Thursday, 31 August 2017
Wednesday, 30 August 2017
Quote for the day
"The only difference between success and failure is the ability to take action." - Alexander Graham Bell
Tuesday, 29 August 2017
Quote for the day
"Success is sometimes the outcome of a whole string of failures." - Vincent Van Gogh
Monday, 28 August 2017
Quote for the day
"Most people do not really want freedom, because freedom involves responsibility, and most people are frightened of responsibility." - Sigmund Freud
Sunday, 27 August 2017
Quote for the day
"Every man takes the limits of his own field of vision for the limits of the world." - Arthur Schopenhauer
Saturday, 26 August 2017
Quote for the day
"One secret of success in life is for a man to be ready for his opportunity when it comes." - Benjamin Disraeli
Friday, 25 August 2017
Thursday, 24 August 2017
Wednesday, 23 August 2017
Quote for the day
"Lack of loyalty is one of the major causes of failure in every walk of life" - Napoleon Hill
Tuesday, 22 August 2017
Quote for the day
"Most people fail to realize that in life, it’s not how much money you make, it’s how much money you keep." - Robert T. Kiyosaki
Monday, 21 August 2017
Quote for the day
"Failure inspires winners. And failure defeats losers. It is the biggest secret of winners. It’s the secret that losers do not know. The greatest secret of winners is that failure inspires winning; thus, they’re not afraid of losing." - Robert T. Kiyosaki
Sunday, 20 August 2017
Quote for the day
“All of humanity’s problems stem from man’s inability to sit quietly in a room alone.” - Blaise Pascal
Saturday, 19 August 2017
Quote for the day
"We are reminded that anger doesn't solve anything. It builds nothing, but it can destroy everything." - Thomas S. Monson
Friday, 18 August 2017
Quote for the day
"Be as smart as you can, but remember that it is always better to be wise than to be smart." - Alan Alda
Thursday, 17 August 2017
Quote for the day
"Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall." - Confucius
Wednesday, 16 August 2017
Quote for the day
"I think some of the most celebrated moments in human achievement should be those times when everything is going against a person and they are down in the dumps but they simply choose to get up. That's real greatness!" - Ryan Hall
Tuesday, 15 August 2017
Quote for the day
"The key is not to prioritize what's on your schedule, but to schedule your priorities." - Stephen Covey
Monday, 14 August 2017
Sunday, 13 August 2017
Are You Currently Struggling As a Trader? Do The Things You Don’t Want To Do
Are you currently, despite having some good trades, losing money overall?
Don’t worry. You’re not alone. You’re actually in the vast majority. It is a well-known fact, backed by several studies that 80% to 90% of traders lose money consistently in the markets. Trading doesn’t escape the 20-80 Pareto principle. Just like in the start-up world, where 9 out of 10 start-ups fail.
There is a very simple principle that you should think about then.
"If you want to have results that are different from the majority, you have start doing things that the majority do not do."
When it comes to high performance in any discipline, the majority is often wrong
Whenever people hit a wall, they tend to do one or two things: they either do more of the same things, or they do less of the same things. Few will do things that are different.
According to studies, only about 3% of people are inclined to even do different things. And the remaining 97% just keep on doing the exact same things, hitting the wall again, and again, and again until they give up.
“Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results” – Einstein
Do Things You Don’t Necessarily Want To Do
From my own experience and after meeting with many traders, I’ve identified 5 main questions which answers will usually separate the successful from the unsuccessful traders.
Now think about your own trading and ask yourself the following questions:
– do I take full responsibility for my results?
– do I have a winning trading strategy (a backtested winning strategy or a strategy used by some of the few who actually make money consistently in the markets)?
– do I have written rules based on my strategy?
– do I keep record of every single trade I take?
– do I regularly do post-analysis by going through my past trades to see whether I made some mistakes?
If your answer is “no” to ANY of those questions, then this is very likely the reason why you are not making money in the market.
Doing any of the above takes time and can sometimes be seen as strenuous and burdensome.
I can’t count the number of unsuccessful traders I know who are too lazy to come up with a well-defined strategy, write their rules down and especially do post-analysis.
They often say that they just don’t have the time for that.
We never have the time. Successful people, like everybody else only have 24h in a day. They don’t necessarily have the time either. But they make the time for doing the things that need to be done in order to reach their goals.
By saying I don’t have the time, you are basically saying “I’m too damn lazy to do that. I prefer losing money than doing what is necessary for me to succeed“.
Don’t worry. You’re not alone. You’re actually in the vast majority. It is a well-known fact, backed by several studies that 80% to 90% of traders lose money consistently in the markets. Trading doesn’t escape the 20-80 Pareto principle. Just like in the start-up world, where 9 out of 10 start-ups fail.
There is a very simple principle that you should think about then.
"If you want to have results that are different from the majority, you have start doing things that the majority do not do."
When it comes to high performance in any discipline, the majority is often wrong
Whenever people hit a wall, they tend to do one or two things: they either do more of the same things, or they do less of the same things. Few will do things that are different.
According to studies, only about 3% of people are inclined to even do different things. And the remaining 97% just keep on doing the exact same things, hitting the wall again, and again, and again until they give up.
“Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results” – Einstein
Do Things You Don’t Necessarily Want To Do
From my own experience and after meeting with many traders, I’ve identified 5 main questions which answers will usually separate the successful from the unsuccessful traders.
Now think about your own trading and ask yourself the following questions:
– do I take full responsibility for my results?
– do I have a winning trading strategy (a backtested winning strategy or a strategy used by some of the few who actually make money consistently in the markets)?
– do I have written rules based on my strategy?
– do I keep record of every single trade I take?
– do I regularly do post-analysis by going through my past trades to see whether I made some mistakes?
If your answer is “no” to ANY of those questions, then this is very likely the reason why you are not making money in the market.
Doing any of the above takes time and can sometimes be seen as strenuous and burdensome.
I can’t count the number of unsuccessful traders I know who are too lazy to come up with a well-defined strategy, write their rules down and especially do post-analysis.
They often say that they just don’t have the time for that.
We never have the time. Successful people, like everybody else only have 24h in a day. They don’t necessarily have the time either. But they make the time for doing the things that need to be done in order to reach their goals.
By saying I don’t have the time, you are basically saying “I’m too damn lazy to do that. I prefer losing money than doing what is necessary for me to succeed“.
By saying I don’t have the time, you are acting like the majority. And once again, if you want to have results that are different from the majority, you have start doing things that the majority do not do.
Then the reason you’re not making money is now obvious.
If you can understand this simple concept of doing things that need to be done, regardless of whether you like or not, in order to reach your goals, then it’s just a matter of time before you make it.
Making It Easier – Reframing
“When you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change” – Wayne Dyer
You know the story of the half full or half empty glass. What separates people who see the glass as half full and the ones who see the glass as half empty is their perception, how they see things.
Now, believe it or not, you have the power to choose how you want to see things. Going back to the example of the half full or half empty glass, both statement are correct. And you can choose which statement you’ll tell yourself.
As mentioned earlier, doing post analysis for instance can be seen as strenuous and burdensome.
But you have the power to change the way you look at things, without necessarily changing the reality. You can change the way you look at things so it better serves your purpose.
If you see post-analysis as the single exercise that will allow you to discover the reason why you are losing money and ultimately allow you to be better than 90% of other traders by making money consistently in the markets, then you might start to actually enjoy it.
This is called cognitive reframing. You are basically changing your mindset.
If you see taking full responsibility for your results as the only way to go forward, it’ll give you a way to improve your trading, since you are shifting your focus from something you can’t control – the market – to something you can control – yourself.
If you see not having written rules as the wall between you and the financial freedom you are striving for, then you’ll be more motivated to write down your rules.
So if you want to succeed, do the few things only the successful minority does. And if you don’t want or don’t feel like doing those things, try to reframe the way you look at these things.
www.lonestocktrader.com
Then the reason you’re not making money is now obvious.
If you can understand this simple concept of doing things that need to be done, regardless of whether you like or not, in order to reach your goals, then it’s just a matter of time before you make it.
Making It Easier – Reframing
“When you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change” – Wayne Dyer
You know the story of the half full or half empty glass. What separates people who see the glass as half full and the ones who see the glass as half empty is their perception, how they see things.
Now, believe it or not, you have the power to choose how you want to see things. Going back to the example of the half full or half empty glass, both statement are correct. And you can choose which statement you’ll tell yourself.
As mentioned earlier, doing post analysis for instance can be seen as strenuous and burdensome.
But you have the power to change the way you look at things, without necessarily changing the reality. You can change the way you look at things so it better serves your purpose.
If you see post-analysis as the single exercise that will allow you to discover the reason why you are losing money and ultimately allow you to be better than 90% of other traders by making money consistently in the markets, then you might start to actually enjoy it.
This is called cognitive reframing. You are basically changing your mindset.
If you see taking full responsibility for your results as the only way to go forward, it’ll give you a way to improve your trading, since you are shifting your focus from something you can’t control – the market – to something you can control – yourself.
If you see not having written rules as the wall between you and the financial freedom you are striving for, then you’ll be more motivated to write down your rules.
So if you want to succeed, do the few things only the successful minority does. And if you don’t want or don’t feel like doing those things, try to reframe the way you look at these things.
www.lonestocktrader.com
Quote for the day
"Sometimes people don't want to hear the truth because they don't want their illusions destroyed." - Friedrich Nietzsche
Saturday, 12 August 2017
5 Traits of People With High Emotional Intelligence
This is the secret sauce for accelerating and amplifying your success.
By Andrew Thomas
One of the biggest realizations I've had in my career is also one of the purest: the simple fact that people are drawn to likable people. It's human nature. People want to do business with people they like.
Yet when you look around, you'll notice that many people don't make it a priority to learn the habits of likable people. They overlook honing the emotional intelligence needed to build great relationships and attract new levels of success.
Whether interacting with customers, vendors, partners or employees, we can all make great strides in our personal relationships and career by raising our emotional intelligence (EQ).
Here are five traits shared by people with high emotional intelligence.
1. They attract more opportunities
There is a direct correlation between the development of my emotional intelligence and the number of opportunities that have come my way. When you build better relationships and come across as likable, people tend to share more information with you, make introductions on your behalf and invite you into new opportunities. It's been a big source of my success over the last five years.
By Andrew Thomas
One of the biggest realizations I've had in my career is also one of the purest: the simple fact that people are drawn to likable people. It's human nature. People want to do business with people they like.
Yet when you look around, you'll notice that many people don't make it a priority to learn the habits of likable people. They overlook honing the emotional intelligence needed to build great relationships and attract new levels of success.
Whether interacting with customers, vendors, partners or employees, we can all make great strides in our personal relationships and career by raising our emotional intelligence (EQ).
Here are five traits shared by people with high emotional intelligence.
1. They attract more opportunities
There is a direct correlation between the development of my emotional intelligence and the number of opportunities that have come my way. When you build better relationships and come across as likable, people tend to share more information with you, make introductions on your behalf and invite you into new opportunities. It's been a big source of my success over the last five years.
2. They receive the benefit of the doubt
If you treat people well, you'll get the benefit of the doubt. I've experienced this positive outcome in my own business life.
One time while negotiating with a sizable company, we made an honest mistake which, frankly speaking, could have been interpreted as deliberate. But my counterpart quickly told me, "Andrew, I know you're a good person. I know you meant no harm. We're all good."
The trust I had earned by building a meaningful relationship with this person gave me the benefit of the doubt - and an opportunity to move forward without any hiccups.
If you treat people well, you'll get the benefit of the doubt. I've experienced this positive outcome in my own business life.
One time while negotiating with a sizable company, we made an honest mistake which, frankly speaking, could have been interpreted as deliberate. But my counterpart quickly told me, "Andrew, I know you're a good person. I know you meant no harm. We're all good."
The trust I had earned by building a meaningful relationship with this person gave me the benefit of the doubt - and an opportunity to move forward without any hiccups.
3. They are effective leaders
By building the soft skills associated with likable leaders, chances are you'll find yourself earning greater respect, handling challenges with poise, leading your team through change more effectively, and communicating more persuasively.
By building the soft skills associated with likable leaders, chances are you'll find yourself earning greater respect, handling challenges with poise, leading your team through change more effectively, and communicating more persuasively.
4. They possess long-term vision
People with high emotional intelligence understand that entrepreneurship is a journey, and that success is a process. They are better able to handle the ups and downs of everyday life as a business owner. Emotionally strong entrepreneurs are able to stay focused on the long term and "stay in the middle," while others with low EQ are often hurt by their impulses and unchecked emotions.
5. They can read people (and situations) better
People with high EQ foster their natural curiosity, asking questions - and then listening -- to get to know people and situations better. By developing these traits, we can give ourselves a leg up to negotiate for better outcomes, build stronger teams, and neutralize any toxic relationships that are counterproductive to success.
People with high emotional intelligence understand that entrepreneurship is a journey, and that success is a process. They are better able to handle the ups and downs of everyday life as a business owner. Emotionally strong entrepreneurs are able to stay focused on the long term and "stay in the middle," while others with low EQ are often hurt by their impulses and unchecked emotions.
5. They can read people (and situations) better
People with high EQ foster their natural curiosity, asking questions - and then listening -- to get to know people and situations better. By developing these traits, we can give ourselves a leg up to negotiate for better outcomes, build stronger teams, and neutralize any toxic relationships that are counterproductive to success.
Putting it all together
Many theorists have built on the idea that EQ is more important than IQ, especially when it comes to achieving our goals. Just as you can stretch your mind to learn more, knowing how to relate to others and interact effectively are skills you can develop. For as much time as you focus on thinking and your mind, focus on your emotional intelligence. Together, they will help you enjoy a new level of success.
Many theorists have built on the idea that EQ is more important than IQ, especially when it comes to achieving our goals. Just as you can stretch your mind to learn more, knowing how to relate to others and interact effectively are skills you can develop. For as much time as you focus on thinking and your mind, focus on your emotional intelligence. Together, they will help you enjoy a new level of success.
www.Inc.com.
Quote for the day
"You can’t let your failures define you. You have to let your failures teach you." - Barack Obama
Friday, 11 August 2017
Quote for the day
"Take into account that great love and great achievements involve great risk." - Dalai Lama
Thursday, 10 August 2017
Quote for the day
"Learning without thought is labor lost; thought without learning is perilous." - Confucius
Wednesday, 9 August 2017
Quote for the day
"All life is an experiment. The more experiments you make the better." - Ralph Waldo Emerson
Tuesday, 8 August 2017
Quote for the day
"The attempt to combine wisdom and power has only rarely been successful and then only for a short while." - Albert Einstein
Monday, 7 August 2017
Six Rules of Michael Steinhardt
Michael Steinhardt was one of the most successful hedge fund managers of all time. A dollar invested with Steinhardt Partners LP in 1967 was worth $481 when Steinhardt retired in 1995.
The following six rules were pulled out from a speech he gave:
1. Make all your mistakes early in life: The more tough lessons you learn early on, the fewer (bigger) errors you make later. A common mistake of all young investors is to be too trusting with brokers, analysts, and newsletters who are trying to sell you something.
2. Always make your living doing something you enjoy: Devote your full intensity for success over the long-term.
3. Be intellectually competitive: Do constant research on subjects that make you money. Plow through the data so as to be able to sense a major change coming in the macro situation.
4. Make good decisions even with incomplete information: Investors never have all the data they need before they put their money at risk. Investing is all about decision-making with imperfect information. You will never have all the info you need. What matters is what you do with the information you have. Do your homework and focus on the facts that matter most in any investing situation.
5. Always trust your intuition: Intuition is more than just a hunch — it resembles a hidden supercomputer in the mind that you’re not even aware is there. It can help you do the right thing at the right time if you give it a chance. Over time, your own trading experience will help develop your intuition so that major pitfalls can be avoided.
6. Don’t make small investments: You only have so much time and energy so when you put your money in play. So, if you’re going to put money at risk, make sure the reward is high enough to justify it.
This report was originally published by The Kirk Report on June 2, 2004.
The following six rules were pulled out from a speech he gave:
1. Make all your mistakes early in life: The more tough lessons you learn early on, the fewer (bigger) errors you make later. A common mistake of all young investors is to be too trusting with brokers, analysts, and newsletters who are trying to sell you something.
2. Always make your living doing something you enjoy: Devote your full intensity for success over the long-term.
3. Be intellectually competitive: Do constant research on subjects that make you money. Plow through the data so as to be able to sense a major change coming in the macro situation.
4. Make good decisions even with incomplete information: Investors never have all the data they need before they put their money at risk. Investing is all about decision-making with imperfect information. You will never have all the info you need. What matters is what you do with the information you have. Do your homework and focus on the facts that matter most in any investing situation.
5. Always trust your intuition: Intuition is more than just a hunch — it resembles a hidden supercomputer in the mind that you’re not even aware is there. It can help you do the right thing at the right time if you give it a chance. Over time, your own trading experience will help develop your intuition so that major pitfalls can be avoided.
6. Don’t make small investments: You only have so much time and energy so when you put your money in play. So, if you’re going to put money at risk, make sure the reward is high enough to justify it.
This report was originally published by The Kirk Report on June 2, 2004.
Source: www.ritholtz.com
Quote for the day
"Right actions in the future are the best apologies for bad actions in the past." - Tryon Edwards
Sunday, 6 August 2017
50 Soft Skills for Lifelong Happiness and Success
By Craig J Dodd
I’m sure you’ve looked at some of your friends and thought: “How do they manage to be so happy all the time?” Perpetual happiness and consistent success appear to be the hallmarks of certain individuals. They get the best jobs. They are lucky in love. And they are always upbeat and smiling.
Perhaps you look on them with envy? It’s understandable. But as you’ll soon see, you can leave envy behind – and start to build your own happiness and success.
You Probably Weren’t Taught Soft Skills at School
Have you come across the term ‘soft skills’ before? Most likely not. To be honest, it’s something that is rarely taught in schools. However, to be truly happy and successful you need to develop a wide-range of soft skills.
If you’re wondering what soft skills are, then think about skills related to your attitude, disposition and personality. (How you choose to communicate with others, for example.)
Schools typically fail to develop our soft skills. For instance, you may know how to write a 1000-word essay on WW2, but do you know how to demonstrate your trustworthiness to a vulnerable, frightened person?
To Be Happy and Successful, Develop These 50 Soft Skills
Happy and successful people are likely to have most (if not all) of the 50 soft skills listed below:
1. The ability to listen. Through listening, you can learn from others. You’ll also gain more friends – as most people love to talk about themselves or their lives.
4. Assertive when needed. You may not be a naturally assertive person. However, you should definitely learn to be assertive when the situation requires it. For instance, if you
need to ask a shopkeeper for a refund.
5. Can focus on a task or problem. In today’s technology-drowned world, attention spans have dropped to all-time lows. Break out of this, and develop a powerful ability to focus on what needs doing. This will put you streets ahead of the average person.
6. Understands the power of team working. Being able to work harmoniously in a team is a vital skill. Whether you work in a factory, office or shop, it’s inevitable that you’ll be part of a team. You must learn how to get on with others, and if you’re a team leader, you must also know how to motivate and inspire your team.
8. Confident in all situations. Successful people seem to ooze confidence. You’ll need to do the same if you want to match their success. If you lack confidence now, then try building it by completing small goals (which you can enlarge as your confidence grows).
14. Is 100% trustworthy. Trust is vitally important in life. We’re bombarded daily by news stories of people being mugged, cheated and even killed. These relentless stories seep into our subconscious, and make us wary of everyone we come into contact with. To help counteract this, you must be 100% trustworthy at all times. By doing this, you’ll quickly gain the confidence of others, and soon develop a reputation for being honest and reliable.
15. Has an eagerness to learn. Where would we be without learning? From our birth to adulthood, we constantly learned new things. However, as we aged further, many of us stopped learning. To stay young, happy and satisfied, re-ignite your enthusiasm for learning.
16. Knows when to delegate tasks. Are you someone who likes to do everything yourself? If yes, you may find that you often run out of time and energy. If you have family members or colleagues whom you’re able to delegate tasks to, then use this option when needed. However, for this to work successfully, be sure to match delegated tasks to individuals with the relevant skills.
18. Is fired-up with an abundance of energy. Have you noticed how famous celebrities seem to be super-energetic? They are lively, vivacious and charismatic. If you have low energy levels, you’re unlikely to be attracting success. Try boosting your energy through healthy eating, exercise and meditation.
19. Has great interpersonal relationship skills. Happy people know how to interact harmoniously with others. They are comfortable communicating with people from all backgrounds and walks of life. They also know how to partake in constructive conversations and meetings. The best way to learn interpersonal skills, is to listen and watch others who are naturally great at this skill.
21. When needed, can think ‘outside of the box’. I definitely don’t remember this skill being taught at my school. However, being able to think beyond a set of specific rules, regulations or limits can be a very valuable skill. It’s often the way that ‘game-changing’ ideas first come into play.
22. Has a warm, approachable and friendly personality. Without a friendly personality, you’re unlikely to find many new friends, or exciting opportunities. As an example, if two people with the exact same skills and experience applied for a job, but one was friendly and the other was not, who do you think would get the job?
24. Is endowed with a super-positive mental attitude. Negativity will get you nowhere. Life has so many ups and downs, that if you focus on the negative, you’ll quickly lose sight of what’s possible. Positive people constantly seek out opportunities. For sure, be realistic. But also carry a super-positive mental attitude with you at all times.
26. Has persuasive powers. No, this isn’t some kind of superhero power! On the contrary, it’s an ability that many people have developed. Think of politicians and preachers. They have learned the art of communicating in a persuasive and convincing manner. Whatever your role in life, if you learn to communicate persuasively, you’ll likely go far.
30. Thrives on problem solving. Take a look around. Problems are everywhere! Luckily, if you develop a strong problem solving capability, you’ll soon find yourself in demand. Many people run from problems. So, this leaves plenty of opportunities and work for those who thrive on finding solutions to problems.
33. Is a master at reading body language. As we’ve seen in point 28, body language counts for approximately 55% of all face-to-face communications. Of course, that percentage is just an average. An expert body language reader will be able to take even more information from someone – just by observing their body language. It’s a very useful skill to have, as sometimes body language contradicts what someone is saying with words.
34. Loves researching. You don’t have to be a scientist to benefit from research. It may be something as simple as researching the best laptop to buy. Successful people typically love researching. But it’s not just random research. They’re driven to research by a want to reach a certain goal or aim.
44. Knows the value of multi-tasking. If you work in an office environment, then you’re sure to recognise this scenario: You’re typing away at your computer, then your desk phone rings. You answer, but as you’re speaking to the caller, someone comes up to your desk and asks you a question. Situations like this can be overwhelming and frustrating. However, as they will always occur from time-to-time, you need to build a strategy of dealing with them. Multi-tasking can be taught, and I’d highly recommend that you learn to do it.
46. Continually seeks to improve. The Japanese call this kaizen – the strategy of seeking continuous improvement. This could be about a business process, or the way an athlete prepares for a race. Whatever the circumstance, there’s almost certainly room to improve some part of the process. If you develop a mindset of constantly looking for ways to improve things, you’ll rapidly find yourself climbing the ladder of success.
49. Keeps their emotions in check. In life, it’s normal to express emotions in certain circumstances (the death of a loved one, for example). However, if you’ve set your heart on success, then you’ll need to keep your emotions in check when you’re in ‘professional mode’. For instance, let’s say that your manager has just told you off for coming in a few minutes late to work. Your instinct might be to become angry, and argue with them. While this might make you feel good, it’s highly unlikely to help your chances of being promoted at work!
50. Has a highly-developed sense of intuition. Many top business leaders admit to making some of their decisions based on ‘gut feeling’. In other words, they’ve developed their intuitive side to the point where they’re willing to trust its promptings. You can do the same. Tapping into your intuition can be boosted by: letting your subconscious work on a decision while you sleep, practising meditation, or going for a walk in the park. These techniques allow your intuition to come to the surface. (Usually its hidden behind your constant mental chatter.)
As you can see, soft skills are an essential part of happiness and success. Develop the ones you already have, and adopt the ones you’re missing. Do this, and watch your happiness and success climb to new heights.
I’m sure you’ve looked at some of your friends and thought: “How do they manage to be so happy all the time?” Perpetual happiness and consistent success appear to be the hallmarks of certain individuals. They get the best jobs. They are lucky in love. And they are always upbeat and smiling.
Perhaps you look on them with envy? It’s understandable. But as you’ll soon see, you can leave envy behind – and start to build your own happiness and success.
You Probably Weren’t Taught Soft Skills at School
Have you come across the term ‘soft skills’ before? Most likely not. To be honest, it’s something that is rarely taught in schools. However, to be truly happy and successful you need to develop a wide-range of soft skills.
If you’re wondering what soft skills are, then think about skills related to your attitude, disposition and personality. (How you choose to communicate with others, for example.)
Schools typically fail to develop our soft skills. For instance, you may know how to write a 1000-word essay on WW2, but do you know how to demonstrate your trustworthiness to a vulnerable, frightened person?
Why Soft Skills Are so Important
Soft skills can make a huge difference to your life. Without them, you’ll struggle to find work, partners and happiness. Soft skills really do matter.
To give you a concrete example, think about a time when you interviewed for a job – but were unsuccessful. You may have been turned down because you lacked experience or qualifications, but it’s also possible that you lost the job due to having inadequate soft skills.
Situations such as interviews, require a variety of soft skills from the interviewee. These include: being a good listener, emphasising with the interviewer, and demonstrating a positive attitude.
Soft skills can make a huge difference to your life. Without them, you’ll struggle to find work, partners and happiness. Soft skills really do matter.
To give you a concrete example, think about a time when you interviewed for a job – but were unsuccessful. You may have been turned down because you lacked experience or qualifications, but it’s also possible that you lost the job due to having inadequate soft skills.
Situations such as interviews, require a variety of soft skills from the interviewee. These include: being a good listener, emphasising with the interviewer, and demonstrating a positive attitude.
To Be Happy and Successful, Develop These 50 Soft Skills
Happy and successful people are likely to have most (if not all) of the 50 soft skills listed below:
1. The ability to listen. Through listening, you can learn from others. You’ll also gain more friends – as most people love to talk about themselves or their lives.
2. Willingness to accept feedback. Whether good or bad, feedback is vital for your success. For example, by taking criticism on board, you may be able to make positive changes.
3. Having a flexible approach. Flexibility is not taught in schools, but is required in all areas of life. Just think how many times you’ve had to adjust your plans to match a partner’s requirements?
4. Assertive when needed. You may not be a naturally assertive person. However, you should definitely learn to be assertive when the situation requires it. For instance, if you
need to ask a shopkeeper for a refund.
5. Can focus on a task or problem. In today’s technology-drowned world, attention spans have dropped to all-time lows. Break out of this, and develop a powerful ability to focus on what needs doing. This will put you streets ahead of the average person.
6. Understands the power of team working. Being able to work harmoniously in a team is a vital skill. Whether you work in a factory, office or shop, it’s inevitable that you’ll be part of a team. You must learn how to get on with others, and if you’re a team leader, you must also know how to motivate and inspire your team.
7. Knows when to be competitive. I’ll be honest with you, I don’t class myself as a competitive person. However, I’ve learned that from time-to-time that being competitive is essential to success. In my case, I’ve had to regularly compete with other freelance writers for work. In your case, you may find yourself having to compete with colleagues to attain a higher position within your company.
8. Confident in all situations. Successful people seem to ooze confidence. You’ll need to do the same if you want to match their success. If you lack confidence now, then try building it by completing small goals (which you can enlarge as your confidence grows).
9. Understands how to resolve conflict. It’s sad to admit it, but conflict is everywhere. You probably argue with your partner, and fall-out with colleagues at work. For happiness’ sake, develop conflict resolution skills. This can be as simple as knowing when to walk away from a confrontation.
10. Has a courteous and good-mannered personality. In my experience, many people are unaware of how they come across to others. For example, they may appear arrogant and aloof when they are simply trying to show self-confidence. To be courteous and good-mannered is to return to a relaxed, natural state. Put any pretensions aside, and let your inner charm shine for all to see.
11. Enjoys providing great service. Whether dealing with customers or colleagues, be sure to put great service at the heart of all your interactions. By doing this, you’ll increase your chances of success, and also boost your personal happiness. Try it and see.
12. Can deal with the stress of difficult circumstances. You’ve just lost a job that you’ve dedicated the last 10 years of your life to. Do you crumble from the shock – or do you quickly pick yourself up and look for opportunities? Sure, there are difficult circumstances to deal with in life. Nevertheless, always focus on the positive, and refuse to be dragged down by negative thoughts and emotions.
13. Is quick at making decisions. I remember reading a self-help book that stated: “Winners make decisions quickly, losers make them slowly.” There’s definitely something to this. If you take days and weeks making decisions, you’ll often find yourself left behind by those who make decisions quickly. (And also act on these decisions quickly.)
14. Is 100% trustworthy. Trust is vitally important in life. We’re bombarded daily by news stories of people being mugged, cheated and even killed. These relentless stories seep into our subconscious, and make us wary of everyone we come into contact with. To help counteract this, you must be 100% trustworthy at all times. By doing this, you’ll quickly gain the confidence of others, and soon develop a reputation for being honest and reliable.
15. Has an eagerness to learn. Where would we be without learning? From our birth to adulthood, we constantly learned new things. However, as we aged further, many of us stopped learning. To stay young, happy and satisfied, re-ignite your enthusiasm for learning.
16. Knows when to delegate tasks. Are you someone who likes to do everything yourself? If yes, you may find that you often run out of time and energy. If you have family members or colleagues whom you’re able to delegate tasks to, then use this option when needed. However, for this to work successfully, be sure to match delegated tasks to individuals with the relevant skills.
17. Communicates clearly and effectively. Communication is at the heart of all personal and business interactions. It’s critical that you learn how to write and speak well. And of course, communication is not a one-way street. You must also be a good listener.
18. Is fired-up with an abundance of energy. Have you noticed how famous celebrities seem to be super-energetic? They are lively, vivacious and charismatic. If you have low energy levels, you’re unlikely to be attracting success. Try boosting your energy through healthy eating, exercise and meditation.
19. Has great interpersonal relationship skills. Happy people know how to interact harmoniously with others. They are comfortable communicating with people from all backgrounds and walks of life. They also know how to partake in constructive conversations and meetings. The best way to learn interpersonal skills, is to listen and watch others who are naturally great at this skill.
20. When needed, can follow instructions. You may want to always do your own thing, but to be successful in life, sometimes you need to follow directions and instructions from others. For example, your manager may usually let you do your work in your own way, but occasionally, he may need to give you specific instructions on completing a task.
21. When needed, can think ‘outside of the box’. I definitely don’t remember this skill being taught at my school. However, being able to think beyond a set of specific rules, regulations or limits can be a very valuable skill. It’s often the way that ‘game-changing’ ideas first come into play.
22. Has a warm, approachable and friendly personality. Without a friendly personality, you’re unlikely to find many new friends, or exciting opportunities. As an example, if two people with the exact same skills and experience applied for a job, but one was friendly and the other was not, who do you think would get the job?
23. Knows how to tell compelling stories. Stories are the lifeblood of society. You may recall the bedtime stories that your parents read to you when you were a child. From there, you most likely became addicted to reading novels and watching movies. Storytelling is global and timeless. Everyone loves stories. To succeed in life, learn how to be a great storyteller.
24. Is endowed with a super-positive mental attitude. Negativity will get you nowhere. Life has so many ups and downs, that if you focus on the negative, you’ll quickly lose sight of what’s possible. Positive people constantly seek out opportunities. For sure, be realistic. But also carry a super-positive mental attitude with you at all times.
25. Is highly-organised at all times. Do you class yourself as an organised person? If yes, do others also see you that way? Being highly-organised is not just desirable – it’s essential! Whether you want to climb the corporate ladder or write your first novel, being organised can make the difference between success and failure.
26. Has persuasive powers. No, this isn’t some kind of superhero power! On the contrary, it’s an ability that many people have developed. Think of politicians and preachers. They have learned the art of communicating in a persuasive and convincing manner. Whatever your role in life, if you learn to communicate persuasively, you’ll likely go far.
27. Is creative and innovative. Bill Gates, Michael Jackson and Elon Musk all excelled in their fields because they were creative and innovative. It allowed them to stand out from their competitors. You can do the same. Start by looking for ways to do things differently.
28. Understands the power of non-verbal communications. If you’ve watched a nature program recently, you’ve likely seen how some animals communicate. For example, a wolf can control a cub just by using a specific look in its eyes. As for us humans… While we have the ability to speak, it’s estimated that 55% of our face-to-face communications actually takes place through body language. In other words, our body language is the primary factor in the effectiveness of our communications with others.
29. Has fantastic planning and goal-setting abilities. Without goals, we are simply drifting with the tide. If you desire success and achievement, then make sure that you have specific goals – and a plan to reach them. If you’ve never tried goal-setting before, start small, and build your way up to bigger and bigger goals.
30. Thrives on problem solving. Take a look around. Problems are everywhere! Luckily, if you develop a strong problem solving capability, you’ll soon find yourself in demand. Many people run from problems. So, this leaves plenty of opportunities and work for those who thrive on finding solutions to problems.
31. Knows how to make other people laugh. Can you imagine if humour didn’t exist? We’d be stuck in a dreary, lifeless world where everything was serious. I’m sure with your friends and family you have a great sense of humour. However, how about at work, or when you meet strangers? In these situations, perhaps you retreat into your shell. Break free, and add humour to all of your interactions (where appropriate). Your popularity will soar, and your personal happiness will climb too.
32. Is always punctual. Think about how frustrating it is when buses or trains are running late. It often leads to people becoming stressed or angry. You should see your own timekeeping in a similar light. If you’re constantly late for meetings, people may not tell you, but they’re likely to be angry or fed up with you. Timekeeping is about respect for others. So, please be punctual!
33. Is a master at reading body language. As we’ve seen in point 28, body language counts for approximately 55% of all face-to-face communications. Of course, that percentage is just an average. An expert body language reader will be able to take even more information from someone – just by observing their body language. It’s a very useful skill to have, as sometimes body language contradicts what someone is saying with words.
34. Loves researching. You don’t have to be a scientist to benefit from research. It may be something as simple as researching the best laptop to buy. Successful people typically love researching. But it’s not just random research. They’re driven to research by a want to reach a certain goal or aim.
35. Values and respects others. This is a soft skill that unfortunately, seems to be going out of fashion at present. Too many people have become self-centered, and put their desires above the needs of other people. Please don’t fall into this trap. Instead, make sure you value and respect all those you come into contact with. Interestingly, by respecting others, you’ll find they respect you more in return.
36. Knows how to ‘stay on task’. “Wait, I just need to check my Facebook page….” You know how it goes. You start doing something, but within minutes, you get distracted by other people or breaking news, etc. I’ll be honest with you, it’s very easy to be distracted and lose focus on the task at hand. One thing that might help, though: turn off your cell phone, to avoid being interrupted by calls or messages.
37. Keeps up-to-date with trends. Stagnant people aren’t interested in keeping up with the latest trends. They’ve given up on life, and no longer care what the world may have to offer. Don’t be like these people. Instead, have a keen eye on trends in the workplace, technology and health, etc. You’ll be a more interesting person to talk to, and you’ll also be able to make better decisions about your future.
38. Expertly manages their time. Time management is more than just arriving to work early. It’s about knowing how to prioritise tasks, when to take breaks, and being able to plan projects. Time management is a hugely important skill that you should definitely learn (if you haven’t already). It can make your life easier and more productive.
39. Adapts quickly and easily to change. Heraclitus famously said: “The only thing that is constant is change.” Wise words. And in my experience, 100% accurate. Life is constantly evolving and changing, and if we pretend otherwise, we will find ourselves relentlessly unprepared. Happy and successful people know that life is forever changing.
They’ve learned how to adapt quickly and easily to most changes that they encounter. You should do the same.
40. Has learned the art of troubleshooting. The Cambridge Dictionary describes troubleshooting as follows: “Discovering why something does not work effectively and making suggestions about how to improve it.” Well said! This is a skill that you may need to work on. Firstly, you must find the motivation to really want to improve something. Once you have that, delve deep into the issue, and seek solutions.
41. Understands the importance of being well-groomed. Imagine a lawyer turning up to court in a pair of faded blue jeans and a ripped T-Shirt. It’s likely the judge would have the lawyer removed from the courtroom! It’s an improbable scenario, but hopefully, it drives home the point that you must be appropriately dressed. Jeans and T-shirt are probably okay if you’re working for a Silicon Valley startup, but if you’re interviewing for a position at a local accountancy firm – you may want to stick to wearing a suit and tie.
42. Strives for the ideal work-life balance. Happiness is not dependent on money. In fact, those who become obsessed with earning money, are often far from happy. As with most things in this world, balance is the key. Sure, you want to work hard and earn money. But just ensure that you leave enough time (and energy) to enjoy the rewards.
43. Sees the best in others. If you’re honest with yourself, do you have this trait? Most of us don’t. However, it’s a fantastic skill to have. Seeing the best in others means that you can help them develop to the best of their potential. It also means that you can quickly build rapport and trust with other people.
44. Knows the value of multi-tasking. If you work in an office environment, then you’re sure to recognise this scenario: You’re typing away at your computer, then your desk phone rings. You answer, but as you’re speaking to the caller, someone comes up to your desk and asks you a question. Situations like this can be overwhelming and frustrating. However, as they will always occur from time-to-time, you need to build a strategy of dealing with them. Multi-tasking can be taught, and I’d highly recommend that you learn to do it.
45. Leads through example. Great leaders teach through example. They’re also willing to do any task that they may ask others to do. You can adopt this approach too. For example, instead of asking your team to work in a specific way, let them see how efficiently you work, and they’ll naturally want to copy that.
46. Continually seeks to improve. The Japanese call this kaizen – the strategy of seeking continuous improvement. This could be about a business process, or the way an athlete prepares for a race. Whatever the circumstance, there’s almost certainly room to improve some part of the process. If you develop a mindset of constantly looking for ways to improve things, you’ll rapidly find yourself climbing the ladder of success.
47. Is always persistent. Perseverance is another word for this. To reach the heights of success, you’ll definitely need to demonstrate this trait. Consider for a moment, that you’re attempting to start your first business. From an initial spark of inspiration, you’ll have hundreds of steps to complete before your business can be in operation. Any of these steps could be problematic, and without persistence your business may fail even before it gets through the starting gates.
48. Can be patient when needed. Things don’t always go to plan, and delays can often creep into projects. Experienced professionals are well aware of this, and have developed patience to see themselves through these delays. You should do the same. Instead of getting frustrated and angry with delays, let patience work its magic. You’ll develop poise and calmness. And you can also use any downtime to work on other goals or projects.
49. Keeps their emotions in check. In life, it’s normal to express emotions in certain circumstances (the death of a loved one, for example). However, if you’ve set your heart on success, then you’ll need to keep your emotions in check when you’re in ‘professional mode’. For instance, let’s say that your manager has just told you off for coming in a few minutes late to work. Your instinct might be to become angry, and argue with them. While this might make you feel good, it’s highly unlikely to help your chances of being promoted at work!
50. Has a highly-developed sense of intuition. Many top business leaders admit to making some of their decisions based on ‘gut feeling’. In other words, they’ve developed their intuitive side to the point where they’re willing to trust its promptings. You can do the same. Tapping into your intuition can be boosted by: letting your subconscious work on a decision while you sleep, practising meditation, or going for a walk in the park. These techniques allow your intuition to come to the surface. (Usually its hidden behind your constant mental chatter.)
As you can see, soft skills are an essential part of happiness and success. Develop the ones you already have, and adopt the ones you’re missing. Do this, and watch your happiness and success climb to new heights.
Source: www.lifehack.org
Saturday, 5 August 2017
The Market As Uncertain Possibility -- an Ocean of Possibility
Imagine the market as the totality of possibility. Unlimited in potential in any direction at any time. Potential for profit. Potential for loss. Potential beyond your capacity to ever comprehend. What you know is that the market goes up and down. Rarely does it stay unchanged for any length of time. Then imagine you as an observer watching the market. The market is an ocean of possibility, while you, the observer, represent someone in a small boat navigating in this infinite sea of possibility. What do you, as a buyer or seller, see? The tide goes in, the tide goes out. Storms come and go. There is no telling what this ocean of possibility is really going to do at any given time.
Yet, depending on the skill of the navigator of the boat in this ocean of infinite possibility, he either harvests what the ocean is willing to give him or he keeps looking for what he wants from the ocean. If his vision is locked on finding what he is looking for, he becomes blind to other possibility that the ocean presents. The ocean, as well as the market, does not know the fisherman is there. It is incapable of wanting to help or hurt the fisherman. Possibility opens and possibility closes irrelevant to the fisherman. The ocean simply is.
Opportunity and disaster both exist as possibility to the navigator of the boat in the sea of possibility. It is the discernment of the navigator, beyond fear, that opens or closes possibility in the market. Until fear is taken off-line, the fisherman of possibility sees through the eyes of fear and can not see the potential of a long term beneficial relationship with the ocean of possibility called the market.
The ocean of possibility does not know that the fisherman is using a structure (the boat) to navigate through this sea of possibility. In the same way, the market is obvious to the structure (methodology) a trader will use to help make sense out of the market. That structure helps the trader (the navigator and fisherman) of the market to make short term predictions about what the market might bring forth at any particular time. What the trader and the fisherman know though is that they have to be prepared for what ever the market (as an ocean of possibility) might do. He does not control the market, but he does control what he will do based on what the market does.
A fisherman in a boat must bring skills to the dance between the ocean of possibility and him. He has trained himself to “follow” the lead of the ocean. By learning to respect and have reverence for the ocean, he is able to bring forth a bounty from the sea. He becomes attuned to the market. On the other hand, if he does not become an astute observer of the ocean and his beliefs about the ocean, he can easily get hurt. He can crash his boat and himself. The market, nor the ocean, would ever know. It just is. It is the trader, or the fisherman, who has to learn to stay calm and develop an observer of the market who can successfully read the signs of the market. This is attunement.
Staying calm is the first stage into the journey of attuning yourself to the market as a trader. This is what we are going to examine now. We will first learn the fundamental skills of emotional regulation by managing our breathing and by generating a sense of calm. Without these valuable skills, you will not be able to stabilise your emotions so that you can develop the mindset of attunement.
In that new construction of the self beyond fear, you will be developing the qualities of discipline, patience, impartiality, and courage. It is these qualities that allow you to claim the bounty that the market (as a sea of possibility) offers you. It is through these eyes a skilled trader sees.
Rande Howell
Yet, depending on the skill of the navigator of the boat in this ocean of infinite possibility, he either harvests what the ocean is willing to give him or he keeps looking for what he wants from the ocean. If his vision is locked on finding what he is looking for, he becomes blind to other possibility that the ocean presents. The ocean, as well as the market, does not know the fisherman is there. It is incapable of wanting to help or hurt the fisherman. Possibility opens and possibility closes irrelevant to the fisherman. The ocean simply is.
Opportunity and disaster both exist as possibility to the navigator of the boat in the sea of possibility. It is the discernment of the navigator, beyond fear, that opens or closes possibility in the market. Until fear is taken off-line, the fisherman of possibility sees through the eyes of fear and can not see the potential of a long term beneficial relationship with the ocean of possibility called the market.
The ocean of possibility does not know that the fisherman is using a structure (the boat) to navigate through this sea of possibility. In the same way, the market is obvious to the structure (methodology) a trader will use to help make sense out of the market. That structure helps the trader (the navigator and fisherman) of the market to make short term predictions about what the market might bring forth at any particular time. What the trader and the fisherman know though is that they have to be prepared for what ever the market (as an ocean of possibility) might do. He does not control the market, but he does control what he will do based on what the market does.
A fisherman in a boat must bring skills to the dance between the ocean of possibility and him. He has trained himself to “follow” the lead of the ocean. By learning to respect and have reverence for the ocean, he is able to bring forth a bounty from the sea. He becomes attuned to the market. On the other hand, if he does not become an astute observer of the ocean and his beliefs about the ocean, he can easily get hurt. He can crash his boat and himself. The market, nor the ocean, would ever know. It just is. It is the trader, or the fisherman, who has to learn to stay calm and develop an observer of the market who can successfully read the signs of the market. This is attunement.
Staying calm is the first stage into the journey of attuning yourself to the market as a trader. This is what we are going to examine now. We will first learn the fundamental skills of emotional regulation by managing our breathing and by generating a sense of calm. Without these valuable skills, you will not be able to stabilise your emotions so that you can develop the mindset of attunement.
In that new construction of the self beyond fear, you will be developing the qualities of discipline, patience, impartiality, and courage. It is these qualities that allow you to claim the bounty that the market (as a sea of possibility) offers you. It is through these eyes a skilled trader sees.
Rande Howell
Source: http://www.traderslaboratory.com
Quote for the day
"The true sign of intelligence is not knowledge but imagination." - Albert Einstein
Friday, 4 August 2017
Thursday, 3 August 2017
Wednesday, 2 August 2017
Quote for the day
"The purpose of life is to live it, to taste experience to the utmost, to reach out eagerly and without fear for newer and richer experience." - Eleanor Roosevelt
Tuesday, 1 August 2017
Quote for the day
"Anybody can become angry - that is easy, but to be angry with the right person and to the right degree and at the right time and for the right purpose, and in the right way - that is not within everybody's power and is not easy." - Aristotle
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