10 Things You Should Never Apologise For…Ever!

Ever wondered why people say sorry for certain things when there really is no need to apologise? Or have you ever had someone dismiss you and belittle your feelings saying that they’re not valid or relevant? Well here’s a list of the 10 Things You Should Never Apologise For.

I’m not sorry and you shouldn’t be either for…

1. How you feel

Expressing the way you feel (and I mean really feel about something) is a gift. When you tell someone about the way you feel on a certain subject you should never think twice about apologising for expressing your personal perspective. That is, unless it’s harmful to the other person or intended to manipulate the situation. Letting people know where you’re at and how you feel is so important. If you don’t express your true feelings then they get swept under the carpet and you get sick. Seriously, they will fester and implode within your soul like a stink bomb.

AFFIRMATION: It is safe for me to express my truth and the way that I feel.

2. What makes you laugh

Your sense of humour is your own set-point of uniqueness. The beauty of the human condition is that there are so many beautiful types of humor and no ‘one size fits all’ solution. Whether you laugh at poo jokes, videos of kittens or even Japanese signs with amusing English translation failures – always be unapologetic for what makes you giggle. Life is funny.

AFFIRMATION: The things that amuse me feed my soul.

3. What you believe in

This should be a deal breaker in relationships. Yes, we know that the fine art of conversation means avoiding the themes of politics or religion – however, if you have to say sorry for what you believe in, no matter what it is, you’re moving in the wrong circles. You have 100% permission to believe in whatever you wish as long as you don’t intentionally hurt people in order to prove a point.

AFFIRMATION: My beliefs are my own and the compass for my soul.

4. Your past

Yes, you might have done a turd and mailed it to a high school bully. Yes, it might have been nearly 20 years ago – however no one can make you say sorry for the silly stuff you did in the past. Unless, it was illegal or the overwhelming need for some sort of exchange of forgiveness to take place.

On the other hand you might have been dating two guys at once when you were younger and your present husband brings it up in fights. The basic rule is this…when something happens before you’re in someone’s life, then technically it has nothing to do with them.

AFFIRMATION: The past is over, the memories are pretty funny though.

5. Your future and your dreams

Never apologise for your dreams or what you want for your future. However, make room for compromise if you are in a long term situation with others so that you’re not appearing to be totally self-involved. Make your dreams happen, never apologise for dreaming.

AFFIRMATION: I allow myself to create an amazing future.

6. Your body or your weight

If you’re apologising for the way your body looks then stop it. You need to own your body – the shape, the texture, the fact that it keeps you alive and HONOUR IT. Saying sorry to someone because you’re too big, too small, too green…whatever…is harmful to your heart. If someone can’t love you enough to know that perfection is mythical, then they need their soul Photoshopped.

AFFIRMATION: I am enough.

7. Your children

Unless they are throwing their own poo around in a restaurant or yelling out vulgarities to others, then never apologise for your children. Kids are supposed to behave like kids. And if you do encounter the grouch that speaks up and makes you feel like you need to apologise for your children then gently remind them that they once were kids too.

AFFIRMATION: Kids are vibrant, messy, loud, beautiful souls that need space to be creative.

8. How much you earn

Money is a sore spot and a tender subject for a lot of people. Never feel the need to apologise for earning too much or not earning enough. Money is an exchange for energy, that’s all. So when you’re saying sorry for having too little or even too much, then you are making a very powerful affirmation to the Universe to cease the flow of abundance.

AFFIRMATION: It is safe for me to allow more abundance into my life and feel comfortable to share my wealth when it flows with ease.

9. Your personal/emotional boundaries

You draw the line when it comes to saying something isn’t okay. We should all learn to assert our boundaries and not be apologetic for our decisions that enforce our own emotional safety.

AFFIRMATION: It’s okay, when I say it’s okay.

10. Your sexuality

This one should be the most obvious, kind of like apologising for your skin colour. No matter what your sexual orientation is, you must never need to apologise to someone because of it unless it’s used in the context of ‘Sorry, I’m flattered but I’m a lesbian.’

AFFIRMATION: My sexuality never needs to be explained.

3 Reasons Why Flying First Class Is Worth Every Penny

Spending a bit more can turn your flight into a profit center

The first-class cabin at the front of the plane may be just a few yards from your economy seat, but it might as well be in a different world. While you’re trying not to bash your knees on the tray table, to eat plastic food, and to get to sleep with a couple of tightly-packed strangers, on many international flight those at the front are lying on a bed in a private cabin, having just enjoyed a dinner prepared by a chef. Served on real china. Of course, they’ll have paid a fortune for those luxuries. A first class ticket from Singapore to New York on Singapore Airlines can set you back around $15,000. Along with the bed, you also get a dining table behind your private sliding doors, a 23-inch entertainment system, and a proper wine list.

But a touch of luxury isn’t all you get when you cash in your air miles, dig deep into your travel budget, or demand the client upgrade your ticket. When you stay in economy, you miss out on three other benefits that are way more valuable than a better class of reheated meal.

1. Time and Energy

First-class passengers arrive at the same time as everyone else. You’ll get off the plane first, but that will only save you a few minutes. The hours it can save you are in the recovery from the flight. David Liu, founder of TheKnot.com, described in The New York Times how, in the early days of his business, a venture capitalist he met was shocked to learn he had saved money by booking a red-eye with three layovers. Instead of being impressed by his thrift, she told him the company couldn’t afford a stressed-out CEO, and booked him on a first-class flight home.

If you’re flying economy class long-distance, your next day or two are going to be a washout. You have to factor in the cost of lost productivity and maybe even a lost deal, if you roll off the red-eye and into a presentation. Bear all those expenses in mind and that economy class seat doesn’t look so cheap anymore.

2. Networking

The first-class areas are the ultimate networking rooms. It starts in the lounge, where you get a proper place to relax, alongside people who are at the top of their professions. It continues on the plane, where you might find yourself sitting alongside the founder of a multimillion-dollar company or the chief executive of a Fortune 500 business. That’s valuable. Last year, Chinese gaming company Da Lian Zeus Entertainment paid $2.35 million to have lunch with Warren Buffett. You’ll pay a lot less to spend several hours sitting next to someone guaranteed to be a success in his or her field.

Those networking benefits are worth grabbing even on domestic flights. The comfort levels might not be much higher, but for a little more money, you’ll get to chat and exchange contact details with people at the top of their professions. If you want to meet and chat with people who have deep pockets and plenty of knowledge, you have to sit at the front of the plane.

3. Work

If you’ve ever tried to work in an economy-class seat, you’ll know it’s almost impossible. There’s barely enough room for your lap, let alone your laptop. A first-class seat is a real office, complete with power outlets, privacy, and Wi-Fi. While you’re squinting at a movie on a small screen in the back of the plane, the people at the front have a chance to pull even further ahead.

So should you be splashing out on a first-class plane ticket next time you travel? If you’re traveling for business and can afford it, it’s worth it.

More for your entrepreneurship 7 Key Habits, Practices, and Experiences

By Joel Comm. Author and speaker @joelcomm

BUY HAPPINESS

THE SCIENCE BEHIND THE AGE-OLD QUESTION OF MONEY AND HAPPINESS

By Kellie Colunga

“It’s the hap, happiest season of all,” the crooners sing. But is it? As much as we try to make loved ones our focus at the end of the year, the subject of money always seems to be lingering in the background. Whether you’re keeping a running mental tab on what you’ve spent on the holiday festivities, you’re waiting to hear if you got that raise or bonus, or you’re determining your end of the year giving, chances are you’ve got your mind on your money and your money on your mind (as Snoop Dog would say).

Is your money really serving you? Does it make you happier? Are you using it to lead a more fulfilled life? If you answered no to any of these questions, take heart, there is hope. Because the science says money does bring you happiness – if you use it right.

HIT YOUR TARGET

Happiness is correlated to income, but only up to $75,000, according to a highly publicized 2010 Princeton study. So what does this mean? According to the research, people reported having a greater “emotional well-being” based upon income up to $75,000, after which the level of happiness evened out.

Essentially, this study quantified what we instinctively had guessed – that money alleviates the stress of providing our most basic needs. In other words, $75,000 of annual income buys peace of mind. Meanwhile, low income intensifies the emotional strain of the trials of life like medical emergencies and divorce, causing compounded pain from financial insecurity.

In fact, one study concluded that income could actually reduce the incidence of serious mental illness. “We know from the results that changes in family income are important drivers of people’s emotional lives,” said David Clingingsmith, author of the paper and associate professor of economics at Case Western University.

What does this mean for you? Well, if you’ve already hit that $75,000 threshold and you’re not happy, it means you just need to learn how to spend effectively. Keep reading! If you haven’t hit that target yet, first things first: you need to get to know your numbers. Implement a spending plan and take massive action to get your financial security in place. Just having an emergency fund that covers your basic needs for three to six months will alleviate the little voice of panic inside you (or your partner) that constantly questions what will happen if a crisis occurs. (Book maybe you like MONEY Master the game)

However, the science says that no matter where you are at in your financial journey, spending your money in these ways will bring you more satisfaction in life.

3 WAYS TO SPEND MONEY THAT WILL ACTUALLY MAKE YOU HAPPIER

SPEND IT ON OTHERS – AND WITNESS THE IMPACT

As it turns out, science has upheld the maxim, “it’s better to give.” A Harvard study conducted across over 100 countries found that whether rich or poor, people who give to charity are happier. Perceived happiness increases even more when we can see the impact our gift has on someone.

Remember that moment when you gave someone a gift that you just…could…not…wait for them to open? As they opened your present, you searched their face for the delight that you knew that you put there by giving them a gift you knew they would love. Giving a gift that changes someone’s life or just makes them feel known and loved meets our deep need for love and connection, improving the quality of our own lives whilst improving another’s.

SPEND IT ON EXPERIENCES

Make memories, not purchases. Spending money on experiences makes us happier than spending money on material things for a few reasons.

For one, spending our money on experiences creates a connection with the people we shared that experience with – and those memories form a bigger part of our sense of identity than the things we buy. In fact, we remember experiences as better than they actually were. Alternatively, we adapt to the material purchases quickly.

ALREADY CONVINCED, BUT NEED IDEAS? HERE IS A LIST OF 7 “EXPERIENCE GIFTS” WE PUT TOGETHER FOR THE HOLIDAY SEASON.

A paper from Cornell University psychology professor Thomas Gilovich showed that we also get more pleasure out of anticipating experiences than anticipating the acquisition of material things. There is a reason that those brilliant credit card commercials tell a story of purchases made to create a ‘priceless’ memory. It is the experiences that stir up your emotions; it is the experiences that they are selling.

Consider this: The two days your spend waiting for your Amazon Prime package to arrive doesn’t build the same kind of anticipation as planning and dreaming about that vacation to Belize does. You take the time off work, brush up on your Spanish, read travel blogs and more, all the while thinking about how epic this trip is going to be. And once it’s over, you’ll tell the story of zip-lining through the rainforest to anyone who will listen for the rest of your life.

Best of all, we don’t compare experiences quite the same way we compare our material possessions to other people’s. Teddy Roosevelt may have said it best when he postulated, “Comparison is the thief of joy.” But thankfully, keeping up with the Jones’ doesn’t translate to experiences the same way it does to things. Sure, the Instagram pics of your college roommate’s family trip to Hawaii may give you travel envy, but it doesn’t diminish the joy you experienced camping in Yosemite with your spouse.

Although it may be easier to prioritize buying material goods, thinking they’ll offer better value for money in the long run, psychologists tell us that the opposite is true.

BUY BACK YOUR TIME

Studies also show that we are happier if we buy back our time. Wait, isn’t time the one thing money can’t buy us? As it turns out, no. Time is one of the most important things money can buy, precisely because it is such a valuable resource.

As the author of Happy Money: The Science of Happier Spending, Professor Elizabeth Dunn, suggests: “Don’t buy a slightly fancier car so that you have heated seats during your two-hour commute. Buy a place close to work, so that you can use that final hour of daylight to kick a ball around in the park with your kids.” A University of Zurich study agreed, citing that you would need a 40% raise to offset the added misery of a one-hour commute.

But it’s not just time sitting in traffic you can buy back. What would you be willing to give up to gain back the time you spend cleaning your house? Pack your lunch a couple of days a week and you may find that house cleaner is suddenly within budget, freeing up those precious hours.

This is especially difficult for those of us from hard-working families who were brought up to do things ourselves. Sure, we can change our own oil, but is it the best use of our time? Will it bring you joy? If so, have at it. If not, reconsider what your time is worth and spend accordingly.

TELL THE RIGHT STORY

Finally, your happiness is ultimately determined by the story you tell yourself. What is the story you consistently tell regarding your finances? Is it empowering you or limiting you? Is your story making you happy? As Tony Robbins says, “Change your story, change your life.”

On your journey to financial freedom, be sure to cultivate gratitude. One of the main reasons that collecting more things doesn’t make us happy in the long run is because we adapt quickly to it. Sonja Lyubomirsky, psychology professor at UC Riverside, says,” If you have a rise in income it gives you a boost, but then your aspirations rise too…You’ve stepped on the hedonic treadmill. Trying to prevent that or slow it down is really a challenge.”

Consciously fostering gratitude is key to maintaining joy.

Wherever you are in your financial journey, may you find joy this holiday season

Book may be you like MONEY Master the game

More about Success: Why Sarcastic People are More Successful

Original Post in Tony Robbins/Money

Amazing Mini Habits That Will Make 2016 Awesome

What are some of the best life tips?

Originally appeared on Quora–the knowledge-sharing network where compelling questions are answered by people with unique insights.

Answer by Nelson Wang, founder of CEOLifestyle.io, on Quora:

Over the past 31 years of my life, I’ve learned a lot through my experiences. These include:

1. Having my articles featured on Forbes, Business Insider, Fortune, and Inc.

2. Starting two companies and building four top 100 apps in different categories.

3. Ten years in the technology industry at amazing companies like Cisco, VMware, Box, and Optimizely.

4. Writing a book that hit No. 1 on Amazon in the résumés category, with more than 40,000 Kindle downloads.

And today, I’ll be sharing with you my top 100 tips on work, life hacks, and life lessons. To make this list easier to read, I’ve divided it into the three categories:

Work tips–Nos. 1 to 34
Life hacks–Nos. 35 to 55
Life lessons–Nos. 56 to 100

Hope this helps you live an epic life!

Work tips:

1. Say no to one-hour meetings–“I love hourlong meetings,” said no one ever. One-hour meetings are often unnecessary. You can usually accomplish in 30 minutes what you thought you needed an hour for. Thirty minutes will force you to be concise and on point.

2. Do the Steve Jobs walk–Steve Jobs did some of his most important meetings while going for a walk. I do this all the time. First, having meetings in conference rooms can feel very stiff. Second, getting people outside of their everyday environment may get them to see things from a new perspective. Third, being physically active during your meeting could help you think more clearly. So open the door, get some fresh air, and go for a walk.

3. Visualize your success–Imagine three groups of basketball players. The first group practices shooting free throws 20 minutes a day. The second group doesn’t practice free throws but instead visualizes themselves making free throws. The third group doesn’t practice or visualize at all. The results? There was a significant improvement in the second group. In fact, they were almost as good as the first group. By the way, this is a real experiment that was conducted by Australian psychologist Alan Richardson. So if you want to get that new job, imagine yourself prepping for the interview, nailing it, and signing the job offer. Visualize what you want your future to be.

4. Listen before speaking–Seek to understand first. How can you make an intelligent remark about something if you haven’t taken the time to observe what’s happening first? You have two ears and only one mouth. There’s a reason for that.

5. Keep your daily to-do list small–Instead of writing up a huge to-do list every day, focus on completing the three most important items every day. This forces you to prioritize your activities to ensure you’re getting the best return on your energy and time. Ask this question: “Do I really need to do this today?”

6. Set goals–If you don’t even know where you’re headed, how will you create the plan on how to get there? Set your destination first, and then set sail.

7. Celebrate progress–The journey to your goal could be a long one. So make sure you take the time to celebrate your progress along the way. Eat a nice dinner. High-five your teammates. Strike a gong. Do a fist pump. Yell out from the rooftops. Because success is worth celebrating.

8. Figure out your why–It’s a such a great question that isn’t asked enough. Why does it all matter? Figure out your why and that’ll be the fuel for your motivation. Whether it’s supporting your family or making an impact on the world, figuring out your why is critical for taking your work to the next level.

9. Understand your strengths and amplify those–You’ll be naturally talented in certain areas or you’ll practice a skill enough to become an expert at it. Focus your energy on amplifying those strengths rather than trying to be adequate at everything. Better to be an expert at a few things than a mediocre jack-of-all-trades!

10. Don’t burn bridges–I get it. We all work with jerks at some point in our careers. Who cares? Don’t let it get to you. There’s no need to say anything bad about them. If anything, try to find humor in the situation, learn from it, and move on. You’ve got better things to focus on. Like being the most epic version of yourself that you can be.

11. View challenges as opportunities–Have you ever spent a long time waiting at the post office to ship something? I know I have. What if, instead of complaining about the process, you had viewed that challenge as an opportunity and created an app that would allow you to request a driver to come to your house and pick up and deliver your shipment for you? You would have created Shyp, an amazing app that does exactly that.

12. Shorten your commute–For a few years, I traveled for work more than three hours on the freeway every day. I was stressed, tired, and exhausted. I also wasted a ton of time sitting in a car. It’s absolutely not worth it. Work near where you live. If you can, make it within walking distance. Imagine three hours a day working on something you love. Time is precious. Don’t waste it on the freeway.

13. Test your assumptions–Did you know that A/B testing helped Barack Obama raise $60 million by running a simple experiment? This blog post from Optimizely highlights how different tests run on media and buttons made a huge impact on results. At the end of the day, all of us have an opinion at work. The only way to know the answer is to test your assumptions.

14. Dip your toes in the water–You never really know until you try. If you never try, you’ll always be wondering “what if.” So what are you waiting for? Want to explore a new career? Want to learn about a different department? Want to start your own business? Dip your toes in the water. Make it happen.

15. Give credit where it’s due–People can’t stand it when someone takes credit for something he or she didn’t do. Don’t be that person. Recognize others when they do an awesome job. It creates trust among teammates and will further your company.

16. Every person you meet is a potential door opener to a new opportunity–Be nice to people. You never know how you can help one another down the road.

17. Make data-driven decisions–When in doubt, look at the data. What is it telling you?

18. Trust your gut–Data-driven decisions aren’t quite as helpful when there’s little or no data to work with. In those cases, go with your gut.

19. Focus on the 80/20 rule–Twenty percent of your clients will usually generate 80 percent of the return. Focus your energy on the work that matters.

20. Ten-years test–You’re going to run into problems that might seem like disasters. Don’t freak out. Instead, use the 10-years test. Will this problem matter in 10 days? In 10 months? In 10 years? Probably not. And if it won’t, don’t stress about it. It’s not worth it.

21. Do what you love–Life’s short. Do you really want to spend 23.8 percent of your life working at a job that you hate? Didn’t think so. Do what you love.

22. Focus on making an impact–Don’t do work for the sake of looking busy or only because someone told you to. Think about the impact. And if it’s not impactful, have the courage to say so. Challenge yourself to do great work that makes an impact.

23. Lead with or without the title–You don’t need a big title to make a difference at your company. You can lead by driving a new initiative, coming up with an awesome idea, or coaching and encouraging your teammates to be at their best.

24. Build a personal brand–You have a living, breathing brand. Want to build a great brand? Dress the part. Act the part. Live the part. For example, if you want to be perceived as a great content marketer, you’ve got to act the part. You could write a ton of Quora posts, LinkedIn articles, and blog posts on the subject of content marketing. That way, when people have a need for content marketing, they think of you, because they’ve seen 500 of your posts.

25. Invest in your LinkedIn profile–Nearly every single recruiter who has reached out to me this year found me on LinkedIn. Think about that for a second. Times have changed. We used to submit our résumé to company websites to find jobs. While it can still work, it’s not the most effective way to learn about job opportunities. Once you submit your résumé, it’s immediately outdated. LinkedIn, however, is brilliant, because people are incentivized to update their profiles constantly. So what ends up happening? Recruiters find most of the best talent on LinkedIn. It’s a new age, folks. Invest in your LinkedIn profile. I have a ton of tips on this in my book The Résumé Is Dead.

26. Leave your business card at home–Add someone on LinkedIn instead. It’s easier to keep in touch with him or her, reduces your administrative work in loading that person into your contact book, and updates on each other are easily viewed. Welcome to the cloud.

27. Stay humble–You might be pretty good at what you do, but chances are somebody else in the world does it better. And even if you are the best at it, chances are you aren’t good at a million other things. So stay humble. Stay foolish. Stay hungry. And keep learning from others.

28. Embrace failure and learn from it–You are going to fail at some point in life. It could be a big event, like getting fired. It could be a small event, like forgetting to do the laundry. It’s all relative. The important thing is to recognize that the process for dealing with big or small failures is the same. Acknowledge that it happened. Deal with the situation. Learn from it. Improve yourself. And move on. J.K. Rowling, the author of the Harry Potter series, went from being a single mother living off unemployment benefits to becoming one of the best-selling authors of all time. Failure happens. It’s how you deal with it that matters.

29. Embrace your champions–Along the way, you will find people that genuinely believe in you and your mission. They will cheer you on. Embrace them. Even if your only champion is your mom.

30. Embrace your naysayers–On this same journey, you’ll also find people who doubt you every step of the way. Embrace them, too. Only this time, use that doubt as your source of motivation. I had four managers who ranked me second to last in interviews at a Fortune 100 company. I used that to motivate me when I finally landed a job. I ended up managing the No. 1 operation in the country. Thanks for the motivation.

31. Recognize the importance of transparency–People are more empathetic when they understand why things are happening. When they’re left in the dark, it becomes hard to build trust. Be transparent.

32. Invest in a standing desk–A study from the Annals of Internal Medicine found that sitting increases our chances of getting a disease or condition that will kill us prematurely. Holy. Moly. Get a standing desk. Now. I did this for two years and felt way more productive.

33. Work smart–Why are we doing this? Does it have to be done this way? Is there a better way to do it? How can I get a better return in less time? Keep asking questions like this. Working hard is great. Working smart and hard is a even better. #WinningCombo

34. Find mentors who live your desired lifestyle–Want to work five hours a week and travel the world? Find people who have successfully created a passive-income lifestyle, like Pat Flynn, Eric Siu, and Benny Hsu, and have them be your mentors. While they may not be able to mentor you one on one, you can have them be virtual mentors by following their website learnings.

Life hacks:

35. Freeze your fruits and vegetables–You want to eat healthy, but your produce always manages to go bad before you can finish it. So here’s what you do instead: Right before it goes bad, freeze it! Then you can use it in soups, stews, or smoothies in a pinch!

36. Cut the cable cord and get Netflix–You still get awesome entertainment and just reduced your monthly bill a ton.

37. Clean your home once a month–Decluttering your living space will declutter your mind. Here’s a simply way to determine what you keep: Have I used this in the past year? If not, donate it.

38. Utilize quick pick-me-ups–Sometimes you just need something to jump-start yourself into a happier mood. Watch a funny YouTube video (Jimmy Fallon’s Lip Sync Battles, Ellen DeGeneres clips), sing one of your favorite songs out loud, or dance like nobody’s watching. Life’s short. You may as well have some fun.

39. Buy a chapstick keychain–Have you lost your chapstick before? I’ve lost a ton. That’s why I bought a chapstick keychain. Problem solved. My lips have never been happier. Smooth like butter.

40. Host events–When all is said and done, relationships are what matter. Host an event for your friends, family, and loved ones so that you get a chance to spend some quality time together. Want to do it on a budget? Make it a potluck. Want to make it work related? That’s awesome too. Trust me, your co-workers want to enjoy life outside of the office, too. They may not always remember what you did in the office, but they’ll definitely remember the epic get-togethers you hosted.

41. Invest in an awesome mattress–You spend about 33 percent of your life sleeping. Why would you skimp on your mattress? Help yourself get the best sleep possible.

42. Iron your shirt without an iron–Don’t have an iron? Your last resort: Hang your clothes in the bathroom while you take a hot shower and then dry them with a blow-dryer. It works for me all the time!

43. Arrive at least two hours before your flight’s takeoff time–Especially if it’s an international flight. Trust me, I’ve flown to more than 50 cities in a year. You don’t need the stress.

44. Pack food for your flight–You don’t have to pay a small fortune to have lunch at the airport anymore. Bring your own sandwich, fruit, or snack.

45. Wiggle your body during turbulence–I use to hate hitting turbulence. It would make me a nervous wreck. The solution? Wiggle your tush when the turbulence hits. You’ll feel less of it. I don’t know why this is true, but it works. I’ve tried it a few times now!

46. Charge your phone faster–Switch it into airplane mode and it’ll charge faster.

47. Get an extra battery pack–Let’s face it, we use our phones for almost everything nowadays, including directions, finding places to eat, communicating, and entertainment. When our phones die, we’re close to being incapable of doing anything. I’m kidding, of course. But life does get harder without a smartphone to help out. So buy an extra battery pack.

48. Stay away from processed foods–The more you eat whole, natural foods like vegetables and fruits, the more likely your diet will stay healthy. Stay away from the processed stuff.

49. Don’t live someone else’s life–Learn to build your own values, passions, opinions, and personality. You are not anyone else. You’re completely unique and awesome in your own way. This is your life. Own it. When I told people I wanted to build a blog focused on motivation called CEO Lifestyle, some of them were skeptical. Who cares? It’s not their life. It’s mine. If I get passionate about motivating other people, I’m going to make it happen. #MakeItSo.

50. Skip the caffeine–You don’t need it. You can make yourself more focused and awake by doing things that are completely natural and free. Here are some quick examples: exercise, meditation, drinking enough water (your frequent bathroom trips will make you alert, trust me), and working on something you’re passionate about.

51. Slow down–We get it. You want to make a dent in the universe. You want to change the world. You want to create something magical. Slow down. Take a deep breath. You don’t have to react instantly all the time. Sometimes, taking a moment to collect yourself and to think about the situation might drive a better outcome for you. I learned this from a special person I met in Spain and it’s improved my quality of life tremendously.

52. Color code your keys–My friends taught me this trick. Ever fumble through your keys and think you’ve found the right one, only to try it and realize it’s not? There’s a fix for that. Color code your keys. For example, our garage door is the yellow key, the green key is for the main public entrance, and the red key is for our front door to our apartment unit. You can buy colored key covers on Amazon or use nail polish or paint to make the keys color coded. #problemsolved

53. Put a small garbage bin in your car–Notice your car getting messy? Admit it, you’ve tossed stuff you needed to throw away into the passenger seat before. You don’t have to live that kind of life. Get a small garbage bin.

54. Hang a tennis ball in your garage–Speaking of cars, have you ever had trouble parking yours in the garage? Seriously, it’s not easy to make sure that you’ve parked close enough to the wall so that you car doesn’t get crushed by the garage door. Hang a tennis ball in your garage so that you know exactly when to stop moving forward.

55. Stuff newspaper in your shoes–It’ll remove the moisture and some of the smells they’ve picked up over time. OK, I admit it, I haven’t tried this one myself but I’ve heard it works.

Life tips:

56. Learn one new thing a day–This could be one word from a new language, a scientific fact, a life hack, or anything else that you’re interested in. Over time, learning one new thing a day will shape you into awesomeness.

57. Remember people’s names–Did you know that a study has shown that if you call people by their name, they usually respond with more energy and engagement? Yup, I ran that study. And my sample group has been the thousands of people I’ve worked with over my 11-year career in technology. When you say someone’s name, it shows that you care. It shows that you recognize his or her presence. It shows that you’re a nice person. Try it.

58. Focus only on the present–Stop regretting the past. Stop worrying about the future. Focus on the present. Focus on the now. Feel the sun on your face. Feel the wind behind your back. Hear the wind as it blows the tree branches. Dig your toes into the sand. Listen when people talk. If you read a page from the last chapter over and over again, you’ll never finish the book. So stop thinking about the past. Be in the now.

59. Listen to your body–When you’re exhausted, don’t fight it. Take a nap or sleep. When you feel stressed out, take a break. When you feel sick from eating that 10th donut, well, maybe you shouldn’t have done that. Learn to listen to the signals in your body and respond in the right way.

60. Learn to let go–Mistakes happen. Don’t dwell on them. Life isn’t perfect. Think of any issues you run into as speed bumps–they make the ride a little uncomfortable but you’ll get through them.

61. Read before sleeping–Don’t let the blue light from your computer or phone keep you up at night. You can use F.lux, which is an awesome app that makes the color of your computer’s display adapt to the time of day. This way you can use your computer to read an awesome book and learn something new. Or you can go the old-fashioned route and buy a hardcover book. Getting into the routine of reading before sleeping will help you wind down the day and learn something new at the same time!

62. You are the five people you surround yourself with–A few months ago, I ran into what I thought was a disaster for my company. A part of me wanted to shut down the company (it’s called Collide). My good friend and co-founder Steve challenged me immediately. He asked what I wanted to achieve in life and why I created the company in the first place. After a long talk, I realized that I wanted to stay the course. Steve helped me understand that my desire to succeed was far greater than my fears. I’m telling you this story because I’ve learned that surrounding yourself with people that inspire you to be better can completely take your life to new levels.

63. Learn to say no–You can’t do everything for everyone. Stop spreading yourself thin. Learn to say no. Focus on a few things and be great at those.

64. Explore the world–Travel the world. It’s a great way to get a fresh perspective on life. Howard Schultz traveled to Europe and fell in love with the coffee shops there. Guess what happened next? He started Starbucks. #GetInspired.

65. Build your own values–Model yourself after people you admire. At the end of the day, though, you’ve got to be able to make your own judgment calls. The best way to do this is to decide what your values are. Once you do, write them down and post them on your mirror. It’s the foundation of who you are.

66. Embrace change–You need to get comfortable with this simple idea: The only thing constant is change. Instead of fearing it, embrace it.

67. Clean along the way–Sure, you could let those dishes pile up for a month, but that would be pretty painful to clean up. Along the way, your home would start to smell, fill with fruit flies, and generally be less enjoyable to live in. So don’t procrastinate. Clean along the way.

68. Silence can be beautiful–You don’t always have to fill up silence with words. Sometimes there is beauty in being silent.

69. When in doubt, simply respond with “Let me think about that.”–Let’s face it, we don’t always have the right answer. Instead of rushing to answer, tell the person that you need time to think about things further. This shows that you’re being thoughtful and also gives you something to respond with.

70. Do your most important task first thing in the morning–Your energy will be higher at this moment. It’s why I work out first thing in the morning most days.

71. Use the “we’ll see” method–Even when it seems like something terrible has happened at the moment, there’s the possibility that it might lead to something good in the future. So instead of making up your own conclusions about the future, just tell yourself, “We’ll see.”

72. Meditate–You can use apps like Headspace that are free and can help you clear your mind. This is an awesome way to relax your mind and body.

73. Realize that most people don’t care about you–Sorry, people’s lives don’t revolve around your universe. Well, the exception might be if you’re a celebrity. But in all seriousness, stop worrying about what other people think of you. Most of them don’t even really care that much. Instead, focus on being the best possible version of yourself.

74. There are a few people in the world that really, deeply care about you–Keep those people close to you in life. They’re the ones that can make your life amazing. They’re the ones who will stick with you through the good and the bad.

75. Roll your clothes–When you travel, try rolling your clothes to maximize packing space. I did this and can fit 2.5 weeks of clothes into a carry-on now.

76. Only you are responsible for your life–So own it. Take control. You have to figure out what makes you happy. What gets you inspired. What drives you.

77. Say something awesome to yourself every day–Positive reinforcement can help you maintain an upbeat mood even in the worst of times. Treat yourself well.

78. Take a deep breath–Didn’t that feel awesome? Yeah, try doing that more. You’ll feel better.

79. Happiness is a state of mind, not a destination–Growing up, I used to tell myself, if only I had this specific thing, I would be happy. After 31 years of living, I can tell you that’s not how happiness works. Happiness is a state of mind. My close friend told me that he feels happiness when the sun shines on his face. He almost died when he was in his early 20s. He was saved by a stranger who donated a kidney to him. He’s happy that he’s alive today. You can find happiness now. It’s right in front of you, everywhere you look. It’s up to you to open your eyes.

80. Remember to have the time of your life–No one lives forever. So while you’re here, remember to have the time of your life. Laugh, smile, and have fun.

81. Promise only on what you can deliver–Reliability goes a long way. A ton of people overpromise and underdeliver. Don’t be one of those people.

82. Be fearless–Fear is just a feeling. Learn to take it head-on. Have a bias toward action and be fearless.

83. Marry your best friend–You want someone who’s going to be there with you through the best and worst of times. Someone you can talk to all night or have a completely comfortable silence with. Someone who loves you for who you are.

84. Be insanely curious–Being curious will help you keep an open mind. By doing so, you’ll learn new ideas and help keep passion and excitement in your life. You don’t know everything, so learn as much as you can in your life!

85. Think about how you can help others–At the end of the day, your legacy will be the people you loved, those who loved you, and how much you helped others.

86. Time is your most valuable asset–I had a family friend who spent most of his life saving up every penny to eventually live the life he always wanted. After years of saving, he was involved in a tragic car accident. He never lived the life he dreamed about. Money is valuable. Time is even more valuable. Use money to help you find more time. Time with your loved ones. Time with your buddies. Time with your spouse. Time with your kids. There are 525,600 minutes in a year. How do you spend your time?

87. Someone else’s recipe may not work for you–Just because it worked for someone else doesn’t always mean it’ll work for you. Learn from others, but also realize that everyone’s situation is unique.

88. Have an idea jar–Whether it’s for love, friendships, or family, an idea jar is a great way to ensure you’ll have activities to do together. The next time you have an idea for something, put it into the idea jar. Each week, you can pull one idea from the jar and–voilà!–you’ve got some fun in your hands.

89. Act exactly how you feel–Why the poker face? It’s unnecessary. If you’re upset, act and feel upset. If you’re happy, smile. Better to be 100 percent authentic than to live a lie.

90. Smile at people–It makes you happier. It’s contagious. It lowers stress and anxiety. It strengthens your immune system. It makes you seem more competent. It makes you look trustworthy. It can even be an effective management technique. And yes, every single one of these claims has been proven by a study. Every. Single. One. By the way, it costs you nothing. That’s awesome.

91. Simple is good–Stuff has administrative debt. That new car you just got? Maintenance and insurance. Those 10 shopping sites you subscribed to? 100 emails in your inbox you have to go through. Keep life simple. It’s easier and more enjoyable.

92. Don’t get attached to stuff–Once you take care of your basic necessities, like your health, shelter, clothing, and food, chances are that stuff won’t make you happy. Don’t get too attached to it. When we leave this world, we can’t bring our stuff with us anyway.

93. Choose experiences over stuff–What you should value are experiences. A simple dinner with your mother talking about life. A vacation with your spouse to a place you’ve always wanted to travel. A long talk with friends over a warm fire on a cold winter night. Working late night with your teammates to build a game-changing startup. These are the moments you’ll remember.

94. Don’t compare yourself with others–Just focus on being the best possible version of yourself.

95. Make something for someone to show that you care–It’s easy to buy something for someone. Making something with love, passion, and care is much harder. Go the extra mile and make something for the person you love. Need ideas? Check out Pinterest.

96. Love yourself first–Before you fall in love with anyone else, make sure you’re in a good place. Learn to love yourself, including all of your awesomeness and your flaws. The more comfortable you are with yourself, the better you can love someone else.

97. Your word choice matters–Your words have a lot of power. Version 1: “We have a problem with our project.” Version 2: “We have an opportunity to fix things on this project.” I feel a lot better hearing version 2. What about you?EdTech The 10 Hottest Online Classes for Professionals

98. Learn to let go–Sometimes you can’t fix something. Let it go. Yup, I wrote this life tip earlier. I’m repeating it because it’s that important.

99. Everyone has a story–Maybe someone was mean to you today. That sucks. But what if you found out it’s because the person had just learned about a tragedy in his or her family? It changes everything, doesn’t it? Just remember, everyone has his or her own story to tell.

100. Love–When all is said and done, all that you’ll really remember are the amazing people you’ve connected with and helped along the way. Love your friends. Love your family. Love your spouse. Love is all that matters. Love more.

I hope this list helps you live the best life possible. What are you waiting for?

Go. Start. Now. Because it’s never too late to be amazing.

More successful ideas click HERE

This question originally appeared on Quora–the knowledge-sharing network where compelling questions are answered by people with unique insights.

5 Ways Remarkably Successful People Spend the Weekend

Weekends are a great time to recharge your batteries and have some fun. Follow in the footsteps of these business greats.

Weekends have always been our time to relax, wind down, and be with loved ones. Yet many never even consider that these precious days of respite could be spent productively–even while having fun. Read on for ways very successful people spend their weekends so that you can incorporate them into your own.

1. Keep active

Vogue‘s Anna Wintour plays tennis for one hour every day without fail. One of India’s richest billionaires runs marathons in his off time. People who are incredibly successful understand the importance of the body in relation to the mind. The health of the one simply cannot be maintained without upkeeping the other. So move a little this weekend. At worst, you’ll burn off Friday night’s dinner.

2. Practice JOMO, not FOMO

Randi Zuckerberg, founder and CEO of Facebook Media–and conveniently, Mark Zuckerberg’s sister–has preached the benefits of practicing JOMO: the joy of missing out. Checking Facebook over the weekend often gives us FOMO, or fear of missing out. Instead of feeling left out, JOMO suggests that we should be happy with everything we do, right where we are.

3. Reflect back

Use the small amount of free time we get on the weekends to look back on the hectic week. Bill Gates once said, “It’s fine to celebrate success, but it is more important to heed the lessons of failure.” Gates, well known for his enormous success worldwide, has definitely unlocked many ways to succeed. If we take the time to think back on our past actions, we’ll be able to learn from our mistakes–and not make the same ones again.

4. Prepare yourself for the coming week

Jack Dorsey, Twitter co-founder, always takes his Sundays to do “reflections, feedback, strategy, and getting ready for the rest of the week.” Much like Gates, Dorsey looks back on past actions in order to plan for the future. He makes sure to think about what he wants to get done and how to make the week run better than his last. Perhaps we all could benefit from planning our weeks in advance.

5. Prioritize things that matter

With a hectic work schedule, it’s easy to lose track of the things that hold emotional value for us. Steve Jobs said, “Things don’t have to change the world to be important.” Our families, hobbies, and passions–these bring us deep emotional warmth that can’t be found in our work. On the weekends, while we have the time, we should make sure family members know just how much we care.

Learn more: Why Sarcastic People Are More Successful

BY PETER ECONOMY The Leadership Guy

Why Sarcastic People Are More Successful

Research calls sarcasm “the highest form of intelligence” and claims it can help you get ahead at work.

Everybody just loves sarcasm. It’s so warm and fuzzy and makes everyone feel nice. So go ahead with those biting quips — they’ll definitely win you friends and admirers!

I’m being sarcastic, of course. Sarcasm, as we all know, might be occasionally hilarious (and often a pretty great way to vent your annoyance with the world), but it doesn’t exactly seem like a surefire strategy to build alliances and get ahead at work. In fact, most career coaches would probably tell you to avoid it at all costs at the office.

Except maybe they’re all totally wrong. That’s the suggestion of research on sarcasm that is bound to cheer fans of snarky comments everywhere. Apparently, sarcasm doesn’t just make you happy; it can also help you be more creative and successful.

“The highest form of intelligence.”

The study, titledThe Highest Form of Intelligence: Sarcasm Increases Creativity Through Abstract Thinking for Both Expressers and Recipients, was conducted by a team of researchers from Harvard, Columbia, and Insead. The team tested the effects of sarcasm by having volunteers engage in a sincere, a sarcastic, or a neutral (control) exchange before completing a task designed to assess their creativity.

What did the researchers find? Sarcasm, it turns out, is a pretty good mental workout. “To create or decode sarcasm, both the expressers and recipients of sarcasm need to overcome the contradiction (i.e., psychological distance) between the literal and actual meanings of the sarcastic expressions. This is a process that activates and is facilitated by abstraction, which in turn promotes creative thinking,” Harvard’s Francesca Gino, who participated in the study, explained in the Harvard Gazette.

The result was “those in the sarcasm conditions subsequently performed better on creativity tasks than those in the sincere conditions or the control condition. This suggests that sarcasm has the potential to catalyze creativity in everyone,” Adam Galinsky, another member of the research team, added. In short, sarcastic comments make your whole team more creative, so go ahead and let fly with the occasional snide-but-hilarious comment. Thanks, science!

Trust required.

That’s happy news for the more sarcastically inclined, but before you get carried away, the researchers caution that this finding shouldn’t be taken as a blank check to be sarcastic whenever and wherever the mood strikes you. If you don’t want to hurt people and burn bridges, you need to restrict your remarks to contexts where trust has already been established.

“While most previous research seems to suggest that sarcasm is detrimental to effective communication because it is perceived to be more contemptuous than sincerity, we found that, unlike sarcasm between parties who distrust each other, sarcasm between individuals who share a trusting relationship does not generate more contempt than sincerity,” Galinsky notes.

Learn more: 9 Phrases Smart People Never Use In Conversation

By Jessica Stillman

9 Phrases Smart People Never Use in Conversation

These seemingly benign comments lead to the awful feeling that comes only when you’ve planted your foot firmly in your mouth.

BY TRAVIS BRADBERRY. Author, ‘Emotional Intelligence 2.0’ [Featured IMAGE: Getty Images

We’ve all said things that people interpreted much differently than we thought they would. These seemingly benign comments lead to the awful feeling that comes only when you’ve planted your foot firmly in your mouth.

Verbal slip-ups often occur because we say things without knowledge of the subtle implications they carry. Understanding these implications requires social awareness–the ability to pick up on the emotions and experiences of other people.

TalentSmart has tested the emotional intelligence (EQ) of more than a million people and discovered that social awareness is a skill in which many of us are lacking.

We lack social awareness because we’re so focused on what we’re going to say next–and how what other people are saying affects us–that we completely lose sight of other people.

This is a problem because people are complicated. You can’t hope to understand someone until you focus all of your attention in his or her direction.

The beauty of social awareness is that a few simple adjustments to what you say can vastly improve your relationships with other people.

To that end, there are some phrases that emotionally intelligent people are careful to avoid in casual conversation. The following phrases are nine of the worst offenders. You should avoid them at all costs.

1. “You look tired.”

Tired people are incredibly unappealing–they have droopy eyes and messy hair, they have trouble concentrating, and they’re as grouchy as they come. Telling someone he looks tired implies all of the above and then some.

Instead say: “Is everything OK?” Most people ask if someone is tired because they’re intending to be helpful (they want to know if the other person is OK). Instead of assuming someone’s disposition, just ask. This way, he can open up and share. More important, he will see you as concerned instead of rude.

2. “Wow, you’ve lost a ton of weight!”

Once again, a well-meaning comment–in this case a compliment–creates the impression that you’re being critical. Telling someone that she has lost a lot of weight suggests that she used to look fat or unattractive.

Instead say: “You look fantastic.” This one is an easy fix. Instead of comparing how she looks now with how she used to look, just compliment her for looking great. It takes the past right out of the picture.

3. “You were too good for her anyway.”

When someone severs ties with a relationship of any type, personal or professional, this comment implies he has bad taste and made a poor choice in the first place.

Instead say: “Her loss!” This provides the same enthusiastic support and optimism without any implied criticism.

4. “You always …” or “You never …”

No one always or never does anything. People don’t see themselves as one-dimensional, so you shouldn’t attempt to define them as such. These phrases make people defensive and closed off to your message, which is a really bad thing because you likely use these phrases when you have something important to discuss.

Instead: Simply point out what the other person did that’s a problem for you. Stick to the facts. If the frequency of the behavior is an issue, you can always say “It seems like you do this often” or “You do this often enough for me to notice.”

5. “You look great for your age.”

Using “for your” as a qualifier always comes across as condescending and rude. No one wants to be smart for an athlete or in good shape relative to other people who are also knocking on death’s door. People simply want to be smart and fit.

Instead say: “You look great.” This one is another easy fix. Genuine compliments don’t need qualifiers.

6. “As I said before …”

We all forget things from time to time. This phrase implies that you’re insulted at having to repeat yourself, which is hard on the recipient (someone who is genuinely interested in hearing your perspective). Getting insulted over having to repeat yourself suggests that either you’re insecure or you think you’re better than everyone else (or both!). Few people who use this phrase actually feel this way.

Instead: When you say it again, see what you can do to convey the message in a clearer and more interesting manner. This way the person you’re speaking to will remember what you said.

7. “Good luck.”

This is a subtle one. It certainly isn’t the end of the world if you wish someone good luck, but you can do better because this phrase implies that they need luck to succeed.

Instead say: “I know you have what it takes.” This is better than wishing her luck because suggesting that she has the skills needed to succeed provides a huge boost of confidence. You’ll stand out from everyone else who simply wishes her luck.

8. “It’s up to you” or “Whatever you want.”

While you may be indifferent to the question, your opinion is important to the person asking (or else he wouldn’t have asked you in the first place).

Instead say: “I don’t have a strong opinion either way, but a couple things to consider are …” When you offer an opinion (even without choosing a side), it shows that you care about the person asking.

9. “Well, at least I’ve never …”

This phrase is an aggressive way to shift attention away from your mistake by pointing out an old, likely irrelevant mistake the other person made (and one you should have forgiven her for by now).

Instead say: “I’m sorry.” Owning up to your mistake is the best way to bring the discussion to a more rational, calm place so that you can work things out. Admitting guilt is an amazing way to prevent escalation.

Bringing it all together

In everyday conversation, it’s the little things that make all the difference. Try these suggestions out, and you’ll be amazed at the positive response you get.

What other phrases should people avoid? Please share your thoughts in the comments section below as I learn just as much from you as you do from me.

Walk will never be the same

A Japanese engineer just invented a nifty new way to travel: A transporter called a “WalkCar” that’s small, light and apparently easy to use.

The product is battery powered and is about the size of a laptop. And although it looks like it can hold much weight and is made from aluminum, it can apparently have as much as 265 lbs on board.

Now this is another business idea, on how you can have a business with success, sales impact, a system, and with a product that can put you in front of the business trent.

Contact me HERE to share my business plan that can help you leverage your effort and make you money for any of your goals.

Source: Reuters

“And The Waltz Goes On”

On the big screen, we sometimes only see the actor, but a lot of them are musicians, composers and artists… Lets look at one composer in particular, Sir Anthony Hopkins

Anthony Hopkins and Andre Rieu — Photo by André Rieu.

André Rieu & His Johann Strauss Orchestra performing “And The Waltz Goes On” in Maastricht. A Waltz composed by Sir Anthony Hopkins. Taken from “André Rieu – Under the Stars. Live in Maastricht 5.”

Learn more: Build your own success history

Photo by André Rieu. Top: Symphony Orchestra Augusta

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