Ways to Better Brainpower

Ways to Better Brainpower -(In no particular order of preference .)




1. Breath deep. More air in means more oxygen in the blood and therefore in the brain. Breath through your nose and you'll notice that you use your diaphragm more, drawing air deeper into your lungs. Several deep breaths can also help to relax you, which is conducive to clearer thinking.


2. Meditate. A simple meditation you can do right now is just closing your eyes and paying attention to your breath. Tensing up your muscles and then relaxing them to start may help. When your mind wanders, just bring your attention back to your breath. Five or ten minutes of this will usually relax you, clear your mind, and leave you more ready for any mental task.



3. Sit up straight. Posture affects your thinking process. Prove it to yourself by doing math in your head while slouching, looking at the floor and letting your mouth hang open. Then do the mental math while sitting up straight, keeping your mouth closed and looking forward or slightly upwards. You'll notice that it's easier to think with the latter posture.



4. Good thinking habits. Just use a problem solving technique for several weeks and it will become a habit. Redesign everything you see for a while, and that will become a habit. You can develop many good thinking habits with some effort, and then be more resourceful effortlessly from that point on. Use the power of habit.

5. Use dead time. This is time that is otherwise wasted or just under-utilized. Driving time, time spent in waiting rooms, or even time spent raking your yard can be included in this. With a tape player and a trip to a public library, you can start to use this time to listen to books-on-tape. You may spend 200 hours a year in your car. What could you learn in that time?


6. Learn a language.
Learning a new language has been shown to halt the age-related decline in brain function. It also introduces your mind to new concepts and new ways of looking at things (in English we are afraid, whereas in Spanish we have fear). It is one of the best brain exercises.


7. Rosemary.
This common herb may have an effect on the brain when the scent is inhaled. We are waiting for the research, but some people swear that just sniffing rosemary wakes up their brain. It seems safe, so if you have rosemary in your spice rack, give it a try.


8. Mindfulness exercises. Concentration and clear thinking are more or less automatic once you remove distractions. Learn to stop and watch your busy mind. As you notice things that are subtly bothering you, deal with them. This might mean making a phone call you need to make, or putting things on a list so you can forget them for now. With practice, this becomes easier, and your thinking becomes more powerful.


9. Write. Writing is good for your mind in a number of ways. It is a way to tell your memory what is important, so you'll recall things more easily in the future. It is a way to clarify your thinking. It is a way to exercise your creativity and analytical ability. Diaries, idea-journals, poetry, note-taking and story-writing are all ways to use writing to boost your brain power.


10. Listen to Mozart/Music.
In a study at the University of California, researchers found that children who studied piano and sang daily in chorus, were much better at solving puzzles, and when tested, scored 80% higher in spatial intelligence than the non-musical group. In another study, 36 students were given three spatial reasoning tests on a standard IQ test. Just before the first test, they listened to Mozart's sonata for Two Pianos in D Major, K. 448 for ten minutes. Before the second test, they listened to a relaxation tape. Before the third, they sat in silence. The average scores for all 36 students: 1st test: 119. 2nd test: 111. 3rd test: 110. A nine-point boost from Mozart!


11. Develop your intuition. Intuition can be an important part of brainpower. Einstein and others have relied heavily on their intuitive hunches. We can have a separate topic* on
how to develop our intuition.


12. Avoid foods that cause subtle allergies. These can include wheat, corn, peanuts and dairy products. Watch yourself to see if you have a problem with any of these. They cause digestive problems and brain fog in some people.


13. Sleep better.
As long as you get a certain amount of sleep - probably a minimum of five hours - the quality seems to be more important than the quantity. Also, short naps in the afternoon seem to work well to recharge the brain for some people. Sleep LESS and have MORE energy by optimizing your sleep patterns in order to create an abundance of energy in your life.


14. Caffeine. The research shows higher test scores for students who drink coffee before major exams. My chess game gets better. In other studies, it has been shown that too much caffeine leads to poorer quality decisions. Caffeine affects individuals differently, and has some nasty long-term side effects for some of us, but short-term - it works!


15. Avoid sugar. Any simple carbohydrates can give you "brain fog." Sometimes called the "sugar blues" as well, this sluggish feeling makes it hard to think clearly. It results from the insulin rushing into the bloodstream to counteract the sugar rush. Avoid pasta, sugars, white bread and potato chips before any important mental tasks.


16. Hypnosis audios. The power of suggestion is real, and one way to use it is with hypnosis tapes, CD's or downloads. This type of brain "programing" has more evidence for it than subliminals.
17. Speed reading. Contrary to what many believe, your comprehension of material often goes up when you learn to speed-read. You get to learn a lot more in less time, and it is definitely a good brain exercise.


18. Exercise. Long term exercise can boost brainpower, which isn't surprising. Anything that affects physical health in a positive way probably helps the brain too. Recent research, though, shows that cognitive function is improved immediately after just ten minutes of aerobic exercise. If you need a brain recharge, you might want to walk up and down the stairs a few times.


19. Imaginary friends. Talking to and getting advice from characters in your mind can be a great way to access the information in your subconscious mind. Imagine a conversation with a person who has a lot of knowledge in the area you want advice in.


20. Develop your creativity. Creativity gives power to your thinking. Raw computation can be done by computers now, but humans provide the creative thought that shapes our world. We can have a separate topic* on developing your creativity.

Great opening sentencess..- Benefits!!

Try weaving these benefits into your own personal 

opening sentences and watch your prospects lean forward.


  1. How to work half days and get full-time pay.
 
  2. How to spend an extra three hours with your
      children every day.
     
  3. I show people how to retire five years early
      -- but at full pay!
     
  4. Take a six-month vacation, twice a year!
 
  5. How to get $300/month raise without having
      to ask your boss.
     
  6. How to fire your boss and start your own
      business.
     
  7. How to get a 25% raise and never have to
      commute again.

Vitamins for the Mind by Jim Rohn

Vitamins for the Mind
by Jim Rohn

Skills/Sales

Don't wish it was easier; wish you were better. Don't wish for less problems; wish for more skills. Don't wish for less challenges; wish for more wisdom.

You must either modify your dreams or magnify your skills.

The key to life is to become skillful enough to be able to do rewarding things.

Learn to hide your need and show your skill.

To succeed in sales, simply talk to lots of people every day. And here's what's exciting—there are lots of people!

Selling is a person-to-person business. You cannot send the sales manual out to make the sale. Sales manuals have no legs and no voice.

Salespeople should take lessons from their kids. What does the word "no" mean to a child? Almost nothing.

The power of Routine by Darren Hardy

 

Routine Power by Darren Hardy

Some of our best intentions fail because we don't have a system of execution. When it comes down to it, your new attitudes and behaviors must be incorporated into your monthly, weekly and daily routines to effect any real, positive change. A routine is something you do every day without fail, so that eventually, like brushing your teeth or putting on your seatbelt, you do it without conscious thought. If you look at anything you do that's successful, you'll see that you've probably developed a routine for it. These routines ease life's stresses by making our actions automatic and effective. To reach new goals and develop new habits, it's necessary to create new routines to support your objectives.

The greater the challenge, the more rigorous our routines need to be. Ever wonder why military boot camp is so hard—where relatively minor tasks like making the bed, shining your shoes, or standing at attention become over-the-top important? Building routines to prep soldiers for combat is the most effective way to elicit efficient, productive and reliable performance under intense pressure. The seemingly simplistic routines built and developed during basic training are so exact that soft, fearful, slovenly teenagers are transformed into lean, confident, mission-driven soldiers in only eight to 12 weeks. Their routines are so well rehearsed that these young soldiers can instinctively act with precision in the middle of the chaos of combat. That intense level of training and practice prepares soldiers to carry out their duties—even under the threat of imminent death.

Now, your days might not be as dangerous, but without the proper routines built into your schedule, the results of your life can be unruly and unnecessarily hard. Developing a routine of predictable, daily disciplines prepares you to be victorious on the battlefield of life.

Golfer Jack Nicklaus was famous for his pre-shot routine. He was religious about the "dance" he would do before every shot, a series of routine mental and physical steps that got him fully focused and ready for the shot. Jack would start out behind the ball, and then pick out one or two intermediate spots between the ball and the target. As he walked around and approached the ball, the first thing he would do is line up his clubface to his intermediate target. He wouldn't put his feet into position until he felt he had his clubface properly squared up. Then he would take his stance. From there he would waggle the club and look out to his target, then back to his intermediate target and back to the golf club, with a repeat of the view. Then, and only then, would he strike the ball.

During one of the important major tournaments, a psychologist timed Nicklaus from the moment he pulled the club out of the bag until the moment he hit the ball, and guess what? In each shot, from the first tee to the 18th green, the timing of Jack's routine supposedly never varied more than one second. That is amazing! The same psychologist measured Greg Norman during his unfortunate collapse at the 1996 Masters. Lo and behold, his pre-shot routine got faster and faster as the round progressed. Varying his routine stunted his rhythm and consistency; he was never able to catch momentum. The moment Norman changed his routine, his performance became unpredictable and his results erratic.

Football kickers likewise cherish their pre-kick routines, which allow them to get into sync with the thousands of times they have done this same action. Without a pre-kick routine, their performance under great pressure in a game greatly diminishes. Pilots go through their preflight checklist. Even when a pilot has logged thousands of hours and the plane just came in with a "perfect" performance review from a previous destination, the pilot goes through a preflight checklist every time without fail. This not only prepares the plane, but, more important, centers the pilot and prepares him for the upcoming performance.

Of all the high achievers and business owners I've worked with, I've seen that, along with good habits, each has developed routines for accomplishing necessary daily disciplines. It's the only way any of us can regulate our behavior. There simply isn't any way around it. A daily routine built on good habits and disciplines separates the most successful among us from everyone else. A routine is exceptionally powerful.

To create profitable and effective routines, you must first decide what behaviors and habits you want to implement. It's your turn to be Jack Nicklaus and figure out your best pre-shot routine. Be intentional about what components belong. Once you establish, say, a morning routine, I want you to consider it cast in concrete until further notice. You get up. You do it—no argument. If someone or something interrupts you, start back at the beginning to anchor your foundation for the performance that follows.

You Are..!!

You Are
By Author Unknown--

One day not too long ago the employees of a large company in St. Louis, Missouri returned from their lunch break and were greeted with a sign on the front door. The sign said: "Yesterday the person who has been hindering your growth in this company passed away. We invite you to join the funeral in the room that has been prepared in the gym."

At first everyone was sad to hear that one of their colleagues had died, but after a while they started getting curious about who this person might be. The excitement grew as the employees arrived at the gym to pay their last respects. Everyone wondered: "Who is this person who was hindering my progress? Well, at least he's no longer here!"

One by one the employees got closer to the coffin and when they looked inside it they suddenly became speechless. They stood over the coffin, shocked and in silence, as if someone had touched the deepest part of their soul.

There was a mirror inside the coffin: everyone who looked inside it could see himself. There was also a sign next to the mirror that said:
"There is only one person who is capable to set limits to your growth: it is YOU."

YOU are the only person who can revolutionize your life.
YOU are the only person who can influence your happiness, your realization and your success.
YOU are the only person who can help yourself.

Your life does not change when your boss changes, when your friends change, when your parents change, when your partner changes, when your company changes.

Your life changes when YOU change, when you go beyond your limiting beliefs, when you realize that YOU ARE the only one responsible for your life.

NICK VUJICIC: INSPIRATIONAL, MOVING AND SPIRITUALLY LIMITLESS

 

NICK VUJICIC: INSPIRATIONAL, MOVING AND SPIRITUALLY LIMITLESS When world-renowned motivational speaker and Life Without Limbs director Nick Vujicic was first escorted on stage in a wheelchair, the room fell silent in awe and admiration. True, many have heard of him; and thousands have watched his videos all over the Internet. But seeing him in the flesh was something different. It brought along an overwhelming feeling of anticipation and eagerness, as well as huge pride and gratitude to the V for presenting this opportunity—having such an amazing spirit speak right there on the V stage.  He opened his talk on the topic of hope and keeping one's head up at all times, no matter what change and circumstance may bring. "Just because you can't see hope today doesn't mean it's not there. If you only believe what you see or what you're told, then you are missing out on a lot." On overcoming difficult circumstances, Nick told the crowd that, "if it's not meant to be, maybe it's not meant to be. But you never know until you go and find out." As with everything else in this life, "you will always have more questions than answers. That's where FAITH comes in." What is FAITH? For Nick Vujicic, "FAITH is Full Assurance In The Heart." It is imperative to keep hope and keep faith—keep them most in the darkest of hours; and remember that, "when I fail, I am not a failure." It's part of reality. People have to wake up and understand that success doesn't happen overnight.  "Everything starts small. Encourage yourself, take small steps, and look back to see how far you have come. Take one day at a time." And finally, remember that it is actually possible to "change your obstacles to opportunities." "Life is always an uphill climb. But the higher you climb, the more you see. When doing business, the value of YOU does not change whether you succeed or not… (And) if you put your faith in temporary things, your happiness will be temporary." Finally, he summoned the crowd. "Position yourself to take an opportunity today. There is no luck, chance, or coincidence. If something is not for you, then believe that there must be something else. Know that even the most broken pieces of yourself can be used for good. If you don't get a miracle, you can still be a miracle for someone else." During the 10-minute open forum, more of Nick Vujicic was revealed. Two resonant angles surfaced: one, his devotion to God, and two, his personal strength in accepting and understanding free will. When asked about his driving force, he answered, "I am here to love God, serve God, and love people."

__._,_.___

__,_._,___

Leadership lessons from JFK

Leadership lessons from JFK

John F Kennedy, the 35th President of the United States of America was responsible for bringing many firsts into the Oval office. He was the first and only Catholic President, the first Irish American to be elected to the highest position, the youngest to be elected at 43 and the only President to have won a Pultizer! More than four decade after his untimely death, he remains a charismatic figure who left an indelible imprint on the world. What he is most admired for till date was his leadership. As a recent book on JKF's leadership legacy proclaims - 'From the day of his death, every President and Presidential candidate has to varying degrees, sought to portray himself as the heir to the Kennedy legacy.'

To me Kennedy is the personification of a man who made leadership seem effortless. But what went into making him the accomplished, charismatic leader the world came to love? The hard work, the pain, the challenges... as I started reading more and more about Kennedy's life and his legacy, five key principles stood out. Five principles that are applicable in any field of endeavour if you aspire to be a leader.

1. Challenge the Status Quo. Organisation against you? Create your own.. - If you find that existing systems are not working for you, then you create a system of your own. You create it from scratch and set the trend that others will follow. There can simply be no excuse for failure.
2. Start early, work late. - Get there before anyone else does. That gives you an advantage over your competition. If you want to sew up support for something, just getting there early enough and drumming up support long before anyone else wakes up to the idea, works to your advantage. Working hard, will always give you a leg up on your competition.
3. Hire Sherpas - Behind every successful man, there is a team that helped him get there. Sir Edmund Hillary scaled the Everest, but it was Sherpa Tenzing, a young sturdy Nepalese guide familiar with the rough terrains, and indispensable for his local knowledge, who helped him get there! Where are your Sherpas?
4. Disarm acrimony with wit. - Learn to see the humour or irony of any situation, even if it involves you and use that to your advantage. You can neutralize a tense situation or a particularly negative opponent with a little wit and self-deprecating humour.
5. Find issues that resonate. Find your greatest weakness and make it an asset. - Identify issues that are of interest to the person you are talking to and stick to them. Draw parallels from your own experience when necessary or use that to your advantage to strike a chord. What you may have considered your weakness could well be your asset in certain situations.

You may not be aiming to become president, but if you are looking to bring about a change in yourself for the better, to improve upon yourself, understanding and applying these five simple lessons from JFK will go a long way.

Guide - 2010- Let's make Max use of it

Dear Team   This was an article from Robin Sharma and circulated . Though half of the Year has passed by still we can make the best use of the wonderful guide and make the BEST Use of the time left in this Year . I have added a few points releveant to us. In case you need further guidance please be in touch with me . Pass on to all your team . Let's Rock.     Guide to 2010 ( though half is over )   Step #1: Evaluate 2009 and 2010 till date . Do a written story recording what went well this past year and, even more importantly, what areas you could improve on. Also list all your wins and as many high points as you can recall. Get a clear picture of how you showed up.   Step #2: Set Your Theme. Come up with a theme for 2010. It may be "The Year of , Change and Growth" or "The Best Year Financailly till date " or "The Year of being Debt free" etc. But get a theme into a document you can start reviewing every week.   Step #3: Create a Mission. The next step is to develop a one paragraph mission statement and put it into this document. Clarity precedes mastery so the more clear your ultimate mountaintop for 2010 is, the greater your focus will be. And the most positive results you'll see.   Step #4: List Your Big 5 ( DREAMS) . OK, now ask yourself this powerful self-coaching question: "What 5 things need to happen between now and December 31, 2010 for this to have been the single most successful year of my life to date?" Write down those five goals as simply and clearly as possible into this document.   Step #5: Sequence Your Big 5 ( PRIORITY ). Now break your Big 5 down into quarterly goals( you have 2 quaters now - 90 day plans) . Set 5 core goals for the first/second/ third and fourth quarters of 2010 to ensure you nail your Big 5. Review these every week. Reflect on them everyday if you really want to win. Make these strategic objectives the sole focus of your life.   Step #6: Refocus Every Morning ( SOS) . Life's job is to distract you. Your job is to stay staggeringly focused on what's most important. Take 15 minutes during your morning resetting period to reflect on your goals, to envision your best moves and to track out a day that's productive, passionate and fun.   Step #7: Get Devoted to Learning. The #1 skill of super successful people is that they are relentless learners. While others are wasting time on low-value websites or watching mindless reality tv shows, they are listening to audio programs, studying books on leadership and success and basically creating a rich, beautiful and meaningful life. As you journey through each day of 2010, make the time to fuel your brain with ideas on excellence and creating your absolute best. Nothing's more important than that. And please remember that all it takes is a single idea to transform the way you lead and how you live.   Step #8 : Have a sense of Urgency. Do it Now. Do it Everyday. ACTION!! ACTION!! And More ACTION!!!

Pulling Together...10 Rules for High Performance Teams, by John Murphy

Excerpt from 

Pulling Together...10 Rules for High Performance Teams,
by John Murphy

Consistent application of the 10 rules of high performance teamwork ultimately generates trust, respect, unity and power within any team. Conversely, consistent violation of any one rule destroys this bond. While the author of the following is unknown, "Lessons From the Geese" is a powerful illustration from nature of the rules of high performance teamwork. As you read about the natural unity that exists among this species remember - this same unity can exist in your organization!

As geese flap their wings, they create an uplift for the bird following. By flying in a V formation, the whole flock adds 71% greater flying range than if any bird were to fly alone.
If we share a common direction and a sense of community, we can get where we are going more quickly and easily because we are traveling on the thrust of one another!

Whenever a goose falls out of formation, it suddenly feels the drag and resistance of trying to fly alone, and quickly gets back into formation to take advantage of the lifting power of the bird immediately in front.
If we have as much sense as geese, we will stay in formation with those who are headed where we want to go, and we will be willing to accept their help as well as give ours to others.

When the lead goose gets tired, it rotates back into formation and another goose flies at the point position.
If we take turns doing the hard tasks and sharing leadership as with the geese, we become interdependent with one another.
The geese in formation honk from behind to encourage those up front to keep up their speed. If we "honk," we need to make sure it is positive and encouraging.

When a goose gets sick or wounded or is shot down, two geese drop out of formation and follow it down to help and protect it. They stay with it until it is able to fly again or dies. They then launch out on their own, with another formation or catch up with the flock.
If we have as much sense as geese, we too will stand by each other in difficult times, as well as when we are strong. Let us all try to fly in formation and remember to drop back to help those who might need it!

BEHOLD THE POWER OF TEAMWORK

The greatest accomplishments in life are not achieved by individuals alone, but by proactive people pulling together for a common good. Look behind every winner and you will find a great coach. Look out in front of every superstar and you will see a positive role model. Look alongside every great achiever and you will find caring people offering encouragement, support and able assistance.

Rising to this level of interdependent thinking can be challenging and difficult. Looking beyond oneself, asking for help or accepting help can feel risky. But people are not given life to simply take from one another. We are here to give. Our mission in life is to offer our gifts to benefit one another, to create mutual gain in the world. This is called teamwork, a win/win mindset stemming from a genuine commitment to the rules that allow it to happen.

Thoughts on Financial Freedom by Chris Widener

Thoughts on Financial Freedom by Chris Widener

Here are a few thoughts on financial freedom and how to find it for yourself.

Financial freedom is a buzzword for our generation. It is the pursuit of literally millions of people. So what is it? Is it that elusive? Can anyone achieve it?

Let me start by saying that this is not about how to earn money, or even more money. Rather, it is about how to find financial freedom, which surprisingly, may or may not involve making more money.

The first step in finding financial freedom is to realize that financial freedom has absolutely nothing to do with how much money you have or make.

What? Exactly. Financial freedom is something that goes on inside of you.

This is why someone who makes very little can be happy and someone who makes a ton can be extremely stressed out over his or her financial situation. So the first step is to realize that financial freedom is more about our attitudes toward money than about the amount of money.

"Okay Chris, I'm with you. So what are the attitudes that provide financial freedom?" Here are a few that keep me in financial freedom:

• I do not have to worry about money. I used to catch myself saying, "If I had more money, then I wouldn't have to worry about..." But do you know what? I don't have to worry anyway. I can control my income. I can control my outgo. I can make choices that can alleviate any of my worries. I also realized that things always work out. So why worry? I choose not to worry. I work hard, invest, plan for the future and I do not worry about it.

• I can be happy regardless of my financial state. I know people who are worth hundreds of millions of dollars and I know people who don't have two nickels to rub together. Some are happy and some aren't. And none of the people who have a lot of money say to me, "Chris, I've become so happy since I got money." They were happy before they had money and they are happy now that they have money. Their happiness has nothing to do with the money. Billionaire David Geffen once said, "Anyone who says that money will buy them happiness has never had any money."

• Money is a means to an end, not the end itself. Another way to look at it is that money is a tool to build the house, not the house itself. I would set some financial goals if I were you, but go beyond that to know what greater purpose there will be when you reach them. What will the house be used for that you build with this tool?

 

• I am free. I am free to earn—some people think it is bad to earn more money. It isn't.

 

• I am free to save—some people believe it is bad to save. It isn't.

 

• I am free to give money away—some people feel they will be better off hoarding it. They won't.

 

• I am free to spend—some people believe that they can't spend anything on themselves. They can.

 

• We are free to make choices. That is financial freedom.

• Embrace delayed gratification. Here is the principle: Buy it now and struggle later. Another principle: Delay buying it now, invest the money, and have all you want later on! And you won't even have to touch the principal! We tend to think that having it now will bring enjoyment, but unless you can do it and not cause yourself financial stress, you will actually get more from waiting!

• Have more by managing better. The fact is that most of us earn enough. What would be beneficial is to set our priorities and live by a budget. As we get control, our budget will loosen up a bit and we will find ourselves enjoying it more. Money that is already there can be your answer if you put it to work for you.

You can experience financial freedom no matter how much money you have. Granted, it is great to build wealth and that should be our goal, but no matter what level you are currently at, or what level of wealth you ultimately attain, if you keep money in the proper perspective, you can be happy and free!

Ten Ways You Can Be More Persuasive

Ten Ways You Can Be More Persuasive

You have a message. You want to be more persuasive.  Whether you are an employee, business owner, student, blogger, etc. you need to be heard. 

We're all marketers trying to impact a world that's drowning in information. 

How Can You Get Results?

Here are 10 ways to be more persuasive.  Each has proven effective in controlled experiments and many are from Yes!: 50 Scientifically Proven Ways to Be Persuasive

1. Social Proof – When the course of action is not clear, people look to others for guidance (even though they will deny that fact).  Put more simply, people tend to do what other people similar to them do.  This behavior is programmed into our genes and is well established.  Social proof is more influential when we are observing others we perceive to be similar to us.  So if you are trying to sell someone on something, be it an idea or a product, a powerful method is to show how others similar to them have already bought into it.

 2. Mirroring – People respect, like, and are most easily influenced by people who they perceive to be similar to themselves (see Social Proof above).  So one way to influence someone is to mirror them.  Mirror their speech and their actions.  If you verbalize back to someone something they have said and in the same words, you instantly become more influential.  The same thing applies to posture and actions.  If you want to influence Mike, then you need to act like Mike.  If he is leaning back in his chair, then you would be wise to do the same.

3. Offer Few Choices – People are paralyzed by choices. Given too many options, many simply fail to choose anything.  When you are offer alternative products, services, or ideas, be sure to limit the choices to only a few.  Two choices is often better than three.

4. Reciprocation – Do someone a favor and they are more likely to return it.  There's an interesting twist to this.  People who do you a favor once are more likely do do you another favor in the future.  Once someone has done you a favor, in their mind you become more important to them; you must be worthy of their time.  So get someone to do you a small favor, and they are more likely to listen to you or do you an even bigger favor in the future.  The best way to get them to do you a favor in the first place is todo one for them.

5. Baby Steps – We want to act consistent with our previous actions.  Moreover, once we buy into something or someone, we tend to become much more committed to it or them.  This is the foot-in-the-door technique.  No matter how small a step you can get someone to take in agreeing with your idea, product, or service, those small steps will lead to larger steps in the future.  This even works on yourself. Start small.  Get your target to say yes to anything first, and then they will be much more likely say yes to what your really after.

6. Labeling – Marketers use this one on you all the time: "You seem like a smart person and smart people buy X".  Tell someone they are smart, sophisticated, thrifty, a risk-taker, etc. and ask them to take an action consistent with that label.  There is a powerful inner drive to stay consistent with what we have demonstrated in the past.  If someone labels us, we believe we have demonstrated that trait (especially if it is positive).

7. Ask the Right Question – Recently I was given a pitch for a new home (we're considering something smaller).  Through the entire sales pitch, the agent was asking me and questions about what would we do or what we would like to do.  This was leading to the final push on the actual sale.  Before asking someone to do something, get them to say they would do it or something consistent with it.  Get them to verbally express an inclination or desire to do something.  Then when asked to do something consistent with what they have previously expressed, they are much more likely to agree. (We didn't because we are just "window shopping" at this point).

8. Smile – Smiles are powerful influencers.  People like people who smile.  But your smile needs to be authentic.  Humans have a remarkable ability to detect false smiles (it's in the eyes).  Find something in the other person that you can authentically appreciate and then smile about it.  In general, just practice looking on the bright side of things and being happy.  You will naturally be more influential because you smile more. That's easy, eh?

9. Keep it Simple – I've read studies that show the most persuasive writing is written at an 8th grade level of comprehension.  This is true even among people who were capable of comprehending much more complex language.  There is a convergence of data showing that simple is better.  Simple and easy to remember names and ideas are the best.  Resist the urge to show off your knowledge and sophistication and keep it simple.

10. Scarcity and Exclusivity – Make whatever you are offering, even ideas, unique and therefore scarce. People value what is scarce.  Think about a high-end BMW.  Part of what makes it so desirable is the fact that it is rare; the overwhelming majority of people cannot afford it.  At first glance scarcity might seem to be counter to the social proof phenomenon described above, but they actually go together.  When you buy the high-end BMW you are joining an exclusive club of sophisticated people who also value such quality and sophistication in an automobile.  They are people like you.  I'm a Mac owner and have been for years. We're (an ever-increasing) minority of computer owners but believe we are somewhat exclusive and unique.  So: offer something unique; then, package it in a way that also attracts people through the social proof of others.

If you really want to learn how to be more persuasive and influential, check out Yes!: 50 Scientifically Proven Ways to Be Persuasive.

10 Steps to Courageous Leadership

10 Steps to Courageous Leadership

Posted: Wed, 30 Jun 2010 12:44:32 -0600

by Stoney deGeyter

Leadership isn't just for those with the title or position of leadership. Every person, in any given situation, is a leader of something. You may not have the prestige or salary, but there is no doubt that you carry some leadership responsibilities, however small they may be.

Very few leaders start at the top. They start somewhere way down the ladder and work their way up. The difference between them and the next person is that they exhibit strong leadership characteristics. Now, not everyone is a natural born leader, but we all lead in various ways. Whether you're trying to get to the top, or simply being successful where you are, there are several aspects of your own personal development that must be achieved in order be effective as a leader at any level.

John Maxwell provides 10 steps to developing courageous leadership:

"Convictions that are stronger than my fears"

A leader is one who overcomes their fears. This may be fears of stepping out, fears of trying something new, or even a fear of standing up to what you know is right. Most everyone has convictions but many are too timid to stand up when those convictions are challenged. To succeed as a leader your convictions must overrule your fears.

"Vision that is clearer than my doubts"

For any leader, vision is essential. A leader must be able to see where they are now, and look ahead to where they strive to be. While any vision comes with doubt, the doubt cannot be paralyzing to achieving the vision.

"Spiritual sensitivity that is louder than popular opinion"

Many people try to check their spirituality at the door when it comes to work and leadership, when in actuality they are inseparable. Spirituality is the core of who you are. Unfortunately, many allow trends, popular opinion, or even a louder voice in the room hold sway over what they truly know and believe in their heart. Spiritual strength is essential to establishing a firm moral foundation that cannot be blown over or toppled by the voices around them.

"Self-esteem that is deeper than self-protection"

Protecting oneself from outside forces and influences is a natural reaction. But sometimes people allow that to come at the expense of their own self-esteem. They protect themselves by going along and not standing out. This is contrary to true leadership. Leaders must be able to stand out and, by doing so, put themselves in a vulnerable position. Having the self-esteem to stick to your core convictions may leave you vulnerable, but no true leader ever succeeded under a roof of self-protection.

"Appreciation for discipline that is greater than my desire for leisure"

Greatness (or even desired goodness) can rarely be achieved without a measure of self-discipline. We all want and need leisure time, but those who stand head and shoulders above others almost universally have something in common. They are willing to sacrifice some of their precious leisure time for those things that help them grow mentally, physically, spiritually, and emotionally.

"Dissatisfaction that is more forceful than the status quo"

While I'm a firm believer in learning to be content where we are, there must also be a measure of dissatisfaction with things always being the same. Contentment helps us learn to survive and be happy with what we have. Dissatisfaction helps propel us forward to better things that we know can be achieved. While we cannot live in a state of unhappy dissatisfaction, we can use that dissatisfaction to grow our measure of success.

"Poise that is more unshakable than panic"

Nobody likes a panicky leader. While any leader may become worried or distressed, how they handle those situations says a lot about them. Keeping cool under pressure produces a calmness that spreads within an organization, allowing everybody to think with a clear head and develop strategies that will bring you through any crisis. Keep in mind, however that poise without action is just as devastating as panic... it just takes longer to feel the results.

"Risk-taking that is stronger than safety-keeping"

Leadership itself is a risk. There is no safety in standing up or stepping out when everybody else is just sitting around. Sometimes the risk is mental or emotional. Other times the risk will be financial. But there are very few profitable investments that don't require some measure of risk. True leaders understand that risk is a part of the job.

"Actions that are more robust than rationalization"

It's possible to rationalize your way out of anything. The problem is rationalizations reduce us to inaction rather than action. Nothing ever gets accomplished when we can find all the reasons not to do it rather than looking at why it needs to be done. Focus on the goals and find ways to to get there, instead of reasons not to try.

"A desire to see potential reached more than see people pleased"

Every person has potential for greatness. The biggest obstacle to such greatness is often those who we surround ourselves with. While we cannot put aside the needs of our friends and family for our own selfish ambitions, we cannot please everybody all of the time. Nor can you allow others to hold you back from achieving the success you deserve.

Leading is rarely ever easy. Some have natural ability, for others it must be developed. But every leader faces the same trials and struggles. Learning to overcome the roadblocks and other obstacles that often try to set us back is essential if we are going to reach our fullest potential.

Courageous leadership means finding ways to succeed regardless of our circumstances. It means putting ourselves out there, facing our fears, doubts and potential ridicule all for the greater good. While many people may not like what is required to become a leader, very few regret what they have to go through to achieve it.

Effective Networking for Netizens

Email not displaying correctly? View it in your browser. SitePoint Tribune Issue 502: July 1, 2010  News, Rants and Case Studies for Web Design Professionals Introduction Hello again Tribuners! In this week's issue, I'd like to discuss relationships -- both online and offline. First, I'll talk about how to really be effective in networking at conferences and events. I'll also cover social media, and how it really is just an amplifier of who you are. I also found a great search engine optimization resource I'd like to share with you. It's very well written and designed, and it's free. Lastly, I'd like to talk about a new trend in blog and content page design that's sure to be noticed. I hope you enjoy this week's Tribune. Brandon No Matter Who Takes Home the Trophy, You'll Be the Winner To celebrate that Cup, SitePoint is letting the game dictate the price! For a strictly limited time, we're having a HUGE digital book sale with a freebie at the end. So regardless of what's happening in South Africa, you can go for glory with some of the strongest contenders in our library. Find out how to play and win now! Summary Introduction Effective Networking for Netizens The Truth About Social Media Astute SEO for Starters Death of the Dull Blog Post Latest Tutorials Hot Discussions New Blogs Effective Networking for Netizens Lately I've heard a lot of people talk about effective networking at business events such as meetups, conferences, and trade shows. I was talking with someone at the after-party of ConvergeSE last weekend and the topic came up again. He said, "I'm no good at networking. I always end up meeting one or two interesting people, and spend the whole night talking to just them." Little did he know, he was excellent at networking. Networking is not about giving out or collecting as many cards as you can during an event. It's about quality, not quantity. I would much rather meet one really interesting person at a conference or meetup and get to know them, than spend five minutes with ten different people. Networking is about building relationships. It's impossible to build a relationship in five or ten minutes. After five minutes, no one is going to remember who you were. Spend an hour talking to a person, and chances are they'll not only remember your name, but they'll recall several topics of the conversation and several aspects about you personally. Next time you go to a networking event, follow these tips to make the most of it: Don't Try to Meet Everyone At ConvergeSE, I only really got to know five people, and two of them were a couple. Now, I was introduced to probably a dozen people, but I recall little about most of them. I remember the people I spent a substantial amount of time with. Don't Pitch Your Stuff Sorry, but this is one I'm fairly passionate about. Please, please avoid pitching to people when you first meet them. I was at a half-day conference last week and several people I met instantly went into pitch mode. After just a few minutes I was looking for any excuse to leave the conversation. You can still talk about yourself. Definitely answer questions about what you do, who you work for, and what services you offer. You can even go into detail. But don't force the information on people who've yet to ask. Ask Questions On the heels of "Don't pitch" ... what do you talk about? Ask them what they do. Or find out an interesting fact about them: Do they have kids? What sports do they like? You can talk about your background, where you went to school, Windows or Mac ... a hundred other topics. There's plenty of time to talk about business too, but it shouldn't be your only goal. Get Their Card or Contact Information Forget about giving them your card -- unless they ask. Instead, if you want to stay in touch, ask them for their card or contact information. There's no need to have everyone's card; it's perfectly fine to just say "I enjoyed talking with you" and move on. After an evening networking event I usually end up with maybe one or two cards I asked for. I don't count the ones that are forced on me; I usually just throw those away. Stay in Touch Usually I send a handwritten card to the people I really connected with at a conference or event. Again, that's usually only a handful of cards to write, but it's a nice personal touch. You could also simply send an email. I also follow them on Twitter and add them on LinkedIn. I only add them as a Facebook friend if we're actually friends. If I hang out with someone again at an industry event, or after we've met and kept in touch for a while, I'll add them as a friend. Don't Overdraw In The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, Steven Covey likens relationships to emotional bank accounts. You're unable to open a bank account with $0 and immediately start making withdrawals, right? It takes a few deposits first. Similarly, avoid jumping the gun and asking for a referral, or worse yet, their business. Grow to know them and build a real relationship. Try to make deposits from time to time too. It can be as simple as sending a birthday or Christmas card, or forwarding an article that might interest them; any of these methods can be seen as a big deposit in their eyes. Be Yourself Don't try to be what you're not. Just be yourself and you'll understand this networking caper in no time! Over 80% of Small Businesses Use Email Marketing ... But Only a Handful Use It Effectively Discover the secrets to effective, profitable email marketing when you download the free report "Email Marketing 2.0: the Three Techniques That Will Actually Make a Difference In Your Email Marketing." Hint: this report does NOT cover subject line suggestions, SPAM words to avoid, best time of day to send, or how to address your contacts. Don't wait -- Download your free copy now! The Truth About Social Media Recently, Scott Stratten (@unmarketing on Twitter) posted a video of a talk he gave on social media. About halfway through, he said the following: "If you suck, social media just makes you suck harder." So many people seem to think that social media is a magical advertising medium, where you can automate some posts and receive tons of customers. Oh, if it were only that easy! Social media is no miracle solution to your marketing problems, it's a communication tool that helps you listen to and connect with your customers. The only way it differs from email, the telephone, or a letter is that the messages you post go out publicly for everyone to see. And they're permanent.* Social media is really just a megaphone to amplify your own (or your company's) personality. So be yourself, and be genuine. Don't try to game the system; rather, try to build relationships with people, as in the networking article above. That's what social media is all about. *Sure, you can delete messages like tweets and blog posts, but you can never keep people from making screenshots of your messages, nor keep Google from indexing them. Just because you delete it, doesn't mean it goes away. Astute SEO for Starters SEOMoz, a search engine optimization web service, just released The Beginners Guide to SEO. This ten-part guide is beautifully illustrated and laid out like a magazine spread, rather than a typical article. It's also extremely well written. If you're just starting off in SEO, I highly recommend reading The Beginners Guide to SEO. New from Adobe: A hosted online business platform for amazing websites and online stores Adobe Business Catalyst is a new hosted service that replaces 5 or more separate tools with one integrated solution. Incorporating web hosting, content management, ecommerce features, email marketing, and built-in customer management tools, Business Catalyst can help you accelerate your projects and increase your profit margins. Try it out for free at businesscatalyst.com. Death of the Dull Blog Post Speaking of amazing design, isn't the old single-column blog post layout becoming a little old? I'm not talking about the blog design, but the actual post/page content area. We give so much thought to the template design, but what about the layout and typography of the post itself? if you run a blog or content site, check out "The Death of the Boring Blog Post" over at Smashing Magazine. Right now, very few online publishers are going to the trouble of varying their layouts, but the ones that do are truly stunning. I'd rather read these beautifully designed blog posts, with stunning imagery and charts, than a dull-looking single-column post. Could using these attractive layouts be the future of online content? They're definitely a great way to differentiate yourself among the hundreds (or thousands) of blogs out there. Is the time and effort required to put these together worth it in the end? I'd love to hear your thoughts. Chime in over on the forums and let me know what you think! That's it for this week's Tribune. If you're in the United States, have a safe and happy Fourth of July holiday this weekend. Brandon Eley tribune@sitepoint.com Editor, SitePoint Tribune Latest Release Photography for the Web Tell me more.. Free Book Samples Photography for the Web Online Marketing Inside Out Create Stunning HTML Email That Just Works! The Web Design Business Kit 2.0 More... Latest Tutorials Help! User Documentation that Works For a website or web application that's introducing new concepts or modes of interaction to its users, good, clear documentation is key. In this case study of a rewrite of Flippa.com's help documents, Georgina lays out some vital guidelines for writing effective help pages. Full Story... Easy HTML & CSS with Expression Web 4 Tatham shows us some of the new time-saving features that Microsoft's Expression Web 4 editor has to offer standards-based developers. Full Story...  Hot Discussions What to Do if the Client Won't Give Content in Content Writing Web Technologies Need A Complete Overhaul? in Web Page Design How to find the 'right' freelance developers in PHP Can some experts help me find the way to become White Label SEO provider? in Business and Legal Issues  New Blogs Web Pro Business The Two Ingredients of Successful Freelancing How to Revamp Your Marketing Perspective How to Turn Around Busted Marketing Who Holds You Accountable? 3 comments Web Tech Should Browser Tabs be Above or Below the Address Bar? 26 comments Canvas is Coming to IE9 5 comments Why Larger Teams Do Not Result in Faster Development 15 comments web design 8 Free Stylish Fonts From Typographers On Behance 1 comment New Look & Feel For MapQuest 7 comments Community Going Viral With Social Media 3 comments Podcast SitePoint Podcast #67: The Browser Dance 6 comments Follow SitePoint on.. 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