Welcome to Michael's Article Collection

Stepping Stone Jobs

What we name something matters. It sets a tone that alters our attitude. Give something a new name and the difference may seem insignificant or even trivial. However, if it changes our attitude, it can amount to a very big change. Recently, I heard the term “survival job.” I understood this to mean a job that is often part-time and unrelated to one’s primary career focus. One takes such a job b. . .

F-E-A-R in the Job Search!

Fear in starting a job search is a four letter word! Like any other four letter word, the word itself can create more fear, and some- times self-loathing!Look at the fear when it applies to a job search. Fear of others. Fear of change. Fear of rejection. Fear of being seen as inadequate. Fear of taking action, (procrastination in disguise).By looking at the fears expressed, they revolve around . . .

8 Ultimate Secrets Skyrocket Your Success!

Whenever I ask people this question, "what do you really want in your life?" They will usually give me answers as follows. "I want to have more success in my life." "I want to have more money." "I want to have a better relationship." Then I ask them “What will success give you?" “What will money give you?" "What will a good relationship give you?" They will always come down to one answer" Feeli. . .

LIFE'S PURPOSE

To every life, there is a purpose; a purpose of will and a purpose of choice. A choice to make the right or wrong decisions and the will to act on the choices made.There is no life that exists that is without a purpose, for everyone exists for something or someone. It may be one single act to which one is born; maybe an act of five minutes. Not so long compared to a life time you would say. But. . .

Tips for Handling On the Job Setbacks

If you’ve chosen a business career, you will inevitably experience some type of setback. And whether your pet project is canceled, your performance review is a bust, you get turned down for a promotion, or you’re asked to leave the company, setbacks hurt big time. Nevertheless, if you start thinking of yourself as a victim or allow yourself to lapse into prolonged negativity, you won’t be hur. . .

The Bright Side of Loneliness

Recently a romantic relationship came to an end and I found myself alone again. The minutes, the hours now felt empty. For three weeks I sat beside a silent phone, rehashing the past and coming to terms with my loss. After the warmth and intimacy of love, my loneliness felt like a great abyss that I could not escape.I do not allow myself to indulge in self-pity – so my next reaction was to ask . . .

Bamboozled

Here’s the scenario: Julie, a hardworking secretary, lent money to her good friend Ray; $1300 to be exact. Ray had just moved to a new town and claimed that he needed two new suits: one for an upcoming wedding and one to wear on job interviews. Ray lived in a beautiful penthouse. He had a degree in Computer Science and was accustomed to the finer things in life – designer labels, frequent t. . .

Time Travel

Direct Answers - Column for the week of September 20, 2004Let me quote something you wrote. "When you reach the boundary between like and love, you know you are entering a different country. You are beyond newness and infatuation. You know what Shakespeare meant when he called love 'an ever-fixed mark that looks on tempests and is never shaken.'"On one level, I agree with what you say. But . . .

R-E-S-P-E-C-T: 25 Ways To Show It

Convicted criminals report that their violent behavior was caused by perceived disrespect.*Everyone wants to be treated with respect, but respect means different things to different people. It also means different things in different cultures, so treating others with respect often becomes a serious problem. If you want to avoid offending someone by being disrespectful, you must think about both. . .

A Quick Checklist for Improving Your Life

1. Learn About YouIf you don’t know who you are and why you think and act the way you do, it’s gonna be really difficult to make any positive changes in your life. Take a look first at your parents and close family members. Think about how they look and how they deal with life. This is the basis for who you are today. You’ve been instilled with the tendency to think as they think and act as. . .

How Fast Can We Do It? Speed Dating Online and Off

In an effort to cut down the time between meeting and mating to as close to zero as possible, up has popped Speed Dating!For the uninitiated, speed dating happens when groups of singles meet together at a predetermined location. In an organized fashion, these folks talk to each other individually for under ten minutes (usually six to eight) per person, then switch to the next one in line. Next,. . .

The River of Life

I’ve always loved the awesome majesty of mountains. They are, however, the byproduct of the rivers that formed them: flowing, adjusting, carving, crashing and gently nurturing the land and animals along the way. The river carves its way through, and the mountains answer as towers of strength. Like the river, our lives are forever moving and changing, shaping us as the water shapes the land. . .

The Adventure Attitude

Of the 60,000 people who lived to be over 100 in the United States in 2002, the single most important characteristic they had in common was their ability to be positive in the face of change. They were able to look at things objectively, put them in perspective and move on. They didn’t try to control the uncontrollable. Surviving, thriving and living a long happy healthy life may just depend. . .

Why Teach Thinking? Why Not ?

The word ‘creativity’ has so many diverse meanings and interpretations. I remember telling an audience of teachers that creating a mess is also creative as long as new things and views are being conjured up. This led to much laughter and discussion about the meaning of ‘creativity’ (This notion of ‘creative mess’ was taken from master-thinker, Dr Edward de Bono).Most people feel that creativity. . .

You Have The Right

The other day I was having a interesting conversation with an acquaintance, but it soon turned out to be surprising and unpleasant. The other person blurted out an unwelcome comment, in a tactful manner by pin pointing a personal issue within the conversation.What did I do? I immediately gave her an answer back within the conversation as well. It was subtle unlike my husband who would stop . . .

Clearing a Path for Happiness

In the United States, the pursuit of happiness is a god-given right and Americans have a document to prove it. But I wonder why the Founding Fathers deliberately phrased it, ‘the pursuit of happiness’, as if to say --- happiness in itself cannot be granted because it was, and still remains, tied to materialism. In the “pursuit” of happiness, it is each person’s own definition: riches, health,. . .

Secret Formula For Success at Anything.

It is with amazing clarity that I uncovered the following life-changing revelation. It caused me to put together this formula because it is so powerful that it allows me to accomplish anything I so desire. It will also work for anybody who is willing to put forth these principals on a daily basis. A person putting forth these principals can literally create a fortune for themselves. While the s. . .

The Climbs In Our Lives

I grew up climbing mountains. Mountains are beautiful and challenging, majestic and all powerful. They also have lessons to teach us: lessons about life and how to live it. Every mountain has a surprise around the corner, an obstacle in the path, or a storm brewing minutes away. During every climb you’ll find yourself teetering on a ledge, knowing you could fall, and then rounding the bend an. . .

Patterns For Plus Size Children

Plus size children and overweight children need patterns and clothing that fit THEIR "larger than average" measurements. Sadly, neither ready made clothing nor commercial patterns address the real issue of children's measurements. After interviewing countless dozens of mothers, grandmothers, and sewing professionals who are trying to get clothing and patterns to fit plus size children properly,. . .

How To Start, Survive, and Finish Your Journey To Super S...

"The more you hate, the more you love." What an ironic statement. Whoever said those words must have been drunk. The bottom line is this: It is extremely difficult to like or love something that you despise. But what can we do to solve this dilemma? What if you're trapped in an environment that you don't want to be involved in? What if you're sick and tired of your job that you feel like puking. . .

Linguaphone Language Learning Solutions

Language Training is integral to success in the International setting. It is increasingly recognized as a key element in assignment success. The ability to communicate in the local language of International colleagues and clients facilitates relationship building and fosters an atmosphere of credibility and trust. Knowledge of the local language gives international assignees a more thorough und. . .

Understanding Astrological Predictions

Opinions about astrological prediction are generally divided: “Mysterious! Magical!”, say some; “Nonsense!”, reply others. In fact, both views are based on a misunderstanding of the nature of how astrology really “works”. In this article, I will use a story to show both the true value of astrological prediction, as well as its limits. Let's imagine that a girl named Ellen goes to an astrolog. . .

The Difference Between Approval and Appreciation

Having worked with individuals, couples, families and business partners for 35 years, helping them learn to resolve conflict, I have often been faced with the difficulties that occur when people are confused about the difference between approval with appreciation. Have you ever wondered about the difference between approval and appreciation? Most of us have never actually thought about it, yet . . .

Personal Power

All of us would love to have personal power – the power to manifest our dreams, the power to remain calm and loving in the face of fear, the power to stay centered in ourselves in the face of attack. Our society often confuses personal power - “power within” - with “power over,” which is about controlling others. There is a vast difference between personal power and control.Personal power comes. . .

Take Action and Make a Better World

Albert Einstein is quoted as having said, "the world is a dangerous place to live, not because of the people who are evil, but because of the people who don't do anything about it".These days, everybody is aware of the social, environmental, emotional and spiritual destruction that penetrates every aspect of our life.Although we all 'know' this reality, we have funny ways of dealing with this k. . .

Dreams of Reality

Every times we discuss about the goals, objectives, success- failure, god- ghost, visions & dreams here I'm putting some very priceless work by an unknown author. with a short story he is presenting dream in inspiring way. Once there were three trees on a hill in the woods. They were discussing their hopes and dreams when the first tree said, Someday, I hope to be a treasure chest. I could be . . .

Second Fiddle

Direct Answers - Column for the week of October 25, 2004I have been seeing a married man for the past nine months. He is unhappy but says he is not ready to leave his kids. They have a teenage daughter and a grown son, who is hers from a previous marriage. He is close to them and has a lovely home, which he worked hard for.We pulled away from each other because we both felt guilty. However,. . .

A Surfing Lesson

I've never surfed in my life. Sometimes people tell me I look like a surfer, but never once have I been on a board out in the water. It fascinates me though. It was about a year ago that I was standing at the water's edge with a good friend. She was a surfer who had competed professionally and had hosted a surfing show on TV. We were watching surfers and I was asking questions about waves, boar. . .

How to DRIVE-HOME Your GOD-given PURPOSE in Life with a M...

How are you going to DRIVE-HOME GOD's PURPOSE IN YOUR LIFE? Get more active at church? ... or at work? ... Start a church? ... or a ministry? CHURCH ACTIVITY There are books on how to find GOD's purpose. Once you find GOD's purpose for your life, do you become more active in church? There's a difference between a church and the Church. A church congregation is led by an individual fulfilling TH. . .

The Good, The Bad and The Ugly: How Do You Change the World?

Recently, I saw an exhibition of paintings by a very talented artist. He clearly has a social conscience and his depictions of the pain and misery of disenfranchised and minority people are so vivid and real you can't help but feel the pain in viewing the paintings.The artist is a warm, friendly, humble man whom I approached with a question, "does he ever paint another side of life?" He seemed . . .

Take Responsibility for Reshaping Your Life

We say we want to eat better, feel better, and look better. But in order to make our goals materialize, we have to take responsibility for what we want by taking the appropriate actions. Here are three simple steps to help you turn your healthy goals into concrete accomplishments: Step One: Blame No One. Pointing fingers at the fast food industry, the media or your mother is not going to move y. . .

The Politics Of The American Dream

The American Dream is the promise to have it all and enjoy it all. It's been glorified and sentimentalized as a utopian goal not just by the media and Hollywood stars, but also by businesses and politicians, including the President of the United States. But in reality, the American Dream is becoming more and more like the 'Impossible Dream.' Today, many Americans believe that their odds of winn. . .

Anger: To Control or To Learn

Many of us will do anything to avoid another’s anger, yet may be quick to anger ourselves. Many of us dread another’s anger yet continue to use our own anger as a way to control others.Let’s take a deeper look at what generates our anger and how we can learn from it rather than be at the mercy of it.The feeling anger can come from two different places within us. Anger that comes from an adult, . . .

Alone for the Holidays?

Being alone is a challenge for many people. This challenge may loom especially large during the holidays if you are single or newly divorced and without family around you. Holidays are a time to share love, and many people end up feeling depressed when they do not have people around with whom to share love. If you are in this situation, what can you do to make the holidays joyous rather than de. . .

How to Make Women Want You

You don’t need a guitar, rock-hard abs, or even a full head of hair to make a great impression on a woman. Follow these tips, and she’ll want to hear from you again real soon:1. Go out with another woman. If you’re going out to a club or a bar, take a female friend or your sister with you. Women are often more amenable to talking to men who are with other women. It gives them the feeling that y. . .

Why Do You Want a Degree?

There are many reasons people seek degrees in today’s day and age. As a grown adult, it may seem like an unrealistic goal, but it is achievable. You may be sick of your job, you may want more money, or you may just want to try something completely different from out of left field. All of these are justifiable reasons to seek out a higher education.Even if your reasons are not related to your. . .

How to Adopt a Loosing Attitude

We have all heard the expression, “Where your heart is?, your treasure will be also.” Allow me to modify this tried and true wisdom, to create an equally valid point: “Where your thoughts are, your hips will be also.” What do I mean by this? Try this experiment: Take a few seconds to write the first the five words that pop into your head in response to this question: How do I describe mys. . .

High Technology and Human Development

Some basic premises – often fashioned by leaders and supported by the led – exercise the collective conscience of the led in so far as they stimulate a willed development. The development is usually superior but not necessarily civilized. The premises in question are of this form: “Our level of technological advancement is second to none. Upon reaching this level, we also have to prepare our so. . .

The Most Powerful Question Ever Asked?

What if every experience in your life is sent to you so you can understand who you are and what your life is all about? Just for a moment consider the possibilities within that question. What if it were true, would you be prepared to pay more attention to the events in your life and the meaning behind them? If you're not satisfied with your situation in life and have an issue or two you'd rathe. . .

Attention! Thought Crossing! – Or, The Secret of What’s B...

What are you thinking - right now? 'I'm reading your article!' you say. Well, take a little bit of a closer look. What's spinning in the back of your mind? Is it that big deadline that's looming at the end of the week? Or how you're going to deal with your mother-in-law this weekend? Or maybe you're worrying about your finances? Are you even aware of the thoughts going through your head . . .

What Do You Need To Do To Be Successful?

What do you need to do to be successful? If you are searching the net you may feel that you need to sign up for the latest affiliate marketing programme. Or perhaps you need to be a member of the latest MLM scheme. On the other hand it may be that you need to follow the directions of the latest web marketing guru. Each of theses routes give you the opportunity of being successful but without co. . .

ARC of Understanding

In relationship we all make mistakes and sometimes we are insensitive to the needs of others, especially those very close to us All this leads to disappointments and resentments. The answer to handling disappointments is understanding.Relationships don't come about because people are perfect. They come because of understanding.There is more gratification in being a caring person that in just b. . .

Time Out: Stop Beating Yourself Up

Boxing is a professional sport that you can actually learn a great deal from and apply to managing certain areas of your life. According to the official website for the World Boxing Association, all world championship bouts shall be of a twelve round duration. Each round shall consist of three minutes in duration with one minute rest between each round. Apparently parameters are necessary even. . .

Persistence

One of the keys to being successful in anything you do is persistence. Persistence & patience are two wheels. Whenever there is persistence; patience must be co-existed, else you will be like a bike in garage. Lets clarify the word ‘persistence’ :- It is ability to be persist on instances. Once you have realized & determined exactly what it is you want to achieve, you must take Significant & . . .

Think, Pause & talk

There are two kinds of peoples we generally face in every walk of life 1] who talks negative and excessive and 2] who talks whenever required or talks right and right time. But in reality we get attracted towards person who talks negative and excessive, it gives us fun and tax-free entertainment and we get fascinated and influenced by such activities..... is it good or bad..... the must know an. . .

Law and Order of the Spiritual Kind

There is no such thing as a coincidence. Albert Einstein reasoned that, “God simply does not play dice.” While we may not fully understand the reasons behind certain events, there are laws and order in the universe specifically designed to facilitate harmony and prosperity for all living things. Yet, as humans, we violate not only man’s laws, but also the laws of the universe. It’s as if an “in. . .

Want To Succeed In Business, Social, Personal Life? Take ...

Your personal image: It’s the most important YOU asset you own. Your personal image, the perception that people have about you, affects your success in every aspect of life - your life on the job, your social life, even your love life! That is true because, no matter who you are or what you do, your success depends on what other people THINK about you - the image they have of you. Your personal. . .

How to Jump-start Your Emotional Health

You've probably heard the expression: "It's not what you're eating. It's what's eating you!" This well-known saying reminds us that the thoughts we entertain can have an impact on our health. Scientists have discovered that what you're thinking actually affects your physical health as well as your emotional well-being. Ulcers, indigestion, nervousness, high blood pressure and a wide variety of . . .

The Harmless Lump That Opened My Eyes

Once I discovered a lump in my groin. I was very worried and really believed it was cancer. When I talked to a nurse and described the symptoms I calmed down. It turned out to be a totally harmless lump, and it disappeared by itself within weeks, but for a couple of intense days I could think of nothing else but the lump and what it could mean to me. I depicted the most horrible scenes: me sitt. . .

Depression Mantra

Depression is the most prevalent of all the emotional disorders. This may vary from feelings of slight sadness to utter misery and dejection. It brings together a variety of physical and psychological symptoms which together constitute a syndrome.Depression is the most unpleasant experience a person can endure. It is far more difficult to cope with than a physical ailment. The growing complexit. . .