Wisdom

25 facts of life that might get you thinking

25 facts of life

Searching for the facts of life, dear reader? I guess the question is, what do we mean by the facts of life?

Well, for some, it means the birds and the bees. For me, it means trying to make sense of life and the lived experience.

Here are 25 facts of life, which are my take on the world based on my own lived experience.

I hope you find some valuable insights here.

If you do, please feel free to share them.

FACTS OF LIFE
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Facts of life (1-10):

  1. We live by our wits.
  2. Just because it’s dismissed as a conspiracy theory doesn’t mean it’s not true. 
  3. Just because it looks genuine doesn’t mean it’s not fake. That goes for people, too.
  4. Human beings are all flawed. You may not be perfect, but you’re as perfect as the next person. 
  5. Time is more valuable than money. You can earn more money, but you can’t get more time. With time, once it’s gone, it’s gone. Use it wisely. 
  6. We all make a living by selling something to someone. In exchange for adding value in some way to the lives of others, we earn money. Money is a measure of the perceived value we add. 
  7. You can choose to be whatever you want, but you must accept that there will always be trade-offs. Everything comes at a price, and that price must be paid first. 
  8. Life’s what you make it. It will never be perfect, but with hard work and determination, it can be good. However, if you want the best life for yourself, you’ll need to carve it out yourself. 
  9. Just because people don’t share their troubles doesn’t mean they don’t have any. No one can ever truly know the battles other people face. So, be careful when judging. 
  10. You must always be prepared for when opportunity knocks. Life is an endless stream of opportunities just waiting for the fleet-footed and those ready and waiting to seize the day.

Facts of life (11-17):

  1. There’s only one way to gain experience. The hard way. You can’t train experience. You must go out there, make mistakes, and learn from them. In short, there’s no elevator; you must take the stairs, one by one. 
  2. All too often, people choose to move on because they failed to appreciate what they had. It’s easy to think that the grass is greener somewhere else, but the grass is greener where it’s well-watered.
  3. You may be angry at the way you’ve been treated. You may feel you have every right to be angry. However, a chippy attitude will never win over hearts and minds. You’ll catch more flies with sugar than you will with vinegar. 
  4. Those who can only see virtue in their own opinions are keen to close down those with alternative views because they’re concerned that the public may listen to and be influenced by those with alternative views. 
  5. It’s wrong to think that the law will protect the individual. It won’t. Do or say anything that runs counter to the interests of the powerful elite, and it will come back to bite you. If you want to go against the powerful, you’ll need numbers on your side. 
  6. When the powerful elite suggests the need for limitations on what people are allowed to do, what they have in mind will only apply to ordinary folk. They have no intention of being constrained by such limitations themselves.
  7. Giving is easy, but if you need to take it back, that’s when it gets difficult. Be careful what you give if there’s any possibility you may need to take it back.

Facts of life (18-25):

  1. Politicians are not on your side. They’re driven by personal ambition and self-interest. Your interests only matter to them when being seen to be doing something for you is helpful to them politically.
  2. It’s unwise to agree to anything that would give any government too much control over your life. You cannot trust a politician. We know that from experience.
  3. There is no such thing as government cash. There’s only taxpayers’ cash. Even when governments borrow money, that’s just money taken now from future taxpayers. Governments have no cash of their own. 
  4. Acting together, we are strong. If enough of us band together, we are invincible. We don’t have to accept all the nonsense. We can and should push back. Operating in significant numbers, we can scare the hell out of the politicians and the powerful elite.
  5. No one grants us freedom. We are free people, and no government should ever be allowed to believe, mistakenly, that it controls us. We have rights; they’re inalienable, and politicians need reminding of that constantly. 
  6. Those seeking to manipulate our language are trying to control the debate. Changing what we say and how we say it is part of an agenda aimed at creating a world that suits their interests but not ours. We must all push back constantly.
  7. Complicating communication can lead to misunderstanding and miscommunication. And misunderstanding and miscommunication can only ever lead to problems and tensions between people. So, please keep it simple, always. 
  8. It’s strange in the modern world that so many seemingly sensible people are willing to accept some ridiculous ideas without question. Never be afraid to challenge the orthodoxy.
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A Motivational A – Z Guide to Success

Looking for a guide to success?

We could all use one, right?

Well, here is a concise A-Z guide of the things you will need to bear in mind.

Perhaps it’s a little oversimplified, if I’m honest, but it does cover all the bases, of that I’m quite sure.

If you need a guide to success, print this list, pin it above your desk, and refer to it constantly.

And please pass it on.

Guide to Success
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A – Z Guide to Success:

  • (A) Achieve your dreams. Avoid negative people, things, and places.
  • (B) Believe in yourself and in what you can do.
  • (C) Consider every angle and look at things from both sides.
  • (D) Don’t give up and never give in.
  • (E) Enjoy. Motivation happens when you’re happy with life.
  • (F) Family and Friends. Never, ever lose sight of them.
  • (G) Give more than what you believe is enough.
  • (H) Hold on to your dreams. These should drive you onward and upward.
  • (I) Ignore those who belittle your ambition. If you believe you can, what they think is irrelevant.
  • (J) Just be you. The key to failure is trying to please everyone.
  • (K) Keep trying, no matter how hard life may seem.
  • (L) Learn to love yourself. You’re as good as anyone.
  • (M) Make things happen. The harder you work, the luckier you’ll get.
  • (N) Never lie, cheat, or steal. Always play a fair game.
  • (O) Open your eyes. Be aware of what’s going on around you.
  • (P) Practice makes perfect. Be a student of your craft and work towards mastery.
  • (Q) Quitters never win, and winners never quit. Be a winner, not a quitter.
  • (R) Ready yourself. Be prepared and be ready when opportunity strikes.
  • (S) Stop procrastinating. Get on with it. It’s later than you think.
  • (T) Take control of your life. Discipline and self-control are key to success.
  • (U) Understand others. Seek first to understand and then to be understood.
  • (V) Visualize it. What will success look like to you? How will you recognize it?
  • (W) Want it more than anything. It must matter to you if you’re to keep going when it gets hard.
  • (X) X-Factor is that little bit of magic that makes you different from all the other wannabes. When you’re truly motivated, you’ll deliver that extra something that will help you shine like a star. Shine like a star, and you’ll get noticed. Get noticed, and you’re on the way to achieving success.
  • (Y) You are unique. You have special qualities no one else has. So work to your strengths and do the things that only you can do. That way, you will begin to shine like a star.
  • (Z) Zero in on your dreams and go for it. Don’t stop until you get to where you want to be.
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Valuing people must take precedence in the modern age

Today, the theme is valuing people. This issue is much more important than you might think.

Valuing people
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Why Valuing People Matters:

One thing you’ll learn as you get older is the importance of valuing people.

We can all get so carried away with our work and careers that we can forget what matters most.

Now I’m sure that your work is important to you, and perhaps you even believe that you’re indispensable to your employer.

If you believe that, then all I can say is, dream on.

From experience, I can tell you that there’s no such thing as indispensable when it comes to being employed.

If you were to die tomorrow, your employer would replace you in a heartbeat, and the company would carry on without you. You won’t be missed for long, and in all probability, you’d be forgotten fairly quickly.

That’s why it’s essential to ensure that your life has balance.

Yes, of course, you need to work to earn an income to put a roof over your head and bread on the table. So in that sense, work’s essential.

It’s also a good thing to have a genuine sense of purpose. We all need that.

However, work shouldn’t be everything to you. Some things are much more important.

Don’t let time slip through your fingers without having spent some of it regularly with those that matter to you—the people closest to your heart. In other words, your loved ones.

Your employer may not miss you for very long should you pass away, but the family and friends you leave behind would feel a sense of loss for the rest of their lives.

For family and friends, you cannot be replaced.

It’s later than you think:

Work gives us a sense of purpose and identity, but only people truly matter. Therefore, valuing people must always take precedence over work and material things.

So make sure you enjoy some time with those that matter to you before it’s too late.

And, you never know, it could be later than you think.

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11 wise sayings about life lessons and what they mean

Today, dear reader, I offer you 11 wise sayings about life lessons, along with some observations on what I believe they mean for your life.

I hope you find this valuable and interesting.

WISE SAYINGS ABOUT LIFE LESSONS
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Wise sayings about life lessons:

1. When in Rome, do as the Romans do. ~English Proverb

When visiting a foreign country with a different culture from your own, the best way to get along with the local people is to respect their culture and customs.

Essentially, it’s all about respecting and adhering to their way of life, as far as reasonably possible.

Respect people and they’ll appreciate it.

Learn a little bit of their language and you’ll connect with them. They won’t mind if you don’t get all the words and pronunciation completely correct. It’ll probably make them smile a little, and they’ll appreciate your effort.

Treat people with respect and they’ll treat you with respect. It’s that simple.

2. Be contrary and be known. ~Arab Proverb

If you want to get noticed, a ‘me too’ approach to life is unlikely to take you very far. When you’re just like everyone else, how can you stand out in the crowd?

If you want to get noticed, then you need to offer something a bit different, surely?

To stand out in the crowd, you’ll need to dress differently, have an unusual hairstyle or offer something new.

Go against the accepted thinking of the day and you’ll get noticed.

Suggest something that goes against the received wisdom of the day, and people might listen if you back up your observation with a reasoned argument.

Be different, be contrary, and you’ll get noticed.

Back it up with real substance, and you will make a permanent impression on public consciousness.

Elvis Presley was like nothing that went before him; neither were The Beatles.

These were people who had a look, style and approach all of their own. They made a genuine impact, and they changed people’s outlook on life permanently.

In other words, they made their mark, and you can too.

3. A beautiful thing is never perfect. ~Egyptian Proverb

There’s no such thing as perfect, certainly not when it comes to people.

We’re all imperfect in some way.

However, that’s what makes us interesting as individuals. It’s also what makes it easier for other people to live with us because no matter how good we are in some way, there are also ways in which we are not quite so good.

So accept your imperfections. Work to your strengths, minimise your weaknesses and do the best you can with whatever you have at your disposal. If you do that, you can succeed.

4. There’s no shame in not knowing; the shame lies in not finding out. ~Russian Proverb

How often do people refrain from asking a question for fear that they might look a little stupid? Does that ring a bell with you, dear reader?

We’ve probably all done it at some point in our lives, wouldn’t you agree?

However, it’s rather silly if you think about it.

None of us can know everything, can we? There will always be gaps in our knowledge, that’s for sure.

So if you don’t know something, surely it’s better to find out? It’s better to ask a question, even if you appear foolish momentarily.

People might laugh, but so what?

Intelligent people ask questions, and it’s better to look like a fool momentarily than proceed in ignorance. You may look like a fool for not knowing but you’ll look like an even bigger fool if you screw up because you didn’t ask.

Never, ever be afraid to ask a question if you don’t know.

That way you’ll learn. In any other way, and you’ll never learn. Remember: Intelligent people ask questions.

5. Experience is not always the kindest of teachers, but it’s surely the best. ~Spanish Proverb

Education is a wonderful thing, I’m sure you’ll agree.

However, the best teacher by a country mile is the School of Hard Knocks at the University of Life.

Making mistakes and getting your fingers burned teaches you lessons you’ll never forget. And those lessons are invaluable.

That’s what they call experience, and experience is indeed a valuable commodity.

Experience is the basis of all wisdom.

It’s also an essential element in finding out what you’re good at and what you enjoy.

And if you can find that sweet spot where what you’re good at coincides with what you enjoy doing, then you really will begin to shine. So shine on, my friend.

6. Having two ears and one tongue, we should listen twice as much as we speak. ~Turkish Proverb

How often are we so keen to get our point across that we don’t listen to what the other person has to say? That’s a mistake.

Listening is one of the most important skills you can develop.

To quote Stephen R. Covey, Seek first to understand and then to be understood.”

To understand someone else’s point, you must listen first.

Listening is not the same as hearing.

Hearing is simply being aware of the sounds going on around you.

Listening is absorbing what is being said and considering it carefully.

Listening requires both your ears and your brain to be engaged simultaneously.

Naturally, you want to feel that your perspective matters.

If you listen to people first, not only will they appreciate it, but they’ll also start listening to you. If you’re showing them respect, then they’ll do the same to you.

By listening to each other, we can begin to understand each other.

And if we understand each other, we have the basis for getting along together.

So listen more and talk less.

In this way, the world might just become a better place. Let’s hope so anyway.

7. It’s better to die than to live on with a bad reputation. ~Vietnamese Proverb

Some time ago, a friend of mine was working for a retailer and foolishly did something dishonest. The result was that he lost his job and damaged his reputation in the process.

Only when he began to realise how much damage he’d done to his reputation did he begin to realise how foolish he’d been.

Damaging your reputation can have serious consequences, and you can often feel the impact of that for many years after the original indiscretion.

So, protect and value your reputation.

It’s one of the most important commodities you have to offer.

Whether you’re in employment or self-employed, you’ll always be judged on your reputation. A bad reputation can lead to harsh judgment.

8. A society grows great when old men plant trees whose shade they know they shall never sit in. ~Greek Proverb

Your legacy in life will be based on what you’ve done for other people, regardless of whether you’ve benefitted from it yourself.

That’s how you’ll be remembered.

A civilised society depends on each of us making a contribution toward the greater good. We cannot just leave it all to someone else.

If you want your grandchildren and their children to enjoy a well-ordered and civilised society, then you must be prepared to do something the result of which you may never see. The payoff for you will simply be the knowledge that future generations will benefit from your altruism.

Leaving something that enriches the lives of future generations would be a real and genuine legacy, wouldn’t you agree?

9. God gives the nuts, but he doesn’t crack them. ~German proverb

You can’t expect everything to be done for you.

At some point, you have to do something for yourself.

If everything is done for you, you’ll never learn; you’ll never develop new skills, and you’ll never be able to deal with life.

So don’t try to avoid the chore, embrace it with enthusiasm and recognise that it’s in your own best interests to act.

10. A wise man makes his own decisions; an ignorant man follows public opinion. ~Chinese Proverb

Criticism can be uncomfortable, so it’s easy to be swayed by the majority view. However, how can we be sure that the majority view is correct? Perhaps they’re all wrong.

Just because a lot of people think something is so, it doesn’t mean that they have a monopoly on knowledge and common sense.

Rather than simply following the herd, it’s much better to consider a situation carefully, weighing the various possibilities, and then form your own opinion or make an informed decision.

Think for yourself; don’t allow the herd to impose their thinking on you.

11. Every ass loves to hear himself bray. ~Proverb of Unknown Origin

As the old saying goes, empty vessels make the most sound.

However, just because someone can talk a good game doesn’t mean they can play a good game.

People who are truly skilled at something will demonstrate it through their actions, not their words. They’ll leave the talking to other people.

You’ll never impress anyone by singing your own praises.

However, you’ll win them over if you can demonstrate your effectiveness through the results you deliver.

So go on, show people what you can do.

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Here’s why the only disability in life is a bad attitude

It has been said that the only disability in life is a bad attitude. For me, that rings true, at least to some degree.

Let’s explore the idea.

Have you faced numerous challenges in your life, dear reader?

Maybe you’re feeling a little bit sorry for yourself?

Life hasn’t been fair to you recently, possibly?

If life’s unfair, you might feel that you’re entitled to have a bad attitude. Everyone’s doing fine but you, so why shouldn’t you let the world know that you’re not happy, right? We all feel that way occasionally, don’t we? I do, that’s for sure.

However, if you’re trying to get people on your side with a negative attitude, then you should reconsider. No one will be joining you at the pity party. You won’t find anyone sympathetic to a bad attitude, I assure you.

If there’s one genuine disability in life, it’s a bad attitude.

It’s a fact that negativity never impresses anyone, ever. Other people have enough problems of their own.

It doesn’t win people over; it will simply alienate them. You’ll be pushing them away rather than gathering their support and winning hearts and minds.

Life isn’t fair. If it has never been, and it never will be. That’s a fact, unfortunately.

You’ll find that life doesn’t care about what you want. It doesn’t care about what anyone wants.

It doesn’t care about any sense of entitlement you may have.

Nor does life care that you feel that you should have a bigger piece of the pie.

In my experience, life is what you make it. Nothing happens by accident unless you’re very, very lucky. And no one is consistently that lucky.

Your attitude will define the life you enjoy or don’t enjoy.

It’s not about what happens to you. Stuff happens to everyone.

Yes, it’s true, some people bear a greater share of life’s challenges than others. However, ultimately, your life will be defined by how you respond to everything that happens to you.

the only disability in life is a bad attitude
Attitude is everything
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Positive beats negative:

No matter how tough life gets, a positive attitude will take you further than a negative one ever will.

A positive attitude is the most powerful response to life’s misfortunes.

It says you can knock me down as many times as you like, but you won’t keep me down. I will get up, and I will keep getting up until I reach my destination.

Now, that sort of attitude does impress people.

Life responds positively to those with a positive attitude. I can tell you that from personal experience.

You’ll find that a positive attitude will always win people over. Show them that you can rise above everything life throws at you, and you’ll have their respect.

In the embedded video below, Matthew Jeffers, a senior acting major at Towson University in Maryland, shares an inspiring message with the letter he wrote to the Baltimore Ravens, his favourite NFL team.

The letter was entitled “A Reason to Win,” and it’s all the more impressive when considered against Matthew’s struggles with Skeletal Dysplasia.

The ultimate lesson is that life won’t cut you any slack just because you’re feeling sorry for yourself.

Attitude is everything:

Yes, it’s true. Attitude is everything. If you believe you can, you will; if you believe you can’t, you won’t. It’s that simple.

Many people experience tough lives, and however hard your life is, there’ll be plenty of people out there whose lives are far tougher than yours. Many people experience disabilities of varying degrees of severity, but, as Matthew Jeffers observes, the only real disability in life is a bad attitude.

So if you’re feeling a bit dispirited right now, take a good, hard look at yourself and think about the positives you have in your life, rather than constantly focusing on the negatives.

This video will inspire you, so take a look at it now. It’s well worth a few minutes of your time.

The only disability in life is a bad attitude:

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So, do you agree that the only disability in life is a bad attitude?

Either way, was this article interesting and valuable, dear reader?

If so, then please share it on social media with your friends. When you share, everyone wins.

So please share it now. If you do, I’ll be forever grateful, and you’ll be helping a keen blogger reach a wider audience.

I appreciate your support. Thank you.

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1 question to ask: Why is my life so bad right now?

Why is my life so bad right now? Have you ever asked yourself that question?

Perhaps you feel you deserve something better from life? Perhaps your life isn’t all you’d like it to be. Do you want more, possibly?

Does today’s question resonate with you, dear reader?

You look around and see people enjoying the sort of life you’d like, and you can’t help but wonder how it’s all working out for them but not for you.

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Who’s at fault?

If you feel this way, then you’re not alone; that much is certain.

However, if you do feel this way, do you ever wonder who’s at fault for your life failing to meet your expectations?

Perhaps you feel the fault lies with your parents or the teachers you had at school?

Maybe you feel the fault lies with your boss or your employer.

They didn’t provide you with the proper training, or you didn’t get the breaks when there was an opportunity for promotion? Someone else got the promotion simply because they were well in with the boss, right? Perhaps you feel that you were a better candidate than them, and yet they got the job? Life can be so unfair, right?

Well, my friend, I have to tell you that if your life sucks, there’s only one person you can blame. Just look in any mirror, and you will see that person staring right back at you.

We’re responsible for our own lives, and our lives will always be what we choose to make of them.

Yes, you may have had a few bad breaks in life. Yes, perhaps your parents and/or teachers could have been better. So what? Life’s still what you choose to make it.

I’m not suggesting that anything is easy, and, of course, there will always be challenges. Nevertheless, there will always be opportunities for the enterprising and fleet-footed, too. And you can choose to take some of them or not.

You have to decide what it is you want. You have to work out how to get what you want. Then, it requires determination and a lot of hard work on your part to achieve your ultimate goal.

An endless stream of opportunities:

Life is truly an endless stream of opportunities that you can choose to take or not. Look for ways to add value to the lives of others, and you’ll soon see that there are opportunities there for the taking every single day.

By providing a service and adding value to others’ lives, there’s always money to be made.

Continue to educate yourself and acquire new skills, and you’ll be able to add more value to others.

Add more value, and you’ll get paid more.

Manage the money you make wisely, and you can build your wealth over time. It can be done, and people do. So, why not you?

However, there are no shortcuts. Nothing ever happens by chance.

On rare occasions, you might get lucky, and something will fall into your lap. However, mostly you’ll have to work very hard to get what you want. You have to go out and make things happen, I’m afraid. That’s life, unfortunately.

Life and relationships:

It’s the same with relationships, too.

Find someone whom you’d be happy to have as a friend, even without intimacy, and you’ll have the basis for a healthy relationship.

Friendship and trust are essential to a good relationship. As does commitment and a willingness to put in as much as you take out.

It all starts with really knowing what you want.

Know your ‘Why?’

If you know your ‘Why?’ then that will give you the motivation you need to keep going until you get to where you want to be.

If you want it badly enough, you’ll find a way to make it happen.

That said, you have to be positive. You have to be prepared to make a few mistakes. You must also be ready to learn from those mistakes.

Never fear mistakes:

On the road to success, a few mistakes are inevitable.

However, as learning opportunities, mistakes are truly invaluable. You’ll learn much more from any mistakes you make than you will from any successes you enjoy.

That said, never allow yourself to be driven too far off course. Keep your eye on the prize you want. And never accept an answer unless it’s the one that you want.

Don’t be discouraged:

Above all, never, ever let people discourage you from pursuing your dreams and ambitions.

It doesn’t matter what other people think; the only thing that matters is what you think. It doesn’t matter whether they believe you can do it, as long as you feel you can do it.

You can be whatever you want to be, as long as you want whatever it is you think you want.

Everything is possible for those who never give up until they reach their desired destination. Life is what you make it. I can tell you that from my own experience.

You must also remember this, though: life’s not a rehearsal.

You only get to go around just once. Well, as far as we know.

So, make your life the best it can be and make the most of being you. Remember this: you’re as good as anyone and better than most.

There’s a price to be paid:

You can have the life you want, but not without hard work and commitment. There’s a price to be paid, and that price will be paid in blood, sweat, and tears. You don’t get anything for nothing, and the price must always be paid first.

If you don’t want to pay the price, then the life you lead will always fall short of your expectations. Sorry if that bothers you, but it’s a fact.

Where to start?

Don’t ask yourself, why is my life so bad right now?

A better question is, what actions do I need to take to start improving my life?

Start by making a list, setting some goals, and then you must get going.

It’s never too late to improve your situation. It’s never too late to improve your life. And it’s never too late to be all that you could be.

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I appreciate your support, dear reader. Thank you.

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11 top tips for improving quality of life now

Searching for some tips for improving your quality of life, dear reader?

Life’s never been easy, but it seems to get tougher with each passing year, doesn’t it?

We’re all constantly juggling the conflicting demands of work and family, trying to squeeze in a little ‘me time’ whenever possible.

It’s that elusive thing known as work-life balance. Most of us aspire to it, but few manage to achieve it.

How would you describe the quality of your life right now?

This is a question we all ask ourselves from time to time.

A reader recently asked me if I could offer some tips for improving the quality of life. It’s a subject close to my heart, so I am only too happy to oblige.

So here are 11 memorable tips which I hope will help you improve the quality of your life:

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Top tips for improving quality of life:

1. Keep it simple

There really is a lot to be said for simplicity. Complexity can be stressful. So keep everything in life as simple as possible. Ditch the clutter, buy only what you really need and can actually use, and learn to appreciate what you have rather than fretting about things you think you’d like to have but don’t right now.

Nothing matters much, and actually, very few things really matter at all.

If you’re lucky enough to have family and a handful of genuine friends, plus food on your table and a roof over your head, then what more do you need?

Keeping life simple will reduce your stress levels, and that’s important.

2. Treat people with respect

I believe that only people matter.

Yes, having a nice house and a decent car is excellent, but as human beings, we’re social animals.

People are not solitary animals like cats. We live in groups, and we need other people in our lives. And the key to having friends is being a friend and treating other people with respect.

Treat everyone as you’d prefer them to treat you.

Not everyone will appreciate that approach, of course, but the ones that matter most will, and surely that’s what counts.

Treat people with respect, and generally, other people will treat you with respect. And if we could all treat each other with respect, then the world would be a better place, I’m sure.

3. Actions speak louder than words

We’re judged by what we do, not by what we say.

Anyone can talk a good game, but not everyone can deliver real results and do so effectively.

If you want to impress people, then it is only your actions that will count. If you excel at what you do, then you will be well on your way to achieving success.

4. Ask questions

Intelligent people ask questions.

Never be afraid to ask a question or to request clarification about something.

If something doesn’t sound quite right, then don’t be afraid to challenge it.

Ask questions and you’ll learn; fail to ask questions, and a life of ignorance lies ahead of you. And only a fool would proceed in ignorance.

5. Look forward; never back

The past has gone, and it is important only insofar as the lessons it has taught us and the memories it has given us.

The future’s where we’ll spend the rest of our lives. Therefore, we should always be living in the present and looking to the future. And above all our focus should be on forging the future we really want.

Live your life by looking through the windshield, not the rearview mirror.

Remember, the future has yet to be written, but you’ve got the pen.

6. Create your own future:

We can’t change the past, but we can influence our future.

We can have a vision of what we want to achieve and how we’d like our lives to be. We don’t have to accept what is given to us. We can go out and get the things we really want.

It takes hard work, of course, as well as determination and discipline, but it can be done, and lots of people do. So why not you?

Create the future you really want, and don’t just settle for anything that comes along.

7. Don’t be afraid to change direction if necessary

There will be times in your life when you head off in a particular direction only to find that it doesn’t turn out to be quite what you imagined it would be.

There’s nothing wrong with that, as no one gets it right every time.

From time to time, you’ll make mistakes, or perhaps you’ll misjudge a situation. However, once you realize something is not quite right for you, then don’t be afraid to change direction, if necessary.

Just take it on the chin, change direction, and move on.

Don’t worry about what others might think. They’ll think whatever it is they think, but who cares? It’s your life, not theirs.

It’s only what you think that really matters.

If you’re not happy with a situation, then it’s better to take action than to live a life that’s a miserable existence because you’re worried about what other people might think.

8. Face your fear and just do it

From time to time, we all face challenges in our lives.

They can often seem daunting and more than a little scary.

However, if our lives were easy, we’d never grow as people.

By facing up to a challenge, we learn and grow. That’s how we build our character. That’s how we toughen up.

Yes, we’ll make mistakes, but it’s always better to have a go and fail than not have a go at all.

Face a challenge and achieve a result, and you’ve done something of which you can be truly very proud.

Face a challenge and get an outcome you didn’t want, and at least you’ve learned a valuable lesson. That’s how you build experience. And if nothing else, you can be proud that at least you had a go.

Fear is the body’s natural way of warning us to proceed with caution. It’s natural to feel fear, but courage is our ability to act despite feeling that fear.

Have courage and face every challenge as it comes. However hard it might appear at first, you’ll be glad you did.

9. Look after your own well being

You can’t enjoy life to the full if you have health problems, can you?

So take care of yourself and look after your health. Eat sensibly, drink in moderation, get plenty of exercise and avoid things like tobacco and other recreational stimulants.

You might think it doesn’t matter, but it does.

One puff on a cigarette won’t kill you, but the effect of regular smoking will have a cumulative, detrimental effect on your health.

You might think ‘you can handle drugs,’ but that’s the wisdom of a fool.

Regular use of recreational drugs will affect you over time. And it is only a matter of time, trust me.

If you don’t look after yourself, then no one else will.

10. Learn to manage your time effectively

Time is our most precious resource.

And we all have exactly the same amount of time, 168 hours each week. It’s how we choose to use that time that matters most.

Just because someone wants a piece of your time, it doesn’t follow that you should just give it to them. Allocate your time very, very carefully.

If something doesn’t need to be done, don’t do it. If someone else can do it, let them do it. If it can wait, let it wait. And if it absolutely must be done now, then get on with it.

It is all about your priorities and those actions where you and only you can add the most value. Identify those things that will allow you to be most effective, and they will form the basis of your priorities.

11. Have fun; life’s too short

We all need to ensure that we take time out for ourselves occasionally.

We all need a little ‘me’ time; time to recharge our batteries and relax.

Work is important, of course, as it gives you a sense of purpose in your life. However, it’s essential that you relax and have a little fun too.

Life’s far too short to be constantly working.

So, having a hobby or pleasurable pursuit is a very good idea, as is spending some quality time with the people who matter most to you. Have some fun and make sure that you have it regularly. Your health depends on it.

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10 powerful tips to be successful in life

10 TIPS TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN LIFE

Looking for some useful tips to be successful in life, dear reader? What habits should you develop? Today, I present to you my top 10 list.

What’s the key to success?

Well, I can tell you right now that there’s no one, single thing that on its own will ensure that you enjoy some personal success. There’s no silver bullet, I’m afraid.

However, there are things you can do and habits you can develop that will help you to become the successful person you really could be.

Dear reader, you can be successful, and it’s never too late. Other people succeed, so why not you?

Know what you want and know why:

Essentially, success comes from knowing what you want and knowing why.

If you establish some goals and take a disciplined approach towards achieving those goals, then you’re on your way.

However, you’ll also need to adopt some good habits that will help you achieve those goals and help you to keep going until you get to where you want to be.

Adopting good habits will also mark you out as a role model for others, which means you’ll be a leader.

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Tips to be successful in life:

Here is my list of the top 10 tips to be successful in life.

These are good habits you really ought to consider developing from now on:-

1. Believe in yourself:

You must believe in yourself, dear reader. That’s a given if success is your aim. If you don’t believe in yourself then why would anyone else believe in you?

If you lack self-belief, then you must start reinforcing a belief in yourself straightaway with a daily mantra.

Every morning and every evening, go to your bathroom mirror and repeat the following to yourself 10 times each time:-

“I’m as good as anyone, and I’m better than most. I will be a success.”

You must remind yourself of this constantly.

Self-belief is an essential ingredient if you’re going to succeed. Reminding yourself that you’re as good as anyone will help reinforce self-belief in both your conscious and subconscious minds.

Believing in yourself and your ability to succeed is more important than anything else. It is if success is your aim, I can tell you that from experience.

2. Don’t compare yourself to anyone else:

You are who you are, and you can only be the person you are. Anything else would be a fake.

You have your own special qualities and no one else on earth is quite like you. You have your own strengths and of course, you have a few weaknesses too. Everyone does.

Other people have their own unique qualities too, of course. However, that doesn’t mean they’re better than you.

They’re just different. You can’t be them, so don’t try. And they can’t be you either. So concentrate on being yourself. Everyone else is taken.

If you want to be a star, then you must shine for being you and for the special magic that only you can bring to this world. You’re unique, so take pride in that and put your best foot forward.

Never compare yourself to anyone else, and never fret if you feel that you can’t match someone else in some particular way. Remember, there will be ways in which they cannot match you either. 

3. Always keep the main thing the main thing:

Whether you like it or not, you’ll be judged by what you deliver and the value you add.

If your job is to paint my house, then I will judge you on how well you’ve painted my house.

I don’t care how much help you might have given to my neighbour. If you’ve painted my house badly or the job hasn’t been done properly, then you’ve failed as far as I’m concerned. Do the job badly and I will not be happy.

Often in the workplace, our inability to say “No” leads us to be completely distracted by a request to help someone else.

And that distraction can result in us failing to do something that would have moved us closer to the successful conclusion of one of the goals we’ve set for ourselves.

Losing sight of our own high-value tasks can make us less productive and less valuable in the eyes of our employers. Workplace distractions can lead to us helping other people achieve their objectives at the expense of our own if we’re not careful.

Being a team player is important, of course, and there will be occasions when assisting a colleague is the right thing to do for the greater good of the team. However, it should never, ever be at the expense of you delivering what you will be expected to deliver, regardless.

You’re judged by what you deliver, so never lose focus on what you’re expected to do.

Never be afraid to be assertive. You don’t have to be chippy, unpleasant or impolite. You just have to say something like, “Look I’m really sorry, I would love to help you but I have this to complete by 5 pm” or whatever.

Remember, appearing to be reasonable is much better for you than trying to be too reasonable.

Always, always keep the main thing the main thing.

Being too helpful may help others, but it probably won’t help you.

It will, however, increase your stress levels if you’re not careful.

Focus on your own goals ruthlessly. 

4. Accept that you will make mistakes occasionally:

No professional likes to make mistakes.

Nevertheless, they are inevitable occasionally. That’s a fact of life.

No one is so perfect that they can avoid mistakes completely. And no one ever achieved anything without making a few mistakes along the way.

So it’s fine to make mistakes occasionally, provided you don’t make too many and provided you don’t make the same mistakes repeatedly.

When you’ve made a mistake, it’s important to be honest, accept it, and above all, learn from it.

Making mistakes is all part of us gaining that valuable commodity known as experience.

So just do your best and accept that, like everyone else, you’re not perfect, nor will you ever be.

However, remember this: just because you’re not perfect, it doesn’t mean you cannot be exceptional at what you do. As professionals, we always strive to get better at what we do.

Mastery of your craft is a worthy aim and one that requires constant study and practice, and occasionally making mistakes. 

5. Don’t be afraid to take a few risks:

Risk and reward go hand in hand. You can’t have one without the other.

You’ll never achieve anything exceptional if you always play it safe. Well, not unless you’re very, very lucky anyway.

Sometimes you just have to follow your instincts and go for it.

That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t weigh up the pros and cons before you take action. It’s fine to consider the potential consequences before you take a risk. Equally, it’s fine to consider the odds of achieving a positive outcome and whether the potential reward merits the degree of risk involved.

Consider risk carefully, but don’t dwell on it too long. Analysis shouldn’t replace action. You cannot get to second base unless you take your foot off first base and go for it.

And anytime you take a risk, don’t panic if initially, things don’t go quite as you’d imagined.

If you’ve used your judgement with care, then there’s every possibility that you’ll get the outcome you want.

So hold your nerve and just believe in yourself.

You may not get it right every time, but you’ll get it right more than you get it wrong. And even when you’re wrong, you’ll learn a lesson.

Get it right and you’ll be that much closer to achieving a goal.

So be willing to take a calculated risk when necessary. 

6. Learn from experience:

As suggested earlier, experience is a valuable commodity.

It’s the by-product of making mistakes and taking risks. It’s the invaluable benefit we derive when things don’t quite work out as we’d intended.

The most important thing about experience is that we learn from it.

And of course, we can learn from seeing others make mistakes, too, as well as from anything we’ve done ourselves.

The lessons we get from real experience are far more valuable to us than anything anyone can tell us, or anything we can read in a book for that matter.

It’s the education we get at the University of Life and the School of Hard Knocks.

However, remember this: you don’t owe anyone an explanation for your mistakes.

When you make a mistake, it makes sense to be honest with yourself and others, of course. Beyond that, you should not feel the need to explain yourself in detail.

Mistakes happen, and no one starts with the intention of getting something wrong. If you get an outcome you didn’t want, then just take it on the chin, learn the lesson, and move on.

Everyone makes mistakes occasionally, and you’re no different. To err is human. That’s life. 

7. Never take anything personally:

The French philosopher Jean-Paul Sartre once observed that “Hell is other people.

I’m sure there are times when we all feel that he may have had a point.

We’re all struggling to get through life as best we can, and life’s never easy for anyone. Everyone wants what they believe to be their fair share of life’s ‘pie’. Some people want your share too.

Sometimes that can leave us feeling like everyone is giving us grief and deliberately making life more difficult than it needs to be.

However, mostly in our dealings with people, there’s nothing personal.

Life is just ‘dog-eat-dog’. People may be a little insensitive at times, as they pursue their own agenda, but generally, they’re not out to hurt us specifically.

So if it’s not personal, then never take it personally.

And on those rare occasions when it does prove to be personal, don’t give them the satisfaction of a reaction or showing that they’ve got to you.

Look them in the eye and show them that it doesn’t bother you. Your message has to be:

8. If you’re digging a hole for yourself, stop digging:

When you realise you’re digging a hole for yourself, you have two choices:-

  1. You can keep digging, and the hole in which you find yourself will simply get bigger and more problematic; or
  2. You can recognize the situation for what it is and stop digging immediately.

It is always best to stop digging immediately, in my experience.

When you stop digging, you might have a few fences to mend, of course.

Certainly, you’ll have to accept responsibility.

And you’ll probably have to apologize to some people, depending on the circumstances.

Regardless of what it all means, it’s always better to recognize a bad situation for what it is and take it on the chin, rather than making everything even worse.

On the positive side, having the ability to recognize when you’re digging a hole for yourself and having the maturity to deal with the consequences is a sign of self-confidence. That’s something for which you’ll gain other people’s respect.

In my experience, people will respect you if you’re prepared to say, “Hey, you know what, I’ve made a bit of a mess of this one, so I’ll stop right here and let’s try again. Sorry but like everyone else, I’m not perfect and I make mistakes occasionally.

Just because you didn’t quite get it right doesn’t mean you cannot show confidence in how you respond.

Respond in the right way, and your confidence will be well placed. 

9. Let go of any anger:

We all get angry occasionally, but anger never gets you anywhere worth going.

React in anger, and almost certainly you’ll regret it.

That’s not to suggest that you should not react at all. However, before you react, let the anger subside. Just let it go.

Leave it for 24 hours if necessary, until you’re better able to reflect with a calm head. There’s a lot to be said for ‘sleeping on it’ in my experience.

That way, you’re better placed to use your judgement carefully and make rational decisions.

In making decisions, revenge should not form any part of how you plan to react.

Revenge won’t get you to any place worth going, either, and you’ll almost certainly regret that too.

10. Learn to switch off:

We all need a little ‘me time’ regularly, otherwise, we’ll burn out.

We all need time to relax and recharge our batteries.

That means switching off completely.

By doing that, one of the great benefits is that we gain a fresh perspective on whatever’s happening in our lives.

Surprisingly, perhaps we’ll also get plenty of new ideas in the process.

In fact, you’ll find you get some of your best ideas when you’re not trying to come up with new ideas. That’s ironic, I know, but it’s true, in my experience. 

Bonus tip:

Don’t take yourself too seriously. No one else does.

If you can’t laugh at yourself occasionally, you might just be missing out on the funniest thing happening at that moment. Why miss out on a good laugh?

When you’re working, take your job seriously, but never yourself.

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Concluding remarks:

So there you have it. If you want to be successful, start by developing good habits.

This list of tips would be a good start, but you will find that there are plenty of others too.

Above all else, make sure you’re adding value to everything you do. Our purpose in life should be to add value to the lives of others.

If you’re adding genuine value, then you can’t go too far wrong.

So, dear reader, where do you add the most value, and what are your goals?

You should know the answers to these questions, and you should write them down.

If you don’t know, it’s time to find some answers.

Nothing ever happens by accident. You have to make it happen.

You can be successful, everyone can, but it requires you to know where you’re going; to know why you’re going there, and to be prepared to work very hard until you get there.

You can do it, dear reader. So, good luck!

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1 tip for parents: Why you should let your child fail and make mistakes

Why you should let your child fail and make mistakes is an interesting statement, don’t you think? It sounds counterintuitive, but it does make sense if you think about it.

Frequently, children are taught that failing is inherently a bad thing and something about which they should almost feel a sense of shame.

The adults around them presumably believe that this will in some way motivate them to work so hard that they don’t fail.

However, failure is inevitable for everyone, at least occasionally. And failure is an essential part of the learning process.

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The importance of mistakes:

However well-intentioned adults might be in their approach, the logic of stigmatizing mistakes is at best misguided.

The problem is that it encourages children to adopt a strategy of not trying, so they don’t fail. If they don’t try, they can’t fail, right?

Teach them this approach, and kids will have an easy way to neutralize any problem in the future. That is, just don’t bother in the first place. How can that be a good thing?

If they don’t try, how can they ever master any skill, or indeed anything?

Mistakes are an important source of experience. From our mistakes, we learn lessons that we will never forget.

We also learn about what we’re good at and what we enjoy doing. And that’s important because those factors will point us in the direction of where we might find a successful niche for ourselves in life. Our raison d’etre.

Character is important too:

Being challenged is essential for children and young people. It gives them an opportunity to prove themselves and, in doing so, build character, confidence, and growth in self-esteem.

However, if they don’t try and they don’t rise to the challenges they’re given, how will they ever grow in character?

No one ever started as a master of anything. It doesn’t matter what line of work you consider or what subject you study; every expert started out as a complete beginner.

And it doesn’t matter how talented you are; you’ll still make mistakes and experience failures along the road to mastering your craft.

A lesson learned is experience gained:

The lessons young people will learn from failure are far more valuable to them than anything anyone can tell them.

They can read textbooks as many times as they like, but there’s no substitute for real, hands-on experience.

When you get your fingers burned, you never forget how it happened and why. In other words, a lesson is learned.

There’s no success without failure:

Success is never achieved without some failures along the way.

Every successful man or woman will tell you that. It is inevitable, and it’s all part of life and learning. It’s how we gain that valuable commodity known as experience.

There’s no such thing as failure.

There are only outcomes we didn’t want.

And every time we try, we refine our skills and know-how until eventually, we get it right.

What we refer to as failure is nothing more than a form of feedback.

And of course, trying something and failing does not make you a failure. Failure is an outcome; it’s never a person.

Remember this:

Put simply, you cannot fail:

You only become a ‘failure’ when you give up and stop trying.

Encourage children to do their best:

If you have children, encourage them to do their best and accept that they will fail occasionally.

Tell them that it doesn’t matter, provided they make sure they learn any lessons that follow from any given undesirable outcome.

Make sure they understand that failing is a positive thing because they’ll learn valuable lessons, and they’ll get better and grow the more they try. Children should never fear failure.

Just encourage them not to give up and make sure they never stop believing in themselves.

They are as good as anyone:

The most important message to your child is that they’re as good as anyone, and if they try and keep trying, they will succeed.

And if, after trying hard, it doesn’t work out for them, for whatever reason, then at least they’ll know that they gave it their best shot, and they won’t spend their lives wondering what might have been.

Teach your children that failure is an inevitable part of life and learning, and it should never be feared.

If you want your children to succeed in life, then encourage them to fail.

Encourage them to have a go and to keep trying until they get to where they want to be.

And remember this, too:

Wherever you are on life’s journey, never be afraid to have a go.

Never forget, you’re as good as anyone, and people who try hard are better than most.

You’re as good as anyone” is a mantra you should encourage your kids to repeat to themselves daily, and you should repeat it too.

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How will your life be measured? Here’s what matters most

How will your life be measured? A philosophical question, perhaps, but an interesting one nevertheless.

Some time ago, I attended the funeral of someone whom I’d known quite well professionally but not at all socially. Someone I liked and respected, but I wouldn’t claim to have known them well overall. Nevertheless, funerals are a time to reflect on someone’s life. A time to consider the impact they’ve had on other people throughout their lives.

The funeral service was held at a large, traditional church in London, and it was crowded.

Listening to the eulogy and associated readings, I began to appreciate how much my late colleague had meant to so many people. It’s fair to say that she meant a lot to many people. The lives of so many people had clearly been blessed by her presence in them.

This experience made me think.

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So in life, what matters most?

As human beings, we’re all driven to achieve and leave our mark on life before we pass on.

However, we do tend to measure our impact on life in terms of careers and money. With those things, it’s fairly easy to keep score, wouldn’t you agree, dear reader?

Careers provide tangible evidence of achievement, or so it seems.

So, climbing the greasy pole and increasing our wealth tend to be the measures we use when we consider the idea of success. Nevertheless, as I sat there listening that day, I had to ask myself, are these things the most appropriate measure of the lives we lead?

Anything we do that only has a long-term payoff, we tend not to measure because there’s no immediate evidence of achievement. We can’t see the immediate impact of the small things we do, so we don’t believe they matter much.

However, I realized that day that they do matter. They matter a great deal.

It’s all in the little things we do:

A random act of kindness might not mean much to us, but to the recipient of our action, it could mean the world. It could have had a profound effect on that individual. And it might prove to be a life-changing experience for that person.

So, how will any of us be remembered?

When our lives have passed, how will they talk about us at our funerals?

People won’t talk about the size of our house or our car, but they will talk about how we made them feel. They won’t talk about the importance of our jobs, but they will mention how we helped them at a difficult time in their lives.

Perhaps they’ll talk about how we mentored them and how they’re a better person because of the impact we had on their lives. Maybe they’ll say they enjoyed our company, and they’ll talk about how they looked forward to seeing us whenever we were around. Perhaps they’ll just mention how we made them smile.

When you think about it, why would we want to be remembered in any other way?

Material possessions are meaningless:

Let’s face it, material possessions are meaningless. Equally successful careers are as much a reflection of good fortune as they are of anything we did to justify them.

That’s not the case when it comes to the impact we have on the lives of others.

The help we give and the kindness we show are all down to us and our actions day-to-day.

So, how many people we’ve helped seems to me like a much better measure of success than the size of the car we drive or the size of the house in which we live.

Real success in life comes down to the difference we make. How we’ve touched the lives of other people.

Certainly, that’s how I think we’ll be remembered by those who knew us, however much we’re focused on careers, money, and material possessions.

How great would it be to be remembered fondly and with respect by all who crossed our paths during our lives?

How will your life be measured?

I remembered my thoughts that day at the funeral when I stumbled upon this video of a presentation given by Clay Christensen at TEDxBoston.

It offers a great perspective on how your life will be measured.

I recommend you watch this video, as it’s well worth a little bit of your time.

And after you’ve watched it, I would suggest you reflect on this question:

How do you want to be remembered, dear reader?

For me, life’s measure should be in terms of how I’ve touched the lives of other people and not money, career, and the size of my house.

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