The power of networking is common knowledge nowadays. What’s not so common is knowing how to consistently and effectively do it. Networking is simple, but far from easy.

Whenever I’m speaking to a group about networking at least one person asks, “But what do you say (or talk about) when you first meet someone?” And someone else will inevitably ask, “What do you say (or do) when there’s a lull in the conversation?”

My response to both questions is the same. First decide if the person is really in the mood to talk to you. If you feel like someone doesn’t really want to talk to you, it’s no big deal. Move on to someone else.

If the person seems willing to Read More...

Today’s Top 10 Tips Tuesday is a guest post from Leo Babauta, the author of Zen Habits.  Leo has a popular blog on living your best life – you should check it out!  Read this post for a sample of his work and learn how to get a boost on getting things done.

Be Free!

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We all need a productivity boost now and then — sometimes throughout the day. We each want to be productive for very personal reasons — to accomplish more, to make more money, to get done earlier to make more time for Read More...

This is a guest by Michael Angier from MarketingForSuccuss.com 

Being alive means we have and will have problems.

And if we’re going to be confronted with problems the rest of our lives, then becoming good at facing and solving problems seems to me to be a worthy endeavor.

Before I jump into my list, allow me to share a few of my thoughts ABOUT problems.

I believe there is almost always more than one solution to any problem. And if you think there’s only one, you will be significantly limiting yourself.

I also think that in business, you don’t really Read More...

Being a good listener is one of the most important communication skills you can develop. Here are 10 easy tips, which if practiced regularly, will make you a better communicator.

Be Free!
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Listening seems like a simple process and yet so many of us are more eager to talk than to listen. Someone once said we were given two ears and one mouth for a reason. What better gift could you give to your family, friends, peers and bosses than to listen to them so that they feel really heard? Here are some tips:

1. Stay present – Don’t let your mind wander. Many are composing a response before the speaker has Read More...

An appropriate amount of stress is vital to motivate and build resilience in character. However, it should not overwhelm you. The key to successful stress management lies in taking charge: you have to effectively deal with schedule demands, your thoughts, your emotions and occasional situation crises.

When you are in control, you will experience a balanced life coupled with minimal stress. The constant need to work within deadlines may leave you mentally drained. However, applying stress management tips will enable you to identify and improve your overall quality of life. Listed below are 10 tips for stress management applicable to Read More...

Today’s Top 10 List comes from Karin Vibe-Rheymer-Stewart, Ph.D., a time management consultant that is frequently asked, “What are the most common time management mistakes people make?” Here are her answers, in no particular order.

How many of those time management mistakes do you make?

Be Free!
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1. Being a slave to your blackberry or cell phone 

You know you have become a slave to your blackberry or cell phone when, almost every time it rings or buzzes, you jump and answer it. Cell phones and Read More...

If any of your goals in 2010 are along the lines of “improve myself,” “find balance at home and work,” or “be happier,” you are in the right place.  But getting started in the world of personal development can be overwhelming. 

So today’s Top 10 Tips Tuesday is devoted to tips to make the leap into the journey of personal development and creating a new you in the new your. 

Enjoy and Be Free!
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Are you totally happy with your life? It wouldn’t surprise me if your initial response was to ask the question “Is anyone totally happy with their life?” Fair comment. So let me rephrase the question. “Is there any area of your life right Read More...

Yesterday, Roger Seip wrote about training your brain to make that muscle stronger.  For today’s Top 10 Tips Tuesday, we offer 10 ways you can improve your brain’s fitness. 

Be Free!
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Brain fitness has basic principles: variety and curiosity. When anything you do becomes second nature, you need to make a change. If you can do the crossword puzzle in your sleep, it’s time for you to move on to a new challenge in order to get the best workout for your brain.

Curiosity about the world around you, how it works and how you can understand it will keep your brain Read More...

Having and maintaining a positive attitude is vital for success in life and business. Zig Ziglar gets it right when he says, “It is your attitude, not your aptitude, that determines your altitude.”

Sure you need skills, but you can learn skills – in fact a positive attitude will make it much more likely that you will learn the skills necessary to succeed. If you take two people with an equal skill set the person with the better attitude will win.

Unfortunately it is not always easy to stay positive and keep a good attitude. As things go wrong throughout your day, it is easy to let negative thoughts start to take over. Thankfully there are many things that you can do to help maintain a positive attitude. Read More...

We all have access to a powerful tool which when used regularly will enhance our self esteem, break through limiting self-imposed beliefs, and raise the thermostat of our comfort zones.  It is called self-talk.  Here are the Top 10 Tips for creating powerful self-talk.

1. Know Your Outcome
Have a clear vision of the end result and avoid dwelling on the question, how will I get there? Our subconscious minds are very creative and once the thought is programmed, you will be pleasantly surprised at how the creative mind goes to work to guide you to make the vision a reality. For example, let’s take a shy person who is uncomfortable speaking to a group of people. The desired end-result is to be confident, dynamic and captivating Read More...