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"All men are created equal. It is what you do from there that makes the difference. We are all free agents in life. We make our decisions. We control our own destiny."
Glenn Beck
“I can see how it might be possible for a man to look down upon the earth and be an atheist, but I cannot conceive how a man could look up into the heavens and say there is no God.”
― Abraham Lincoln
"Avoid likewise the accumulation of debt, not only by shunning occasions of expense, but by vigorous exertions in time of peace to discharge the debts which unavoidable wars have occasioned, not ungenerously throwing upon posterity the burden which we ourselves ought to bear."
George Washington
“If you cannot read all your books...fondle them---peer into them, let them fall
open where they will, read from the first sentence that arrests the eye, set
them back on the shelves with your own hands, arrange them on your own plan so
that you at least know where they are. Let them be your friends; let them, at
any rate, be your acquaintances.”
― Winston Churchill
“Socialism is a philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of
envy, its inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery.”
― Winston Churchill
“A politician needs the ability to foretell what is going to happen tomorrow,
next week, next month, and next year. And to have the ability afterwards to
explain why it didn't happen.”
― Winston Churchill
“The truth is incontrovertible. Malice may attack it, ignorance may deride it,
but in the end, there it is.”
― Winston Churchill
“Writing a book is an adventure. To begin with it is a toy and an amusement.
Then it becomes a mistress, then it becomes a master, then it becomes a tyrant.
The last phase is that just as you are about to be reconciled to your servitude,
you kill the monster and fling him to the public.”
― Winston Churchill
“The inherent vice of capitalism is the unequal sharing of blessings; the
inherent vice of socialism is the equal sharing of miseries.”
― Winston Churchill
“Danger: if you meet it promptly and without flinching, you will reduce the
danger by half. Never run away from anything. Never!”
― Winston Churchill
“Doubts [can] be swept away only by deeds.”
― Winston Churchill, Their Finest Hour
“Some regard private enterprise as if it were a predatory tiger to be shot.
Others look upon it as a cow that they can milk. Only a handful see it for what
it really is--the strong horse that pulls the whole cart.”
― Winston Churchill
“Success always demands a greater effort.”
― Winston Churchill, Their Finest Hour
Improve Your Time Management Skills
Time management is one of those things that seems harder and harder to do these days. The problem of too many tasks and not enough time to do them seems to plague us all. But you can manage your time so that everything gets done and you aren’t stressed out—all it takes is a few basic management skills!
The Importance of To-Do Lists
To-do lists are essential to good time-management skills. These lists provide a guideline for what items are to be completed within a given amount of time. You may want to create a list weekly or daily. Either way, to-do lists help you remember what you need to do.
Completing a list each day can help you see how much you have gotten done. Place a mark next to high-priority items so you know at a glance what you should devote your time to first.
Setting Goals the Right Way
So many times we set goals but it doesn’t seem to make any difference. We still don’t accomplish what we set out to accomplish. This could be because of how we set goals. We don’t create a plan of action. The following are steps to improving our chances of following through and reaching goals:
Manage Distractions and Disruptions
Distractions are a part of life. Generally, when someone is interrupted in the middle of a task, he or she will temporarily shift his or her attention to the new item, complete it, and then move back to the original task. Still, it can be difficult to get back on track. The following are tips to helping minimize distractions:
In order to prioritize tasks, you have to clearly understand your “priority categories.” For example, how do you categorize something you have to do today to make it stand out from something that must be done by next week? The first step is to come up with categories to help you decide what tasks should be done first. Your categories might look something like this:
Using categories such as these may be confusing at first, but, as you continue to work with them, you will start automatically assigning categories as soon as you receive a task. Once you do that, you can determine when something should be done and whether you need to give immediate attention to it or whether it can wait.
Just as important as categorizing your tasks, is finding a way for you to manage the list. Task lists are ever changing and evolving. New tasks are added, some tasks are completed, others are no longer important. The sheer number of tasks on the list can be overwhelming, but the following ideas may help you:
Time management is all about focus and consistency. Put these basic skills into practice every day and you will see that managing your time will get easier and easier. Pretty soon, you may be so organized that you have too much free time on your hands! Good luck!
FromThe Complete Idiot’s Guide to Adult ADHD by Eileen Bailey and Donald Haupt, M.D
The Importance of To-Do Lists
To-do lists are essential to good time-management skills. These lists provide a guideline for what items are to be completed within a given amount of time. You may want to create a list weekly or daily. Either way, to-do lists help you remember what you need to do.
Completing a list each day can help you see how much you have gotten done. Place a mark next to high-priority items so you know at a glance what you should devote your time to first.
Setting Goals the Right Way
So many times we set goals but it doesn’t seem to make any difference. We still don’t accomplish what we set out to accomplish. This could be because of how we set goals. We don’t create a plan of action. The following are steps to improving our chances of following through and reaching goals:
- Choose just one goal at a time.
- Make sure your goal is realistic.
- Write down your goal.
- Break down the goal into smaller goals.
- Remind yourself of your goal. Use e-mail reminder systems, send yourself a postcard or use an online calendar or PDA to give yourself reminders of what your goal is and why it is important to you.
- Reward yourself for following your plan of action.
Manage Distractions and Disruptions
Distractions are a part of life. Generally, when someone is interrupted in the middle of a task, he or she will temporarily shift his or her attention to the new item, complete it, and then move back to the original task. Still, it can be difficult to get back on track. The following are tips to helping minimize distractions:
- Turn off your phone when you are at home. Let the answering machine pick up calls. If you’re driving or running errands, keep your cell phone on vibrate or silent and keep it in your glove compartment so you are not tempted to answer it every time it rings.
- Set aside a specific time to answer phone calls rather than stopping what you are doing to talk on the phone.
- Turn off the television. If you need background noise, consider music instead, but make sure the music is upbeat and will keep you moving, rather than put you to sleep.
- If you must get something accomplished, consider hiring a baby-sitter to keep your children occupied while you complete your chores.
- Turn off your computer. It is tempting to check e-mail or get caught up in social networking sites. If the computer is off, you will not be as tempted to sit down “just for a few minutes.”
- Create routines. Having daily routines can help you avoid giving in to distractions. You will know what you are supposed to do and when you are supposed to do it. Once you get in the habit, you can avoid distractions. If you find that, no matter what you do, you are still easily distracted, take a short break and take a walk outside for ten minutes. The fresh air and exercise will help you focus better when you return to your tasks.
In order to prioritize tasks, you have to clearly understand your “priority categories.” For example, how do you categorize something you have to do today to make it stand out from something that must be done by next week? The first step is to come up with categories to help you decide what tasks should be done first. Your categories might look something like this:
- Absolutely Urgent: These must be done right away or by a deadline and are important to your job, your family, or to you personally.
- Urgent: These are important to you, your family, or your job, but don’t have a deadline.
- Chores: These are things you don’t necessarily want to do but have to do anyway.
- Maybe: These are things you would like to do, but they aren’t especially important and it doesn’t matter if you do them today, tomorrow, or next week.
- Dreams, Wishes, and Ideas: These are things you might like to do but have no immediate importance in your life.
Using categories such as these may be confusing at first, but, as you continue to work with them, you will start automatically assigning categories as soon as you receive a task. Once you do that, you can determine when something should be done and whether you need to give immediate attention to it or whether it can wait.
Just as important as categorizing your tasks, is finding a way for you to manage the list. Task lists are ever changing and evolving. New tasks are added, some tasks are completed, others are no longer important. The sheer number of tasks on the list can be overwhelming, but the following ideas may help you:
- If you are a visual person, you might want to have a white board with tasks listed in order of importance.
- You can use the jar approach, with five separate jars, one for each category of importance.
- Task-management software is available for your laptop computer or for handheld electronics such as iPhones or BlackBerries.
- A notebook that allows for a continuous list can help, especially if you like to see the items that have been crossed out to help build a sense of accomplishment.
Time management is all about focus and consistency. Put these basic skills into practice every day and you will see that managing your time will get easier and easier. Pretty soon, you may be so organized that you have too much free time on your hands! Good luck!
FromThe Complete Idiot’s Guide to Adult ADHD by Eileen Bailey and Donald Haupt, M.D
Be Assertive!
Being assertive is essential in both your personal and professional life. But if you’ve never been assertive, how do you start—and do you even know if you’re being assertive enough? In this guide, you’ll learn how to assess your assertiveness level and the seven key ways to boost your assertiveness.
What Is Assertiveness? Assertiveness means being able to:
Ask for what you want Express your opinions (even if others disagree) and your feelings (including negative feelings) Tell people what they don’t want—but need—to hear Influence people Stand up for your rights Make your presence known to others Manage boundaries that you may not want someone to cross
The opposite of assertiveness can include behaviors such as being too
passive, deferring to others’ opinions or wants, or being too self-effacing. It
can also include being too aggressive. It may mean you back down on something
you want or need, such as the salary you deserve or a car without that extra
$500 seal-coating treatment the dealer wants to foist on you. Or it may mean
that you give in all the time, but then walk around resenting everyone for
taking advantage of you.
Enhance Your Assertiveness
Many people assume that there are rules about what they’re allowed to say or
ask, when in fact most of these rules probably exist only in your mind.
Particularly if you tend to be under-assertive, you probably live in a world
full of imaginary rules that the people around you don’t even know you’re
following! This can be a great time to re-examine your assumptions about whether
it’s really okay not to assert yourself. Even rules you don’t know you tend to
follow, like always asking the other person where they want to go for dinner
before mentioning your craving for Mexican.
If you can change your thinking about some of these rules, you’ll be more
likely to change your behavior as well. And little by little, you’ll see your
assertiveness quotient rise.
Seven Ways to Boost Your Assertiveness
There’s no end to the ways you can behave assertively—it’s really an art
form. But some of the most common techniques follow. Even mastering one or two
of these might help you improve your assertiveness skills a great deal! Here’s a
list to get you started:
The benefits of becoming more assertive and having your thoughts and opinions
heard are legion! Just for starters, you’ll feel better about yourself, you’ll
have greater immunity to depression, you’ll be a more effective parent, you’ll
be more successful in your career, and—best of all—you’ll have more fun in life.
So turn up your dimmer switch and enjoy becoming more assertive!
From The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Enhancing Your Social
IQ by Gregory P. Korgeski, Ph.D.
What Is Assertiveness? Assertiveness means being able to:
The opposite of assertiveness can include behaviors such as being too
passive, deferring to others’ opinions or wants, or being too self-effacing. It
can also include being too aggressive. It may mean you back down on something
you want or need, such as the salary you deserve or a car without that extra
$500 seal-coating treatment the dealer wants to foist on you. Or it may mean
that you give in all the time, but then walk around resenting everyone for
taking advantage of you.
Enhance Your Assertiveness
Many people assume that there are rules about what they’re allowed to say or
ask, when in fact most of these rules probably exist only in your mind.
Particularly if you tend to be under-assertive, you probably live in a world
full of imaginary rules that the people around you don’t even know you’re
following! This can be a great time to re-examine your assumptions about whether
it’s really okay not to assert yourself. Even rules you don’t know you tend to
follow, like always asking the other person where they want to go for dinner
before mentioning your craving for Mexican.
If you can change your thinking about some of these rules, you’ll be more
likely to change your behavior as well. And little by little, you’ll see your
assertiveness quotient rise.
Seven Ways to Boost Your Assertiveness
There’s no end to the ways you can behave assertively—it’s really an art
form. But some of the most common techniques follow. Even mastering one or two
of these might help you improve your assertiveness skills a great deal! Here’s a
list to get you started:
- Practice some “request starter phrases.” Most people who
are good at asking for things have just a few ways of starting out, such as:
“Could I trouble you to …?” or “Would you mind …?” For example, “Would you mind
not smoking in the house? The smoke bothers me.” - Let them know you care. Start off by signaling to the other
person that you’re aware of his situation, and not just your own. For instance,
saying “I see that you’re busy, but when you have a minute could you help me …?”
is much more effective than just saying, “Hey, you! Help me with this ….” - Check your tone of voice. Do you sound loud and
intimidating? Or are you barely squeaking out your request, or whispering it so
they can’t really hear you? A confident, quiet, caring tone usually works
best. - Make eye contact. Eye contact, especially the kind that
conveys interest and attention to the other person, can help you create that
sense of “connection” that will help the other person “decide to want to help
you.” - Smile. No, not a silly grin, but a warm, nice smile can
open doors, get a person’s interest, and ensure that the other person tunes in
to you. - Relax. Do whatever you can to keep your anxiety level down.
We can tense up when faced with assertiveness opportunities, and tension is both
unhealthy and works against us when we interact with others. (See the “anxiety
management” tips earlier in the chapter for suggestions.) - Visualize outcomes. Before you walk into a tension-causing
situation, try to imagine everything going very well. Seeing things work out in
your mental movie theatre may help you find the calm courage you need to bring
up that touchy subject. Likewise, some failure rehearsal can help. Ask yourself,
“If this doesn’t work, what’s Plan B?” Just knowing you have another plan can
reduce your anxiety.
The benefits of becoming more assertive and having your thoughts and opinions
heard are legion! Just for starters, you’ll feel better about yourself, you’ll
have greater immunity to depression, you’ll be a more effective parent, you’ll
be more successful in your career, and—best of all—you’ll have more fun in life.
So turn up your dimmer switch and enjoy becoming more assertive!
From The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Enhancing Your Social
IQ by Gregory P. Korgeski, Ph.D.
