Ten Ways to Take Positive Risks in Life

Here are the top ten ways to take positive risks in your life (And what will happen if you do)

1. Decide what you want and then define and take the biggest risk you can think of which will move you closer to your goal. (Taking action towards doing what you want to do is not a risk)

2. Make a step by step plan towards an important goal and define risks you MUST take to move forward. (Living a status quo life will not change any situation for which you are stuck)

3. Ask yourself what is possible and then make a list. (Most people spend too much time pondering what things won't work and as a result justify why taking no action is the best choice)

4. Take action- do something unusual to create movement towards a goal which is important to you. (Like a set of domino's, all the choices from the past which no longer fit you will fall down)

5. Only strive to accomplish a few really important things each day. (Life isn’t about having the biggest to-do list) but making progress and living a life which is most important to the person living it!)

6. Work to develop the relationships which matter to you. (Don’t be afraid to terminate the relationships which no longer work for you or be afraid to pursue new ones which nourish you)

7. Re-define yourself by WHO you are vs. WHAT you do. (Job titles are for the human resources staff)

8. Define and live your perfect vocational day. (Recreate a life which works better for you vs. one which works better for some else who really doesn't care about your welfare)

9. Be your own best friend. (Easier said than done since people tend to be their own worst critics)

10. Give yourself permission to take risks in your life. (Otherwise, you will wait a very long time and then wonder later why change took so long)

Taking risks towards what you want in your life is all relevant. What might seem like a big risk to one person might not seem that risky to another. Happiness in life, work and relationships knows you were not afraid to try something new in your life when the status quo no longer worked. Take a few risks towards what you want- Your life will be richer from the inside out!

I'll be cheering you on as you go!

Set Goals for Academic Success - 5 Simple Steps

      Most parents realize that helping their children set goals is important, but few realize that not all goals are created equal. While some goals can indeed empower children to get better grades and achieve academic success, others can actually discourage children or cause them to become frustrated and overwhelmed. 

      How do you know the difference, then, between a goal that inspires and one that is counterproductive? Follow the five steps below to ensure that the goals your child is aspiring to are ones that contribute to his or her long-term academic and professional success:

      1. Inspire Dreams and Translate them into Long-Term Goals – When children are small, they’re often asked what they want to be when they grow up. Parents laugh lightheartedly as their tots talk about becoming ballerinas and astronauts. As children get older, however, the question becomes more serious. Too often, parents begin to discourage their children’s lofty dreams or assume that their own dreams for their children are more suitable. Unfortunately, this often causes children to become complacent and lose the passion they once had for their futures. As youngsters enter middle and high school, it’s important to help them revisit their dreams and begin thinking seriously about their personal and professional goals. Talk to your child about her future openly and without judgment. Allow her to dream as big as she wishes, and encourage her to jot down several long-term goals she hopes to achieve as an adult. This practice can be a really powerful motivator. Once children see the connection between their dreams and achieving academic success, they’re much more likely to put in the effort to make better grades. 

      2. Transform Long-Term Goals Into S.M.A.R.T. Goals – An important part of the goal setting process is determining whether the goals are S.M.A.R.T. In this case, S.M.A.R.T. refers to Specific, Measurable, Actionable, Relevant, and Time-bound. In order for goals to have the intended effect of inspiring kids toward academic success and personal/professional achievement, all goals must meet these basic criteria. Go through your child’s long-term goal list, and together, decide which goals to keep, which to modify, and which to discard. Then, work with this refined list to transform these long-term goals into their short-term S.M.A.R.T. counterparts. In essence, the more specific the goal is, the more targeted your child’s focus will be on achieving this goal. In addition, goals that are measurable tend to be much more satisfying as children can clearly see their progress toward achieving the goal. Furthermore, actionable goals can be easily broken down into specific action steps, making them much easier to implement, and therefore more achievable. You should also ensure that each of your child’s short-term S.M.A.R.T. goals is relevant to them and compatible with their long-term goals and dreams. This will ensure that your child is working toward his eventual success efficiently and consistently. Finally, be sure that each of the short-term goals you’ve identified is time-bound. This means that it has a definite starting and ending point, so that you child doesn’t fall prey to procrastination. 

      3. Make an Action Plan for Each Short-Term Goal – The next step in setting goals for academic success is to help your child develop an action plan for each of the short-term goals she’s set for herself. For example, if your child has decided that she wants to make better grades in English, then her action plan may consist of daily tasks such as reading for an hour each day, joining a study group that focuses on reading and writing, and spending an extra 30 minutes of study time on this particular subject each night. Once this plan is set in place, encourage your child to post it in a place where she will see it every day and commit to completing these tasks on a daily basis. You will also need to come up with a plan to ensure accountability. Ideally, your child will hold herself accountable for completing these daily tasks, but she may need a little help from you or another adult, at least initially. 

      4. Monitor Progress and Adjust Goals Regularly – Once you and your child have set some goals in place for his academic success and aligned them with a daily action plan, you’ll need to make a schedule for monitoring his progress and adjusting goals as needed. Whether it’s biweekly or once a month, decide upon specific dates when you will meet together and talk about how the action plan is progressing. As you monitor these plans, discuss whether or not the goals need to be adjusted. If your child has met a goal on the list, for instance, then it may be time to set a new goal to encourage continual progress. On the other hand, if your child is making little progress despite remaining committed to his daily action plan, then you may need to reevaluate how realistic the goal is and modify it accordingly. Although it’s understandable that you want your child to make much better grades right away, setting the bar too high can be counterproductive. Your child should be challenged but not intimidated by his or her goals
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      5. Reward Success – Finally, as your child works hard to make better grades, accomplish her short-term goals, and ultimately achieve her academic success, be sure to appropriately praise and reward her efforts. Positive reinforcement can keep your child motivated to continue her efforts. Whether you decide to grant her a special privilege, give her a tangible reward, or simply pat her on the back for a job well done, be sure to take time out from your busy schedule to stop and recognize her triumphs.

      Goal setting is undoubtedly one of the key elements necessary for a child to achieve academic success. Natural intelligence and even effective study skills can only go so far without defined goals and a plan to achieve them. When helping your child develop goals for his present and future, be sure that these goals are S.M.A.R.T. and also ensure that you regularly monitor his progress. Don’t forget to provide plenty of positive reinforcement to keep him motivated as he follows his own unique path to success.

Make a First Impression - Dress For Success

     I have a friend who refused on principle to belief that the way people judged him was heavily influence by what he was wearing. I challenged him to test the theory for himself and if you have any doubts I issue you with the same challenge.

      I suggested that he select two different establishments that sold luxury cars. He was to go into one dressed in his worst clothes and into the other dressed in his best suit. He was to act the same in each and simply stroll around looking at the cars. His real task was to note how he was treated in each case.

      What do you think happened? When he was wearing his best suit the salesman couldn't get to him quick enough. He was offered coffee and treated with respect. The salesman was doing everything possible to interest him in buying a car.

      When he was dressed in his old clothes nobody spoke to him at all. The salesmen glanced in his direction and then went back to what they were doing.

     If you want to be taken seriously in life learn to dress for success!

     The Body Language of Confidence

      On the conscious level we communicate with through our language but at the subconscious level much of our communicating is via our body language. Psychologists have discovered that if the words and the body language don't match each other then the message from the body language takes precedence over that of the spoken language.

      When you are meeting a person for the first time this body language is doubly important. Learn to walk like a successful person, stand like a successful person and sit like a successful person. It all contributes to how you are perceived in those first ten seconds.

      Verbal Communication

      The verbal communication that is most important in regards to the initial impression is the greeting. What you say when you greet a person for the first time will help them decide whether or not you are a person that they should respect or not.

      It is well worth your time to think about the best way you should greet a person according to the circumstances of the meeting. If you are going to practice anything in verbal communication then practice greetings.

      Non Verbal Communication

      Verbal communication refers to what you say and non verbal communication to how you say it. As with body language if the verbal and non verbal are in contradiction it is the non verbal message that makes the lasting impression.

      If you don't already have it then develop a confident, self assured, friendly tone to your voice; the tone of a leader. After all, most of the great leaders throughout history have inspired their followers through the inspirational, charismatic way that they speak.

      Mental Rehearsal

      Because you only have 10 seconds to make that first impression you can't leave it up to chance. Mentally practice meeting people and making a good impression. This will make it clear to your subconscious mind exactly what you expect to achieve in those initial moments and then your subconscious will work to bring all the body language and non verbal aspects into line with your objectives.

      Those first 10 seconds can make the difference between building a successful, mutually rewarding business or personal relationship or simply having a casual one off meeting. It is well worth perfecting the art of making a good first impression.

How to Study Smarter, Not Harder

Dartmouth published a paper discussing ways for students to improve their memory as they study. These tips will help any student study smarter, not harder. Here are some of our favorite study tips:

Recite As You Study
Recitation should first take place as you read through each paragraph or section. Quiz or test yourself. This promotes understanding as well as faster learning because it is a more active process than reading or listening. It also tests understanding, revealing mistakes or gaps. Recite in your own words. Auditory learners should spend more time in reciting orally what they are learning than visualizers. Read aloud passages you find difficult.

Take Fuller Notes
Visual learners should take fuller notes during lectures and their readings, as they learn more readily by visualizing than hearing. Auditory learners should take fuller notes perhaps on their readings. Notes should be in your own words, brief, clear but succinct. They should be legible and neat. Writing notes better reinforces memory than mere underlining, which is frequently done mechanically , often to excess and does not check understanding.

Study the Middle
The best time to review is soon after learning has taken place. The beginning and the end of material is best remembered, so pay close attention to the middle which is likely to be forgotten. The peak of difficulty in remembering is just beyond the middle, toward the end. change your method of review.

Sleep On It
Study before going to bed unless you are physically or mentally overtired. Freshly learned material is better remembered after a period of sleep than after an equal period of daytime activity because retroactive interference takes place.

Connect Ideas Whenever Possible
There are two ways to memorize: by rote (mechanically) and by understanding. Multiplication tables, telephone numbers, combinations to safes, and the like are better learned by rote. ideas, concepts, theories and significances and the like are learned by understanding. Sometimes they work simultaneously.

The more association you can elicit for an idea, the more meaning it will have; the more meaningful the learning, the better one is able to retain it. Always note similarities in ideas and concepts, and put them in their proper place in a larger system of ideas, concepts and theories. A bare literal understanding is often of little valuable. Never be satisfied with a hazy idea of what you are reading. If you are not able to follow the thought, go back to where you lost the trail.

Hack Your Mind with These Memorization Techniques

California Polytechnic State University provides 10 tips to help students memorize information better.

Here are some of my favorite tips:

Use all your senses. When we are learning, we should try not only to get a strong impression but to obtain as many different kinds of impressions as possible. Some people can remember colors distinctly, but have a poor memory for shapes. But anyone, by putting together and using all of the impressions our sense organs bring us about a thing, can remember it much more clearly than if we rely on sight or sound alone. For example, try reading your lesson aloud. In doing this, your eye takes in the appearance of the printed word, your ear passes the sound of the words to your brain, and even the tension of the muscle of your throat add their bit to the total impression which your mind is expected to store away.

Intend to remember. The mere intention to remember puts the mind in a condition to remember, and if you will make use of this fact in studying you will be able to recall between 20 and 60 percent more of what you read and hear than you would if you were not actively trying to remember.

Logical memory. One of the most important of all aids to the remembering process is the habit of associating a new idea immediately with facts or ideas that are already firmly lodged in the mind. This association revives and strengthens the old memories and prevents the new one form slipping away by anchoring it to the well-established framework of your mental world.

How much study? You should study more than enough to learn your assignment. Experiments have proven that 50% more resulted in 50% better retention. After a week had passed, it was found that extra work had salvaged six times as much of the material as in the case when it was barely learned