured the victor's cup;And one learned too late when the night came down,How close he or she was to the golden crown.

Success is failure turned inside out—The silver tint of the clouds of doubt,And when you never can tell how close you are,It may be near when it seems afar;So stick to the fight when you're hardest hit—It's when things seem worst, you mustn't quit.

7 Keys To Better Relationships

Would you like to enhance the quality of your life and increase your personal happiness? If you answered "yes," the information in this article could change your life!

Isn't it easy to get stuck in the everydayness of life? We can get so busy making a living and getting ahead financially that the really important things fall through the cracks!
That can happen to all of us. However, when people come to the end of their lives, they don't wish they had spent more time making money. When all is said and done, we want our family and friends to be with us then!

So let's try to focus on developing better relationships instead of acquiring more things. Think of your circle of family and friends as a lovely garden to water and cultivate. The book of Proverbs teaches this crucial truth: "A man that has friends must show himself friendly" (Proverbs 18:24).

Here are 7 keys that will help your relationships to bloom:

1. Spend time with your friends and loved ones.
Although this is obvious, we need to intentionally set aside time in our schedules for them no matter how busy we think we are. Put appointments with friends and family into your day timer or palm pilot. If you don't do this, you may forget and months and even years can go by without seeing these special people. The sad fact is that those relationships can dry up and wither away from neglect. Many marriages fail for just this reason. People are often too busy to spend enough time with each other and one or both of the partners can't take the neglect. If you want your relationships to bloom, you have to water them with quality time. How long would a rose garden be lush and beautiful if no one watered it for days without end?

2. Genuinely appreciate the special people in your life.
Tell them how much they mean to you. Mention their good qualities and how special they are. For example, if you need to correct your children's behavior, be sure to spend twice as much time appreciating their positive qualities than reprimanding their negative ones.

3. Learn to say, "I was wrong. Please forgive me."
This will do wonders for your relationships. Humility is a beautiful quality in any person. Someone who thinks he or she is always right can be impossible to live with. If your habitual attitude is "I'm ALWAYS right," that's a poisonous plant that will spread and ruin your entire garden. Apologizing and asking for forgiveness when we've done something wrong does not degrade us. Instead it shows that we are growing up.

4. Be quick to forgive and don't hold grudges.
Bury the past. Bitterness never helped anyone. It only hurts the bitter person. Don't let the aggressive weeds of unforgiveness spoil your garden. Try not to crush tender relationship plants by being harsh and unforgiving.

5. Learn to say "thank you" a lot.
Everyone loves to be appreciated for what he or she has done instead of being taken for granted. You may be thrilled by the vibrant blossoms of encouragement that will result from taking time to say "thank you."

6. Listen more than you talk.
In a game of tennis it would be very strange for one of the players to bounce the ball up and down on his or her side instead of hitting the ball back to the other player. The same could be said for the game of ping pong. These games teach a powerful lesson. If you are always talking and other people don't have a chance to get a word in edgewise, you won't be very popular for long.

7. Go out of your way to help others in practical ways.
If a friend is in the hospital, go visit him. If a neighbor is going through a difficult financial time, bring groceries over to help tide him or her through the crisis.
If you follow these simple but powerful suggestions for nurturing your relationships, you yourself will also reap benefits in the form of increased happiness, pep and vitality. That's because our relationships are far more important to our wellbeing than how much money we make or how well we're doing climbing the corporate ladder.

Why not take a personal inventory of your life today? Put these suggestions into practice and become more effective in cultivating your special relationships.
Happy gardening!

Top Ten Ways to Achieve your Goals

1) Write them down! Statistics show people who write down their goals have over an 80% higher success rate of achieving them. Start a Goals journal. Make sure they are SMART goals- specific, measurable, achievable, results-oriented and time-limited.

2) Create a plan made of small doable steps to get you where you want to be, with timelines. Review your plan monthly.

3) Write down your compelling reason for wanting the goal. Write it with passion, with feeling, with energy.

4) Create 3 to 5 believable positive power statements that will keep you on track. Make them juicy enough to excite you and keep you motivated. Use the present tense.

5) Visualize what it is like having achieved your goal- what it feels, tastes, smells, sounds and looks like. Revel in it!

6) Start a daily routine. Each morning review your goals, your compelling reasons and say aloud your powerful positive statements. Visualize your goal already obtained. Write out one step you can take today to achieve your goal. Then do it! No excuses- make your goal a priority! Repeat your power statements throughout the day.

7) Replace negative self-talk and beliefs with self-affirming ones. Know that you are the creator of your thoughts and beliefs, and choose ones that are life-enhancing rather than limiting.

8) Journal daily- your thoughts, emotions, barriers, possible solutions and alternatives, your daily successes, your gratitudes.

9) Enlist support to keep you accountable! Find a buddy, join a group, hire a coach. Make sure your buddy is in tune with your goal, and will support you in a positive way.

10) Celebrate your successes! Set up small milestones in your journey, and when you reach them, celebrate!

Top 10 Super Job Interview Tips

Use these interview tips for job hunting success!
It’s a tough job market out there today. And getting the job you want requires more than just a killer resume. In other words, you can’t just sell yourself on paper. You’ve also got to be able to do it in person-in a face-to-face job interview.
Here are a few interview tips to help you make a great impression on the person who interviews you.

1. Market your skills and related experience in the field that you are applying for. Be sure to do it in a way that is positive, but not cocky or aggressive.
2. Research the company before your interview. It’s a great way to know where you would fit into the organization. It also lets the employer know that you really want to be a part of the company.

3. Prepare answers to common interview questions ahead of time, and practice saying them, so you aren’t stumped during the interview.

4. Dress for success, in the manner you would dress for the position you’re seeking.
5. Bring a list of your own questions with you in a folder with the company’s name on it, so that you don’t forget them. You should keep your extra resumes in there too.

6. Be a good listener and focus. Some job seekers talk too much during interviews.

7. Be prepared to describe your weaknesses as strengths. For example, saying that you are overenthusiastic about performing at your best.

8. Make eye contact with your interviewer.

9. Don’t volunteer your personal opinions to your interviewer about any subjects unless you are asked.

10. Try to establish a good rapport with your interviewer. Be casual but professional, and most importantly BE YOURSELF! Take the time to implement these interview tips before your next job hunt. It'll give you a leg up on your competition!

About The Author
Kathi MacNaughton, a freelance writer and editor, has years of management and recruitment experience. For tips & advice on writing powerful resumes, see http://www.powerful-sample-resume-formats.com.
Copyright 2004 Kathi MacNaughton. All rights reserved

Three Little Words

Three little words can make a difference in one's life. There are many things that we can do to perk up and strengthen our interpersonal relationships. Yet the most effective involves the saying of just three words.

When spoken or conveyed, these statements have the power to forge new friendships, deepen old ones and restore relationships that have cooled. Thefollowing three-word phrases can enrich every relationship.

I'll Be There: If you have ever had to call a friend in the middle of the night, to take a sick child to hospital, or when your car has broken down some miles from home, you will know how good it feels to hear the phrase "I'll be there." Being there for another person is the greatest gift we can give. When we are truly present for other people, important things happen to them and us. We are renewed in love and friendship. We are restored emotionally and spiritually. Being there is at the very core of civility.

I Miss You:Perhaps more marriages could be saved and strengthened if couples simply and sincerely said to each other "I miss you." This powerful affirmation tells partners they are wanted, needed, desired and loved. Consider how ecstatic you would feel, if you received an unexpected phone call from your spouse in the middle of your workday, just to say "I miss you."

I Respect You: Respect is another way of showing love. Respect conveys the feeling that another person is a true equal. If you talk to your children as if they were adults you will strengthen the bonds and become close friends. This applies to all inter-personal relationships.

Maybe You're Right: This phrase is highly effective in diffusion an argument and restoring frayed emotions. The flip side to "maybe your right" is the humility of admitting, "Maybe I'm wrong". Let's face it. When you have a heated argument with someone, all you do is cement the other person's point of view. They, or you, will not change their stance and you run the risk of seriously damaging the relationship between you. Saying "maybe you're right" can open the door to further explore the subject, in which you may then have the opportunity to get your view across in a more rational manner.

Please Forgive Me: Many broken relationships could be restored and healed if people would admit their mistakes and ask for forgiveness. All of us are vulnerable to faults, follies and failures. A man should never be ashamed to own up that he has been in the wrong, which is saying, in other words, that he is wiser today than he was yesterday.

I Thank You: Gratitude is an exquisite form of courtesy. People who enjoy the companionship of good, close friends are those who don't take daily courtesies for granted. They are quick to thank their friends for their many expressions of kindness. On the other hand, people whose circle of friends is severely constricted often do not have the attitude of gratitude.

Count On Me: A friend is one who walks in when others walk out. Loyalty is an essential ingredient for true friendship; it is the emotional glue that bonds people. Those that are rich in their relationships tend to be steady and true friends. When troubles come, a good friend is there indicating you can "count on me."

Let Me Help: The best of friends see a need and try to fill it. When they spot a hurt they do what they can to heal it. Without being asked, they pitch in and help.

I Understand You: People become closer and enjoy each other more if they feel the other person accepts and understands them. Letting your spouse know in so many little ways that you understand them, is one of the most powerful tools for healing your relationship. This applies to any relationship.

I Love You: Perhaps the most important three words that you can say. Telling someone that you truly love them satisfies a person's deepest emotional needs; the need to belong, to feel appreciated and to be wanted. Your family, your friends and you, all need to hear those three little words. "I love you."

God Bless You!

Moses

Remove Limiting Beliefs

Our beliefs are never neutral. Thy either hold us back or move us forward, but what many of us forget, is that we choose what we believe.
Your attitudes and beliefs determine your thoughts and feelings and logically from that, you make choices and decisions. For example, if your dream is to grow your business and you don't believe it's possible, you may have thoughts such as, "it's going to be too difficult," or you may feel overwhelmed by the idea. If you follow that thinking, chances are high that you will give up before you fully explore the possibilities around this dream.

On the other hand, if you believe in yourself and therefore believe in your dreams, you are more likely to realize how much you want this dream and will be more likely to act on it. A positive belief will support you while a negative belief may destroy you; or at least your dream.
The most detrimental beliefs are what I call the "The Three Human Being Biggies." The first one is scarcity and translates to thoughts or comments such as, "I don't have enough time, money or energy." The second has to do with inadequacy and sounds like, "I'm not (blank) enough." The most common fill-ins include: "I'm not: old enough, young enough, rich enough, or smart enough." Finally, the belief that can be most destructive to your dreams is not trusting. If you don't trust yourself, life or the "grand plan", it can be challenging to even have dreams, much less pursue them.

How do you change from a limiting belief (that holds you back) to an empowering belief (that can catapult you forward or set you free)? I can answer that in one word. Choice. I will repeat; we choose what we believe and if we don't manage our mind and pay attention to what we are thinking, what we often get by default, are old limiting beliefs.
Choosing an empowering belief that will support you over a limiting belief that may sabotage you makes sense, but it can feel like a leap of faith that's just too big to take. If that's the case try this approach. The way to shift is through willingness, courage and practice. Be willing to choose a new positive belief. Demonstrate your courage by acting on that new belief and then practice doing it over and over again until it changes from a negative belief to a positive belief, and ultimately to a transparent belief. This means it no longer exists and is not even on your radar. It's gone!

Can it be this easy? If you believe it can be and are willing to give it a shot, then yes. And why should you believe it? How about because it matters to you. Can you believe in something simply for this reason and then prove that you really do believe in it, that you truly do have faith, by acting on it? This is where miracles and transformation occur.

Using Positive Affirmations

Using positive affirmations is a proven technique that works miracles in many lives. Ideally, you should look yourself in the eye as you make these positive affirmations. Don't be shy; go ahead and get started! Repeat the following statements to yourself every Monday morning to get your day and week off to a great start: I clearly understand that failure is an event, not a person; that yesterday really did end last night; and that success isn't final and failure isn't fatal because I only fail if I quit. I have the courage to admit a mistake and to say that I was wrong. I have vision in my life, which means that I see not only with my eyes but also with my heart. I have 525,600 minutes in every year of my life, and I utilize them well to maximize my ability. I am successful because I believe that to be truly educated, I must be mentored--either in business or in my personal life, by reading or by association--by superior minds with greater skills and mature spirits. I discipline myself to do the things that I need to do when I need to do them, because I know that doing them will enable me someday to do the things I want to do when I want to do them. I clearly understand that if I develop yearning power and apply learning power, I will increase my earning power. I am successful because I don't confuse activity with accomplishment. I know that I can't make it in life as a wandering generality, so I am a meaningful specific. I am successful in all areas of my life because I have a great sense of humor and the ability to laugh at myself. I am like an eraser. I recognize my mistakes, I learn from my mistakes, and then I erase those mistakes from my memory. I move forward in my life every day, even if it's only a tiny step, because I know that great things are accomplished with tiny moves, but nothing is accomplished by standing still. . . . Adapted from SUCCESS FOR DUMMIES by Zig Ziglar.

Believe In Yourself And Your Dreams Will Come True

Know what you can and want to do in life.
Set goals for yourself and work hard to achieve them.
Strive to have fun every day.
Use your creativity as a means of expressing your feelings.
Be sensitive in viewing the world.
Develop a sense of confidence.
Be honest with yourself and with others.
Follow your heart and adhere to your own truths.
Know that the more you give the more you will receive.
Believe in yourself and your dreams will come true.
~ Susan Polis Schutz ~

Sixteen Things That it Took Me 26 Years to Learn

You will never find anybody who can give you a clear and compelling reason why we observe day-light-savings time.

You should never say anything to a woman that even remotely suggests you think she’s pregnant unless you can see an actual baby emerging from her at that moment.

The most powerful force in the universe is gossip.
The one thing that unites all human beings, regardless of age, gender, religion, economic status or ethnic background, is that, deep down inside we ALL believe that we are above-average drivers.

There comes a time when you should stop expecting other people to make a big deal about your birthday. That time is age 111.
There is a very fine line between “hobby” and “mental illness.”

People who want to share their religious views with you almost never want you to share yours with them.
If you had to identify, in one word, the reason why the human race has not achieved, and never will achieve, its full potential, that word would be “meetings.”

The main accomplishment of almost all organized protests is to annoy people who are not in them.

If there really is a God who created the entire universe with all of its glories, and He decides to deliver a message to humanity, He will NOT use, as His messenger, a person on cable TV with a bad hairstyle.

You should not confuse your career with your life.
A person who is nice to you, but rude to the waiter, is not a nice person.
No matter what happens, somebody will find a way to take it too seriously.

When trouble arises and things look bad, there is always one individual who perceives a solution and is willing to take command. Very often, that individual is crazy.

Your friends love you, anyway.
Nobody cares if you can’t dance well. Just get up and do it.

When things go wrong, as they sometimes will,When the road you're trudging seems all uphill,When the funds are low and the debts are high,And you want to smile but you have to sigh,When care is pressing you down a bit—Rest if you must, but don't you quit.

Life is odd with its twists and turns,As everyone sometimes learns.And many a person turns aboutWhen an individual might have wonhad he or she stuck it out.Don't give up though the pace seems slow—You may succeed with yet another blow.

Often the goal is nearer than it seemsTo a faint and faltering woman or man;Often the struggler has given upWhen he or she might have captured the victor's cup;And one learned too late when the night came down,How close he or she was to the golden crown.

Success is failure turned inside out—The silver tint of the clouds of doubt,And when you never can tell how close you are,It may be near when it seems afar;So stick to the fight when you're hardest hit—It's when things seem worst, you mustn't quit.

Just P.U.S.H!

When everything seems to go wrong, just P.U.S.H.!

When the job gets you down, just P.U.S.H.!

When people don't react the way you think they should, just P.U.S.H.!

When your money looks funny and the bills are due, just P.U.S.H.!

When you want to curse them out for whatever the reason, just P.U.S.H.!

When you ask the question, when is my ship coming in? (as I often do), just P.U.S.H.!

When people just don't understand you, just P.U.S.H.!

Not to continue on and on… let me tell you what P.U.S.H. stands for.
Pray until something happen!

God Bless!

If you are wise

If you are wise, you will forget yourself into greatness.
Forget your rights, but remember your responsibilities. Forget your inconveniences, but remember your blessings. Forget your own accomplishments, but remember your debts to others. Forget your privileges, but remember your obligations. Follow the examples of Florence Nightingale, of Albert Schweitzer, of Abraham Lincoln, of Tom Dooley, and forget yourself into greatness.

If you are wise, you will empty yourself into adventure.
Remember the words of General Douglas MacArthur: "There is no security on this earth. There is only opportunity." Empty your days of the search for security; fill them with a passion for service. Empty your hours of the ambition for recognition; fill them with the aspiration for achievement. Empty your moments of the need for entertainment; fill them with the quest for creativity.

If you are wise, you will lose yourself into immortality.
Lose your cynicism. Lose your doubts. Lose your fears. Lose your anxiety. Lose your unbelief. Remember these truths: A person must soon forget himself to be long remembered. He must empty himself in order to discover a fuller self. He must lose himself to find himself. Forget yourself into greatness. Empty yourself into adventure. Lose yourself into immortality.

Excellence

Excellence is never an accident. It is achieved only as a result of an unrelenting and vigorous insistence on the highest standards of performance. It requires an unswerving expectancy of quality from everyone.

Excellence is contagious. It infects and affects everyone. It charts the direction of a program. It establishes the criteria for planning. It provides zest and vitality. Once achieved, excellence has a talent for permeating every aspect of life.

Excellence demands commitment and a tenacious dedication. Once it is accepted and expected, it must be nourished and continually reviewed and renewed. It is a never-ending process of learning and growing. It requires a spirit of motivation and boundless energy. It is always the result of a creatively conceived and precisely planned effort.

Excellence inspires; it electrifies. It potentializes every phase of life. It unleashes an impact which influences every program, every activity, every person. To instill it is difficult; to sustain it, even more so. It demands imagination and vigor. But most of all, it requires a constant state of self-discovery and discipline.

Excellence is one's life-line. It is the most compelling answer to apathy and inertia. It energizes a stimulating and pulsating force. Once it becomes the expected standard of performance, it develops a fiercely driving and motivating philosophy of operation. Excellence is a state of mind put into action. It is a road-map to success. When a climate of excellence exists, all things come easier.

Excellence is important because it is everything.

God Bless!

Smart Goals

I really like this acronym S.M.A.R.T., because we want to be smart when we set our goals. We want to intelligently decide what our goals will be so that we can actually accomplish them. We want to set the goals that our heart conceives, that our mind believes and that our bodies will carry out. Let's take a closer look at each of the components of S.M.A.R.T. goals:

Specific: Goals are no place to waffle. They are no place to be vague. Ambiguous goals produce ambiguous results. Incomplete goals produce incomplete futures.

When we are specific, we harness the power of our dreams and set forces into action that empower us to achieve our goals. We then know exactly what it is we are shooting for. There is no question. As we establish our priorities and manage our time, we do so for a specific goal to achieve the results we expect. There is no wondering or guessing. The future is locked into our minds and we see it—specifically—and that is powerful! Never underestimate just how important it is to have very specific, concrete goals. They act as magnets that draw you toward them! A S.M.A.R.T. goal is specific.

Measurable: Always set goals that are measurable. I would say "specifically measurable" to take into account our principle of being specific as well. Our goals should be such that we know when we are advancing and by how much. Whether it is by hours, pounds, dollars or whatever, we should be able to see exactly how we are measuring up as we proceed through the journey of life using our goals. Could you imagine if you didn't measure your goals? You would never know which way you were going or even if you were going anywhere! A S.M.A.R.T. goal is measurable.

Attainable: One of the detrimental things that many people do—and they do it with good intentions—is to set goals that are so high they are unattainable. Yes, it is very important to set big goals that cause your heart to soar with excitement, but it is also imperative to make sure that they are attainable. In the next section we talk about being realistic. So what does it mean to be attainable? An attainable goal is one that is both realistic but also attainable in a shorter period of time than what you have to work with. Now when I say attainable, I don't mean easy. Our goals should be set so they are just out of our reach; so they will challenge us to grow as we reach forward to achieve them. After the next paragraph, I will give you an example of a goal that is both attainable and realistic. A S.M.A.R.T. goal is attainable.

Realistic: The root word of realistic is "real." A goal has to be something that we can reasonably make "real" or a "reality" in our lives. There are some goals that simply are not realistic. You have to be able to say, even if it is a tremendously stretching goal, that yes, indeed, it is entirely realistic—that you could make it. You may even have to say that it will take x, y, and z to do it, but if those happen, then it can be done. This is in no way to say it shouldn't be a big goal, but it must be realistic. This is to a great degree, up to the individual. For one person a goal may be realistic, but for another unrealistic. I would encourage you to be very honest with yourself as you do your planning and evaluation. Perhaps it would be good to get a friend to help you (as long as that friend is by nature an optimist and not a pessimist). This can go a long way toward helping you know what is realistic. A S.M.A.R.T. goal is realistic.

Time: Every goal should have a timeframe attached to it. I think that life itself is much more productive for us as humans because there is a timeframe connected to it. Could you imagine how much procrastination there would be on earth if people never died? We would never get "around to it." We could always put it off. One of the powerful aspects of a great goal is that it has an end, a time in which you are shooting to accomplish it. You start working on it because you know there is an end. As time goes by you work because you don't want to get behind. As it approaches, you work diligently because you want to meet the deadline. You may even have to break down a big goal into different measured parts time frames. That is okay. Set smaller goals and work them out in their own time. A S.M.A.R.T. goal has a timeline.

Be sure to spend some reflection time this week to make sure your goals fit the S.M.A.R.T. parameters. Go through the reflection questions below and the action points associated with them. Doing so will put a real engine in your goals and make them charged with power to help you accomplish your dreams.

My life Story

Looking back behind….I can still see the face of my closest friend how happy and excited he was but a
little bit hesitate in saying…really?!…You will treat me in the Jollibee?…I was then in a third year high
school, when God showed me His mercy and love in due time, the deepest confusion, inferiorities and
hardships of my life. I’m an ambitious young man and I have a lot of great dreams for my future. But how
could it be? It’s the same questioned that always lingering in my mind. I’m the product of a broken
family, grew up in the street, stayed with different and even with the cruel person in this world! It’s
good that was finished! The bitter memory of my childhood! And now, I’m renting in this lonely old
small room house with my own at least but working on a construction with P120.00 pesos salary per day paying for house rent, foods, and my studies. With this kind
of situation, I felt as if I’m still trapped in misery and strife but living with great hope and
determination to reach out even just a single of my dream, to finish my studies as a capital to have a
brighter future because I believe in sayings that goes like this, “just do your best and God will do the rest”.

One day, one of my closest friend approached me and said…friend, are you still working? Yes! I said…why? He answered …we have quiz today, please attend the class because if you will missed it then you know absolutely what happened, right? Remember your dreams that you told me! Was the warned word of my friend while leaving. Thanks so much friend, I will! I assured back to him. So I hurried up to finish my work, loading the truck with some cements and gravels. When I finished, I hurriedly headed toward my lonely home to make some quick preparations of my school things that I needed because the class will start at 1:30 p.m. and it was then 12:30 so at least I have one hour to prepare myself. While doing so, this closest friend of mine knock on my door, so we went to school together.

It was not yet time for the class to start, so we decided to pass by in the library. By there, my adviser saw and called me! Mr. Reconalla, can you go in my office? I have an urgent matter to discuss with you! I paused for a while to think and guess what were going to discuss and oh! What came in my mind just make me feel nervous and makes me a little bit sick! Because I was thinking that most of the cases likemine that the adviser talk privately with his/her students was when you’re a delinquent kind of students on academic, behavior or in any kind of poor performances and despite of that I felt very weak to think a positive one since I didn’t eat and rest well yet before I went here in school. Of course I don’t have any choice, with a heavy feet and heart, I followed and entered into my advisers’ office and there she was waiting patiently. I could hardly wait what she will going to tell me because before she opened her mouth to start, I could not almost hold the different emotions and feelings to the things she going to tell me. I can hear the tremendous pounding of my heartbeat. And at last! She started to talk. I understand what you feel right now my dear! She said, as she was reading the _expression in my face and as she was looking straight in the window of my soul….Oh! Thanks I said for minimizing and giving a little relief. You know, I have a better plan for you! I was aware of the situation you have through your friend and I observing you for so long in your class performance and I salute you! Its really hard for you to finish your schooling in high school with such kind of situation for its only few opportunities here to help you to support your needs than to college so I encourage you to take a Philippine Examination Placement Test by next week. I have confident with you that you can do it! She said, unaware of my informal education background. I did not passed through a step-by-step grade level from elementary and some of my cards were just faked by a merciful teachers to let me jumped to a higher grade and now here in high school with this third year level. And here I am, I could hardly believed, my teacher want me to jump again to college and she has confident on me!” Confident”, a words that I needed most to hear on that time for inferiorities succumbed me most of the time in my life!. Just prepare this so and so…. And I will help you to register when you have all the things that I said you would needed.

Some other things she was talking about was not clear anymore because of my excitement and happiness in replacement of my feelings I felt before I entered in the office. I thank God and my adviser for such good opportunity for me!. I really thanked God with great relief and with a deep sighedfor providing an instrument so that step by step I can fulfill my dreams. After our class, I shared it with my closest friend and he too was so very happy and excited with me because I told him that I’m going to treat him in Jollibee if I am able to pass this exam, so I let him pray for me. Of course my dear friend! He assured me! So we separated from each other with happiness and excited in our hearts. Night came and I was visited with various emotions in my heart and thought in mind that I could hardly sleep. What if I failed, what if I did not finish my studies… and so many, many what ifs’ questioned that entered in my mind again. Oh! My life maybe has really no direction and worthless after if I failed this good chance for me. So I bowed down and prayed hard to give me wisdom and strength to face another challenge of everyday life that would come especially the coming test that I am going to take!. After that, I slept peacefully with a lighter load of burden and cares of uncertainties of life!

A days before examination, I went to my sisters’ house to lent money that I would needed, and when I
arrived there she was so happy that I was able to visit her but when I told the real reason why visited
her she was a little bit disappointed but grant my request and gave me her last money in her pocket. She said luck for me and I immediately headed to my advisers house because she promised that she’s the one who will go to register me. So we went to the registration office and lo and behold! It was only one blank registration form left for me as if it was really waiting for me because if we were late a little bit or just a second then it might get by others and I need to wait another year or perhaps some other year again. My kind teacher and me were so very thankful to God with that miracle event I could say! Examination day came. Nervousness haunted me once again for I’m thinking that maybe I’m the oldest guy taking an exam there and can’t imagine I’m surrounded by young persons staring at me to let me feel embarrass and uncomfortable. So again, I prayed fervently to God that just do His Will for me and let me overcome the feelings I had. When I entered and seat in my designated place, I tried to look around if I was right in my imagination and see! There’s a lot, lot more older persons than myself, than I was thinking before. The exams were so hard for me and I can’t remember any that I was able to studied and learned from the classroom, why?, because despite of my informal education background, if I’m not late then I was absent then. So I just relied on the Will and Wisdom from above and with some information’s I learned from my personal readings of books which I borrowed for sometimes in some of my good friends.

One month had passed, I could hardly wait for the result of my exams. My closest friend, and adviser
were also waited for me. Also, sometimes I could hardly sleep to think about it, so I decided to went
on the office of the examination center and asked for a result. Surely, I was not disappointed, they gave it to me! When I got to know the result, I want to shout…… shout for joy! Because I made it! But instead
I looked up my head up to heaven and ascended my thanks giving prayer! I went to my adviser and thanked her and she said that I am free now to enroll in college. Oh! What a blessing for me!. But of course before my story end, for sure we have a little celebration in Jollibee with my closest friend.
How happy I was during those times but for sure I will much, much happy when I have received my diploma last March 2005! As a bachelor holder in History and Minor in Political Science, the fulfilled dream of my life!.

A Biblical Answer to the Da Vinci Code

2000 years ago: "When they [the religious leaders] heard this [Peter and the disciples preaching about Jesus Christ], they were furious and wanted to put them to death. But a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, who was honored by all the people, stood up in the Sanhedrin and ordered that the men be put outside for a little while. Then he addressed them: 'Men of Israel, consider carefully what you intend to do to these men. Some time ago Theudas appeared, claiming to be somebody, and about four hundred men rallied to him. He was killed, all his followers were dispersed, and it all came to nothing. After him, Judas the Galilean appeared in the days of the census and led a band of people in revolt. He too was killed, and all his followers were scattered. Therefore, in the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God" (Acts 5:33-39, NIV).

In a letter to the editor of the New Zealand Herald newspaper, Barrie McClymont, director of the ACTS International in New Zealand wrote:

"In 1988 I was visiting Universal Studios in Hollywood as a tourist when I witnessed a few hundred people in a nearby section protesting against the film 'The Last Temptation of Christ.' While I understood their purpose I felt that such a public protest was simply drawing attention to the film pointlessly.

"Sure enough the film died a natural death as a piece of nonsense. Most folk today cannot even recall its existence. Over my years I have watched a number of easily forgotten attempts to challenge Christianity with material like the 'Da Vinci Code.' These theories died in short order as will the current material.

"The sub-leader in Monday's New Zealand Herald from the Sunday Telegraph correctly related the material to the G. K. Chesterton quote that 'when a man stops believing in God, he doesn't then believe in nothing, he believes in anything.' The only reason the current Da Vinci Code gets wide attention [in New Zealand] is substantially related to the copyright debate and not to its veracity. These things die on their feet."

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, may all the kaffufle and 'konfuzion' caused by The Da Vanci Code book and movie by Dan Brown only cause millions of people worldwide to search for and find the truth about the real Jesus Christ. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully in Jesus' name, amen."

One Thing You Can't Hide

One of the most important traits of all motivators at work is consideration. Employees report that the best managers they ever had were people who cared about them as people and as friends. These managers took the time to ask them questions about their lives, and to listen patiently while they talked about the dilemmas and problems and situations in their families. The more that the employees felt that the boss liked them and respected them, the more empowered and motivated they felt.

Caring Is The Key
The flip side of this motivator is the de-motivating feeling that the boss doesn’t care. This is almost invariably expressed in a lack of recognition, a lack of approval, a lack of appreciation and a general failure to pay attention to the employee over time.

Spend Time Listening
Remember, the amount of time that you spend talking to and listening to an employee is a signal to that employee that he or she is important to you and to the company. This is why the very best bosses spend a lot of time walking around and chatting with their employees. They sit with them for lunch and coffee. They invite their comments and encourage open discussion and disagreements about work. They create an environment where people feel that the work belongs to them as well as to the company. In that environment, employees feel good about themselves and more fully committed to doing the job and doing it well.

Become A Positive Person
To empower and motivate your customers, your suppliers, your bankers and so on, you simply need to be a genuine, positive and cheerful person. You develop a positive mental attitude. You be the kind of person from whom, “never is heard a discouraging word.” You are easygoing, genial, friendly, patient, tolerant and open minded. You make people feel comfortable being around you.

Emotions Determine Everything
Remember, everyone is primarily emotional. Everything that people do, or refrain from doing, is triggered by their deeper emotions. Your job is to connect with their higher and more positive emotions so they feel so good about you they want to help you and please you in some way.

Action Exercises
Here are two things you can do immediately to put these ideas into action.

First, get out of your office and go among your friends and coworkers. Ask them about their personal lives and concerns, and then listen carefully to the answer.

Second, resolve to be a genuinely positive person under all circumstances. Be the kind of person people feel happy being around and working for.

How to Deal With the Storms of Life

Some of life’s storms come upon us suddenly as was the case for the disciples in the ship. (Mark 4:37) We suddenly lose someone we love, we have a bitter disappointment, a crushing financial situation, or a physical illness that threatens to change our life forever or even threatens to end it.

Other storms may come slowly as you see the sky darken around you and the visibility of your life become dim until it seems a black cloud has surrounded us.

It is in the storms of life that our God equips us for service. The history of mankind has always been rough and rugged. None that wish to be of value in this world will escape the storms that shape and mold us.

In the forest, an oak tree becomes great because the storms shake it and the rains beat down upon it and in the battle with the elements the oak develops its rugged fiber and becomes king of the forest. It has learned to sink its roots deep into the soil till it becomes one with the rock beneath it.

Jesus is our Rock and we need to sink our roots of faith deep until we become one with His Truth and Word.

The strong winds of adversity are only for our benefit. We live in a world that promotes ‘easy’ and ‘have it now’ but it’s not the real world.

A noted scientist, observing that early sailors believed the coral-building animals instinctively built up the great reefs of the Atoll Islands in order to protect themselves in the inner waterway, has disproved this belief. He has shown that these organisms can only live and thrive facing the open ocean in the highly oxygenated foam of the combative waves.

It is commonly thought that a protected and easy life is the best way to live. Yet the lives of all the noblest and strongest people prove exactly the opposite and that the endurance of hardship is the making of the person. It is the factor that distinguishes between merely existing and living a vigorous life.

The beauties of nature never shine brighter than after a storm. We will have His glow and give honor and glory to Him if we weather our storms with faith and hope and knowing that He is in the midst of them, as Jesus was in the boat. When the disciples woke Him, He spoke to the storm and there was a great calm. And then He asked the disciples, “Why are you so fearful?

How is it that you have no faith?” (Mark 4:40)

We are here to become more like Christ. The storms will carry us there if we trust in Him and what His Word says to us. Have they left you broken, weary, and beaten? Or have they lifted you to the sun-filled summits of the mountain tops of safety with a richer and deeper purpose of life? You will surely have more compassion for those in the storms of life and the muscles of faith you built will life others around you.

We are here to be Jesus to those around us. How many storms will you need in your life to choose to sink your roots down deep to the Rock of Ages and stand secure when all is tossed and swept around you?

“ This is the victory that has overcome the world, our faith.” I John 5:4

by Donna L. Watkins
http://www.theherbsplace.com/AHM/ahmstorms2.html

10 things that you can do to protect your precious name.

Every 79 seconds there is another victim of identity theft. Perhaps too, this victim having thousands of dollars stripped from their accounts, new accounts opened in their name, their dependable credit history contaminated--maybe even arrested for a crime they did not commit.

Unfortunately, this scenario is not far-fetched, it happens all the time. Maybe not in most cases, but it happens enough--leaving a path of financial destruction that may take the victim years to recover.

With identity theft being the fastest growing crime in the United States and it alone, accounting for over 42 percent of all complaints filed with the Federal Trade Commission, it’s no wonder so many people are concerned.

Grandmas and Grandpas, adults from all walks of life--even teenagers, are all wondering how they can protect themselves from becoming the next identity theft victim.

The following are 10 basic, yet very effective, things that you can do to protect your identity:

1. Protect Your Social Security Number.
Your Social Security Number is of great significance to an identity thief. Do not keep it on your person; keep it in a locked, secure place. Give your Social Security number only when it is necessary.

I recommend that you review your Social Security earnings report annually. Check your employment history and earnings for accuracy. Report any discrepancies to the Social Security Administration.

2. Monitor Your Financial Statements.
It is imperative that you know when your statements should arrive in the mail. If they are more than a couple of days late, contact the appropriate bank or financial institution immediately. A missing statement could indicate a thief is at work.

Review your statements thoroughly for any unauthorized transactions or suspicious activity. Many times, a thief will make small purchases; such transactions are much more likely to avoid detection. If there are ANY discrepancies contact your financial institution to understand what is happening.

3. Monitor Your Credit Reports.
Monitoring your credit reports every 4-6 months should be a part of your identity theft prevention strategy. You should verify that all the information is correct. Many times your credit report can be the first clue that an identity thief is at work to steal your precious name.

4. Monitor Your Postal Mail.
The United States Postal Service acknowledges that mail is involved in a significant number of identity theft cases. Make it a point to retrieve your mail shortly after it is delivered--the longer it stays unattended in your mailbox, the greater the chances of someone stealing it. Never place outgoing mail in your mailbox for the carrier to pick up. Take your outgoing mail to the post office for delivery. If you are going away for any length of time, notify your local post office to hold your mail while you are away.

I suggest reading Stolen Mail and Your Identity and Dumpster Diving - What's in your trash can help them steal your precious name to further understand how identity thieves use your mail to assume your identity.

5. Secure Your Personal Documents.
Your personal documents contain personally identifiable information (PII). For those documents that you are required to keep, place them in a locked, secure place.

6. Shredding Your Mail and Personal Documents.
If you are serious about protecting your identity, then shredding your mail and any personal documents that you are not required to keep MUST be part of your strategy. Shredding your mail is absolutely essential to protecting your identity.

7. Tips to Secure Your Online Presence.
The internet is a great resource but securing your online presence is essential to your identity theft prevention strategy. My article will give you the tips that you need to secure your online presence.

8. Secure Your Computer.
If you are like most Americans, your computer holds personally identifiable information (PII). Therefore, it is important that your computer be secured. I suggest an excellent article, 5 Steps To Secure Windows XP Home written by Tony Bradley, the About Guide to Internet/Network Security. The article provides you the guidance that you need so that you can take steps to secure your Windows XP based computer.

9. Beware Of Shoulder Surfing.
When logging on to your computer, at the ATM, or doing anything else that you are entering a password or viewing personally identifiable information, be aware of your surroundings. Make sure that no one else can view this information.

10. Shop Online Merchants That You Know and Trust.
If you are shopping online, make sure that the site is secure. The URL or web address should begin with "https." It is also recommended that you use a low-limit credit card for your online purchases.

About Guide to Family Internet, Marcy Zitz, has an excellent article, Tips to Protect Yourself While Shopping Online that can help you in doing just that.

By Brian Koerner

The Definition of Wealth

If you want to be wealthy, you must understand what wealth is. Here is the best definition of wealth you will ever find. Wealth is "Cash flow from other sources." Make Your Money Work For You What this means is that, you are not wealthy just because you earn a lot of money. You are only wealthy when your money works for you. To become wealthy, your main job is to acquire money and then put it to work making more money for you. Add Value Continually The key to creating wealth is simple. It is called "adding value." Successful people are those who are always looking for ways to add value in some way to a person, a company, a product or a service. Do It Faster Here is an example of adding value: Domino's Pizza.

The founders of Domino's Pizza took a common food, offered by thousands of little restaurants and added a value to the pizza by delivering it more rapidly than anyone else. The added value of speed enabled Domino's to create a billion dollar empire and made the founder of Domino's, Tom Monahan, one of the richest men in the world. Buy It Cheaper Somewhere Else Another way to add value is to buy something in one place at one price and then make it available in another place for another price. For example, buying a product or service manufactured in Europe or Asia, importing it to the United States and making it available to people to whom it was not available before, is a way of adding value for which you can charge a higher price. Improve The Life or Work of Others All manufacturing and marketing is based on this principle of added value. All importation and distribution aims to add value.

Performing a service that enhances the life or work of another person adds value. A dentist who takes away pain is adding value. An accountant who saves a client money on taxes is adding or actually creating value. A salesperson who introduces a new product or service to a customer that helps that customer in some way is adding value. All financial success, especially business success, is based on adding value. It is based on the old saying, "Find a need and fill it." Combine and Recombine The Elements of Value All successful business is based on someone bringing together the factors of production, such as labor, capital, raw materials and management, and creating a product or service that a customer will pay a price for that is in excess of the cost of producing it. How All Fortunes Are Made Adding value is the way that all fortunes are made. Whenever you see an opportunity to give people what they want at a price greater than it costs you to produce that product or service, you see an opportunity to make a profit, build a business and begin moving toward financial success. Almost any business or occupation can make you financially independent if you can find a way to add enough value.

Action Exercises Now, here are two actions you can take immediately to add more value to your time and activities: First, take the time to be absolutely clear about what it is that people want and need to improve their lives and work. The more clear you are about their real needs, the easier it is for you to satisfy them at a higher level. Second, look for ways to add value to what you are doing every day in every way. Never be satisfied with the status quo. One small idea to add value can be the starting point of a great fortune. Brian tracy

Being Fruitful

Over the years I've learned to challenge my audiences to turn their response to the ideas and information they receive into results. According to the Biblical story, the first couple, Adam and Eve, was instructed to be fruitful - produce some results. Fruitful is kind of an interesting word; it denotes abundance. Here's what I think fruitful, abundance and productivity mean - to go to work on producing more than you need for yourself. I think we fulfill that command given to us so long ago to be productive, to produce far more than we need for ourselves, by blessing others, blessing our nation and blessing our enterprise.Challenge yourself to produce more ideas than you need for yourself so you can share and give your ideas away. Produce more in terms of substance and money and treasure and all things valuable to human beings, far more than you need for yourself. I am reminded of R.G. LeTourneau's story, the man who built the big earth moving machines; it was his goal to someday give away 90% of his income.

Giving away far more than anyone could possibly imagine. 90% is an awful lot to give away, but you should have seen the 10% that was left. Once abundance starts to come, once someone becomes incredibly productive, it's amazing what the numbers turn out to be. It's amazing what it finally totals. So make sure when you are given the opportunity, that you turn your response into results, thus the chance to be more fruitful and more giving.

-Jim Rohn-

wisdomisgreat

wisdomisgreat

Memo From God

I am God. Today I will be handling all of your problems.Please remember that I do not need your help.“If life happens to deliver a situation to youthat you cannot handle, do not attempt to resolve it.Kindly put it into the SFGTD(Something for God to Do) box.It will be addressed in My time, not yours.

Once the matter is placed into the box,do not hold onto it or remove.Holding on or removal will delay the resolutionof your problem.
If it is a situation that you thinkyou are cable of handling,please consult with me in prayer,to be sure that it is the proper resolution.

Because I do not sleep nor do I slumber,there is no need for you to lose any sleep.Rest, my child.
If you need to contact me, I am only a prayer away.”

— Author Unknown