Learn web programming and development with these two web sites

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soupornuts is moving!!! In order to have more control over my blog (how it looks, plugins, etc.) I have decided to move soupornuts.wordpress.com to soupornuts.com. When you come to soupornuts.com, you will see my new postings along with updated and edited versions of most of my old articles. Don’t panic if the site looks different the first couple of times you visit. I am trying different themes to see which I prefer.

It seems that everyone wants to know more about the internet. How do I use it? How can I take advantage of it? How? What? Where? There are definitely more questions than answers – especially for the newbie or novice.

If you are interested in learning a little or a lot about the HTML, XML, PHP and all the other “languages” then go to W3Schools. This web site has quite a few tutorials on the various programming languages as well as web site development. Even if you are not interested in learning how to program, it is still worth a look. There may be some info here that you need at a later date, so bookmark this site – or you can always come back here because it will be in my blogroll.

W3Schools is easily navigated and straightforward. From the list, click the topic that you want to learn about and a it will take you through a tutorial. Easy.

Another site that may interest you is DevGuru. This site also offers programming help, resources and some tutorials. But it does seem to be devoted more for the experienced web developer. Take a look and see what it can do for you.

Remember, if soupornuts can find it, I’ll tell you where to go to get help for all your inspirational, motivational, and educational needs as they relate to fulfilling your potential.

Did I mention that these are free sites!!!

Tags: web+tutorials, web+programming, html, php, xml

Unlock your potential with these 4 “key” skills

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soupornuts is moving!!! In order to have more control over my blog (how it looks, plugins, etc.) I have decided to move soupornuts.wordpress.com to soupornuts.com. When you come to soupornuts.com, you will see my new postings along with updated and edited versions of most of my old articles. Don’t panic if the site looks different the first couple of times you visit. I am trying different themes to see which I prefer.

I have a friend who is a character. You know the type; smart, witty, comical and loud. Loud in an obnoxiously funny sort of way. If you don’t know him very well, then you don’t know whether to take him seriously, or not. But above all, he has the gift of gab. He can grab your attention and hold it.

My friend has had the opportunity to return to school to pursue his degree and as such, has had to take many liberal arts classes that seem to offer very little to an adult already living in the business world. During a recent discussion, he commented that he had to take a public speaking class and did not see the relevance. He asked me what my opinion was and what classes did I feel were important to a student’s future success.

In my opinion it is not necessarily certain classes you must take, but classes that increase your skills in certain “key” skill areas. So, any class that can increase your competence in these “key” skill areas are classes that you should enroll in. The following is a list of the “key” areas that I think are important.

1. Public speaking

I know that no one wants to hear that, but it is true. If you are to succeed in your future adventures, public speaking will almost certainly play a role. If you work for someone else, then at some point, your boss will look to you to make a presentation about some concept, new product or service, how to cut costs or something as equally boring. If you are self-employed, you will almost certainly have to present your goals to a group in order to secure financing for the growth and development of your business or to sell your ideas.

It is to your advantage to do whatever is necessary to overcome your inhibitions and fears of speaking to a crowd and dive into developing this skill. Most people ( the majority ) have this fear. For some it is paralyzing, but it can be overcome.

As a high school student, I was terrified. If I could get the teacher to go along with it, I would take a lower grade to avoid this misery. Later, I realized that in order to convey my message, I would have to develop the ability to stand before a group and explain to them the thoughts and ideas that I had. With much practice and encouragement, I was able to rise above my fears. If I can do it, anyone can do it. That’s a fact!

2. Writing skills

Along with being able to speak in public, you must be able to outline and explain yourself through the written word. Being able to write well enables you to spread your message to people that you may never meet. Perhaps your company has an office or interests on the other side of the world and you need to inform them of some new agenda. How well you write can help you or it can hurt you.

If you are well read ( you read a lot ), then writing is a skill area where you are probably proficient. Most people who read a lot write very well. So, one way to increase your writing ability is to read more. Of course, you can take classes. It is up to you.

3. Human relations

How you deal with people in one-on-one situations is what I consider to be human relations. I guess it can also encompass how you present yourself to a group. Whatever your definition, how you deal with people is probably the most important skill area affecting your ability to reach your potential.

In conversation with others, what is your demeanor? Do you listen well? Do you pay attention? While they are talking, are you preparing your response? Are you ready for them to shut up so you can get to the “important” stuff? Are you empathetic to the speaker? What is your body position? Does it matter?

Most of the time, how we act and react to others will determine the extent of our successes. If you are a “people person” then you will be more highly thought of by your peers and subordinates. This translates into: support for your ideas and projects, help with problems and people speaking to others about you favorably.

You cannot spend too much time or effort in developing your people skills. You can read and/or take classes, but by simple observation, you will learn more than in any other way.

Choose to watch people that you know have excellent people skills. What do they do that is different than what you do? Then watch people with poor people skills. Those people with excellent people skills will show you how to inspire trust, hope, hard work and dedication in others. Observing those with poor people skills will teach you how to develop contempt, anger, distrust and a lack of cooperation in those you deal with.

Become a people watcher – the dividends can be unlimited.

4. Computer skills

There is simply no way around it. If you are to succeed, then you must be comfortable and proficient with your computer. You must know your way around a computer and the internet. You must know how to use computer application software. You must keep up with emerging computer technologies and how you may exploit them.

Fortunately, computer technology and computer application software is becoming more and more user-friendly. This translates into shorter learning curves. Usually, the biggest holdup is our own apprehension. Dive in and get started. You can always reboot and start over if all else fails.

Tags: key+skills+for+success, key+skills, potential

Definitions, plans and excuses for success

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soupornuts is moving!!! In order to have more control over my blog (how it looks, plugins, etc.) I have decided to move soupornuts.wordpress.com to soupornuts.com. When you come to soupornuts.com, you will see my new postings along with updated and edited versions of most of my old articles. Don’t panic if the site looks different the first couple of times you visit. I am trying different themes to see which I prefer.

Everyone wants to be successful. However, if you ask 100 people to define success, most of the time, 95–97 of those who answer, will be extremely vague. This is not unusual since studies have shown time and again that only about three to five percent of the population will ever define what success means to them and then map out a goals program with the associated plans for attaining their goals.

1. How do you define success?

Success is unique to you. How you define success is based on:

• your dreams
• your hopes
• your present situation
• your past experiences
• your knowledge
• your passion
• your drive to do or be
• your family situation
• your age
• your belief system

…and there are probably a host of other things that can and will influence your definition of success. The point is for you to begin to think about what you want. Make notes when a thought “pops” into your head. Then, set aside a quiet time to go through your thoughts, taking into account your unique situation, and then develop a definition of success that suits you.

2. Develop a plan to achieve your definition of success.

Since your definition of success is unique to you and your situation, then your plan must be unique. Points to consider:

• do you need more education?
• is it formal or informal education? (do you need to return to school or do you need to do research?)
• is your spouse/family on board with your new goals? (if so, great. if not, how will you deal with the situation?)
• are you willing to devote the time needed to grow? (growth requires change – you can’t grow and stay the same)
• can you see problems? (how will/can you deal with them?)
• can you live in the minute? (what can you do “right now”, “this minute” to achieve your goals?”
• do you deserve success? (if you don’t feel that you deserve success, you will do things to sabotage yourself)

3. Excuses: our illogical reasons for lack of success

The first response to any program of personal growth and development is the production of a number of excuses of why you can’t become successful. Here is a short list of often expressed excuses:

• I’m too old. Really? Grandma Moses was in her 80’s before she ever painted. Colonel Sanders was in his 60’s when he began trying to market his “original” recipe.
• I’m not smart enough. Really? The fact is that most people are within single digits of the vast majority of the world’s population when it comes to a measurement of intelligence. We tend to overestimate the intelligence of others while at the same time underestimating our own intelligence.
• I don’t know where to start. Really? You don’t have to know where to start, you just have to start. You determine where that is. The point is to just begin, the way will reveal itself once you begin to look.
• I’m worried about what my friends and family will think. Really? If they really care about you, they will stand behind you. If they don’t, you have to wonder what their motives are. Are they jealous? When you succeed, what will that say about their efforts?
• I’m just not that kind of person. Really? What kind of person are you? The kind that is destined to fail? The fact is that most people are more alike than they are different. We all deserve success, but we each determine our own destiny. We are where we are today because of the choices we made yesterday. We made our choices based on our thoughts. Therefore, it stands to reason that if we can change the way we think, we can change our choices and thus change our future.

These are not valid excuses for you or anyone else because someone has faced these situations and overcame them. If they can be overcome, then you can also overcome them.

Get your mind right —– Mediocrity is not acceptable!!!

Tags: definition+of+success, plans+to+achieve+success, excuses

Children don’t fear failure: a lesson for would-be entrepreneurs

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soupornuts is moving!!! In order to have more control over my blog (how it looks, plugins, etc.) I have decided to move soupornuts.wordpress.com to soupornuts.com. When you come to soupornuts.com, you will see my new postings along with updated and edited versions of most of my old articles. Don’t panic if the site looks different the first couple of times you visit. I am trying different themes to see which I prefer.

Ask any person who has ever considered becoming an entrepreneur, why they have yet to launch their business enterprise and you will hear a litany of excuses. When boiled down to the basics, the majority will admit that it is due to a fear of some sort; fear of ridicule, fear of what others may think or say, fear of success, fear of the unknown. The list of fears can be endless, but the overwhelming majority will say that the number one reason for their inhibition is the fear of failure.

Have you ever stopped to consider where these fears originate? Were you born with them? The answer is no, with the exceptions being; the fear of falling, the fear of loud noises and in some people, the rear of snakes. All or our other fears are learned, ingrained and habitual.

As a child, we had no fears of failure. We tried to walk, we fell, made adjustments and then tried again and again and again. We kept trying and making adjustments until we found we could take one step and then two steps, all the while adapting our technique. This trial and error procedure allowed us to become proficient and we used the same techniques when we learned to ride a bike, swim, play sports or anything else we learned as a child.

Our parents never shook their heads and said, “Poor Johnny, he’ll never walk”. They picked us up, dusted us off, gave us some encouragement and told us to give it another try. Failure is nothing to be ashamed of. We’ve all failed (no one ever learned to walk, swim and so forth, on the first try ).

As children, we never worried about failure until we reached an age when we became concerned that others would think we were inferior if we failed in our current quest. The truth is that everyone must first fail in order to learn how to succeed.

The point is to let you inner child run free. Think like a child. Experiment. Attempt new things. Spend less time occupied with what others think and more time on freeing your spirit and expanding your mind. Try. Fail. Learn. Try again. Succeed.

It’s not like I’m asking you to hold a snake.

Tags: fear+of+failure, fears, failure

Building a successful life

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soupornuts is moving!!! In order to have more control over my blog (how it looks, plugins, etc.) I have decided to move soupornuts.wordpress.com to soupornuts.com. When you come to soupornuts.com, you will see my new postings along with updated and edited versions of most of my old articles. Don’t panic if the site looks different the first couple of times you visit. I am trying different themes to see which I prefer. 

A couple of years ago, my wife and I built our dream home. A 3200 square foot, timber framed, hybrid over a full basement. It’s beautiful. We love it. But, as anyone who has ever gone through this process will tell you, it takes patience, commitment, perseverance and teamwork.

There are reams of documents that must be filled out and submitted to bankers, lawyers and contractors. There are hordes of decisions to be made, analyzed, corrected and then remade. There is the constant juggling of your schedule to accommodate contractors, sub contractors, appraisers, bankers, suppliers and more. There is the never-ending need to coordinate the sequences of events. Do we need the plumber first or the electrician? What about the sheet rockers and trim carpenters? Then of course, you have to constantly be mindful of quality and cosmetic issues.

But now, we are living our dream life in our beautiful dream home and all the stress and hard work seem insignificant. It was worth it – every drop of sweat, every agonizing decision, all the missed sleep – it was all worth it.

In retrospect, it’s seems very clear to me how similar the process of building a house is to building a successful life. Like building a house, building your successful life involves a number of decisions prior to the actual construction process.

Make the decision to have a successful life

My wife and I own a beautiful twenty acre tract of land that we envisioned would be more beautiful with our dream home on it. But nothing really happened until we made the decision to make it happen. You can tour as many model homes, open houses and home shows as you like, but until you actively decide to build your dream home, nothing will get done.

The first step is deciding that you want to build your dream home and then determining the actions you need to take in order to make your dream a reality. How big is it to be? Where will you build? What style? Financing? Blueprints? Contractors? It all starts with your decision to start.

Creating a successful life occurs in the same way. You see friends or acquaintances who seem to be enjoying a fuller family experience, a better career or greater financial security and you wonder, “why does their life seem to be more successful than your own”? Most of the time we’ve been lulled into the rut of complacency by default and inaction. We don’t realize we are in a rut and we don’t realize that there is more available to us if we will only seek it out.

Do you want a more successful life? What does “a more successful life” mean to you? Is it career advancement and more compensation? Closer family relationships? Financial prosperity? Entrepreneurship? All of these? Just like building your dream home, these are the types of decisions you must make.

It all begins with you acting on the vision that you hold in your mind of what you want and deciding to pursue your dream life.

Your blueprint for success

What will it take for you to reach your vision of success? If you are building a house, you start with a set of blueprints, assembly drawings, lists of necessary materials, spec sheets and architectural elevations. These are the documents that specify the materials, sizes and placements, functionality and appearance of your dream home.

Just as it would be impossible to build your dream home without a blueprint and the associated documents, you can’t build a successful life without a plan. No one ever wakes up one day and discovers that while they were asleep, they were selected to be the CEO of a Fortune 500 company. It just won’t happen. But if it did, how long would you last in that position if you had made no preparation for the job? I’m sure you’ll agree that it wouldn’t be long.

Your plan must define what success is to you, the steps you plan to take to get there, the skills you feel must be developed, the knowledge required, plus allow for contingencies along the way.

Develop your goals

You must develop your goals system. No one can do this for you. This is a stumbling block for everyone and this is where almost everyone falters on the path to success. For whatever reasons, most people (95 – 97%) cannot, do not, or will not set goals for themselves. I am referring to actual written, recorded goals and the plans ( action steps ) necessary to achieve their goals. If you cannot make yourself focus long enough to record your goals, is it any wonder that your life is one of unrealized potential?

According to statistics that are repeated time and time again, three to five percent of our population is considered financially free and financially successful. Ironically, this is the same percentage that take the time to develop goal programs for themselves and then dedicate themselves to achieving their goals. Is there a correlation?

Develop a set of goals. Define what it is that you require, then get busy taking the necessary actions to achieve your goals. Don’t wait. Don’t hesitate. Focus on your goal. Develop a plan and take action. Do it now.

Every time that you are faced with a decision, ask yourself, “Is this the best use of my time?”, “Will this action/decision take me closer to or farther from my goals?” Then, act accordingly. If you will take the time and make the effort to do this every time you face a decision, you will increase your chances of becoming the success you dream of, exponentially.

Character & Integrity: Your foundation for a successful life

Webster’s dictionary defines character as “moral strength” or “reputation”. How would your friends and co-workers describe your character? Are you honest? Sincere? Trustworthy? Loyal? Friendly? Helpful? Caring?

These are some of the characteristics of people who are considered “strong of character”. If you demonstrate these traits, then you don’t have to tell the world what you believe and stand for. Your life will show it.

Webster’s says integrity is “firmness of character”, “honesty”. How firm is your character? Will you stand up for what you believe in? Will you oppose the majority even if you have to stand alone? Will you defend the oppressed? Even if the oppressors are your friends?

Our integrity and character define what we believe in and what we stand for. The way we talk, the people we associate with and the places we frequent all tell the world in a much louder voice than our own, what we truly believe in.

You would not build your dream home on a faulty foundation and cannot build a successful life on a weak character or a lack of integrity. Your new life would never be able to withstand the storms or trials you are bound to face along the way. Begin today to always stand for what you believe in, fight against opposition to truth and always, always keep your word.

The walls of your successful life

The walls of your home provide you with protection for the elements, security from intruders, and provide support for your roof system. The first wall of your successful life is a positive mental attitude.

Your first wall: A Positive Mental Attitude

All successful people are highly motivated and possess a positive attitude. They know inherently that they are destined to succeed. Every event and every action is seen as a means to deliver them to their goal. These individuals believe that the universe is conspiring for their benefit in all things. Furthermore, successful people have an optimistic view, believing that the glass is always half full.

An action that does not go according to plan is not a failure, but a learning experience – the elimination of a theoretical solution and not an indictment of them or their abilities. Their positive mental attitude is demonstrated by the confidence with which they attack the obstacles standing between them and their destined success.

Successful people are reminiscent of Henry Ford, Thomas Edison, Colonel Sanders and all the rest who stumbled along the road to success but refused to quit because they courageously maintained a positive mental attitude.

Your second wall: A Strong Work Ethic

All successful individuals demonstrate a strong work ethic. Their mantra could be – “If it is to be, it is up to me.” In their mind, this is not an optional or part-time trait. Generally, they work long, long hours.

A truly successful life can only happen when you realize that in order to have it (success), you must get off your butt and go get it. You will not find it in front of you television, down at the bowling alley, over at the local bar, or out in your hobby shop. Now don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying there is anything wrong with any of these means of killing time other than that is what they are doing – killing your time and they do not contribute in any way to acquiring the successful life you desire.

To achieve a goal worth having requires hard work. Ask any person whom you consider to be successful how they achieved their status. I don’t believe any will say, “ I just wake up one day, went to work and they made me president of the company” or “My business just took off one day while I was watching TV” or “ The kids came and got me out of the bar and gave a Father or the Year party.”

No, every successful person realizes that his/her effort brings about the desired result. The buck stops here. You must take responsiblity for your own success and happiness. Truly successful people have the ability to clear their minds of the common distractions that we all face and focus on their goals. This ability to focus results in the development and implementation of plans that produce the achievement of their goals.

The successful person is action-oriented. They don’t take a wait and see approach. More than likely, they will start whatever it is they wish to accomplish and then make adjustments along the way based on feedback they are monitoring. I’ve heard it described as the “ready, fire, aim” approach. The point is, there comes a time when you’ve got to take action.

Your third wall: Passion

Few successful people have ever reached their status without passion. Passion is what drives you. It’s what you lie in bed and think about at night, examining new ways of approaching pertinent issues that you are faced with. Passion is the fuel that powers your engine. If you desire to be successful, find out what it is that you are passionate about and then develop a way to exploit your passion.

Your passion is anything that constantly occupies your thinking. It may be a hobby (woodworking, restoring antique automobiles, computers, entrepreneurship), your family, or any combination of things. Only you know where your passions lie.

Based on what your passion is, embrace the fast-changing landscape of the internet to research innovative ways to capitalize on your passion. All successful people understand that the future of technology is all about the proliferation of information via the internet. It is to your benefit to embrace this fast-moving technology and try to keep up with emerging advancements and how you can apply them to your passion.

Use your passion, be innovative and embrace new technology (it’s not going away). This will help you to welcome change which is just another way of saying, “be progressive with your passion”.

Your fourth wall: Perseverance

The last wall of your successful life/house is perseverance. The never-say-quit, refusal to give up attitude. Sometimes we see these people struggling and we wonder why they even bother. I know people have asked that about me. The reality is we set our eyes on our goals and nothing will deter us from achieving it.

The obstacles we encounter are only opportunities to display creative problem solving skills. Nay sayers only make us (me) want it more. Those who truly believe in us motivate us beyond words.

Those who succeed thrive on pressure, embrace deadlines, are committed to overcoming obstacles and are determined to succeed. They won’t quit. The don’t quit. They can’t quit. Think Rocky Balboa and his refusal to stay down in the original Rocky movie. That’s perseverance!

Your roof: Continual Learning

To protect the interior of your dream home/successful life, you need a roof. That roof is a commitment to continual learning. Someone said, “If you’re not growing, then you’re dying.” I am in full agreement with that statement. Our minds thrive when we stimulate them and provide them with challenges.

Subconsciously, we limit ourselves when we say, we can’t do something or “you can’t teach an old dog new tricks”. This sets us up to fail. The truth of the matter is we can and will learn anything we want to learn if we are given the right motivation.

Twenty five years ago, few people considered the long-range impact the PC would have on every aspect of our lives. Consequently, most people did not rush to learn how to use them. However, everyone now realizes that computers are an integral part of our lives. To survive in our present world, we must adapt and adopt this technology.

What you know today will not be enough tomorrow. It is as plain as that. Don’t be left behind. Commit to learning. Everyday.

Maintenance

Finally, in order to enjoy your new home/successful life, you must maintain it in good working condition. Do periodic self-evaluations. Try to stay humble. Give back something. Mentor someone. Be introspective. Remember to thank those that helped you along the way. No one becomes successful without help.

 

 

 

Tags: success, a+successful+life

Video how-to: tubetorial is providing information to the masses

 The article will begin below this paragraph

soupornuts is moving!!! In order to have more control over my blog (how it looks, plugins, etc.) I have decided to move soupornuts.wordpress.com to soupornuts.com. When you come to soupornuts.com, you will see my new postings along with updated and edited versions of most of my old articles. Don’t panic if the site looks different the first couple of times you visit. I am trying different themes to see which I prefer.

The cornerstone of all enlightenment, motivation, inspiration, education and change is knowledge. Knowledge is the accumulation of information. If we sift through our available knowledge base ( the information that we have stored in our brain and other places) and we use this accumulation of information in a way that benefits ourselves in particular or society in general then we are considered wise.

In the past, wisdom was a much desired trait. This was due, mostly because of the scarcity of information. In ancient times, the priesthood and royalty controlled the dissemination of information. Later, the church assumed this role and doled out to the common man only what they needed to know in order to control and pacify the masses. The invention of the printing press by Gutenberg in 1447 made available to the common man, first the scriptures and later other works of literature. This led to the first mass proliferation of information which allowed the common man access to facts, thoughts, ideas and teachings that had previously been denied. This was the first step to enlightenment for the common man.

It is tempting to say that today we are at the zenith of the information age. But, to our advantage, I don’t believe this to be the case. Due to the exponential growth of the internet (the second mass proliferation of information), there will be more information available tomorrow than there is today and it will keep increasing.

If there is any subject or idea that you desire to know about, gain a better understanding of, or want to research then head on over to your nearest search engine and start typing. Within seconds, you will have access to more information than you’ve got the time to view or even new existed on this subject. However, it is up to you to sift through this vast storage media and determine what is accurate and what is not. All this brings me to the point of this post.

It is my goal to help as many people as I can with this website. I do this by writing articles to inspire, motivate and educate. Today, I want to expose you to a website that I found to be very educational and I believe that anyone who has thought of starting their own website or blog will find the information presented timely, easy to understand and applicable. Go to:

www.tubetorial.com

This site is a great source of video how-to information. Do you want to know how to start a blog on your own domain? They’ve got it. They have a very large library of pertinent videos dealing with all sorts of subjects like web development, technological issues, legalities, search engine optimization and more. If there are some web related question that you’ve wanted to ask but didn’t know where to go, give them a shot.

All of the videos that I have had the opportunity to view so far have been informative, very well produced and easy to understand. An added bonus is that they are all FREE!!!

Go check them out. I will be including them in my blogroll under education.

Tags: howtovideo, videolearning, education, webtools

15 coolest firefox tricks ever

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soupornuts is moving!!! In order to have more control over my blog (how it looks, plugins, etc.) I have decided to move soupornuts.wordpress.com to soupornuts.com. When you come to soupornuts.com, you will see my new postings along with updated and edited versions of most of my old articles. Don’t panic if the site looks different the first couple of times you visit. I am trying different themes to see which I prefer.

a bunch of hacks to tweak, maximize and customize your firefox browser. Go to www.lifehack.org to see the whole story.

read more | digg story

Your Power’s of Influence

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soupornuts is moving!!! In order to have more control over my blog (how it looks, plugins, etc.) I have decided to move soupornuts.wordpress.com to soupornuts.com. When you come to soupornuts.com, you will see my new postings along with updated and edited versions of most of my old articles. Don’t panic if the site looks different the first couple of times you visit. I am trying different themes to see which I prefer.

I am constantly awed and humbled by the things that my daughters notice, whether it’s something seen or heard. The fact that they’ve noticed these things is often revealed to me in either a quiet one on one conversation or while observing the two of them playing together. Here’s a news flash. They see and hear everything I do or say, they adapt it to whatever it is they are doing and then over time, if allowed to go unchecked, they adopt it into their lives. I’m sure that if you have children, at some point, your child repeated a word, phrase, idea or thought that took you a little while to realize where it came from.

The eye-opener is that I understand my influence only because I am constantly exposed to my daughters. I make it a point to talk with them and treat them as intelligent, partially grown human beings. They respond by eagerly developing into two smart and inventive little girls.

I realize the effect of my influence on my daughters only because of my continual exposure to them. This made me begin to wonder, “How many people to we influence that we don’t know about and how do we influence them?” I’ve decided to call these ways “our Powers”.

1. THE POWER TO INSPIRE AND MOTIVATE

When others see us attempt and then accomplish a task, meet a deadline, overcome an obstacle, go back to school, learn a new skill or go beyond what is the status quo, they realize that “it” can be done. They are inspired to “do more” and “go beyond”. By our attitudes, character and actions we have the power to move others. We have the power to motivate them to pursue their goals because we show them that a worthwhile goal can be achieved.

2. THE POWER TO LEAD

Some individuals are natural born leaders while others have the role of leader thrust upon them. Who looks to you for leadership? Your friends, co-workers, children, spouse, others? You would be surprised. We may not see ourselves as leaders, but the odds are the someone looks up to us as their leader. Are we exhibiting good leadership qualities? Do we demonstrate integrity, a solid work ethic, preparedness or a host of other qualities that we expect our leaders to have? Remember, never expect more from others than you are willing to give. It is a sobering thought to know that someone is watching and emulating what we say, what we do, what we think, how we act and the attitudes we portray.

3. THE POWER TO TEACH

You have skills. You know things. Perhaps you:

a. know a shortcut for doing a particular job

b. know a tip or technique for doing a task more efficiently, quicker or more economically

c. know who to contact to get that “certain something” done

d. have devised a system that others are unaware of

e. know where to go for the answers

Tell someone about your unheralded skills. It will make you feel good to share plus you will help someone else become more productive. Rest assured, 99% of the time, they will give you the credit for developing their skills.

4. THE POWER TO LEARN

If you want a new skill, then learn it. It doesn’t matter whether is is becoming proficient with a new software package or learning how to use a handplane (a woodworking tool), you can learn. Your mind is like a muscle, it never loses it’s ability to increase it’s functions. You can develop new skills and abilities through hearing, observation, imitation and deduction. The only realistic limitations we have are the ones that we place on ourselves.

5. THE POWER TO ENCOURAGE

It is truly amazing when you stop to realize how much affect a few words of encouragement can have. A simple “good job” or “nice try” lets others know that we see and value their efforts and accomplishments. One of the largest complaints that I hear in my position is, “no one respects or appreciates what I do”. Studies have shown that workers in general are more likely to perform better, quicker and more efficiently if their efforts are noticed. Continual improvement is more reliant on this than even financial gain.

Stop to encourage others with a word of appreciation or a smile. The benefits will be long lasting.

Tags: thepowertoinfluence, influence

2 ways to invest in your future + filly update

We’ve all heard our mothers, fathers, uncles, aunts, grandparents and others lament, “If I’d just bought that IBM (insert their popular choice) stock when it was $2.00/share, we’d all be worth millions today.” There are stocks available today that will be the IBM’s of tomorrow, however the same problem exists today that existed for your grandfather. How do you determine which stocks will perform best over time?

In order to determine which stock will be a great investment you must invest in learning about the future potential of your stock candidates. This is not an article about “how to pick a great performing stock”. But it is an article about investments. So here are a couple of great investment tips.

1. Invest in your education

I can hear all the back buttons clicking right now. I know, no one has the time or money to return to college. I’m not saying that you must return to college or that you even need to. What I am saying is, “your success in whatever you attempt is based on your competency and not your diploma.”

True education is measured by how well you think.

• Are you able to look at a project or concept and see the potential? Can you weigh the upside vs. the downside? What problems can you foresee? Is your mind already formulating options? I have a friend who is a master industrial electrician. When he gets called to a breakdown, he begins running through a mental checklist of potential causes and effects, before he ever gets to the job. He usually has the issue repaired in his mind before he even touches the machine. He has great vision and his analytical ability is excellent, far above most people. However, he does not have a four-year degree. This does not and has not handicapped him. In fact he is currently involved in a project with me that has tremendous financial potential and I am honored that he chose to be involved in our venture.
• Do you recognize opportunity? I am sure that if your grandparents had recognized the true value and knew for a fact that IBM stock would be a continual blue-chipper, then they would have found the money to purchase as much stock as possible. The ability to recognize an opportunity can be cultivated and increased. As you expose yourself to more (through learning) you become aware of more. If you had asked me six months ago about a blog, I would have asked you what you were talking about. I knew what one was, but I did not envision myself writing or participating in one. In fact, I did not see how I would even need to. I now realize that need is not the issue, it is more a desire to be heard and understood. The point is exposure to an idea or concept leads to ways to use or leverage those ideas and concepts.
• Can you spot the flaws or downside? Most people can, but a select can look at a project or idea and seeing the problems, design, devise and develop solutions for the issues at hand. These select few can then take these solutions and implement them, creating a profitable situation.
• Are you a great planner? Some people are natural coordinators. They can take the idea for a situation or event and in their minds eye, see how to make it workable for all involved. Think wedding planners. Think event planners. Think of any person, who has brought together a group of people for the purpose of attaining a goal. Egos are difficult to work with, but these planners “make it happen”. I don’t think they teach this talent in college. Do you have it?
• Can you find the answers? Henry Ford said that he did not need to know trivial details, he had people who worked for him that could find out anything that he needed to know. By the way, Henry Ford’s formal education ended in grammar school. Your mind should not be a warehouse of facts, but an organ of active thinking.

It is your ability to think that determines your level of competency. Anything that improves or increases your thinking ability is education. Invest in your future by developing your most important tool, your mind.

2. Invest in Idea Starters

Idea starters feed and nourish your mind. They give you constructive material to think and ponder on.

• Read books on areas that interest you. Read books that stimulate your thinking. A good novel is O.K. now and then, but they seldom inspire increased thinking capacity. Self-help, self-growth, business, science, technology and trends are all categories of books that can and will stimulate your abilities.
• Listen to audio books. Form a coop group where everyone in the group purchases an audio book, listens to it then trades it to someone else in the group. The amount of time that you spend in your automobile is staggering. Use this time to your advantage. Think of it as your university on wheels. The wealth of information available in audio format is tremendous.
• Magazines are a fantastic source of what is currently on the cutting edge. Find out how the current movers and shakers are changing our world. Profound thought thrives on profound input. Topical reading might provoke you to have a world-altering idea.
• Explore new websites and blogs. I stumbled across “How to Change the World – a blog by Guy Kawasaki” today and it really stirred my passion. In fact I’m going to add it to my blogroll. As you must know, the internet is the great information universe. You are only limited by the amount of time you can connect and the speed of your connection. New thoughts and ideas are being created and discussed by the million right now.
• Form a Mastermind group. This idea was first espoused by Andrew Carnegie, recorded by Napolean Hill and adopted by nearly every successful person since. Basically, you get a group of people together for regular meetings to discuss ideas of interest. Ideally, the more successful the group members the better. These are no-holds-barred meetings meant to discuss the proliferation and implementation of ideas of group members.

An investment in your education is an investment in your future. Don’t assume that there are no avenues available for you to increase your thinking capacity. I’ve listed several and most are free. Take advantage, start today.

FOAL UPDATE

For those of you who are interested, the filly that I mentioned in my previous blog is surviving and appears to be healthy as of now. My wife and I are feeding her by baby bottle about every 3 hours. She is currently up to 24 ounces at a time. I wish that we were able to video the antics that we’ve been through so far.

Both of my girls, as well as my wife are having the time or their lives. Please pray for this filly’s continual growth, health and development.