There is a popular, if fanciful, perception that communication between humans was born when one stereotypical caveman, clad in animal skin and with bed hair, grunted in a certain way and another caveman understood the meaning of that grunt. And from that highly unlikely origin, the following millennia brought us cave paintings, hieroglyphics, the printing press, the town crier, sign language, semaphore, the penny post, Morse code, the pony express, the telephone, radio, cinema, the fax, television, email, the Internet and the text message. We have a lot to thank those cavemen for.

Good communication skills are an increasingly common criterion in job specifications of today. This is hardly surprising given the ever-expanding range of communication media in use within modern businesses. Before the technology boom at the back end of the last century, traditional communications amounted to little more than the letter, the telephone call and the face-to-face meeting, but modern science has given us such innovations as email, the mobile phone and online conferencing. To function well in this world of wizardry, therefore, your range of communication skills should stretch some way beyond being adept at ‘txting yr m8s’.

Communication in the workplace is a broad subject on which there are whole books available so this article only scratches the surface. I hope, though, that it encourages you to look further into increasing the quality of your own communication skills, as this is one of the main attributes sought by employers today. So let us take a look at some of the factors that go towards developing good communication skills.

Imagine that you are an employer interviewing a prospective employee for a job that requires a high level of communication. The eager candidate reels off his talents: an excellent telephone manner, very articulate, a good standard of written English, a clear voice etc. On the face of it he fits the bill, but if we look closer we see that he is only half way there. The skills he has mentioned are all important factors in being a good communicator, but they only refer to what he can say, and not to how good a listener he is. You should always remember that communication, by its very nature, is a two-way street and it is only effective if the sender and the recipient take the same meaning from the information conveyed.

To minimise misunderstandings, therefore, you should always be clear and concise in what you say, avoiding waffle, jargon and, in particular, words or phrases that can lead to ambiguity. There are many amusing old chestnuts around to illustrate ambiguous writing, but the following two will serve to demonstrate the type of sentence structure you should avoid:

“The girl rode on a donkey wearing flip flops.”

“The politician discussed food prices and the high cost of living with several women.”

Writing that is open to misunderstanding such as these examples (called ‘misplaced modifiers’, to give them their correct title) does little to project you as a good communicator, and so you should check everything you write for clarity.

This is all very well, but what about oral communication? You cannot proof read and re-write your words during a telephone conversation or a face-to-face meeting.

The key word in oral communication is confidence, something that can only be gained by having a reasonably in-depth knowledge of the subject under discussion. Whereas written messages can often be researched and composed at the writer’s leisure, no such comfort zone exists in the here and now world of oral communication, where such glitches as pauses, stumbling over words or a croaky dry throat can betray the speaker as being out of his or her depth.

All of which goes to show that a lack of oral skills is far easier to spot than those in written communications, so more thorough preparation is called for. Neglecting to brush up on the subject about to be discussed can expose the speaker as not having the required confidence in the subject to communicate effectively on it. And on being pressed further for an answer they may, by way of reply, be able to offer no more than a grunt.

And the world of communication has turned full circle.

Author is a freelance copywriter. For more information on presentation skills london, please visit http://www.microsofttraining.net

[tags]presentation skills london[/tags]

Some people spend most of their lives within their comfort zone and so limit the success they achieve. For whatever reason they’re afraid to go beyond their personal edge.

A friend recently admitted that although they didn’t like their job, they stuck at it because “it paid the bills”. Now while paying the bills is important, it’s also important that we lead fulfilled lives.

When you don’t live life out full you are not only depriving yourself of a happier and more abundant life, you are also depriving the world of a person who is imparting their unique gift to the world. We all have a special contribution to make to the world and it’s something that you can’t delegate. If you don’t fulfil your role then no one else can do it for you.

But when I asked this person what they really wanted to do they said that they didn’t know. The thing is this person is not alone in this regard. Many people say that they don’t know what they truly want to do with their lives and so they just drift along feeling unfulfilled and disempowered to make the impact that they could be making.

The reality is though that these individuals do know what they want even when they think they don’t. The answer lies within and this is one reason why it’s important to get to know you. Self-knowledge or self-discovery is empowering.

“How can I know what I want when I don’t know who I am? The inner knowledge must be there to support the outer action.”

It’s funny how so many people are literally afraid to search within themselves for answers to questions that could literally transform their lives. You would think that your inner self is one of the safest places within which to search. Instead, people tend to search outside, knowing their search will be futile.

And the reason why so many people do this is because if they do identify what it is they really want then they would feel obligated to take action to achieve what they’ve identified. And they’re fearful that if they do this that they might not succeed.

The irony is that their inaction automatically means that they fail. It’s like with certain sporting competitions when it’s your turn and the clock starts ticking you’ve a limited amount of time to make your move or else you’re disqualified. Plus, by not taking action they don’t give themselves the opportunity to succeed. However, Wealth and Lifestyle Strategist, Christopher Howard believes:

“The quicker you can make the decision about what you want your life to be about the more success you’re going to have.”

And that makes perfect sense when you think about it. People shy away from going after their dreams because they think it will be too hard, too difficult. Yet, you are never more alive than when you are living on the edge. And by this I’m not referring to adrenaline-type sports, although for some this is applicable, I mean living at the edge of your comfort zone - your personal edge.

Your willingness to reside at the boundary of your personal edge is in direct proportion to the rate and extent of your personal growth. You have to learn how to step beyond your personal edge in order to create change in your life and you have to be prepared to do so time and time again. And, when you do so, you will grow, you will achieve greater success and you will start to live a most extraordinary life.

For a FREE Success Book and weekly tips on achieving success send an email to Success Achievers’ Club. And for a comprehensive course that will help you to achieve success in all the key areas of your life visit Success Mastery

[tags]personal edge, comfort zone, achieve success[/tags]

One of the most frequent questions I am asked about using law of attraction is why is it taking so long to manifest what I desire? Some people feel it is because they are “doing it wrong”. Others feel perhaps they don’t “want it enough”. Some feel they are “not worthy enough” or don’t deserve to have what they desire.

What do all of these things have in common? First off, they are all limiting beliefs which hold the “believer” back by adding resistance. Secondly, they are negative! Negative vibrations attract negative issues, people and events. Is it any wonder that these people are not manifesting those things they desire?

When using law of attraction, emotion plays a huge role in what is attracted into your life. The law of attraction is a spiritual law, freely given to all. The law of attraction is not strictly about YOU. It deals with service to others. With that in mind, if what you desire is purely self serving, chances are you will have a more difficult time manifesting it. However, if your desire benefits others in addition to yourself, then your chances are far greater, providing your emotions and beliefs are in order as well.

An example of a self serving desire would be wanting to have a large volume of sales in your business so you would generate wealth for yourself. Let’s look at this desire from a serving point of view. Let’s desire a large volume of sales in your business which will help you serve your community by assisting your neighbors to live more comfortably, safely, or more physically fit, depending upon the services or products your business offers. Whether you are in real estate, finance, health and wellness, insurance, automobiles, or any other business, by focusing on serving others, you will achieve greater growth and rewards through the use of the law of attraction than if your desires are self serving.

The same holds true with EVERY aspect of using the law of attraction whether it be career oriented or personal. You must take into respect the bigger picture. Do you want to attract your life partner? Focus on the life the two of you will have, not just how happy you will be. Focus on what you plan to contribute to the life of the other person as well as what you desire to attract that person to bring into your life. Bring balance into your attracting. You already know that negative out brings negative in. By adding the element of service toward others, you truly bring your attracting into balance.

As in all of life, using the law of attraction included, there needs to be balance. Whether you are using law of attraction for business or using law of attraction for relationships, I believe that if you adapt this type of balance attractor factor, you will see a marked increase in the things you manifest as well as in the volume of things you are able to manifest in a relatively short amount of time.

So, the next time you find yourself wondering why you are not attracting those people, events or things you desire, check in with yourself and see which type of attracting your are using. Is it coming from a place of negativity? Is it self serving or one of serving others? The answers to these questions will make a huge difference in how you get there from here using the law of attraction.

Judith A. Wentzel, CTACC, EFT-ADV, Life Coach, specializing in law of attraction & EFT educates, liberates, & empowers clients, enabling them to transform their life or business. Transform the quality of your life from fine to FANTASTIC! www.UsingLawOfAttraction.com

[tags]using law of attraction,law of attraction for business,law of attraction for relationships[/tags]

You are not alone. There are many people who are troubled with the question of success. You should, however, be aware that to find yourself in this dilemma is a completely natural phenomenon. After all, if nobody was hassled with success, and if it came too easily, then there would be no point in working towards it - consequently, there would be lesser satisfaction with achieving it. If you are looking for ways to achieve your goal a little bit faster and with a little bit more certainty, here are the three essential things to remember.

Positive thinking

One of the greatest achievements of the human race is its ability to visualize through the use of its intelligence. Being able to visualize, however, comes in two forms. On the one hand, you can think positively. You can, also, think negatively. The difference, however, comes with the end results. With the inability to think positively, you are actually creating a shell within yourself that makes success all the more difficult to come by - because by negative thinking, you do not only anticipate failure, but you also place yourself in a mental state that makes the conditions for failure very easy to crop up.

Persistence

There is a story about an old man who hacked away at a mountain with his shovel. When a wise man came, the old man was laughed on - for dreaming that a mountain could be removed with a single man’s effort and his shovel. In the end, however, the old man successfully removes the mountain because of his persistence. Of course, this is only an anecdote. But as with all anecdotes, there is a truth hidden at the end of the story. Persistence by itself may not be able to clear out mountains, but they make plans all the more feasible by giving you all more chances than you would give yourself if you did not believe in the importance of persistence.

Personal relationships

Personal relationships are how each success is actually the result of more than one person’s effort. Remember that because human beings are social creatures, most things that we do are the effect not only of our own actions but also a result of our interactions with other people. Be ready for personal relationships because this will allow you to not only learn from others, but will also give you a safety net that you can count on when you stumble on your road to success.

Pleasure orientation

Finally, remember that when looking for success, one of the things that you should consider is to be able to formulate a goal that will include a degree of pleasure. It is not enough to follow blindly what other people want. There is no point in being a doctor if it does not give you any pleasure. While there are limits to basing everything to simple pain and pleasure, it also constitutes one of the oldest and most reliable ethical systems around.

While there are no guarantees on ensuring that you will end up successful in life, these four easy steps will give your plans greater feasibility.

To learn more about success tips, visit here: http://www.successupgrade.com/go/id2/7quest/Silver.html

[tags]success tips[/tags]

“Money in of itself is just paper, it’s just coins. It actually doesn’t mean anything unless you give meaning to it.”
Dr Joe Vitale

So the big question is,

“What meaning do you give to money?”

A broader definition of money is that money is energy. Energy needs to flow and money flows when it’s circulated.

So if you lack money and you’re able to identify what money means to you’ll be able to identify where blocks exist in your energy flow and effectively what is preventing money flowing to you.

Now you may even be uncertain as to how to answer the question,

“What meaning do you give money?”

Well, the answer exists to how you feel about money.

When you think about money it’s highly likely that several negative beliefs regarding money rise to the surface. Beliefs such as:

~ I don’t manage money well.
~ I squander money.
~ It’s wrong to have money in excess.
~ I feel guilty having a lot of money.
~ Making money is difficult.

These negative beliefs will certainly get in the way of you having an abundance of money in your life.

But before we deal with the negative beliefs you may have regarding money let’s just imagine for a moment that you did have a lot of money. Imagine that you had more than enough money and that you could buy anything you wanted.

What would you spend that money on?

Now when you think about this, emotions are going to be stirred within you. Get in touch with those emotions because these feelings hold vital clues as to where you are currently feeling lack in your life.

Perhaps you would travel extensively. Well what feelings does travel invoke in you? What do you experience when you travel? Whatever feelings you identify then your energy vibration with respect to these feelings is low. You need to raise your energy in these areas.

So first of all if you would like to travel more, decide exactly where you’d like to go. Decide on the mode of travel, the type of accommodation you’ll stay in, who you will travel with, etc. In other words plan your trip with as much detail as possible.

I can hear your objections. You’re saying,

“But I don’t have the money.”

It doesn’t matter. Your actual spend on this exercise is zero to negligible. You may want to create a detailed map outlining your trip. You can also create a vision board. You can use Google Earth to travel virtually to and explore your destination.

Plan your trip with exquisite detail and get the stuff you’ll need to make your trip in order. Ensure that your passport is up-to-date, pack your suitcase, take care of any domestic arrangements that you’ll need to have in place, etc.

But most important of all, visualize yourself making that trip and enjoying yourself once you reach your destination. You’ll be amazed at what can happen if you play this game in full. When others have done this they have often found that opportunities to travel simply come up and they haven’t even had to spend a great deal of actual money to take advantage of these opportunities.

However, we still need to take care of your negative self-beliefs regarding money because they will inhibit the flow of money to you. Once you’ve written down your list of negative money beliefs, on a separate piece of paper, to counter these negative beliefs write a list of the positive money beliefs such as:

~ I am an excellent money manager.
~ I save money.
~ It’s my birthright to have money in abundance.
~ I enjoy having lots of money.
~ Making money is easy.

Now dispose of the list of negative beliefs. You may want to make a ritual of this. For instance, you could burn the list. Take note of and amplify the positive emotions you feel when you do this. Next practice your new positive affirmations every day.

Practice these things and you’ll start to feel more wealthy and abundant and money will flow more readily to you.

For 7 FREE Lessons on how you can increase the amount of money that flows to you and how you can become more wealthy visit the “Science of Getting Rich” Mastery program.

[tags]money wealth, wealthy, become wealthy, money[/tags]

If you are in a place where you are thinking about how to make a success of yourself, whether it is with regards to being an artist, a business person, a dog trainer or dancer, you will find that nothing comes without time and effort. When you are thinking about how to become a success, time is often the crux of it. If you are willing to devote time to something, you will find that just about anything is possible. Time management is a trick that the to executives and the people who are the top of their fields need to know and you will find that it can serve you well no matter where you are or what you are looking to do.

First, start by looking at what you want to do. What kind of time does it need and how much are you willing to devote to it? For instance, say that you want to get into good shape. If you want to lose weight and bulk up your strength, this definitely takes time and effort. How long should your workouts be and how often should you do them? By coming up with a schedule, you will find that you can achieve your goal for fitness much more swiftly than if you simply decide that you are going to workout whenever you feel like it! Take a moment to consider what your needs might be and how you can get the time that you want.

Be aware of what you are willing to sacrifice and what you are not willing to let go of. Because people tend to fill up their days, there is a general perception that your day is full. This may be something that you can work with. All you need to do is to look at your day and find out what tasks can be compacted and what tasks can be combined or put off until the next day. One important part of putting together a schedule is learning how to shift other things to accommodate it. Take a moment to consider what your options might be and what you can do to make sure that you are going to be getting the time that you need.

When you have a schedule for moving towards your goal, do everything that you can to stick with it. A certain amount of discipline is imperative when you want to think about how to move towards success and at the end of the day, you will find that consistency will allow you to move forward at a reasonable rate. Take some time and make sure hat you are forgiving with yourself as well. The truth is that no one’s life can be completely scheduled and things do happen. Friends come into town, or sick relatives need to be cared for. Take a moment to consider how managing your time can make a huge amount of difference to the way that you move forward with your success.

To find out more about success tips, visit here:
http://www.successupgrade.com/go/id2/kmkirchner/Silver.html

[tags]success tips[/tags]

When you look at successful people, you might simply think that they get out there and do whatever it is that they do and that they are instantly a success at it. The truth of the matter is that the visible part of success is something that is the result of hard work. What you are seeing is just the tip of the iceberg, and when you are ready to be a success yourself, you need to think about what you can do to get the results that you need. Success is a long process; some people call it a journey and that makes sense as well. You are not going to get much further without thinking about it, so make sure that you keep a few things in mind.

The first thing that you need to think about are your needs. What do you want out of life and what does it take to get you there? One good way to get the conclusion that you need is to think about things from general to specific. For instance, start with a line of questioning that begins with “I want to make use of my artistic talent.” From that very general statement, you can refine it down to something that is much more precise and useful. You may find that you want to be a full time artist, or you may find that it means that you want to be someone who does art at least four or five days a week, regardless of payment.

Once you have thought about your needs, also remember why you have these needs. Some people charge off on a path that they think will bring them happiness, only to find that months or years later, that that is not what they are looking for at all. The truth of the matter is that success is something that can make a huge difference in your life, but unless you know what you are in it for, and unless you are familiar with the idea of why you are doing it, you are going to be in a bad place. Doing something to fulfill yourself or to take care of yourself is one thing; doing something to show someone else up or out of spite or rage is quite another! Make sure that you know what your motives are and that you are happy with it.

You should not let thought get in the way of action, but they are not two areas, divided by a deep gorge. Thought and action are merely two sides of the same coin and you cannot have one without the other. Make sure that you think about success and also that you think about what you are and are not willing to give up. For example, are there options that are open to you only if you move to a big city? Are you comfortable with the idea of moving to a new city and leaving everything that you know behind? How would your family feel? The more time that you spend thinking about your success, the more decisions you will have to make.

Take a moment to consider what your options might be when it comes to success. Don’t charge ahead without knowing where you are going to end up; take the time to look at your route, to think about what it might cost you and what you are willing to do for it!

To find out more about success tips, visit here: http://www.successupgrade.com/go/id2/fullofhope/Silver.html

[tags]success tips[/tags]

When it comes to achieving success in life some people act as though they have no control over what happens to them in life. They act like they are victims of circumstance. And, if that is their belief, then that will be their reality.

However, there is abundant evidence that this is far from the truth. You do have control over your life and therefore you have control over the level of success you achieve in your life.

To explain further allow me to take an example from Formula 1 racing.

Following the German Grand Prix, despite getting a puncture in the first corner of the race which effectively scuppered his race, Lewis Hamilton remarked:

“For the first time this year I actually felt that I had a race car under me that I could control instead of it controlling me.”

The increased control translated into a sensational race win two weeks later at the Hungarian Grand Prix.

Hamilton’s remark is a reminder of how many people are simply going along for the ride in life. They allow themselves to be driven instead of taking control and becoming the driver. Not that Hamilton has been any slouch this season. The initial version of his MP4-24 simply hasn’t been up to the task and no amount of effort on Hamilton’s part was going to change that.

Early on in the season, Eddie Jordan, founder of Jordan Grand Prix and who is now a pundit for the BBC Formula 1 coverage, said Hamilton’s car was so bad it was “dangerous”. And I’m sure that if you’ve driven different cars yourself then you too will appreciate how some cars are a dream to handle while others make you feel as though you’re constantly wrestling with them. During the Hungarian Grand Prix the difference in the way Hamilton’s car responded to his driving was like night and day compared to his other races.

So how do the changes made to Hamilton’s car relate to you and achieving success?

A great racing car driver has to become one with his car. The driver’s role to some extent (though not entirely for I certainly do not wish to diminish the skill of a racing car driver) can be likened to your conscious mind where you create your intentions.

And the car behaves like your sub-conscious mind in that, if it is not programmed synergistically with what you (the driver) wishes to accomplish, then its performance, and hence your performance, will never be up to par.

The upgrades to Hamilton’s car gave him more control over the car. Upgrading Hamilton’s car can be likened to the re-programming of your sub-conscious mind. The upgrades to Hamilton’s car meant that the car was more in sync with the “commands” he issued it.

At the end of a race whether or not Hamilton is on the podium he always gives credit to his team and in particular those working at the McClaren factory doing the research to improve the car and creating the upgrades.

In life, there are a number of different resources you can tap into to upgrade your vehicle - your sub-conscious mind. However, you have to do the work in not only applying the upgrades but subsequently working with your upgrades to create your desired outcomes and your desired level of success. As business philosopher Jim Rohn said:

“Your can’t hire someone else to do your push-ups for you.”

In Formula 1 some teams, usually those who are not performing particularly well, abandon the process of upgrading the current car, preferring to concentrate on preparing for next year’s season. You don’t have that luxury. This is it.

Therefore, you have to work like the other teams who continually analyse their cars’ performance and seek to tweak and improve the performance. And, like Lewis Hamilton, it may be many races before you start to see that actual improvement. But you can’t give up and you mustn’t give in. You have to be diligent and persistent in your efforts and, like Hamilton, you too will be rewarded with success.

For a comprehensive 8-part program to on how to achieve success in every area of your life visit - Law to Success Mastery Program. And for a FREE ebook on how to achieve greater success in your life along with weekly success tips and resources simply send a blank email to successachievers@getresponse.com and join the Success Achievers’ Club.

[tags]achieving success, Lewis Hamilton, life success, success in life, Formula 1, Grand Prix[/tags]

Whether you want to be a brilliant artist or an impressive businessman, you are someone who has success on the mind. You want the cash, the accolades and the prestige that goes with being a success, but have you noticed that it routine eludes you? There may be so many people in your field that you don’t know what to do or how to stand out; you might watch other people and see them take it on so effortlessly. You may wonder what they have and you don’t. The truth of the matter is that if you want to succeed, you simply need to be prepared. Remember that the more you know about success and the more you prepare for it, the more likely it is that you are going to be able to get the results that you are after.

First, when you want to prepare for success, you are going to need to think about your goals. Goal setting is essential when you are looking at how to move forward and one of the reasons why it is so important is because it tells you when you are a success! The thing is, no one suddenly has a bell ring that tells them that they have succeeded their goal. When you set hard, concrete goals, they will very much feel a sense of achievement when they accomplish them. For instance, when you set goals like, “quit my day job and freelance,” or “see my first story in print,” you know when you have been a success! Goals are an important part of preparing for success.

Similarly, make sure that you do your homework. If you want to start your own business, you need to know everything that goes into it. You will need to know about things like taxes, pricing, bulk discounts, communication and advertisement just for a start. There are a number of places to get this information; head to the library, particularly if you are looking at opening up a brick and mortar store and make sure that you also look into the resources that you can take advantage online. There are a number of different sources of information that you can check out, so take a moment to consider how it might hang together for you.

Also don’t forget the importance of networking, no matter what you are doing. We think about networking in terms of business, but it can also be important when you are thinking about things like learning a new skill or talent. Take some time to figure out who can help you and what kind of information they can provide you with. Sometimes, getting to talk to someone that has been doing precisely what you want to do can be inspiring and it can help you figure things out.

Take a moment to consider how you are going to prepare for success. Even if opportunity comes knocking, it does you no good if you are tied up with other things, aren’t strong enough to take advantage of it or don’t even hear it!

To find out more about success tips, visit here: http://www.homeworking-profit.com/recommends/successupgrade.html

[tags]success tips[/tags]

Having a problem with memory is not just something for older people. Children, middle aged adults, and the elderly can all have problems with their memory and for various reasons. If you or someone you care for is having a problem with memory it is time to do something about it. Learn how to improve memory and you will be on the fast track to full recovery. Improve your memory with easy steps that you can do at home. But is someone actually able to increase their memory capability? Yes, it can be done and it is a lot easier then you may think.

One thing that a person should do in order to improve their memory is to use repetition. Even though it sounds too easy, it really is an effective way to remember something. Repeating a piece of information to yourself over and over again will help you to remember it. If you sing the piece of information to yourself, it will help in your ability to remember it. This is because singing actually gets other parts of your brain involved. The more the merrier.

Something that many more people need to do when working on improving memory is to clear the mind. This is especially hard for those who are stressed for an upcoming exam but a clear mind is the best way to get work done and to remember things. It is the best way to remember things and to recall those things later down the road as well. Take a few deep breaths in through the nose and allow the muscles in your body to relax.

Another good thing to do is to feed your brain the food it needs to function at top speed. Good proteins and some complex carbohydrates will allow your brain to function as it should. Things such as nuts, fruit, and fish are said to be brain food. If eaten on a regular basis, these foods can help improve your ability to remember things over a long period of time.

You can also reduce stress in your life to improve your memory. It is said that high levels of stress mess with the part of the brain that takes in and stores new memories. In order to avoid this from happening you should try meditation and other types of self work things that will allow you to no longer be a slave to the burden of stress. This of course is not just good for learning how to improve your memory but for your entire physical and mental health as well.

Make sure that you are also drinking enough fluids. Dehydration is something that can harm your ability to store new memories and retrieve old ones. Getting enough water in your system is the best way to make sure that your brain is going to be able to function as well as it should be.

Even though you may read through several ways to boost your memory power, you will eventually find one or two things that work best for you. Do your best to try everything out there and you will be able to remember things much better in no time at all.

For A Complete Guide To Memory Improvement, Visit: www.howtoimprovememory.org

[tags]memory exercises, improving memory, memory techniques[/tags]