Success in life

To get the most success out of life have no agenda other than to give whatever you can in the present moment. A smile, a laugh, a quarter, a helping hand, an introduction or just your listening ear is more powerful than you can imagine. Beneath every gift is the knowing that the Universe is abundant and that you lose nothing by giving away what you have. Others will feel comfortable in your presence and all good things will find you - WITHOUT seeking them."

NAUGHTY COVERSATIONS

I, the Penis, hereby request a raise in salary for the following reasons: I do physical labor. I work at great depths. I plunge headfirst into everything I do. I do not get weekends or public holidays off. I work in a damp environment. I work in a dark workplace that has poor ventilation. I work in high temperatures. My work exposes me to contagious diseases. Sincerely, P. Niss The Response Dear Penis: After assessing your request, and considering the arguments you have raised, the administration rejects your request for the following reasons: You do not work 8 hours straight. You fall asleep after brief work periods. You do not always follow the orders of the management team. You do not stay in your designated area and are often seen visiting other locations. You do not take initiative - you need to be pressured and stimulated in order to start working. You leave the workplace rather messy at the end of your shift. You don't always observe necessary safety regulations, such as wearing the Correct protective clothing. You will retire well before you are 65. You are unable to work double shifts. You sometimes leave your designated work area before you have completed the assigned task.. And if that were not all, you have been seen constantly entering and exiting the workplace carrying two suspicious-looking bags. Sincerely, V. Gina

GUEST HOUSE

The Guest House by Rumi This being human is a guest house. Every morning a new arrival. A joy, a depression, a meanness, some momentary awareness comes as an unexpected visitor. Welcome and entertain them all! Even if they're a crowd of sorrows, who violently sweep your house empty of its furniture, still, treat each guest honorably. He may be clearing you out for some new delight. The dark thought, the shame, the malice, meet them at the door laughing, and invite them in. Be grateful for whoever comes, because each has been sent as a guide from beyond.

BECOMING FRIENDS WITH YOUR HEROES.

Better Than Networking Networking can be a waste of time...or it can be the most profitable activity you ever do. But it all starts with your approach. Are you being RE-active or PRO-active? Today's guest essay shows you the right choice. Craig Ballantyne People respect people that are sure of themselves. Don't be wishy-washy. Be polite, confident, and clear. Treat others with respect, but don't be afraid to stand for what you believe in. "There is something deep within us that responds to those who level with us, who don't suggest or compromise for us." - Susan Scott, Fierce Leadership Becoming Friends with Your Heroes By Steve Sjuggerud "You're so lucky Steve... you've gotten to meet and work with all these famous guys..." When I hear that, I usually say something like, "Yeah, it's hard to believe... I have been pretty fortunate!" and I leave it at that. But the truth is much different... It's NOT luck. It's NOT good fortune. There's a secret to doing what I've done. And I will share it with you today... Maybe there is a bit of "luck" involved... But it didn't happen without me putting myself in luck's "line of fire." Let me give you an example of what I mean... A while back, I knew I was going to have the chance to shake hands with one of my heroes. When I met him, I could have just said, "Uh, gee, it's nice to meet you. I'm a big fan." But that would have been a missed opportunity. Instead, I spent a few days thinking before I met him... I came up with a plan to make an impact - to give him a chance to want to get to know me... I got out a 3x5 notecard. And I wrote out what I called "12 Ways to Take Over Your Industry." I included my name, phone number, and e-mail address. When I shook his hand, I smiled and I handed him the card. And that was that... He could have easily thrown the card away. He could have thought, "Who is this joker?" He could have taken my suggestions, but still never bothered contacting me. For any number of reasons, he could have ignored me. Instead, he reached out to me. In the end, he tried all of my dozen ideas, except one. Now, when he wants a second opinion on something (from outside of his corporate "yes" men), he sends me an e-mail or gives me a call. And he has included me in events around the world and in his decisions that I've been grateful and flattered to be a part of. The best part to me is that I can call a hero of mine a friend as well. That didn't happen because I'm "lucky." It happened because of this simple secret. There are two parts to it: Whenever there is any moment - any crack in the door to put your foot in to meet your hero - you must shove your foot in, and not let it out. You must find a way to give a big benefit to your hero without asking anything in return. Then you're off. At that point, you have done your best to kick off a potential legitimate friendship. I have often had to create these moments. Usually, they don't just happen. For example, this year, I ended up on the phone with another hero of mine. He said: "Next time you're in Nashville, give me a call and we can get together." Look, I'm NEVER in Nashville, but I went to Nashville that week. (I re-routed a flight to have a long layover there.) I made it happen when the opportunity was there. And it was a fantastic few hours. Another hero of mine is now a friend of mine, too. Most of the time, it doesn't work out this way. But it's 100% worth trying. Your downside risk is a little "wasted" effort. Your upside is a legitimate friendship with one of your heroes. That's worth it to me! You can do it. You have to get creative to create the opportunity. You have to offer something that benefits your hero. And you have to do it without asking anything in return. You have to create your "luck." It has worked for me. I have been able to get close to many of my heroes - both in business and in my hobbies. And I believe it can work for you, too. How cool is it to have your heroes as your friends? Ju

DIAMOND BUYING..A PROFITABLE STEP

The best advice I can give you if you want a great deal on a diamond jewelry piece is to wait till the summer. Sales are at their lowest of the year then and jewelers offer deeply discounted sales to move product. But since most people buy these gorgeous jewels this time of year I thought it important to tell you how you can still save money. I've got a lot to tell you, so let's get going! First off, remember the four C's to get a good deal on diamond jewelry. Carat, color, clarity and cut are four characteristics that determine a diamond's quality and price. Understanding these grades before you make a purchase will end up saving you money. 1) Carat Carat refers to the weight of the diamond. The more it weighs, the more it costs. And just like some other things, size does matter. Don't stress if you can't afford the very enviable one carat diamond ring. There is a little white lie I am going to tell you to save you big bucks and keep you from getting in trouble with sweetie. Actually you are going to tell the white lie, but don't worry no one will be able to catch you in it. The price of a diamond rises substantially at each carat mark. One carat costs a lot more than a 0.95 carat. Visually no one can tell the difference between the two. They will look like the same size to the naked eye. Look for rings that contain stones that are a tiny bit under the mark. For example buy a .45 carat diamond ring instead of a half carat one. Once the stone is mounted the difference will be negligible in terms of looks, but you will notice the savings in the price. 2) Color Although most diamonds appear colorless, jewelers refer to most diamonds as a shade of the color white. They rate them on a scale from D to Z, with D being the highest grade and Z being the lowest grade. Colorless diamonds are very rare and are rated on the high end of the scale. They reflect the most light and are therefore the most sparkly. The less color a diamond has, the more it costs. The farther down the scale you go, the more color the diamond will have. Color is an area where you can skimp to save a lot of money. Choose a ring with an H or lower grade. They will still look glittery and sparkly but the price will drop at least 30 percent from that of a D, E or F rated stone. Anything higher than an H or an I grade is for someone who has a lot of extra money. 3) Clarity A diamond's clarity refers to its blemishes or inclusions as jewelers say. If you want to save money, color and clarity are the two best characteristics to compromise quality on. Mostly because you won't be able to tell with the naked eye that they are any less brilliant than higher quality stones. Jewelers rate a diamond's clarity on an 11 grade scale. Grades range from F to I3, with F being the high end. F stands for Flawless; it is an extremely rare diamond that even most jewelers never see. Then it goes to IF which means internally flawless. The next two grades are VVS1 and VVS2, which stands for Very, Very Slightly Included (remember included means blemishes). Then you have VS1 and VS2 which means Very Slightly Included. Next you have SI1 and SI2 and on down the line to the lowest clarity grades of I1, I2 and I3. A jeweler will try to tell you otherwise but diamonds can still look luminous below the six highest grades. Stones graded SI1 and SI2 mean that there are inclusions visible under ten times magnification, but will appear unflawed to the naked eye. They will save you a bundle and no one will be any wiser. The point of a diamond piece of jewelry isn't to produce a return on investment, only to look fabulous. 4) Cut All the research I did on diamonds said this is the area where you don't want to cut corners. That's because the cut has a huge influence on the diamonds sparkle and brilliance. The more light a diamond reflects the higher it's perceived value is. Jewelers rate a diamonds cut on a 5 point scale. It goes from Excellent to Very Good to Good to Fair and ends with Poor. A diamond rated "very good" or "excellent" will cost about 10 percent more than a "good" stone. From the top to the bottom of the scale expect to see about a 50 percent difference in price. It's important to mention that cut is not the same as shape. Cut is how well the shape is cut, including proportions, finish and symmetry. The shape refers to the contour of the stone. It can be a round, pear, marquise, princess, emerald, square, oval or heart shaped diamond. A round shaped diamond is the most popular and perhaps not coincidentally the most expensive. To save money opt for an oval, marquise or pear cut, which carry more of the carat weight at the top, thereby appearing larger. Brand Name vs Generic The four C's are not the only characteristics that influence price. Where you buy your bauble makes a difference in price too. Just like at the grocery store, brand names cost more. Tiffany & Co. has its "Lucida" stones and Kay Jewelers advertises the "Leo Diamond." These brand names drive up the price 15-20 percent more than a generic diamond with the same attributes. Buying jewelry from brand name stores like Tiffany's can also affect the price. That little blue box will cost you thousands of dollars more for the same exact stone as opposed to a wholesale store like Costco. Buying Wholesale Another popular way to save money on diamond jewelry is to buy from a wholesaler. This cuts out the middle man (ie the stores that have to pay for employees, locations, utilities, equipment, etc) and can save you thousands of dollars. What's great is that the savings will more than make up for what you'd pay to have the stone put in a setting. You can find diamond wholesalers online. Try an internet search for "buy wholesale diamonds" or "buy loose diamonds." Each site should let you put in your search criteria based on the 4 C's. Once you've located a stone you want do a thorough search on the merchant. Look at their return policy, the fine print, online reviews. And only buy from merchants that offer GIA certified diamonds. If they don't you may not be getting what you paid for. Ask the merchant to send you the GIA certificate before you buy so you can verify the stones quality. Once you pay for and receive the stone, take it to a jeweler to have it appraised. Take the GIA certificate with you and have them verify that the stone matches the characteristics on it. From there you can take it to brick and mortar jewelry stores to pick out a setting for the stone. Be sure to visit several to make sure you are getting the best deal. Price on the Tag Did you know the average mark-up for a diamond ring is 300%? So even when jewelers advertise 50 percent off deals, they are still making 150% profit. That's why you should never be afraid to negotiate for a lower price. It doesn't matter if you are buying from a jewelry store at the mall or an independent store; all stores mark-up their wares outrageously. Sometimes independent jewelers have more leeway to offer discounts because they are not controlled by corporations and have less red tape. Ask for a discount if you agree to come back later to purchase wedding bands. The more business you promise them, the more likely they are to cut you a deal. And because credit card merchant fees are so high, some stores will give you a discount if you pay in cash. In the case of a diamond, knowledge can be the difference between over paying and getting a great deal. Putting a price tag on love is hard, and it often causes us to overspend. But paying more than you have to is crazy, maybe that's where the saying "crazy in love" comes from.

Too Many Toxic Chemicals Making Their Way into Food

Too Many Toxic Chemicals Making Their Way into Food Neil Wagner Arsenic. Mercury. Pesticide residues. These toxins make their way into food, but experts continue to disagree over how much of a health threat they pose. A new study from UC Davis and UCLA concludes that people — particularly preschool children — are being exposed to too many of these toxins at concentrations that have been determined to be unhealthy. The study also offers several ways for concerned people to lower their exposure to these toxins, ranging from the relatively simple strategy of eating less meat and dairy but more fruit and vegetables to buying organically grown milk and produce. The most disturbing finding was that pre-school children were the age group with the highest exposure to six of the 11 toxic compounds looked at in the study. Of the eleven toxic compounds studied, benchmarks (exposure levels considered safe) were exceeded by all children for arsenic, dieldrin, DDE and dioxin. And benchmarks were also exceeded by over 95% of preschool-age children for acrylamide and by 10% of preschool-age children for mercury. These compounds have been linked to cancer, developmental disabilities, birth defects and other adverse medical conditions. While there is some uncertainty about what constitutes a safe exposure level for these toxins, there is broad agreement that they're much more dangerous to children because of their lower body weight and developing brains and nervous systems. The study used data from a 2007 study called SUPERB, which surveyed households in California about their dietary habits, including 207 pre-school age children (2-4) and 157 school-age children (5-7). The researchers were able to tease out estimates of exposure levels to various toxins by concentrating on consumption of only 44 foods, those known to be extremely high in a particular toxin. For example, when it comes to mercury, you don't need to know dietary information on all mercury containing foods, just major sources such as tuna, to build a good estimate of a person's mercury exposure. It is notoriously difficult to pinpoint a safe level of exposure for many contaminants that end up in food. For one thing, the experiments that might establish safe levels are almost always unethical and cannot be conducted. The researchers looked at levels of eleven toxic compounds: three metals (arsenic, lead and mercury); three pesticides (chlorpyrifos, permethrin and endosulfan); four persistent organic pollutants (dioxin, DDE, dieldrin and chlordane); and the neurotoxin and suspected carcinogen acrylamide which is found in cigarette smoke and certain foods cooked at high temperatures, like potato chips. Perhaps the most disturbing finding was that pre-school children were the age group with the highest exposure to six of the 11 toxic compounds looked at in the study. It is notoriously difficult to pinpoint a safe level of exposure for many contaminants that end up in food. For one thing, the experiments that might establish safe levels are almost always unethical and cannot be conducted. This is one reason that there's so much bickering among scientists over whether foodborne toxins do or do not present a major health threat. Avoiding Exposure For people who are concerned about exposure to toxins in food, the researchers offer several strategies to lower exposure. About the simplest strategy is to eat a varied diet. This helps prevent accumulating too much toxin from a single food group. A much more proactive strategy is to buy organic produce. Even studies that question the usefulness of switching to organic produce agree that organic produce is much less likely to be contaminated with pesticides. The researchers found particularly high pesticide contamination in thirteen types of produce: tomatoes, peaches, apples, peppers, grapes, lettuce, broccoli, strawberries, spinach, dairy, pears, green beans and celery. Buying organic produce is one way to lower pesticide exposure in a single stroke. The researchers also suggest lowering meat consumption and switching to organic milk as ways to lower exposure to persistent organic pollutants like DDE, which tend to accumulate in animal fat. Probably the easiest way to lower acrylamide exposure is to avoid or minimize eating potato chips, tortilla chips and French fries. The researchers also think their study results should cause both industry and consumers to think long and hard about current food policy — how we grow our food and the approval process for chemicals of questionable toxicity. The persistent organic compound DDE comes from DDT that was sprayed as an insecticide decades ago. DDT use was banned in the U.S. 40 years ago, but we're still dealing today with the consequences of having sprayed so much of it. How many similar compounds are we introducing into the environment now that will continue to keep on giving in decades to come, even if their use were to cease today?

How to Be Indispensable

How to Be Indispensable By Jonathan Fields I was recently talking to a COO at a public company about our comparative experiences hiring people. Him, on a giant scale. Me, on a micro-scale. And, what became clear to both of us was... Scale aside... There is a single quality that is so rare, when you find someone who has it, you'll do pretty much anything to bring that person on board and keep them happy. And, the thing is, some people cultivate it naturally. But, others, once they realize its power, may be able to build it into who they are and how they operate. So, what do we look for? What is that single quality that makes someone precious and indispensable? Beyond intelligence, loyalty, kindness, respect, discipline, pride, passion and compassion, it's... ...the ability to create. Sounds so simple. But truth is, the vast majority of people spend their lives learning how to follow then execute other peoples' game plans. Fitting their skills, abilities and mindsets into the predefined responsibilities and tasks required by a predefined job. And, that's fine. We need people like that in the world. If that's you and you work with pride and add value and that makes you happy, rock on. But, know too that you regardless of how "hard" you work, you will very likely never be toward the top of the "gotta keep 'em" food chain. Not because you're bad at what you do, not because you don't add value. Not because those around you don't like or even love you. But because there will always be a sea of people lined up to take your job who can do what you do in a similar enough way to make your boss, partner, colleague or collaborator happy. For every creator, there are hundreds, if not thousands, of operators. Which is why, when you're a creator, everything changes. Rather than being the one people ask to carry out a plan, people look to you to create a plan. To solve a problem, to innovate a new idea, product, service or campaign, to see opportunities where everyone else sees barriers, to blaze a new trail rather than follow a well grooved one. And, the thing is, most often it's not about radical departures from the norm or Earth-shattering breakthroughs. What I'm talking about is the ability to create solutions on a daily basis. To understand we're at point A and we need to get to point B, then tap your creative/problem-solving juices to conjure the best possible way to get there. As someone who's steering the ship, that ability is immensely more valuable to me than someone who needs to be told every step from A to B (provided I also have skilled Operators in the pipeline). Because it frees up my own creative juices to focus on other projects, while trusting in another's ability to figure out how to get done what needs to get done. Truth be told, though, there's one person who's even more valuable than the pure creator/problem-solver. And, that's the Creator-Operator--the individual who can not only create anew, solve problems and map out innovative pathways, but also possesses the ability to execute, to bring those plans to life. People who can do both are extraordinarily rare finds, because creation and implementation are very different processes and almost always inhabit different brains and bodies, too. Most peoples' minds just don't function well on both levels. Which is why those folks tend to rise quickly up the ranks and often become entrepreneurs. And, that leaves us with two important questions: Are you a Creator, a Creator-Operator or an Operator? If you're an Operator and you'd like to become more of a Creator, is that "trainable?"