No energy drink can invigorate you more than a good night’s sleep. Sadly, our society has become too proud to acknowledge that sleep is as important as proper nutrition and regular exercise. This is evident in our overworked culture and amplified by technology that keeps us connected 24/7.

When are we going to improve our sleep habits? Let these 8 sleep deprivation side effects convince you that sufficient zzz’s matter.

Lack of sleep is similar to getting drunk

A study published in the Harvard Business Review suggests that sleep deprivation can affect one’s performance as alcohol intoxication. “Next time you’re planning on staying up an extra few hours to finish your paper, consider that you will have the perception and judgment of a someone who is legally too drunk to drive,” wrote Brad Strelcher, editor-at-large at the University of Southern California.

Pulling an all-nighter is similar to having a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08%. This can increase your risk of being involved in road accidents. The Institute of Medicine warns that drowsy driving causes 20% of all motor vehicle crashes in the US.

Poor sleep habits and reduced mental performance

One mistake college students commit is pulling all-nighters before a major exam. Cramming is a trend that doesn’t do anybody a favor. “Sleep deprivation negatively impacts our mood, our ability to focus, and our ability to access higher-level cognitive functions,” according to Harvard Medical School.

Scientists were able to identify changes in brain activity after nights of insufficient sleep. The brain activity, measured by an electroencephalogram or EEG, showed “lower level of alertness and a general propensity to sleep.”

If you need to prepare for an exam or a presentation, make sure your brain is well-rested.

See Also: 7 Little Known Ways In Which Poor Sleep Is Killing You And Your Career 

Long-term sleep deprivation increases disease risk

A sleep-deprived body is at risk of developing diseases. Harvard Medical School’s Division of Sleep Medicine presents three types of studies about the health risks of sleep deprivation.

The first type involved the short-term impact of poor sleep that could trigger diseases, while the second type analyzed the link between habitual sleep duration and the existence of certain diseases. The third, and regarded as “the most convincing type of evidence” is the long-term assessment of sleep habits and diseases of initially healthy individuals.

The results from longitudinal epidemiological studies suggest that “adjusting one’s sleep can reduce the risk of eventually developing a disease or lessen the severity of an ongoing disease.”

Less sleep, more weight

Losing sleep upsets the body’s hormonal balance that helps control the appetite, metabolism, and glucose processing. Studies show that people who sleep less than six hours each night, versus the recommended seven to nine hour sleep, are much more likely to have a higher body mass index.

You may have noticed that you crave carbohydrates and sugary foods when staying up late. This is because of the higher secretion of biochemical ghrelin, which stimulates appetite. Moreover, being sleep deprived can leave you too tired to burn off extra calories with exercise.

Sleep loss and heart problems

Overworked employees who reportedly pulled all-nighters recently made global headlines following their premature deaths. Most suffered from a cardiac arrest after losing sleep for three consecutive nights. Harvard Medical School noted that “sleeping too little (less than six hours) or too much (more than nine hours) increased the risk of coronary heart disease in women.”

Sleep apnea, a chronic condition characterized by one or more pauses in breathing during sleep, is also linked to heart diseases. Apnea sufferers’ airway close up when they fall asleep and they experience surges in blood pressure when they wake up.

Insufficient sleep causes mood disorders

Mornings can be challenging for the sleep deprived. According to experts, a single sleepless night can cause irritability and distress the following day. Regularly missing the recommended seven-to-nine-hour nightly sleep can also lead to long-term mood disorders, and depression and anxiety.

In a study published in Current Biology, the researchers found a causal relationship between impaired sleep and some psychiatric symptomatology and disorders. The amygdala, or the brain region for emotions, emotional behavior and motivation, seemed to be “rewired” in the sleep-deprived brain. People who lack sleep experience a “pendulum of emotions, going from upset and annoyed to giddy in moments,” according to Dr. Matthew Walker of the University of California, Berkeley.

Sleep deprived people drink more alcohol

You may know family and friends who turn to whiskey or vodka to help them fall asleep at night. While alcohol can act as a mild sedative that induce sleep, its impact is only temporary. After a few hours, the alcohol begins to stimulate the brain, causing disruptions throughout the night. Alcohol dependency is linked to a number of diseases including liver inflammation and coronary heart disease.

Losing sleep can cut down life expectancy

Neglecting sufficient sleep, which is one of the pillars of health, can lead to various physical and mental problems. It is no surprise that sleep deprivation can lead to premature death. Studies show that sleeping for five hours or less each night can increase one’s mortality risk by about 15 percent. It is imperative to seek medical assistance and undergo therapy if your sleep habits are downgrading the quality of your life.

See Also: 5 Natural Ways to Stop Your Sleepless Nights 

The staggering amount of evidence on the effects of sleep loss should be enough to encourage us to rethink our lifestyle. Sleep deprivation can put your safety at risk as well as negatively affect your performance. It can lead to mood disorders, obesity, heart problems, even premature death.

One student realized the need to adjust his lifestyle to improve his sleep habits. “I enrolled in slightly less demanding classes, took on a less time-consuming job and allotted for more free time in my schedule. I’ve been more active, more happy and all around more successful,” shared US student Brad Strelcher.

When will you make the right changes in your life?

 

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Well, finally the parties and hangovers are over and it’s time to get back to business. 2017 has already seen its fair share of failed resolutions. But today, we will give you a glimpse of some of the most effective SEO resolutions for 2017 that are bound to turn the fates of your websites and blogs around.

What did we see when the beat finally dropped?

• Intuitive searches

Last year, Google underwent a complete makeover. From minor updates to additional algorithms, Google has changed the way we view web searches. Hummingbird made it possible for machines to learn and understand our language. Google can now understand the context of every keyword and the underlying meaning of every sentence containing them.

• Google voice searches and smart assistants

Google searches have become more comprehensive, intuitive and effective over the last year. With the advent of voice search options and voice assistants, it is becoming more necessary for all existing websites to optimize their content.

At the moment, 20% of all smartphone users have used voice search and about 85% of them have used it for asking directions. However, the popularity of Siri and Cortana is growing by the day and we expect a complete conversion to voice searches by the end of 2020.

• Google AMPs

Google Accelerated Mobile Pages or AMPs will make the developers’ dreams come true. They will make you believe unicorns exist and they might even bring about world peace, but first we need to know what these AMPs are.

This is an open-source coding standard that hastens mobile page loading and makes sure the responsiveness of your mobile website is just right to engage the crowd. At present, any website with Google AMP will be showcased on the Google carousel as per relevant Google search results.

See Also: 5 Awesome Tools To Help You Newbie Geeks With Your Open Source Project

• PWAs

2017 will also be dominated by mobile apps. Progressive Web Apps or PWA will be the future of all desktop websites who want to survive post-2017. PWA can bridge the gap between native mobile apps from stores and mobile web apps that lack the finest levels of optimization. PWA will change the way we are currently looking at mobile optimized websites and Web-based APIs.

See Also: 7 Smart Reasons Why Small Businesses Should Develop Their Own Mobile Apps This 2017

• Infographs

Inforgraphics will become the new best friend of search engines. We have already seen the rise of images and video in marketing in the previous year. 2017 will be the year of visual information that can be displayed on your website. It is easy enough to create backlinks to your websites using infographs and it works wonders for social media marketing.

While implementing these tips and tricks for 2017 SEO, do not forget to keep an eye on the quality of your content. Long-form content with original information has always been preferred by Google and other contemporary search engines.

 

 

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Failure comes in all shapes and forms, and everyone has their own ideas about it. One thing that is certain, however, is that failure sucks. Heck, the mere thought of failing at anything is enough to put most people off trying in the first place. But it shouldn’t. Learning to deal with failure in a positive way may sound difficult, but once you’ve mastered it, you’ll be on the road to success – and that goes for blogging too.

Blogging takes a lot of time and effort, and you won’t see results straight away –it’s normal. A lot of decisions made about blogs are the result of trial-and-error, so be prepared to try a lot of different things before getting it right.

Follow these 5 steps and you’ll have made your peace with failure in no time.

Own it

You didn’t do as well as you thought you did, or you missed the mark entirely. So what?

Everyone has failed at something at some point in life (whether they choose to admit it or not) and contrary to popular belief, it’s not the end of the world. Don’t be ashamed to tell those around you about it; it’ll probably help you weed out any unsupportive parties and allow you to focus on maintaining relationships with those who fully believe in you. Fake friends, your time is up – thanks, failure.

Don’t Let Yourself Wallow in Self-pity

You’ll get away with this for a few days tops, but then it’s back to the grind. The reason success is celebrated is because it takes hard work and guts to get there, so waste little time and figure out a new strategy. Use it as an opportunity to take a walk down a different path: be open to new ideas and say yes to things when you’d normally say no – what have you got to lose? You’ve hit bottom, now the only way is up, baaaaby – praise to Yazz for such inspirational lyrics.

You never know, that person you caught taking an interest in your journal on your subway ride home from a failed interview could prove a useful contact to you – engage with them.

See Also: Be a Rebel: 7 Tips for Radical Achievement from Albert Einstein 

Get Feedback

If you didn’t know there was anything wrong with your work in the first place, chances are you still don’t know now. Asking for feedback is important, whether it be from a friend, a professional or even a complete stranger.

Sometimes, all you need is a fresh perspective – someone to help you see things from a new angle can make all the difference. If nothing is making sense, ask for help – you’re only human, and we all need a little help along the way.

Keep Moving Forward

View failure as an attempt at success – you didn’t achieve it this time, but who’s to say you won’t next time? Keep your cool and keep moving forward. Your brain is a wonderful tool – put it to good use by trying out new techniques, writing styles or whatever comes to mind. Your comfort zone isn’t designed to be lived in so get outta there! Unlock your creative side and let your ideas flow.

Accept That It May Happen Again

Making friends with failure will be difficult, but it’ll be worth it. You have to be prepared for anything, which means being prepared to fail again. Re-adjusting your attitude could be the making of you, so don’t hesitate. Accepting failure is not accepting defeat, it’s being realistic. You’ll probably find that it pushes you to work even harder, which is always a good thing, regardless of what you’re working on.

Failure won’t kill you, but it’ll definitely make you stronger. Your potential knows no bounds, so get back out there and show everyone what you’re made of! Success takes time and dedication among a heap of other things, so remember – life is a marathon, not a sprint. Be assertive and confident, and don’t forget to work hard. Failure will try and bring you down – don’t let it. If failure prevents you from trying, you will never achieve success; it’s as simple as that.

Think back to these 5 ways to make the most of failure when you’re considering giving up, and you’ll be back on track before you know it.

See Also: Why You Should Forget Success And Strive to Fail 

 

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“We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.”
Aristotle

Our never-ending quest towards self-improvement is a long journey of small steps. Small habits we repeat day after day, week after week, year after year. Small habits that have turned us into who we are today can also determine who we will become in the future.

Below are 7 Power Habits of some of the greatest human beings to ever live.

Have a Vision

Who did it? Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was one of the greatest American leaders of the 20th century. A civil rights leader, a religious leader, and an African-American leader. King is famously known for his I-have-a-dream-speech at the March on Washington in 1963.

“I say to you today, my friends, so even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream.”

His dream was nothing less than racial equality, something that seemed to be a long way off at that time. King’s visionary speech is widely regarded as one of the finest speeches in American history, helping African Americans put racial equality on top of the political agenda which ultimately led to the Civil Rights Act in the following year.

Why you should do it!

The ability of visionary thinking enables us to see past our status quo. It allows us to see past current conditions and limitations. Through a powerful vision we can dream, create and manifest what does not yet exist. Your own personal mission statement will have a directional and a motivational function. It will help you focus on those activities you have to do in the present in order to achieve the desired future state of success.

One of the most well-known and most respected voices on visionary thinking is Napoleon Hill. Hill spent more than 20 years researching the accomplishments and habits of successful people in business, coming to the conclusion that the path to success starts in your mind. You will become what you believe you will become! If you haven’t already, I highly encourage you to read and study his book Think and Grow Rich. It’s one of the most powerful books ever written.

Take Action

Who does it? Bill Gates

As a guest on Larry King’s famous talk show, Bill Gates opened up about the three key factors of being successful. Besides having a clear vision and being in the right place at the right time, another crucial success factor is to take massive and immediate action. Or to put it in the words of Bill Gates:

“When you find a good idea act on it right away.”

In business, success is often determined by turning ideas into action before your competition does. As the co-founder and president of Microsoft, Gates revolutionized the computer industry. Today he is consistently ranked in the Forbes list of the world’s richest people—so he obviously knows what he is talking about.

Why you should do it!

In our lives, we are all presented with numerous ideas and promising opportunities. Many of them could lead us to wealth and self-fulfillment. They could help us escape the corporate 9-to-5 grind forever.

However, most people, even when they actively recognize that they have a great idea, don’t do anything with it. Most people are simply afraid to take action, or they are just too lazy to follow up on their dreams. Most people would rather stay in their comfort zone. Yet, they all love to read books like these and are inspired by those that took massive action in their lives.

If you dream of a better life, you’d better take action! Now!

See Also: Top 5 Traits Of Billionaires

Don’t Break the Chain

Who does it? Jerry Seinfeld

The New York native started his career as a stand-up comedian before he turned to acting, playing a semi-fictional version of himself in the sitcom Seinfeld. As a touring comic Seinfeld discovered his don’t-break-the-chain method for more productivity. His technique enabled him to become a better comedian and to write better jokes. Just like Stephen King, Seinfeld turned writing into a daily habit. He used a unique calendar system to motivate and pressure himself to write, even when he didn’t feel like it. All he needed was a big wall calendar and a big red magic marker. For each day he successfully followed his habit of writing, he put a big red X over that day.

“After a few days, you’ll have a chain. Just keep at it and the chain will grow longer every day. You’ll like seeing that chain, especially when you get a few weeks under your belt. Your only job next is to not break the chain.”

Why you should do it!

Seinfeld’s productivity technique can be used for almost every habit, from writing to exercising, from dieting to quitting an addiction. Daily action builds habits. Success is the result of a long series of simple steps. Not breaking the chain for a couple of days will give you momentum and motivation to carry on and not quit. Days turn into weeks, weeks turn into months. You can use a wall calendar like Seinfeld, or a mobile app.

Follow Your Curiosity

Who did it? Albert Einstein

If people are asked to name the smartest person they know, the name of Einstein will most likely be the most common answer. German-born Albert Einstein developed the grand theory of relativity (e = mc²), the cornerstone of modern physics. In 1921 he won the Nobel Prize for physics, honoring his explanation of the photoelectric effect. He is considered the most influential scientist of the 20th century. He was passionately curious about the mysteries of science. He was also a great philosopher, and moral leader, who has written hundreds of books and articles.

“I have no special talent. I am only passionately curious.”

Why you should do it!

“Why?” A simple question both parents and teachers alike dread to hear. A question many have stopped asking at some point on their way to becoming an adult. However, constantly following your curiosity is something that offers numerous benefits. Research has shown that curious people are happier. They also tend to be more achieving and successful in life. Curiosity can expand empathy, and thus strengthen social relationships.

See Also: Be a Rebel: 7 Tips for Radical Achievement from Albert Einstein 

Go the Extra Mile

Who does it? Arnold Schwarzenegger

The Austrian-born Schwarzenegger began lifting weights at the age of fifteen. That’s when he decided to become a bodybuilder. Five years later he won the title of Mr. Olympia, the most prestigious award in his sport. He has won it seven times! After his bodybuilding career, Arnold moved to America and decided to become an actor. Despite all the doubts of his critics, and his strong accent, he became one of the highest paid movie stars of recent decades. To many, he is the greatest action star Hollywood has ever seen. He then decided to move into politics, only to become the Governor of California.

His resume sounds like the resumes of three different men rather than just one, and it is only due to his relentless drive and insane work ethic. He mastered the ability to go the extra mile in his early life, lifting weights, and applied this concept to all other areas of his professional life as well.

“The last three or four reps is what makes the muscle grow. This area of pain divides the champion from someone else who is not a champion. That’s what most people lack, having the guts to go on and just say they’ll go through the pain no matter what happens.”

Why you should do it!

Going the extra mile is tough. It requires people to get out of their comfort zone. However, it is the ability to push through your limits that separates the greats from the average Joes. Going the extra mile will separate you from the rest.

This habit can be applied to many areas in your life, from your workplace to the gym. If you want to look good naked, push your body to go the extra mile. If you want to really excel in business, school, and life, go the extra mile. Give the people around you—your customers, your team, your family, and friends—more than they expect, and you’ll be rewarded with loyalty, referrals, opportunity and money in return.

Laugh

Who did it? Charlie Chaplin

“A day without laughter is a day wasted.”

Sir Charles “Charlie” Spencer Chaplin spent his entire professional life attempting to make people laugh, and he still does, even to this day. He became an icon through his on-screen persona and portrayal of The Little Tramp. His career lasted no less than 75 years, earning him an honorary Oscar in 1971, six years before his passing in Switzerland in late 1977.

Why you should do it!

Laughing is one of the best feelings in the world. Not only is it a lot of fun, it is also highly infectious. But unlike most things infectious, laughter comes with a great amount of health benefits for your mind and body.

Laughing is one of the fastest, cheapest, and most effective ways of beating stress. It reduces stress hormones and releases endorphins in return. Endorphins are the body’s natural feel-good chemicals. A good dose of laughter will also boost your immune system, making your body more resistant to diseases. Laughter protects your heart. It improves the function of your blood vessels and increases blood flow, which will help your body to protect itself against cardiovascular diseases, even heart attacks. Further benefits of having a good laugh include: improved mood, muscle relaxation and strong social relationships.

Now go ahead and smile, and start spending more time with fun people.

Build Bridges

Who did it? Isaac Newton

Sir Isaac Newton was an English-born physicist, mathematician, astronomer, natural philosopher, alchemist, and theologian. He was certainly one of the most influential people in the history of the world. His famous book Principia, published in 1687, may be the most important science book ever written. It describes universal gravitation, and the three laws of motion, a topic which dominated the scientific view of the universe in the centuries that followed.

Besides that, he also built the first ever telescope, developed a theory of color, formulated an empirical law of cooling, studied the speed of sound, and the list goes on. Besides living a life devoted to science, he was also very religious. He was also a guy that understood the importance of building quality relationships with other people.

“We build too many walls and not enough bridges.”

Why you should do it!

Do you know Bronnie Ware? Neither did I. But it’s well worth listening to what she has to say. Ware is an Australian nurse who spent many years working in palliative care, taking care of patients in the last weeks of their lives. Ware has collected and published their dying epiphanies in the bestselling book The Top Five Regrets of the Dying.

According to the book, people gain an incredible clarity of vision as they get close to death. When she asked them about their regrets and missed opportunities in life, common themes surfaced over and over again. One of them is the wish that they had stayed in touch with their friends.

“Often they would not truly realize the full benefits of old friends until their dying weeks and it was not always possible to track them down. Many had become so caught up in their own lives that they had let golden friendships slip by over the years. There were many deep regrets about not giving friendships the time and effort that they deserved. Everyone misses their friends when they are dying.”

Now you still have time to tear down walls, and build bridges. Do it, before it is too late!

 

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Colleagues can either be constructive or disruptive!

The helpful ones make work much easier and the workplace a great place to look forward going to every day. But, handling the disruptive ones requires a lot of tact or else, they can make your already difficult work atmosphere even more difficult. With some tactful interference, you can either keep away or handle such difficult personalities at work.

Here are some tips to manage different personalities in the workplace:

Identify difficult co-workers

The very first point of importance is to identify the difficult-to-handle co-workers.

They can come in all sizes and shapes. There are gossip machines, bossy teammates, blamers, victims and show-stealers in all organizations. The very first step involves identifying who’s who in the office.

Once you know the people who can create problems, the least you can do is to avoid their company as much as possible. It will not help you avoid the problems they create, but it will keep you away from them and you can better concentrate on your work and productivity. Out of sight, out of mind, so they say.

Have Patience

When you work in the same office, it is very difficult to avoid some people completely. They can provoke you into a fight and then scoot away easily when supervisors pop up. You will realize only later that the troublemaker who started it all has already escaped. So, don’t allow yourself to be provoked. Patience makes a great barrier against impending fights.

Evaluate the Situation

To help you avoid trouble at work, evaluate a sticky situation with a troublemaker officemate. See how it will affect your position in the office, how it will affect your relationship with your colleagues, and how it might affect all the achievements you’ve built up over the years. This way, you might be able to find a better way out of your situation that won’t mean getting into a fight with a difficult co-worker.

See Also: How to Deal with a Workplace Bully

Know who you are dealing with

As you evaluate the situation, you need to know the person whom you are dealing with too. Sometimes, troublemakers create issues just to gain some attention. Other times, it is for their professional gain.

Seniors can make your life hell at work just for the sake of playing the boss. If they have more connections in the office, it is best to avoid a confrontation as you will be the person who can be more affected because of it. If it is a teammate, evaluate his connections.

A colleague closer to the boss can invite more trouble than one who is not. It is hence important to know more about the troublemaker before you decide on a strategy to combat trouble.

No point discussing with colleagues

Discussing your issue with your colleagues will only make matters worse. If any of them spill the beans to the person involved, it can aggravate the issue. When there’s a gossiper in the group, anything you shared may be communicated in a totally negative aspect. More often than not, your colleagues will be hard put to offer a realistic solution so there’s no point discussing the matter with others.

Try talking truce

Once you have evaluated the situation and the person involved, you can try talking to the person involved to sort out your differences. If things can be settled amicably, that’s the best solution. Sometimes the issue might be because of a misunderstanding which can be sorted out by talking things over. One trial at discussing a truce will be a good option to try anyway.

Escalate when you cannot handle it

Finally, if things seem to be getting overboard, do not hesitate to escalate the matter to your boss. Make sure the communication is neutral and clear so that it is not used against you in any way. Take a peaceful stance while discussing with the boss or your superior and explain calmly all the steps you have taken including the confrontation. Also, make it clear that you are willing to give the other person another chance to change to be very fair. This way you are safe the next time some issue comes up.

See Also: Smart Ways to Navigate Office Politics and Emerge as a Winner

 

Author-bio: Levin George is a Search Engine Optimizer at OfficeRock.com. He actively pursues interests related to latest internet marketing trends. He spends his leisure time reading, meditating and enjoying the joys of technology.

 

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A while back, I took acting classes, one of which involved me doing a monologue (which is basically when one person stands in front of the audience for an extended period of time and speaks directly to them). This monologue was from the playwright Eric Bogosian and the title was “Pounding Nails in the Floor with my Forehead.”

And although this monologue was meant to be funny, it kept coming out as if I was angry, not the emotion I wanted to portray to the audience. This left me feeling frustrated with myself and unsure what to do in order to quit sounding mad so I might actually make them laugh.

At one point, my teacher, one of the best teachers I’ve actually ever had, sensed my struggle and said, “Red. Stop for a second and come sit in my seat.” I wasn’t quite sure what good that was going to do but, like a good student, I complied, trusting in the fact that he knew what he was doing (when I clearly felt like I didn’t). Then he gave me my next command. “Now do the monologue.”

In my mind, I’m thinking, “What? How am I going to do the monologue from this audience seat?” Most importantly, I wondered how changing my physical location was ever going to help me change my tone enough for the correct effect. But again, I trusted my teacher so I did as he asked. The result? The monologue suddenly sounded exactly like it was supposed to…funny.

That day I learned that sometimes you have to move your physical space in order to change your perspective and get better results. In this case, it took me leaving the theater stage and sitting in an audience member’s chair to shift my thoughts enough to shift the monologue tone as well. So, if you’re not achieving what you want in your life, maybe moving your space is the one thing that can help you overcome your hurdles and create better results.

For example, if you work behind a computer all day and find that you spend more time fiddling with your ink pen than typing out your marketing goals or coming up with new products or services, why not take your laptop and head to a coffee shop instead? Leaving the quiet office scene and going someplace where people come and go all day may just stoke your creativity, making it easier to come up with new thoughts and ideas that can take you and your business to higher levels.

Or if you feel like you’ve been treading water for some time in your career—expending lots of energy but not really getting anywhere—a change of space may be exactly what you need to start moving forward again. This could involve taking a day off and going to a conference, networking with others, or taking a class to learn more in an area that you struggle (marketing, product development, etc.) and enabling you to begin to make progress again.

By changing your physical space, you’re better able to change your mental perspective. When you see things from a different angle, you get a better view of solutions or ideas that you didn’t know existed simply because you’re looking at them differently than ever before.

This process can be amazingly transformational, helping you achieve whatever it is you want to achieve. And you can do it solely by taking a step in another direction, giving you a better view.

See Also: How to Leverage Your Problems in Order to Become Happier

 

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A man of many successes and struggles, Alexander Graham Bell is the perfect example of a man who knows the importance of connecting to the future. He invented the metal detector and helped relaunch the National Geographic Magazine. He gave his wife Mabel, who was deaf, 1497 shares of his 1507 total shares in the Bell Telephone Company.

When talking about missed opportunities, he was quoted as saying, “When one door closes, another opens; but we often look so long and so regretfully upon the door that is closed that we do not see the one which has opened for us.” Losing sight of the future keeps you mired in the past, unable to see your possibilities.

During your successes and struggles here are four ways to connect to your future without being mired in the past:

Pick a few adjectives to describe who you want to become this year as a person

Do you want to be friendly, helpful, or kind? Choose adjectives related to behavior. The main thing you can control is your behavior, so behavior is a useful place to start. The words you pick help you keep focused so that when challenges or change occur, you work to keep your adjectives in mind as you choose actions to support the chosen adjectives.

When dwelling on the past, redirect yourself

Make a checklist of things to do that week. Clean out a closet. Read a book. Exercise. Take a class. Write out goals for the year.

Take actions that support your plans and goals. Remember to stay aware and intentional about the behaviors you chose. Connecting to the future sometimes involves an intentional and authentic plan of behaviors and actions.

See Also: 5 Barriers That You Need To Cross To Achieve Success This Year

Don’t judge people or events as good or bad, or wrong or right

You may not agree with how others act or see the world, but these events and individuals do not have the power to change your behavior. When you take away good or bad, or wrong or right from your dialogue, you disconnect from the need to prove yourself in past situations.

Since people see the world differently, expand understanding of internal (you) and external (other individuals) with observation, not labels. You can say, “I did not care for his behavior.” It is a subtle wording difference to saying, “That guy is wrong.”

Nurture yourself

Take up a hobby you enjoy. Snuggle in a chair with a blanket and a book. Go for a walk. Golf. What makes you feel healthy and relaxed? Think of activities you do where time disappears. Sometimes your life feels nice when connected wholly to the present.

See Also: 5 Habits to Make The New Year Your Best Year Yet 

The past plays a role in today, but it does not have to define your future. The next time an individual or a situation frustrates you, think of your adjectives, choose actions that support your words, then change your dialogue to observations, not labels. Find ways to connect with the future possibilities of life.

This cycle of living keeps your energy focused on opportunities in the future instead of the mire of the past. During work or at home you have the potential to create a style of living that offers you a stronger connection to the future.

 

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Millennials have been done a great disservice. They are told that if they go to college and earn a degree, they will make a million dollars more over their lifetime than someone without a college degree. While this statistic is true in some cases, many Millennials are under the mistaken impression it is the college degree itself that will get them where they need to go. It turns out there is a whole other set of skills- soft skills- that Millennials are lacking, and that is holding them back.

What Are Soft Skills?

Being able to get to work on time, eating nutritious foods, and getting enough exercise are all soft skills that can impact your job performance. But the soft skills employers are most looking for are:

• Creative Thinking
• Effective Communication
• Problem Solving
• Innovative Thinking
• Ethical Integrity
• Intercultural Skills
• Desire For Continued Learning

Where Do You Get Soft Skills?

Soft skills are generally things that aren’t taught, though they can be. Most people are supposed to learn these things through experience, but when you are just starting out in the job market you don’t really have time to learn on the job. In this job market, you need to show up prepared.

Some places to hone your adulting skills are:

• Self Help Books
• Volunteering
• Adulting Classes
• Support Groups
• Hobbies

Whenever you work on bettering yourself, you are bringing yourself one step closer to being a responsible adult. If you are under the mistaken impression you are good enough just as you are, take a long hard look in the mirror. Everyone, literally everyone, has room for improvement. It’s not that you’re a bad person; you need to focus on being the best version of yourself you possibly can be.

See Also: 5 Reasons Why You Should Volunteer 

What Schools Aren’t Teaching

Millennials can have the best degree from the best university, but there are some things they might not be learning. Getting the job done efficiently is as important as getting it done well. Learning to prioritize tasks and set goals and deadlines is certainly something that Millennials should be learning in school, but it doesn’t always shake out that way.

Things that are emphasized in school:

• Science
• Technology
• Mathematics
• Reading
• Writing

Things that are not emphasized in school but should be:

• Arts
• Humanities
• History
• Physical Education
• Home Economics
• Social Skills

With the shift toward teaching to a test, the school is results-driven rather than comprehensive. Education is shifted to one extreme- the one that is going to produce the most career-ready students. Unfortunately, the need for arts, humanities, and the like gets lost in the shuffle. Empathy is not measurable, neither is the drive to succeed. As long as you can memorize and regurgitate the material, you get rubber stamped to move on to the next level.

Once school is over, where are Millennials supposed to learn these soft skills? That is the true challenge. Knowing you need to brush up on your soft skills is one thing, but knowing how to do that is something else entirely. Perseverance is the key to all lifelong learning. There will be setbacks and challenges, but learning to press on is where Millennials have the opportunity to transform into the next generation of business leaders.

See Also: How Millennials Measure Success At Work

Learning how to take care of yourself outside of the workplace will go a long way toward success in the workplace. Millennials also often don’t learn how to eat a proper diet, get enough sleep and exercise, and the value of unplugging in school, but these skills can have a huge impact on career readiness.

Soft skills set apart between being able to replicate your job as it was taught to you and being able to innovate a new way to do your job that is more efficient. Soft skills are the difference between keeping your business small and local and being able to scale up because you have the ability to communicate with people from other cultures.

Developing yourself both personally and professionally is something you have to do on your own time. You will have to be willing to engage in lifelong learning. If you don’t want to ever learn anything new ever again, your career is going to be stuck for the rest of your life. But if you can recognize there is a problem and set about trying to solve it, congratulations- you’ve just mastered adulting.

 

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Is there a secret as to why some individuals have successful careers and others do not? Research shows that abilities or IQ often have no cause and effect relationship. Certainly, a socio-economic background does have a significant association, but no guarantee.

As an executive coach and leadership trainer, I have talked to experienced senior managers and executive about their careers over the two decades. They have shared their experiences, secrets, innermost fears and hopes for the future with me. A constant theme for both high-performing and high-potential experts has been the pitfalls and promises of corporate politics and finding the secrets to career success. Here are some insights I can share that can advance, shape and revamp the careers of managers and executives.

Here are some insights I can share that can advance, shape and revamp the careers of managers and executives.

Take responsibility for managing your own profession

Do not wait until you are fired, burned out, laid off or fed up to revitalize your profession. Manage your career on an ongoing basis, particularly through the good eras. This reflects a belief you should embrace, “Take responsibility for everything that happens in your life.”

See Also: Keep Calm and Don’t Stress: Recognizing and Preventing Job Burnout 

Be Vocal

When someone talks to you, they will judge or evaluate your worth. Make that conversation worthwhile. Focus on the other person and not yourself.

Focus on your strengths

By strengths, I mean activities that meet the following criteria:
 You are great (not only good) at it.
 When you are thinking about the task, it makes you excited and anxious.
 When you are doing the task, you concentrate on it and get absorbed in the activity, even losing track of time.
 Once the task is done, you have more energy than before.

Don’t buy into the workaholic hype

Workaholics overachieve at a cost. Usually, they burn out and never recover or they burn out their other folks. Having a balanced life does not necessarily hinder your productivity. In fact, research shows that time off from work and getting rest time increases productivity.

See Also: A Work-Life Balance? 8 Steps to Help You Juggle It All 

Self-management

Self-management is a key ability that will support you throughout your life. It includes setting goals and managing your time. Developing your motivation and concentration will help you overcome the lure of procrastination. Effective self-management will help you avoid stress and offer you more chances to get involved in fun activities.

Self-Awareness

When we learn to become aware of our primitive and self-destructive thoughts, ideas, beliefs, choices and assumptions, we become more loving, peaceful, and intelligent beings. Not only do we stop suffering, but the individuals in our lives stop responding to our self-imposed misery. Instead, they find more peace. Our thoughts create our reality, which is why these self-awareness activities are so important for us to learn.

Stop being in love with the sound of your own voice

Develop the discipline to listen more than you talk. Watch how often you use the word “I” when you talk.

Never be unemployed, even for a day

If you get fired or laid off, volunteer immediately somewhere for something that puts your abilities to work. The longer you are not meaningfully engaged, whether you are compensated or not, the more this will drain your confidence and energy.

Be Gentle

Even if you have all the answers, people do not want to work with you if you continually shove it in their face or show you do not care about them. “People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.”

Under promise and over deliver

The celebrity endorsement, professional athlete hype, and heroic CEO promises of super accomplishments have taken the public into a fantasy world. But kindness, compassion, and selfless service are a powerful combination that has a bigger long-term impact.

Find mentors

Hire a trainer or find a wise person preferably outside of the office to give you advice who will guide you on your fears, hopes, and dreams. Good mentors will also guide you to make good decisions.

The bottom line is that there are or formulas or no magic potions for career success. What you need are constant efforts and insightful strategies much like the focus of successful companies.

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In today’s world, many aspects of masculinity have been called into question. I think we can all agree that masculine drives to dominance and force have led to much violence, corruption, trauma, and suffering in the world. I see these manifestations as unhealthy aspects of the Warrior spirit, which is inherent in all men.

Healthy Warrior spirit is positive and necessary for men—a heroic striving to become more, slay one’s own demons, protect others, speak truth the to power, and stand up for what’s right in the world. I believe one of the most important challenges for men today is learning to cultivate and harness their Warrior spirit as a force for good, for change, and for supporting the best in themselves and others.

So how do we find our Warrior nature? And how can we distinguish between our healthy and our destructive Warrior instincts?

The Warrior and the Man of Wisdom are at the heart of the Hero’s Journey

The Hero’s Journey is omnipresent in the genetically driven archetypal forms that arise from all cultures. For men, embracing his Warrior nature and transforming through quests into the Man of Wisdom is at the heart of the masculine Journey.

The Hero, when he finally heeds an authentic call to action and embraces his Warrior self, develops, strengthens, and clarifies through ordeal and struggle on the road to becoming a Man of Wisdom.

We become the Warrior when we are willing to endure discomfort and put ourselves at risk for our principles. 17th Century “Sword Saint” Miamoto Musashi maintained that resolute acceptance of death in serving your purpose—your current mission—is the signature hallmark of the Warrior. Principle over comfort and safety seems to be a central organizing principle in most teachings about the Warrior and Man of Wisdom, and is consistent with the evolutionary roots of the archetypes. I’ve also found it to be true for my clients and me over the last forty-three years and fifty-five thousand therapy sessions.

When a man becomes stable in his Warrior consciousness, discerning what’s true or false, and feels more moved to serve others’ development and less absorbed with testing himself, he’s often transitioning into Man of Wisdom.

Why is the Warrior archetype so necessary for men? Male competition and dominance are built into the human genome just as it is in chimpanzees, walruses, wolves and countless other species. This instinct is met putting purpose ahead of personal comfort or safety in critical situations.

The Hero’s journey—the universal human attraction to being on a mission—often involves an initial transition into the Warrior who, through traveling the road of trials, transforms into the Man of Wisdom.

The hero in the hero’s journey by definition expands his Warrior nature. He hears a call to action, says “Yes!” faces and defeats the threshold guardian, and crosses the threshold onto the road of trials and ordeals. The Warrior, receiving transformational spiritual guidance, feels in his heart when he’s on or off his mission and adjusts back to his mission, even under extreme duress.

Ordeals lead to the Well of the World—the Belly of the Whale—where he must reconcile Masculine and Feminine, Father and Mother, Light and Shadow.

As he does, his identity is progressing towards Man of Wisdom who returns through the threshold, a living bridge to the Other World. Great examples?

• Luke embodying the Jedi Knight into defeating and then reconciling with the wounded father–Darth Vader.
• Harry Potter finding deep compassion even as he destroys Voldemort.
• Bill Clinton facing the humiliations of his impeachment and wounded sexuality and continuing on to serve the world in multiple ways.
• Einstein first surrendering to his calling to more deeply understand the cosmos–in the face of much adversity–and going on to be a powerful philosophical voice for unity.

The core of the Hero’s Journey is the challenge to grow or collapse under stress. We are called, we resist the call, we finally accept the call, and embark on our personal Odyssey—choosing the adventure and coming home transformed. The monsters arise from within and without, seeking to consume us, craving violence. Attack! Flee! Attack you! Run from you! Attack me! Run from me! A man discovers his Warrior nature facing such monsters guided by his principles and strengthened by his resolve.

See Also: The Change in the Meaning of Manhood Through Time 

How do we develop our Warrior?

In mythic terms, each time we slay the monster, face the ordeal, or choose principle over comfort, we discover and deepen our Warrior self. This dynamic is at the core of the Warrior’s journey.

I was a high school athlete who wrestled, practiced Shotokan Karate, played tennis, and ran cross country. My fears of pain, opponents, injury, and failure were the monsters who said, “Don’t risk that try-out, don’t get on the mat with that opponent, don’t take that ten-mile run, you will never do well in that race.” I had to meet those monsters and consume them, absorb their energy and step through the resistance thresholds into the training and contests, the victories and defeats. Each time I faced them and stepped towards them, I found my Warrior self just a little bit—I absorbed some of the resistance power and alchemically transformed it into a little more courage to step forward the next time in service of my principles.

This is the beauty of merit-based hierarchies likes sports, dance, theater, and heartfelt projects, especially for adolescents who are discovering their adult identities through success and failures, temptations and ordeals.

This is also consistent with modern research on willpower. As Roy Baumeister details in his Willpower: Rediscovering the Greatest Human Strength, willpower is resisting a lesser impulse (like procrastination) in service of a deeper, more meaningful impulse, and is associated with increased happiness, success, health, and love. Of three dozen personality characteristics, willpower was the only one that, at four-years-old, could predict future college GPA.

Also, whether we naturally have more or less willpower as children, we can develop willpower with practice. We all have the human superpowers of focused intent and action, in service of principle, and driven by resolve. Consciously choosing goals/principles and utilizing our superpowers to pursue them increases willpower and develops our Warrior selves.

Most guys are lit up by the Warrior archetype. The Warrior is someone willing to sacrifice comfort or safety for his principles. Every single time a guy endures risk or discomfort, or sacrifices in service of principle, he nourishes his Warrior nature. The desire to do this rises up in men. If you’re not true to your principles, you suffer. If you are true to your principles, you find your Warrior self each time you hold your ground, face your fear, or embody your purpose.

We want to find ourselves as Warriors. Many men I’ve discussed this with craved this from earliest memories. I personally wanted to find myself as a warrior when I was three, five, eleven, fifteen, and thirty—the hunger was always there. I didn’t know exactly what I was reaching for, but I yearned for power and purpose, like my favorite characters in books and movies. Looking back I can see them clearly—Mighty Mouse, Mowgli (from Kipling’s The Jungle Book), Super Man, Bilbo Baggins, and The Man from UNCLE. All were Warriors serving the higher good.

As a boy grows from child to teen, to man, he expands into the Warrior. He finds meaning at the edge of death—either actually or symbolically by risking injury, failure, or defeat. He takes the Hero’s Journey—sometimes again and again. When we’re tested and rise to the task, we find our Warrior selves—a blissful experience to the masculine. And life tests us again and again, leading to successes and failures, both potentially supporting our Warrior selves.

At a particular point in adult development, something changes–we no longer need to find our best selves as much as to consistently embody our best selves. This marks the transition in Man of Wisdom. As we shift into Man of Wisdom we’re less drawn to the ordeal and more to service. I suspect this archetype arose in our misty genetic past when age diminished men’s physical capacities, but experience expanded their judgment and discernment. Tribes who accessed this wisdom had distinct evolutionary advantages.

The Man of Wisdom naturally embodies his principles. He transmits compassion and wisdom into the world and is moved to care. Man of Wisdom is often less drawn to competition and trials for himself, but loves to help others, especially the young Warriors.

Both these archetypes, Warrior and Man of Wisdom, arise in all cultures and are centrally important to most men.

What are your relationships with your Warrior nature? When have you embodied your Man of Wisdom? If you can’t answer these questions, ask someone you love about when they’ve observed these archetypes in you, and use all the information you gather to clarify your own masculine journey into Warrior and beyond into Man of Wisdom.

See Also: Two Rules for Guys

 

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