Public Speaking The Power of the Pause

09/07/2025 by
Public Speaking The Power of the Pause

Today, I offer you a tip for public speaking the power of the pause. This is a great tip from Brian Tracy.

If you aim to be successful, then mastering the art of public speaking is an essential skill you must develop.

If you’re a successful, high-profile individual, you can’t avoid speaking in public, at least occasionally. However much you might try to resist it, I’m afraid it’s like trying to hold back the tide. It can’t be done.

However, I recognize that public speaking can be a bit daunting even for people who are otherwise quite confident.

So if you lack confidence in this area, then don’t worry. You’re not alone, I promise you. Most people feel just like you do when they find themselves standing in front of a crowd, faced with the expectation that they’ll be able to say something meaningful and present it interestingly and engagingly, too.

Public Speaking The Power of the Pause
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The key to being interesting is developing your public speaking technique. The more you practice and build your technique, the more confident you’ll feel when you step up to the lectern.

One way to improve your public speaking technique is to learn from some of the best speakers and copy what they do. And Brian Tracy is an excellent speaker worthy of study. Personally, I find him both interesting and inspiring.

So if Brian has something to say, then listening to him is worthy of your time, I believe.

In the short but excellent video embedded with this post, Brian Tracy offers some helpful advice on the subject of public speaking. In particular, using the power of a pause to emphasize or reinforce a point being made.

An important element of public speaking is making sure that the underlying messages resonate with your audience. If they take away three or four powerful messages, then you’ll have done your job and done it well.

If you want to improve your public speaking skills, I recommend you watch this video.

You’ll learn some helpful tips, as well as one of the little-known secrets used by top public speakers.

Once again, I must say, Brian’s short video is well worth a few minutes of your time.

Public Speaking The Power of the Pause

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How to love the life you live and live the life you love

09/04/2025 by

How to love the life you live and live the life you love? Now there’s a question.

Do you love the life you live? Do you enjoy your work? Life should never be just about work, but it’s a big part of our lives, so it affects how we feel about ourselves.

Do you get up each morning feeling inspired by what you’ll be doing during the day ahead?

A good question to ask yourself is the one Steve Jobs asks in the video below: “If you knew that today was the last day of your life, would you still be happy doing what you have to do today?“

Knowing we will die one day reminds us that our time is precious and we should use it wisely.

Life is short, and none of us knows when our final moment will arrive. So we must follow our heart and focus our energy on work that really matters to us.

If your work matters to you, then you’ll do it well. And if you do it well, you’ll make a difference. Make a difference and you’ll leave a legacy. Do this and you’ll love the life you live.

All of this is easier said than done, of course.

Many people experience life without any real sense of satisfaction. Far too many people experience a lifetime of disappointment and regret, too. This all adds up to people living lives they don’t love.

However, it doesn’t have to be that way. You don’t have to accept a less-than-satisfactory life.

If your life is unsatisfactory, then you need to change. And change is possible.

A good place to start is by listening to the inspiring observations from the late Steve Jobs, founder of Apple, contained in the video ‘If today were the last day of my life‘ included below. His words are thought-provoking and powerful. I found this video truly inspirational, and I recommend it to you.

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How to love the life you live:

Before you watch the video, ask yourself this question. Between now and death, would you be happy to continue with the life you have right now?

No?

Then you must change and keep changing until you love the life you live.

Never accept second best because life’s far too short.

Remember: Whilst you have to make a living, you also have to make a life as well. So, have no regrets. Start making the life you want to live as quickly as possible. It’s later than you think.

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Self-promotion and why it matters if you want success

09/04/2025 by

The idea of self-promotion is something with which many readers might feel slightly uncomfortable.

Perhaps it leaves you feeling a slight sense of unease, dear reader: the idea of blowing your own trumpet and making sure that others know all about what you have to offer?

By self-promotion, I am referring to personal visibility, particularly in the office or workplace.

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Self-promotion:

Visibility matters:

Does personal visibility really matter that much, you may ask?

Well, that depends on how you think about it, really.

If you’re happy to plod along and accept whatever life decides you should have, then it probably doesn’t matter much at all.

However, if success is your aim or if you want to enjoy more of what life can offer, then personal visibility is essential.

Think about it. If I don’t know you exist, how can you be a solution to my problem?

How can I possibly know what you have to offer unless I have some visibility of you in action?

And then, if you hide your light under a bushel, how can you build a reputation?

Let’s face it, if I don’t know you exist, then to me you don’t exist at all.

Essential ingredient for success:

If success is your aim, then you have to be seen by people who matter, and you must make an impression on them too. That’s important, like it or not.

People need a reason to remember you. So make sure you give them a reason to remember you.

Ideally, you want them to like and respect you. Even if people love to hate you, that’s better than them being totally indifferent to you.

At least you’ll be known. You have to be visible. As the saying goes, ability without visibility is a liability. It is from your standpoint, anyway.

The product YOU:

The product that is You will only sell if people are aware it exists.

Self-promotion and personal public relations initiatives play a crucial role in building your reputation and creating demand for what you have to offer.

Humility is all very well, but diffidence is at best unwise.

You’ll never get anywhere unless you have visibility with the people that matter.

Think about the most successful people: people such as Barack Obama, Nelson Mandela, Donald Trump, Richard Branson, Elvis Presley, and John Lennon. Sadly, some are no longer with us. Nevertheless, these examples are still valid.

They all made an impression on you.

You may not like them, but you cannot ignore them. They all have or had that special quality known as presence. You couldn’t fail to notice them. They all have or had self-belief, too.

So make sure you get yourself noticed. Stand out in the crowd and give people a reason to remember you.

And remember this old Arab proverb:

Be contrary, be known.

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How to love your job when you hate it

08/05/2025 by

How to love your job when you hate it? A question I’ve been asked numerous times. My response is always the same. The best way to appreciate the job you have is to imagine your life without it.

That starts with taking a closer look at what’s good about the job. There’s usually some aspect of the job we enjoy, even if it’s only the swivel chair we sit in.

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Life’s too short to hate your job

Do you hate your job, dear reader?

Do you tell everyone, at every opportunity, that you hate your job?

By telling everyone you hate your job, do you imagine they’ll be impressed or, in some way, feel sympathy for you?

Maybe you think that by doing this, your fellow workers will regard you as someone unafraid to speak their mind.

Perhaps you think that in the eyes of your fellow workers, this approach will make you look good.

Hold that thought, and then consider this question. How do you feel about working with someone else who’s always moaning about how unhappy they are at their job?

Do you admire that person?

Do they impress you with their negativity?

I’m guessing your response to this question will be negative. I’m sure you’ll be unimpressed with such people. After all, most of us are.

Everyone hates a moaner

If you imagined that moaning about how unhappy you are was the best way to get people on your side, then seriously, you need to think again. Everyone hates a moaner, whatever indications you’ve heard to the contrary. Let me tell you this: no one’s impressed.

Your colleagues may not say so, but they’ll find your negativity irritating at the very least. It’s probably driving them all nuts.

Life’s short, and it’s hard enough for most people. So having some moaning Minnie constantly bringing them down makes life harder.

Constant negativity is just a pain in the rear for most people.

Imagine your life without your job

If your current mindset means you hate your job right now, then the first thing to do is start changing that mindset. Start by looking at your job differently.

How?

Well, imagine your life without your current job. What would that be like? Think about that question carefully, and be honest with yourself.

Without your job, you’d have nothing to do, no reason to get out of bed, nowhere to go, no sense of purpose, nothing to challenge you, no money, and you’d be without the camaraderie of your fellow workers. You’d probably feel lonely and lack any real social life, too.

How would that make you feel?

Would you feel better about yourself without those things?

I’m sure if you’re honest with yourself, you’ll recognise that work gives us far more than we realise. I don’t think you’d be happy without all those things mentioned above.

So the best way to begin appreciating your job is to imagine your life without it.

No job is perfect

Most jobs come with an element of frustration and a spoonful of tedium. That’s life.

No job is perfect, but no job is all bad either.

It’s just a matter of how you choose to look at things.

If you focus on the bad things, then everything will seem bad. However, if you focus on the good bits, then your job can begin to look very different, and you’ll start to feel more positive about your work.

The fact is, we all need to do something with our time, surely?

Even millionaires need something to fill their time.

There are only so many holidays you can take and so much shopping you can do.

Eventually, everyone needs a sense of purpose, and we all want to feel that we’re making a contribution to the world around us.

Life’s a short movie

Life’s far too short to be unhappy.

So if you hate your job, then you have two choices:

  1. You find another job, or
  2. You start looking differently at your current job.

And before you start searching the vacancy columns or the job websites, think carefully about what you might be throwing away should you leave your current job.

Moving to another job doesn’t guarantee that you’ll be any happier.

Neither will it guarantee that you’ll find the perfect job for you.

So it’s worth thinking seriously about your current job first. At least it’s the devil you know.

Can you begin to look at your current job differently? Perhaps you need a little help.

I really hate my job

Here’s a great motivational speech from the late Zig Ziglar that you might find very useful.

It’s full of great advice and well worth a few minutes of your time.

If you don’t like your job right now, then you really should watch it.

Even if you do like your job, watch it anyway. I found it truly inspirational. So take a look at it now.

How to love your job when you hate it (Video)

Further Listening:

I’m a huge fan of Zig Ziglar, but I recognise that he had an evangelical presentation style that’s not to everyone’s taste.

However, if you can get beyond that presentation style, then his words are inspirational and informative.

I particularly like his audiobooks, which I listen to constantly when I’m driving.

One audiobook I can recommend is:

The Born to Win Seminar

Listen to this, and I promise you it will help you discover your untapped greatness and guide you towards greater success in life.

I bought my copy of this audio program for my library, and it was well worth the price. I listen to it over and over again, and I always find something new in his words.

You can check out this audio program if you click on the buttons below.

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Brian Tracy: Habits of success anyone can learn

07/26/2025 by

Today’s theme is the habits of success.

To achieve success, you must develop good habits. That’s a reasonable statement, don’t you think, dear reader?

However, what habits should they be? That’s not so easy to answer, I hear you say.

Well, fear not; in the video included here, Brian Tracy presents some interesting ideas on the habits of success.

I admire Brian Tracy, and I listen to his audio programs frequently in my car.

In my opinion, Brian Tracy is always excellent and always full of wise words and sound advice.

And I can tell you that this video is well worth your time.

Let Brian tell you more about the habits he believes are consistent with achieving success. Please take a few minutes out of your schedule, as you will find it well worth the investment of your time.

Daily Habits of Successful People
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Remember: To be successful at whatever pursuit you choose, it must matter to you. It must really, really matter, to the point of obsession. Success doesn’t happen by accident. It’s the result of dedication, focus, and a willingness to do whatever it takes. 

Habits of Success:

Further Reading:

If success is your goal, then you need to start reading, if you haven’t already. One habit that is common to successful people is that they are all readers.

There are numerous inspirational books available on the market, not only by Brian Tracy, but also by notable authors such as Dale Carnegie, Tony Robbins, Jim Rohn, Jack Canfield, Bob Proctor, Timothy Ferriss, and Professor Steve Peters.

Why not build a small personal library? You don’t need a spare room, just a space in the corner for a bookshelf on which you can store all those words of inspiration that can inspire you to work towards becoming everything you could be and more.

Click the buttons below to start exploring Amazon now. Please don’t put it off until someday because someday never comes. So, do it now! Start as you mean to go on.

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So, there you have it. The habits of success.

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And you’ll be helping your friends too. You can genuinely make a difference in the lives of others.

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11 wise sayings about life lessons and what they mean

07/06/2025 by

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

07/05/2025 by

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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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?

06/29/2025 by

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.

Why is my life so bad right now?

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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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11 top tips for improving quality of life now

06/08/2025 by

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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What is grit and why is it important?

05/16/2025 by Leave a Comment

What is grit? I’ve heard this word a lot recently. And of course, the obvious supplementary question is, why is it important?

I’m referring to a term used in psychology to represent a positive, non-cognitive personality trait based on an individual’s perseverance of effort combined with the passion for a particular goal and a powerful motivation to achieve it. Allow me to explain.

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What is grit?

Have you ever noticed that the smartest people are not always the most successful? Success can be defined in different ways, but for most people, their measure would usually revolve around money and prestige.

If we take money as the measure of success, then you’d think the smartest people would easily come out on top of that score, surely? Yet you’d be wrong.

We hear stories frequently about college professors who struggle financially, while at the same time, tradesmen like bricklayers and plumbers become millionaires. How can that be?

Surely the smartest people have a natural advantage? Well, no, they don’t.

The people with the real, innate advantage are those with this quality known as grit.

So, exactly what is grit?

It is an inner steeliness. It is courage and resolve. It is a strength of character. It is drive and desire. It is passion and motivation.

It is a willingness to persevere until the desired result is achieved. It is a determination to achieve a goal and a willingness to take calculated risks.

It is a fact that doing well in life depends on much more than academic ability and your capacity to learn quickly and easily.

Having those qualities is useful, of course, but in the absence of grit, you’d still be at a disadvantage.

Someone of average academic ability but with a shedload of grit will be better placed to achieve real success in life.

People with grit intuitively recognize that life is a marathon, not a sprint.

They’re willing to experience failure because they know that failure is a temporary outcome, not a permanent position. And they’re willing to fail and then start over using the lessons they’ve learned from the experience.

So what’s the key to success? It’s the need to get grittier!

Angela Lee Duckworth makes this point admirably in this excellent TEDxTalk video, and it’s well worth a few minutes of your time. It’s an interesting video, and I think she nails the point perfectly.

That’s what I think, but what is your opinion?

Could there be such an easy answer, or is it all much more complicated? I’d be interested to hear your views.

Grit: The power of passion and perseverance:

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Thank you.

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