Start off Your 2014 with Healthy Fruits and Veggies
From Cleveland Clinic
An infographic on farmer's market finds.
By Kristin Kirkpatrick, MS, RD, LD
December 31, 2013
Start off Your 2014 with Healthy Fruits and Veggies
Start off Your 2014 with Healthy Fruits and Veggies
From Cleveland Clinic
An infographic on farmer's market finds.
By Kristin Kirkpatrick, MS, RD, LD
December 29, 2013
High Blood Pressure Infographic
From Health Blog
You’ll always find 2 pressures shown in blood pressure ranges, namely the systolic and the diastolic. High blood pressure is called hypertension, and low blood pressure is called hypotension.
Read more on blood pressure ranges here: What are Blood Pressure Ranges?
Get more info from Health Blog website >>
High Blood Pressure Infographic by National Institutes of Health
You’ll always find 2 pressures shown in blood pressure ranges, namely the systolic and the diastolic. High blood pressure is called hypertension, and low blood pressure is called hypotension.
Read more on blood pressure ranges here: What are Blood Pressure Ranges?
Get more info from Health Blog website >>
High Blood Pressure Infographic by National Institutes of Health
December 28, 2013
Acupuncture, Real or Not, Eases Side Effects of Cancer Drugs
From NYTimes.com
Acupuncture, Real or Not, Eases Side Effects of Cancer Drugs
By NICHOLAS BAKALAR
Both acupuncture and sham acupuncture were effective in reducing menopausal symptoms in women being treated with aromatase inhibitors for breast cancer, a small randomized trial found. Joint and muscle pain, hot flashes and night sweats are common side effects of those estrogen-lowering drugs.
The trial, published online in Cancer, randomized 47 breast cancer patients to eight weekly sessions of either real or sham acupuncture. Those assigned to real acupuncture received treatment with needles in recognized acupoints believed to be helpful in relieving menopausal symptoms. The controls got non-penetrating needles placed in sham acupuncture points. Patients and researchers did not know which patients had received which treatment.
The patients kept daily diaries or filled out several questionnaires on the frequency and severity of hot flashes and other symptoms.
Read more from NYTimes.com >>
Acupuncture, Real or Not, Eases Side Effects of Cancer Drugs
By NICHOLAS BAKALAR
Both acupuncture and sham acupuncture were effective in reducing menopausal symptoms in women being treated with aromatase inhibitors for breast cancer, a small randomized trial found. Joint and muscle pain, hot flashes and night sweats are common side effects of those estrogen-lowering drugs.
The trial, published online in Cancer, randomized 47 breast cancer patients to eight weekly sessions of either real or sham acupuncture. Those assigned to real acupuncture received treatment with needles in recognized acupoints believed to be helpful in relieving menopausal symptoms. The controls got non-penetrating needles placed in sham acupuncture points. Patients and researchers did not know which patients had received which treatment.
The patients kept daily diaries or filled out several questionnaires on the frequency and severity of hot flashes and other symptoms.
Read more from NYTimes.com >>
December 27, 2013
The Best $100 Investment for 2013
From Forbes News Tech
The best investment, hands down, with your $100 at the beginning of 2013 is bitcoin, the virtual currency.
Graphic by David Lada
Read more from Forbes News Tech >>
Retirement Crisis Is Nigh
From Main Street
Retirement Crisis Is Nigh
By Ellen Chang
December 06, 2013
NEW YORK (MainStreet) — Despite an uptick in the economy, a majority of Americans are still lagging behind in their retirement goals with 55% in fair or poor condition when it comes to having enough money to cover their expenses.
A new Fidelity Investments survey assessed whether Americans could afford basic living expense such as housing, health care and food. Only 33% of Americans reported that even during a down market they could cover 95% of their estimated expenses while 41% stating they were not on track to cover all their expenses in retirement.
Many Americans will lack enough money in their retirement portfolio, because they are not allocating enough money into their savings, said Lauren Brouhard, a senior vice president at Fidelity Investments.
"One of the most important things is that people aren't saving enough," she said. "They are not starting early enough."
While 26% of Americans are likely to face an income gap where they will have to make spending cuts in their retirement especially if the market experiences another downturn, several groups are meeting their goals.
Baby Boomers (born 1946 to 1964) are on track to reach 81% of their goal, but they have fewer options than their younger counterparts to make up any shortfall. Gen X respondents (born 1965 to 1977) are at 71% of their goal while Gen Y respondents (born 1978 to 1988) are falling significantly short and are 62% of their goal.
"The biggest gap is the source of income and the availability of pensions for some people," said Brouhard. "People just don't really know where to get started. They just feel overwhelmed. There are many ways for people to get started and take some critical actions despite their income level or the economy."
Read more from Main Street >>
Retirement Crisis Is Nigh
By Ellen Chang
December 06, 2013
NEW YORK (MainStreet) — Despite an uptick in the economy, a majority of Americans are still lagging behind in their retirement goals with 55% in fair or poor condition when it comes to having enough money to cover their expenses.
A new Fidelity Investments survey assessed whether Americans could afford basic living expense such as housing, health care and food. Only 33% of Americans reported that even during a down market they could cover 95% of their estimated expenses while 41% stating they were not on track to cover all their expenses in retirement.
Many Americans will lack enough money in their retirement portfolio, because they are not allocating enough money into their savings, said Lauren Brouhard, a senior vice president at Fidelity Investments.
"One of the most important things is that people aren't saving enough," she said. "They are not starting early enough."
While 26% of Americans are likely to face an income gap where they will have to make spending cuts in their retirement especially if the market experiences another downturn, several groups are meeting their goals.
Baby Boomers (born 1946 to 1964) are on track to reach 81% of their goal, but they have fewer options than their younger counterparts to make up any shortfall. Gen X respondents (born 1965 to 1977) are at 71% of their goal while Gen Y respondents (born 1978 to 1988) are falling significantly short and are 62% of their goal.
"The biggest gap is the source of income and the availability of pensions for some people," said Brouhard. "People just don't really know where to get started. They just feel overwhelmed. There are many ways for people to get started and take some critical actions despite their income level or the economy."
Read more from Main Street >>
December 26, 2013
Why Millennials Mattered in 2013. By Me.
From Bloomberg.com
Why Millennials Mattered in 2013. By Me.
By Zara Kessler Dec 24, 2013
Millennial, n., sometimes adj., probably even v. occasionally: the generation roughly defined as those born between 1980 and 2000. Or between about 1980 and 1996. 1982 and 2000. 1982 and 2004. 1985 and 1998. 1985 and 2000. The late 1970s to the mid-1990s. Stop trying to define us!
Generation Y. Generation Why. Generation Vex. Generation Stress. Generation Frustration. The Lamest Generation. The Crash Generation. The Me Me Me Generation. Those lazy, spoiled brats plotting cataclysmic revenge from the depths of their baby-boomer parents’ basements against the society, and economy -- that relegated them to their baby-boomer parents’ basements -- where, I might add, the service is so weak they can barely send their daily fill of salacious Snapchats.
I made that last one up. Because, you know, I’m a millennial, so: creativity. YOLO.
By now, you probably know all about millennials. 2013 was a really big year for us, especially in the U.S. We took so many actions! We had so many thoughts! We experienced so many feelings! It's hard to know where to begin.
If you don’t believe me -- and you probably shouldn’t, because millennials lie to get by -- look at the accompanying charts:
Source: Google Trends
Read more from Bloomberg.com >>
December 25, 2013
Merry Christmas and Peace on Earth!
_________________________________
Merry Christmas!
May you find a moment,
_________________________________on this day, to reflect how, together, we could all contribute to the cause of World Peace! |
December 23, 2013
Can retirement kill you?
From BBC
Can retirement kill you?
By Bryan Borzykowski | 14 August 2013
In 2003, Dr Harry Prosen stepped down as head of psychiatry at the Medical College of Wisconsin, but the then 71-year-old had no plans to retire. Rather, the doctor intended to focus on other “jobs” that would keep him busy.
Now 83, Prosen still sees several patients, consults for a number of organisations, recently reviewed a 600-page manuscript for a friend and regularly pores over a handful of medical journals because he “just wants to keep up,” he said.
It’s not just a love of working that has kept Prosen toiling away 30 hours a week as an octogenarian. He also sees keeping busy as a matter of life or death.
Prosen said he is certain that if he stopped working entirely, he would literally die not long after.
He could be on to something. A number of studies show that retirement is, in fact, bad for your health.
A May 2013 report published by the London-based Institute of Economic Affairs found that retirement increased the chances of suffering from depression by 40%, while it increased the probability of having at least one diagnosed physical ailment by about 60%. That impact was assessed after controlling for the usual age-related conditions.
Read more from BBC >>
Can retirement kill you?
By Bryan Borzykowski | 14 August 2013
In 2003, Dr Harry Prosen stepped down as head of psychiatry at the Medical College of Wisconsin, but the then 71-year-old had no plans to retire. Rather, the doctor intended to focus on other “jobs” that would keep him busy.
Now 83, Prosen still sees several patients, consults for a number of organisations, recently reviewed a 600-page manuscript for a friend and regularly pores over a handful of medical journals because he “just wants to keep up,” he said.
It’s not just a love of working that has kept Prosen toiling away 30 hours a week as an octogenarian. He also sees keeping busy as a matter of life or death.
Prosen said he is certain that if he stopped working entirely, he would literally die not long after.
He could be on to something. A number of studies show that retirement is, in fact, bad for your health.
A May 2013 report published by the London-based Institute of Economic Affairs found that retirement increased the chances of suffering from depression by 40%, while it increased the probability of having at least one diagnosed physical ailment by about 60%. That impact was assessed after controlling for the usual age-related conditions.
Read more from BBC >>
December 22, 2013
Newly 'born' island, Niijima, 600 miles south of Tokyo.
A new island is born, Niijima, 600 miles south of Tokyo.
Below is an aerial photograph of Niijima taken by the Japan Coast Guard (JCG) on December 1, 2013. The JCG shot this video clip, view here.
Niijima (smaller island) blowing smoke - I have arrived!
December 20, 2013
Polarization of the US labor market
The polarization of the US labor market continues as more displaced workers can only find service jobs, MIT research reveals.
If one is stuck in such a position, it behooves the person to start looking for alternatives. If you say you are not ready to look, when would you be ready? It is like saying I will do it tomorrow. As you and I know, tomorrow never comes.
One good alternative to look at for a brighter fulfilling, future is Market America. If you need more info, send me and email.
Following is the article from MIT News:
Polarized labor market leaving more employees in service jobs
Study: U.S. job market is putting more workers in positions with limited upside and leverage.
Peter Dizikes, MIT News Office
The widening chasm in the U.S. job market has brought many workers a long-term shift to low-skill service jobs, according to a study co-authored by an MIT economist.
The research, presented in a paper by MIT economist David Autor, along with economist David Dorn, helps add nuance to the nation’s job picture. While a widening gap between highly trained and less-trained members of the U.S. workforce has previously been noted, the current study shows in more detail how this transformation is happening in stores, restaurants, nursing homes, and other places staffed by service workers.
Specifically, workers in many types of middle-rank positions — such as skilled production-line workers and people in clerical or administrative jobs — have had to migrate into jobs as food-service workers, home health-care aides, child-care employees, and security guards, among other things.
“This polarization that we see is being driven by the movement of people out of middle-skill jobs and into services,” says Autor, a professor of economics at MIT. “The growth in service employment isn’t that large overall, but when you look at people with a noncollege education, it’s a very sharp increase, and it’s very concentrated in places that were initially specialized in the more middle-skill activities.”
Read more from MIT News >>
If one is stuck in such a position, it behooves the person to start looking for alternatives. If you say you are not ready to look, when would you be ready? It is like saying I will do it tomorrow. As you and I know, tomorrow never comes.
One good alternative to look at for a brighter fulfilling, future is Market America. If you need more info, send me and email.
Following is the article from MIT News:
Polarized labor market leaving more employees in service jobs
Study: U.S. job market is putting more workers in positions with limited upside and leverage.
Peter Dizikes, MIT News Office
The widening chasm in the U.S. job market has brought many workers a long-term shift to low-skill service jobs, according to a study co-authored by an MIT economist.
The research, presented in a paper by MIT economist David Autor, along with economist David Dorn, helps add nuance to the nation’s job picture. While a widening gap between highly trained and less-trained members of the U.S. workforce has previously been noted, the current study shows in more detail how this transformation is happening in stores, restaurants, nursing homes, and other places staffed by service workers.
Specifically, workers in many types of middle-rank positions — such as skilled production-line workers and people in clerical or administrative jobs — have had to migrate into jobs as food-service workers, home health-care aides, child-care employees, and security guards, among other things.
“This polarization that we see is being driven by the movement of people out of middle-skill jobs and into services,” says Autor, a professor of economics at MIT. “The growth in service employment isn’t that large overall, but when you look at people with a noncollege education, it’s a very sharp increase, and it’s very concentrated in places that were initially specialized in the more middle-skill activities.”
Read more from MIT News >>
December 19, 2013
Jump Aboard Santa’s Sleigh Now
From Investorplace.com
Jump Aboard Santa’s Sleigh Now
There could be a round of profit-taking, but it appears the Santa Rally has begun
By Sam Collins, InvestorPlace Chief Technical Analyst | Dec 19, 2013
On Wednesday, the Dow rallied to a new record close, and the S&P 500 exploded to an all-time closing high following the Federal Reserve’s slight paring of its stimulus plan.
The Fed decided to “taper” by just $10 billion from its prior $85 billion bond-buying program. And it kept interest rates unchanged. Additionally, Chairman Ben Bernanke said that easy money and low interest rates will stay in place. Stocks, gold and even bonds rallied on the news.
At the close, the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 293 points at 16,168, the S&P 500 jumped 30 points to 1,811, and the Nasdaq vaulted 46 points to 4,070. The NYSE traded a total of 4.3 billion shares and the Nasdaq crossed 2.2 billion. On the Big Board, advancers outnumbered decliners by 3.5-to-1, and on the Nasdaq, advancers were ahead by 2.4-to-1.
Read more from Investorplace.com >>
Jump Aboard Santa’s Sleigh Now
There could be a round of profit-taking, but it appears the Santa Rally has begun
By Sam Collins, InvestorPlace Chief Technical Analyst | Dec 19, 2013
On Wednesday, the Dow rallied to a new record close, and the S&P 500 exploded to an all-time closing high following the Federal Reserve’s slight paring of its stimulus plan.
The Fed decided to “taper” by just $10 billion from its prior $85 billion bond-buying program. And it kept interest rates unchanged. Additionally, Chairman Ben Bernanke said that easy money and low interest rates will stay in place. Stocks, gold and even bonds rallied on the news.
At the close, the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 293 points at 16,168, the S&P 500 jumped 30 points to 1,811, and the Nasdaq vaulted 46 points to 4,070. The NYSE traded a total of 4.3 billion shares and the Nasdaq crossed 2.2 billion. On the Big Board, advancers outnumbered decliners by 3.5-to-1, and on the Nasdaq, advancers were ahead by 2.4-to-1.
Read more from Investorplace.com >>
December 18, 2013
9 EASY-TO-STEAL HABITS OF THE SUPER SUCCESSFUL
From FASTCOMPANY.COM
9 EASY-TO-STEAL HABITS OF THE SUPER SUCCESSFUL
WE WISH THERE WAS A HANDBOOK FOR SUCCESS, BUT THERE ISN'T. HERE'S THE NEXT BEST THING: A LIST OF WAYS YOU CAN REALIZE YOUR DREAMS--AND BE A MORE PRODUCTIVE PERSON IN THE PROCESS.
BY MILES KOHRMAN
Wouldn't it be great if success was simple?
But it isn't.
There's no one-size-fits-all answer for success in work and life, but we will do our best to steer you in the right direction.
Here's a list of helpful habits of some highly successful--and wildly productive--people to get your started. On your mark, get set, and...
GET UP INSANELY EARLY
It sounds scary, we know, but consider what would happen if instead of watching reruns of bad movies at night, you went to bed at a reasonable hour, thus allowing yourself to wake up early and be SUPER productive?
Waking up before anybody else allows you to work out the logistics of the day to come, track your time, and (most importantly) unplug for a few hours.
Take Paul Dejoe, who gets up at 4 a.m. (you heard that right) for maximum productivity:
What I was depriving myself from was time in the day where there was no pressure and no expectations. For the same reasons that I felt most creative on Saturday mornings and on planes, 4 a.m. has become a place of productive peace. That feeling is why I love what I do. I don't need a vacation. I don't need to step away. I just need a couple hours a day before anyone else is up.
After all, the early bird catches the worm--and much more, apparently.
KEEP PROMISES, NO MATTER HOW SMALL
Talk is cheap and meaningful customer relationships are built on promises. Same goes for your personal life, right?
Well, maybe.
Success is built on mutually trusting relationships with just about everybody. If you say you're going to walk the office dog? Well, you'd best walk the office dog.
LEARN HOW TO TELL STORIES
You want to be successful in life, but you don't have a job, or you're looking for a new one. The first step to nail that dream job? Learn how to tell a great story--starting with your interview.
Big companies know storytelling is the secret weapon to "branding." Why? Because people don't fall in love with data dumps and PowerPoint slides--they are moved by emotions.
And for those looking to be in charge, the best--and most memorable--way to make an impact and stick in people's minds is to ditch the small talk, and learn how to unspool meaningful narratives.
Want to get started? Here's how, straight from a master of improv.
LEAD, DON'T DICTATE
There's a big difference between being a leader and being a boss.
Read more from Fastcompany.com >>
9 EASY-TO-STEAL HABITS OF THE SUPER SUCCESSFUL
WE WISH THERE WAS A HANDBOOK FOR SUCCESS, BUT THERE ISN'T. HERE'S THE NEXT BEST THING: A LIST OF WAYS YOU CAN REALIZE YOUR DREAMS--AND BE A MORE PRODUCTIVE PERSON IN THE PROCESS.
BY MILES KOHRMAN
Wouldn't it be great if success was simple?
But it isn't.
There's no one-size-fits-all answer for success in work and life, but we will do our best to steer you in the right direction.
Here's a list of helpful habits of some highly successful--and wildly productive--people to get your started. On your mark, get set, and...
GET UP INSANELY EARLY
It sounds scary, we know, but consider what would happen if instead of watching reruns of bad movies at night, you went to bed at a reasonable hour, thus allowing yourself to wake up early and be SUPER productive?
Waking up before anybody else allows you to work out the logistics of the day to come, track your time, and (most importantly) unplug for a few hours.
Take Paul Dejoe, who gets up at 4 a.m. (you heard that right) for maximum productivity:
What I was depriving myself from was time in the day where there was no pressure and no expectations. For the same reasons that I felt most creative on Saturday mornings and on planes, 4 a.m. has become a place of productive peace. That feeling is why I love what I do. I don't need a vacation. I don't need to step away. I just need a couple hours a day before anyone else is up.
After all, the early bird catches the worm--and much more, apparently.
KEEP PROMISES, NO MATTER HOW SMALL
Talk is cheap and meaningful customer relationships are built on promises. Same goes for your personal life, right?
Well, maybe.
Success is built on mutually trusting relationships with just about everybody. If you say you're going to walk the office dog? Well, you'd best walk the office dog.
LEARN HOW TO TELL STORIES
You want to be successful in life, but you don't have a job, or you're looking for a new one. The first step to nail that dream job? Learn how to tell a great story--starting with your interview.
Big companies know storytelling is the secret weapon to "branding." Why? Because people don't fall in love with data dumps and PowerPoint slides--they are moved by emotions.
And for those looking to be in charge, the best--and most memorable--way to make an impact and stick in people's minds is to ditch the small talk, and learn how to unspool meaningful narratives.
Want to get started? Here's how, straight from a master of improv.
LEAD, DON'T DICTATE
There's a big difference between being a leader and being a boss.
Read more from Fastcompany.com >>
December 17, 2013
Scientists Have Finally Found The First Real Reason We Need To Sleep
From BusinessInsider.com
Scientists Have Finally Found The First Real Reason We Need To Sleep
JENNIFER WELSH | OCT. 17, 2013
We know we need to sleep. We know our brains and bodies work better after sleep. But what we didn't know, until now, was why.
Scientists have just reported the first major mechanical reason our brains need to sleep — certain cleaning mechanisms in the brain work better when we shut the brain down. Just like how dump trucks take to the city streets during the pre-dawn hours because there's less traffic, our brain's cleaners also work best when there's less going on.
"This study shows that the brain has different functional states when asleep and when awake," study researcher Maiken Nedergaard, of the University of Rochester said in a statement. "In fact, the restorative nature of sleep appears to be the result of the active clearance of the by-products of neural activity that accumulate during wakefulness."
We've known that our brains consolidate memories during sleep and perform other important functions. There are also benefits to the body during sleep — resting allows our muscles, bones, and organs to repair themselves. It also keeps our immune system healthy.
We know that sleep has all of these benefits, but until now we didn't know any of the specific changes that bring about these sleep benefits.
Charles Czeisler, a sleep researcher at Harvard Medical School in Boston, told Science Magazine's Emily Underwood that this is the "first direct experimental evidence at the molecular level" for why we need to sleep.
The paper was published in the journal Science on Oct. 17.
Picture of brain from Bsiness Insider:
Read more from businessinsider.com >>
Diet switch sparks gut bug revolution in just 24 hours
From NewScientist.com
Diet switch sparks gut bug revolution in just 24 hours
11 December 2013 by Linda Geddes
IT TAKES just 24 hours to change the balance of power in your gut.
Switching to a diet based exclusively on animals or plants triggers rapid changes to the microbes that rule your gut. This knowledge could help fine-tune diets to improve health, as well as reduce the risk of illnesses like inflammatory bowel disease.
The human body contains a community of other organisms known as a microbiome. These microbial cells outnumber our own by 10 to 1, with most of them colonising the gut. Changing diet can rapidly alter these microbes in mice.
To investigate whether the same was true for humans, Peter Turnbaugh at Harvard University and his colleagues asked 10 volunteers, including one vegetarian, to switch from their normal diet to either a diet based on meat, eggs and cheese, or one rich in grains, fruit and vegetables for five days. Each day the team sequenced the microbial RNA in the volunteers' faeces to identify which gut microbes were present.
"Particularly in the case of the animal-based diet, we saw quite dramatic changes in the abundance of different microbes – even over the course of a single day," says Turnbaugh. For example, numbers of the bacterium Bilophila wadsworthia increased when people ate the animal-based diet. This organism feeds on bile acids, which aid the digestion of saturated fats in milk. An increase in B. wadsworthia has been linked to inflammatory bowel disease in mice.
Switching to a plant-based diet prompted a hike in the numbers of bacteria that produce a fatty acid called butyrate, which seems to reduce inflammation.
Read more from NewScientist.com >>
Diet switch sparks gut bug revolution in just 24 hours
11 December 2013 by Linda Geddes
IT TAKES just 24 hours to change the balance of power in your gut.
Switching to a diet based exclusively on animals or plants triggers rapid changes to the microbes that rule your gut. This knowledge could help fine-tune diets to improve health, as well as reduce the risk of illnesses like inflammatory bowel disease.
The human body contains a community of other organisms known as a microbiome. These microbial cells outnumber our own by 10 to 1, with most of them colonising the gut. Changing diet can rapidly alter these microbes in mice.
To investigate whether the same was true for humans, Peter Turnbaugh at Harvard University and his colleagues asked 10 volunteers, including one vegetarian, to switch from their normal diet to either a diet based on meat, eggs and cheese, or one rich in grains, fruit and vegetables for five days. Each day the team sequenced the microbial RNA in the volunteers' faeces to identify which gut microbes were present.
"Particularly in the case of the animal-based diet, we saw quite dramatic changes in the abundance of different microbes – even over the course of a single day," says Turnbaugh. For example, numbers of the bacterium Bilophila wadsworthia increased when people ate the animal-based diet. This organism feeds on bile acids, which aid the digestion of saturated fats in milk. An increase in B. wadsworthia has been linked to inflammatory bowel disease in mice.
Switching to a plant-based diet prompted a hike in the numbers of bacteria that produce a fatty acid called butyrate, which seems to reduce inflammation.
Read more from NewScientist.com >>
December 16, 2013
December 13, 2013
Partner Stores from SHOP.COM offering free shipping!
Partner Stores from SHOP.COM offering free shipping!
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- Kmart: Free shipping on qualifying Kmart orders of $59 or more through 12/31/2013
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From BeingJRRidiger.com
December 12, 2013
Water: How much should you drink every day?
From Mayo Clinic
Water: How much should you drink every day?
Water is essential to good health, yet needs vary by individual. These guidelines can help ensure you drink enough fluids.
By Mayo Clinic staff
How much water should you drink each day? It's a simple question with no easy answers. Studies have produced varying recommendations over the years, but in truth, your water needs depend on many factors, including your health, how active you are and where you live.
Although no single formula fits everyone, knowing more about your body's need for fluids will help you estimate how much water to drink each day.
Health benefits of water
Water is your body's principal chemical component and makes up about 60 percent of your body weight. Every system in your body depends on water. For example, water flushes toxins out of vital organs, carries nutrients to your cells and provides a moist environment for ear, nose and throat tissues.
Lack of water can lead to dehydration, a condition that occurs when you don't have enough water in your body to carry out normal functions. Even mild dehydration can drain your energy and make you tired.
How much water do you need?
Every day you lose water through your breath, perspiration, urine and bowel movements. For your body to function properly, you must replenish its water supply by consuming beverages and foods that contain water.
Read more from Mayo Clinic >>
Water: How much should you drink every day?
Water is essential to good health, yet needs vary by individual. These guidelines can help ensure you drink enough fluids.
By Mayo Clinic staff
How much water should you drink each day? It's a simple question with no easy answers. Studies have produced varying recommendations over the years, but in truth, your water needs depend on many factors, including your health, how active you are and where you live.
Although no single formula fits everyone, knowing more about your body's need for fluids will help you estimate how much water to drink each day.
Health benefits of water
Water is your body's principal chemical component and makes up about 60 percent of your body weight. Every system in your body depends on water. For example, water flushes toxins out of vital organs, carries nutrients to your cells and provides a moist environment for ear, nose and throat tissues.
Lack of water can lead to dehydration, a condition that occurs when you don't have enough water in your body to carry out normal functions. Even mild dehydration can drain your energy and make you tired.
How much water do you need?
Every day you lose water through your breath, perspiration, urine and bowel movements. For your body to function properly, you must replenish its water supply by consuming beverages and foods that contain water.
Read more from Mayo Clinic >>
December 10, 2013
5 Ways to Fight Fatigue With Food
From Cleveland Clinic
5 Ways to Fight Fatigue With Food
How to get energy that lasts
By Wellness Team
When fatigue sets in, most of us reach for a “pick-me-up” in the form of sugar or caffeine. Both boost energy levels fast, but they lack staying power.
Fortunately, you have better options for staying alert and awake. Start with these five tips from Amy Jamieson-Petonic, M.Ed, RD, CSSD, LD, Director of Wellness Coaching at Cleveland Clinic’s Wellness Institute.
1. Never skip breakfast
2. Don’t overdo coffee
3. Avoid refined carbs
4. Add a little lean protein to meals and snacks
5. Choose small, frequent meals to fuel your day
If you follow these tips, you’ll keep your mind and body at their best all day long — and avoid the blood sugar roller coaster in the process.
Read more from Cleveland clinic >>
December 9, 2013
The Single Most Important Trait for Entrepreneurs
From Inc.
The Single Most Important Trait for Entrepreneurs
BY JOHN GREATHOUSE
"There's no such thing as, 'I started my business and it just took off -- it was awesome.' When you hear people saying that, they are lying."
Lots of successful business people like to wax philosophical about the single most important trait that an entrepreneur must possess. For Tracy DiNunzio, founder and CEO of clothing buying and selling site Tradesy, that trait is adaptability. But coming from DiNunzio, the advice carries serious gravitas: DiNunzio was told as a child that she would never walk, due to a birth defect. On the contrary, she formed several successful businesses--and she learned to dance along the way.
DiNunzio recently shared her insights as part of UC Santa Barbara's Distinguished Lecture Series. Here are some key takeaways about the amazing power of adaptability. (Note: I am an investor in Tracy's company via Rincon Venture Partners.)
"There's no such thing as the guy who's like, 'I started my business and it just took off--it was awesome.' When you hear people saying that, they are lying."
Instead, expect rejection, failure and deadly market conditions, she said, and always come back to that adaptability.
"It's grueling and difficult for every single entrepreneur, no matter what their circumstances. The ones who win are the ones who're adaptable."
When DiNunzio's artistic career in New York hit a plateau, she decided to make a major life change. Much to the surprise of her friends and family, she gave up the life of a celebrated, young artist to pursue an entirely different path--uprooting her life and moving to Mexico.
"I tried to say, 'I can't dance. I can't even feel my feet.' I assumed that not being able to feel your feet would kind of eliminate you from being able to dance. As it turned out, not so much."
DiNunzio suffered from a lifetime of pain, due to a birth ailment which affected her back, legs and feet and prevented her from walking. That changed during her time in Mexico, when a Salsa instructor showed her that what she thought of as a limitation could be construed as an asset. "Because he was a really good partner, he was able to compensate for the things that I couldn't do. (He) even used the fact that like my feet were fused and I couldn't feel anything to do some crazy tricks that would've probably hurt someone else's feet. We toured different parts of Mexico doing dancing exhibitions, which was crazy, because I thought I wasn't even going to walk, let alone dance."
"You're probably making assumptions...about what you can and can't do. They might be true, I don't know. But they might not be true, so you have to test them."
Read more from Inc. >>
December 8, 2013
December 7, 2013
How the Aging Population Is Changing the Healthcare System
From everydayhealth.com
How the Aging Population Is Changing the Healthcare System
By 2030, one in five Americans will be over age 65, and the healthcare system is just beginning to feel the burden.
By Susan E. Matthews, Everyday Health Staff Writer
New York City is made for walking, which Bronx-bred Joseph Siegel knows well. After living in Brooklyn and Manhattan, Siegel, who had a successful career in insurance and brokerage, retired to the Upper West Side. Now, he likes to travel with his wife Esther — last year they went to Southeast Asia.
But recently, Siegel has had a difficult time walking, so he decided to get a knee replacement he’s been considering. “Traveling means you have to be able to get around,” Siegel says. While this makes sense, what’s not clear is how many years Siegel will have to use his new knee.
Siegel is 84 years old. About a week after his operation, he woke in the middle of a Saturday night to unbelievable pain, saying he “felt like his stomach was going to explode.” He had to have emergency surgery for a stomach ulcer, which he hadn’t known he had prior to the knee surgery. The painkillers he was taking for his knee replacement may have been a contributing factor, he says, though his doctor says it also may have been a pre-existing condition.
Siegel spent three weeks in the ICU, and during much of that time he couldn’t breathe or eat on his own. But he was able to move back to his own apartment, and has managed his recovery with the help of a nurse from the Visiting Nurse Service of New York (VNSNY), who comes to his home three days a week. Of his recovery, Siegel said he’s realized how much longer his body takes to heal, compared to when he was younger, but he adds that he’s lucky to have his nurse, a physical therapist for his knee, and the care of Esther, his wife of 60 years. While he’s finding it more difficult to sleep through the night because of the pain, he says he’s also lucky that his insurance and Medicare will be covering the costs, though he noted he “can’t imagine what the bill is.”
At 84, Siegel is still full of vigor and curiosity, which is why he got the surgery in the first place. He seems young at heart — he even has an iPhone 5 — and he's part of a growing number of older Americans who expect to live healthy lives well into their seventies, eighties, and nineties. These older Americans are becoming a bigger part of the population, and they will need a different sort of healthcare as they age — care that the nation’s healthcare system may not be prepared to provide.
Read more from everydayhealth.com >>
How the Aging Population Is Changing the Healthcare System
By 2030, one in five Americans will be over age 65, and the healthcare system is just beginning to feel the burden.
By Susan E. Matthews, Everyday Health Staff Writer
New York City is made for walking, which Bronx-bred Joseph Siegel knows well. After living in Brooklyn and Manhattan, Siegel, who had a successful career in insurance and brokerage, retired to the Upper West Side. Now, he likes to travel with his wife Esther — last year they went to Southeast Asia.
But recently, Siegel has had a difficult time walking, so he decided to get a knee replacement he’s been considering. “Traveling means you have to be able to get around,” Siegel says. While this makes sense, what’s not clear is how many years Siegel will have to use his new knee.
Siegel is 84 years old. About a week after his operation, he woke in the middle of a Saturday night to unbelievable pain, saying he “felt like his stomach was going to explode.” He had to have emergency surgery for a stomach ulcer, which he hadn’t known he had prior to the knee surgery. The painkillers he was taking for his knee replacement may have been a contributing factor, he says, though his doctor says it also may have been a pre-existing condition.
Siegel spent three weeks in the ICU, and during much of that time he couldn’t breathe or eat on his own. But he was able to move back to his own apartment, and has managed his recovery with the help of a nurse from the Visiting Nurse Service of New York (VNSNY), who comes to his home three days a week. Of his recovery, Siegel said he’s realized how much longer his body takes to heal, compared to when he was younger, but he adds that he’s lucky to have his nurse, a physical therapist for his knee, and the care of Esther, his wife of 60 years. While he’s finding it more difficult to sleep through the night because of the pain, he says he’s also lucky that his insurance and Medicare will be covering the costs, though he noted he “can’t imagine what the bill is.”
At 84, Siegel is still full of vigor and curiosity, which is why he got the surgery in the first place. He seems young at heart — he even has an iPhone 5 — and he's part of a growing number of older Americans who expect to live healthy lives well into their seventies, eighties, and nineties. These older Americans are becoming a bigger part of the population, and they will need a different sort of healthcare as they age — care that the nation’s healthcare system may not be prepared to provide.
Read more from everydayhealth.com >>
December 6, 2013
Nelson Mandela, 1918 - 2013
R. I. P.
Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela 18 July 1918 – 5 December 2013We may not remember the dates, but we will remember the dash between these 2 dates no one has control over. What Nelson Mandela did with the dash is pretty remarkable for a man who spent 27 years in incarceration and hard labor. Instead of being bitter, he chose to serve his nation with distinction and honor!
The dash between the birth date and the passing date of Nelson Mandela is littered with gold.
We will miss you President Mandela and God speed!
Market America in a Collaborative Economy
"Now go home and create your own economy," were the parting words of JR Ridinger, CEO of Market America at the conclusion of the four day MA World Conference 2013 earlier in January, Miami, Florida.
Now you may ask, how does creating your own economy got to do with a collaborative economy? It is precisely this individual effort coupled with a deep desire to succeed in creating one's own economy that propels one to collaborate with others to build a business with a compensation plan unlike others. This compensation plan promotes and rewards collaboration rather than competition. It is the collaborative enterprise Market America promotes that has enabled thousands of small entrepreneurs to succeed.
Not only has JR provided the tools for small entrepreneurs to succeed but his compensation plan provides a powerful incentive to work together. His words, "No one can do everything but everyone can do something," and "you succeed when you help others succeed," are good advice for anyone looking to create their own path to financial and time freedom, knowing that they are not working alone.
J Paul Getty, the oil billionaire, said these words which affirm collaboration, “I’d rather have one percent of the efforts of 100 people than 100 percent of my own efforts.” Clearly, he understood what collaboration meant even back then in the 1960s.
Working collaboratively and dilligently, you will not only have no money worries, you will have time as well as location freedom! It is the ultimate freedom when one can work from anywhere in the world. Imagine that!
Now you may ask, how does creating your own economy got to do with a collaborative economy? It is precisely this individual effort coupled with a deep desire to succeed in creating one's own economy that propels one to collaborate with others to build a business with a compensation plan unlike others. This compensation plan promotes and rewards collaboration rather than competition. It is the collaborative enterprise Market America promotes that has enabled thousands of small entrepreneurs to succeed.
Not only has JR provided the tools for small entrepreneurs to succeed but his compensation plan provides a powerful incentive to work together. His words, "No one can do everything but everyone can do something," and "you succeed when you help others succeed," are good advice for anyone looking to create their own path to financial and time freedom, knowing that they are not working alone.
J Paul Getty, the oil billionaire, said these words which affirm collaboration, “I’d rather have one percent of the efforts of 100 people than 100 percent of my own efforts.” Clearly, he understood what collaboration meant even back then in the 1960s.
Working collaboratively and dilligently, you will not only have no money worries, you will have time as well as location freedom! It is the ultimate freedom when one can work from anywhere in the world. Imagine that!
December 4, 2013
Collaborative Economy
I can understand renting a car or washing machines but renting trendy jeans? Would you do it, rent a pair of fancy jeans? Apparently, this is the trend in Europe. High unemployment is forcing many cash strapped consumers to seek "collaborative consumption" rather than buying outright.
Welcome to the new world of collaborative economy.
A good indicator that we are in a people economy is to follow the 'hot' money. Venture capitalists and angel investors are throwing money into companies that reflect this economic model.
To learn more about this trend, read Austin Allison's article in Inc. "Need More Proof We're in the People Economy? Follow the Money." Austin's summary: "There's big value and big profits in helping people work together--and venture capitalists have taken notice."
Further proof of this paradigm shift is Jeremiah Owyang's article: "The Money Flows in the Collaborative Economy."
Still not convinced? Check out collaborative dining as in EatWith pioneered by Guy Michlin.
Guy'Guy's motto: DINE IN HOMES AROUND THE WORLD!
Meet amazing people, eat great food and enjoy unforgettable experiences!
For more info on collaborative consumption read Guy Michlin's interview here.
I can continue but you get the picture.
See Wall Street Journal article, "For Rent in Europe" below:
For Rent in Europe: Trendy Jeans, Washing Machines
Rental, Secondhand Deals Shows How Companies Are Trying to Court Strapped Consumers
By RUTH BENDER
Updated Dec. 1, 2013 7:31 p.m. ET
Anouk Gillis often sports a pair of organic-cotton jeans she ordered online. But she doesn't actually own them.
Rather than buying the pants, which retail for around €100 ($135), Ms. Gillis signed a 12-month lease with their designer, the small Dutch fashion label Mud Jeans. The terms: a €20 deposit and monthly installments of €5.
After a year, Ms. Gillis, who is also Dutch, can decide to buy the jeans, return them, or exchange them for a new pair.
"The idea was to make high quality jeans available to everybody," said Bert van Son, chief executive of Mud Jeans, which promises to recycle the used jeans into new pairs or sell them secondhand at the end of a lease.
You can read more from WSJ.com if you have an online subscription >>
Welcome to the new world of collaborative economy.
A good indicator that we are in a people economy is to follow the 'hot' money. Venture capitalists and angel investors are throwing money into companies that reflect this economic model.
To learn more about this trend, read Austin Allison's article in Inc. "Need More Proof We're in the People Economy? Follow the Money." Austin's summary: "There's big value and big profits in helping people work together--and venture capitalists have taken notice."
Further proof of this paradigm shift is Jeremiah Owyang's article: "The Money Flows in the Collaborative Economy."
Still not convinced? Check out collaborative dining as in EatWith pioneered by Guy Michlin.
Guy'Guy's motto: DINE IN HOMES AROUND THE WORLD!
Meet amazing people, eat great food and enjoy unforgettable experiences!
For more info on collaborative consumption read Guy Michlin's interview here.
I can continue but you get the picture.
See Wall Street Journal article, "For Rent in Europe" below:
For Rent in Europe: Trendy Jeans, Washing Machines
Rental, Secondhand Deals Shows How Companies Are Trying to Court Strapped Consumers
By RUTH BENDER
Updated Dec. 1, 2013 7:31 p.m. ET
Anouk Gillis often sports a pair of organic-cotton jeans she ordered online. But she doesn't actually own them.
Rather than buying the pants, which retail for around €100 ($135), Ms. Gillis signed a 12-month lease with their designer, the small Dutch fashion label Mud Jeans. The terms: a €20 deposit and monthly installments of €5.
After a year, Ms. Gillis, who is also Dutch, can decide to buy the jeans, return them, or exchange them for a new pair.
"The idea was to make high quality jeans available to everybody," said Bert van Son, chief executive of Mud Jeans, which promises to recycle the used jeans into new pairs or sell them secondhand at the end of a lease.
You can read more from WSJ.com if you have an online subscription >>
December 3, 2013
Your body in a microchip: Geraldine Hamilton
Is personalized medicine not too far into the future?
What would medicine look like if these researchers, engineers can put every individual on its own chip?
After watching this - one can only marvel at the speed of innovation engineers, cell biologists and clinicians are able to work together to bring about quantum leap changes in medicine.
These microchips will eventually lead to the reduction or eventual ban of using animals for testing. And this is one of the most humane thing, this innovation will lead us into the future.
What would medicine look like if these researchers, engineers can put every individual on its own chip?
After watching this - one can only marvel at the speed of innovation engineers, cell biologists and clinicians are able to work together to bring about quantum leap changes in medicine.
These microchips will eventually lead to the reduction or eventual ban of using animals for testing. And this is one of the most humane thing, this innovation will lead us into the future.
December 2, 2013
Black eyes on Black Friday
You have already read by now news of Black Friday, the biggest shopping day of the year one day after Thanksgiving, shopping melee breaking out in shopping malls across the country . This adds an unwanted attention to Black Friday - getting black eyes on Black Friday!
It is madness to spend a day of thanksgiving with family and friends enjoying each others company, sharing a good turkey meal with all its trimmings, and then head out to shop, fighting traffic, a place to park and long lines. Who in their right mind would do this?
Apparently, there were enough bargains out there to lure even the sanest minds to trot out to the malls for this shopping challenge, the day after Thanksgiving. But what ensued baffles all of us - the fights!
Now we have to ask, why bother to go out at all, when shopping can be done at the comfort of the home? Why spend time driving through mad traffic, fighting for parking and standing in long lines to save a few pennies? Have we all gone mad after a turkey meal?
There are so many bargains out there in internet land, all one has to do is go online - no driving, parking and waiting. Plus, all these cyber shops are ready to made deals with free shopping and cash backs!
In the future you might even get delivery within 30 minutes of your purchase:
November 30, 2013
Earn Triple Cashback with SHOP.COM
from BeingJRRidinger.com
Getting Cashback is one thing, but starting right now SHOP.COM is hosting an amazing TRIPLE CASHBACK Event! This is your chance to score some incredible Triple Cashback deals from some great partner stores on SHOP.COM. This event will run from 11/28 until 12/2 – so be sure to spread the word and take advantage of this incredible opportunity to earn Triple Cashback on SHOP.COM. We are offering great Triple Cashback Deals for the US and Canada, so be sure to visit the links below to take advantage of these incredible deals. They won’t last long, so log on today and save big with SHOP.COM!
Keep Growing!
-JR Ridinger CEO & President of MarketAmerica/Shop.com
Getting Cashback is one thing, but starting right now SHOP.COM is hosting an amazing TRIPLE CASHBACK Event! This is your chance to score some incredible Triple Cashback deals from some great partner stores on SHOP.COM. This event will run from 11/28 until 12/2 – so be sure to spread the word and take advantage of this incredible opportunity to earn Triple Cashback on SHOP.COM. We are offering great Triple Cashback Deals for the US and Canada, so be sure to visit the links below to take advantage of these incredible deals. They won’t last long, so log on today and save big with SHOP.COM!
Keep Growing!
-JR Ridinger CEO & President of MarketAmerica/Shop.com
November 28, 2013
November 27, 2013
November 17, 2013
Grab Your Piece of the $61 Billion Pie
From BeingJRRidinger.com
Grab Your Piece of the $61 Billion Pie
Can you believe the holiday shopping season is already upon us? Online shopping trends show that this season is going to be absolutely huge – as its estimate some $61 Billion will be spend online during the holiday shopping season! Online shopping is only going to get bigger, and lucky for us we all own the best online shopping site in the world with SHOP.COM!
This great article from Internet Retailer shows just how massive the online holiday spending will be this year – show you just how important it is to capitalize on the upcoming holiday shopping bonanza. Any of the deals, sales, or promotions being offered by any of our partners are also offering via our SHOP.COM website! Our job – to simply let people know!
Read more from BeingJRRidinger.com >>
Grab Your Piece of the $61 Billion Pie
Can you believe the holiday shopping season is already upon us? Online shopping trends show that this season is going to be absolutely huge – as its estimate some $61 Billion will be spend online during the holiday shopping season! Online shopping is only going to get bigger, and lucky for us we all own the best online shopping site in the world with SHOP.COM!
This great article from Internet Retailer shows just how massive the online holiday spending will be this year – show you just how important it is to capitalize on the upcoming holiday shopping bonanza. Any of the deals, sales, or promotions being offered by any of our partners are also offering via our SHOP.COM website! Our job – to simply let people know!
Read more from BeingJRRidinger.com >>
November 15, 2013
Obama Offers Fix for Cancelled Policies
From MedPage Today
Obama Offers Fix for Cancelled Policies
Published: Nov 14, 2013 | Updated: Nov 14, 2013
By Peggy Peck, Editor-in-Chief, MedPage Today
WASHINGTON -- Six weeks into the Affordable Care Act rollout, the president took a major step back from "Obamacare" with an administrative fix that may allow Americans who received health insurance cancellation notices to have their policies reinstated for 2014.
The president announced the "fix" during a press conference at the White House on Thursday, a day after the administration unveiled lower-than-expected enrollment numbers for the health exchanges that are a centerpiece of Obamacare.
"When it comes to the policy, this is a very real climbdown on the part of the administration that potentially puts a (further) dent in the insurance exchanges just as they attempt to chug into high gear," said policy expert Daniel C. Ehlke, PhD, of SUNY-Downstate Medical Center School of Public Health.
Ehlke explained that many of those who received cancellation notices “are precisely the younger, healthier (and, in many cases, wealthier) Americans the administration would rather like to see shopping on the exchanges, leaving the risk pool constituted by those actually seeking coverage on the exchange less healthy (and older, on average). Moreover, a year’s delay in bringing all policies up to par gives ACA opponents all the more opportunity to further erode other aspects of the reform program."
At the same press conference, Obama again pledged to improve the problem-plagued website, although he conceded that "buying health insurance is never going to be as easy as buying a song on iTunes."
But it is not clear that the fix he is offering -- actually an extension of the "grandfather" clause in the Affordable Care Act to include policies that were issued after the law passed -- would ensure that such policies would not be required to meet the minimum coverage requirements of the ACA. The existing grandfather clause covers policies issued prior to the passage of the ACA in March 2010.
Read more from MedPage Today >>
Obama Offers Fix for Cancelled Policies
Published: Nov 14, 2013 | Updated: Nov 14, 2013
By Peggy Peck, Editor-in-Chief, MedPage Today
WASHINGTON -- Six weeks into the Affordable Care Act rollout, the president took a major step back from "Obamacare" with an administrative fix that may allow Americans who received health insurance cancellation notices to have their policies reinstated for 2014.
The president announced the "fix" during a press conference at the White House on Thursday, a day after the administration unveiled lower-than-expected enrollment numbers for the health exchanges that are a centerpiece of Obamacare.
"When it comes to the policy, this is a very real climbdown on the part of the administration that potentially puts a (further) dent in the insurance exchanges just as they attempt to chug into high gear," said policy expert Daniel C. Ehlke, PhD, of SUNY-Downstate Medical Center School of Public Health.
Ehlke explained that many of those who received cancellation notices “are precisely the younger, healthier (and, in many cases, wealthier) Americans the administration would rather like to see shopping on the exchanges, leaving the risk pool constituted by those actually seeking coverage on the exchange less healthy (and older, on average). Moreover, a year’s delay in bringing all policies up to par gives ACA opponents all the more opportunity to further erode other aspects of the reform program."
At the same press conference, Obama again pledged to improve the problem-plagued website, although he conceded that "buying health insurance is never going to be as easy as buying a song on iTunes."
But it is not clear that the fix he is offering -- actually an extension of the "grandfather" clause in the Affordable Care Act to include policies that were issued after the law passed -- would ensure that such policies would not be required to meet the minimum coverage requirements of the ACA. The existing grandfather clause covers policies issued prior to the passage of the ACA in March 2010.
Read more from MedPage Today >>
November 11, 2013
Power Profile: Charlotte Israel
Charlotte Israel is a true inspiration.
"With market America, I found that I can do anything I can dare to dream to be...."
"With market America, I found that I can do anything I can dare to dream to be...."
November 10, 2013
Power Profile: Beth and Phillip Black
"What attracted me to this business was the fact
that Beth was making almost the same income as I was
but she was staying in bed while I had to get up,
fighting traffic and going to work.
I decided at that point I needed to look at this business.
My greatest benefit was,, about 4 years ago, I was able to retire from corporate America and I got to spend time with my kids as they finished up their high school years!"
My greatest benefit was,, about 4 years ago, I was able to retire from corporate America and I got to spend time with my kids as they finished up their high school years!"
November 9, 2013
Retire on your own terms
Retire on your own terms, not because of actions by your employer or because of illnesses. Neither should you be in a position you cannot afford to retire because you dd not save enough.
You read about the person who had to flip hamburgers at the age of 77 years, (http://bit.ly/19PTKjO). You do not want to be in that position. Whatever your situation is at the present moment, do not procrastinate another day. Reflect, ponder and plan what you can do now to retire on your own terms. Remember, you do not have to wait till you are 65 or 67 years of age to retire!
You had also read here at this blog site about Benjamin Ginder, Jr who did so well being a distributor of Market America, that he could afford to spoil his nieces and nephews, all 17 of them, to an all expenses paid vacation trip to Disney World in Orlando, Florida, (http://bit.ly/1bhOAu2). Isn't this marvelous to be able to afford to bring fun and joy to all your nieces and nephews? Or what about bringing a hundred of his team leaders to an all expenses paid cruise?
When you are blessed with such successes, what you can do with your wealth is open to your own imagination.
Success do not happen by accident - you have to have a plan. Having made the plan, execute and make your vision a reality.
Market America and its original Corporate team who had stuck together for more than 20 years, provide you with all the tools you need to become a hopeless success, products to help you live a healthy life and the support of successful entrepreneurs to help you build a lifetime of residual income.
Prepare now and retire on your own terms! Make time your friend, not your dictator and banish money worries forever!
You read about the person who had to flip hamburgers at the age of 77 years, (http://bit.ly/19PTKjO). You do not want to be in that position. Whatever your situation is at the present moment, do not procrastinate another day. Reflect, ponder and plan what you can do now to retire on your own terms. Remember, you do not have to wait till you are 65 or 67 years of age to retire!
You had also read here at this blog site about Benjamin Ginder, Jr who did so well being a distributor of Market America, that he could afford to spoil his nieces and nephews, all 17 of them, to an all expenses paid vacation trip to Disney World in Orlando, Florida, (http://bit.ly/1bhOAu2). Isn't this marvelous to be able to afford to bring fun and joy to all your nieces and nephews? Or what about bringing a hundred of his team leaders to an all expenses paid cruise?
When you are blessed with such successes, what you can do with your wealth is open to your own imagination.
Success do not happen by accident - you have to have a plan. Having made the plan, execute and make your vision a reality.
Market America and its original Corporate team who had stuck together for more than 20 years, provide you with all the tools you need to become a hopeless success, products to help you live a healthy life and the support of successful entrepreneurs to help you build a lifetime of residual income.
Prepare now and retire on your own terms! Make time your friend, not your dictator and banish money worries forever!
November 8, 2013
Consumers will engage in more post-pie web purchasing this year
From Internet Retailer
November 6, 2013
Consumers will engage in more post-pie web purchasing this year
But a shorter holiday sales season could result in missed sales, Adobe says.
Katie Evans
Senior Editor
Once the pumpkin pie is polished off on Nov. 28, many consumers will turn to the web in their feast-induced comas to start searching for holiday gifts, according to new research from Adobe Systems Inc.
Its just-released Adobe Digital Index forecasts record growth for online sales on Thanksgiving, with web sales reaching $1.1 billion, up 21.0% over $909 million on the holiday last year. On two historically big shopping days—Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving, and Cyber Monday, the Monday after Thanksgiving—Adobe also predicts strong web sales growth. For Black Friday, it forecasts e-retail sales will reach $1.60 billion, a 17.6% increase compared with $1.36 billion for the same day last year. For Cyber Monday, Adobe predicts consumers will spend $2.27 billion online, a 15.2% increase compared to $1.97 billion on the same day in 2012.
The forecast is derived from the Adobe Digital Index, which is based on the analysis of nearly half a trillion visits to more than 2,000 retail web sites over the last seven years.
But the news isn’t all merry and bright. The shorter holiday shopping season will result in missed sales overall, Adobe says. This year, there are only 26 days between Thanksgiving and Christmas, compared with 32 days in 2012. What’s more, consumers have four—not five—full weekends in that timeframe to snag gifts. Adobe predicts the slimmer season will cost retailers $1.5 billion in missed online sales.
Read more from Internet Retailer >>
November 6, 2013
Consumers will engage in more post-pie web purchasing this year
But a shorter holiday sales season could result in missed sales, Adobe says.
Katie Evans
Senior Editor
Once the pumpkin pie is polished off on Nov. 28, many consumers will turn to the web in their feast-induced comas to start searching for holiday gifts, according to new research from Adobe Systems Inc.
Its just-released Adobe Digital Index forecasts record growth for online sales on Thanksgiving, with web sales reaching $1.1 billion, up 21.0% over $909 million on the holiday last year. On two historically big shopping days—Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving, and Cyber Monday, the Monday after Thanksgiving—Adobe also predicts strong web sales growth. For Black Friday, it forecasts e-retail sales will reach $1.60 billion, a 17.6% increase compared with $1.36 billion for the same day last year. For Cyber Monday, Adobe predicts consumers will spend $2.27 billion online, a 15.2% increase compared to $1.97 billion on the same day in 2012.
The forecast is derived from the Adobe Digital Index, which is based on the analysis of nearly half a trillion visits to more than 2,000 retail web sites over the last seven years.
But the news isn’t all merry and bright. The shorter holiday shopping season will result in missed sales overall, Adobe says. This year, there are only 26 days between Thanksgiving and Christmas, compared with 32 days in 2012. What’s more, consumers have four—not five—full weekends in that timeframe to snag gifts. Adobe predicts the slimmer season will cost retailers $1.5 billion in missed online sales.
Read more from Internet Retailer >>
November 5, 2013
Retirement age hard to plan
From The Blade
Retirement age hard to plan
Survey finds workers’ health or bosses can dictate decision
BY TYREL LINKHORN
BLADE BUSINESS WRITER
A large number of working-age Americans believe it will be necessary to work longer than they had previously planned, but data suggests health problems and workplace realities may push them into an early retirement anyway.
A survey by PNC Financial Services Group recently found that 49 percent of Americans between the ages of 35 and 70 think they will have to work further into their lives that they previously thought to save enough money to retire.
But the same survey found that more than half of those who already have retired did so earlier than they had planned.
Celandra Deane-Bess, vice president and senior wealth planner with PNC, said, “What that means is this option of perpetually delaying your retirement age if you haven’t saved enough is not a good backup plan for saving for retirement.”
Of those who retired earlier than they had planned, PNC found 40 percent were pushed into an early retirement because of illness and an additional 28 percent because of actions by their employer.
Only 7 percent said they worked longer for the sole purpose of socking away more money.
Ms. Deane-Bess said the survey shows that it is not always easy to pick a retirement age and stick with it.
One reason? Many people are either procrastinating or completely sticking their head in the sand when it comes to making decisions about retirement planning.
Fifty-eight percent of people surveyed said they were either putting off making plans or had thought little about retirement. In general, those who admit they are not great planners more frequently say they will have to work longer.
Read more from The Blade >>
Retirement age hard to plan
Survey finds workers’ health or bosses can dictate decision
BY TYREL LINKHORN
BLADE BUSINESS WRITER
A large number of working-age Americans believe it will be necessary to work longer than they had previously planned, but data suggests health problems and workplace realities may push them into an early retirement anyway.
A survey by PNC Financial Services Group recently found that 49 percent of Americans between the ages of 35 and 70 think they will have to work further into their lives that they previously thought to save enough money to retire.
But the same survey found that more than half of those who already have retired did so earlier than they had planned.
Celandra Deane-Bess, vice president and senior wealth planner with PNC, said, “What that means is this option of perpetually delaying your retirement age if you haven’t saved enough is not a good backup plan for saving for retirement.”
Of those who retired earlier than they had planned, PNC found 40 percent were pushed into an early retirement because of illness and an additional 28 percent because of actions by their employer.
Only 7 percent said they worked longer for the sole purpose of socking away more money.
Ms. Deane-Bess said the survey shows that it is not always easy to pick a retirement age and stick with it.
One reason? Many people are either procrastinating or completely sticking their head in the sand when it comes to making decisions about retirement planning.
Fifty-eight percent of people surveyed said they were either putting off making plans or had thought little about retirement. In general, those who admit they are not great planners more frequently say they will have to work longer.
Read more from The Blade >>
November 4, 2013
Retailers Brace for Reduction in Food Stamps
From wsj.com
Retailers Brace for Reduction in Food Stamps
Expiration of Added Benefits Will Remove $16 Billion in Aid Over Three Years
By SHELLY BANJO and ANNIE GASPARRO
Updated Nov. 4, 2013
Retailers and grocers are bracing for another drain on consumer spending when a temporary boost in food-stamp benefits expires Friday.
The change will leave 48 million Americans with an estimated $11 billion less to spend over the next three years and comes just months after the expiration of a payroll tax cut knocked 2% off consumers' monthly paychecks.
On the business side of the equation, the cuts will fall particularly hard on the grocers, discounters, dollar stores and gas stations that depend heavily on low-income shoppers. Weak spending in that stressed consumer segment has already led retailers including Wal-Mart Stores Inc. and Target Corp.to lower their sales forecasts for the rest of the year ahead of holidays.
"It will certainly have some effect on us and the whole grocery industry," said Jim Hyland, spokesman for Midwestern grocer Roundy's Inc.
Retailers Brace for Reduction in Food Stamps
Expiration of Added Benefits Will Remove $16 Billion in Aid Over Three Years
By SHELLY BANJO and ANNIE GASPARRO
Updated Nov. 4, 2013
Retailers and grocers are bracing for another drain on consumer spending when a temporary boost in food-stamp benefits expires Friday.
The change will leave 48 million Americans with an estimated $11 billion less to spend over the next three years and comes just months after the expiration of a payroll tax cut knocked 2% off consumers' monthly paychecks.
On the business side of the equation, the cuts will fall particularly hard on the grocers, discounters, dollar stores and gas stations that depend heavily on low-income shoppers. Weak spending in that stressed consumer segment has already led retailers including Wal-Mart Stores Inc. and Target Corp.to lower their sales forecasts for the rest of the year ahead of holidays.
"It will certainly have some effect on us and the whole grocery industry," said Jim Hyland, spokesman for Midwestern grocer Roundy's Inc.
Read more from wsj.com >>
November 1, 2013
6 Things Successful Entrepreneurs Always Do
From Forbes
6 Things Successful Entrepreneurs Always Do
Holly Magister, Contributor
Much debate surrounds the notion that an entrepreneur is born with innate entrepreneurial abilities. Many believe that specific genes are present in all successful entrepreneurs. In fact, a 2008 study of identical versus fraternal twins conducted by Scott Shane of Case Western Reserve University, Nicos Nicolaou of the University of Cyprus, and other researchers from the King’s College in London concluded a tendency to engage in entrepreneurship was indeed genetic and heritable.
The study measured engagement in entrepreneurship in a variety of ways including self-employment, business startup, and even serial entrepreneurship. However, what the study did not measure was the correlation between genes and the ability for an entrepreneur to be successful. Yet it’s been my observation that successful entrepreneurs exhibit six behaviors over and over, time and again. And it’s my belief these six things are critical to their success, because when one is absent the entrepreneur can easily fall short.
Seeks the Counsel of Others
Entrepreneurs are known for following the beat of their own drum, sometimes to a fault. This tendency toward bull headedness can be very damaging and the cause for many errors in judgment. Whereas, the truly successful entrepreneurs have respect for those who have gone before them and they seek the advice and counsel of others.
Decides his Course Based on a Macro-view
Read more from Forbes >>
6 Things Successful Entrepreneurs Always Do
Holly Magister, Contributor
Much debate surrounds the notion that an entrepreneur is born with innate entrepreneurial abilities. Many believe that specific genes are present in all successful entrepreneurs. In fact, a 2008 study of identical versus fraternal twins conducted by Scott Shane of Case Western Reserve University, Nicos Nicolaou of the University of Cyprus, and other researchers from the King’s College in London concluded a tendency to engage in entrepreneurship was indeed genetic and heritable.
The study measured engagement in entrepreneurship in a variety of ways including self-employment, business startup, and even serial entrepreneurship. However, what the study did not measure was the correlation between genes and the ability for an entrepreneur to be successful. Yet it’s been my observation that successful entrepreneurs exhibit six behaviors over and over, time and again. And it’s my belief these six things are critical to their success, because when one is absent the entrepreneur can easily fall short.
Seeks the Counsel of Others
Entrepreneurs are known for following the beat of their own drum, sometimes to a fault. This tendency toward bull headedness can be very damaging and the cause for many errors in judgment. Whereas, the truly successful entrepreneurs have respect for those who have gone before them and they seek the advice and counsel of others.
Decides his Course Based on a Macro-view
Read more from Forbes >>
October 31, 2013
Online Sales from November to December projected to increase from $53.7 billion to $61.8 billion
Don't just be an onlooker, join the internet/ecommerce revolution and make money of it!
Own a piece of the virtual mall with brand name companies like Macys, Target, Home Depot, Best Buy, Apple, Staples, Travelocity, Marriot Hotel & Resort, etc. Click here to check for yourself from A - Z partners of Market America.
This year holiday online sales forecast is projected to increase by 15.1%. Spending from November to December will total $61.8 billion up from $53.7 billion from 2012. (Source: Internet Retailer)
Watch the Market America & Shop.com overview below:
Market America and SHOP.COM are changing the way people shop
and changing the economic paradigm so everyone can become financially
independent by creating their own economy.
This year holiday online sales forecast is projected to increase by 15.1%. Spending from November to December will total $61.8 billion up from $53.7 billion from 2012. (Source: Internet Retailer)
Watch the Market America & Shop.com overview below:
Market America and SHOP.COM are changing the way people shop
and changing the economic paradigm so everyone can become financially
independent by creating their own economy.
October 30, 2013
GIZMODO - The Tiny Transforming Apartment That Packs Eight Rooms into 350 Square Feet
I thought you would enjoy this neatly designed apartment for comfort living in a small space.
Live well!
GIZMODO - The Tiny Transforming Apartment That Packs Eight Rooms into 350 Square Feet from Gizmodo on Vimeo.
Live well!
GIZMODO - The Tiny Transforming Apartment That Packs Eight Rooms into 350 Square Feet from Gizmodo on Vimeo.
October 28, 2013
Many Americans don't expect to ever retire
From USA Today
Many Americans don't expect to ever retire
Rodney Brooks, USA TODAY October 24, 2013
In a sign of just how bleak retirement prospects have gotten, more than a third of Americans say they will have to work until they literally can't anymore.
A new Wells Fargo study found that 37% of people don't ever expect to retire, but instead will have to "work until I'm too sick or die." Survey respondents say paying the monthly bills is their highest priority, and saving for retirement is a distant second.
"There were a couple of points I found shocking or troubling," says Laurie Nordquist, head of Wells Fargo Institutional Retirement and Trust. "One is the increase in the number of people who say paying bills was their top day-to-day concern."
That's especially concerning, because the economy has improved in the last few years. "The middle class is not feeling it when it comes to their own situations," she says.
The annual Wells Fargo Middle Class Retirement study, a telephone survey conducted by Harris Interactive of 1,000 middle-class Americans between the ages of 25 and 75, was released Wednesday. Highlights:
• 59% say their top day-to-day concern is paying the bills
• 42% say both saving and paying the bills is not possible
• 48% are not confident they will be able to save enough for a comfortable retirement
• 34% say they will have to work until they are at least 80 because they have not saved enough.
"Americans are great bill-payers, but they are horrible savers," says Michael Chadwick, CEO of Chadwick Financial Advisors in Unionville, Conn. "People have to start saving, even when things are difficult. There is never an easy time."
Read more from USA Today >>
Many Americans don't expect to ever retire
Rodney Brooks, USA TODAY October 24, 2013
In a sign of just how bleak retirement prospects have gotten, more than a third of Americans say they will have to work until they literally can't anymore.
A new Wells Fargo study found that 37% of people don't ever expect to retire, but instead will have to "work until I'm too sick or die." Survey respondents say paying the monthly bills is their highest priority, and saving for retirement is a distant second.
"There were a couple of points I found shocking or troubling," says Laurie Nordquist, head of Wells Fargo Institutional Retirement and Trust. "One is the increase in the number of people who say paying bills was their top day-to-day concern."
That's especially concerning, because the economy has improved in the last few years. "The middle class is not feeling it when it comes to their own situations," she says.
The annual Wells Fargo Middle Class Retirement study, a telephone survey conducted by Harris Interactive of 1,000 middle-class Americans between the ages of 25 and 75, was released Wednesday. Highlights:
• 59% say their top day-to-day concern is paying the bills
• 42% say both saving and paying the bills is not possible
• 48% are not confident they will be able to save enough for a comfortable retirement
• 34% say they will have to work until they are at least 80 because they have not saved enough.
"Americans are great bill-payers, but they are horrible savers," says Michael Chadwick, CEO of Chadwick Financial Advisors in Unionville, Conn. "People have to start saving, even when things are difficult. There is never an easy time."
Read more from USA Today >>
October 25, 2013
October 23, 2013
This Artificial Rally Could End Badly for the Bulls
If you trade the market, you should read Sam Collins of Investor Place. He presents a view point based on solid technical readings of the market.
This Artificial Rally Could End Badly for the Bulls
Caution is your watchword -- take profits in frothy stocks
By Sam Collins, InvestorPlace Chief Technical Analyst | Oct 23, 2013
A weak jobs report resulted in the belief that the Fed would stay with its easy-money policy until well into 2014, and stocks staged a moderate rally yesterday as a result.
The broad-based S&P 500 recorded its fifth consecutive advance, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average finished up 0.49%. The Dow is still 1.3% below its all-time high, but the more volatile indices — Nasdaq and the Russell 2000 (small-caps) — made new highs. Nasdaq made a 13-year high, and Russell made a new all-time high.
The September nonfarm payroll report, delayed by the government’s partial shutdown, showed that 148,000 jobs were added, below the expectation of 180,000.
High volatility and profit-taking dominated the session, with Netflix (NFLX) falling 9.15%, Priceline (PCLN) off 1.05%, Yelp (YELP) down 2.32%, and Facebook (FB) falling 2.18%.
At the close the DJIA had gained 75 points at 15,468, the S&P 500 rose 10 to 1755, and Nasdaq gained 10, closing at 3930. The NYSE traded 753 million shares and Nasdaq crossed 464 million. On the Big Board advancers beat out decliners by 2.7-to-1 and on Nasdaq advancers were ahead by just 1.2-to-1.
Read more from Investor Place >>
This Artificial Rally Could End Badly for the Bulls
Caution is your watchword -- take profits in frothy stocks
By Sam Collins, InvestorPlace Chief Technical Analyst | Oct 23, 2013
A weak jobs report resulted in the belief that the Fed would stay with its easy-money policy until well into 2014, and stocks staged a moderate rally yesterday as a result.
The broad-based S&P 500 recorded its fifth consecutive advance, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average finished up 0.49%. The Dow is still 1.3% below its all-time high, but the more volatile indices — Nasdaq and the Russell 2000 (small-caps) — made new highs. Nasdaq made a 13-year high, and Russell made a new all-time high.
The September nonfarm payroll report, delayed by the government’s partial shutdown, showed that 148,000 jobs were added, below the expectation of 180,000.
High volatility and profit-taking dominated the session, with Netflix (NFLX) falling 9.15%, Priceline (PCLN) off 1.05%, Yelp (YELP) down 2.32%, and Facebook (FB) falling 2.18%.
At the close the DJIA had gained 75 points at 15,468, the S&P 500 rose 10 to 1755, and Nasdaq gained 10, closing at 3930. The NYSE traded 753 million shares and Nasdaq crossed 464 million. On the Big Board advancers beat out decliners by 2.7-to-1 and on Nasdaq advancers were ahead by just 1.2-to-1.
Read more from Investor Place >>
October 22, 2013
7 Lessons from Albert Einstein's School of Hard Knocks
Shared in Facebook by JR Ridinger, CEO &President of Market America
7 Lessons from Albert Einstein's School of Hard Knocks
We often associate certain names to the virtue of excellence. Tiger Woods to the game of golf, Michael Jordan to the game of basketball and Pablo Picasso to painting. What if you had to name the genius of the 20th century? Without a doubt, Albert Einstein gets the nod.
Arguably, the smartest man ever born, Albert Einstein was average at best in his school years. He shunned certain classes for the mediocrity of education. He mocked some teachers who were irritated by his lack of obedience. His Greek grammar teacher, Joseph Degenhart, achieved immortality in the history books through insisting that “nothing would ever become of you.” Later, when Einstein was told it would be best if he left the school, Degenhart had explained, “Your presence in the class destroys the respect of the students.” Disgusted by the rote teaching, he quit high school at the age of fifteen. The rest is history.
This man of great scientific feats also was a man of a noble heart and uncanny wisdom that he gained from the school of hard knocks. He often struggled to pay bills until the age of 26 when he wrote three papers that revolutionized our world.
Lesson # 1 Invest in the success of others.
In his famous essay, the world as I see it, Albert Einstein wrote, “ A hundred times every day I remind myself that my inner and outer life are based on the labors of other men, living and dead, and that I must exert myself in order to give in the same measure as I have received and am still receiving…”
Those who succeed in life understand that success comes to those who make conscious effort everyday to give back to the friends, family and the community. As silly as it sounds, when we invest our life energy to ensure the success of others, our karma ensures our own success. Blogging is a great example. I have found that when I take time to uplift other bloggers by reading their articles, I surely get pleasantly surprised by countless bloggers who take time to visit my blog and to comment on my articles.
Lesson # 2 Never stop growing.
“Education is what remains after one has forgotten everything he learned in school.”
Albert Einstein’s dislike for the traditional schooling never had any influence on his passion for learning. His life is a remarkable example for the mankind. A life of solitude and self-learning made him a scientist of the century. He passionately explored the nature and its vastness to seek answers to mysteries that intrigued his mind through out his life. He felt religious not in a traditional sense but in the sense that rekindled his curiosity to know the wonders of the nature only to benefit mankind. In our life we learn by meeting different people, by exploring our ideas to solve the common issues and by relentless desire to improve our way of life. Personally, I have learned the lessons of life only after I left the school.
Lesson # 3 Your life is limited by limits of your thoughts.
“Logic will get you from A to B. Imagination will take you everywhere.”
We are educated to consider life with a logic. We learn how to get from A to B with excellence but we equally abhor thoughts of charting our own course to get from A to B. We are taught to excel at knowledge that already exists. We are infused with the fear of self-doubt to even consider an alternate path. History has shown that those who contributed the most to the mankind were the ones who defied the knowledge of masses. They dared to imagine what was considered impossible at the time. In the 6th century BC Greek mathematician Pythagoras said that earth is round; but few agreed with him. Greek astronomer Aristarchos said in the 3rd century BC that earth revolves around the sun; but the idea was not accepted.
“Life is really simple, but we insist on making it complicated.“
~ Confucius
Lesson # 4 Simplify everything you do.
“If you can’t explain it simply, you don’t understand it well enough.”
Often those prestigious institutions publish papers with laborious details and content aimed to disparage most people. Life is simple and those who succeed in life definitely master the art of simplicity in everything that they passionately do. Warren Buffet was once asked why he is not investing in Microsoft despite being a close friend of Bill Gates. He answered that I don’t invest if I don’t understand the underlying business. The answer of the genius investor speaks volume about the importance of knowledge that he can transpire to his investors in simple words.
Few years ago I read a memoir of one of the most brilliant and prolific authors, James Michener. In his memoir, The World Is My Home, author revealed the secrets of writings from his vantage point. One sentence left a profound influence in my mind. He wrote:“Good writing…consists of trying to use ordinary words to achieve extraordinary results.”
All of our wisdom and knowledge dies a horrible death if we do not possess the deftness of expressing our knowledge in simple words to the rest of the world.
Lesson # 5 Live a simple Life.
In his famous essay, the world as I see it, Albert Einstein wrote, “The trite objects of human efforts — possessions, outward success, luxury — have always seemed to me contemptible.”
One of the myths of our society is that “more” will make us “happier”. We invest our life energy to possess lifeless possessions. We are educated to foster consumption with the mantra of – “The more, the better.” We are educated to have a great job. A great job requires luxuries to fulfill our outlandish desire to impress others. Before we realize, we mortgage our freedom to the possessions that bring more sorrow and inner grief in a vain hope to show off to the masses. Life of happiness and inner peace rests upon the virtue of simplicity. Our efforts in life should be directed towards saving our life energy and towards using our life energy that can bring eternal happiness to ourselves. Seldom our schools teach the value of living a simple life. Seldom our schools teach value of living within our means. The current sub prime mortgage crisis is an awakening lesson for all of us. It’s madness to chase goals of accumulating more possessions. We often find ourselves in same despair once we achieve our goal by the feelings of not possessing what others have. It’s an endless loop of self-pity. Life of contentment fills our hearts with eternal happiness.
Lesson # 6 Never quit!
“It’s not that I’m so smart , it’s just that I stay with problems longer .”
Our traditional education rewards those who succeed in exhibiting their knowledge of books. Students with power of memory rather than creativity are rewarded for their stupendous bookish knowledge. Our dislike for failure comes from the years of schooling that abhors failures. We limit our thoughts without knowing the fake reality of knowledge that restricts our imagination with the fear of failures. Albert Einstein’s passion for the physics and his dislike for the traditional schooling allowed him to become the greatest scientist of the 20th century. History has countless examples of the successful people who never ceased to imagine what intrigued their mind. Success comes to those in abundance who dare to imagine and solve the mysteries of the nature to benefit the mankind. These brave people understand the value of failure to gain knowledge that can lead to the peaks of success.
Lesson # 7 We are creatures of our values and character
“Try not to become a man of success but rather to become a man of value.”
We learn to succeed in life. In fact we have idolized the success to an extent that every bookstore carries plethora of books on success. We flock seminars that sell success themes to our feeble minds. Our culture adores success to an extent that thoughts of failure shakes our strongest will to imagine and try to explore new ideas. The reality is a far outcry from our fake belief. My father failed in business many times in his life. He always bounced back from the lows. He credited his resilience to the virtue of value and character. He faced many obstacles in life, but he never had lack of compassion and support from his friends as they had unshakable faith in my father’s value and character. In today’s world, “get quick rich” mantra shuns the virtues of value and character. We all know that a man without values and character is doomed to fail miserably in life.
“I have never looked upon ease and happiness as ends in themselves — this critical basis I call the ideal of a pigsty. The ideals that have lighted my way, and time after time have given me new courage to face life cheerfully,have been Kindness, Beauty, and Truth.”
~Albert Einstein
So, from the school of hard knocks, Albert Einstein taught us to work selflessly for others, to never stop growing our mind, to love our imagination, to make our thoughts simple enough for others to understand, to live life of simplicity, to never quit no matter what it takes to succeed and above all, live life of highest values and character.
Are you a graduate of Einstein’s school of hard knocks?
Let's have another great week...
7 Lessons from Albert Einstein's School of Hard Knocks
We often associate certain names to the virtue of excellence. Tiger Woods to the game of golf, Michael Jordan to the game of basketball and Pablo Picasso to painting. What if you had to name the genius of the 20th century? Without a doubt, Albert Einstein gets the nod.
Arguably, the smartest man ever born, Albert Einstein was average at best in his school years. He shunned certain classes for the mediocrity of education. He mocked some teachers who were irritated by his lack of obedience. His Greek grammar teacher, Joseph Degenhart, achieved immortality in the history books through insisting that “nothing would ever become of you.” Later, when Einstein was told it would be best if he left the school, Degenhart had explained, “Your presence in the class destroys the respect of the students.” Disgusted by the rote teaching, he quit high school at the age of fifteen. The rest is history.
This man of great scientific feats also was a man of a noble heart and uncanny wisdom that he gained from the school of hard knocks. He often struggled to pay bills until the age of 26 when he wrote three papers that revolutionized our world.
Lesson # 1 Invest in the success of others.
In his famous essay, the world as I see it, Albert Einstein wrote, “ A hundred times every day I remind myself that my inner and outer life are based on the labors of other men, living and dead, and that I must exert myself in order to give in the same measure as I have received and am still receiving…”
Those who succeed in life understand that success comes to those who make conscious effort everyday to give back to the friends, family and the community. As silly as it sounds, when we invest our life energy to ensure the success of others, our karma ensures our own success. Blogging is a great example. I have found that when I take time to uplift other bloggers by reading their articles, I surely get pleasantly surprised by countless bloggers who take time to visit my blog and to comment on my articles.
Lesson # 2 Never stop growing.
“Education is what remains after one has forgotten everything he learned in school.”
Albert Einstein’s dislike for the traditional schooling never had any influence on his passion for learning. His life is a remarkable example for the mankind. A life of solitude and self-learning made him a scientist of the century. He passionately explored the nature and its vastness to seek answers to mysteries that intrigued his mind through out his life. He felt religious not in a traditional sense but in the sense that rekindled his curiosity to know the wonders of the nature only to benefit mankind. In our life we learn by meeting different people, by exploring our ideas to solve the common issues and by relentless desire to improve our way of life. Personally, I have learned the lessons of life only after I left the school.
Lesson # 3 Your life is limited by limits of your thoughts.
“Logic will get you from A to B. Imagination will take you everywhere.”
We are educated to consider life with a logic. We learn how to get from A to B with excellence but we equally abhor thoughts of charting our own course to get from A to B. We are taught to excel at knowledge that already exists. We are infused with the fear of self-doubt to even consider an alternate path. History has shown that those who contributed the most to the mankind were the ones who defied the knowledge of masses. They dared to imagine what was considered impossible at the time. In the 6th century BC Greek mathematician Pythagoras said that earth is round; but few agreed with him. Greek astronomer Aristarchos said in the 3rd century BC that earth revolves around the sun; but the idea was not accepted.
“Life is really simple, but we insist on making it complicated.“
~ Confucius
Lesson # 4 Simplify everything you do.
“If you can’t explain it simply, you don’t understand it well enough.”
Often those prestigious institutions publish papers with laborious details and content aimed to disparage most people. Life is simple and those who succeed in life definitely master the art of simplicity in everything that they passionately do. Warren Buffet was once asked why he is not investing in Microsoft despite being a close friend of Bill Gates. He answered that I don’t invest if I don’t understand the underlying business. The answer of the genius investor speaks volume about the importance of knowledge that he can transpire to his investors in simple words.
Few years ago I read a memoir of one of the most brilliant and prolific authors, James Michener. In his memoir, The World Is My Home, author revealed the secrets of writings from his vantage point. One sentence left a profound influence in my mind. He wrote:“Good writing…consists of trying to use ordinary words to achieve extraordinary results.”
All of our wisdom and knowledge dies a horrible death if we do not possess the deftness of expressing our knowledge in simple words to the rest of the world.
Lesson # 5 Live a simple Life.
In his famous essay, the world as I see it, Albert Einstein wrote, “The trite objects of human efforts — possessions, outward success, luxury — have always seemed to me contemptible.”
One of the myths of our society is that “more” will make us “happier”. We invest our life energy to possess lifeless possessions. We are educated to foster consumption with the mantra of – “The more, the better.” We are educated to have a great job. A great job requires luxuries to fulfill our outlandish desire to impress others. Before we realize, we mortgage our freedom to the possessions that bring more sorrow and inner grief in a vain hope to show off to the masses. Life of happiness and inner peace rests upon the virtue of simplicity. Our efforts in life should be directed towards saving our life energy and towards using our life energy that can bring eternal happiness to ourselves. Seldom our schools teach the value of living a simple life. Seldom our schools teach value of living within our means. The current sub prime mortgage crisis is an awakening lesson for all of us. It’s madness to chase goals of accumulating more possessions. We often find ourselves in same despair once we achieve our goal by the feelings of not possessing what others have. It’s an endless loop of self-pity. Life of contentment fills our hearts with eternal happiness.
Lesson # 6 Never quit!
“It’s not that I’m so smart , it’s just that I stay with problems longer .”
Our traditional education rewards those who succeed in exhibiting their knowledge of books. Students with power of memory rather than creativity are rewarded for their stupendous bookish knowledge. Our dislike for failure comes from the years of schooling that abhors failures. We limit our thoughts without knowing the fake reality of knowledge that restricts our imagination with the fear of failures. Albert Einstein’s passion for the physics and his dislike for the traditional schooling allowed him to become the greatest scientist of the 20th century. History has countless examples of the successful people who never ceased to imagine what intrigued their mind. Success comes to those in abundance who dare to imagine and solve the mysteries of the nature to benefit the mankind. These brave people understand the value of failure to gain knowledge that can lead to the peaks of success.
Lesson # 7 We are creatures of our values and character
“Try not to become a man of success but rather to become a man of value.”
We learn to succeed in life. In fact we have idolized the success to an extent that every bookstore carries plethora of books on success. We flock seminars that sell success themes to our feeble minds. Our culture adores success to an extent that thoughts of failure shakes our strongest will to imagine and try to explore new ideas. The reality is a far outcry from our fake belief. My father failed in business many times in his life. He always bounced back from the lows. He credited his resilience to the virtue of value and character. He faced many obstacles in life, but he never had lack of compassion and support from his friends as they had unshakable faith in my father’s value and character. In today’s world, “get quick rich” mantra shuns the virtues of value and character. We all know that a man without values and character is doomed to fail miserably in life.
“I have never looked upon ease and happiness as ends in themselves — this critical basis I call the ideal of a pigsty. The ideals that have lighted my way, and time after time have given me new courage to face life cheerfully,have been Kindness, Beauty, and Truth.”
~Albert Einstein
So, from the school of hard knocks, Albert Einstein taught us to work selflessly for others, to never stop growing our mind, to love our imagination, to make our thoughts simple enough for others to understand, to live life of simplicity, to never quit no matter what it takes to succeed and above all, live life of highest values and character.
Are you a graduate of Einstein’s school of hard knocks?
Let's have another great week...
October 21, 2013
Overcoming hopelessness - Nick Vujicic at TEDxNoviSad
If this man, Nick Vujicic, can change walls into doors and obstacles into opportunities, none of us has any excuses we cannot overcome difficulties and succeed in life! None whatsoever!
God bless him for being an inspiration to so many!
God bless him for being an inspiration to so many!
October 20, 2013
Who is willing to train tomorrow's American workers?
From CNN Money
By Claire Zillman, reporter October 16, 2013
Speaking at Fortune's Most Powerful Women Summit in Washington, D.C., Shriti Vadera, who was an economic adviser to former U.K. Prime Minister Gordon Brown, hit on the issue of the skills gap -- the mismatch between what background and expertise employers need from employees and the skills that job candidates possess.
She delivered some somber news:
The United States is one of two or three countries where older people have higher level skills than younger people. We might be the only generation to not bequeath a better life to the next one.
Vadera shared the stage at the summit with Joyce Russell, president of Adecco Staffing U.S., who advocated for companies' use of flexible workers, the kind who are employed by staffing firms like Adecco, which loans workers to its client companies. Russell argued that such arrangements allow companies and workers to try each other on for size and often lead to full-time employment.
Vadera argued that the use of such flexible workers contributes to the growing skills gap. If a company employs temporary workers, it's not going to put resources towards advancing their skills. "Why would you invest in [employees'] skills if they're just going to leave?" she asked.
Corporations' investment in worker skills is crucial, Vadera said, since "you can't expect the public sector" to address workforce training needs on its own.
By Claire Zillman, reporter October 16, 2013
Speaking at Fortune's Most Powerful Women Summit in Washington, D.C., Shriti Vadera, who was an economic adviser to former U.K. Prime Minister Gordon Brown, hit on the issue of the skills gap -- the mismatch between what background and expertise employers need from employees and the skills that job candidates possess.
She delivered some somber news:
The United States is one of two or three countries where older people have higher level skills than younger people. We might be the only generation to not bequeath a better life to the next one.
Vadera shared the stage at the summit with Joyce Russell, president of Adecco Staffing U.S., who advocated for companies' use of flexible workers, the kind who are employed by staffing firms like Adecco, which loans workers to its client companies. Russell argued that such arrangements allow companies and workers to try each other on for size and often lead to full-time employment.
Vadera argued that the use of such flexible workers contributes to the growing skills gap. If a company employs temporary workers, it's not going to put resources towards advancing their skills. "Why would you invest in [employees'] skills if they're just going to leave?" she asked.
Corporations' investment in worker skills is crucial, Vadera said, since "you can't expect the public sector" to address workforce training needs on its own.
October 17, 2013
Congress kicks the can again
I find this article by Larry Levine, an active futures trader and a frequent guest at Bloomberg TV's market opening each day with Betty Liu fascinating:
"As if scripted from an over budget movie (say one that will cost $24 billion in 16 days of filming), at the 11th hour, or technically the 10th hour and 10th minute before financial Armageddon, the House gets the necessary 216 votes to pass the Senate bill to raise the debt ceiling with a final 285-144 tally. We have our dramatic Hollywood ending: The markets can rally, the pundits can pontificate and Congress can return to point fingers at each other as they live happily ever after.
But let me be clear, this is not remotely a solution but a short-term stop gap. By all accounts this compromise doesn't address the serious fiscal problems facing the U.S. including $17 trillion in debt. And it doesn't heal the breach between the parties. Worst of all, it perpetuates the sheer lunacy of our centrally planned markets.
While this may soon become a historical footnote, the government shutdown has taken at least $24 billion out of the United States economy, the financial ratings agency Standard & Poor's said Wednesday.
The firm said the shutdown caused it to cut its forecast of gross domestic product growth in the fourth quarter by at least 0.6 percentage point. The agency lowered its estimate for GDP growth to close to 2 percent from 3 percent.
The estimate represents a staggering cost to the economy of a completely self-inflicted political catastrophe. Unlike the 2008 economic crisis and other past recessions, the government shutdown had nothing to do with larger economic trends. The numbers show Washington's brinksmanship caused real damage beyond furloughed government workers and the Washington, D.C., region.
But again. the central planners want a Hollywood ending. Documentaries don't do well at the box office. This debt, like the rest, will be heaped on the pile and forgotten as we continue to kick the can down the road."
October 15, 2013
GOLDMAN: The Disparity Between High- And Low-Income Households In America Is The Worst We've Seen
From Business Insider
GOLDMAN: The Disparity Between High- And Low-Income Households In America Is The Worst We've Seen
MATTHEW BOESLER OCT. 14, 2013
A quarterly survey of 2,000 U.S. consumers by Goldman Sachs analysts shows that "the bifurcation between the high and low end continues to widen" in America.
"Consumers in $90,000+ households saw increased levels of optimism, while consumers in under-$50,000 households declined," write Goldman analysts Michael Kelter, Ivan Holman, and Harsh Aneja in a new report. "This is, in fact, the widest spread we have seen between these two income groups in our survey."
And according to the survey, it's not just economic optimism that is diverging across income groups: actual spending patterns are as well.
"The total number of consumers who said they spent more in the past three months did tick up in our 3Q survey," say Kelter, Holman, and Aneja. "However, the bifurcation of high vs. low-mid income consumers is clearly evident. Consumers in $90,000+ households reported an increase in spending in 3Q vs. 2Q, while consumers in under-$50,000 households reported a decrease in spending this quarter."
Read more from Business Insider >>
GOLDMAN: The Disparity Between High- And Low-Income Households In America Is The Worst We've Seen
MATTHEW BOESLER OCT. 14, 2013
A quarterly survey of 2,000 U.S. consumers by Goldman Sachs analysts shows that "the bifurcation between the high and low end continues to widen" in America.
"Consumers in $90,000+ households saw increased levels of optimism, while consumers in under-$50,000 households declined," write Goldman analysts Michael Kelter, Ivan Holman, and Harsh Aneja in a new report. "This is, in fact, the widest spread we have seen between these two income groups in our survey."
And according to the survey, it's not just economic optimism that is diverging across income groups: actual spending patterns are as well.
"The total number of consumers who said they spent more in the past three months did tick up in our 3Q survey," say Kelter, Holman, and Aneja. "However, the bifurcation of high vs. low-mid income consumers is clearly evident. Consumers in $90,000+ households reported an increase in spending in 3Q vs. 2Q, while consumers in under-$50,000 households reported a decrease in spending this quarter."
Read more from Business Insider >>
October 14, 2013
Do nothing days
Once in a while, it feels great to do nothing!
The past four days, I did just that - nothing.
I was hanging out with some close friends and family just enjoying their company - long coffee shop chats, and relaxing dinners. It is refreshing for both body and mind not to listen to all the crappy news or care about what WashingDung, D.C. is doing!
Happy Monday!
The past four days, I did just that - nothing.
I was hanging out with some close friends and family just enjoying their company - long coffee shop chats, and relaxing dinners. It is refreshing for both body and mind not to listen to all the crappy news or care about what WashingDung, D.C. is doing!
Happy Monday!
October 10, 2013
How The Economic Machine Works by Ray Dalio
Watch this animation to understand how the economy works.
October 9, 2013
7 Things Really Amazing Communicators Do
From Inc.
7 Things Really Amazing Communicators Do
Want to be successful? You have to communicate effectively. Here are 7 practices to master.
BY KEVIN DAUM
It doesn't matter whether you are in the business of delivering products or services--either way, your success depends heavily on communication. When things go wrong, you can almost always trace the problem to a breakdown in communication. And when things go right, it's usually great communicators who helped create the successful results. It's a necessary skill in every aspect of business, social and family life. How you communicate will determine if you lead, command respect, earn trust and are well liked. Poor communicators will suffer from confusion, low self-esteem and frustration.
Many of you have experienced great communicators such as Presidents Reagan and Clinton, and most of you have suffered through that boring lecture or maddening argument from a person who just couldn't make their point in a way you could comprehend. No need for you to be the offender. Just emulate these seven traits, and you'll rise to your highest potential and enjoy life along the way.
1. They Connect
So many people begin with their own agenda. They have something to say or prove, and so they just start right in without considering the person on the other end. Often they simply broadcast their message, assuming people will think it's the most important information in the world. Amazing communicators know that people won't start listening unless they connect intellectually and emotionally. There are too many internal voices and too much outside stimulus. Know your audience and start by conveying an emotional anecdote that shows your common perspective. People say that, when Bill Clinton talks with you, he makes you feel like you are the only person in the world. Let your listeners feel your empathy and know you value their importance.
2. They Engage
Read more from Inc. >>
7 Things Really Amazing Communicators Do
Want to be successful? You have to communicate effectively. Here are 7 practices to master.
BY KEVIN DAUM
It doesn't matter whether you are in the business of delivering products or services--either way, your success depends heavily on communication. When things go wrong, you can almost always trace the problem to a breakdown in communication. And when things go right, it's usually great communicators who helped create the successful results. It's a necessary skill in every aspect of business, social and family life. How you communicate will determine if you lead, command respect, earn trust and are well liked. Poor communicators will suffer from confusion, low self-esteem and frustration.
Many of you have experienced great communicators such as Presidents Reagan and Clinton, and most of you have suffered through that boring lecture or maddening argument from a person who just couldn't make their point in a way you could comprehend. No need for you to be the offender. Just emulate these seven traits, and you'll rise to your highest potential and enjoy life along the way.
1. They Connect
So many people begin with their own agenda. They have something to say or prove, and so they just start right in without considering the person on the other end. Often they simply broadcast their message, assuming people will think it's the most important information in the world. Amazing communicators know that people won't start listening unless they connect intellectually and emotionally. There are too many internal voices and too much outside stimulus. Know your audience and start by conveying an emotional anecdote that shows your common perspective. People say that, when Bill Clinton talks with you, he makes you feel like you are the only person in the world. Let your listeners feel your empathy and know you value their importance.
2. They Engage
Read more from Inc. >>
October 8, 2013
Time, Money and Health
The recurring theme from all the featured power profilers in this blog is time and financial freedom.
Everyone of these power profilers loves the fact that he/she enjoys time freedom. Each one of them owns their own time unbeholden to no one. There is no boss to report to. The alarm clock is noticeably absent in the bedroom. This is bliss!
The real enabler of time freedom is financial independence. What good is it to have all the time in the world but no money to enjoy it!
These twin pillars, time and money, enables a person to enjoy true independence - no boss and no time clock. This is pure freedom!
One other ingredient for true freedom, less mentioned, is health. What good is time and financial freedom when one has health issues and challenges?
This combination of wealth, good health (whealth) and free time if acquired early on in life gives one the truest sense of freedom - freedom to spend quality time with one's family and friends, to pursue one's interest(s), or travel wherever one desires without any constraints. Being in a position to give is in itself most rewarding, for one cannot give what one does not have.
Where else can one pursue such dreams within 2 to 3 year time frames except through Market America? Not only Market America provides all the tools for you to succeed in creating wealth, it also has all the health products to assist you to age gracefully and lead a healthier life style. Combined, wealth and health give you quality time to enjoy your sojourn in this earthly life!
Everyone of these power profilers loves the fact that he/she enjoys time freedom. Each one of them owns their own time unbeholden to no one. There is no boss to report to. The alarm clock is noticeably absent in the bedroom. This is bliss!
The real enabler of time freedom is financial independence. What good is it to have all the time in the world but no money to enjoy it!
These twin pillars, time and money, enables a person to enjoy true independence - no boss and no time clock. This is pure freedom!
One other ingredient for true freedom, less mentioned, is health. What good is time and financial freedom when one has health issues and challenges?
This combination of wealth, good health (whealth) and free time if acquired early on in life gives one the truest sense of freedom - freedom to spend quality time with one's family and friends, to pursue one's interest(s), or travel wherever one desires without any constraints. Being in a position to give is in itself most rewarding, for one cannot give what one does not have.
Where else can one pursue such dreams within 2 to 3 year time frames except through Market America? Not only Market America provides all the tools for you to succeed in creating wealth, it also has all the health products to assist you to age gracefully and lead a healthier life style. Combined, wealth and health give you quality time to enjoy your sojourn in this earthly life!
October 6, 2013
October 5, 2013
Timing is everything in what you do
Timing is everything in what you do
How can 3 men armed with sticks steal food from a pack of 15 hungry lions?
If you think you can do it, you exude confidence and fearlessness. But you also have to be wise.
Watch these men - they approached the lions feasting on their kill, squated, waited and waited and then made their moves. They approached the feeding lions with upright confidence. One lion started to run, followed by the others and watched from a distance while the 3 men with haste, made their "kill" and walked away with the prized meat.
Timing is everything in live. If the 3 men waited too long, the hungry lions would have devoured the carcass. If they approached the hungry lions too soon, the hungry lions would have attacked them and this video would have been one of tragedy - not of triumph!
What is your goal in life?
If it is time and financial independence - then seek it with confidence. And as Earl Nightingale says, "You are what you think about!"
Form a team, like these 3 brave men, walk together boldly, confront all the obstacles and make your "kill." Remember, no one can do everything alone! Help others to be successful and success will come to you. Only then will you be able to walk into the sunset enjoying the fruits of your labor with your family and your friends!
Wouldn't it be wonderful to have time to enjoy your new found wealth and the wealth to enjoy your time with your loved ones!
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