Personal-Development

5 Ways To Build Great Relationships With Different Generational Coworkers

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“The job of every generation is to discover the flaws of the one that came before it. That’s part of growing up, figuring out all the ways your parents and their friends are broken.”
― Justine Larbalestier,  Zombies Vs. Unicorns

We’ve heard this many times, Baby Boomers who struggle adapting to new technology and Millenials who resist loyalty and don’t like to work in offices.  These urban legends have been passed around to the point many don’t question their validity and the stereotypes these have painted. People of every generation are multi-faceted, complicated and bring with them many aspects that cannot be neatly compartmentalized into age stereotyping.  Here are some ways to develop and maintain healthy relationships with your coworkers regardless of their age.

coworkersLook beyond generalizations and stereotypes

Be aware that people in every generation are not a homogenous group and have many differences between them as do other generations.   Focus on and learn to appreciate them as individuals and not as members of a particular age group.  There are many factors that support people to be the way they are apart from the influences of growing up in a particular generation.  Family of origin, race, ethnic origin, social status and childhood experiences have significant impact on all of us, apart from the time period we grew up in.

Accept differences and avoid judgments

Every generation has a built in bias that their way of doing things may be the best way.  Instead of looking at it in these terms, try to envision a style or manner where we feel comfortable and makes sense to us.  Look at the viewpoints of those in other generations as neither right or wrong, but different.  Instead of trying to impose our viewpoints onto them, strive to learn more about why they think the way they do.

Strive to understand

Instead of rushing to judgment, make an effort to look beneath the actions and thoughts of people of other generations to see how they arrived to those thoughts and behaviors.  What are the factors that lead them to think and act in this way?  Taking the time to learn about situations that another generation was raised, which is different from ours, helps to appreciate the factors that lead them to look at the world differently from the way we do. This could be simple to do, be a good listener.

Reach beyond your own age group

Don’t get trapped into the experiences and preferences of your own age group.  Check out some music, reading and other cultural activities of another era.  It will be a pleasant surprise for many people of that age for you to show some curiosity in what interests them.  This effort will go a long way towards breaking down stereotypes.  Take opportunities to join teams or work on projects with coworkers of various ages.  Join clubs and activities that have people in a wide variety of age groups.

Look for ways to use differences to your advantage

Instead of taking an adversarial view of differences, look for ways that both generations can benefit.  Both technical ability and wisdom from experience are important.  Ever generation will bring strengths and weaknesses.  Consider that with a variety of generations you can take advantage of their strengths and eliminate weak spots. This will make for a stronger, more cohesive, effective and balanced workplace.  Look for ways to simply appreciate differences and use them to build healthy workplace relationships.

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5 Ways To Travel The World While Keeping a Full-Time Job

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Developments in technology mean you can travel the world AND hold down a full-time job. These days, we don’t necessarily have to choose between one thing or another, but can have it all! Yes, full-time job included.

Whether you are working for a technology company or in academia, all you need is a little planning, the right kit and the drive and you can work on the go. Now, here is an interesting thing – the whole world could be your office! To many it may seem like a dream to work and travel, to set your own schedule and to use your hotel (or the Starbucks) as an office.

However, sometimes it can be trickier than you may think. First, you have to work and stay motivated and driven, though there may be distractions and things that are trying to get your attention. Secondly, you have to set your own schedule, and there is nobody there to tell you what to do and when to do it. However, working AND travelling is, in fact, a growing trend. It can be rewarding and exiting and it will add to your quality of life. Here are five tips on how to work remotely and stay efficient:

1. Find the right job

First, you have to find a job (and an employer) that will allow you to work wherever, whenever. This may appear to be difficult, but nowadays we have all of the technology and infrastructure that will allow you to work on the go, so there is nothing that really stands in your way.

Remote working will allow you to work anywhere in the world, whilst still being a valuable employee for the company. Though, it is still not a rare case that employers see remote working as a let off. Some of them may see it as a way for their workers to get out of responsibilities. Each day more and more HR managers and recruiters change the point of view: they are starting to see it as a way to attract the best staff, to recruit flexible, digitally savvy employees. Now, we have reached the stadium where demographic is irrelevant to getting the best staff for your company, which is exactly why each day more people outsource.

More and more remote full-time positions are offered each day. Should you wish to travel and keep your full-time job, now is the right time to do it.

2. Master the technology

Obviously, you will need a laptop, a phone, and a few tools to keep you alive. Make sure you have these even before getting a remote job. Other hardware and software may come in handy. Make sure you expand your knowledge of platforms, apps, and tools to keep you on the right track while you are on the go. This will make your full-time job and traveling much easier!

See Also: 10 Productivity Musts for Freelancers

3. Keep updating your skills

freelancing

According to Jake Jorgovan at Milo the best way to work remotely around the world is to add value to the organization for which you work. Due the massive developments in technology over the last decade or so one does not need to be physically present to add value to your company. You can work from home, work remotely anywhere in the world and add a huge amount to your quality of life.

Some skills, e.g. copywriting and marketing, do not require physical presence to perform the role. If your skill does require you to be in the office, you can do one of two things: learn a new skill or go to the office.  Jorgovan talks of how he retrained as a web designer to allow him to work on the go. As well as this, you want to familiarize yourself with online networking, and with recruitment sites that offer full-time job positions, such as Jobrack.eu if you are in Eastern Europe. Finding this type of a full-time job opportunity will allow you to work remotely and travel all around (full-time too).

4. Have the right kit.

In order to work you need the correct tools to make sure you do the best job you can.  There are tons of apps that can make your life and job easier. However, if you want to mix these two, here is the survival kit for you:

  • Well, of course – a laptop (and make sure that it is light enough)
  • A cellphone (and make sure that it is unlocked), allows you to use your phone wherever you go.
  • A Tablet (and make sure you have this if your laptop’s too heavy)
  • An Ethernet cable, in case you can’t get WiFi (and make sure you do not forget it)
  • Positive Can-Do Attitude (and make sure not to forget this one!)

5. Do the work!

freelancing-work

Of course, one issue with not having a 9-5 office job is that you may have a lot of distractions. The beach? The cold beer? The museum? All three? Or perhaps your dog is desperate to go chase that neighbor’s cat … again.

Without someone to keep you motivated, it can be a big bone to chew on. However, do not fall in despair! Joining an online community is the smartest thing you can do! You will feel more connected to a group and take advantage of the perks of being a digital nomad.

See Also: 14 Problems Freelancers Usually Face

Forbes reckons that this may even become the norm, with freelancing growing at an average rate of 3 percent a year. Of course, we all want to travel the world. Quitting your full-time job to travel the world is like having a pair of pink glasses, to be honest. It may not be the most realistic prospect. In the end, it’s your work that pays for your hotel rooms, your flights and the numerous pumpkin spice lattes! The tips above can allow you to make a success of being a travelling freelancer and set your office peering over the azure blue of the Mediterranean!

 

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8 Ways To Interrupt Your Impulse Shopping Habits

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We’ve gotten to November and Christmas is just a month or so away. Sales are coming out and cars are starting to fill up parking lots in anticipation for fourth quarter sales, deals, and powerful marketing displays. Impulse shopping is at an all time high! If you’ve been historically bad for the last few seasons, this season could bring out the worst in you.

Yes, you could buy all these gifts and more for your friends and family, and oh, maybe one of these for yourself and…

jealous2Our impulsive habits come rearing out when it comes to shopping, and sometimes we have no control. Why not get one of those shiny new phones? It just takes a swipe of a card. Unfortunately, behaviour like this often ruins bank accounts and credit ratings. Try a few of these ideas to curb your enthusiasm for retail consumption.

Practice window shopping

It’s Friday and it’s been a hard week – you feel like you need to treat yourself and you deserve nothing but the best. You can’t wait to get to the mall to check out all the cool things you’ve been eyeing online over the past few weeks – whether it’s Macbooks, perfume or clothes. Whatever your vice is, it inspires you and drives you.

But you already have a Macbook. You already have an assortment of makeup. You already have phone chargers, jeans, and shirts. The ability to go out shopping but not actually buy anything is a powerful tool of self control, and here’s where it comes into play. Allow yourself to go to the mall and stores, maybe buy something small, but don’t go all out like you normally would. Maybe you need a new phone, but do you need it now? Go out, use self control, and window shop to your heart’s content. Build up anticipation for the things you want and put it off until finally the reward will be so great. In the meantime, you’ve saved yourself a lot of money.

Don’t shop when you are stressed out

Retail therapy – truly one of the finer pleasures in life. If you have disposable income, retail therapy is surely up there with manicures, spa trips and other luxuries we can afford. The thing is, retail therapy is exactly what it says – it’s therapy, meant to relieve us when we are feeling angry, irritable, sad, emotional, or whatever it takes for you to get the credit cards out. Save yourself a bunch of money and closet space and do yourself a favour – do not go shopping when you’re stressed out! Limit your shopping trips to when you feel relaxed, zenned out and good with yourself. Don’t do it as a release, do it as a treat for when you’ve overcome your difficulties.

Stick to the list

When we go grocery shopping we usually carry with us a little post it note or agenda, a list of everything we need so we don’t forget anything. Use the same rule for when you go shopping for items as well. When we go clothes shopping, how is it that we may only need one pair of pants but walk out with eight pairs of underwear and two belts? Stick to the list and appreciate the satisfaction you get from buying only what you need and keeping the impulses to zero.

Only go luxury shopping every two weeks

Perhaps you should try a schedule for your shopping habits. How about this – for two or three weeks at a time, train yourself to only purchase necessary things. Only spend your money on things you need – food, petrol, transportation, housing bills – the bare necessities. If you’ve made it through to the intended duration, give yourself a treat and go pick up something nice for yourself. It’s an easy and effective rewards system that you can practice on yourself at your own leisure.

Appreciate what you have

If you feel you are going way overboard – or even still, just being modesty with your shopping – maybe it’s time to take a look through your house and just be grateful for what you have already. You have a nice couch, nice rugs, nice silverware, nice electronics and everything you need already. Do you really need more stuff to clutter up your house? Sometimes enjoying what we have already is a better feeling than buying new things, as we all know that after that feeling wears off, we’re just left with a garage full of junk.

Keep an eye on your budget

If impulse shopping is cutting into your real-life savings fund, sitting down and taking a look at your bank statements is always a nice reality check for the savvy shopper. Where has all that money been going? A look at your credit card statement will let you know, and hopefully keep you a bit more grounded for the next time you feel like splurging out.

How do you feel at the checkout?

This is some real mind-over-matter stuff. You’ve gone through the whole store, and despite going out for just one t-shirt, you’ve got a buggy full of sale clothes. You’re at the cash – take a look inside your cart. Do you really need all that? Don’t you already have enough socks? Enough tanktops? Enough accessories? Just because it’s on sale doesn’t mean you have to buy it – there’s only so many clothes we can wear in a day. Reflect on what you’re there with, and remember there’s no shame in saying no and putting something back – you might save hundreds of dollars when you least expected it.

Browse online

Instead of going out and shopping, try satisfying your cravings by just browsing online. It may lead to more impulsive shopping, but the fact that there are so many options, and that you will not be getting it right away may steer you clear. Instead of spending all your hard earned money, you may end up losing the appeal of it all and keeping your dollars instead. Use it as a way of researching what you really do and do not need, and use the “Wish List” feature to be able to sort of compile an idea of all the things you want, and save them for a special time. You’ll feel better, and maybe learn something more about yourself and your desires.

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Top 10 Tips for Buying Stylish Furniture on a Budget

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Just as accessorizing an outfit can make or break your look, the furniture choices you make affect the way your home, work establishment or office design is perceived. Enhancing the living or working space is essential, especially with furniture that complements the visual appeal of the area as well as its functionality.

Great furniture choices can do everything from making a small room look larger to transforming even the simplest building into a grand and beautiful space. Of course, the biggest challenge lies in finding stylish and contemporary furniture on a limited budget.

With that in mind, we’ve put together some tips that will help with this process.

Choosing Between Various Types of Furniture

furniture-shop

You can choose between classical and modern styles that reflect your personality, and fusion contemporary designs are also making a splash in interior décor these days. Whether for your own home, a swanky office, an elegant banquet or a grand hotel, these eye-catching variations on standard designs will help set your space apart.

For functional cafeteria, school, restaurant or office furniture, a few styles that are in fashion today are simple and widely used in commercial spaces around the world. These indoor and outdoor furniture designs can easily be adapted for small or large groups of people and are quite easy to maintain.

If you’re looking for high-quality hospital furniture or multi-purpose pieces to set off any other space, don’t worry. Finding cheap furniture that’s also built to last is easier today than it’s ever been before!

How Can You Furnish Your Space with Limited Funds?

used-furniture-shop

If you’re looking to dress up your space on a budget, here are the top 10 tips to keep in mind:

  1. Start with the core pieces – Focus on the most important pieces for any space first, e.g. a sturdy bed for a bedroom or an executive desk and chair for an office. The rest can come later, but core items should be a priority.
  2. Understand the materials used – There are many kinds of wood, plastic, glazes, fabrics and other materials that are used to create furniture. Invest some time in learning about how they work and what they cost, so you can pick the right ones.
  3. Simple contemporary furniture works – Fancy embellished pieces tend to cost a lot more than their unadorned counterparts, and typically fit into any design scheme with ease. This leaves you a lot of room to get creative.
  4. Search for cheap furniture online – Look for deals available online, since websites do not have the same overheads as furniture stores and can offer better prices. Don’t shy away from checking out used furniture either!
  5. Opt for multi-purpose designs – Multi-function home and office furniture is a huge trend, growing in popularity every day. Sofa-cum-beds and stools that double as end tables are great for compact spaces, and will save you a bundle.
  6. Accessorize, customize or DIY it – You can keep your investment minimal by buying plain pieces and adding your own creative touch to dress them up. Colorful cushions, a splash of paint, trendy doorknobs… the possibilities are endless!
  7. Wait for items to go on sale – If you’ve been eyeing a gorgeous dining room set or the perfect garden seating, you’ll find that prices drop drastically if you wait till “sale season” when furniture stores sell old stock at huge markdowns.
  8. Same piece, better deal? – Furniture manufacturers often sell products through different retailers, who mark up the price as they choose. Shop around a little – you could find the same item at a fraction of the price at another store.
  9. Amp up your negotiation skills – Price mark ups on furniture are normally huge, so you may be able to get a better deal if you haggle a little. If you can’t get the price lowered, try for a freebie, discounts on delivery and installation, etc.
  10. Shop in the international market – A sourcing agent can be invaluable when you’re buying furniture, especially in bulk. Shop from low-cost markets like China (the price difference justifies shipping costs) by hiring a China sourcing agent to help you find affordable, high-quality items.

See Also: Easy Decorating Tips for Bachelors 

Think of your limited budget as a challenge rather than an obstacle and you’re sure to have fun hunting down the best stylish furniture for the space you’re decorating.

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Nine Insights To Help You Fight Fear! And Win!

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This month, me and my two business partners devoted the entire thirty-one days to exploring the topic of fear. We heard from coaches, blog writers, artists, businesswomen, entrepreneurs, you name it! We learned so much about fear that we decided to put together our nine most powerful and insightful takeaways in the hope that others too might be able to walk-away with a nugget of wisdom or a new wave of courage.   Enjoy!

behind_our_fears1. Fear is one of the biggest obstacles holding us back

If I were to ask you what is one thing that you would really love to do, but haven’t started, what would it be?Now, think about why you haven’t started it…what’s holding you back?Usually when I ask people this question, the answer is either time or money. They don’t have enough time or they don’t have enough money.The thing about time and money is that they are very convincing excuses. We can attach the requirement of time and money to almost anything and justify why we don’t have enough of it.But what if I asked you dig beyond your apparent lack of time or money (or whatever other excuses you’re holding up)? What if I challenged your lack of time, or debunked your requirement for money? What’s left?Fear is often the only thing left standing.

2. Fear is natural

It’s ok to feel fear. In fact, it’s very natural, and at times, even life-saving! After all, that is why we feel it! The emotion of fear has a very important purpose; it protects us.Imagine if you were swimming in the ocean and you saw a shark. Now imagine if you felt absolutely no fear! What would you do? I, for one, would go up and pet it. I would also probably get my head bitten off.So in some cases, fear is extremely important! However, in other cases, it shows up uninvited and crashes the party….which brings me to point three.

3. There is validated fear and false fear

Seeing a shark in the ocean = validated fear. But how about when we feel fear about something that isn’t going to kill us? Or even injure us? Our natural emotion of fear is one of survival. It is triggered when our brain senses a threat. The problem is that only sometimes that threat is real. When it’s not real, we still feel the fear – sometimes so much that it stops us from doing that thing – even though we are not at any risk of dangers.Public speaking is a perfect example. For many people, public speaking is one of the most intense triggers of fear. Is it going to kill you? No! Injure you? No! It is a false fear. The worst that can happen is that you might stumble on your words or forget what you were going to say, but you will still wake up the next morning and live your life mostly in exactly the same way.The key then, is to identify valid fear from false fear. What is the worst possible thing that could happen? What is the best possible thing that could happen? If the best possible thing outweighs the worst possible thing, then you have some false fear on your hands!! Push that fear aside and go for it!But how?

4. Chunk it out

“Chunk it out” is a term that one of our amazing speakers, Colleen, used during ALV Live. It is the concept of breaking your goal or dream into “chunks” and attacking just one chunk at a time.Often when we have a dream, a goal or a vision, the thought of accomplishing it is daunting and overwhelming. But what if you just think of one very small step you can take? And the when you’ve done that, think of another very small step. You don’t need to do everything at once, and we have found that one of the best ways to fight fear is to chunk it out, baby!

5. You’re not alone

This is something that might seem obvious, but that many of us forget at times. When we feel fear – no matter what it’s about – we often think that we are the only one feeling this way. We’re not! Everyone feels fear in one form or another, and as another of our guest speakers said “everyone is going through something”. In the world of Facebook and Instagram, it’s easy to feel like we’re the only one. It’s easy to feel like everyone else is at the beach in the Bahamas while we sit alone struggling with a job we hate and not knowing what to do about it. But when you actually talk to people, when you let yourself be vulnerable and give them permission to be so too, you realize that everyone is fighting something. Everyone is human, just like you.

6. Surround yourself with positivity and supporters

While we can sometimes fight fear on our lonesome, often it’s stronger than we are. Alone that is. But is it stronger than we are when surrounded by positive and empowering peeps cheering us on? Hell no!We are so conscious of how the food we put in our body affects our physical health, but sometimes we forget how the food we put in our brain affects our mental health. Who are you surrounding yourself with? What are they telling you? What are you reading and watching? How is it affecting you? Is it helping you or hurting you?The key is to surround yourself with people and resources that lift you up! Listen to your energy. What is it saying when you’re lunching with a certain person or reading a certain book? How do you feel when you leave or finish? Are you inspired to go and change the world? Or do you want to curl into a ball in a dark corner?Sometimes we forget just how much people and words affect us, and the key is to choose wisely. Very wisely!

7. Seek out opportunities to face your fear of failure

I once saw an amazing TED talk about a guy who was very scared about rejection and so decided to try and experiment. He went out and deliberately sought out rejection. He asked people for crazy things and made seemingly ridiculous requests. And you know what happened? He met amazing people, achieved amazing things, and when he was rejected… life went on…I challenge you to do this with fear. Seek it out. For when you seek out fear and failure, you try things that you may have otherwise never tried, and experience things that you may have otherwise never experienced, and chances are, they will change your life forever! Let’s stop perceiving fear and failure as the enemies, and instead look at them as opportunities! Which brings me to the next point…

8. Shift your perspective

Fear is what you make of it. You can run from it or face it, and when you face it, you will almost always learn something new. Sara Blakely, founder of Spanx, asks her kids every night what they failed at that day. If they haven’t failed at anything, they don’t get dessert! You know why? Because if you haven’t failed at anything, you haven’t put yourself on the line enough, and without putting yourself on the line, you’ll never know what you can truly achieve. So let’s shift our perspective! Let’s not perceive failure as bad or scary, but instead, let’s view it as necessary and exciting! Let’s fail! Let’s fail until we succeed in a way that we never ever would have been able to without those damn failures!

9. Take the lesson and let yourself laugh

And last but not least, learn and laugh. It is the failures that take us closer to success. So thank them! Thank your failures for teaching you something new. Find the golden lesson and carry it forward to your next attempt. And importantly, laugh at yourself! Sometimes our failures are pretty damn funny! Have you ever tried to mimic a birthday cake on Pinterst? Funny right! Sometimes our failures are pretty hilarious, and when we laugh at them, we reduce their power. So then, let yourself fail, but also let yourself learn and importantly, laugh!

And one last thing before I go… kudos to you! Fear can be crippling, and overcoming it does not just “happen”. We need to be intentional about it, and even drudging through these nine points reveals that you are being intentional. You genuinely want to do something about your fear and actively fight it! And that’s awesome! So I’d like to leave you with a challenge. Think about something that you have been wanting to do, but in which fear has been holding you back. It could be anything – big, small, serious, crazy, truly anything. Now, think of one small step (or chunk) that you can take this week. Write it down, commit to it, and get out there and go for it! Sure, maybe you’ll fall (and get back up!) but… what if you fly?

—

Katie is one of the co-founders at an innovate coaching company, Ama La Vida, which helps people find and lead a life they love.  Katie is also a transformational coach with a passion for helping people find and live their true Purpose. You can book time with Katie at alvcoaching.com. In her spare time, Katie loves getting outdoors, trying new food and wine and playing with her cute little labrador Puppy, Millie. Contact Katie at katie@alvcoaching.com.

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Follow Your Bliss

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Do you follow your bliss?

There is a moment in people’s lives when they realize that things aren’t as they should be. Somewhere in-between the daily routines are gaps are things that simply don’t connect or make sense.

Most people choose to bury their heads in the soil like an ostrich and ignore these impulses. However, there are those few who are too curious. For them, these questions are like splinters in the brain and the more they choose to ignore them, the more painful they become.

These splinters have followed mankind throughout civilization. Mystics refer to them by many names but they all have a common thread because they lead individuals to a magical place called “BLISS.”

We all in some way have been presented with an opportunity to leap into the void to pursue something far greater than our small minds could imagine. However, fear, anxiety, over thinking or comfort zones force us to turn down the call of nature which could ultimately transform our lives.

For Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak, it was the call to sell everything they had and create a little box with a screen that would change the way people all over the world use technology. For Walt Disney, it was taking every risk imaginable in creating animated characters that would change family entertainment forever, and for Nelson Mandela it was sacrificing his life and following the call of freeing his people from the chains of apartheid.

Growing up, I was always encouraged by my elders whether it be my pastor, parents or school teachers to just be myself. They always stressed the notion of not trying to be something or someone that I’m not which made perfect sense since we were all created in a unique and special way. Striving to follow in the footsteps of someone else made you a fake, a counterfeit, or as folks back in South Africa would say a, “Fong Kong.”

But looking back now, I disagree. If I had taken their advice, I’d still be a shy, awkward individual afraid to face the world.

So my question is, if someone is unhappy with who they are and what they are doing with their life, should they just simply shrug their shoulders and blindly accept the notion that they were created this way?

Well I say NO!!

Don’t be yourself; change and be who you want to be. Your life is like clay in the hands of an artist. You shape it accordingly to what you want it to be.

mould-yourself

If you are a shy, reclusive individual and you hate this characteristic about yourself, then do everything you can to change this. Napoleon Bonaparte once said, “If you are sickly, surround yourself with the healthy. If you are shy, surround yourself with the gregarious.”

Bonaparte is pointing out a valuable solution in overcoming your deficiencies. He understood that we are weak in certain areas but also strong in some.

The best way to overcome those shortfalls is to learn from those who possess the traits we admire. The biggest problem with people is that they surround themselves with people who share their common interests and values. The danger of doing this is that they cut themselves off from the vast pool of information and skills transferred in daily life.

See Also: Be the Change You Want To See in the World 

The most difficult thing to do in life is to be completely honest with yourself and admit that you aren’t who you think you are. Our ego is a cloud that obscures our ability to recognize who we truly are.

And when I say “Truth” I mean recognizing yourself with all your fears, delusions, addictions, insecurities and not hiding from them but truly understanding that they make you who you are. The world is merely a thought, and most of our thoughts have been molded and conditioned by our parents, teachers, television, friends and family.

The ability to let go of all those things you learned and see things as they truly are is a long and extremely difficult process. The answers you seek in this life are within; all you have to do is trust yourself.

See Also:9 Things to Let Go to Find Ultimate Happiness 

I love my mother and father with all my heart and would move the world for them, but I have realized that their advice and counsel isn’t always the best for me. When making life-changing decisions, your parents aren’t always the people to turn to for advice simply because your parents have a paternal instinct wired in them, to protect you till death.

Their purpose is to protect you from potential danger or failure in life. This is great for raising a little toddler but the problem with this at a later stage in life is that it hinders the growth factor of the child.

Parents impose their fears and anxieties onto their kids, and understanding this is extremely complicated. The reason they don’t see this is because it’s coming from a good place.

But the reality is that they are cutting you off from following your true call in nature of pursuing this mythical journey which is faced with danger, insecurity, fear, and self-doubt. The obstacles you face on this journey are important ingredients which are essential in building a person of self-reliance.

yin-and-yang

When I say “Follow your bliss” I am in no way being oblivious to the challenges individuals have had to overcome or continue to face such as abuse, addiction, physical disability or the lack of money and education. This notion is simply my personal observation of a mysterious world which no one has the answers to. How you choose to look at it is a defining factor. If you see it as a world of hate, fear and misery, then that is what the world will be.

I personally choose to joyfully participate in the sorrows of life. Sometimes it hurts so much that we want it all to end, but that’s part of the game as the Taoist would say, “the Yin and the Yang”.

Like a good tennis game, you have to participate and play as if your life depended on it. If you lose, you go over to congratulate your opponent by shaking his hand. If you win, you graciously celebrate while remembering that without your opponent, the game would not be possible.

“Following your bliss” is something which deeply resonates with me. It’s a journey of abandoning what T.S. Eliot called, “The Waste Land” which is that life of going through the paces in life and simply existing from paycheck to paycheck.

It is following your internal impulses of doing what you were destined to be or do. Whether it is a poet, musician or scientist, “following your bliss” is following that quiet intuitive voice inside which leads you to something that ignites a sense of awe and wonder inside. As Joseph Campbell would say, “It’s not about finding the meaning of life, but rather the deep experience of it.”

 

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Use Pinterest to Plan Your Next Vacation — Here’s How

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Half the fun of going on a trip is in the planning: picking out restaurants, dreaming about the sights, and mapping out new destinations to explore. The internet has made the process so much easier than ever before.

One of the most valuable tools at a trip planners’ fingertips is Pinterest. Yes, Pinterest.

The social media platform has more than 100 million active monthly users. It has always been a great place to find inspiration and organize online information. Since debuting buyable pins last year, it’s also become a great place to shop.

Travel brands are getting in on the fun by providing spaces for pinners to collaborate on travel plans, food, and entertainment. The Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts’ Pin.Pack.Go campaign, for example, invited individuals to collaborate on travel-themed boards and offered insider tips and advice.

Even if you’re still in the dreaming stage of planning a vacation, Pinterest is a great place to start preparing. The platform is filled with stunning photos of exotic locales, so look around to get inspiration.

Here are some other ways to get started:

1. Map It

mapped-travel-board

Once you’ve settled on a destination, create a mapped board. These use geolocation metadata to display photos’ locations on a map. It’s a useful feature when documenting a road trip or planning an itinerary.

For example, a mapped board can show you whether attractions are within walking distance or help you determine the best order to do things. Be sure to scope out mapped boards from other users who have gone on similar trips.

2. Dive Deep

To get trip ideas, find boards dedicated to your destination. Explore beyond travel guidebooks and magazines. When you find an appropriate board, be sure to also check out any related pins to discover photos, videos, and anecdotes from others who have taken similar trips.

See Also: Strange International Laws Every Tourist Should Know 

3. Search Wisely

pinterest-searching

Similar to search engines, Pinterest users have varying terminology for similar things. For example, “food in Las Vegas,” “places to eat in Las Vegas,” and “best Las Vegas restaurants” are all search queries in pursuit of the same thing. In other words, it’s essential to vary your search terms to find everything Pinterest has to offer.

4. Make Your Purchases

Once you’ve worked through the planning stages, it’s time to pull the trigger and book your trip. If your hotel or airline is on Pinterest, it will likely have direct links to booking for each location. If you saved pins for travel necessities like sunglasses or snorkel gear during the planning process, use the blue “Buy It” button on each pin to purchase directly from the site.

See Also: 21 Top Travel Apps and Tools 

Whether you’re exploring a tropical island or simply visiting relatives, traveling takes research and preparation. Pinterest’s visual layout and shopping features make it an ideal place to plan and book your next getaway.

 

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http://www.dumblittleman.com/2016/11/pinterest-travel.html

3 Of The Best European Football Grounds

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With the European football season well and truly in full swing, travel experts Expedia have created a guide to almost every football ground in Europe, helping fans heading overseas to sample the sights and sounds of continental football.

We thought we’d take a look at three of the best and most interesting football grounds in Europe, using information from Expedia’s fantastic guide. Let’s go!

Signal Iduna Park, home of Borussia Dortmund

signal-iduna-park

One of Germany’s most fascinating stadiums, Signal Iduna Park is also home to one of the country’s most interesting teams – Borussia Dortmund. Signal Iduna is the largest football stadium in Germany and within walking distance from the centre of Dortmund.

Signal Iduna Park’s ‘proper name’ is actually Westfalenstadion, which derives from Westphalia – a former Prussian province. Under a sponsorship deal, it will continue to be known as Signal Iduna until 2021.

It’s one of the most famous football stadiums in Europe and for good reason too – it was named best football stadium by The Times for its celebrated atmosphere. So, if it’s brilliant European football and an amazing vibe you’re after, head to Westfalenstadion!

The King Power Stadium, where Leicester City play

the-king-power-stadium

The buzzing King Power Stadium is something of a must-see, home to current Premier League champions Leicester City. Last season, the King Power was where dreams were made, as Leicester powered their way through game after thrilling game on their route to Premiership victory. And this season promises to be even more exciting as Leicester welcome European teams to their Champions League campaign.

The stadium is relatively new, having opened in 2002, and is named after the retail group King Power, owned by the famous Thai billionaire businessman Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha.Take a trip to the Midlands and sample some of the celebrated atmosphere!

Camp Nou, Barcelona’s fortress

camp-nou

The most famous football stadium in the world? Well, it’s got some competition from Old Trafford and perhaps the Etihad, but yes, pretty much. Oh, and it’s home to Champions League tournament royalty – Barcelona have secured no fewer than four Champions League wins over the last decade.

The home of Barca since it was built in 1957, Camp Nou, which means ‘new field’, is the largest stadium in both Spain and Europe, and boasts a seating capacity of 99,534. If you’re on a trip to Barcelona, a visit to this magnificent stadium is a must. Visitors to Barcelona also swear by the Camp Nou Experience – this tour of the stadium is supposed to be fantastic.

What’s your favourite European football stadium?

 

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5 Best Career Tips for Young People

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A career is a journey of an individual through learning, work or other aspects of life. One can define a career through different ways. When anyone wants to start his/her career as a college grad or the founder of an own business, or as a particular job seeker, he or she hesitates to take steps for the right decision, or it may be hard for him to found the right way. Everyone should know how to take large or small decisions for their career. Before us, so many people believed in their own ability and made a successful career out of it.

So, let’s see some tips on choosing the best career for future:

office_tabooFounder of own business

Every young people should choose their own career by trusting on the abilities through which they can make a bright future. He or she should do such type of works that he or she loves the most. If he likes writing, he can choose it as the best option for his career. If he likes editing, he can choose this. So, anyone can start their own business by believing in the ability they have. However, before starting a job or business, everyone should ask himself what type of job makes him come alive, and then he should go for it.

Ability to create own space at a job

Everyone wishes to get a good job after the completing the college life but it is impossible for everyone to get the suitable or the dream job. So, don’t think that the first job will give you 100% satisfaction and career security. Every young people should be energetic and must have capabilities to make their own space at any given job area and learn whatever you can from that job; this may help you in future.
Travel as much as you can, while learning about cultures and languages
It may seem a vague idea, but trust us, travelling and learning cultures and languages open up a lot of new scopes for you in your career. You may find some hidden interest in you which may turn into a golden career! For example, learn to listen in Spanish and speak Spanish, and you may become a high paid tourist guide!

Time Management

Time is a limited resource for everyone’s career. When anyone wants to achieve his career goal, he should first learn to manage his time because time management is of great importance for success. Once anyone has failed to manage his time, he can never make it up. So, everyone should know the importance of time that creates good chances of career success. A right move in the right time is what needed to take your career to the highest level.

Take risks early and often in your career

Taking risks early in career helps everyone to learn lessons, and to go ahead. There is no success in the world without any risk. So, taking a risk early is more productive for everyone’s career. The young people have much time to learn from failure and move forward. Taking risks can let anyone to be more creative and helps to define what they really want.

Use the Credit card sparingly

Using credit card sparingly at the young age makes a good impact on a career. The young people, who are in their college life or just completed their graduation, should reduce the uses of credit cards. They should create the abilities to afford the needs in their life by sacrificing their wishes or needs. Rely on your earnings and hard work, not on a credit card which may ruin your career and economy.

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http://www.stevenaitchison.co.uk/blog/5-best-career-tips-young-people/

10 Things Ambitious People Are Thinking About

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Everyone laments at how badly they want to achieve success but few enact the steps needed to get there. The foundation for success is ambition. It’s what governs the lives of millionaires, business owners, and leaders in any field. Ambition isn’t merely a desire to achieve better, it’s a mindset that informs their day-to-day decision making.

Here are 10 items that encompass the ambition ethos.

1. Mastering Their Craft

ambitious-people-waking-up-early

Ambitious people don’t just aim to be good. They aim for total mastery.

Malcolm Gladwell says it requires “10,000 hours of practice” to become truly world class in a field, and ambitious people wake up early each day to put their hours in.

In sports, you never hear of a team aiming to finish in 6th place, so why shouldn’t you treat your livelihood the same way?

See Also: 10 Habits of Successful People

2. Seeking New Opportunities

It’s easy to become overly content in your job to the point where you stop looking for new and better opportunities. But the second you close the door on other possibilities, the faster you diminish your success.

Ambitious people understand the need for career open-mindedness, and so do employers. According to the job search website Indeed, 90% of HR professionals prefer to hire a candidate who is actively seeking new job opportunities.

3. Growing A Network

In the classic self-help book Think and Grow Rich, Napoleon Hill implores his readers to form what he calls a “master mind alliance.” This is a group of close friends who support one another towards success.

Ambitious people certainly have a knack for surrounding themselves with smart individuals. And thanks to social media, search marketing, content marketing and all other internet marketing disciplines its easier than ever to connect.

4. Expanding Their Brand

Expansion is the name of the game, leading to more money, greater influence, and self-satisfaction. Ambition means unearthing new, inventive ways to build your professional and personal brand.

Take Uber as an example. After dominating the ride sharing market for several years, they decided to venture into the food delivery business.

Why? Expansion.

This is the mantra of countless successful entities and it’s easier than ever thanks to digital marketing tools that allow you to post, share and connect to anyone, anywhere.

5. Health And Diet

eating-healthy-food

A healthy mind requires a healthy body. Working long hours requires an adherence to proper eating, meaning acknowledging the major food groups and not succumbing to fast food very often. About 39 million workdays are lost to obesity-related illnesses every year.

6. Being Charitable

Ambition isn’t a purely selfish trait. It recognizes the need for being charitable, and knows that what goes around comes around.

7. Assessing Risk

Risk is a scary word, but it’s something every successful person has had to confront at every turn. Whether you’re starting your own business, deciding whether to invest in a stock, or determining if your partner is marriage material, risk is an unavoidable part of life. Ambitious people tend to be good at assessing it, and most importantly, living with the consequences.

8. Improving Schedule

Ambitious people tackle each day with a plan. Through proper scheduling, they’re able to weed out deficiencies and come to time management solutions. Not only does this increase work productivity, but it also ensures time allotment for leisure activities.

9. Building Healthy Relationships

You should always be thinking about how to improve relationships with friends, family, and co-workers. Ambitious people understand that we are only as good as our associations, so it behooves us to build healthy ones.

See Also: 8 Success Habits of Wealthy People That Cost Nothing

10. Optimizing Productivity

Everything we’ve touched on relates to this underlying goal of optimization. Ambitious people aim to run a well oiled machine, allowing them to hit their targets, inspire those around them, and feel more accomplished and satisfied.

The lesson here? Work hard while also taking care of yourself. A study out of Harvard estimated that sleep deprivation costs companies over $63 billion in productivity each year. Ambitious people are always looking for ways to work smarter rather than harder, and it starts with espousing these 10 principles.

 

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