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"Cheerfulness keeps up a kind of daylight in the mind, and fills it with a steady and perpetual serenity."- Joseph Addison

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Photo taken by "ponanwi" posted on Flickr.com (CC). Click on the photo for a full size image. Enjoy!

" If you’re like me, you’re always looking for ways to give cheap but meaningful gifts. Yes, I’m a cheapskate, but I’m a happy one. I’ve always been into improving my life, and if I can help the loved ones in my life do the same, without spending a lot, I’m very happy. "

.... Read the rest of this article from "zenhabits.net" at: http://zenhabits.net/2007/12/top-20-life-improving-christmas-gifts-for-under-10/

" Around holiday time, a common comment I hear is, "I cooked for 6 hours and we ate everything in 20 minutes." Well, aside from the fact that there must be zero socializing at that holiday table, it seems to me that eating a couple thousand calories in 20 minutes is a little fast. Could you enjoy the food just as much by slowing down?

I started to look into the affects of slow versus fast eating and then tried a little experiment with some of what I learned. My experiment was with chocolate candy because it's something I really like a lot. "

.... Read the rest of this article from "dumblittleman.com" at: http://www.dumblittleman.com/2007/12...

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"Goodness is easier to recognize than to define."- Wystan Hugh Auden

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Photo taken by "Marco Adams" posted on Flickr.com (CC). Click on the photo for a full size image. Enjoy!

" Winter is known as cold season - and it's not just because the temperatures are dropping. Your chances of catching a cold this season are high -- but according to Everyday Health, you can reduce your chances of picking up one if you follow these steps:

* Avoid touching your face with your hands. Cold viruses can easily enter your body through the eyes and nose. "

.... Read the rest of this article from "thatsfit.com" at: http://www.thatsfit.com/2007/12/19/ho...

" Have you ever justified your lack of success towards a goal with the excuse that you lacked the experience? Or that you lacked the resources: money and time? Did you give up before you even tried?

Have you ever looked at a competition in your field and justified their success to something trivial like:

•   She’s successful, because she’s got better computer skills.
•   He’s successful because he knows the right people.
•   They are successful because they’ve been doing this for many years.
•   John did it, because he’s loaded, he has more money than I’ll ever see.
•   Maggie has always been luckier than me. "

.... Read the rest of this article from "thinksimplenow.com" at: http://thinksimplenow.com/clarity/6-steps-to-deflate-self-defeating-fears/

"With his good humor and reassuring advice, Peter shows you how to face the really big question: What is the vision for the life you want to live? He then offers simple techniques and a step-by-step plan to assess the state of your home, prioritize your possessions, and let go of the clutter you have been holding on to that has kept you from living the life you imagine. The result is freed-up space, less stress, and more energy for living a happier, richer life every day."
Read the rest of this review and others at Amazon.com: It's All Too Much: An Easy Plan for Living a Richer Life with Less Stuff

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"Spend more time asking why not. There are far to many folks saying things can't be done. The problem is that they're often left behind by the ones making things happen! Don't fall into this trap."- Josh Hinds

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Photo taken by "mfshadow" posted on Flickr.com (CC). Click on the photo for a full size image. Enjoy!

" Although the view that birth order is the sole predictor of development across the lifespan has never been widely accepted, an individual's birth order is a possible influence on relationships with parents and siblings, which may affect personality formation and social behaviour across the lifespan (Buckley, 1998). Socialisation differences experienced by individuals due to their ordinal position of birth may result in overt personality and behaviour differences. In the absence of siblings, first borns tend to be socialised by adults, whereas later borns are exposed to the socialising influences of older siblings (Claxton, 1994). Adults socialised as first borns, are sometimes theorised to be more achievement oriented, while their younger siblings are often believed to be more successful in social endeavours, experience greater enjoyment during risk taking behaviour and be more independent of authority (Claxton, 1994). "

.... Read the rest of this article from "littletree.com.au" at: http://www.littletree.com.au/birthorder.htm

"We have to face the truth: the process of selling is broken. Customers have more choices and are under intense pressure. Yet few companies are facing this reality. When they don’t, a lingering malaise sets in.”

More than ever these days, the sales process tends to be a war about price—a frustrating, unpleasant war that takes all the fun out of selling.

But there’s a better way to think about sales, says bestselling author Ram Charan, who is famous for clarifying and simplifying difficult business problems. What the customer wants you to know is how his or her business works, so you can help make it work better. It sounds simple, but there’s a catch: you won’t be able to do that with your traditional sales approach.

Instead of starting with your product or service, start with your customer’s problems. Focus on becoming your customer’s trusted partner, someone he can turn to for creative, cost-effective solutions that are based on your deep knowledge of his values, goals, problems, and customers."
Read the rest of this review and others at Amazon.com: What the Customer Wants You to Know: How Everybody Needs to Think Differently About Sales

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"Those who bring sunshine to the lives of others cannot keep it from themselves."- Sir James Matthew Barrie

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Photo taken by "baronsquirrel,..." posted on Flickr.com (CC). Click on the photo for a full size image. Enjoy!

SocialPacks.com " Giving speeches and presentations is an inevitable part of life. Whether it be at school or at a conference, speeches and orals dominate most fields of study. What is worse is that over three quarters of the population fear presentations in front of people even though, eight times out of ten there is nothing to fear or be anxious about.

For the remaining 20 percent, the following tips will help you better prepare for a public speech and to better deliver, starting today.

1. Be prepared and practice.
Part of being nervous during an oral or presentation is due to the fact that you feel like you will forget critical pieces of information or that you will get up front of everyone and forget everything. "

.... Read the rest of this article from "SocialPacks.com" at: http://www.socialpacks.com/2007/12/11/8-tips-to-improve-your-public-speech-immediately/

"Can You Learn to Be Happy? YES . . . according to the teacher of Harvard University’s most popular and life-changing course. One out of every five Harvard students has lined up to hear Tal Ben-Shahar’s insightful and inspiring lectures on that ever-elusive state: HAPPINESS.

HOW?
Grounded in the revolutionary “positive psychology” movement, Ben-Shahar ingeniously combines scientific studies, scholarly research, self-help advice, and spiritual enlightenment. He weaves them together into a set of principles that you can apply to your daily life. Once you open your heart and mind to Happier ’s thoughts, you will feel more fulfilled, more connected . . . and, yes, HAPPIER."
Read the rest of this review and others at Amazon.com: Happier: Learn the Secrets to Daily Joy and Lasting Fulfillment