What Is Cloud Computing?

 Cloud computing is quickly gaining a lot of ground in the current technological era. There are numerous merits that come from going in this direction. Large companies like Amazon and Google have taken their operations to the cloud already. 

In light of this, it is important to know what it entails and why it is the next big thing. Indeed, cloud computing is as a result of the evolution of the internet. Having said this, it is important to put your mind around this concept to really understand what it is. The following information gives you insightful facts about what cloud computing is and components thereof. 

The Definition of Cloud Computing

Cloud computing is simply the assignment of a wide array of applications to a designated server that is outside your personal computer. This special server is able to hold all your software, hardware and any other applications that are necessary to run your company or business. 

In the cloud, companies are able to store vital data, access word processors remotely, use email services and the like. Complex database applications will also be accessed in the cloud. In other words, it can be defined as a one-stop shop for all your computing needs, without having to run heavy applications on your computer. 

There are specialized companies that have these servers and provide this service to both companies and individuals. Cloud computing comes with many benefits and the obvious one is convenience and efficiency. Cloud computing companies have invested heavily to make sure that they satisfy the needs of their esteemed clients. This concept is not complicated at all and most people have already used it, with or without their knowledge. For example, if you have an email account with Yahoo or Gmail, you are using cloud computing because their software is not on your computer. 

Cloud computing is definitely a revolution because it is helpful and easy to implement. With a web browser, clients can access their information and engage different applications without investing in expensive software or paying hefty license fees to use some web infrastructure. A cloud computing system or network is complex to say the least. However, the following is a simple breakdown of some of the top components to expect therein. 

The cloud computing system is made up of the front end and the back end. The front end is the interface that the client or the user will see when they are accessing information or data from the cloud. The back end is composed of various programs and applications which are stored in a dedicated server. 

Some clients can choose to get services of a private or public cloud. Some will go for a hybrid cloud. This basically means that they can access their data as per their own definitions to allow access to those who are permitted. There are certain vital protocols that the system follows to deliver the right results. Additionally, the software used in the cloud is special and it is referred to as middleware. 

Cloud computing is becoming more and more popular in society. The companies that provide this service must have essential systems that create backups in a bid to store or process data properly for clients. Being in the cloud is soon going to become a requirement for businesses who want to save money while retaining a seamless flow of work in their organizations. 

Top Cloud Storage Services

 Cloud computing is becoming very popular in society, even for individuals. People are realizing the merits of going this direction. There are so many possibilities in the cloud and the most significant one is the ability to store files and data safely. This way, no matter where you are in the world, you can access your information as long as you are connected to the internet. Better yet, you can connect to your files using a smartphone. This saves a lot of time and money, making things easier. 

All this has been made possible by cloud storage services. The following is a look at the top cloud services. It is also worth mentioning that many of the top storage services offer free storage and people who need bigger capacities or space can then purchase it. 

Google Drive

This cloud storage service was launched in 2012 and it is a great way to organize your files in the cloud. Here, you have a chance to share and store spreadsheets, documents, files; the list is long. You can do this in a completely safe manner. Your online file storage is very secure. It is also versatile because you can edit your documents as you desire. The best thing is that you can do this together with your workmates. 

To begin with, you will have 5GB space to do all your stuff and you can increase your capacity as you wish; the maximum space being 10GB. Chrome, Android, Apple and Mac devices are all supported by this cloud storage service from Google. 

Dropbox

This is one of the most popular cloud storage services and it was launched in 2007. It is a great place to store your files and photos as you like. Share all your documents with your friends as well. To start off, you will have a space of about 2GB and upon successful referral to others, you can increase your space. It is a free service that has gained a lot of popularity in the market. For PC, Mac, Android and more, you will be in a position to use Dropbox without any hassle. Here, you can upload many files without any limit. You will find both desktop and mobile applications. 

Microsoft SkyDrive

This is yet another cloud storage service that is provided by Microsoft. It makes file hosting possible with an initial space of about 7GB. You can store unlimited files and if you need any additional space, you can consider a paid plan as desired. Here, you can expect to find office applications like Excel, Word, One Note, PowerPoint and more. Within a browser, you can create, edit and share documents as you desire without others. 

There are many options when it comes to cloud storage services. The great news is that you can use these platforms free of charge. It is a chance to see how well you can integrate your business or work to the cloud. If you are pleased, you can roll out a bigger capacity and purchasing plans will be well in order. There is no question that this is the future of the internet. It makes work much easier and saves you lots of time, money and heartache. 

Things You Can Do on the Cloud

 Cloud computing technologies can help companies save a lot of cash by taking away the burden of acquiring servers, software, the people required to provide enterprise services, deployment of customized shelf solutions and shared technology solutions - all of which are very important in supporting the mission of the business. 

Most vendors use infrastructure, software and servers to provide specialized services to the organization. Cloud computing will help organizations by providing scalable and dynamic computing resources over the internet. These computing services are delivered virtually through online servers and data centers to anyone who can access the network. 

You Need to Identify the Need

Cloud computing provides a lot of benefits that include email, file storage, calendars, documents, etc. Some of the cloud computing providers like Google provide a tool that helps you to compare Google mail costing versus Microsoft Exchange. Others like Astadia will provide a basic tool used for calculating your return for investing on cloud services. If you are planning to introduce something new, you can use social media as a platform to raise awareness.

Carefully Think about Your Company’s Data Protection

This is an important function that is provided by cloud computing. A good example is when you use a meeting management tool which is available online and it provides a low risk. Users have little control over the place where the provider stores their data. The storage could be in a different country that has different privacy laws. This function is a deal-breaker for organizations that work with vulnerable communities such as asylum seekers and refugees.

Staying Connected with the Rest of the World

Cloud computing encompasses social media tools that include Twitter and Facebook, which helps the users to stay connected. 

Data Recovery

The cloud is very successful when it has been pre-configured for disaster recovery. The cloud recovery plan is an important application that works automatically when data or a server crashes, since it will help to recover the data at the earliest time possible. By incorporating these applications it enables the cloud to be an efficient platform to manage PaaS, SaaS and IaaS competitively.

Optimizing the Existing Resources

If your company is facing a tough time managing software and hardware, or your servers are running low and there is limited space left, then look for cloud services. With cloud services, your existing servers will get a rest from being overloaded and your company’s work environment will be synchronized.

Enhancing Device Independence

Cloud service helps to reduce the worries of tracking your software and hardware devices. This is because the cloud enables you to move from a physical world into a new virtual world, and you don’t think about what is going on at the in-house IT department. You can let the cloud manager to do the hard work of getting rid of that expensive software and hardware.

The Cloud Helps to Cut Cost

Don’t lag behind when everyone is quickly moving to cloud technology and starting to enjoy a cost-effective business environment. The cloud will promote device independence and automatically reduce the cost of software and hardware.

Cloud computing is currently the most promising IT technology in the world today. Most companies are now using cloud services and they are achieving their desired goals. Cloud computing provides a lot of applications to businesses which are beneficial in the long run.

The Benefits of Using the Cloud

 Moving to the cloud for any business is certainly bound to come with an array of merits. Cloud computing is after all becoming a mainstay of technology. Large companies have been able to achieve their goals by going in this direction. 

It is all about offloading and leaving the work to experts for a seamless flow of work and activity in your business. It is very clear that there are many benefits of using the cloud. This article gives you a detailed look into the top merits that you can look forward to. 

Tap into the Economies of Scale

The cloud allows you to have more productivity even if you are working with few people. This is because the output is greatly increased. Additionally, it is a sure way to reduce wastage of resources because you only buy the service when you need it. This is unlike what companies used to do in the past, when they invested in expensive software and hardware even when they were not necessary. In the cloud, your cost per unit is bound to come down, making you enjoy the awesome economies of scale. 

Remove the Need for Maintenance

Because you do not have to deal with any software or specialized hardware to accomplish your goals, there is no maintenance needed. This will further save your costs, enabling your business to make more money. However, for those who maintain hosted servers, maintenance cost will still be in the picture. The ideal situation is where the cloud service provider uses their own servers, eliminating this maintenance cost. 

Easy Access and a Global Outlook

As long as your workers have access to the internet, they can log into the cloud from anywhere in the world. This has made this technology versatile and has provided a new outlook that is international. In this regard, a business can further grow globally by ensuring that all workers are well connected to the cloud and that a lot of work is done. This global outlook for work infrastructure is valuable to say the least. 

Enhanced Project Monitoring

Since you have access to all the projects going on in your business in the cloud, you can monitor work more effectively. This way, you will ensure that work cycles are effective and followed through. No matter where you are, you will be kept on top of your game, making business management and monitoring a very easy task. This has been seen to dramatically improve productivity. 

Reduction of Staff Training Costs

Since the cloud systems are straightforward and easy to grasp, the need to train personnel is reduced greatly. With a reduced workforce, you will work with competent people and ensure productivity is kept high. The staff does not have to learn about software and hardware infrastructure, saving a lot of time as well. 

Data Is Backed Up

In the cloud, data is always backed up and there is no fear of any loss. Therefore, people can conduct their business with the knowledge that there is complete safety. Conventional systems do not guarantee backup unless expensive data recovery measures are enforced. With cloud services, you can put all your fears to rest.

It is obvious that the list of benefits can go on and on. Most companies have realized the merits and they are using some form of cloud in their operations. It is worth going through all the merits so that you can make an informed decision about choosing to hire cloud services. 

Responsibilities - Who Is Responsible for What?

 Cloud computing is a revolutionary technology currently being used to provide IT services online. Cloud service providers offer computing services that include complete business applications and data storage space to multiple customers located in different places. That means customers can use cloud computing services from their computers or mobile devices from any location in world. 

By providing services to different customers at the same time, the provider is able to offer these services at an affordable rate. Through cloud computing services, consumers, public organizations and businesses can access many affordable services that are very expensive to get on their own. Below we will look at the responsibilities of consumers and cloud service providers.

Who Retains the Ownership? 

The cloud service provider does not reserve the right to use, manipulate or access the customer’s data unless permitted by the service consumer. Therefore, consumers retain the right of ownership to use their own data. Service consumers should know that this issue can be complicated if multiple parties access this data; a good example is a business-to-business service where suppliers and consumers have access to the data. Consumers must be careful when allowing the access of multiple users.

Service Level Agreements Are Meant to Address Remediation, Liabilities and Business Outcomes

Computing services can easily suffer due to slowdowns and failures, but many providers rarely commit themselves to recovery times or even spell out the kind of procedures they are likely to follow. Service level agreements will describe the service provider’s commitments. 

Cloud services require this kind of agreement depending on the type of cloud computing service provided. The agreement should be relevant to your business even though service providers rarely customize them. The service level agreement should be comprehensive so that it can capture business issues related to your business. 

Notifications and Other Changes That Can Affect the Consumer’s Business Processes

Service consumers will buy cloud services in order to support their business processes, but sometimes providers can change the terms soon after the consumer signs up with them. These changes can include upgrades and prices, which could damage your business because it’s costly to switch to another provider. 

A service provider cannot guarantee to provide a smooth service without disruptions. Instead, a provider has the responsibility to protect their consumer’s business by providing advanced notifications of system changes or major upgrades. Such changes include introduction of new versions of services, upgrading software, changing location, shuttering facility, exiting business, and so on.

Legal Requirements in Regards to Jurisdictions of Where the Provider Operates

Service consumers are likely to overlook the critical legal issues due to the speed and ease of using cloud services. If a provider stores the service consumer’s data in a different country, or transfers the data to a foreign country, a consumer could be subjected to matters of laws and regulations without his knowledge. 

The service provider has a responsibility to assure his consumers that he doesn’t violate the laws of any foreign country. The providers should also inform the service consumers which country they store their data in so that they can make a decision whether it’s safe to use their cloud service.

These responsibilities will help the consumers understand what to expect from the providers. Respecting these responsibilities will require effort from the providers and consumers so that the service can be of benefit to both. Knowing these rights and responsibilities will help the service consumers to make informed decisions.

Is Cloud Computing Safe?

 Cloud computing is definitely a revolution in the world of internet technology. It has made new things possible and has helped many save both time and energy. In return, costs have gone down. 

However, it is common knowledge that everything has a bright side and a dark side. The cloud is not an exception because there are several concerns by clients - especially when it comes to the issue of safety. Since the mechanisms of the cloud are controlled by unseen people in unknown locations, there is genuine fear about safety as discussed below.

Safety Concerns

There are two major loopholes when it comes to cloud safety. First, you would be worried about hackers or access to your information by illegal or unauthorized persons. This can lead to compromise of classified or private information; all your data is private. Hackers can capitalize from your data or the data can be used to cripple your business. The second type of concern is the malfunction of the infrastructure by the cloud storage services. There are a few companies such as Ma.gnolia that have collapsed, losing vital client data forever. 

There is no question that these concerns are real. However, the answer to safety lies with the cloud service provider. Before you register a free account or hire the services of a cloud storage company, read about their terms and conditions. In fact, ask about these safety concerns. 

You will be amazed at some of the safety policies out there. Just in case data was compromised or lost, the company must have a cause of action that is supposed to remedy your problem. Many companies will state that their safety policies are top-notch and that there is no fear whatsoever of such happenings. 

Obviously, it is not enough to just hear the words; you need to be protected in writing. So yes, the fears pertaining to safety are very real - make sure you are covered in the contract or agreement you sign just before you get access to their services. 

You want to work with a cloud service provider that stores a backup copy of all your data. In addition, you need to know what procedures to follow in case something bad was to happen and your data was compromised. With this assurance and knowledge, it is much better to operate in a cloud. It is always wise to work with companies that have been seen to perform better in this area, though. Not every cloud storage service is worth considering. 

In life, there are no guarantees and in this regard, you need to be prepared with an assurance from the cloud service provider. Also, be very keen and conduct a thorough research and know what the law in your area says about cloud safety. And do not just stop there. The country where the dedicated private servers are stored will have certain laws governing the operations; seek to find out whether you can find proper reprieve if anything goes wrong in a different location. 

Is cloud computing safe? Cloud computing has its own flaws or downsides and despite all the benefits, there is deep concern about safety. It is not perfect or foolproof and to avoid suffering the consequences of cloud insecurity, be proactive to make sure that you have a plan B or that you know where to turn if anything goes seriously wrong. A plan B can be keeping your own personal backup of all your data. It is worth adding that cases of hacking and loss of databases in clouds is rare, but it can happen. 

How to Choose the Right Cloud Service for You

 The movement towards the cloud has been gathering momentum of late. If your company is preparing to make this shift, finding a reputable cloud service provider is crucial in order to realize a successful transition. Many benefits associated with this transfer are widely accepted in the business industry. 

A recent study has shown that 76% of the companies are expected to move to private cloud or public cloud. Most of these companies are concerned about the risk exposed to their business during the transition period. If you decide to shift to a cloud-based platform, you need to learn about this technology in depth. Do a thorough investigation by consulting with the existing users and researching online. The following are factors that will help you to choose the right cloud service.

You Need to Have the Right Network

Shifting to cloud technology could have an adverse effect on the company’s network. The effects on the network can include inability to access databases, applications and many other materials over the web. Therefore the company must plan to get a reliable and sufficient bandwidth to support the new mode of working. 

Cloud technology is used by companies to store data files and deliver applications without using in-house servers. The efficiencies of this technology can easily be lost if the network is unreliable. 

Can the Cloud Provider Offer the Right Support?

Technical challenges are likely to occur due to changes in business. A reputable provider should be able to solve your problem in a swift and efficient manner. A service level agreement will help you to understand who takes responsibility for the faults and how fast they can be fixed if they occur. You should bear in mind that the service level agreement should not be the standardized one. This is because all businesses are different and unique. That means every business has different service needs.

Cloud Security

When thinking about cloud deployment, the number one concern for most businesses is the security. Therefore it’s important to know who will be responsible for security, especially where confidential or sensitive data is concerned. Some service providers prefer leaving this to their customer. Cloud security is a very sensitive issue that needs to cover data center, devices and applications. This security should also cover compliance and governance issues, which should be sector or industry specific. 

Check if the provider has a security policy suitable to your business. At the same time it should be compliant with the law.

Cloud Expertise

Your cloud provider should have the right technical expertise, industry accreditation and a long experience in the cloud industry. Look for service providers who have worked with similar companies like yours because they will know what can work and what can’t work. Remember to speak to other clients or check references. 

There is definitely a lot for you to think about if you decide to shift your company IT infrastructure to the cloud. But the service provider you choose should be able to guide you, since it’s easy to find yourself overwhelmed. Your partner should take you from network security and design, all the way to implementation of the project and maintenance. An experienced partner will help you identify aspects that you never thought of and also to create a cost-effective solution.

How Does Cloud Computing Work?

 Cloud computing is definitely having a huge impact in society. Most large companies like Facebook are opting to go in this direction because it is effective and makes economic sense. In addition to this, cloud computing is able to integrate computers in an organization to save both time and vital resources such as software. 

Cloud computing has been termed as the next level of the internet age, and more and more people are making use of it. However, to fully appreciate what it is all about, you need to understand how it works. The following information gives you details. 

The Basics of Cloud Computing

Cloud computing employs trusted specialized companies to store vital data and components on your behalf. Your access therein will be made easy and your workers can access this large database of information and processes. In the cloud, email serving, data storage and specialized protocol can be observed with utmost ease. This happens because of an integrated infrastructure base that is held together by dedicated servers to deliver accordingly. The two main areas of a cloud are the front end and the back end. 

The front end is the interface that is accessed by the user on their computer. It is basically revealed through a web browser and a company can enter the cloud to access this vital information at any time. The ability to network different software and hardware to serve many computers has defined the word cloud. It does not work by inflicting any heavy load on your personal machine; it works by simply availing all relevant information and databases in an efficient manner. The front end is as a result of the intricacies that take place at the back end. 

The back end is the nerve centre of every tool and infrastructure needed to make cloud computing possible. It is composed of vital software and application tools that make mass storage possible. The back end tools are also responsible for the intelligent communication to the front end owing to specialized programming mechanisms applied therein. With this system, you will be able to integrate any worker in the cloud without having to buy additional software that allows them to perform their job. It is a complex system that has been created to enhance coordination and access to vital resources that allow your businesses to be conducted accordingly. 

The architectural prowess of any cloud is maintained by the companies that provide these services. They are also tasked with providing or creating essential backup systems which will keep the data of clients safe at all time. They implement dedicated servers to make the process a success. Depending on the needs of a client, private, public and hybrid clouds can be defined to ensure access control. Safety is critical and with specialized cloud companies, delivery of essential software and data has become a mainstay. 

It is worth noting that cloud computing has been here for some time. Mega companies who have enormous data and software needs have led the way to use the cloud. However, the future is clear and the cloud might just feature more prominently. All in all, it is a system that allows for better computing infrastructure and is definitely welcomed by businesses. 

Cloud Issues You Should Be Aware Of

 Cloud services are now being adopted by many companies due to the numerous benefits they offer to businesses. The cloud can provide more choices of communication facilities and many companies are said to have reported an increase in the efficiency of their teamwork. 

However, cloud computing services are known to have unique attributes that may require risk assessments in various areas such as data recovery, data integrity, privacy and critical evaluation of certain legal issues that involve regulatory compliance, auditing and e-discovery. 

Services customers are required to demand transparency and must avoid those vendors who refuse to reveal their information concerning security programs. They should ask questions that are related to risk control processes, policy makers, technical mechanisms, operators and coders. The following are the cloud issues you should be aware of:

Use of Internal Cloud Is Said to Be Inherently Secure

Most companies have moved away from using public cloud services and have instead opted for a private cloud area. This type of cloud is hidden by a firewall and many believe that it can increase the level of protection. However, this is not the case; companies need to understand that protecting the cloud by a firewall does not guarantee a safe solution.

Lack of Visibility Poses Safety Risks

Most cloud providers are invisible and this could pose some safety risks to businesses. Therefore companies must make an informed decision when moving their files to the cloud since there will be lack of authority to deal with eventual risks that are associated with this operation.

Unsecured Applications

Regular security applications have attracted a lot of attention for a long time. If it’s possible, the application can be rebuilt to provide a reliable deployment for cloud services. This action will help the application components to be more resilient. It’s important to note that cloud provider will not help you during this process.

Long-Term Viability

Ideally, cloud providers will never be swallowed up by other companies, get acquired or go broke. In case this happens, consumers must be assured that their data will be safe. You should ask your provider what measures they have put in place to return the stored data to the consumer in case their company goes under.

Sensitive Data Files Need a More Secure Storage

Service consumers should be careful about the storage of sensitive information using the cloud storage technology. However, the solution is to encrypt your data and the question will be how and where to decode it. It’s advisable that encrypted data should never be stored together with the coding key.

Access to Files and Transfer Rates Depend on Internet Speed

To access the files from the provider’s data storage, the consumer must have a stable and reliable internet connection. It’s important to note that wired internet can be affected by the vagaries of nature. Even though a consumer can access these file via mobile devices, their uses are still limited.

Cloud technology is still a wise choice for providing storage service to individuals, small businesses, public organizations and many others. However, one needs to understand the security issues involved when signing up with a cloud provider.

Cloud Computing versus Cloud Storage

 Cloud computing provides various IT services in the form of application to the end-user via the internet. Cloud technology is defined as a set of networks, hardware, services, interface and storage that are combined to deliver all aspects of cloud services. Some of the cloud services include infrastructure, delivery of software and virtual storage. Below we will look at the difference between cloud computing and cloud storage.

Cloud Computing

Cloud computing entails the sharing of software with different computers over the network. That means the software does not necessarily need to be stored on the local machine. A good example is when a computer user wants to write a report but he has not installed Microsoft Word. The user can purchase Microsoft Word service through cloud computing from another computer on the network. 

Cloud computing is comprised of four characteristics that include elasticity and being able to scale up and down, application programming interfaces, automatic de-provisioning and self-service provisioning, and finally the ability to offer metering and billing of service usage. 

Cloud computing services have become popular because they are convenient and affordable. With cloud computing, you will be able to keep your contacts, email and calendar. This will also allow you to view your content, edit and share with other devices that you’re using. 

Google Apps 2013 is one of the cloud computing services that allows the user to view, edit, create and collaborate any office style documents including spreadsheets, presentations and word processor docs. Photos can easily be managed at Picasa and videos can be shared and uploaded through Google Video.

Cloud Storage

Disasters can be as a result of human or natural causes, and can easily fry your computer. Some of these disasters include floods, fire or power surges, and all can destroy your precious files. Beyond these natural calamities, locally-stored data is faced by many other threats that include hard drive failure, accidental erasures and theft. 

It’s hard to predict when and where the disaster will strike, but you can now store your data in the cloud through a storage management service. This data storage service will ensure that your files are safely stored and they can be retrieved anytime. 

Cloud storage can provide unlimited storage at a flat rate fee. This means that the user can store a large number of files since the service will not cap his limit. Cloud storage provides some useful features that make it possible to share and upload files in an easy and convenient way. The service will provide offline syncing, folder sharing and file versioning. 

With online storage, you will have an opportunity to store digital files and access your data from various devices such as mobile devices and multiple computers. Cloud storage is a powerful service but simple enough for most customer to use. This online storage is supplemented with support and help options. Direct customer support is offered via email, live chat and telephone.

Cloud computing technology can be used in different forms that include private clouds, public clouds and hybrid clouds. This technology can change the way businesses apply technology to serve clients, suppliers and partners. Cloud technology can eliminate many constraints that are common with a traditional computing environment, such as space, power, time and cost.

Who Wants to Work?

I feel a loss when pragmatism wins over the mystical. There is a greater magic at work when you engage with Source. I believe that strength and optimism combined with hard work will keep marketing principles and other learned strategies working well for success. I have a much different story to tell. I've spent many years in the corporate world and in the service and sales industry. Letting those learned and hard-work principles go to engage in a relationship with the divine has been one of the most difficult challenges I've ever faced. So why face it? Why not stick with the old ways? Simply put, the mystical, the divine, the source energy, or God if you like, wouldn't let me go. No matter how hard I worked, I simply did not see the results I desired. There was a transformation already underway and I would be embracing a new way of living. You cannot deny who you truly are. As I moved away from working hard and focused more and more on my gifts, passion & purpose, magical things began happening. In spite of all my marketing and business focused activities, none of my prospects had become a client and none of my projects came to life. Strangely, people from across North America were finding me, and rarely through my website. As long as I engaged in a relationship with the source and exercised faith, clients began showing up. Clients that were looking for the gifts that I had to offer and the connection I had to share. This has pushed me deeper into a relationship with the mystical, the metaphysical, the spiritual - so many words to describe the same thing - and practicing a new way of being in this world. It is much simpler, much more organic, much more peaceful, and in many respects, very easy. Well, easy when I get out of my way. There have been times when I've been in a complete and utter panic over what was not materializing. I'd come close to reverting to an old pattern and headaches would show up and more resistance in mind, body, and spirit. Within 24-48 hours, I'd back off from my worries, unable to give-in and give up the dream. I'd trust and just as suddenly, abundance again made itself known. I see this pattern, these ups & downs, as part of the training I am receiving. To deepen my relationship with the divine. To trust source. To trust my true calling, passion and purpose. To express more fully who I am and thereby be a much better guide and teacher to those who wish to engage in the same relationship with the source of creation. Magic lives everywhere. Being pragmatic can work, but who wants to work?

Ways to crank up your Creativity

Creativity is a quality that we all have buried inside of us, one way or the other. It involves the invention of something new or the re-invention of something already existing to make it useful of interesting. Some people’s creative abilities are closer to the surface and one can easily see the manifestations of them. People say that their creativity is “inborn”. For others, expressing creativity takes more time and cultivation. The important thing to note is that we can all be creative. You just have to take steps to extract it from within you. Try the following: 1. Change your perspective. You might have heard the phrase ‘Think outside the box’. You should try looking at the situation from a different point of view. Change your perspective. Consider all factors that are affected by your problem or your concern. Try to breakdown the problem into several elements then shuffle them. Think of what would happen if an idea is replaced. This aspect is important in enhancing creativity because it helps you remove possible fixations that may hinder creativity. 2. Mentally move away from your current location. Imagine how another person would react if subjected in the same situation. Picture how different situations would continue when dealing with the same problem. Application in different settings can be also be done; and then from there, adapt a solution to the current setting. 3. Let your imagination run wild. Exercise your imagination. Modification can trigger creativity because you see things in a different light. You can also try to exaggerate or think of the extremes, be it magnification or minimization of something. Thinking of the possible differences between these two situations could produce ideas. This is the ultimate brain exercise. 4. Your comfort spot. The environment has to be right. You should have somewhere you can focus without being unnecessarily disturbed so you can give a problem your full attention. This should extend to the people you are with. You tend to do better at something when you are with like-minded people. To put it simply, hang out with creative people to help enhance your creative abilities. Most of the time, people tend to be more creative when they are with people who are doing the same thing. It was also found that if you wish to be more creative, you should try hanging out with creative people. 5. Time, time, time. You can’t rush creativity. Hurrying does not help in the outflow of ideas. Your mind tends to go into a state of slight disarray when you are trying to force things. Studies show that results produced in this state are generally lacking. If you are low on time, then keep a list of activities like this one close to you. Go over each of the activities and exercise each one. Give it time. 6. Get help…communicate your ideas to others. A different view of the problem could help. Better yet, many different views! Never be shy to ask. Diversity is very helpful in relation with creativity. Organize a brainstorming session. The spontaneous generation of new ideas helps in formulation of more ideas. The products of brainstorming can be the raw material in the construction of the idea. Remember that in brainstorming, 4 rules are followed for it to be successful: - There should be no criticisms. Criticism hinders the free flow of ideas. This can be postponed until the session has ended. - Combining and/or modifying ideas are encouraged. - Quantity is preferred over quality in brainstorming. - Weird or strange ideas are encouraged. These are just some ideas to get your creative juices going. They can be adapted to suit each individual. A large amount of it is down to you. How inventive can you be? How open are you? Remove the boundaries from your mind and you will find your creativity will increase.

THE POWER OF STORYTELLING

Each and every day as we are building our businesses, we all know the key to a successful presentation is a product being sold to the end-line consumer and/or sponsoring a new person. In an upcoming issue, I am going to write about the difference between making a sale and having customer loyalty in the sales process. In the sales process, you are fighting many different types of animals. For most of us who are in direct sales, you have 45 minutes to present a product/business concept and make a person believe in you, your product, and more importantly have them make a decision that they want what you are offering. When you are presenting the business, it is very easy for you to get very factual and completely lose the interest of your prospect. When you tell a story about the success of someone who is using the product or have a person give a live testimonial about how much they love being a distributor, you will keep the interest of new people who are listening for the first time. For most of us, the first time in our lives that we were ever presented with the concept of a live audience was back in kindergarten when we played "show and tell". Everyone was always interested in what you were saying because you were simply telling a story. We have all heard of the famous K.I.S.S. rule: Keep It Simple Stupid. When presenting your business or product, the key play is to tell a story and keep it simple. Everyone can relate to the grandmother, who can talk about their grandchild as the most beautiful, precious child in the world. She will make you feel as if her grandchild would be such a gift to own as your own. You need to take that same simplicity and utilize it during your presentation and create the same result - ownership of your product. As you tell stories, people will remember those stories versus all the facts in the world. "FACTS TELL, BUT STORIES SELL." They should want to get involved in your business or purchase your product because all of the success stories that you told. People love to be part of a winning team. Storytelling keeps people tied into you and your presentation. I always say when in doubt during a presentation, tell a story in order to bring people's attention back to you. When I present, I ALWAYS tell many stories because when I was first introduced to direct sales, what perked my ears was a story of a young lady who had a lifestyle I wanted. The personal story of her lifestyle is what made me decide to get involved in the business. In that business, I went on to build an enormous organization and all I did was tell my story and tell the company's story over and over! Combining the key strategy of storytelling along with the correct mindset, you can achieve your wildest dreams! Find your WHY and Fly! John Di Lemme www.FindYourWhy.com

The 7 Keys To Your Creative Genius

Here are 7 ways you can instantly access your natural creativity and create anything you like. 1. Think Like A Child. As adults we tend to think in a conditioned way aimed at showing how clever we are. Yet, as children, we were simply spontaneous and far more creative in our thinking. To re-capture your childhood curiosity, allow yourself to just wonder at things, to be completely present in the here and now, and to detach yourself from what you thought was real. 2. Make New Connections. To be innovative doesn't require a university degree; it simply requires making a connection between existing ideas. For instance, did you know that ice cream was invented in 2000 BC yet it took another 3900 years for someone to come up with the idea of a cone? It's when you take two seemingly unrelated items and use the spark of creativity that genius happens. 3. Be A Little Illogical. It is a peculiarly Western trait to want to tie things up in neat bundles. We prefer solutions to problems, and answers to questions. To be creative, you need to be comfortable with things that don't fit. The Eastern tradition is more in tune with incongruence. As in this Zen koan, or problem: what is the sound of one hand clapping? 4. Laugh More. Tom Peters says that the creativity of a workplace can be measured by a laughometer, ie how much it laughs. Humour is one of the greatest creative devices. It jolts us out of our normal patterns and puts ideas together that shouldn't go together. It has been found that after listening to comedy tapes, students’ ability to solve problems rises by 60%. 5. Think Outside Your Limits. Many of the products we take for granted today are the result of people thinking outside their limits. John Lynn recalls attending a computer conference in the 1980's at a hotel when someone joked that the next thing they'd be thinking of would be computerised doors. When he went back to the same hotel 20 years later, all the doors used computer-programmed key cards. 6. Adopt and Adapt. To be creative doesn't require blue-sky thinking. You can still be creative by adapting what works elsewhere. An American airline that wanted quicker turnarounds on their flights adopted the techniques of Formula One pit crews. Another source of ideas is nature. Georges de Mestral adapted the way certain seeds stick to clothing and invented Velcro. 7. Remember Your Dreams. Dreaming and day-dreaming can create a rich seam of ideas, because that's when we relax and let the subconscious mind work by itself. The Roffey Park Management Institute calls this "washing-up creativity" because most flashes of inspiration come when we are walking the dog, sitting Archimedes-like in the bath, or doing the washing up. Apply these 7 creative thinking techniques and make them part of your daily thinking and I guarantee that new solutions to your problems will open up to you with ease and speed.

Positive Thinking and Your Creative Mind - 7 Steps to Success

You have a bright idea hidden somewhere in the back of your mind that you just can't wait to test out. The question is, do you really want to bring it out into the light? What could motivate you to churn your creative, inspiring juices to their utmost flavor? Did you know that it always helps to set a time limit to your personal goals? Set yourself up so you can accomplish the most tasks in record time. For example, mowing the lawn in an hour before the big game on TV. A correct and positive attitude in whatever you do will make things easier, and even enjoyable. It's simple. If you begin to allow yourself a bit of positive thinking then you will begin to realize things that you never thought possible. Thinking big is indeed the American Way and that what made our country prosperous. You can follow other great Americans who tapped into their creative mind and began to thing big.. Discover some tips to make it through your first week of possibility thinking even if you're just sitting in your favorite couch. Your mind is constantly at work for you. Tap into it's great resource while doing everyday activities. 1. Act. You must take passionate action towards living your life by design. Talk is cheap. Action = deposits in the bank of a passionately authentic future. My mother (probably quoting someone else) always said, "Action speaks louder than words". Without action, passion is void. Dreams become reality when you simply start by tinkering with your mind, then with your hands. And if the idea weakens or falters you can always go back to it later until you finish it. Thomas Edison and his Dream Team had to go back to the idea of a light bulb and recalculate it over 1,000 times before the first working light bulb begin to light the world. 2. Love. Commit to yourself. Then commit to those you love to powerfully create a life you can love. Instead of reacting, commit to creating from your heart and soul, out of love rather than fear. The American Dream will always be there, but a dream will still be a dream without motion. Be amazed as the transformation begins. 3. Live. Embrace moments and opportunities. Recognize and embrace the thought that each moment is perfect regardless of its outcome. Every time you hit on something that may appear too extreme why not give it a shot anyway. See if it will work. You may be surprised with the results. If you are not then decide to use that moment to learn from it and make the appropriate shift. Learning and growing from mistakes and failures is a part of living. 4. Be grateful. Dwell completely in a place of gratitude. Learn to utilize what you have in your hands and make use of it in the most constructive way. Necessity is the mother of invention. Have you ever been stuck without something you needed and had to make do with something else? (MacGyver,from the famous tv show, was famous for that!) How grateful were you that you had the means to solve your situation? Slipping into neediness will become less of a habit when you repeatedly shift towards gratitude and away from poverty consciousness. 5. Be Passionate. Use a Passion Formula of Recognize/Reevaluate/Restore in place of the Shoulda/Woulda/Coulda whirlwind. The former is based on increased knowledge and abundance while the latter focuses on scarcity and lack. As you face people or tasks that may seem harder than scaling the summit of the Himalayas, allow yourself to realize that the task is just as important as giving out orders to your subordinates. You would rather be richly passionate! 6. Laugh. Keep humor at the forefront of thought, laughing at and with yourself whenever possible. You may find yourself quite entertaining when you loosen up! I have yet to see a comedian ever go hungry even though his jokes are as 'old as great-grandma'. Life has too much to offer to allow yourself to mope around in self pity. Humor is very attractive, very passionate: life-giving. 7. Discover Your Purpose. Believe that you are the architect of your destiny. Realizing how you wish to be remembered when you pass from this life is a truly driving force. Your purpose for being can be a seemingly simple as being a great parent to as elaborate as discovering miraculous cures. When you have a strong purpose no one can take your passionate future from you except for you! Truly, as long as there's still breath in your body, there is no end to how much you can accomplish in a lifetime. Discovering and following your purpose will enable you to enjoy your work. Celebrate in the discovery that acting on your creative mind's thoughts is fulfilling your purpose. Watch everything flow into place with perfect, passionate precision. Activate your positive thinking. Stretch your imagination. Think bigger than you feel comfortable. Act on your thoughts. The number one tip here is action. You want to start practicing these steps. Think about this: It is unfortunate that so many people still do not use a computer because it appears too complicated to begin using. Or maybe they just keep putting it off till a more convenient time. These are just a couple of limitations one can set up for themselves. Limitations and failure to act on ideas and opportunities leave many as a dim bulb in a dark corner. Alert! You are not doomed to darkness. You are interested in living a life of purpose and love. The wonderful, creative idea in you is about to be released. You are interested in doing this because you are reading this article. Fortunately if you truly desire something, the will to attain it will open your creative mind to find a way. Now you need only to begin to act on your desire to create. Act now! Make your path to creativity and follow your purpose. Take your first step today with a positive attitude.

Personal Power Maps and Creative Ideas

At about the same time I started to think about building an Internet website, I considered my personal strengths and resources. It occurred to me that it might be a good idea to make a list of all the things I have in my life, as well as the things I have learned and skills I can use. This could help me come up with new directions for my personal development. After I've started writing these things down, I decided to call it "Power Maps" as they outline my sources of power, and could also show me ways to turn my strengths into more powerful actions. In this brief article I will try to demonstrate how I do this, hoping you can do the same. I use my own Power Map as an example, so you also get a chance to know me better... I began by writing down the major categories of things I do and am related to. Here is what I came up with:

• Family & Friends
• Places I know
• My Studies & Work
• Languages
• My Hobbies & Pastimes

Try to make your own list now. It doesn't have to be similar to the one I made or even have the same logic or structure. Just try to think of the major things that make up the person that you are. Next, I added more details to each major category - ending up with many of the things I consider to be my sources of power and knowledge. This is what it looked like by now:

• Family & Friends
  • My wife
  • My children
  • My mother, sisters & brother
  • My friends
• Places I know
  • Israel
  • Europe
  • South America
    • Argentina
    • Chile
    • Peru
    • Bolivia
    • Brazil
  • South East Asia
    • India
    • Nepal
    • Thailand
• My Studies & Work
  • Human Resources
  • Management skills training
  • Thinking, Innovation & Creativity
  • Philosophy
  • Computers
    • Web programming
    • Database planning
    • Online & computer games
  • Myself as an employee
• Languages
  • Hebrew
  • English
  • Spanish
• My Hobbies and Pastimes
  • Capoeira
  • Diving
  • Board games

Seeing all that I have in my favor, I already started to feel stronger! If you want to get the same feeling - take a few minutes to list many of your own sources of power. Turning power maps into creative action Now it was time to start thinking how I could turn all those resources into something I could make or contribute. In other words - come up with new and useful things I could do with all I have. What I came up with was consisted of things I did before and could do better or on a larger scale; things I haven't done before but believed I could do; and some other creative ideas that just came up. In order to distinguish these action ideas from the resources I already listed, I use an undeline for the action items. I am sharing some of these with you:

• Family & Friends
  • My wife
    • Help your wife pursue her dream
  • My children
    • Write children's books
  • My mother, sisters & brother
  • My friends
• Places I know
  • Israel
    • Knowing what it's all about
  • Europe
  • South America
    • Argentina
    • Chile
    • Peru
    • Bolivia
    • Brazil
  • South East Asia
    • India
    • Nepal
    • Thailand
• My Studies & Work
  • Human Resources
  • Management skills training
    • Tools for planning
    • Small Business Handbook
  • Thinking, Innovation & Creativity
    • Improved Memory Techniques
    • Building a Personal Thinking Center
  • Philosophy
  • Computers
    • Web programming
    • Database planning
    • Online & computer games
      • Principles of development
      • Review best games on the web
  • Myself as an employee
• Languages
  • Hebrew
  • English
    • Translation tips
  • Spanish
    • Learning tips
• My Hobbies and Pastimes
  • Capoeira
  • Diving
  • Board games
    • Playing tips
    • Designing & Inventing

Now I had something I could work with. There were other things on the list - this is just to show you the general idea. I am sure that if you try to complete your own Power Map now - you'd have many action ideas. Bringing it all together With such a detailed Power Map, you can start looking for practical ways to harness all that power to interesting development possibilities. The strongest creative ideas would be those that combine as many strengths and action items as possible. Consider the creative ideas website I have built (see resource box below) - it combines my power at: English, Internet, Creativity, Management training, and more. I truly hope this can help you become stronger, more creative, and ultimately happier. If you liked this article and the Power Map tool, you should check out the Resource Box Below for a constantly growing source of ideas and creativity tools.

Permission To Be An Artist - Granted!

Since I've been offering Artist Retreat Day programs, I've been hearing a lot about the concept of "permission". Some artists who said yes to a retreat day shared that this was a much-needed structure to enable and empower them to FINALLY give themselves permission to take time for their creative work. Others just couldn't say yes, just couldn't give themselves permission. What does it mean to have permission to do something? My thesaurus tells me that other words related to permission are: consent, sanctioning and authorization. Consent signifies agreement, validation that what you're doing meets with specific expectations, criteria and guidelines. It sounds solemn and like someone has faith in you. Sanction is an even more formal declaration of acceptance and faith. Authorized to Create Authorization – well, that implies that you're something special. That not just anyone is meant to be painting this painting, writing this song or designing that jewelry. You have been specially authorized to do it. And why? Because you have the unique gifts that are necessary to bring that creative project into being. Who authorized you? The same power that granted you those gifts and skills – whether you choose to think of that as God, the universe, Spirit, or another name. As we read in the Science of Getting Rich [link], we're not given the desire to do something without also giving you the skill to carry it out. Why is it so difficult to authorize ourselves, grant ourselves permission and consent, to sanction our own creative work? Sometimes we seek this permission from others, unconsciously (or consciously) hoping they'll deny it, so we won't really have to venture into the scary world of living up to our potential. A lot of these words symbolize that external permission is needed. And sometimes it is. Permission from Others Whether you want to attend an artist retreat day, meet a deadline or just develop a new idea that came to you overnight, you'll sometimes need permission from the people you share your life with to take the time for your creative work. It might mean delegating household work or child-care or rescheduling a date or planned event. All of you might also need a willingness to be flexible and to accept that sometimes things don't get done right away. It also means ensuring an environment of support for your work. Will others give you permission? Of course you can't control what anyone else thinks, says or does, but consider this: our loved ones will take cues from us about how serious our creative work is to us. If we're constantly putting it on the back burner, putting our work down, and letting it be the first thing to go when things get stressful or busy, we're teaching others to treat it the same way. If we don't take our creative work seriously, why should they? Permission from Self – Artist at Work I think what's even more important is the permission we give ourselves. There are so many reasons we deny ourselves permission to pursue our creative work. Fear tops the list. Fear of success, fear of failure, fear of what people will think of us, fear of being good, fear of being terrible, or fear we'll let someone else down, to name a few examples. Sometimes we hold on to earlier instances when we were denied permission, denied access, not sanctioned or authorized, or when our work was criticized or belittled. Some of us have even been told, directly, NOT to pursue our creative work ("don't give up your day job", "find another path", "you have no business doing this work"), which hung a big UNAUTHORIZED ACCESS sign on the door of our creative hearts. So hang a new sign on your creative heart – one that reads "Artist at work". And in fine print, "This work has been sanctioned by _______" (the name of your source of Power). 10 Signs That You've Given Yourself Permission To Be A Creative Artist 1. The first words out of your mouth when someone asks "and what do you do?" are "I'm a songwriter/artist/sculptor/writer, etc.". 2. You work steadily at your craft, whether it's working on or re-working pieces or promoting your work. 3. You teach your loved ones to treat your art seriously. 4. The materials and resources that you need to create with are part of your budget and are planned expenses every month. 5. You're committed to your learning, growth and development, participating in artists groups and discussion forums and seeking out mentorship and coaching. 6. You don't let mistakes or criticism stop you from taking your next steps. 7. You're building the resources you need to support yourself financially, emotionally and spiritually. 8. You're conscious of your physical lifestyle habits and choose the ones that won't interfere with your creative work. 9. You find opportunities to pass on your knowledge and support wherever possible, to someone who's had less experience than you have. 10. You consistently say no to requests for your time, energy and commitment that will take you away from your creative work. © Linda Dessau, 2005.

Mind Power Games

Want a fun way to tune up your brain? Why not use some classic mind games to help you increase your brainpower and get you out of your thinking "ruts." Good mind games habituate you to using creative problem solving as a normal part of thinking about things. One lateral thinking puzzle you can try right now involves nine dots, layed out three by three. You have to connect them all with four straight lines, and without lifting the pen or pencil from the paper. Figure this one out and you'll appreciate the expression "thinking outside of the box." Mind Games For Groups Some group mind games are especially good for long trips in a car. For example, someone looks out the window and randomly chooses an object. Everyone in the car then tries to imagine a new way to make money with it. Street signs become places to advertise, trees are sold with names, and a truck becomes a traveling grocery store. The "change of perspective" technique can be used as a problem-solving game. Pick any topic, and see who can come up with the most unique new perspective. Could there be a world where jobs weren't necessary? How would a virus define morality if it was conscious? Another creative game for a group uses a specific technique, called "concept combination." Simply combine random concepts or things in interesting ways, and see who has the best idea. A chair and a microwave? Maybe an easy-chair with a built-in cooler, microwave and television, or microwavable "couch potatoes" - a potato snack in the shape of a couch. More Mind Games Some lateral-thinking puzzles use a scenario, real or imagined, with a selection of things you have to use to accomplish something. Imagine a ping-pong ball in an iron pipe that's set in cement. The pipe sticks up two-feet high, and has almost the same diameter as the ball. With only a box of frosted-flakes, and a t-shirt, how many ways can you find to get the ball out of the pipe? You could also set this up for real, to know if a proposed solution will really work. Riddles are just mind games or lateral-thinking puzzles. You move laterally in your mind, away from your usual line of thought, to solve a riddle. What did his friends do when the canibal was late for dinner? Gave him the cold shoulder. Keeping your brain in shape doesn't have to be a matter of serious study, does it?

Manifest Your Dreams

For each of us, the universe is different. A homeless man may view the universe as unfair, hard and tough. A rich man may view the universe as a lovely place full of luxury and pleasure. Both of them are viewing the same universe, it is just different because of their perceptions of it and their life experiences. This is a fundamental key to understanding, to know that how you perceive the universe is how it is to you. If you feel it is full of fear and hatred, then it will be. If you think it is full of love and happiness, it is. Using some of the techniques discussed in this, and other articles, you can start to reprogram the way you perceive the universe and change your life! Think about how many times you have feared something happening and then it has. For example, you might be worried that you are going to bump your car, and then you do. Was it a premonition or did you create it? Compare this to the amount of times you have looked forward to something and then it has happened. Usually the fear is a much stronger emotion and focus, which causes the object of that fear/thought to manifest much more quickly. Of course, thought and belief does not just create the universe on an emotional and psychological level, but also on a material level. We may fear that we are not good with money and hence we are not. You can use your will and focus on manifesting items that you want to further your life with. Remember that you can only manifest things you believe you can have. You may wish for a million dollars, but unless you really believe you can have it, you will not get it. You need to be aware that things are not just going to fall out of the air and land on your lap, though on occasion they may well do so, literally as well as figuratively. It sometimes takes a little while for what you want to manifest to appear. Sometimes it requires faith and patience on your part. It might be the Universe is testing you to see if you really want it and will really dedicate yourself to getting it before you get it. You cannot sit back and wait for what you want to manifest. There is a saying "God helps those who help themselves". This is true. When you are manifesting it is essential that you listen to your intuition and follow your instincts. It often also depends on whether what you are trying to manifest is in tune with your life's purpose or not. If it is not then you have an uphill struggle to manifest it. Also, if you manifest for selfish needs and with your ego then it is not likely to work. It works best when you manifest for the greater good, selflessly, and from your higher self. When working on manifesting remember to keep your mind open as to how it is going to appear in your life. For example, many of us may want to manifest more money. We have a mental program that says, "more money means I have to work more". This is not necessarily true. You might manifest more money from a promotion, a raise at work, a change of job or career, from a competition win, an inheritance, and many other ways. You need to be open to this because if you mentally limit the ways the Universe can provide to you then it is going to be much harder for what you want to come into your life. Listen to your intuition too because it will help guide you. You might get the urge to buy a newspaper suddenly. You buy it and notice the exact car you want for sale in it. Our intuition is from our higher self and will guide us if we listen to it. You can use decrees, affirmations, and positive visualisation to help you create what you want in your universe. This does not just have to be limited to material items, but you can work on bringing more love, more joy and many other things into your life and the lives of those around you. When you are working on manifesting things such as these into your life look to the root cause of what you are lacking. For example, you might feel you are lacking love in your life. Examine the cause and you might see it is because of a lack of self-worth or self-love, or because of something in your childhood. Once you are aware of why you can work on dealing with the issue and healing yourself. Then you will find it much easier to bring, and to keep, what you desire in your life. Another exercise you can do to help you manifest is to realise the abundance of the universe. Abundance will be the subject of another article, and is dealt with fully within the course, but take a walk outside some time and look at how abundant nature is. See how freely nature gives and how much is given. Think about this and how abundance can be a part of your life. You can use affirmations such as: * I am worthy of love and respect from others and myself * I have an abundance of money in my life * I am good with money and spend it wisely * I open myself to the abundance of the universe * I am in tune with my higher self * I accept that I am a good and worthy person Finally, remember these points: Believe in what you are trying to manifest Listen to your intuition Manifest from your higher self and in harmony with your life's purpose Manifesting is not just limited to material items. You can manifest more love, happiness, peace, and much more Manifest for others, not just yourself That YOU create the universe you live in, so changing your perceptions of it, changes the universe Believe in yourself and what you can achieve. You can manifest anything you desire in your life, good or bad. Harness the power of your sub-conscious mind in manifesting your desires through the Manifestation Audio CD at http://www.stateofhypnosis.com/audio/abundance/ma.php

How To Remember Things

What's the biggest problem with memory tricks? Remembering to use them, of course. There are many memory techniques that work well, but you'll forget them when you need them most - unless you make using them a habit. So when you take the time to learn a technique, use it until it becomes automatic. Here are some to try. Using a Story-List I went to a party as a child. There was a game that involved looking at a table covered in 15 various items. After a few minutes, we were taken to another room, and each child was given paper and a pencil. We had to write down as many items as we could remember. I recalled seven or eight, but one boy won the prize by remembering all 15 items. Years later I learned why he won. His father taught him a simple trick that none of us other kids knew. The technique is to tie the items together in an imaginative story. For example, what if you want to remember a list of the following things: Soap, milk, honey, fork, and flowers. Start a vivid story in your imagination, adding each item to it as you go: At the sink, you reach for the SOAP. The soap dish is full of MILK, so you wash your hands in that. Then you comb HONEY into your hair with a FORK, and finally pick up a bouquet of FLOWERS and smile at the mirror. Say each item while mentally reviewing your "movie," and you'll remember all five things, even the next day. Some Other Memory Tricks Tell yourself to remember. When you learn a person's name, for example, tell yourself, "remember that". This signals your unconscious mind to rank this input as more important. Know WHY you want to remember something, and HOW you'll remember it. To remember a person, for example, ask why they'll be important to you in the future, imagine where you'll see them next, and connect that to anything you notice about them. Seeing the importance of remembering really helps, and additional associations (where you expect to see the person next) set the memory more firmly in your brain. Do you ever forget where you put your car keys? You've probably tried retracing your steps, at least doing it in your imagination. This can work well, but even better is to prevent the forgetting beforehand. When you set the keys on the chair, see yourself walking in and setting the keys on the chair. You won't forget where they are. There are many more of these memory tricks. If you want them to be useful, though, don't just read about them. Make a memory technique or two into a habit, starting today.

How to pick the Dream Tattoo Design That You Want Today

A recent survey tells us that 24% of Americans between the ages of 18-50 are tattooed. This is almost 1 in 4. The most popular reason people get tattooed is “To broadcast what they are all about.” Keeping this in mind, many people end up regretting the tattoo that is inked on their body. Most of the time, these people did not take the time to really think about why they choose a particular tattoo and look at other tattoo designs that are available. This is why picking out the right tattoo design from the start is important. Being impulsive has disaster written all over it. The removal of offending tattoos is painful and expensive. Learn this lesson now or pay for it later. That is all I am going to say about this! Here are some suggestions how to get started finding your dream tattoo design: · Don’t shop around for the cheapest studio or artist. Do shop around for the best artist within your driving range. · Why do you want a tattoo? Remember, lovers come and go. Rosie isn’t going to like “Kim” emblazoned on your chest. · A lot of people have tattoos to remember someone who passed away. You can choose a symbol or design that has meaning to them. · You may have some idea what image is special to you. But don’t worry, most people are visual and there are many tattoo design resources to browse to find the tattoo design that you really like. · Go to your local bookstore and find the tattoo books, design books, theme books and magazines. · Your local tattoo artist will have a portfolio of tattoo designs to leaf though. · Check out the web. There are sites that have 1000’s of designs to choose from for a small fee. You can print them out and give it to your Tattoo artist. · Choose the color. · Relax. Think about it a little. Toss it around in your brain for a few days. Be patient. · Word of caution … Tattoos can direct a negative perception of you during job interviews. So the placement of the tattoo on your body is a good idea. Good luck getting the dream tattoo design that you want. They say ink acquisition is a way to express yourself to others, but I would also add that getting good body art is going to make you special and unique!

How to be More Creative and Enhance Your Creativity

Before thinking about how to be more creative, let me begin point out some real barriers that some people seem to have when wanting to enhance creativity, have a think if any of these things are applicable to you and your life; 1. Lack of time. This is not as major as you may think. Linking thoughts and ideas only takes seconds. It can happen anytime, anywhere. Provided you are in the right state and pay attention to your own experience. Creativity in my opinion is more about the quality of the time you have and being receptive to yourself. Though this does take some time. 2. Fear of being judged. When I worked for a national newspaper and we had brainstorming sessions, individuals were often scared of expressing ideas. Creativity results in unusual ideas and perhaps even being different in some way. They can be thought of as strange, odd or challenging. Fear of being considered weird, stupid or just different often kills creativity. If I feared people thinking any of those things about me, I would not bother getting out of bed in the mornings; I love the fact that people think I am all of those things!! 3. Lack of self-esteem. When you do something creative, you go beyond the bounds of what has been safe and familiar in the past, to yourself and maybe even others. When you are not sure about yourself, being different in any way can feel risky or make you feel vulnerable. The danger is that you give up your new insight to just blend in. Smash out of those shackles! 4. Fear of failure. This inhibits us. If you are making a new connection in your brain there can be no inherent "right" or "wrong" about it. Failure can only have two meanings really; firstly, that it didn't work in the way you wanted it to. Secondly, Someone else did not like it. But so what??!! I have to tell you all that I get many comments on how I generate so many successful projects and am often asked how I do it. I always point out that these projects are actually only about 10% of what I have imagined. The other 90% didn't work or didn't get out of my brain. Creativity is not reserved for genius only. Einstein was brilliant but he is not necessarily the best model of creativity for us. You do not need specialist expertise to be creative. The fruits of your creativity may manifest in many, many differing ways, in fact I expect so. If at any time you doubt your ability to be creative, remind yourself that several times every night you create an entirely new dream, which you script, act in and watch, which involves all your senses and has effects that can last long after they are over. This creation is so very effortless most people don't even recognise it as such. How to be more creative. Ok, so how does one actually go about getting more creative. Let me give you some ideas; 1. Find the right frame of mind. Explore what states you associate with being creative. Discover properly what it is that triggers and maintains you being creative. What's your best time of day? The best environment? Do you need to be alone or with others or alone in the midst of others? Do you need sounds or silence or background sounds? Build a profile of your creativity state, then make time and space for it on a regular basis instead of waiting for some divine intervention and for it to just happen on its own. 2. Cultivate dreaming. Pay attention to your experience of life and attention to your existing creativity rather than dismissing day-dreams and dreams. Don't allow yourself to waste what you may already be discovering by ignoring it. 3. Ask yourself "What if?" and "What else?" and "How else?" Always go beyond what you fist thought, find more and more different ideas. 4. When and/or if you hit a problem, pretend your usual solution is not available. This can work in many different ways. If your PC crashes today, how else might you do your work? If you usually argue face to face, what would happen if you wrote your feelings down instead? Some solutions may be no better than the ones you're used to: others may offer you brilliant new opportunities. Do something different. I wrote about that idea in an earlier article entitled Do something Different, go check it out. 5. See how many different results you can get with the same ingredients. I am sure many of you know that there is a cookbook called "Recipes 1-2-3" by Rozanne Gold, in which every recipe is made out of only three ingredients. Some recipes use the same three ingredients but different processes or quantities come up with different results. You can have some great fun by taking an every day object and imagine or think about how many other uses it can have, you can even think about how to combine them with other objects. 6. Think of different ways to do the familiar. Change the order in which you do things, use different things, use your less favoured hand; as soon as we break routine, we move from a state where we are on auto-pilot to one where we are alive and alert. You exercise unfamiliar brain connections and help build new links in your brain. A glorious feeling!

High IQ: Change Your Eating Habits And Super Boost Your Intelligence Quotient

Do you feel heavy in your head when you walk around? Is your score in IQ tests too low? You may not feel as active or quick as early or you may be forgetting very commonly used words. This need not be the situation that cannot be dealt with. You can eat certain food items which will help boost your brainpower, clear up your brain and make you think at a quick pace. Hence if you want to increase your intelligence level (and your IQ- your score in IQ tests) to the highest level read the information given below. It will help you clear up your brain and you will have great thinking power and ability to score higher in IQ tests. Your memory also depends on your eating habits. Fish Oil "Fish is a food for your brain" is an old belief. But nowadays fish is very polluted with mercuy and dangerous substances, so I will not recommend fish for consumption. Instead, I suggest to eat fish oil. It has fats which contain DocasaHexanenoic Acid and is beneficial for the brain and acts as a protective layer. A majority of our brain is made up of fat and that fat is either DocasaHexanenoic Acid or Arachidonic acid. Arachidonic acid is found in unprocessed dairy products like butter and DocasaHexanenoic Acid is found only in fish and not in any other plant or vegetation. It is very important to use a fish oil which is exceptionally good and has good reputation. I have done research and have clinical with patients, which shows the following trends. 1. Liquid form of fish oil is far better than capsules. 2. Not all brands are good 3. Carlson's brand is the best and purest of all existing brands today. It may not be the only brand that is exceptionally good, but till now I have come across many and have found that carlson's brand is the best as far as fish or cod liver oil is concerned. You can find this brand at Mercola.com or at any health store near your house. Vegetables Nothing can ever match the nutritions that pure vegetables can provide us. Alzheimer's has been known to occur because of deficiency of folic acid (green vegetables are very rich with it). Similarly, there are many other elements, antioxidants and phytochemicals that vegetables provide us with and can help us in keeping our brains sharp.

Effective Problem-Solving Leads To Solutions

Problems are a part of life. They have accompanied us since birth, and will continue to do so until the twilight of our lives. But this is no reason to get upset. In fact, the thought that problems happen to absolutely everyone should come as a welcome relief. Problems are not the result of being a bad or good person. They happen to good and bad people alike. Sometimes, even despite of our best judgments and careful planning, problems still meet us in the most unexpected circumstances. Here are some tips to conquer your problems: Trace the root of the problem. The best way to start finding a solution to a problem is to try to figure out how the problem started in the first place. If you find yourself lost in the middle of the road, the chances are that you took a wrong turn somewhere along the way. This is why you need to go back, retrace your steps, and discover where you have gone wrong. This way you would be able to figure out which way you should go, which roads to avoid, and how to get there. Don’t sweat the little things. Little problems are best dealt with by giving them a shrug of the shoulder. Having a bad hair day or breaking a nail is not reason enough to break into fits of hysteria. Sure, it is annoying; but get over it! People will be surprised how a little change in their attitude can go a long way in solving their problems. In fact, a lot of problems people are facing will dissolve if they only change their attitude. Instead of focusing on the negative aspects of their lives, and being so cynical, they should instead try to make the best out of every situation. If you are not satisfied with the situation you are in, you should strive to make some positive changes in your life. Confront your problems. Not confronting problems can lead to bigger issues. Before problems can be solved, they must first be dealt with. For example, a person pretending not to be sick when he very well knows that he is suffering from an illness will not help him solve this problem. In fact, this will only make the situation much worse, if he refuses to seek out the medical attention that he needs. The problem with choosing to ignore problems is that they can lead to bigger problems. Some who choose to escape their problems may turn to alcohol, drugs, or other self-destructive behaviors simply because they want to avoid the problems they are encountering. This, in turn, becomes a part of the problem. Instead of finding a solution, they find bigger problems. Ask for help. Strength comes in numbers. One of the best ways to quickly solve a problem is to ask for help. This is where friends and family come in. Not only will they be physically able to help you, they can also be a source of emotional help as well. Not only that, they would be able to throw in some ideas that just might be the key to finding the solution to your problem! Having some problems does not mean that it is the end of the world. It just means that you are going to have to work hard at finding the solutions to your problems. By going through this process, not only will you solve your problems, but you can gain a lot of knowledge and wisdom along the way!

Developing Intuition

Developing intuition starts by realizing you have it already. If you've ever had a hunch about something, that was intuition. Intuition is just your mind using more than what you are consciously aware of. But can you trust your intuition? How do you improve it? Developing Intuition In Three Steps 1. Recognize it and encourage it. 2. Study it to make it more trustworthy. 3. Give it good information to work with. Gary Kasparov will admit that a computer can calculate chess positions many moves further ahead than he can. Yet he still beats the best computers out there because of his intuitive grasp of the game. His experience allows him to combine analysis with a "sense" of which move is best. Try to find areas in your own life where you intuitively operate. Of course, intuition is also a warning device. Both my wife and I felt we shoudn't get on that bus in Ecuador. This is no psychic power. Crowded busses are prime locations for pickpockets. A drunk man was bumping into people repeatedly. We didn't consciously pay attention, but these things registered in our minds, warning us. We felt "something isn't right here." When we ignored our intuition, I was robbed. When I bought a conversion van, I saw them all over. Maybe you've had a similar experience. Looking for and recognizing a thing trains your mind to find more of it. The same process will happen if you watch for your intuition - you'll start to see more of it. Unfortunately, a strong hunch can be for irrelevant reasons too. If you were hit by a yellow taxi as a child, you might have "intuitive" hunches not to get into yellow taxis for the rest of your life. So even learning to recognize your intuition and encourage it may leave you wondering when to trust it. Study Your Intuition Start questioning your hunches. If we had asked why we felt bad about that bus, it may have occurred to us, "Oh yeah, crowded busses are a bad idea - we know that." Study your strong feeling about that taxi, and you might say, "Oh, it's just my fear of yellow taxis." Get in the habit of paying attentionto and studying your intuitive feelings. Where does your intuition work best? If you're always right about your intuitive stock picks, give a little credence to them. On the other hand, if your hunches about people are usually wrong, don't follow them. Just pay attention more, and you'll be developing intuition about your intuition. Give Your Intution Good Information Your skill, knowledge and experience determine the potential effectiveness of your intuition. No weak chess player will never intuitively beat that computer, like Kasparov can. Learn enough about a subject, before expecting good hunches about it - or before trusting the hunches. Work in the area you want more intuition in. When enough information is in your mind, it will go to work for you with or without your conscious participation, so feed it well. Recognize your intuition and you'll have hunches and ideas more often. Study it and you'll learn when to trust it. Give it good information and you'll be repaid with good hunches and ideas. This is the simple formula for developing intuition.