30 Productive Things You Can Do at Home in the Evening When You Stop Watching TV (First of a two-part list series)

Do you know you have not only wasted precious time watching TV but you have missed doing so many important things in life? Here is the list:



1. Take out the trash.

2. Read a motivational book.

3. Do the washing up.

4. Get the to-do list done for the following day.

5. Write a thank you letter.

6. Talk to your spouse about what has happened in the office.

7. Listen to your spouse talking about his or her feelings.

8. Listen to your children talking about what has happened at school.

9. Help your children in their homework.

10. Start to learn a new language.

11. Start doing a home study course to further your education.

12. Start a blog and write articles on a subject that you are passionate about.

13. Take up a useful hobby like stamp collecting.

14. Use your home gym to keep fit.

15. Learn new subjects by surfing the Net to gain more knowledge.

16. Arrange and file your personal documents in an orderly manner so that

you can retrieve them easily.

17. Put your goals in writing.

18. Learn to use new software so that you will be more productive at work.

19. Discuss with family members and plan your next holiday.

20. Do home tuition to earn extra money.

21. Sleep early and be an early riser.

22. Meditate or be alone to find peace of mind.

23. Listen to music to unwind and relax.

24. Wash your car.

25. Jog around the neighborhood

26. Walk the dog.

27. Review your daily spending and see how you can reduce expenses.

28. While you are at your desk enjoy a cup of coffee or green tea.

29. Get ready the things you need for the following day instead of looking high and low for them in the morning

30. Play Scrabble with your children.


What are the other productive things that you can do in the evening?

10 Vital Tips to Manage Your Personal Finance

This article is specially written for young graduates who have just secured their first posting. In life, we have more needs and wants than our limited income. It is essential to budget and avoid overspending. Overspending means getting into debt and more problems.

1. Keep a record: For a start, find out your current financial situation. Are you in debt? Congratulate yourself if you are debt-free. If not, your top priority is to get rid of your debt as soon as possible.  Discovering your own net worth, finding out your earning potential, and checking your spending pattern is your first step towards personal financial management.

2. Plan ahead: The next step is to design a budget. If you are in debt, incorporate debt settlement into your monthly budget. The main aim is to clear your debt as soon as possible. The longer you delay, the more interest is added and the more you  have to pay  The second thing is that your monthly expenses should not exceed your income (with debt repayment included)or else you will be adding new debt every month and there will no end in sight to settle fully your debt

3. Follow the plan: Now that you have your monthly budget, you have to stick to it faithfully in order to achieve your goal of debt settlement.

4. Save: As soon as you are debt-free you have to use the same amount of money or even more ( you will get pay increments and bonuses anyway)to save for several specific purposes:

• Down payment for your first car
• Down payment for your first house
• Emergency fund
• Investment

5. Plan for retirement and children’s education early: The earlier you set aside an amount the less you will need to budget because  compound interest will work wonder for you in the long term

6. Avoid wants: Don’t do impulsive spending over and above your budget. If you want something save for it and buy in cash. Exercise your self-control and willpower.

7. Avoid credit: Use a debit card or prepaid cards instead of a credit card to get the hang of using plastic cards. Just remember credit cards are for convenience and not for the purchase of things on credit. Credit means debt and debt means bankruptcy.

8. Major purchases: A car and your own home are major purchases in life. In most cases, you need financing to get them. However, when you have already put aside an amount for these purposes,  it will be easier on your monthly budget  The bigger down payment you can make means the less you will need to borrow and the less interest you will need to service and the less you will need to pay for your monthly installments. It also means a shorter period to settle the loan. 

9. Manage your debt: By now you must have incorporated your monthly payments for your car and house into your monthly budget. If it is not within your budget you will have to give up one or the other. Go for it only when you have saved for a bigger down payment for the item you cannot afford. Pay your monthly installments promptly to build a good credit record. When you need a loan in the future your creditworthiness will work in your favor.

10. More income streams and fewer expenses: The aim of personal finance is financial freedom. The prudent way is to identify more income streams and especially passive income because you don’t have to work for it. At the same time, you will have to spend wisely within your means.

Managing personal finance is a balancing act. When you spend more you will have less to save and when you allocate more in one area you will have less in other areas.

Whatever you do spend less than what you have earned.

Early Riser – 10 Marvelous Things You Can Do

1. A healthy habit: This is a healthy lifestyle; you get up early it means that you also sleep early. Your body’s rhythm is in alignment with nature between day and night and work and rest. Do you remember this old saying by Benjamin Franklin: early to bed, early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise?

2. Marvel nature:  There is no better time to appreciate nature than during dawn. Watching the sun rises, observing the blooming flowers in your garden, and listening to the chirping of the birds are some of the wonderful things that you can do to discover the awesomeness of nature.

3. Exercise your mind and body: Move and stretch your body by doing the deep breathing exercise, Tai Chi, or yoga in the morning. You get yourself into the right frame of mind to start a brand new day. These physical activities will promote a calm, cool, and collected mind and a flexible body in you.

4. Plan ahead: With nobody to disturb you, it is also a good time to prioritize your tasks for the day. Efficient planning means getting things done smoothly without rushing about or getting into an emergency situation.

5. Enjoy your breakfast: Breakfast is the most important meal in a day. It gives you the nutrition and energy to start a new day with zest. Only early risers can savor breakfast leisurely.

6. Read and study: Your mind is fresh in the morning, it is also the best time to read or study. You will be able to understand and absorb what you are learning easily.

7. Morning rituals: What do you normally do in the morning? I usually write an article in the morning. This morning ritual is beneficial and productive because this daily habit stimulates creative ideas for article writing. By the way, this article is also written in the morning with a flash of an idea from nowhere.

8. Go to work early: Beat the traffic jam by reaching the workplace before others. You don’t waste valuable time by getting yourself caught in the traffic jam and you get the most important things done quietly before the arrival of other staff. When your colleagues have finally reached the office, you can take a deserving break by having a cup of coffee.

9. Devote time to be thankful: It is another refreshing way to start a new day. You take stock of what you have in life and thank God for your abundance. Most important of all, be appreciative of those people closest to you who go through life with you in thick and thin. You will start a new day with happiness and contentment

10. Other delightful things to do: When it is still early and quiet in the morning, it is also a good time to do some other things before you go to work. You can drop the thank you letter you have just written earlier in the morning into the letterbox, smile at people you meet or catch up with a friend along the way to thank him for his help.

You are familiar with this saying: the early bird catches the best worm. Morning is the best of time in the whole day. Start a new day early and do the right things are the ways to achieve success in life.

7 Reasons to Do It Your Way to Establish Yourself

Have you heard of an evergreen song sung by Frank Sinatra? It is called My Way.

Here is the beginning of the lyrics:


And now, the end is here


And so I face the final curtain


My friend, I’ll say it clear


I’ll state my case, of which I’m certain


I’ve lived a life that’s full


I traveled each and ev’ry highway


And more, much more than this, I did it my way.



Regrets, I’ve had a few


But then again, too few to mention


I did what I had to do and saw it through without exemption


I planned each charted course, each careful step along the byway


And more, much more than this, I did it my way


Yes, in life you should do it your way to create your own image and here are the 7 reasons:


1. You are special: As a unique individual, you are one of a kind, created by God. It is therefore you should do things differently in your own way.

2. Inspiration and aspiration: Your goals and objectives are determined by how you have been brought up and your personal experience. You follow your own dreams and not others.

3. Your talents: You are from different background. You are brought up differently. Your upbringing and your education are not the same as others. You are molded differently. You have your own ideas that are different from others. Show your passions and your true self.

4. Personal value: You have your own belief. You know what is important to you and you pursue it with your heart and soul.

5. Don’t copy: Don’t follow the crowd, don’t be second best. Do it your way. Like writing articles, be unique and original, and contribute your personal ideas.

6. Refreshing: Project an extraordinary image; make it an attractive trademark of yourself. Show your best to the world of what you can do. Develop your brand for long-term success.

7. Build your self-esteem: Appreciate yourself for the ability to develop and establish your own brand. By doing it your way, you have created a positive self- image


Use your imagination and creativity to conceive a totally different idea and unleash your talents to the world. Develop and establish your brand your way.

7 Workplace Lessons to Learn From FIFA World Cup

The World Cup is now at its feverish pitch. The world has stopped just to watch the top teams in action fighting for the No.1 spot. What are the lessons that people at work can learn from football? Here are the 7 similarities between footballers and people at the workplace.


1. Teamwork: The corporation, coordination, and understanding between players are vital to winning a game. Similarly, the teamwork between departments is essential to allow the operation to carry out smoothly and seamlessly to boost productivity.

2. Healthy and fit: Footballers are physically at their peak. They possess the energy, alertness, and the stamina to go all the way just to score that goal. You may not need the physical strength of those on the pitch but you must be healthy and fit to perform your best at work under stress.

3. Concentration: When they are in the field it means they are fully focusing on the ball. There should be no distractions in their mind. At the workplace leave all your problems at home, wear a smile, and pay attention to the task at hand in order to get the job done right.

4. A role model: According to England manager, Fabio Capello, he has hailed striker Wayne Rooney, the Footballer of the Year, as the perfect role model for the Three Lions team. It is because of his constant desire to improve his skills and he wants to stay on the training pitch for as long as possible and continue to learn. There is also a role model in your company that is committed, engaged, and is passionate about his or her job. He or she inspires and motivates others in the team to do a better job. Are you the one?

5. No comfort zone: There is no comfort zone in the playing field because everyone is watching you. You have to play your best. At the workplace, you may be able to hide in your comfort zone. However, you are unlikely to make progress if you don’t try new ideas to improve your job and you will be the first one to go when there is a retrenchment.

6. Passion and engagement: Top footballers are passionate about the game. They eat, talk, and dream about football. Football is in their blood. What about you? Are you interested and engaged in your role at work?

7. Be prepared: Footballers are always ready for every game. They have to be in top form and alert when they are on the pitch. Likewise, you must be prepared to grab any opportunities that come your way at the workplace. Do you have the necessary skills and are you likable? Improve yourself to improve your chances of success to get ahead.


Do not just watch football for the fun and excitement of it. Learn a few valuable lessons from the world’s best-loved sport.

10 More Tips to Bring You Good Luck In Life (Second of a two-part series)

Will you be lucky? Luck, to a large extend, is within your control. How do you prepare yourself to be luckier? Here are ten more tips:


1. Tidy and declutter your home: The clutter at home will repel the flow of positive energy. The things that are scattered everywhere will affect your physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being. Start to tidy up the place bit by bit every day. A neat and spacious home will attract good luck and the positive flow of energy into your house.

2. Focus: To be lucky you have to ask yourself what you want to achieve. What do you want to do in life? What are your dreams and goals? You have to focus on your objectives.

3. Hard-working: It is about working smart over a long period of time like planting a tree. Do what you need to do and do it well. Your labor will bear fruit eventually. Your lucky break will come when someone recognizes your talents and you will be able to get fame and fortune.

4. Action: Nothing will happen if you don’t take action. Even if you want to strike it rich you have to but a big sweep ticket. The chances are slim, but if you don’t act you don’t even stand a chance. Get out of your comfort zone, change the way you do things, and meet with different people.

5. Meet more people: As the saying goes, who you know is more important than what you know. It tells me that your luck is closely connected to the right people you know. Someone in your network will contact you one day and say.” Hi buddy, are you interested in…”The big question is: Are you ready to grab the opportunity?

6. Be prepared: Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity, says Seneca. Have you done your homework? Are you ready to do what you want to do in life?

7. Positive-minded: Your positive mental attitude will determine how lucky you are. When you think you can do it, very likely you will. If you are pessimistic about the situation, you are already doomed to fail

8. High emotional intelligence: Are you cheerful and happy most of the time. Your positive outlook in life will attract the attention of others. When you are happy you make others happy too. And when you cry you cry alone.

9. Intuition: Follow your instinct or gut feeling when you are undecided on a course of action. Your hunch could give you a lucky break.

10. Unlucky: Do you feel that you have always been unlucky? It could be a blessing in disguise. According to Og Mandino, each misfortune you encounter will carry in it the seed of tomorrow’s good luck. Examine your setbacks in a positive mindset and learn some valuable lessons from them. You will be wiser and luckier the next time.


Wish you the very best of luck.

10 Feng Shui Tips to Bring You Good Luck at the Workplace (First of a two-part series)

Feng Shui (风水) is about wind and water. The whole idea of Feng Shui is to allow you to live harmoniously with the environment. How do you ensure you can take advantage of the flow of positive energy in the office? Here are the 10 tips:


1. Plants: Plants bring you good luck and happiness. Place a pot of plants on your desktop. Researchers have found that workers who keep at least one plant in the office are happier at their office. From the feng shui point of view, plants purify the air and add vitality to the workplace. Plants also encourage luck and are able to counteract sha qi (煞气).

2. Uncluttered: Avoid clutter in the office by hiding all the cords. Arrange your files neatly. The most important thing is that when you step into your office you feel calm and comfortable. Tidy your desktop and do not allow piles of paper on your desk to disturb your peace of mind

3. Sitting position: Make sure that you are sitting against a wall and not the window (no support) or there is nothing behind your back. You must have heard of back-stabbing.

4. Lighting: Bright and cool light is better that dim light. You don’t want to work in a dimly lit place; your mood will be affected negatively.

5. Protruding ceiling: Is there a beam on top of where you are sitting? Don’t you feel the pressure on you? Sit somewhere else or renovate the ceiling so that it is flat.

6. Away from heavy traffic area: Avoid working near a place where there is a lot of people moving around. You can’t concentrate and it affects your productivity.

7. Don’t sit directly facing the door: Sit in one corner and yet able to get a commanding view of the entrance. You will be affected by the direct flow of negative energy if you sit directly facing the entrance.

8. Color scheme and music: Apply subtle colors in the office instead of bright and stimulating ones. Play soothing classical music if the place is too quiet.

9. Cheerful: Always wear a smile and greet others cheerfully. People will not like to deal with someone who is gloomy, listless, and not responsive. How to attract good luck when people are avoiding you?

10. Energy: Are you able to capture the positive energy in the office to bring you good luck? Be fit and healthy so that you are alert to spot opportunities and full of zest to take prompt action.


Let Feng Shui in the office bring you good luck, happiness, abundance, and contentment.

10 Top Tips to Boost Your Technorati Rank and Authority

Since I started blogging in October 2007 I have written more than 900 articles on a daily basis. I am pleased to note that my Technorati Authority is 501 out of a maximum of 1000 and ranked 4223 as of June 21, 2010. I would like to share with other bloggers what I have done to boost my Technorati ranking:



1. One post a day: One sure way to increase your ranking is to post frequently and I do it once a day. It is an indication that it is an active blog.

2. Blog carnival: Join as many blog carnivals as possible. Your Authority Rank moves up when your article is accepted by a carnival host. The link to your blog is immediately picked up by Technorati

3. Guest posting: Guest posting is another way to boost your Authority. However, it does not work as well as blog carnivals. Not all the guest posts are picked up by Technorati.

4. Blog directories: Blog directories with RSS feeds are particularly useful to promote your Authority. You can join such sites like Blogged (http://www.blogged.com) and BlogMalaysia (http://blogmalaysia.com.).

5. AddThis: Get the button and add this great tool to your blog. It will facilitate readers to bookmark your site or selected articles at their favorite social networking sites. They also print and email your articles to their friends.

6. Pingfm: On a daily basis, I post the link of my latest article to most of the social networking sites. It is a great way to get more readers to read my post and link to it. Pingfm provides this fantastic service so that you can do it easily and quickly.

7. Friends at social networking sites: I have many friends at Mixx and hi5, so I do it daily to send them a message asking them to read my new post.

8. Links: There are links to my blog in the blogosphere when it is detected and picked up by Technorati. the Authority rank goes up

9. Persistent and consistent blogging: Doing it daily and regularly over the long- haul is the only sure way to improve your Technorati Authority.

10. Original and quality articles: Your refreshing articles are the only thing that makes items 1 to 9 possible. Do not despair; just start writing now and over time you will be able to write well. Take me as an example, just take a look at my old articles written way back in 2007, they are all very short but now I can easily write a 500-word article. Just do it and make it a habit to write one article a day.


According to Technorati, Authority is calculated based on a site’s linking behavior, categorization, and other associated data over a short, finite period of time. A site’s authority may rapidly rise and fall depending on what the blogosphere is discussing at the moment, and how often a site produces content being referenced by other sites. So, the thing to watch out for is the quick rising and falling of your Authority which I have experienced before.

7 Lessons to Learn From A Cat

A cat is a wonderful pet to be kept in the house. The pet gives us more than just companionship. Human beings can learn a lot from a cat. Here are the 7 things we can emulate from her:


1. Sharpening the claws: Have you ever noticed that from time to time your cat will scratch a wooden surface or even the tire of your car? The idea you can learn from the cat is that she is always well prepared. Its claws are always sharp. When she does catch a rat her powerful claws will do an effective job. In life, we have to be well prepared and as and when an opportunity arises you will not miss it.

2. Taking breaks: The best thing I admire about a cat is that at any time it can take a restful catnap. It is restful because you have seen many funny images of cats taken while they are sleeping The thing to learn from the cat is that we have to take breaks between tasks so that we can work harder longer. Taking naps are also important to recharge our battery so that we can travel a longer distance in life.

3. Proactive approach: A cat doesn’t wait for you to approach her. It will approach you in a delightful way to get your attention. It will rub its body against yours and meowing away. Isn’t it the way we should do in life? When we are interested in others, they will in turn show interest in us. You can’t wait for people to be interested in you.

4. Exercise: Cats are playful and very flexible. They play among themselves. They run, jump, leap, and twist their bodies around. They are in fact exercising. They are always in top form and very alert. Are you moving your body as much as the cats?

5. Cleanliness: Cats are very clean animals. They wipe their mouth after eating and thy lick their body to remove dirt and other foreign items from it. After shitting, they will cover it up with sand. Cleanliness is vital to protect us from diseases and viruses.

6. Graceful: Cats are graceful animals. They move around noiselessly in an unhurried fashion. They are cool and calm. In our daily life, we should do the same. Be full of poise as the cats. It gives us an image of confidence.

7. The eyes have it: You hold up a cat and the cat will look at you directly in their eyes and purring away. It has its full attention on you. When we are talking we should also maintain eye contact and show our interest in what the other person is talking about.


A cat is an adorable animal and you may not like it but you can definitely learn a few valuable lessons from her.

10 Things You Can’t Buy With Money

Money can satisfy your want for material wealth, but there are a lot of other things that you can’t buy. Here are .a list of ten things that you can get them only with your personal effort and energy and most of all, you have to earn it.


1. Working experience: Experience is something you have to go through in your life to gain it. Your exposure at the workplace is valuable lessons that money cannot buy.

2. Wisdom: Apart from your personal experience, you learn more from your failures and defeats to become wiser.

3. Trust: There is only one way to be trusted. You have to earn it by what you have promised and delivered. The moment you can’t honor your promise, you are no longer trusted.

4. Achievements: You gain your success in life by blood, sweat, and tears. There is no other way to achieve it. You have to put in the time, determination, concentration, and facing obstacles along the way.

5. Health: Money can buy your supplements and gym equipment but money cannot get your health and fitness. You have to do exercise every day to sustain your alertness and energy.

6. Happiness: The happiness of acquiring material wealth is short-lived. The moment you take delivery of your new car, the latest model is already in the showroom and you are thinking of getting it so that you can be happy. True happiness is from within and it is not attached to any material things. Think happiness and just be happy.

7. Respect: Can you pay someone to respect you? There is no way except to earn it. You are only respected when you have contributed to mankind. The more you can give the more you will be respected.

8. Peace of mind: Will you be able to have more peace of mind with more money? I doubt it. Peace of mind is your feelings and not relating to material things. It exists in the mind and you feel cool calm and collected which money cannot buy.

9. Readership of your blog: As a blogger, you can’t pay others to read your articles. Even if you do the moment you stop paying them there will be no readers visiting your blog. The only way to attract readers is to post articles useful and capable of solving their problems. I am grateful for the support of my readers. I take the opportunity to thank them from the bottom of my heart. You can’t buy readership, you have to earn it from the readers.

10. Knowledge: You can pay for a place in an institution of higher learning. But you cannot buy knowledge. You have to spend time to learn, understand, digest, and absorb in order to get it.


The only worthwhile things in this world that you truly treasure are those you have to put in your heart and soul to get them. You will not treasure and appreciate things that you can buy with money because they are not acquired through your own effort.

Getting Peace of Mind -10 Things You Don’t Do

Peace of mind is about spiritual well-being. It is in addition to physical and mental fitness. Here are 10 things you should avoid to get peace of mind:


1. Don’t hold grudges: Don’t get angry with what others have done wrong to you. Forgive and forget. Do not think of getting even to upset your peace of mind. Thinking of taking revenge will only hurt you more and nobody else.

2. Don’t get angry with yourself: You, like everyone else on earth, are not perfect. Don’t blame or curse yourself for not doing the right thing from time to time. To err is human. Don’t criticize yourself but love yourself as what you are with all your strengths and weaknesses.

3. Don’t be greedy: Stop wanting more in life. The only thing your can accumulate for getting materialistic is debt. Can you be at peace when people are after you for money? Can you sleep soundly at night?

4. Don’t dwell on the past: You have missed a golden opportunity to make an investment. You have committed a blunder. Do not regret but just be wiser and move on in life. There is nothing you can do about the past

5. Don’t worry about the future: The only way to face the challenges of the future is to prepare for it superbly well now. Do the best you can to shape the outcome of the future. You will reap what you have sown.

6. Don’t envy: Don’t be jealous of other people’s success or material wealth.
Don’t upset yourself, just live within your means. One of the components of financial freedom is debt-free. Don’t get into debt by getting things you want.

7. Don’t get into negative emotions: Make it a habit to get up and greet a new day with cheerfulness. Smile and greet people you meet to uplift their mood. You make others happy and yourself too.

8. Don’t get overwhelmed: Don’t get emotionally disturbed in situations where you do not know how to react, such as having too much work to do. Don’t get stressful, organize your day well. Get things done by doing one task at a time with full concentration. Take breaks between tasks and be cool, calm and collected

9. Don’t get frustrated: Don’t feel annoyed and impatient for not getting what you want out of life. Set SMART goals and take the first step towards your dreams

10. Don’t feel neglected: Don’t wait for others to pay attention to you, it will not come. .Instead, go to them and show your interest in them. Others will be delighted by your care and concern and in return they will show their interest in you.


Getting peace of mind is getting contentment in life

10 E’s of a Highly Successful Executive

What do you find in a successful executive? The following 10 E’s identify the common traits of successful executives:


1. Engaged: She is enthusiastic about her work. She works with full concentration and she is loyal to the company which she is attached to. Her outstanding performance is making her a prime candidate for further advancement in the company.

2. Experienced: Her ability to get things done is well illustrated by her performance. Her talents are admired and her capability is accepted without reservation.

3. Expertise: She has gained extensive knowledge in her field of knowledge and she is able to apply what she has learned. She is a believer in continuous learning to stay up-to-date.

4. Expressive: She is a great communicator. She is able to express herself clearly, fully, and precisely in spoken words as well as in writing. She is able to convey and convince her thoughts to a higher authority

5. Energetic: She is bursting with energy and will jump right into action mood. Procrastination is not a word in her dictionary. She believes in just doing it.

6. Emotionally intelligent: A person with high E.Q. will bring him or her success in their career to the next level. She is fully aware of her own emotions and she is able to control the outburst of negative emotions. She is also able to pinpoint the feelings of others and act accordingly. She knows when to move forward and when to back off.

7. Example: She is the role model of the company. Her ability in her field of expertise is demonstrated by her track record. She is punctual and she delivers as promised. She is good at people skills and she is able to communicate effectively.

8. Efficient: She is creative and resourceful and she believes in making changes to get things done more efficiently but no less thoroughly

9. Effective: To know the right thing to do at the right time is her trademark. Her ability to distinguish what is important and what does not make her an effective person.

10. Exercise: She is fully aware of keeping herself healthy and fit so that she is able to perform in the long-haul. Exercise is her daily routine. Her calm, clear, and uncluttered mind is the result of doing aerobic exercise regularly.


You can learn and develop yourself to be a successful executive. It takes time, effort, and patient but with conviction, passion, and determination, you, too, can be one eventually.

H.E.A.R.T Way to Customer Care

How do you take care of your customers? The most important things are excellent service and quality products. However, when you treat your customers with a big H.E.A.R.T you bring customer service to the next level:


Humanity: Be kind to your customers. Don’t let them wait for their turn too long. Special care and attention should be given to elderly and handicapped people. Touch their hearts by treating them with kindness.

Enthusiasm: The energy generated by your enthusiasm will make a difference between mediocre service with an excellent one. You are happy to do what you can to cater to the needs of the customers rather than just to do the bare minimum and get rid of them.

Appreciation: Learn to appreciate your customers more than anything else. They are the life and soul of your business without which you cannot survive. Be grateful to the support and loyalty have given to you by your customers. The more you treasure your customers, the more you will care about them.

Respect: It is only the right thing to treat others with respect. It is even more so with your customers. You treat others the way you like to be treated. Acknowledge their presence, talk to them, and find out what you can do for them sincerely.

Trust: Trust can only be earned. The way to get it is to offer consistent service with better and improved products. Promise less and deliver more.


Customer care is more than products and services; make them feel good by serving them with all your H.E.A.R.T.

F.A.M.I.L.Y. Way to Bring Up Your Children

Do you know the F.A.M.I.L.Y. way to rear your children? Just read the following:


Fun: Are you having fun with your children? Once in a while you have to forget your parents’ role and just be their partners and joint them in their fun-filled activities. It is an excellent way to be close to them so that they will easily open up to you when the need arises.

Attention: Listen attentively to your children when they talk to you. They just want to tell you what has happened in school or to air their grievances. They just want someone to share their happiness and sorrow. So be earful

Motivation: Instead of applying pressure on your children to do well in school, motivate them to make personal progress. Congratulate them for their effort and improvement and never compare your children with others. Do not demand that they must get straights A’s but encourage them to do their best.


Inquisitiveness: Demonstrate to your children the good habit of reading to develop the inquisitiveness to know more and the quest for knowledge. Reading books at home instead of watching TV is the best way to set a good example for your children to follow. Cultivate a love for books while your children are still young. This indispensable and valuable habit will last a lifetime.

Love: Shower your children with love because they are your children and not because they excel in their study or they are handsome or pretty. Show your unconditional love to them so that they feel safe and wanted. This will promote a healthy growth in your children.

Youthful: Are you active? Do you lead an active lifestyle? Show your children that you exercise every day in order to be healthy and fit. Your children will definitely follow your healthy habit. This is the best thing you can do for your children.


When you look after them well they will also show their affection to you in a F.A.M.I.L.Y. way:

Father And Mother I Love You

Getting Success – 10 Things to Avoid

Are you getting what you want in life? Watch out for the following pitfalls to avoid. They are hindering you from achieving success in life.


1. Blame others: You blame others for not achieving success in life. In other words,
you are not in control of yourself. Actually, your future is in your own hands and you have
to take full responsibility. Look at yourself critically and find out what is hampering
you from gaining success. Identify your weaknesses and eliminate them.

2. Listen to others: Do not listen to others and allow what they have said to influence your decision. Instead, do a SWOT analysis to identify your strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. You will know the things that you are good at and you can do successfully.

3. No purpose in life: Your SWOT analysis will unearth what you truly believe in so that you can establish your purpose in life. Your purpose in life will fire your enthusiasm and propel you to success.

4. No written goals: When you do not know precisely the tasks ahead of you, you can’t move full speed ahead. Written goals tell you your daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly plans and the tasks to perform. Written goals allow you to monitor your progress. It is a source of motivation each time a task is completed because you are nearer to achieving your goals.

5. Not willing to go for the long-haul: There is no overnight success and it takes time and tremendous effort to get what you want in life.

6. No self-improvement: Life is about making progress. It is about honing your expertise, Building yourself into a trusted brand is a long-term process of improving yourself.

7. Giving up easily: Do not be discouraged by obstacles and problems. They are just challenges to build up your resourcefulness to overcome hurdles in life.

8. No self-care: Your energy and commitment are determined by how fit you are. If you don’t bother to live a healthy lifestyle, your energy will suffer and you will not be able to go full swing in life.

9. Procrastinate: The longer you delay taking action, the longer it will take you to reach your goals. Do not allow excuses to stop you from taking prompt action. Just do it.


10. Lack of positive qualities: Feeling miserable about yourself? Unable to focus your attention on the tasks at hand? Change your thoughts to change your feelings positively. Learn and cultivate good working habits to boost your productivity


Avoid these negative habits to reap real success in life.

10 Things You Should Do Every Day

There are things in life when you do it every day, you will get satisfaction, fulfillment, health, well-being, happiness, and much closer to your goals in life.


1. Smile: Start a new day on the right note. When you get up, look at the mirror and give yourself a broad smile. There is nothing better than cheerfulness to start a new day. It uplifts your spirits and you will feel very good about yourself.

2. Have your breakfast: You need nutrition and energy to begin a new day after fasting for about eight hours. Your cheerful disposition coupled with the renewed energy after a hearty breakfast will allow you to perform with peak performance throughout the day.

3. Work your plan: It is time to take action and do what is expected of you according to your to-do list. Start right away to work on the most important task of the day.

4. Think: Invest time to think of creative ideas to be more efficient and effective. Do not work mechanically, there is always a better way of getting things done.

5. Read: This is the most powerful thing to do every day. Continuous learning is the only way to gain knowledge, to be enlightened. It is also a source of motivation and the starting point of getting creative.

6. Exercise: Your health and fitness depend on how often you move your body. When you exercise every day, you get full energy, concentration, and calm mind to tackle a day’s work

7. Thoughts of gratitude: Always spend a few minutes to thank God that it has been a wonderful day with all the ups and downs. Be grateful to all those who have supported you and make your life more meaningful. Be appreciative and contented with what you have got out of life. Be thankful.

8. Reflection: At the end of each day, take stock of it. Congratulate yourself if it ends well with the tasks fully accomplished. If you have committed some blunders, do not despair and dwell on it. Learn a lesson and move on.

9. Help in household chores: Don’t watch TV. Instead, do the washing up, take out the trash and water the plants. You are contributing to the happiness and harmony of your family.

10. Plan ahead: Before you hit the bed, make it a habit to plan for the following day. You will sleep better because you know things are under full control as you have already scheduled your tasks.


Your thoughts and action will make a tremendous difference in your daily life. Do the right things to bring you true success in life.

10 Productive Habits to Adopt

We do things every day habitually and it is good to distinguish between productive and unproductive habits and replace those which are not helping us to make progress in life. The following are some of the productive habits


1. Get up early: There are so many things that you can do when you are an early riser. An exercise ritual is the best thing to start a new day. The other important thing that you can do is to have your breakfast, the most important meal in a day. Morning is also a good time to plan ahead so that you can smoothly work from one task to another according to your to-do list. When you wake up late, you will be rushing about to get things done. It means you are applying unnecessary stress on yourself.

2. Be organized: Following your to-do list is the most productive way to get things done. You will do the most important tasks for the day and you will do the rest only when there is time available. There is no need to rush about as you move from one task to another in an orderly manner.

3. Just do it: Have the habit of getting things done right away. Plunge into your work immediately and do not allow distractions. This is a powerful habit to really get things done.

4. Read: It is a good habit to read and learn daily. Information and knowledge are widely available; just keep abreast of the latest developments to stay up-to-date.

5. Think and be creative: Don’t just do your work mechanically. Think of better ways to get things done in less time but no less thoroughly. It is interesting to challenge yourself to be more efficient and effective. You will value and appreciate yourself more when you are creative.

6. Network: Having a network of people with common interests will complement your expertise. A regular exchange of ideas is good for everyone in the group.

7. PMA: Develop a mentality of self-confidence. Even in the face of obstacles you will resolve and be determined to overcome the problems

8. Cheerful: Your positive mental attitude will promote your cheerful disposition. Do not allow negative feelings to enter your mind. Be happy in whatever you do and happiness will make your day a breezy one.

9. Relax and unwind: Life is not just about work. You need to take time off to release your stress and clear the clutter in your mind. The easiest way is to do nothing. You can also pamper yourself and go for a spa treatment. Find out what is best for you to relax and unwind.

10. Mindful: To be mindful is to focus and concentrate on the task at hand Do one task at a time to avoid stress and put your heart and soul into what you do.


What are your productive habits? Can you share your ideas here?

10 Tips to Live a Balanced and Productive Life

According to a news item in the New Straits Times on June 7, 2010, Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, the Malaysian Prime Minister’s wife, says that women must be willing to undergo a mindset change and have a positive attitude in striking a balance between their career and attending to their families. How do you go about getting a productive and balanced life? Productivity is about effective and efficient use of time doing the right things to achieve the desired results. A balanced life is about getting things done at the workplace, and rest, exercise and enjoying home life. Here are the ten top tips:


1. You decide your life: Don’t follow the lifestyle of other people. Lead the life you want and you believe in. Set your own goals and follow your dreams and don’t let others dictate your future.

2. Work smart: Work your plan and concentrate on the few important tasks of the day. Delegate the rest and remember to take breaks between tasks.

3. Don’t do overtime: Don’t be a workaholic at the expense of your family life. Working overtime is a sign that you are not effective in planning your day well, and you have to do overtime to finish your tasks.

4. Do it now: Don’t postpone and don’t procrastinate for things that can be done right away. Just do it.

5. Brand yourself: Build and promote yourself. What are you good at? What are the things that you can do better than others? Hone your expertise and develop yourself into a trusted brand in your field of expertise.

6. Get in touch: Connect with your network of associates from time to time to keep in touch. Say hello to them and find out how they are doing. Don’t call them only when you need help.

7. Work on your long-term goals: Every day you work on the tasks relating to your long- term goals. As an example, I aspire to blog full-time and every day I write and post one article.

8. Make time for exercise: Don’t neglect your health and fitness. Devote 30 minutes every day to exercise your body.

9. Enjoy a happy home life: It is homeward bound after work. Make home life productive by helping in household chores like doing the washing-up, taking out the trash, and watering the plants. Talk to your spouse and children. Invest time to read and learn. It is a good example for your children to follow too.

10. Plan ahead: Evening is the best time to plan for the things to do on the following day. Efficient planning means a smooth working day without rushing about and getting stressed.


A balanced life is a happy and successful life because you are able to get involved deeply in those things that are important to you in your life

10 Reasons Why You Are Not Getting What You Want Out of Life

Do you often wonder what you have achieved in life? Are you frustrated because your goals seem to be beyond your reach? There are many reasons why you are not getting what you want in life. Here are the top ten reasons:


1. No goals: Just like driving a car without knowing your destination, the worst thing in life is that you do not know what you want. So you do not know where to go and how to get there.

2. Wrong goals: As an example, you do not go for further study by following what your friends are doing. You do a SWOT analysis to find out your strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats to decide the subject of your choice. It is based on what you are interested in and what you are good at. You also need to find out the opportunities in the future for the skills and knowledge that you want to acquire. Will your expertise be obsolete very quickly?

3. No SMART (specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, and time-limited) goals: Are your goals realistic and achievable? Do you know precisely what you want? Have you given yourself a deadline to accomplish your goals? Are you able to measure your progress? Here is an example of a SMART goal: I want the Traffic Rank of my blog to be in the top one million by December 31, 2010. My Traffic Rank at the moment is around 1,900.000.

4. Too many goals: Simplify your life and just concentrate on one very important one. There is a focus on 100% energy. As soon as one goal is reached go to the next one.

5. No plan: Have you put done your goals in writing. Can you see clearly the successive stages to reach your objectives? Do you know your daily, weekly, and monthly and yearly tasks?

6. Procrastinate: Do not allow inertia to get the better of you. Spring into action and start work right away by following the daily to-do list. Do it every day and soon it will be a good habit.

7. Not following your plan: When you don’t work your plan, you don’t get what you want. Think of the benefits of realizing your goals to motivate you to act.

8. Lack of consistency: Like following a weight loss program, you stick to your plan faithfully every day in order to see results

9. Lack of persistence: Can you continue to work on your plan for a long period of time? Goals are for the long term.

10. No positive mental attitude: Are you easily discouraged by obstacles along the way? Be confident that problems can be and will be solved. Life is not a bed of roses. Expect failures but bounce back and be wiser.


Do the things you believe in and are passionate about, you will get what you want out of life.

10 Delightful Ways to Treat Yourself

The best thing in life is to treat yourself right. By looking after yourself well, you will be able to live better, do a better job and also treat others well. Here are the things that you can do to yourself:


1. Love yourself: Love yourself for what you are. You are, like everyone else, the sum of your strengths and weaknesses. Just be yourself and enjoy the way your want to be.

2. Respect yourself: Appreciate your talents and capabilities and the things that you can do better than many others. Think highly of your self-worth.

3. Educate yourself: Keep on learning to stay ahead. Be interested in new things and better ways of doing things. Stimulate and keep your brain young by exploring new knowledge.

4. Move yourself: To stay fit and healthy you have to move yourself more often. Do stretching, flexibility exercise and jog for your stamina. Help yourself to stay away from illnesses. Be alert and full of energy.

5. Pamper yourself: Take time off to relax and unwind. Get a massage or go for a spa treatment and rejuvenate yourself. The easiest thing to do is to take a nap in the afternoon.

6. Be happy with yourself: Just be happy. Why do you want to live miserably when you can choose to be cheerful?

7. Nourish yourself: Don’t skip breakfast, eat more vegetable and fruits. Drink plenty of water and avoid junk food. Give up smoking and drink moderately. Give your body the right kind of food for energy and nutrition.

8. Congratulate yourself: Give yourself a pat on the back for the successful accomplishment of each day’s tasks. Take a break and reward yourself with a cup of coffee for a job done well each and every time.

9. Empower yourself: Believe in yourself and be confident to get things done. Take the challenges in life with a positive outlook. Tell yourself you can do it and you will succeed.

10. Motivate yourself: Encourage yourself to do better every day than the previous day. Do not be discouraged in the face of difficulties.


Can you think of other ways to treat yourself well?

10 Things to Avoid in Money Matters

Money may not buy you happiness but when you are financially independent you have less worry in life. The worst thing in life is not to take financial issues seriously. These are the things to avoid when money is concerned:


1. Not knowing your Net Worth : Not knowing what you own and what you owe means not knowing what to do to improve your financial situation. The most crucial issue is to settle outstanding debt as soon as possible before it snowballs into much bigger amount and go beyond your means to pay.

2. No monthly budget: The purpose of a monthly budget is to spend within your income and to avoid incurring debt. Plan and follow your budget.

3. Do not settle credit card bills fully and promptly: The worst thing of using credit card is to take the easy way out; that is to pay just the minimum amount. The outstanding amount will attract high interest charges and the accumulation of more interest. It is very likely that it will lead to bankruptcy.

4. Satisfy your wants on credit: Avoid spending on impulse to buy what you want on credit because you know very well that it is not within your budget. Exercise self-discipline and self-control to curb unnecessary expenditures.

5. No emergency fund: Not setting aside an amount for rainy days is inviting troubles if you are out of work for a few months. You have to borrow to meet your usual monthly expenses and recurring payments.

6. No insurance cover for disability: Do pass the risks to the insurers to cover yourself in the event that you are involved in an accident or suffering from critical illnesses. So when you are unable to work you can reimburse your medical bills and make claim to cover your disablement to work.

7. Spend more than what you have earned: Incurring debt is the only way to spend more than what you have earned. It is not a prudent thing to do.

8. Do not pay yourself first: Saving regularly is the stating point to financial freedom. Make it easy for you to save by deducting a fix amount from your pay and deposit the money into a savings account.

9. No priority in money matters: The first priority is to settle outstanding debt. When you are debt- free the next thing is to save and invest and grow your money.

10. No financial planning for children’s further education and your retirement: The best time to start is now if you have not started doing so. Let time and compound interest work for you. Before you know you will have accumulated a substantial amount of money.


Personal financial management requires discipline, restrain and control. The goal is to achieve financial freedom.

Change – Your key to a better life

The other day while I was reading, I came across a few words. It goes like this: Insanity is doing the same thing, over and over again, but expecting different results. It instantly struck my mind because it is also meant to say that if you do not make changes to your life, how can you expect your life to be different? How true it is. How do you make changes: Here are the suggestions:


Health: When you do not lead an active lifestyle, you don’t expect your health to change for the better. To be healthy and fit you need to move your body more often. When you always skip breakfast and you enjoy a quick lunch at KFC, you don’t expect your body to be slim. You need to change to healthy eating habits like taking your breakfast and avoiding fast food.

Work: When you work the same way day in and day out, you do not expect yourself to be more effective and efficient. You have to be creative and think of better working methods to improve productivity.

Money: If overspending is your habit, do not expect your debt to be reduced. It can only pile up. Change your spending habit to live within your means to reduce your debt.

Goals: When you don’t set goals in life you don’t expect to go where you are going when you don’t know where you are going. Goals give you focus and direction and take you to your predetermined destination.


Positive emotions: Can you be happy if you are thinking only of miserable thoughts? Your thoughts dictate your emotions. If you want to be happy, think of happy thoughts instead. If you don’t change your negative feelings, you cannot be cheerful and smiling.

Mental attitude: If you think you can’t, most likely you won’t make it. Change your mindset, you will change your outlook in life. When you think confidently, problems do not deter you from getting successful. When you change your mental attitude, you change from impossibility to possibility

Relationships: What is your perception of people? You don’t often trust people and you do not have confidence in them? Your negative thoughts of other people manifest itself and you are naturally not friendly towards others. When you are not likable, people find it difficult to approach you and the situation gets worse, and the more you tell yourself that you are right about people. However, when you change your thinking and your attitude towards others, people welcome you because you are friendly and smiling and you are interested in others.


The most important thing to change your life for the better is to change your thinking. When you change your thoughts, you do things differently and you can expect to get a different and better result.

10 Advantages of having a Goal in Life

When you were young you were asked about your ambition. When you were about to complete your secondary education, you had to decide on a course of further study. Your ambition, aspirations, and together with your interests and passion lay the foundation of your goal in life. Having a worthwhile goal in life brings you many benefits. Here are the ten advantages:


1. Direction: With a goal in life you don’t drift aimlessly and you don’t get a feeling of emptiness. You look forward to each new day with excitement and enthusiasm. You are fully motivated because there is always something to look forward to in life.

2. Focus: It is more effective just to do one thing at a time. Your attention is undivided and you can do it more efficiently.

3. Time: No time is wasted because you are organized. You know what is expected of you. You just do your daily tasks relating to your goal.

4. Energy: Your energy is at your peak. You are immersed in doing things you are interested in and you are mindful.

5. Network: You get to know people who share similar interests and you learn their ideas to expand your knowledge.

6. An expert: The more you learn about the same subject the more you know and the more you can do. You build your confidence and self-worth as you accumulate more know-how.

7. Fulfillment: You get satisfaction, contentment and you live a purposeful life when you have a goal.

8. Contribute to mankind: The more you know the more you can contribute to others. One of the purposes in life is to serve and you are doing exactly that.

9. Inspiration to others: Your success is a role model for others. You inspire others to do more of the same. A future generation will be benefited from what you can offer.

10. A trusted brand: You establish yourself as an expert when you have accomplished more in life. People will look to you for guidance and enlightenment.


Decide as early as possible on what you want to do in life. Your decision will pave the way for a meaningful goal. Here is a good tip to get what you want in life: Do a SWOT analysis to determine your future direction.

10 Virtues to bring you Success in Life

Virtue is about a particular good quality or habit. What are the virtues to acquire and bring you success in life? I can think of the following:

1. Honesty: Today the bywords are openness and transparency. It is about truthfulness. As in auditing, the only accepted standard has to be able to reflect a true and view of the affairs of the company. Honesty creates trust. Honesty gives you a clear conscience.

2. Self-control: Knowing and managing your emotions is the way to manage yourself well. Avoid outburst of anger and resentment. Be cheerful and happy while dealing with others. Project a pleasant image so that you are likable.

3. Patience: We all want to get things done instantly and we all want instant gratification. However, success in life does not come easy; it involves hard work for a long period of time. Be cool, calm and collected.

4. Resilience: Life is not smooth sailing all the way. It is paved with defeats, setbacks and problems. The most important thing is not to be disheartened when you do not meet success. You may fall, but you bounce back and go on but wiser.

5. Empathetic: The ability to consider the feelings of others will be very much appreciated by those around you. You can get things done easily with the cooperation of others.

6. Cheerfulness: You feel good about yourself and you go about your day in a delightful way. A smiling face is a welcome sign by others and people are willing to approach you because you make others happy too.

7. Concentration: The only way to get things done is to be mindful working on one task at a time. It is less stressful than doing too many things at the same time.

8. Persistence: It is about not giving up easily. You carry on until you get what you want. You have to go all the way and leave no stones unturned to achieve your long-term goals.

9. Hard working: It is the opposite of laziness. It is about taking action to get things done. You may know what to do, but if you don’t act, nothing will happen.

10. Positive mental attitude: It is your positive thoughts that make things happen. When you are confident of yourself, you are not discouraged by obstacles. You will be resourceful and creative to solve problems.


It is a long and winding road in the journey of life. These personal traits will complement your determination to get what you want in life successfully.

10 Productive Things You Can Do While You Are Waiting…

What can you do while you are waiting for your turn at the post office? There is a long queue. You are at the dentist, while you are waiting for your turn what will you do? You are attending an interview. It is not your turn yet. What is the best thing to do while you are waiting? Here are some suggestions:


1. Review your to-do list: Find out the status of the work and make the necessary adjustments. Perhaps some of the work can be done on the following day. Congratulate yourself when you have accomplished the most important tasks of the day. Use the time to plan ahead.

2. Catch up with your reading: Take along some articles relating to your profession and start reading.

3. Read what is available: You will find magazines at the dentist’s reception area. You will notice the magazines are not the ones that you used to read. Pick up one and read. What can you learn from the magazine?

4. Look around: When you are in your client’s office, be observant, and find out their mission statement or the things that they highlight. From your observation, you will learn about the things that are important to them. It is a good subject to talk about and break the ice when you meet up with your client.

5. Check: When you are attending a meeting or an interview this is the best time to check and make sure that your documents are in order and they are arranged in an orderly manner so that you can retrieve them easily. Avoid fumbling

6. Think: Be creative, think of the next article to write if you are a writer. Think of a catchy slogan if you are a copywriter. Come up with original ideas relating to your work while you are waiting.

7. Strike a conversation with a stranger: It is a great idea to talk to a stranger and learn new ideas from him or her. You never know the person could be one of your business associates.

8. Observe the people around you: What can you learn from what you see? From their facial expression, you will know that one person is happy and another is sad. You will also notice that one person may be well-dressed and another may not be dressed in good taste. Learn from them and avoid making a negative impression.

9. Send text messages: It is also a good time to catch up with your contacts by sending short messages to them. They will be delighted to know that you remember them.

10. Work: Are you carrying your notebook? Can you do some work? Don’t waste precious time.


Making unproductive time productive is a marvelous thing to do.

Are You Getting F.R.E.S.H. in Life?

Fresh is about something new, cool, clean and it’s the latest. But the FRESH here I am talking about are:

Freedom
Respect
Energy
Success
Happiness


Are you getting all these in life?


Freedom

When you enjoy the freedom you can do what you want to do in life, but are you really free inside you? Are you free from fear, pessimism, greed, resentment, anger, inertia, and misery? The other point is that do you enjoy financial freedom? Are you in debt beyond your means to pay? You are not free then. Are you really free to do what you want to do? Is your progress in life hampered by your deficiency in certain skills such as language and technical know-how? You have to improve yourself in order to be free.


Respect

Respect cannot be bought with money. Like money, it has to be earned. Are you getting the respect you want in life? The way to gain respect is to hone your expertise for the benefits of others. When you are contributing and giving you are getting respect in return. Do something that you are interested in and good at and do it every day to build a brand and an authority for yourself.


Energy

Brazil is harnessing the potential energy of water by building a dam across the Amazon to supply hydro-electric power for the increasing demand of electricity during the 2014 World Cup football tournament and the 2016 Olympic Games. Are you having a store of abundant energy? Are you ready to act? Life is about enthusiasm and action led to propel by your energy. To be fully charged you don’t burn the candle at both ends. You need to take breaks often and sleep well at night to restore and maintain your peak energy. Regular exercise will also make you feel fresh and fit.




Success

Success is not just about building wealth. Success is about enjoying robust health, achieving your goals in life, and living in a united family. In addition, you are closely connected with the people around you. You also find fulfillment and contentment in life. This is a total success in life.


Happiness
Even though happiness is the vibration of a positive feeling from within, your freedom, respect that you have earned from others, your energy, and your lifelong achievements do contribute to your happiness.


The starting point is to identify and promote your strengths for the benefits of mankind. The next thing is to fortify your health and well-being. The rest of the things will be taken care of by itself.