Persuade Anyone to do Anything, Anytime.
Read "Power Persuasion: Using Hypnotic Influence to Win in Life, Love and Business," by David R. Barron and Danek S. Kaus.
Available at Robert D. Reed Publishers www.rdrpublishers.com
Sunday, October 29, 2006
Saturday, October 28, 2006
Shake That Brain!
Need a new idea to make your small business grow? Want to find a better job or improve your relationship?
Maybe you just need a good shaking.
According to speaker, consultant and best-selling author Joel Saltzman, whose latest book is Shake That Brain!, there is a 12-step process for creating better solutions to life’s challenges.*
1. BE OPTIMISTIC
The more you believe you can solve your problem, the more you'll keep at it. Know that it may take some time, but eventually you'll discover one or more solutions — maybe even some extraordinary ones.
2. BE CLEAR
Never try to solve a problem before you know what it is: Write down your problem in the form of a clear, precise question and you're halfway to the answer. Then again: Always pose your question at least two very different ways. For example ...
3. ASK, "WHAT'S THE 'OPPOSITE' OF MY QUESTION?"
Remember Tom Sawyer and the fence that needed mending? Instead of asking, "How can I do this work?" he asked: "How can someone else do all this fun?"
4. QUESTION YOUR ASSUMPTIONS
Make a list of everything about your situation that you know to be true -- no matter how small or insignificant it may seem. Now go back and question every assumption you've made. "Is that really so? Does it have to be that way? How could it be done some other way?"
5. PRACTICE PIE-IN-THE-SKY THINKING
Allow yourself to look for wild, outlandish ideas -- even if they seem impossible at first. As Einstein put it: "If at first an idea is not absurd, then there is no hope for it."Most of us would go, "That's a crazy idea -- forget about it." To which Einstein would counter: "Got a crazy idea? Let's take a look at it!"
6. THINK OF YOUR ABSOLUTE WORST IDEA
Why worry about trying to come up with a great idea when it's so much easier to come up with a rotten idea! Freed from trying to come up with the greatest idea ever, you might just discover that a terrible idea can be "tweaked" into greatness.
7. BE PERSISTENT -- NEVER TAKE "YES" FOR AN ANSWER
Instead of saying, "Yes, that's it!," learn to say, "Well, that could be it." Then go find some more ideas. As Walter Lippmann put it: "For every human problem there is a solution that is simple, neat, and wrong." Remember: The best way to get a great idea is to get lots of ideas! Just keep at it.
8. REFUSE TO ACCEPT "EITHER OR" THINKING
"Either Or" thinking hems you in, limiting your options way too severely. Always look for a third, fourth, even fifth alternative. Then keep looking for more solutions. And think of a way to combine solutions. For example, instead of a gasoline powered car or an electric car, there's the hybrid car, where two solutions -- gas and electric -- work together.
9. ASK YOURSELF, "WHAT WOULD __________ DO?"
Fill in the blank with the name of a famous person: Groucho Marx, Donald Trump, Madonna. Or think of someone you personally know and admire. Try their way of thinking... and see where it gets you.
10. ASK SOMEONE ELSE
Want some fresh, new ideas? Ask other people what they would do! No one said you had to go it alone.
11. WALK AWAY FROM IT
Take a walk, do the treadmill, take a shower. "You go back to it," says novelist John Irving (The Cider House Rules), "and you suddenly see something that if you'd been rushing and pushing, you wouldn't have seen." Finally ...
12. HAVE FUN WITH IT
Let's get serious: Problem solving demands a sense of fun. That's what loosens us up and gets our creative juices flowing. Remember: Most of all, problem solving ... is a game!
*Used with permission.
Need a new idea to make your small business grow? Want to find a better job or improve your relationship?
Maybe you just need a good shaking.
According to speaker, consultant and best-selling author Joel Saltzman, whose latest book is Shake That Brain!, there is a 12-step process for creating better solutions to life’s challenges.*
1. BE OPTIMISTIC
The more you believe you can solve your problem, the more you'll keep at it. Know that it may take some time, but eventually you'll discover one or more solutions — maybe even some extraordinary ones.
2. BE CLEAR
Never try to solve a problem before you know what it is: Write down your problem in the form of a clear, precise question and you're halfway to the answer. Then again: Always pose your question at least two very different ways. For example ...
3. ASK, "WHAT'S THE 'OPPOSITE' OF MY QUESTION?"
Remember Tom Sawyer and the fence that needed mending? Instead of asking, "How can I do this work?" he asked: "How can someone else do all this fun?"
4. QUESTION YOUR ASSUMPTIONS
Make a list of everything about your situation that you know to be true -- no matter how small or insignificant it may seem. Now go back and question every assumption you've made. "Is that really so? Does it have to be that way? How could it be done some other way?"
5. PRACTICE PIE-IN-THE-SKY THINKING
Allow yourself to look for wild, outlandish ideas -- even if they seem impossible at first. As Einstein put it: "If at first an idea is not absurd, then there is no hope for it."Most of us would go, "That's a crazy idea -- forget about it." To which Einstein would counter: "Got a crazy idea? Let's take a look at it!"
6. THINK OF YOUR ABSOLUTE WORST IDEA
Why worry about trying to come up with a great idea when it's so much easier to come up with a rotten idea! Freed from trying to come up with the greatest idea ever, you might just discover that a terrible idea can be "tweaked" into greatness.
7. BE PERSISTENT -- NEVER TAKE "YES" FOR AN ANSWER
Instead of saying, "Yes, that's it!," learn to say, "Well, that could be it." Then go find some more ideas. As Walter Lippmann put it: "For every human problem there is a solution that is simple, neat, and wrong." Remember: The best way to get a great idea is to get lots of ideas! Just keep at it.
8. REFUSE TO ACCEPT "EITHER OR" THINKING
"Either Or" thinking hems you in, limiting your options way too severely. Always look for a third, fourth, even fifth alternative. Then keep looking for more solutions. And think of a way to combine solutions. For example, instead of a gasoline powered car or an electric car, there's the hybrid car, where two solutions -- gas and electric -- work together.
9. ASK YOURSELF, "WHAT WOULD __________ DO?"
Fill in the blank with the name of a famous person: Groucho Marx, Donald Trump, Madonna. Or think of someone you personally know and admire. Try their way of thinking... and see where it gets you.
10. ASK SOMEONE ELSE
Want some fresh, new ideas? Ask other people what they would do! No one said you had to go it alone.
11. WALK AWAY FROM IT
Take a walk, do the treadmill, take a shower. "You go back to it," says novelist John Irving (The Cider House Rules), "and you suddenly see something that if you'd been rushing and pushing, you wouldn't have seen." Finally ...
12. HAVE FUN WITH IT
Let's get serious: Problem solving demands a sense of fun. That's what loosens us up and gets our creative juices flowing. Remember: Most of all, problem solving ... is a game!
*Used with permission.
Shake That Brain!
Need a new idea to make your small business grow?
Want to improve your relationship or to find a better job?
Maybe you just need a good shaking.
According to speaker, consultant and best-selling author Joel Saltzman, whose latest book is Shake That Brain!, there is a 12-step process for creating better solutions to life’s challenges.*
1. BE OPTIMISTIC
The more you believe you can solve your problem, the more you'll keep at it. Know that it may take some time, but eventually you'll discover one or more solutions — maybe even some extraordinary ones.
2. BE CLEAR
Never try to solve a problem before you know what it is: Write down your problem in the form of a clear, precise question and you're halfway to the answer. Then again: Always pose your question at least two very different ways. For example ...
3. ASK, "WHAT'S THE 'OPPOSITE' OF MY QUESTION?"
Remember Tom Sawyer and the fence that needed mending? Instead of asking, "How can I do this work?" he asked: "How can someone else do all this fun?"
4. QUESTION YOUR ASSUMPTIONS
Make a list of everything about your situation that you know to be true -- no matter how small or insignificant it may seem. Now go back and question every assumption you've made. "Is that really so? Does it have to be that way? How could it be done some other way?"
5. PRACTICE PIE-IN-THE-SKY THINKING
Allow yourself to look for wild, outlandish ideas -- even if they seem impossible at first. As Einstein put it: "If at first an idea is not absurd, then there is no hope for it."Most of us would go, "That's a crazy idea -- forget about it." To which Einstein would counter: "Got a crazy idea? Let's take a look at it!"
6. THINK OF YOUR ABSOLUTE WORST IDEA
Why worry about trying to come up with a great idea when it's so much easier to come up with a rotten idea! Freed from trying to come up with the greatest idea ever, you might just discover that a terrible idea can be "tweaked" into greatness.
7. BE PERSISTENT -- NEVER TAKE "YES" FOR AN ANSWER
Instead of saying, "Yes, that's it!," learn to say, "Well, that could be it." Then go find some more ideas. As Walter Lippmann put it: "For every human problem there is a solution that is simple, neat, and wrong." Remember: The best way to get a great idea is to get lots of ideas! Just keep at it.
8. REFUSE TO ACCEPT "EITHER OR" THINKING
"Either Or" thinking hems you in, limiting your options way too severely. Always look for a third, fourth, even fifth alternative. Then keep looking for more solutions. And think of a way to combine solutions. For example, instead of a gasoline powered car or an electric car, there's the hybrid car, where two solutions -- gas and electric -- work together.
9. ASK YOURSELF, "WHAT WOULD __________ DO?"
Fill in the blank with the name of a famous person: Groucho Marx, Donald Trump, Madonna. Or think of someone you personally know and admire. Try their way of thinking... and see where it gets you.
10. ASK SOMEONE ELSE
Want some fresh, new ideas? Ask other people what they would do! No one said you had to go it alone.
11. WALK AWAY FROM IT
Take a walk, do the treadmill, take a shower. "You go back to it," says novelist John Irving (The Cider House Rules), "and you suddenly see something that if you'd been rushing and pushing, you wouldn't have seen." Finally ...
12. HAVE FUN WITH IT
Let's get serious: Problem solving demands a sense of fun. That's what loosens us up and gets our creative juices flowing. Remember: Most of all, problem solving ... is a game!
*Used with permission.
Need a new idea to make your small business grow?
Want to improve your relationship or to find a better job?
Maybe you just need a good shaking.
According to speaker, consultant and best-selling author Joel Saltzman, whose latest book is Shake That Brain!, there is a 12-step process for creating better solutions to life’s challenges.*
1. BE OPTIMISTIC
The more you believe you can solve your problem, the more you'll keep at it. Know that it may take some time, but eventually you'll discover one or more solutions — maybe even some extraordinary ones.
2. BE CLEAR
Never try to solve a problem before you know what it is: Write down your problem in the form of a clear, precise question and you're halfway to the answer. Then again: Always pose your question at least two very different ways. For example ...
3. ASK, "WHAT'S THE 'OPPOSITE' OF MY QUESTION?"
Remember Tom Sawyer and the fence that needed mending? Instead of asking, "How can I do this work?" he asked: "How can someone else do all this fun?"
4. QUESTION YOUR ASSUMPTIONS
Make a list of everything about your situation that you know to be true -- no matter how small or insignificant it may seem. Now go back and question every assumption you've made. "Is that really so? Does it have to be that way? How could it be done some other way?"
5. PRACTICE PIE-IN-THE-SKY THINKING
Allow yourself to look for wild, outlandish ideas -- even if they seem impossible at first. As Einstein put it: "If at first an idea is not absurd, then there is no hope for it."Most of us would go, "That's a crazy idea -- forget about it." To which Einstein would counter: "Got a crazy idea? Let's take a look at it!"
6. THINK OF YOUR ABSOLUTE WORST IDEA
Why worry about trying to come up with a great idea when it's so much easier to come up with a rotten idea! Freed from trying to come up with the greatest idea ever, you might just discover that a terrible idea can be "tweaked" into greatness.
7. BE PERSISTENT -- NEVER TAKE "YES" FOR AN ANSWER
Instead of saying, "Yes, that's it!," learn to say, "Well, that could be it." Then go find some more ideas. As Walter Lippmann put it: "For every human problem there is a solution that is simple, neat, and wrong." Remember: The best way to get a great idea is to get lots of ideas! Just keep at it.
8. REFUSE TO ACCEPT "EITHER OR" THINKING
"Either Or" thinking hems you in, limiting your options way too severely. Always look for a third, fourth, even fifth alternative. Then keep looking for more solutions. And think of a way to combine solutions. For example, instead of a gasoline powered car or an electric car, there's the hybrid car, where two solutions -- gas and electric -- work together.
9. ASK YOURSELF, "WHAT WOULD __________ DO?"
Fill in the blank with the name of a famous person: Groucho Marx, Donald Trump, Madonna. Or think of someone you personally know and admire. Try their way of thinking... and see where it gets you.
10. ASK SOMEONE ELSE
Want some fresh, new ideas? Ask other people what they would do! No one said you had to go it alone.
11. WALK AWAY FROM IT
Take a walk, do the treadmill, take a shower. "You go back to it," says novelist John Irving (The Cider House Rules), "and you suddenly see something that if you'd been rushing and pushing, you wouldn't have seen." Finally ...
12. HAVE FUN WITH IT
Let's get serious: Problem solving demands a sense of fun. That's what loosens us up and gets our creative juices flowing. Remember: Most of all, problem solving ... is a game!
*Used with permission.
Shake That Brain!
Need a new idea to make your small business grow? Want to improve your relationship or find a better job?
Maybe you just need a good shaking.
According to speaker, consultant and best-selling author Joel Saltzman, whose latest book is Shake That Brain!, there is a 12-step process for creating better solutions to life’s challenges.*
1. BE OPTIMISTIC
The more you believe you can solve your problem, the more you'll keep at it. Know that it may take some time, but eventually you'll discover one or more solutions — maybe even some extraordinary ones.
2. BE CLEAR
Never try to solve a problem before you know what it is: Write down your problem in the form of a clear, precise question and you're halfway to the answer. Then again: Always pose your question at least two very different ways. For example ...
3. ASK, "WHAT'S THE 'OPPOSITE' OF MY QUESTION?"
Remember Tom Sawyer and the fence that needed mending? Instead of asking, "How can I do this work?" he asked: "How can someone else do all this fun?"
4. QUESTION YOUR ASSUMPTIONS
Make a list of everything about your situation that you know to be true -- no matter how small or insignificant it may seem. Now go back and question every assumption you've made. "Is that really so? Does it have to be that way? How could it be done some other way?"
5. PRACTICE PIE-IN-THE-SKY THINKING
Allow yourself to look for wild, outlandish ideas -- even if they seem impossible at first. As Einstein put it: "If at first an idea is not absurd, then there is no hope for it."Most of us would go, "That's a crazy idea -- forget about it." To which Einstein would counter: "Got a crazy idea? Let's take a look at it!"
6. THINK OF YOUR ABSOLUTE WORST IDEA
Why worry about trying to come up with a great idea when it's so much easier to come up with a rotten idea! Freed from trying to come up with the greatest idea ever, you might just discover that a terrible idea can be "tweaked" into greatness.
7. BE PERSISTENT -- NEVER TAKE "YES" FOR AN ANSWER
Instead of saying, "Yes, that's it!," learn to say, "Well, that could be it." Then go find some more ideas. As Walter Lippmann put it: "For every human problem there is a solution that is simple, neat, and wrong." Remember: The best way to get a great idea is to get lots of ideas! Just keep at it.
8. REFUSE TO ACCEPT "EITHER OR" THINKING
"Either Or" thinking hems you in, limiting your options way too severely. Always look for a third, fourth, even fifth alternative. Then keep looking for more solutions. And think of a way to combine solutions. For example, instead of a gasoline powered car or an electric car, there's the hybrid car, where two solutions -- gas and electric -- work together.
9. ASK YOURSELF, "WHAT WOULD __________ DO?"
Fill in the blank with the name of a famous person: Groucho Marx, Donald Trump, Madonna. Or think of someone you personally know and admire. Try their way of thinking... and see where it gets you.
10. ASK SOMEONE ELSE
Want some fresh, new ideas? Ask other people what they would do! No one said you had to go it alone.
11. WALK AWAY FROM IT
Take a walk, do the treadmill, take a shower. "You go back to it," says novelist John Irving (The Cider House Rules), "and you suddenly see something that if you'd been rushing and pushing, you wouldn't have seen." Finally ...
12. HAVE FUN WITH IT
Let's get serious: Problem solving demands a sense of fun. That's what loosens us up and gets our creative juices flowing. Remember: Most of all, problem solving ... is a game!
*Used with permission.
Need a new idea to make your small business grow? Want to improve your relationship or find a better job?
Maybe you just need a good shaking.
According to speaker, consultant and best-selling author Joel Saltzman, whose latest book is Shake That Brain!, there is a 12-step process for creating better solutions to life’s challenges.*
1. BE OPTIMISTIC
The more you believe you can solve your problem, the more you'll keep at it. Know that it may take some time, but eventually you'll discover one or more solutions — maybe even some extraordinary ones.
2. BE CLEAR
Never try to solve a problem before you know what it is: Write down your problem in the form of a clear, precise question and you're halfway to the answer. Then again: Always pose your question at least two very different ways. For example ...
3. ASK, "WHAT'S THE 'OPPOSITE' OF MY QUESTION?"
Remember Tom Sawyer and the fence that needed mending? Instead of asking, "How can I do this work?" he asked: "How can someone else do all this fun?"
4. QUESTION YOUR ASSUMPTIONS
Make a list of everything about your situation that you know to be true -- no matter how small or insignificant it may seem. Now go back and question every assumption you've made. "Is that really so? Does it have to be that way? How could it be done some other way?"
5. PRACTICE PIE-IN-THE-SKY THINKING
Allow yourself to look for wild, outlandish ideas -- even if they seem impossible at first. As Einstein put it: "If at first an idea is not absurd, then there is no hope for it."Most of us would go, "That's a crazy idea -- forget about it." To which Einstein would counter: "Got a crazy idea? Let's take a look at it!"
6. THINK OF YOUR ABSOLUTE WORST IDEA
Why worry about trying to come up with a great idea when it's so much easier to come up with a rotten idea! Freed from trying to come up with the greatest idea ever, you might just discover that a terrible idea can be "tweaked" into greatness.
7. BE PERSISTENT -- NEVER TAKE "YES" FOR AN ANSWER
Instead of saying, "Yes, that's it!," learn to say, "Well, that could be it." Then go find some more ideas. As Walter Lippmann put it: "For every human problem there is a solution that is simple, neat, and wrong." Remember: The best way to get a great idea is to get lots of ideas! Just keep at it.
8. REFUSE TO ACCEPT "EITHER OR" THINKING
"Either Or" thinking hems you in, limiting your options way too severely. Always look for a third, fourth, even fifth alternative. Then keep looking for more solutions. And think of a way to combine solutions. For example, instead of a gasoline powered car or an electric car, there's the hybrid car, where two solutions -- gas and electric -- work together.
9. ASK YOURSELF, "WHAT WOULD __________ DO?"
Fill in the blank with the name of a famous person: Groucho Marx, Donald Trump, Madonna. Or think of someone you personally know and admire. Try their way of thinking... and see where it gets you.
10. ASK SOMEONE ELSE
Want some fresh, new ideas? Ask other people what they would do! No one said you had to go it alone.
11. WALK AWAY FROM IT
Take a walk, do the treadmill, take a shower. "You go back to it," says novelist John Irving (The Cider House Rules), "and you suddenly see something that if you'd been rushing and pushing, you wouldn't have seen." Finally ...
12. HAVE FUN WITH IT
Let's get serious: Problem solving demands a sense of fun. That's what loosens us up and gets our creative juices flowing. Remember: Most of all, problem solving ... is a game!
*Used with permission.
Tuesday, September 26, 2006
How to Get a Good Night's Sleep
Are you getting enough sleep?
Does it take you a long time to fall asleep or do you wake up after a few hours, unable to go back to sleep?
If so, you may have a sleep disorder.
According to the National Institutes of Health, 70 million Americans of all ages suffer from some form of insomnia.
The lack of sleep takes its toll in many ways. In addition to being tired and less alert, inadequate sleep makes people more prone to accidents.
Every year, sleepy workers cost American businesses hundreds of millions of dollars in lost productivity and errors.
Students who are sleep-deprived have difficulty learning.
Inadequate sleep can lead to stress, irritability, mood swings and health problems.
Fortunately, there are things you can do that will increase your chances of falling asleep and staying asleep for seven to eight hours.
Here are a few tips that may help you:
Reduce stress. Regular exercise, yoga, meditation, self-hypnosis, listening to CDs of nature sounds such as streams and ocean waves can all calm your mind.
If you decide to exercise, don’t do it for at least five to six hours before sleeping.
Turn down the lights an hour or so before bedtime. Bright light produces chemicals in the body that tend to keep you awake. Dim light increases production of chemicals that make you sleep.
Keep your bedroom dark and quiet. If there is too much light coming in the window, consider wearing a sleep mask. If there is too much noise, you may want to try earplugs designed for noise reduction.
Recondition yourself. Don’t read, watch TV, study or work in bed. You want your subconscious mind and body to associate the bed with sleep, so only use the bed for sleep and sex.
Slow down. Don’t exercise at least three hours before bedtime. Don’t do activities that are mentally stimulating such as studying, playing video games or doing work from the office at least an hour before bedtime. If you want entertainment, read a novel. It is less stimulating than watching TV.
Stop trying. If you don’t fall asleep in about 20 minutes, get out of bed and do something else (not too stimulating) for a while. If you stay in bed when you are unable to fall asleep, you can condition your body to not sleep when it is in the bed. Once you begin to feel sleepy, go back to bed and see what happens.
Stop eating. Stop all food intake, including snacks, at least three hours before bedtime. The process of digestion tends to keep the body awake.
Don’t sleep or drink coffee late in the day or at night. Caffeine and nicotine stay in your body and may keep you awake.
Avoid alcohol. Although many people think that a drink will relax them, alcohol can keep you from falling asleep. Even if you do sleep after drinking, alcohol can prevent you from entering the deepest, most restful and rejuvenating stage of sleep.
Create a sleep routine. Do the same thing to each night to help you wind down, such as reading a book, taking a bath or listening to soothing music or nature sounds.
Consult a physician. If these techniques don’t work for you, it may be time to seek professional help for your sleep problems. If you don’t want to take drugs, you may want to visit a sleep disorder clinic or a specialist in sleep disorders.
The bottom line is, good sleep is essential to a healthy, happy and productive life. Take action now to get the sleep you need, and --pleasant dreams!
Are you getting enough sleep?
Does it take you a long time to fall asleep or do you wake up after a few hours, unable to go back to sleep?
If so, you may have a sleep disorder.
According to the National Institutes of Health, 70 million Americans of all ages suffer from some form of insomnia.
The lack of sleep takes its toll in many ways. In addition to being tired and less alert, inadequate sleep makes people more prone to accidents.
Every year, sleepy workers cost American businesses hundreds of millions of dollars in lost productivity and errors.
Students who are sleep-deprived have difficulty learning.
Inadequate sleep can lead to stress, irritability, mood swings and health problems.
Fortunately, there are things you can do that will increase your chances of falling asleep and staying asleep for seven to eight hours.
Here are a few tips that may help you:
Reduce stress. Regular exercise, yoga, meditation, self-hypnosis, listening to CDs of nature sounds such as streams and ocean waves can all calm your mind.
If you decide to exercise, don’t do it for at least five to six hours before sleeping.
Turn down the lights an hour or so before bedtime. Bright light produces chemicals in the body that tend to keep you awake. Dim light increases production of chemicals that make you sleep.
Keep your bedroom dark and quiet. If there is too much light coming in the window, consider wearing a sleep mask. If there is too much noise, you may want to try earplugs designed for noise reduction.
Recondition yourself. Don’t read, watch TV, study or work in bed. You want your subconscious mind and body to associate the bed with sleep, so only use the bed for sleep and sex.
Slow down. Don’t exercise at least three hours before bedtime. Don’t do activities that are mentally stimulating such as studying, playing video games or doing work from the office at least an hour before bedtime. If you want entertainment, read a novel. It is less stimulating than watching TV.
Stop trying. If you don’t fall asleep in about 20 minutes, get out of bed and do something else (not too stimulating) for a while. If you stay in bed when you are unable to fall asleep, you can condition your body to not sleep when it is in the bed. Once you begin to feel sleepy, go back to bed and see what happens.
Stop eating. Stop all food intake, including snacks, at least three hours before bedtime. The process of digestion tends to keep the body awake.
Don’t sleep or drink coffee late in the day or at night. Caffeine and nicotine stay in your body and may keep you awake.
Avoid alcohol. Although many people think that a drink will relax them, alcohol can keep you from falling asleep. Even if you do sleep after drinking, alcohol can prevent you from entering the deepest, most restful and rejuvenating stage of sleep.
Create a sleep routine. Do the same thing to each night to help you wind down, such as reading a book, taking a bath or listening to soothing music or nature sounds.
Consult a physician. If these techniques don’t work for you, it may be time to seek professional help for your sleep problems. If you don’t want to take drugs, you may want to visit a sleep disorder clinic or a specialist in sleep disorders.
The bottom line is, good sleep is essential to a healthy, happy and productive life. Take action now to get the sleep you need, and --pleasant dreams!
Tuesday, July 04, 2006
Want to Get Really Motivated? See the BIG Picture
Okay, you’ve got a great idea for a small business or home-based business, but for some reason, you just can’t seem to take the first step.
Or maybe you’ve started, but you lose steam. Something always comes up and you stop putting time into your business.
This doesn’t have to happen to you.
One of the reasons that people have trouble getting and staying motivated is that they haven’t created a really compelling image of what they want to achieve.
Neuro Linguistic Programming, better known as NLP, is a series of techniques based on the relationship between the brain and language. It offers many techniques for programming yourself to do just about anything, including having unstoppable motivation.
Try this yourself.
Close your eyes and think about that small business or home business you want to start or build. What does the image look like? What do you hear and feel?
Chances are, the image is far away, perhaps small, with dull, indistinct colors. Maybe it’s even kind of dim. There probably aren’t any sounds or emotions associated with it.
Who could get motivated when your goal seems far away, and not really all that exciting?
What you need to do is make the image big and bright. BRING IT UP CLOSE AND BIG, as though you’re sitting in the front seat of a movie theater.
Now add some sound. How about a song that really inspires you? Or the praise of the important people in your life. Or both?
Next imagine how it will feel when you reach your goal and hear that praise. Pretend you already have the rewards of success.
Feels good, doesn’t it?
If it doesn’t, adjust the picture and the sound. Create an even more exciting image. Make it brighter, perhaps. Or make it a moving image. It could be a movie starring YOU.
Play the song louder or pick another one.
Imagine an entire stadium full of people cheering for you.
Imagine even bigger rewards.
Check out your feelings again.
Feel better? Ready to run with your idea?
Practice this technique for a while until you get it just right.
Then we you feel like loafing instead of building your dream, SEE, HEAR AND FEEL your big picture.
Then get to work.
And reap the rewards.
********************************************
BUILD YOUR BUSINESS WITH FREE PUBLICITY
Learn more by writing to Dan at dkaus@sbcglobal.net
*********************************************
Okay, you’ve got a great idea for a small business or home-based business, but for some reason, you just can’t seem to take the first step.
Or maybe you’ve started, but you lose steam. Something always comes up and you stop putting time into your business.
This doesn’t have to happen to you.
One of the reasons that people have trouble getting and staying motivated is that they haven’t created a really compelling image of what they want to achieve.
Neuro Linguistic Programming, better known as NLP, is a series of techniques based on the relationship between the brain and language. It offers many techniques for programming yourself to do just about anything, including having unstoppable motivation.
Try this yourself.
Close your eyes and think about that small business or home business you want to start or build. What does the image look like? What do you hear and feel?
Chances are, the image is far away, perhaps small, with dull, indistinct colors. Maybe it’s even kind of dim. There probably aren’t any sounds or emotions associated with it.
Who could get motivated when your goal seems far away, and not really all that exciting?
What you need to do is make the image big and bright. BRING IT UP CLOSE AND BIG, as though you’re sitting in the front seat of a movie theater.
Now add some sound. How about a song that really inspires you? Or the praise of the important people in your life. Or both?
Next imagine how it will feel when you reach your goal and hear that praise. Pretend you already have the rewards of success.
Feels good, doesn’t it?
If it doesn’t, adjust the picture and the sound. Create an even more exciting image. Make it brighter, perhaps. Or make it a moving image. It could be a movie starring YOU.
Play the song louder or pick another one.
Imagine an entire stadium full of people cheering for you.
Imagine even bigger rewards.
Check out your feelings again.
Feel better? Ready to run with your idea?
Practice this technique for a while until you get it just right.
Then we you feel like loafing instead of building your dream, SEE, HEAR AND FEEL your big picture.
Then get to work.
And reap the rewards.
********************************************
BUILD YOUR BUSINESS WITH FREE PUBLICITY
Learn more by writing to Dan at dkaus@sbcglobal.net
*********************************************
Tuesday, February 21, 2006
How To Start A Conversation
Many of us find starting a conversation with a stranger difficult.
According to Don Gabor, author of “How To Start A Conversation and Make Friends,” it is as if there is an “invisible barrier” that keeps us from walking up to someone and striking up a conversation.
Some people can break through this barrier and start the next step, but too many of us tend not to connect and stand on the sidelines, isolated and alone, watching others make a new business contact or get a date with an attractive stranger.
The good news is, you can master the art of starting a conversation and it’s easier than you think.
Gabor says that one of the best ways to overcome conversational hesitancy is to think of some possible things to talk about before you go to that party or business networking meeting.
The topics you choose for possible conversation should be determined by the nature of the situation.
If you’re planning to attend a party where you already know some of the people, Gabor suggests considering about a half a dozen topics, including family, work, social life and hobbies. If you don’t know anyone, it’s better not to start with family and current events, Gabor advises. Start with talking about hobbies and interests. It’s also wise to refrain from talking about personal problems with strangers.
Regardless of the nature of the gathering, there are some topics to almost always avoid. Among these are sex, politics and religion.
One of the best ways to launch a conversation is to ask questions such as:
How do you know our host?
Do you work in the neighborhood?
Anything new or exciting happening?
How was you day?
Gabor says this is one of the best conversation starters.
In addition to asking questions, be willing to share information about yourself. “There should be a 50-50 balance of sharing information,” Gabor says.
Once you’ve got the conversation started a great way to keep it going, or more importantly, take it to a deeper level, is to listen for what Gabor calls “free information.”
“They will reveal this information by the way the answer the questions or the things they mention along the way,” Gabor says. “This free information, tells you what they want to talk about.”
It is also important to realize that a conversation is more than gathering a collection of facts about someone.
“It’s the feelings behind the facts that are important,” Gabor says. “What people are really looking for is connections and more meaningful relationships on a personal or professional level.”
And if you’re concerned that you lack the verbal skills or charisma to be an interesting conversationalist, take heart.
A survey on conversation (“Conversations That Matter”) conducted by Grand Marnier, determined that the most highly valued trait is being a good listener. Being charming was a distant fifth.
So don’t worry about impressing someone. In fact, trying too hard to impress by bragging about yourself is a turn-off.
But the biggest conversational mistake is not starting.
“People are afraid of saying the wrong thing and of offending,” Gabor says. “When they are unsure, they tend not to take the risk of talking with someone.”
He adds that there is a framework for starting conversations and most of us already know it. “If you show interest in other people and a desire to listen and connect with them about things that matter to them, your business and personal relationships will improve.”
Don Gabor is the author of several books, including “Words That Win: What To Say To Get What You Want.”
Want to learn more? Get the free tip sheet “50 Ways To Improve Your Conversation.”
Send a stamped, self-addressed envelope to Don Gabor, P.O. Box 715, Brooklyn, NY 11215.
Many of us find starting a conversation with a stranger difficult.
According to Don Gabor, author of “How To Start A Conversation and Make Friends,” it is as if there is an “invisible barrier” that keeps us from walking up to someone and striking up a conversation.
Some people can break through this barrier and start the next step, but too many of us tend not to connect and stand on the sidelines, isolated and alone, watching others make a new business contact or get a date with an attractive stranger.
The good news is, you can master the art of starting a conversation and it’s easier than you think.
Gabor says that one of the best ways to overcome conversational hesitancy is to think of some possible things to talk about before you go to that party or business networking meeting.
The topics you choose for possible conversation should be determined by the nature of the situation.
If you’re planning to attend a party where you already know some of the people, Gabor suggests considering about a half a dozen topics, including family, work, social life and hobbies. If you don’t know anyone, it’s better not to start with family and current events, Gabor advises. Start with talking about hobbies and interests. It’s also wise to refrain from talking about personal problems with strangers.
Regardless of the nature of the gathering, there are some topics to almost always avoid. Among these are sex, politics and religion.
One of the best ways to launch a conversation is to ask questions such as:
How do you know our host?
Do you work in the neighborhood?
Anything new or exciting happening?
How was you day?
Gabor says this is one of the best conversation starters.
In addition to asking questions, be willing to share information about yourself. “There should be a 50-50 balance of sharing information,” Gabor says.
Once you’ve got the conversation started a great way to keep it going, or more importantly, take it to a deeper level, is to listen for what Gabor calls “free information.”
“They will reveal this information by the way the answer the questions or the things they mention along the way,” Gabor says. “This free information, tells you what they want to talk about.”
It is also important to realize that a conversation is more than gathering a collection of facts about someone.
“It’s the feelings behind the facts that are important,” Gabor says. “What people are really looking for is connections and more meaningful relationships on a personal or professional level.”
And if you’re concerned that you lack the verbal skills or charisma to be an interesting conversationalist, take heart.
A survey on conversation (“Conversations That Matter”) conducted by Grand Marnier, determined that the most highly valued trait is being a good listener. Being charming was a distant fifth.
So don’t worry about impressing someone. In fact, trying too hard to impress by bragging about yourself is a turn-off.
But the biggest conversational mistake is not starting.
“People are afraid of saying the wrong thing and of offending,” Gabor says. “When they are unsure, they tend not to take the risk of talking with someone.”
He adds that there is a framework for starting conversations and most of us already know it. “If you show interest in other people and a desire to listen and connect with them about things that matter to them, your business and personal relationships will improve.”
Don Gabor is the author of several books, including “Words That Win: What To Say To Get What You Want.”
Want to learn more? Get the free tip sheet “50 Ways To Improve Your Conversation.”
Send a stamped, self-addressed envelope to Don Gabor, P.O. Box 715, Brooklyn, NY 11215.
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