The Victor

If you think you are beaten, you are.
If you think you dare not, you don't. 
If you like to win but think you can't, 
It's almost a cinch you won't. 
If you think you'll lose, you're lost. 
For out in the world we find
Success begins with a fellow's will. 
It's all in the state of mind. 
If you think you are out classed, you are. 
You've got to think high to rise. 
You've got to be sure of your-self before
You can ever win the prize. 
Life's battles don't always go
To the stronger or faster man. 
But sooner or later, the man who wins
Is the man who thinks he can.

by: C. W. Longenecker

Handling criticism

Rather than trying to avoid criticism, expert performers welcome it. They seek out coaches and advisors who can give them constructive, sometimes even painful feedback. They then use this feedback as a guide for steady improvement.


Here are some steps you can take to handle criticism effectively:


1. Acknowledge Your Error - Acknowledging a mistake is not the same as acknowledging that you are an inferior person/a failure. If you believe the criticism is accurate, take full responsibility. Don’t blame something or someone else and don’t make excuses. If appropriate, offer a diplomatic apology: “I’m sorry that my actions led to that result. It certainly was not my intention.” Again, if appropriate, ask for suggestions on how you can improve your performance the next time.
    

2. Take Corrective Action - After you’ve heard the other person out completely, and listened to any suggestions for improvement, state/communicate your eagerness to improve in the future. If appropriate, describe any actions you will take at his time to counterbalance your previous error. 

3. Acknowledge the other person’s motive - Thank the other person for the feedback and make sure to state how valuable you consider it. This demonstrates your ability to use criticism as a way to improve – an essential quality of a leader. In addition, let the other person know that you are open to receiving his or her feedback in the future. 


Even when you don’t care for the style in which criticism is presented, be thankful that the other person is willing to give you feedback, and along with it, an opportunity to improve.

It's called Mindset

As I was passing by the elephants, I suddenly stopped, confused by the fact that these huge creatures were being held by only a small rope tied to their front leg.

No chains, no cages. It was obvious that the elephants could, at anytime, break away from the ropes they were tied to but for some reason, they did not. I saw a trainer nearby and asked why these beautiful, magnificent animals just stood there and made no attempt to get away.
    
"Well," he said, "when they are very young and much smaller we use the same size rope to tie them and, at that age, it's enough to hold them. As they grow up, they are conditioned to believe they cannot break away. They believe the rope can still hold them, so they never try to break free.

"I was amazed. These animals could at any time break free from their bonds but because they believed they couldn't, they were stuck right where they were.
    
Like the elephants, how many of us go through life hanging onto a belief that we cannot do something, simply because we failed at it once before? 

Wise say, “Your attempt may fail, but never fail to make an attempt.”

A Smile

A smile costs nothing, but gives much-
It takes but a moment, but the memory of it usually lasts forever.
None are so rich that can get along without it-
And none are so poor but that can be made rich by it.

It enriches those who receive, without making poor those who give-
It creates sunshine in the home,
Fosters good will in business,
And is the best antidote for trouble-
And yet it cannot be begged, borrowed, or stolen, for it is of no value
Unless it is given away.

Some people are too busy to give you a smile-
Give them one of yours-
For the good Lord knows that no one needs a smile so badly
As he or she who has no more smiles left to give.

                                                                                                                               cheers

Your Life: A Life Worth Living

Do not complain that life is hard
That it is full of suffering and pain
Do not cry that life is full of difficulties
That your life has become a bane

Life is hard but is worth fighting for
There is a bit of pain but a lot of gain too
Obstacles come to make you strong
To give you strength and teach you all along

Do not let your days become a bore
Do not let your life become a routine chore
Do not spend your time in regret
Thinking of the things you could not get

Do not keep thinking about the past
You never know how long your life will last
Leave behind a legacy that will long last
Go out there and have a blast

Enjoy the rain and the sunshine
Take joy in all the little things
The bigger picture in life is important
But the little things make life pleasant

Do not go around with a gloomy face
Spread joy and happiness at any place
It does not matter if you are not successful and rich
Through your love and joy make the world rich

More than earning money and fame
Make achieving happiness your chief aim
Success and money will come and play a part
But chase your dreams and follow your heart

You get to live your life only once
Do not throw it all away
Even in the face of grieving and misgiving
Know that your life is always worth living

cheers

Learn from Failure

Learn from Failure: How It Increases Your Chances of Succeeding

Learn from failure, you probably have heard it all from articles, stories and books.

This article is to drive home some key points about learning from failure. Lessons you probably are very familiar with but need reminder about. Or if you are new to this thing called failure then it will serve as a springboard to better success.

You hear stories about failure. You hear stories about success. You hear how failure is the mother of all successes. Yet, you are still fearful of failure. As if it is a black mark that will appear in your report card of life if you did fail. And fail you will, if you are like the rest of us mere mortals. Does that mean you stop trying?

1. Take The Risk and Pay The Price
Nothing ventured, nothing gain. You have to be willing to take the risk venture beyond the comfort zone regardless of what area you are in to gain some form of success. Think about the entrepreneurs, scientists,leaders and businesses which took the path less trodden and how they were rewarded handsomely.

If you are willing to pay the price with the risk you take, then the returns may just surprise you. But, but what if I fail, you ask.

2. It’s OK to Fail, Really. 

Yes, it’s OK to fail. The adage we learn from failure is true. Be open with your mind, eyes and ears. The lessons are there for you to understand and do better next time. Think about what you have done right, what you can do better and what you should stop doing. That is one of the easiest ways to analyze how to learn from failure. One side point, in cases like these I dislike to use the word failure. Setback is my preferred word.

3. Experience is the Best Teacher

Think about this, if you do not fail in any of your endeavor, how do you learn to be better? How do you become wiser? People say experience is the best teacher. If you accept that to be true then you need to accept failure as one of the many lessons you gain from experience. So, you get to learn from failure. It’s that simple. Think about failure as lessons paid in the journey of life.

4. Freedom to Fail

Allow yourself the freedom to fail if you want to learn from failure. When you are too cautious, you do not allow yourself to take any risks. If you are safe all the time, then you are not giving yourself the opportunity to learn from failure. Give yourself the freedom to fail and see how the lessons of success open up for you.

5. Fear of Failure

The fear of failure may not necessarily be bad as it propels you to succeed. Some people use it as a motivating factor to ensure they succeed. As long as you do not get paralyzed into inaction and limit your appetite for taking risk, I believe the fear of failure as a propelling factor can be of good use.

6. Welcome Failure

There can be no success without failure. You should welcome failure as an opportunity to learn and you will learn from failure. The fees for learning from failure may seem too high sometimes, but in the long run you will somehow discover it a worthwhile price to pay. 

Cheers

Can you change your life in 3 minutes?

A minute can be as powerful as an hour, if only you use it well. Cosmo tells you how. 

Get smarterResearch reveals that solving crossword puzzles stimulates the brain, improves memory and ups your vocab. Also, it distracts the mind from problems and challenges the brain in a non-stressful way. Lesson: spend a couple of minutes a day working a puzzle.

Be an artist
A study published in Applied Cognitive Psychology, Southern England showed that people who doodled retained more information than those who didn't. (Especially at boring conferences and seminars.)

Check your balance
Spending a few minutes balancing your checkbook, noting expenses, and organising bills, will help you handle expenses, plan better, and also prepare for future tax work. Doing it in small installments also makes it a lot less annoying.

Brew
In a recent study, University College, London, researchers noted that drinking a cup of tea, four to six times a day, reduces stress hormone levels in your body. Here's a tip to brew it perfectlyleave the bag in the water for at least two minutes, and keep the cup covered while the tea is brewing.

Hydrate
Dehydration is one of the key reasons of fatigue. If you drink less than eight glasses of water a day, you may be sluggish. Use every free minute to drink as much water as possible. Try it for a week and watch your general energy levels rise.

Floss away
Dentists keep saying it, and we'll say it again: flossing removes bacteria, prevents gum disease and the loss of teeth. Spend a minute or two each day to remove the bacteria between your teeth.

De-clutter
Take the time to clear your drawers of old receipts, papers and trash you've been collecting over the months. "Simplifying your life in any way can help you find more balance, says US-based Denise Landers, CEO of Key Organisation Systems Inc.

Breathe
Breathing correctly can cure anxiety. The right way to do it: stand up, stretch and take a couple of deep breaths. Stretch your arms, back, legs, and neck. Take a deep breath through your nose, hold it, and let it out slowly and forcefully. Repeat several times.

Prioritise
Make morning time planning time. Set goals, write them down and place them where you'll see them all day. It will give you a sense of control and empowerment.

Indulge
Not too much, but if you're going to have some candy, pick chocolate. Research reveals that we get an endorphin buzz from chocolate and an energy boost from the slight bit of caffeine in it. You'll agree, it's a delicious way to use spare time.

Learn a word
Sign up for a website that will deliver a new word to your inbox every day, then spend a couple of minutes learning it. In a month, you'll have a brand new, impressive vocabulary.

Refresh
Sitting in the same position for hours can be exhausting. Roll up and down on your toes. This stimulates your circulatory system, and delivers oxygen and glucose throughout your body.

Sing
Studies in music therapy show that singing promotes wellness, manages stress, and improves communication. Most songs last about three minutes, so sing your favourite out loud.

Make a call
Lost touch with people? Make a short call to one person every day, just to say hiit could be an old friend from college, an ex colleague, or someone you'd like to network with. Repeat that call after one month.

Change of scene
Browse the Internet to find a soothing natural scene as your desktop background. Studies conducted by the University of Washington have reaffirmed nature's restorative powers and capability to reduce stress.

Look away
Research has found out that taking visual breaks can relieve sore eyes. Every two hours or so, look at an object 20 feet away for a few seconds. This will relax your eye muscles, instantly.

Filter
Creating e-mail filters will help you keep your inbox free from unwanted mails. Make separate folders so that the next time you are searching for a super important e-mail, you won't waste any time locating it.

Update your resume
Keeping your resume up-to-date means when a great job opportunity comes your way, you won't be rushing to add stuff.

Laugh

Scientists say the effects of laughter and exercise are quite similar. You may not have time for a full-fledged cardio session, but you can take out three minutes to watch a funny clip on YouTube.