Welcome to Michael's Article Collection

Feng Shui Horoscopes

A great tool to help you find out more about yourself.Chinese feng shui horoscope is based on twelve animals which represent you depending on the year you were born. Feng shui horoscope is an ancient reading of people's personalities and the influences which nature forces have on them. According to this, each year is represented by an animal and its characteristics.Each one of us has a feng shu. . .

The Five Feng Shui Elements and Their Characteristics

Feng shui handles five main elements in order to achieve harmony and balance in any space. These five feng shui elements are: wood, fire, earth, metal and water. Each one of them has its own characteristics and properties, and we will detail them in the following lines.According to Chinese traditions, everything is constantly changing and interacting and that happens through these five main ele. . .

You've Been Dumped. Here's How to Get Over It.

Weve all been there. Weve fallen in love with somebody who just didnt love us back. Weve heard a variety of exit lines: I think its time we started seeing other people, I love you, but Im not in love with you, or Its not you. Its me. Its hard to accept when the other person just stops returning phone messages, but its even worse when they keep calling after the break-up. Running into the object. . .

Any Job is an Honorable Job

Seeing your job as an honorable job, adds more meaning and peace to your life. Also, seeing the honor in what you do now, creates an ideal foundation upon which a career change can be built. Remember: Any job is an honorable job. Any Job is an Honorable Job Seeing your job as an honorable job, adds more meaning and peace to your life. Also, seeing the honor in what you do now, creates an ideal . . .

Like A One-Eyed Cat Peeping In A Seafood Store

Want to be successful in whatever it is you choose to do? Then you need to be focused--just "like a one-eyed cat peeping in a seafood store!" Guess what that old one-eyed cat see's, when it's peeping in that seafood store? Seafood--that's it! No people, no traffic--just seafood! Now that's what you call "laser-like focus!" And "lack of focus" is the main reason why most people don't succeed.. . .

Here's The REAL Reason Bush Won: The Dark Night Of The Le...

George Bush won the election because he was finally able to break out of the presidential bubble and give "leadership talks" on a consistent basis. But to do it, he had to face the dark night of his leadership soul. And this is a lesson for ALL leaders.The presidential bubble is that physical and psychological insulation that descends upon the president of the United States the moment he's sw. . .

Idiots Guide to Goal Setting: 5 Steps to Success

Weve all read about personal goal setting. Weve all tried it. According to the stats, most of the time we all fail. I often used to slap hand to forehead and mutter through clinched teeth, Idiot! after realizing that I have, yet again failed to accomplish even the simplest of personal goals (much less the grand New Years goal). Over the years, though, I have managed to develop a cohesive method. . .

COACHING: When its beyond Oprah and Dr. Phil

How many more servings of the daytime self-help salad will it take to sooth your appetite? To actually get your life to where you want it to be? To actually start seeing changes for yourself rather than just on the tear-filled faces of Oprahs latest guests? How about the alternatives? If you stick with TV then you will likely wind up in frightening dead ends with the likes of Jerry, Ricky and M. . .

A Kernel of Truth about Relationships: 4 Steps to Improve...

It's all about relationships! proclaimed my father during our recent holiday visit with my parents. Santa Claus coffee cup in one hand and a wagging finger toward my wife, Elizabeth, with the other. When you retire, thats what you realize is most important in life (okay, so thats not him in the photo). Dad recently retired from 30+ years as an orthopedic surgeon and the major shift in lifestyle. . .

3 Steps to Defining Success and Defining Your Future

Q: Are you a success? A: Its all in how you define the word!An American investment banker was at the pier of a small coastal Mexican Village when a small boat with just one fisherman docked.Inside the boat were several large yellow fin tuna. The banker complimented Miguel, the Mexican, on the quality of his fish and asked how long it took to catch them. Miguel replied that it took only a little. . .

Is Timing the Secret of Success?

Success is often viewed as a magic potion. Market demand has always been there, but no-one has worked out the recipe or how to bottle it.On further investigation the ingredients are not that easy to replicate and include: determination, enthusiasm, perseverance, stamina, hard work and a focus bordering on obsession. Yet there is often one other ingredient that successful people in all walks of. . .

Six Steps for Creating Work-Life Balance

Today an increasing number of us are experiencing burnout, low productivity, insomnia, and stress related illnesses…undoubtedly due to a lack of balance between our work and personal lives. It’s time to look at how we can create greater balance in our work and personal lives. What looks like balance to one person may differ for another because individuals have different goals, values and defini. . .

The Answer is the Question ... Asking the right questions!

We all have questions about our lives, directions, and destinies. It is the curiosity of the unknown that intrigues us to "ask" of the future. It is the stress of the present and events of the past that cause us to "wish" for a future. But, under circumstances and with events that create stresses and distortions, our questions, demands, and wishes can create a future that is specifically implem. . .

Floating In Mindfulness: Dealing With Disappointment

Feeling disappointed? It's time to float. The time-honored approach to disappointment generally involves a fair amount of wallowing followed by a concerted effort to move on. Okay, this can work. But a more mindful approach includes an interim phase between these two. It's a unique opportunity to "float". When things don't go our way--whether we're talking about election results, a job intervie. . .

The Need to Feel Special

From the time Jennifer was a little child, she was demanding of attention, especially from her mother, Sarah. With two older brothers, Jennifer had a “special” place in the family as the baby and the only girl. She made sure to establish a “special” relationship with her mother, who relished the connection since she didn’t have much of a relationship with her emotionally distant husband. It was. . .

How to Choose Your Ideal Career

They say that most people do complete and total career changes at least once often twice in their lifetimes. Very few people chose the ideal perfect career for themselves when they're in high school and blissfully happily work those same jobs for the rest of their lives. With the way that technology and everything else changes so fast, I think it's ridiculous to expect to stay in one job from. . .

Recreating Yourself

So it's time for a change. You've taken that hard look in the mirror and you've decided that who you are is not who you want to be. Or perhaps you're standing at a fork in the road and where you'd like to go requires that you make some changes. Maybe you're just really bored with your life as you've been in that same old rut for so long that you just want to scream if you spend another day doin. . .

Clocks, Seasons, and Cycles

Why should you follow astrology? How can people believe that the planet Neptune is affecting our choices and actions here on earth? If it's been studied forever, then why can't they prove it? What benefit is there in knowing about horoscopes and where the planets are at any given time? How does it work? Why does it even matter?I could answer your questions with vague concepts that don't me. . .

The New Age Movement

What is the New Age Movement? It is similar to New Age Spirituality, but different enough to warrant its own definition. The New Age Movement is a belief that the human race is all one. It is not about equality nor diversity. It is the idea that your gender, age, religion, race, nor sexual orientation makes you better or worse then anyone else. The New Age Movement is moving away from the . . .

How to Solve Disputes with the Helicopter Talk Technique

Do you ever find that when a friend asks for your opinion on a problem it is a lot easier for you to see a solution than it is for your friend? And do you also find that sometimes you feel completely stuck when it comes to your own problems? The same applies to disputes, relationship issues and disagreements. When you are part of the problem it can be very difficult to see a solution. What you . . .

Happy Talk and 3 Simple Secrets to Happiness

What is the one thing you want more than anything else for the people you love the most? If you had a magic wand what would you grant your family and friends? What is it that everyone wants? To be happy! How can you make other people happy until you are happy? How can you be happy? Lester Levenson, creator of The Sedona Method, discovered the key to happiness. He searched for 47 years and nearl. . .

3 Keys to Making Small Talk Easy to Do

Small talk used to be really hard work for me. I never knew what to say and I always worried about saying the wrong thing. Then something awful happened to me.... I had to take a job dealing with the public. My worst fears came true and I had to make small talk with a whole range of people each and every day. I found it difficult, tedious and nerve wracking. Eventually after a lot of trial and . . .

7 Ways To Make a Great First Impression

When you have an important event to attend there are 7 great ways to make sure you perform at your very best. These tips are relevant for social events and business meetings. Discover how to communicate with confidence while making great conversation.1. Decide what you want to say before the event. Review it in your mind to make sure it sounds okay. Keep rehearsing it until you can say it with . . .

Say Adios to the Fear of Rejection!

Do you ever get an uncomfortable feeling in your stomach when you have to approach someone? In situations like this does your mind go blank? This is not unusual. That feeling is often the fear of rejection. When you feel afraid your emotions take over, you feel tense and your ability to think logically vanishes into thin air. And that is why you can talk to close friends without a care in the w. . .

3 Secrets to Developing Superior People Skills

1. If What You Are Doing Is Not Working Change Your Approach When I was in school I always had a small group of close friends but I never found it easy meeting new people. By the time I reluctantly entered the work force it was clear that my communication skills were limiting my progress. The fact that I was as capable or even more capable than my peers meant little when I was unable to create . . .

Three Great Ways to Deal with Negative People

1. Do not believe everything you hear! With close friends and family it is not unusual to think that you ought to take onboard everything you hear. However do not confuse caring with knowing. Just because someone is concerned for your welfare does not mean that their advice or input has value. For example, I know a lot about peak performance. I do not know much about car maintenance. If I ever . . .

4 Ways To Avoid Looking Stupid When Making Small Talk

The fear of saying something silly and feeling embarrassed stops many of us from contributing more to discussions at work and when we are relaxing with friends. And ironically the more we worry about it, the more tense we get and the more likely we are to say something stupid. Let us a take a look at some remedies: 1. Learn to relax when you feel under pressure. I often talk about the importanc. . .

Why Pacing and Leading is for Wimps!

Okay, you have read some books on body language and they all said you must mirror and match, pace and lead.... And you failed miserably when you went out into the real world. Let me tell you why and what you need to do instead. But first a story that illustrates my point... A few years ago I moved into a very well paid position in the company where I worked. And in my new job I was dealing with. . .

THE Step to Working Smarter (Japanese Style)

Remember that Coke contest from the 80s? If you collected bottle tops that had the letters to spell T-H-E R-E-A-L T-H-I-N-G, then youd win a zillion dollars. Im not sure where the drink industry turned the corner but contests and advertisements are no longer all you will find on the underneath side of bottle caps. The latest beverage I popped open was some high brow herbal elixir that promised . . .

How to Talk to Yourself When Nobody is Listening and You ...

Do you ever pay attention to the thoughts inside your mind? And more importantly do you ever notice the way in which you talk to yourself? We all pay a lot of attention to the way we communicate with the outside world but we often neglect to improve the way we communicate with ourselves. When it comes to motivating yourself to be a better person, to do better at work or to create a happier fami. . .

Busy Fish: Tips for Changing Your Day from Chaos to Calm

Syndicated columnist Dale Dauten recently wrote, One of lifes great joys that weve lost is that of the empty day, a day given over to quiet, to reading and contemplation. Our planners and PDAs give the illusion of importance and of being in control. A beautiful statement but what Dale doesnt acknowledge is that weve become such slaves to busyness and mental stimulation that spending a day g. . .

Media Underload! The Stress Reducing Psych-Diet

The war, taxes, the economy, increased health problems, crime on the rise, overwhelming divorce rate, corruption in corporate America, and, oh yes, Janet at the Super Bowl! Where does it end? With so much going wrong, whats going right in the world? It is times like these that I find myself mired down in the muck spewing forth from every media outlet. Like water dripping on a sponge, this negat. . .

How to Give Yourself a Motivational Warm Up When You Wake Up

Question: What is the worst thing you can do when you start your day? Answer: Wake up feeling lethargic and expect yourself to perform at 100% from the moment you get up in the morning; and then compare how you are doing during the day against this unrealistic benchmark. There is a better way! As you wake up in the morning take charge of your thoughts in that early morning awareness before you . . .

How to Tune In Your Brain & Feel Confident with People in...

One day when I was in school, many years ago, the school principal wandered into our class room, sat down and started to talk. He talked and talked; and there was nothing we could do to stop him seeing as how he was in charge! For once he actually said something that interested me and I never forgot what he said. Not because he was so original but because he was the first person I heard saying . . .

4 Quick, Easy Ways to Say No to People Who Take You for G...

No matter how wonderful you are sometimes other people will try to take advantage of your good nature. They will push you, get you to do more than your fair share and keep asking you to do even more. And worst of all -- often your efforts will be taken for granted. Unless you can say No, the situation will not change in fact it may get even more difficult. That is unless you can say No to these. . .

Feeling Self-Conscious? 6 Tips to Turn it Around Fast!

When you feel self-conscious it means you are putting too much attention on your self, too much focus on what you are doing and how you are doing it. And this is a formula for poor performance. The secret then to dealing with this problem is to become other conscious. If all you do is shift your focus from self to others you will communicate better, perform better and become a far better listen. . .

Addiction to Clutter

Clutter is a big problem for many people. At a lecture that I gave, I asked for a show of hands regarding how many people had problems with clutter and disorganization. I was surprised to find that at least half the people raised their hands.One of my clients told me that she was trying to help her sister get back on her feet after her sister had been laid up with an illness and lost her job. H. . .

14 Reasons To Get Motivated And Stay Motivated

Why should you bother to spend your valuable time to learn how to get motivated and stay motivated? Here´s why. Your quality of life will change dramatically when you take charge of how motivated you feel in any given moment. Family and friends will respect you more and see you in a whole new light. And deadline frenzy will be a thing of the past. There are several good reasons to learn the sec. . .

9 Fantastic Formulas for a Stress Free Holiday!

The holidays are officially here. And so the season for giving begins. Warm loving intentions, thoughtful giving and stocking stuffing take over.It’s a wonderful time of year, but with all the activities, excitement and family obligations taking place at the same time, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed, stressed and even a tad bit gloomy. Here are 9 simple steps to relax, let go and really enjoy a . . .

You Can Quickly And Easily Solve Your Problems

Today I just wanted to write you a quick note to encourage you. Why? Because even as you are doing your best to be motivated there will be days when it all seems too much. No matter how challenging life gets bear in mind the following three points and you can solve any problem you face. 1. Your problems are not personal Most of our problems can be solved right away once we learn the correct str. . .

That One Thing That Guarantees Your Unlimited Motivation ...

What can you do when you do not feel like getting started? When procrastination takes over... We all know what that feels like. You sit there staring at the mountain of work in front of you while your mind screens a horror movie of toil and effort. I am sure you have tried making a list of things to do but the problem is the longer the list the harder it is to get started. Well, listen I have a. . .

The "Greatest" Leaders Are Often The Worst Leaders

It's a common occurrence, a CEO leads a company to record earnings, retires and in months, those once high-flying earnings are dropping like shot ducks.Observers blame the new leadership team. But most likely the observers are wrong. It's not just the new leaders who are screwing up. Instead, it was most likely the former CEO. Yes, the former, supposedly great CEO. Look to him for what went wro. . .

Top 10 Resume Writing Tips to Get You the Interview

There are many reasons why you could be in the market for a new job right now. Perhaps... == You just graduated from high school--or even better, college--and you’re ready to strike out on a quest for your first "real" job. == Your worst fears finally manifested and you’ve been downsized. == You’re bored with the career path you’ve been on for the past few years, and you’re ready to strike out . . .

What Footsie Taught Us!

We have just inherited a rag, tag and bobtail of a dog called ’Footsie’. She was found three weeks ago wandering around outside a local restaurant for a couple of days looking for food. Paula, a woman who takes responsibility for stray animals in this part of the island, took her in and started to look after her. She soon found that, Footsie has such a quiet, loving nature but is definitely not. . .

Why is it so EASY to GAIN WEIGHT during the HOLIDAYS?

I’m sure you have pondered this question, for it is no secret that we all tend to put on a few pounds during this magical time of year! For many of us across the globe it is a tradition to ring in the New Year with our belts loosened and seams bursting. Read on for 5 reasons why it is so easy to gain weight during the month of December, and what you can do to avoid them!REASON #1: Have Yourself. . .

The Secret To Life Long Success And Fulfillment

What Makes the Difference? On a warm spring afternoon, fifteen years ago, two young men graduated from the same college. They were similar in many ways... Like most ambitious, hard working students they had also enjoyed time off to play sport and to have fun with their friends. And they were both very excited about the bright future that lay ahead. Fifteen years later they met. They were still . . .

How to Stay Motivated Despite Negative People

Getting motivated is sometimes easy enough to do, at least for short periods of time, but staying motivated can be a lot harder to do. And when you add into the mix the presence of negative people it is really not surprising that your motivation can fizzle out despite your best intentions. What can you do? 1. Do Not Discuss Your Dreams with Negative People Only share your hopes, dreams and goal. . .

How to Use Discouragement to Motivate Yourself

Ever feel like giving up? Do you ever feel so discouraged that even one more day of frustration will be too much too handle? Everyone gets discouraged at times only there are a number of key differences between people who keep on going and those who give up: 1 Focus On Your Goal Not On Your Problems One of my mentors is a highly successful property developer and he loves solving problems. All d. . .

Prevent Sucide Now

A website called Prevent Suicide Now.Com recently came to my attention by chance. I almost sent it back into cyber obscurity with a mouse click as it seemed unlikely to be of any interest or use to me in my carefree home business programme.My first thought was that a website dedicated to suicide must be macabre. However, a tour of the website revealed that a great deal of loving work had gone i. . .

Why Should We Hire You?

This is one of those broad questions that can take you down the wrong road unless you have done some thinking about what to say ahead of time. This question deals with your ability to sell yourself. Think of yourself as the product. Why should the customer buy? Answers that WON'T WORK - 'Because I need a job.' -- This answer is about YOU -- 'they' want to know what you can do for 'them.' 'I am. . .