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Building your brain power

What is self improvement? Well, the dictionary defines self improvement as "improvement of one's mind, character, etc. through one's own efforts. Seems pretty simple and straight forward.
So logically, the next question one would ask themselves is what should the efforts consist of? In other words, what techniques, principles & resources work most effectively?
Well, that is a question that Clinical Hypnotherapist, Steve G. Jones has been asking himself for many years.
Since the 1980's, Steve has been changing the lives of people all over the world for the better using the power of hypnosis.
One thing that he has always kept in mind in his search is that there is no "one magical formula" that can completely improve every single aspect of your life. Enhancing your level of self improvement is a process that consists of many different techniques and formulas. After all, one's self consists of many things and because we are all different, some of us need more improvement in certain places than others.
Taking the necessary steps toward enhancing your self improvement is like exercising. Only instead of training your body, you're training your mind.
When you exercise or train your body, there is no one universal program known to man that works for everyone. Rather, effective programs consist of a combination of many different techniques and exercises that come together at different points that create the desired result.
For example, let's say your goal is to build muscle. Because your entire body consists of different muscles that do different things, different exercises are required for each one. And for each muscle, there's probably 5-7 different exercises that you can perform to achieve your overall fitness goal.
Training your mind is no different. The techniques that you apply should always vary. The important thing is that they actually work.
Many people however, don't take the process of training their brain as seriously as they should.
They spend all of their time, money and energy on resources that they think will improve their lives without ever actually investing in their mind.
Think of your mind as the root and everything else as the branches.
The roots set the stage of success for everything else.
If you invest in your mind, everything else will fall into place.
And that's why Steve G. Jones, M.Ed. is proud to present his newest creation. Introducing the all new Brain Power Control System...
Consisting of Four Empowering Hypnosis Modules, this program will reveal secrets like:
Essential Brain Nutrition - While certain foods strengthen your brain, others weaken it. Here you'll learn which foods to avoid and which one's to make part of your daily regimen
The Secret Element Needed For A Healthy Brain - Without this element, your brain is sure to burn out.
Three Simple Ways To Strengthen Your Brain Using Physical Fitness -
These 3 simple steps will ensure your brain gets healthy doing everyday, easy exercises.
Seven Powerful Brain Techniques To Give Your Brain A Workout -
Aside from the physical exercise, you need mental exercise or your brain will get out of shape. Here I will disclose the most effective mental exercises known to man.
Five Simple Steps To Keep Your Brain Healthy - As all true successes can only be measured by results that last, you will discover the exact methods to sustain success.
And Much more...
Check it out:

http://www.consultpivotal.com/Abrain_power.htm

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"Letting go of our suffering is the hardest work we will ever do. It is also the most fruitful. To heal means to meet ourselves in a new way -- in the newness of each moment where all is possible and nothing is limited to the old."

-- Stephen Levine

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How to beome a great speaker (with no stress)

We have all heard that famous statistic, the one that claims the number one fear people have is public speaking, number two is death. Seinfeld had a joke about this stat, he said apparently if people are at a funeral they would rather be in the coffin than be giving the eulogy. If that statistic is accepted as fact, Seinfeld’s joke, while ridiculous sounding, would be technically correct. What is wrong with this scenario?

Would people really rather be dead than speak in public? Why? Well I am here to tell you that speaking in public is nothing to be afraid of; I do it all the time. Like most things in life, the more you speak in public, the less nervous you become when you do it. Unfortunately, most people choose to avoid giving speeches so vehemently that they will never do it enough to become comfortable with it.

So for all of those people out there who avoid speaking in public like, well, death, I am here to tell you how to breeze through any public speaking engagement and come out the other end as a hit public speaker, with as little stress as possible.  >>>

Smiling: a Simple Way to feel good

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Book Spotlight – Karma Queens, Geek Gods and Innerpreneurs

 

What really makes consumers tick?

It's a question every marketer, innovator, entrepreneur, or trend-watcher strives to answer-especially in an age when certain types of consumers are increasingly instrumental in shaping national and even global buying habits.

Karma Queens, Geek Gods and Innerpreneurs is your hands-on guide to getting inside the minds of the people who are setting the trends in art, music, technology, fashion, health, and every kind of consumer product and service. Based on thousands of hours of consumer research conducted by Consumer Eyes, a prominent New York-based marketing firm, this book uncovers nine influential consumer types and reveals how to connect with them, market to them, and create the products that will not only win them over, but their entire social networks as well!

Consumer Eyes founder Ron Rentel takes an entertaining yet serious look at today's most emblematic consumers, analyzing everything from the products they buy, to the activities they enjoy, to the behaviors and attitudes they exhibit. You'll meet such real-life characters as:

  • Karma Queens-women of a certain age who combine a desire to be in harmony with the universe with an appreciation of material pleasures
  • Parentocrats-who act out of love to assure their kids security and happiness, yet often deny them the classical joys of childhood
  • Denim Dads-for whom family involvement means more than climbing the corporate ladder
  • Innerpreneurs-chief managers of their own “brand,” they find their inspiration within themselves

By using C-Types-rich, three-dimensional consumer portraits combining quantifiable data with expressions of personality-Rentel identifies and illuminates the consumers who set the trends. He not only helps you understand Karma Queens, Geek Gods and other consumer types on a deeper level in order to reach them more effectively in your marketing and advertising, he also offers fresh insight into managing your brand and your business.

From the Back Cover
Get to know the consumers who count.

"This isn't a book about marketing. It isn't a book about business, as such. It's much more. It's a book about people-the real, fascinating, complex, multifaceted people called consumers. Funny and insightful, Karma Queens, Geek Gods and Innerpreneurs takes a fresh look at how specific, colorful and influential consumer types are shaping tomorrow's marketplace now.”-David Granger, Editor-in-Chief, Esquire

“Consumer Types are an entirely new way to classify consumers, brought to life with fascinating real world stories, backed up with supporting data, and going far beyond demographics.”-Bennett L. Brenton, Ph.D., Director of Innovation, PepsiCo

“An insightful, impactful book that speaks to a sensibility, passion, and drive for understanding the 'consumer heartbeat.'”-Todd Cunningham, Senior Vice President Brand Strategy and Planning, MTV Music Television

“Don't let all the talk about marketing fool you-identifying C-types helps you communicate better on an everyday basis with absolutely anyone. The possibilities (read: profits) are endless.”-Stephanie Young, Health Director, MORE Magazine

“Ron Rentel has synthesized findings from a powerful, highly sensitive new market research approach into a brilliant chronicle of nine new subcultures that will inform and excite any reader. It is an anthropological thrill ride through the 21st Century's first decade. Highly engaging and readable, it is a MUST for anyone who recognizes the bankruptcy of mass marketing and who understands that our modern “world” is in fact a confederation of niches.”-Gary Hirshberg, President and CE-Yo, Stonyfield Farm

“An interesting exploration of new slices of our fragmented psyche. Filled with useful insights and amusing anecdotes.”-Edwin Schlossberg, Founder, ESI Design

“Ron Rentel captures the essence of consumer habits in this engaging insider's view of interesting personality types...a must-read for consumers and marketers everywhere.”-Madelyn H. Fernstrom, Ph.D., CNS, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center
About the Author

Ron Rentel is the founder of Consumer Eyes, a leading brand and innovation consultancy, which creates customized methodologies that can encompass both long-term strategy and pipeline work and/or highly specific near-in product execution and tactics. He is also cofounder of BuzzBack Market Research, an online market research company. Visit Ron Rentel at consumereyes.com.

 

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Stop undervaluing teachers worldwide

Nowadays less and less children dream of becoming teachers for the simple reason that people want to do something "for a living", not to work all for nothing. I am afraid that qualified teachers will soon be an endangered species and even those who still exist, have no motivation to do their work properly ("no pay, no play").   >>>

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The 17 Solutions System Using SCAMPER

Having a problem you are stuck on? An obstacle you can't seem to solve or overcome? A goal you can't seem to figure out how to make come true?

Try my 17 solutions system using the well known SCAMPER system I'll explain below. Here's how the process works:

1. Write your current problem, obstacle or goal in the form of a question on the top of a page. Ask the question in the form of the result you want, for example:

  • "How do I get........?"
  • "Where or when can I find...."
  • "Who would have....."
  • "What ..........could I use to get this resolved?"

2. Generate 17 different answers or solutions to this question. Why generate 17 solutions? The first few will come easy. The idea is, after a few easy ones, you have to stretch and think. This is where your breakthroughs may be hiding, keep coming up with new answers. This is where SCAMPER comes in handy.

3. Select the best solution to implement. Once you come up with this solution list and pick your best option, implement it right away! In turn, it may lead to your breakthrough. 

Use the SCAMPER system to come up with the most effective solutions and answers:

Scamper is an acronym of seven different ways to look at problems from all different angles and applications concepts. Said to have been designed by Alex Osbourne. Here is what each letter stands for:

  • Substitute
  • Combine
  • Adapt
  • Modify
  • Put to other use
  • Eliminate
  • Reverse or Rearrange

How do you use SCAMPER to get a fresh look at any subject? Play with any one or any combination of any of these concepts:

Substitute - One usage for another. One idea or concept or application for another. Try a fresh, unusual, surprising or modern approach. Example: Chicken instead of veal. Plastic instead of wood.

Combine - two or several concepts that work in other arenas. Flikr combines the internet with photo albums.

Adapt - an application from one system to another. Quisnos and Subway sandwich shops adapted the assembly line oven concept perfected by McDonalds and Burger King.

Modify - larger, faster, easier, bigger, smaller, adjusted any one element or combination of elements. Today's auto engines produce the same horsepower with much smaller aluminum block engines.

Put to other use -  same use in different industry, technology, and city. Ask: "how else could I use this?" An example of this is Walkie talkies. They were first used by military, now available to consumers from many cell phone companies like Nextel.

Eliminate -     reduce time spent, steps needed, pieces, cost. Take away one part of a system and see if it results in a better product. For example, Flat screen TV use technology to eliminated the heavy weight and size of big bulky TV's.

Reverse or Rearrange -   reengineer, put in different order, any part of a process or product. For example , in baseball, managers will regularly switch around the batting order if someone is hot or in a slump.

Try this process for yourself to see if you can use it to bust through any challenge or obstacle you may have. Write me if it works for you.

The author and Personal Marketing Consultant, Larry LaFata, helps individuals and the self-employed to live their Purpose through a comprehensive discovery program at http://CraftYourCalling.com. Get your copy of my other free self-empowerment guides at http://www.DoWhatYouLike.com

Use public speaking skills to ace your job interview

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To have a successful job interview, you'll want to appear poised, calm and confident.

By Lucy Cohen Blatter

As CEO of Media Training Worldwide, TJ Walker coaches clients on how to speak to live audiences and the media.

Those same skills apply to job interviews, Walker said. “You want to look comfortable and relaxed. You want to be understood and, most importantly, you want your message remembered. You also want people to take action as a result.”
Here are his tips:  >>>

How to Increase Your Reading Retention Rate

By James McNair

Our reading retention rate depends on how active we are in the learning process. It is so common for someone to sit and read a whole chapter or section of information, and at the end, not remember any of it. Usually that person goes back and starts all over again. This is so frustrating! Not to mention the amount of time wasted. There are certain things that we can do to improve our reading retention rate and avoid unnecessary re-reading.

Before settling in to start reading the first page, take a few minutes to develop a strategy plan. Firstly, why the decision to read this information? Determine if it is work that you need to study in great detail or perhaps you are searching for more specific information. The other question that needs to be asked, is what you will be needing the information for. Perhaps for study purposes or for wanting to learn how something is done. Maybe you are simply interested in the topic. By asking these questions we prepare our brain and remind ourselves exactly what it was that we want to be remembering. The purpose for the reading is now established.

Much more of the information is remembered if we are more active in our reading. This will involve making summaries while you are reading. There are various ways to make summaries, depending on the individual's preferences, although all summaries should contain only keywords. Do not re-write the textbook! Decide before reading which will be the best summarizing technique to use.

Write a main heading at the top of your page and then divide the page into three columns. The first column is usually for one main keyword, and the other two columns are for further keywords relating to the main one. The use of colors and small simple pictures wherever possible is much encouraged during summarizing. By breaking the keywords into columns, the work will be much easier to study later, and one can see at a glance what it is all about. Your reading retention rate will be far higher if you are making notes while you are reading.

The other summarizing technique is called the mind map, which is a huge success with millions of people worldwide. The mind map is the best idea for anyone who struggles to remember their work. The most important thing about the mind map, is that it is non-linear which facilitates the way our brains think. Start with the main concept in the centre of the page. This can be a word or a picture representing your main idea or topic. From this central point, branch out with the next main keyword. Then add further branches with more detailed keywords relating to the main one. Ideally each branch should have it's own unique color and only one keyword per branch. Once again, the use of pictures greatly enhance retention. The mind map is a very easy way to capture information during the reading process. As it is not in linear form, additional facts can easily be added to any of the branches.

For a high reading retention rate we should ideally have been taught summarizing methods as a child. From as early as possible, children should learn how to effectively summarize their reading. They then learn to write ideas in their own words and study better in higher grades.

While reading, try to eliminate distractions. Your mind must focus attention on the task at hand. If you are constantly interrupted, reading retention rate will be low.

It is best to experiment with a few summarizing methods to find the one you like the most. Often the type of information will also determine the summarizing technique best used. Once you have become active in your reading, you will be pleasantly surprised at how your reading retention rate has increased.

The first step in learning to speed read is to get a benchmark of your progress with a speed reading test. This free reading test is free, and very accurate. Then you need to focus on learning some speed reading techniques, and then practice them as often as possible.

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"Never bend your head. Always hold it high. Look the world straight in the face."

Helen Keller

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Become unstoppable

You probably already know that the most successful people have incredible levels of self-confidence. They have accomplished great levels of success and happiness in their lives and seem to be unstoppable in everything that they do.
The fact is, that when you develop unshakable self-confidence your whole world will change for the better.

"Build Rock Solid Self-Confidence and Achieve All of Your Goals"