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Jan

6

Changing Your Life – How To Make Small Changes To Your Routine

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When it comes to changing your life, it can seem like it will take years before you actually make substantial changes. You might feel like giving up before you even get started.

What you need is a way to kick start the changes that you want to make in your life – and here are ten ways to get started today.

One of the simplest ways to start improving and changing your life is to change something that you’ve always done. And it doesn’t have to even be related to the goal that you have in mind. It’s very easy for us to get into the same boring old routine. It’s good to break those old habits, to change things.

When you want to make changes in your life, it’s natural that you would want to get the ball rolling somehow. To get that momentum going, start by trying to change the small things in your life today.

For example, have you ever driven to work and not remembered how you got there? Not only is this a scary notion, but it also can be a great lesson in being aware of your surroundings and how they’re getting in the way of your self-improvement.

Here are some simple ways to change up your routine today:

Take a new route to work
Eat a meal during a different time of day (i.e. eat breakfast at dinnertime. Try it, honestly.)
Change the order of your exercise routine
Get up earlier or later than you normally do
Do different chores around the house or ignore chores that you always do
and so on…. I’m sure you can come up with a few ideas of your own.

The point of this exercise is to realize that while we might feel comfortable in our lives, it’s that comfort and that ‘settling’ that might be getting in the way of the changes that we want to make. We all get into our own little “comfort zones” and it’s natural to want to stay there. But by staying all snug and protected in the “comfort zone” you will never change, never progress.

Start the changes right now by changing other, not-as-important parts of your life. You may be surprised at how different the world looks and much more likely you are to believe that bigger changes are indeed possible. The more you start to change those little things the easier it will become to move onto bigger and more life changing areas.

Extract taken from my free report 10 Ways How To Change Your Life Today. Please simply click the link or complete the form on the left to claim your free copy now.

Cheers

Rik

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Dec

5

Why You Must Detach Yourself Emotionally In Business

Filed Under Emotional Intelligence, Videos | Leave a Comment

Here’s a very important lesson that must be learnt in order for your business to really take off and for it to be everything you want it to be. Watch the short video first then read the article below.

A couple of days ago I woke up to one of those winter mornings where there wasn’t a cloud in the sky, not a breath of wind and there was a deep frost on the ground. Beautifully clear, crisp and still. My favourite type of day.

That was a good enough reason for me to go for a walk right there, however there was another reason, that would shortly present itself. When I turned my computer on, it confirmed that I had a problem, a problem that I had in fact had, by this time, for 4 days. One of my servers was down. Well, a server that one of my sites is hosted on. It was a site I have had running for about 2 years now called The Soccer Blog.

This was on Wednesday morning, the server had been now from the previous Saturday evening. So, that just confirmed the fact I was off for an early morning walk.

As I was walking and enjoying the beautiful morning I began to think about the server and I laughed at myself as I looked back about two and a half years to when I first started out online. Why? Well, because back then, my reaction to this server “problem” would have been oh so very different to now. Now I decided I was just going to go for a walk. Back in the early days, I would have been panicing, I would have been very anxious. Basically I would have been a complete nervous wreck and, most likely, I would have been taking it out on some poor unsuspecting person in a very unprofessional manner.

Since I have been online I have learned some very important skills. However, there aren’t too many more important, more fundamental than this lesson. Since those early days I have taught myself how to emotionally detach myself from the outcome of everything I do in my business. Let me just clarify that. I’m not saying that I don’t work hard, I don’t care about what I do and how I do it. I most definitely do. What I mean is, I no longer demand of myself that everything I do must be 100% perfect, must always work, that the prospect I am speaking to has to join me in my business etc. Do you see the difference?

When you are like that you demand too much of yourself, you are too emotionally involved and therefore you come over as being anxious, nervous and needy etc, because you are. You know, sometimes things just don’t go as you had hoped, sometimes people aren’t very nice on the phone, sometimes servers just crash.

Let’s take an example of you talking to that prospect on the phone whilst you are in the wrong state of mind. The prospect will sense it, they will pick up on it through what you are saying, how you say it. People do, and they are not very attrative traits. Why would anyone decide to join you? Answer is, they wouldn’t. Believe me!

You have to learn to step back, detach yourself emotionally from the outcome of that phone call (or whatever it is you are doing). You have to be at ease with yourself, you have to be you. If you let yourself get carried away with a situation, it is very easy to react in such a way that it will hurt the situation rather than help it. You lose out, no one else, just you.

I’m sure if you have been online for any lenght of time you will have heard the terms “attraction marketing” and “personal branding”. Well, I suppose “attraction marketing” is a little about what I’m talking about. I mean if you are still emotionally involved you are not going to be very attractive. But I think a better way of describing what I’m talking about is another term. This was recently coined by a good friend of mine and I think it hits the nail on the head! ”Authentic Marketing”!

That’s what you need to be, totally authentic. When you are relaxed and emotionally detached, that’s what you become, you become authentic. And when you are authentic you are you, you are natural. There’s no edge, there’s no anxiety etc, and that’s far more attractive. Don’t you agree? I hope so.

I hope you found this article and video helpful and if you have any questions or want to chat about this or anything in fact, please do get in touch. I’d love to hear from you.

All the best

Rik

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Nov

13

The Importance of Goal Setting

Filed Under Goal Setting | Leave a Comment

Do you run or do you scamper?

Think that is a strange question? Well, no not really because there is a big difference between scampering and running. Sure, they’re both actions designed to make a person move fast, but the difference is when you apply the two to goal setting.

When a person scampers, it is without purpose. A person who is scampering moves to no end purpose. It is an action performed instinctively. However, a person who runs does it to achieve a goal, there is an end purpose. Which one do you prefer to do?

No matter how much effort you make, if you do not have direction, you will be wasting your energy. How can one have direction without a goal? Goal setting is important because it is the first step towards a journey. People may think that we started without having any real goals, but let us examine life for a moment: When a sperm is first released, it has a goal, does it not? It swims towards the egg. This goal gives it direction.

As we mature in life, our goals get bigger and more ambitious. However, we still set goals. Goal setting is an inherent part of life. It answers the question of purpose. It tells us why we have to live, if only until the next day.

As mentioned above, a goal actually gives us direction. For without goals, where would we direct our efforts to? Goal setting is the key that essentially gives us the first step in our individual journeys.

Think of it: When you set a goal, you try to follow the most direct route towards it. So you take the first few steps towards achieving that goal. In setting a goal, you will always have the first step. However, in life, we encounter little detours. Sometimes, in order to reach our set goal, we must first accomplish another one.

Goal setting and then taking the starightest path towards the achievement of that goal is the key to achieving success in life. If you set goals, you will be able to know which steps to take. Setting goals does not mean you make a list on what to do or what not to do. That would merely be the semblance of goal setting. True goal setting involves commitment.

In true goal setting you need to be able to put your heart into it and commit yourself to achieving that goal. From the moment you set a goal, every effort you make will be directed towards the achievement of that goal.

Goal setting is important in life because it allows you to measure yourself. Unfortunately I don’t know why measuring one’s self is so important. Perhaps it has something to do with self-improvement. Sometimes it has something to do with the realization that you are doing something in life. However, goal setting will allow you to measure yourself by how close you are to achieving a goal. Through proper goal setting, you will be able to see just how far you’ve come and how far you still have to go.

Another importance of goal setting is that it allows you to know your purpose in life. Goal setting will prevent you from questioning your existence. Sure, some people find wisdom in questioning the meaning of life, but people who do not find answers to this question often end up in despair.

Goal setting gives you your purpose. Run don’t scamper!

Cheers

Rik

Global Online Masterminds

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Nov

12

What is Emotional Intelligence?

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Being a relatively new area in psychology, emotional intelligence is still on its way to be fully recognized. It is likely that you may find various definitions of emotional intelligence since many experts still disagree about what this area of intelligence truly measures. However, it is clear that lately more and more people have shown a great interest on this area of personality.

Intelligence and cognition are two distinctly separated components of human intelligence. IQ is the parameter of measuring cognitive capacities and is said to be constant at any moment it is measured. Although, it may be improved and maximized. Nevertheless, it would still be limited by the constant value the Intellectual Quotient present. Say, if a person has an IQ score of 118, then it is possible that this would remain the same throughout the person’s life. A change of a point or two may occur perhaps due to developmental factors or margin of error given to a specific IQ test.

But the case is different with Emotional Intelligence.

It has been observed how quickly one can change from a single emotion to another. But this of course depends on the person subjected to the test or in any given situation. We all react differently to different conditions and there is still no concrete parameter available. Emotions themselves are inconsistent. They largely depend with the person experiencing them.

Due to inconsistencies, no one can still accurately determine how to measure emotional intelligence fully. There is no complete separation line between knowledge and intelligence. Various definitions say the emotional intelligence is dynamic and changes invariably depending on what condition the person is faced with. It therefore, can be increased or decreased. At times it may even be lost. Other experts disagree saying that emotions are stable and therefore, cannot be affected by any condition.

One thing is central to these though, emotions are developed and we are not innately equipped with them at the time of childbirth. Emotions were not even implanted in us during our prenatal stage nor are they recorded in our genes. In a way, they are developed only according to the experiences we had during growth. They only arise when specific stimuli arise.

Emotional intelligence is the capacity of an individual to define his or her own emotions and to become sensitive to those that he perceives from the environment and the circle of people he is interacting with. It may also be that emotional intelligence is the use of knowledge of these emotions to control situations and create plans and decisions based on the perceived emotions. Other resources would further add that emotional intelligence is part of our personality that dictates us to become more aware of what triggered a specific reaction, both done by the self and people surrounding the “self”. It is also known to be the use of emotions to reason out.

There are too many definitions on what emotional intelligence truly is. So far, we have gathered two constants, emotion and understanding the context and concepts of emotions.

In the end, emotional intelligence is much too focused on one’s understanding and utilization of his or her emotions and in identification of another person’s emotions. These combined will help them determine the proper actions they must make in order to create viable decisions. But emotional intelligence is of course, broader, a lot broader, than this brief interpretation here.

Rik

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Nov

12

The Two Types of Communication Skills

Filed Under Communication Skills | Leave a Comment

Communication is one of the most fundamental assets we have as humans. In fact, when you think about it, communication is not just a skill, it is a necessity.

Some studies have shown that the need for communication comes inherently in every human being. The same studies have shown that communication skills are actually nurtured by a person’s environment.

People, when they hear the word “communication” often think about words. They feel that the term “communication” refers exclusively to the use of language. When confronted with the fact that there are two types of communication, they automatically think of oral and written communication. I want to try to show you that, in fact there is so much more to communication skills other than words, spoken or written.

1) Verbal – Verbal communication skills encompass all word usage. This means that both oral and written words come under this category. People use and nurture this type of communication skill actively, although it can be argued that some people do not use it as much as others.

In using verbal communication skills, people tend to be more accurate in sending their messages. This is the reason why verbal communication is used as the media of education. Through the use of verbal communication skills, people can acquire knowledge the way others meant to send them.

Verbal communication skills can be developed in a variety of ways. One way is to converse with other people. Participating in conversations can help you encounter new words to enhance your verbal communication skills. Paying attention to mass media is also a good idea because you will be able to hear the correct pronunciation of words.

In the case of writing, the best way to enhance this verbal communication skill is to read as much as possible. Reading can give you an idea about the spelling of words and their correct usage.

2) Non-verbal – This type of communication skill makes use of symbols other than words to convey meaning. Generally, this type of communication skill depends upon the interpretation of the receiver of the message. This means that the message can be delivered accurately or not, depending on the perception of the receiver.

There are many ways where we make use of non-verbal communication skills. However, we barely notice them. We make use of non-verbal communication skills through our expressions. Whenever we laugh or cry, we are making use of non-verbal communication skills.

Of course, you might say that we do notice when we perform these actions. However, some of the ways we make use of non-verbal communication skills often come subconsciously. A twitch of an eyebrow, the rhythmic tapping of a foot and other little things we don’t really consciously control, send messages to other people.

Included in this type of communication skills are the other ways through which we express ourselves to the world. People try to send messages through the way they dress. People can tell what an artist wants to say through a painting. This and other situations just give you and idea of the diversity of communication.

Our ability to send messages through these communication skills often determines our status among society. So go ahead and develop your communication skills and Express Yourself.

Rik

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Nov

12

Anger Management: Effectively Dealing with Your Anger

Filed Under Anger Management | Leave a Comment

Anger. It is an emotive word. A word commonly used for all people and by all people. Anger is a feeling you and the person sitting next to you can experience. We all can.

Since anger is an emotional state of the mind, the meaning of the word differs from person to person. Some may feel irritated while some may feel rage and fury on one and the same thing. And the biological and physiological changes follow with every anger created.

Consequently, anger could lead to either constructive or destructive results. Sadly, most people would tend to loose control that would prevent them from seeing the other side. There are always two sides. This calls for ways on how to manage anger effectively without hurting other people including yourself.

Manage your anger with these simple rules of the thumb:

Life is not pure pleasure. Many times in your life you experience things that would make you angry but, importantly, you should never lose control.

Life does not always go according to your plan. If things do not go according to plan, anger is not the solution. Anger does not solve the problem. Doing something that would destroy you would, keep you farther from your goal, is not healthy, and becoming angry is one of them. DO NOT waste your time grieving and blaming yourself or others from your mishaps. Instead, move on and continue to strive in doing something productive.

Creating a destructive outlet for your anger is not the solution. There are healthy ways on how to express your emotions – this includes anger. However, this doesn’t mean that you are free to do everything you want in expressing your emotions. Never let your negative emotions govern you. Take control of yourself and do something that is productive, non-violent, positive and generally acceptable.

Forgiving yourself will lead to better things to come. Being angry with yourself however, will never do any good to you or to anyone. This is because when you hate yourself for the failures you have done, the effects are not limited only to yourself but also to your outlook with other people; that in turn, becomes evident in how you treat them.

So instead of hating, forgive yourself and move on. Learn from the experience and before you know it, you are on track again. But remember, failures would still come even if you forgive yourself the first time. What you should do is to continuously make adjustments with your life and not hate yourself with every failure you have made.

Your body has its limits. You know that certain things can easily make you angry. You also know that certain things can make your anger go away. Try to avoid those that can easily make you angry. In the same manner, use the activities that can calm you down, if you think you are creating a destructive anger.

Anger itself is indifferent. This means that anger can either be good or bad. It just depends on how people handle it. Making sure that you are in control of your emotions is the best thing to do if you are feeling the anger build inside. Anger could become an advantage if you know how to handle it well, rather than getting carried away with it.

Rik

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Nov

11

Creativity And Applying Knowledge

Filed Under Creativity | Leave a Comment

I often think that a story can “paint the picture” or get over a message far better than actually trying to explain what you mean. The following is a perfect example of that.

I hope you enjoy the short story and that it resonates its message to you.

In days gone by, there was a very wealthy man who owned a wonderful steamship, but as is so often the way with expensive things, it was prone to breaking down. One day, after a particularly difficult journey to a foreign land, the engine failed and no one could get it going again.

One by one, every mechanic and engineer in the land was summoned to try to fix the engine, and one by one they failed. Finally, word came to the wealthy man of a wise old shipmaker who might be able to help, but at a hefty price. However, the wealthy man agreed at once.

Soon, an old man who looked as if he must have been fixing ships for a hundred years arrived. He carried a large bag of tools and immediately went to work. He inspected the large network of pipes leading to and from the engine very carefully, occasionally placing his hand upon the pipes to test for warmth.

Finally the old shipmaker reached into his bag and pulled out a small hammer. He gently tapped against one of the pipes. Instantly the sound of steam rushing through the pipes could be heard and the engine lurched into life as the shipmaker carefully put his hammer away.

When the wealthy man asked the shipmaker what he owed him, the bill came to over 10 thousand Pounds, indeed a princely sum in those days.

“What?” the wealthy man exclaimed, outraged. ”You hardly did anything at all!” Justify your fee or I will have you thrown in jail.”

The old shipmaker began to scrawl something onto a ragged piece of paper he pulled from his pocket. The wealthy man smiled as he read what the old man had written on the piece of paper and apologised to the shipmaker for his rude behaviour.

This is what the piece of paper said:

“For tapping with a hammer………………………………. £1.00

For knowing where to tap…………………………………..£9,999.00″

Knowledge is king, applied knowledge is Power!

Cheers

Rik

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