The Marriage Partner GuideBook

A HAPPY DISPOSITION
Look for a happy, optimistic person. Find someone who has a sense of humor and can laugh at himself/herself... True happiness springs from a contented heart. Beware the person who is only happy when you are around. You're going to get tired of being responsible for another person's happiness.
You could end up feeling guilty when the person slips into bouts of depression. True happiness is a part of a person's character, regardless of the circumstances.

THOUGHTFULNESS
How does your date treat his parents and yours? Chances are you'll get treated very much the same way. Does he see things that need to be done and offer to help? Or does he put his own needs first?
Manners are important - and they seldom get better after marriage.

NOT EASILY ANGERED
Temper outbursts can be the symptom of internal hostility, which is often repressed during courtship as a person is trying hard to be on his best behavior... Take seriously any outburst you observe, and check with others who have known this person in different situations to see if they have noticed this trait... The way a woman treats her younger brother may be an indication of how she will treat her husband.

Be leery of the person who has not learned to express his anger in words and instead merely harbors angry feelings in his heart. Going silent and withdrawing from a loved one because of anger is unhealthy and damaging to the relationship... Be sure you date a person long enough to observe how easily he or she becomes angry and how these feelings are expressed. Ask yourself, "Is this what I want to live with for a lifetime?"

WILLING TO SOLVE PROBLEMS
It's almost impossible to solve relationship problems by yourself. Marry someone who will be honest enough to admit being wrong, who doesn't have a habit of blaming others...

PURITY
Purity is not just an old-fashioned virtue. It's just safer to date someone who hasn't played around... At the same time you should not hold it against a person for past sexual involvement. You cannot always judge a person's true purity by virginity alone... Mind purity is equally important. Is your date pure in his thoughts and speech, as well as behavior? What jokes does he tell? What music does she listen to? What movies does he watch? What books or magazines does she read? Are they pure or suggestive? Mind pollution can lead to disrespect of the opposite sex.

TRUTHFUL
Too often couples play games when they are becoming acquainted... playing games in a relationship is a form of dishonesty. Marriage isn't a game. It's a serious lifetime commitment. Search your own feelings and share honestly during your courtship. Be You.

GOOD HEALTH HABITS
No one wants to marry a slob - and few do... Bad health habits are difficult to break. That is why it's best to look for a person who has already established positive health practices.

ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY
Here are some questions that might detect irresponsibility: ... Does she see things that need to be done and do them? Does he volunteer to help? Does she get to places on time? Does he make lame excuses to get out of responsibilities? Does she take her talents seriously and work to improve her skills? Does he take care of his car and other personal possessions? ... Think about it. Just how responsible is the person you are dating?

GOOD SENSE OF SELF-WORTH
Often in a dating relationship, individuals with poor self-esteem glean a sense of value from the person they're with. They become dependent on their partners to make them feel good... If you don't want to live a lifetime having to tiptoe around a person's fragile ego or having to hold yourself back for fear of how your spouse will react, then be careful not to get emotionally involved with someone who has a low sense of self-worth.

LIKES CHILDREN
Before marriage you may discuss children, but unless you're around a lot of children and can observe your date interacting with them in a wide variety of situations, you really don't have any idea about how he or she may discipline your children in the future. Seldom do both parents totally agree on how a child should be raised. Finding someone who at least likes children is an advantage.

ACCEPTS YOU JUST THE WAY YOU ARE
True love is unconditional love. The important question to ask is, "Do I love her faults?" Only when you can truly love the total person, including all the points and bad habits, can you accept your mate for who he is and not secretly wish you could change him.

WILLING TO GROW
Good marriage partners grow together. They encourage each other to maximize their knowledge, skills and potential... Make sure the person you date seriously is the kind of person who is open to learning and will make changes when changes need to be made.

AFFECTIONATE
The ability to express love through words and actions is vital for an intimate love relationship... look for tender words, acts and touches that are given naturally and "appropriately" through

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'As long as we have memories,

yesterday remains,

As long as we have hope,

tomorrow awaits,

As long as we have friendship,

each day is never a waste.'

" The journey of a thousand miles

begins with a single step."

- Chinese proverb

Reality of Love

After a while you learn the subtle difference between holding a hand and chaining a soul

And you learn that love does not mean leaning and company does not always mean security

And you begin to learn that kisses are not contracts and presents are not promises

And you begin to accept your defeats with your head up and your eyes ahead with the grace of an adult, not the grief of a child

And you learn to build all your roads on today because tomorrow's ground is too uncertain for plans, and futures have a way of falling down in flight

After a while you learn that even sunshine burns if you get too much

So you plant your own garden and decorate your own soul instead of waiting for someone to bring you flowers

And you learn that you really can endure that you really are strong and you really do have worth

And you learn and you learn with every goodbye you learn.

Why Does Women Cry??

Women are just very special and have you ever ponder why does women cry???

Gals - you should feel proud for being a woman after reading this.
Guys - don't belittle we women and don't think we women are good to be bullied ok....

One day, a young boy asked his Mom. "Why are you crying?"

"Because I'm a woman," she told him.

I don't understand," he said.

His Mom just hugged him and said, "and you never will, but that's okay."

Later the little boy asked his father, "Why does Mom seem to cry for no reason?"

"All women cry for no reason" was all his Dad could say.

The little boy grew up and became a man, still wondering why women cry.

Finally, he put in a call to God. When God got back to him, he asked,
"God, why do women cry so easily?"

God answered, "When I made woman, I decided she had to be special. I made her shoulders strong enough to carry the weight of the world, yet her arms gentle enough to give comfort. I gave her the inner strength to endure childbirth and the rejection that many times will come, even from her own children.

"I gave her a hardness that allows her to keep going and take care of family and friends, even when everyone else gives up, through sickness and fatigue, without complaining.

"I gave her the sensitivity to love her children under any and all circumstances, even when her child has hurt her badly. She has the very special power to make a child's boo-boo feel better and to quell a teenager's anxieties and fears.

"I gave her strength to care for her husband, despite faults, and I fashioned her from his rib to protect his heart. I gave her wisdom to know that a good husband never hurts his wife but sometimes tests her strengths and her resolve to stand beside him unfalteringly.

"For all of this hard work, I also gave her a tear to shed. It is hers to use whenever needed and is her only weakness. When you see her cry, tell her how much you love her and all she does for everyone. And even though she may still cry, you will have made her heart feel good. She is special!"

Cheers for the great women in our lives!

Words of Wisdom for the Day

When something happens to you, good or bad, consider what it means.
There's a purpose to life's events, to teach you how to laugh more or not to cry too hard. all you can do is be someone who can be loved, the rest is up to the person to realise your worth.

The measure of love is when you love without measure. It's better to lose your pride to the one you love, than to lose the one you love because of pride.

We spend too much time looking for the right person to love or finding fault with those we already love, when instead we should be perfecting the love we give.

When you truly care for someone, you don't look for faults, you don't look for answers, you don't look for mistakes. Instead, you fight the mistakes, you accept the faults, and you overlook the excuses.

Never abandon an old friend. You will never find one who can take his place. Friendship is like wine, it gets better as it grows older.

Remember the five simple rules to be happy :
1. Free your heart from hatred.
2. Free your mind from worries.
3. Live simply.
4. Give more.
5. Expect less.

No one can go back and make a brand new start. Anyone can start from now and make a brand new ending.

Good Friends

Food for the soul

In kindergarten your idea of a good friend was the person who let you have the red crayon when all that was left was the ugly black one.

In primary one, your idea of a good friend was the person who went to the washroom with you and held your hand as you walked through the scary halls.

In primary two, your idea of a good friend was the person who helped you stand up to the class bully.

In primary three, your idea of a good friend was the person who shared their lunch with you when you forgot yours, you left on the bus.

In primary four, your idea of a good friend was the person who let you copy the social studies homework that you forgotten to do the previous night.

In primary five, your idea of a good friend was the person who saved a seat on the back of the bus for you.

In primary six, your idea of a good friend was someone who comforted you and lent their shoulder to you when you received your PSLE results.

In secondary one, your idea of a good friend was the person who helped you to pass the ''love letter'' to your crush/stead.

In secondary two, your idea of a good friend was the person who comforted you when you broke up with your boy/girl friend, saying that the person is not even worth of your tears.

In secondary three, your idea of a good friend was the person who would come over to your house and help you decide on which clothes to wear on your first date, although she had her date waiting for her.

In secondary four, your idea of a good friend was the person who would help you in the "O" levels' examination when you had chicken pox and on the examination day, you recovered but your friend had the disease and had to stay home for a week.

Now, your idea of a good friend is still the person who gives you the better of the two choices, holds your hand when you're scared, helps you fight off those who try to take advantage of you, thinks of you at times when you are not there, reminds you of what you have forgotten, helps you put the past behind you but understands when you need to hold on to it a little longer, stays with you so that you have confidence, goes out of their way to make time for you, helps you clear up your mistakes, helps you deal with pressure from others, smiles for you when they are sad, helps you become a better person, and most importantly loves you!

Pass on to those friends of the past and those of the future... and those you have met along the way... [crying yet? oh there's more]

Thank you for being a friend.
No matter where we go or who we become, never forget who helped us get there.
There's never a wrong time to pick up a phone or send a message telling your friends how much you miss them or how much you love them.
You know who you are, pass it on to someone who you want to remind.

So send this to all your friends and maybe those who aren't but just watch and see who sends it back. If you love someone, tell them.

Remember always to say what you mean.
Never be afraid to express yourself.
Take this opportunity to tell someone what they mean to you. Seize the day and have no regrets.
Most importantly, stay close to your friends and family, for they have helped make you the person that you are today and are what it's all about anyway.

Pass this along to your friends.
Let it make a difference in your day and theirs.
The difference between expressing love and having regrets is that the regrets may stay around forever.

Sumiko Tan's Article

Too old to make new friends? - by Sumiko Tan

SUNNY, one of my dearest friends at work, will leave the company next month for greener pastures.

He is not my first friend from the office to say goodbye. Over the years, there have been a handful of colleagues who became friends. In recent times, at least three others have also left.

When Sunny told me that he was leaving, I moaned: 'With you gone, I will have hardly any friends left in the office!'

Which set me thinking: At what point does an acquaintance or colleague become a friend? And, to take a step back, what is this concept called 'friendship' anyway? Indeed, what makes you click with one person and form a friendship with him, but not some other?

If a friend is defined as someone I feel completely comfortable calling up at 3 am to bail me out of trouble - and Sunny will do so - then, alas, I don't have that many friends. Other than family members, I can count on just one female friend and three, at best four, male friends. But then, maybe that's plenty.

As someone once said, one friend in a lifetime is much, two are many, three are hardly possible.

FRIENDSHIPS are different from relationships - and thank goodness for that.

You can be great chums with your partner, of course, but a relationship is so much more complex. It is not only about that enrapturing feeling called love, but - if you are unlucky - also a host of murky emotions like jealousy, resentment, anger, pain and despair.

Friendship is simpler and fills you, mostly, with harmless Type B emotions - kindliness, fondness, warmth and cordiality.

With a lover, you make demands and have expectations. But with a friend, you're cool. You don't really owe him anything, or have to explain much, because, ultimately, you demand nothing more from each other than pleasant company and an occasional listening ear.

Love, I read somewhere, is blind, but friendship closes its eyes. How true.

The older I get, the more I value friends. Yet, ironically, I find that it is now not only harder for me to maintain old friendships, but also to form new ones.

When I was in school, friendships came naturally. My friends and I moved in a pack - we ate, studied, gossiped and partied together. We exchanged secrets and gifts, sent cards and gave treats.

Our friendships were firm, and sweet. Coming from an all-girls school, I didn't get to make male friends until I was in junior college. Initial shyness aside, I found that it was possible to have a platonic relationship with a guy, and that they made equally good friends.

By the time I went to university, I was already attached, and had little time to make new friends, male or female.

Then came working life. Through sheer proximity and the amount of time spent together, it was inevitable that some colleagues became more than co workers. What is it that allows you to become friends with some people, and not others? Shared experience is one requisite, and the sharper it is, the better.

For Sunny and I, it was our years spent pounding the same beat, politics. That X factor called 'chemistry' is another, and I suppose this explains how you can be firm friends with people who are very different from you.THE saddest thing about friendship is that it can die. It doesn't come with a lifelong guarantee.

Distance is one killer. Unless you are diligent in keeping in touch with a friend, being far away can drive a wedge in your relationship. Changes in circumstance is another. It has been said that a friend in power is a friend lost, and I have found this to be true. When a friend moves up in life, he will become too busy for you, while you don't want to risk rejection by trying to keep in contact with him. Marriages have also caused friendships to fade as your spouse might not take to your friends. Then there are friendships that die because they have simply run their course.

I had a close female friend whom I had known since we were both 17. About four years back, after 16 years of keeping in touch through the mail, long hours on the phone and giggly lunches, our friendship died. Just like that.

There was no quarrel, no disagreement, no underlying unhappiness or animosity or hurts. The plug was just pulled.

The last time we saw each other was at lunch - in fact, it was to celebrate her birthday. We were our usual loud selves.

After the meal, we gave our usual hug, said our usual cheery goodbyes and made our usual promise to meet again.

We didn't call each other for weeks (which was normal, as we were both busy), then months (which began to feel a bit strange, but nothing to be alarmed about), then, yes, years (by then, it was too late to resuscitate the friendship).

We did talk once, last year, when my father died and she called. I was grateful to hear from her and I know it took a lot for her to pick up the phone after so many years. I wish nothing but the best for her, and am always glad to hear from mutual friends that she is well. Yet, I know that if we were to bump into each other today, it would feel awkward.

If I value friendship so much, why don't I just go forth and make more friends? It is easier said than done. People my age and older are busy with careers and family. I have fewer things in common with those younger. But the fault is mine. At my age, I lack the energy and enthusiasm. Starting and maintaining a friendship might be far less arduous than a relationship, but it still requires effort. Do I have the strength for that on top of the other demands in my life?

So, next month, I say goodbye to Sunny and I am left with one friend fewer at work. British writer Virginia Woolf once said: 'I have lost friends, some by death - others by sheer inability to cross the street.'

Should I spot Sunny - and my few remaining friends - on the street, I trust I can muster the energy to walk up to them and say 'hi'. For, really, that is all it takes to keep a friendship alive.

What is life?

On the very first day of the world, God created the cow.
He said to the cow."Ah Gu (cow), today I have created you!
Your job is to go to the field with the farmer all day long.
You will provide the energy to pull things!
You will also provide milk for people to drink!
You are to work all day under the sun!In return, you will only eat grass.
For that, you will have a life span of 50 years."

Ah Gu objected.
" What.. I work all day in the sunand I get only to eat grass!
On top of that, I have to give my milk away!
This is tough and you want me to live 50 years!
I'll take 20 and you can have the remaining 30 years back!"
God agreed.

On the next day, God created the dog.
He said to the dog."Ah Kow (dog), I have created you for a purpose.
You are to sit all day by the door of your master's house!
Should anyone come in, you are to bark at them!
In return, you will eat your master's leftovers.
I'll give you a life span of 20 years."

Ah Kow objected.
" What.. I have to sit by the door all dayand will need to bark at people, and what do I get...LEFTOVERS...
This isn't right, I'll take 10 and you can have the remaining10 years back!
"God agreed again.

On the third day, God created the monkey.
He said to the monkey."Lao Kao (monkey), your job is to entertain people.
You will make them laugh, act stupid and make faces!
You will also do somersaults and swing on trees to amaze them.In return, you will get to eat bananas and peanuts.
For that, I'll give you 20 years to live."

Naturally the monkey objected.
"This is ridiculous, I gotta make faces and make people laugh at even come to the part about the trees and somersaults.
Tell you what, I'll give 10 years of my life to thank you for myexistence and I'll take 10. What do you think?"
God agreed again.

On the forth day, God created humans.
God said to the man."You are my best piece of work, for that, you will only need to sleep, eat, sleep, play, eat, sleep again and do nothing else.
You will get to eat all the best things and play with the best toys.
All you need to do is enjoy all your life.
For this kindda of life, I'll give you 20 years."

Just like the rest, the man objected.
"What, all I need to do is relax and enjoy myself and I have only 20 years to live?
Tell you what, you've 30 years back from Ah Gu, 10 years from Ah Kow and another 10 from Lao Kao and you probably don't know what to do with all those lifes.
Why not I take them all and I'll have 70 years to live?"

God being such good natured, agreed with a smile.....

AND THAT IS WHY.....

We eat, sleep, play and enjoy for the first 20 years of our lives when we are growing up.
Work like a cow for the next 30 to raise our family.
Sit outside the door and bark at people for the next 10 when weare retired.
And finally, we make faces and perform monkey tricks to entertain our grandchildren for the final 10 years.

GET IT?

Friends

Many people will walk in and out of your life,
But only true friends will leave footprints in your heart.

To handle yourself, use your head;
To handle others, use your heart.
Anger is only one letter short of danger.

If someone betrays you once, it is his fault;
If he betrays you twice, it is your fault

Great minds discuss ideas;
Average minds discuss events;
Small minds discuss people.

He who loses money, loses much;
He, who loses a friend, loses much more;
He, who loses faith, loses all.

Beautiful young people are accidents of nature,
But beautiful old people are works of art.

Learn from the mistakes of others.
You can't live long enough to make them all yourself.

Friends, you and me....
You brought another friend....
And then there were 3.

We started our group....
Our circle of friends....
And like that circle....
There is no beginning or end..

Yesterday is histotry.
Tomorrow is mystery.
Today is a gift. (That's why it is called "present")

Whenever there is a Friendship Week, show your friends how much you care.

Send this to everyone you consider a FRIEND. If it comes back to you, then you'll know you have a circle of friends.

To be happy...

We convince ourselves that life will be better after we get married, have a baby, then another.

Then we are frustrated that the kids aren't old enough and we'll be more content when they are.

After that, we're frustrated that we have teenagers to deal with. We will certainly be happy when they are out of that stage.

We tell ourselves that our life will be complete when our spouse gets his or her act together, when we get a nicer car, are we able to go on a nice vacation, or when we retire.

The truth is, there's no better time to be happy than right now.

If not now, when?

Your life will always be filled with challenges. It's best to admit this to yourself and decide to be happy anyway. Happiness is the way.

So, treasure every moment that you have and treasure it more because you shared it with special people, special enough to spend your time with......

So, stop waiting....
* until your car or home is paid off
* until you get a new car or home
* until your kids leave the house
* until you finish school
* until you lose 10 lbs.
* until you gain 10 lbs.
* until you get married
* until you get a divorce
* until you have kids
* until you retire
* until summer
* until spring
* until winter
* until you die

There is no better time than right now to be happy.
Happiness is a journey, not a destination.
So, work like you don't need money,
Love like you've never been hurt,
And dance like no one's watching!!!.

If you want to brighten someone's day, share this article to someone special, I just did....................

Love is ...

To all my friends,

To My Friends Who Are........... SINGLE
Love is like a butterfly. The more you chase it,the more it eludes you. But if you just let it fly, it will come to you when you least expect it. Love can make you happy but often it hurts, but love's only special when you give it to someone who is really worth it. So take your time and choose the best.

To My Friends Who Are............ NOT SO SINGLE
Love isn't about becoming somebody else's "perfectperson." It's about finding someone who helps you become the best person you can be.

To My Friends Who Are............ PLAYBOY/GIRL TYPE
Never say "I love you" if you don't care. Nevertalk about feelings if they aren't there. Never touch a life if you mean to break a heart. Never look in theeye when all you do is lie. The cruelest thing a guy can do to a girl is to let her fall in love when he doesn't intend to catch her fall and it works both ways...

To My Friends Who Are............ MARRIED
Love is not about "it's your fault", but "I'm sorry."Not "where are you", but "I'm right here." Not "howcould you", but "I understand." Not "I wish youwere",but "I'm thankful you are."

To My Friends Who Are............ ENGAGED
The true measure of compatibility is not the years spent together but how good you are for each other.

To My Friends Who Are............ HEARTBROKEN
Heartbreaks last as long as you want and cut as deepas you allow them to go. The challenge is not how tosurvive heartbreaks but to learn from them.

To My Friends Who Are............ NAIVE
How to be in love: Fall but don't stumble, be consistent but not too persistent, share and never be unfair, understand and try not to demand, and get hurt but never keep the pain.

To My Friends Who Are............POSSESSIVE
It breaks your heart to see the one you love happy with someone else but it's more painful to know thatthe one you love is unhappy with you.

To My Friends Who Are............ AFRAID TO CONFESS
Love hurts when you break up with someone. It hurts even more when someone breaks up with you. But love hurts the most when the person you love has no idea how you feel.

To My Friends Who Are............ STILL HOLDING ON
A sad thing about life is when you meet someone and fall in love, only to find out in the end that it was never meant to be and that you have wasted yearson someone who wasn't worth it. If he isn't worth itnow he's not going to be worth it a year or 10 yearsfrom now. Let go.....

TO ALL MY FRIENDS.......
My wish for you is a man/women whose love is honest, strong, mature, never-changing, uplifting, protective,encouraging, rewarding and unselfish.

The Seven Wonders of the World

A group of students were asked to list what they thought were the present Seven Wonders of the World.

Though there were some disagreements, the following got the most votes:
1. Egypt's Great Pyramids
2. Taj Mahal
3. Grand Canyon
4. Panama Canal
5. Empire State Building
6. St. Peter's Basilica
7. China's Great Wall

While gathering the votes, the teacher noted that one quiet student hadn't turned in her paper yet. So she asked the girl if she was having trouble with her list.

The girl replied, "Yes, a little. I couldn't quite make up my mind because there were so many."

The teacher said, "Well, tell us what you have, and maybe we can help."

The girl hesitated, then read, "I think the Seven Wonders of the World are:
1. to touch
2. to taste
3. to see
4. to hear
(She hesitated a little, and then added:)
5. to feel
6. to laugh
7. and to love."

The room was so full of silence you could have heard a pin drop.

Those things we overlook as simple and ordinary are truly wondrous.

A gentle reminder - that the most precious things in life cannot be bought. I hope your life is filled with the world's Seven Wonders.

To somebody, you would love the 7 Wonders of all human beings:
to be considerate in all circumstances
to compromise without personal gain
to give away freely
to take good care of self & others
to try & understand
to forgive unconditionally
and to appreciate sincerely!

Best of luck for these 7 Wonders of the Universe!

All the best,
xxx

Fact of Life

This story is interesting, perhaps we should stop & ponder for a few minutes

What are we really looking for in life?

One morning I wasted nearly an hour watching a tiny ant carry a huge feather across my back terrace. Several times it was confronted by obstacles in its path and after a momentary pause it would make the necessary detour. At one point the ant had to negotiate a crack in the concrete about 10mm wide. After brief contemplation the ant laid the feather over the crack, walked across it and picked up the feather on the other side then continued on its way.

I was fascinated by the ingenuity of this ant, one of God's smallest creatures. It served to reinforce the miracle of creation. Here was a minute insect, lacking in size yet equipped with a brain to reason, explore, discover and overcome. But this ant, like the two-legged co-residents of this planet, also shares human failings.

After some time the ant finally reached its destination - a flower bed at the end of the terrace and a small hole that was the entrance to its underground home. And it was here that the ant finally met its match. How could that large feather possibly fit down that small hole? Of course it couldn't. So the ant, after all this trouble and exercising great ingenuity, overcoming problems all along the way, just abandoned the feather and went home. The ant had not thought the problem through before it began its epic journey and in the end the feather was nothing more than a burden.

Isn't life like that! We worry about our family, we worry about money or the lack of it, we worry about work, about where we live, about all sorts of things. These are all burdens - the things we pick up along life's path and lug them around the obstacles and over the crevasses that life will bring, only to find that at the destination they are useless and we can't take them with us.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

For where your treasure is,

there your heart will be also.
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Inspiration - one who NEVER QUIT

In 1962, four nervous young musicians played their first record audition for the executives of the Decca recording Company.
The executives were not impressed. While turning down this group of musicians, one executive said, "We don't like their sound. Groups of guitars are on the way out."

The group was called The Beatles.

-o0o-

In 1944, Emmeline Snively, director of the Blue Book Modelling Agency, told modelling hopeful Norma Jean Baker, "You'd better learn secretarial work or else get married."

She went on and became Marilyn Monroe.

-o0o-

In 1954, Jimmy Denny, manager of the Grand Ole Opry, Fired a singer after one performance. He told him, "You ain't goin' nowhere....son. You ought to go back to drivin' a truck."

He went on to become the most popular singer in America named Elvis Presley.

-o0o-

When Alexander Graham Bell invented the telephone in 1876, it did not ring off the hook with calls from potential backers. After making a demonstration call, President Rutherford Hayes said, "That's an amazing invention, but who would ever want to use one of them?" (??????)

-o0o-

When Thomas Edison invented the light bulb, he tried over 2000 experiments before he got it to work. A young reporter asked him how it felt to fail so many times. He said, "I never failed once. I invented the light bulb. It just happened to be a 2000-step process."

-o0o-

In the 1940s, another young inventor named Chester Carlson took his idea to 20 corporations, including some of the biggest in the country.They all turned him down. In 1947 - after seven long years of rejections!
He finally got a tiny company in Rochester, New York, the Haloid company, to purchase the rights to his invention an electrostatic paper-copying process. Haloid became Xerox Corporation we know today.

-o0o-

Wilma Rudolph was the 20th of 22 children. She was born prematurely and her survival was doubtful. When she was 4 years old, she contacted double pneumonia and scarlet fever, which left her with a paralysed left leg. At age 9, she removed the metal leg brace she had been dependent on and began to walk without it. By 13 she had developed a rhythmic walk, which doctors said was a miracle. That same year she decided to become a runner. She entered a race and came in last. For the next few years every race she entered, she came in last. Everyone told her to quit, but she kept on running. One day she actually won a race. And then another. From then on she won every race she entered. Eventually this little girl, who was told she would never walk again, went on to win three Olympic gold medals.

-o0o-

Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experiences of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, vision cleared, ambition inspired and success achieved. You gain strength, experience and confidence by every experience where you really stop to look fear in the face....

You must do the thing you cannot do. And remember, the finest steel gets sent through the hottest furnace.

Champion is not one who never fails, but one who NEVER QUITS !

"To send a letter is a good way to go somewhere without moving anything but your heart"

- Phyllis Theroux

Engineer Vs Manager

Communications humour ... facts of life

A man piloting a hot air balloon realizes he is lost. He spots a man below, lowers the balloon and shouts:

"Excuse me, can you help me? I promised my friend I would meet him half an hour ago, but I don't know where I am."

The man below says: "Yes, I can help you."

"You are in a hot air balloon, hovering approximately 30 feet above avacant field. You are between 40 and 42 degrees N. latitude, and between58 and 60 degrees W. longitude. There is a 5 knot Southwest wind and theair temperature is 75 Degrees Fahrenheit."

"You must be an engineer," says the balloonist.

"Yes, I am," replies the man. "How did you know?"

"Well," says the balloonist, "everything you have told me is technically correct, but I have no idea what to make of your information, and the factis I am still lost. You have yet to help me in a meaningful way."

The man below says, "You must be a manager."

"I am," replies the balloonist, "but how did you know?"

The Engineer replies, "You don't know where you are or how to achieve your objective. You made a promise to someone with no idea of how to keep it and now that you are in a desperate position, you expect me to solve your problem. Even more revealing is that you are in the exact same position you were in before we met, but have deluded yourself into believing that your situation is somehow my fault."

Quotes

click images below for enlarged view:

Going ape?

Primate Committee Thinking Experiment
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

Start with a cage containing five apes. In the cage, hang a banana on a string and put stairs under it. Before long, an ape will go to the stairs and start to climb towards the Banana. As soon as he touches the stairs, spray all of the apes with cold water.

After a while, another ape makes an attempt with the same result-all the apes are sprayed with cold water. Turn off the cold water.

If, later, another ape tries to climb the stairs, the other apes will try to prevent it even though no water sprays them.

Now, remove one ape from the cage and replace it with a new one.

The New ape sees the banana and wants to climb the stairs. To his horror, all of the other apes attack him. After another attempt and attack, he knows that if he tries to climb the stairs, he will be assaulted.

Next, remove another of the original five apes and replace it with a New one. The newcomer goes to the stairs and is attacked. The previous Newcomer takes part in the punishment with enthusiasm. Again, replace a third original ape with a new one. The new one makes it to the stairs and is attacked as well. Two of the four apes that beat him have no idea why they were not permitted to climb the stairs, or why they are participating in the beating of the newest ape.

After replacing the fourth and fifth original apes, all the apes which have been sprayed with cold water have been replaced. Nevertheless, no ape ever again approaches the stairs. Why not?

"Because that's the way it's always been around here."

Sound familiar?

.*.*.*.<<<<.*.*.*.<<<<.*.*.*.>>>>.*.*.*.<<<<.*.*.*.>>>>.*.*.*.

life is REALLY LARGER than what you think.

<<<<.*.*.*.<<<<.*.*.*.<<<<.*.*.*.>>>>.*.*.*.>>>>.*.*.*.>>>>

When a Goal Becomes a MUST

[email from Adam Khoo sent on 15 Jan 2007]

People who achieve their goals are those who are truly committed to get what they want. To them, their goals are not a mere wish or a weak desire. They are an absolute must.

When a goal becomes a must, we operate from a very different frame of mind. When something becomes an absolute must, we will do whatever it takes to get it (within ethical, legal & moral boundaries of course).

When something becomes a must, we will stretch well beyond our comfort zones and keep changing our strategy as many times as it takes.

Time and again, you will notice that people who succeed are those who show this level of commitment. In fact I believe that failures, setbacks and frustrations are life's ways of testing our level of commitment.

Most people fail this test by quitting when they hit major obstacles. The few who succeed do so because they do whatever it takes to overcome obstacles.

I truly believe that when something becomes a must for you, and you are willing to do whatever it takes, you will always find a way!

For most people, achieving success in anything is rarely a must. They would like to lose weight, but it is not a must. They would love to make more money, but they won't die without it. They wish they could take charge of their lives, but they could live without it.

The moment something becomes a 'should' instead of a 'must', you will rarely achieve it. You will always find a way to put it off or to quit the moment you meet resistance.

People like Sylvester Stallone, Steven Spielberg or a Donald Trump who achieve success are not born more focused, more disciplined or luckier than the average person.

What makes them different is that they make their goals a must for themselves. They are not willing to accept anything less than the best.

So let me ask you a question.

Are your dreams and goals an absolute must or are they just weak desires that you can live without? Have you been truly committed to do whatever it takes in the past or have you quit and given yourself excuses along the way?

If you haven't then it's time you take yourself and your goals seriously because if success isn't a must for you then there is no way that you can become successful. Because success only reserves itself for people who want it bad enough to make a MUST!


To Your Success,

Adam Khoo
www.SecretsOfSelf-MadeMillionaires.com

10 Secrets

The first secret - the power of thought.
Love begins with our thoughts. We become what we think about.
Loving thoughts create loving experiences and loving relationships.
Affirmations can change our beliefs and thoughts about ourselves
and others. If we want to love someone,
we need to consider their needs and desires.
Thinking about your ideal partner will help you recognize her
when you meet her.

The second secret - the power of respect.
You cannot love anyone or anything unless you first respect them.
The first person you need to respect is yourself.
To begin to gain self-respect ask yourself,
"What do I respect about myself?"
To gain respect for others, even those you may dislike,
ask yourself "What do I respect about them?"

The third secret - the power of giving.
If you want to receive love, all you have to do is give it!
The more love you give, the more you will receive.
To love is to give of yourself, freely and unconditionally.
Practice random acts of kindness.
Before committing to a relationship ask not
what the other person will be able to give to you,
but rather what will you be able to give them.
The secret formula of a happy, lifelong, loving relationship
is to always focus on what you can give instead of what you can take.

The fourth secret - the power of friendship.
To find a true love, you must first find a true friend.
Love does not consist of gazing into each other's eyes,
but rather looking outward together in the same direction.
To love someone completely you must love them for who they are,
not what they look like.
Friendship is the soil through which love's seeds grow.
If you want to bring love into a relationship,
you must first bring friendship.

The fifth secret - the power of touch.
Touch is one of the most powerful expressions of love,
breaking downbarriers and bonding relationships.
Touch changes our physical and emotional states and
makes us more receptive to love.

The sixth secret - the power of letting go.
If you love something, let it free.
If it comes back to you it's yours, if it doesn't it never was.
Even in a loving relationship, people need their own space.
If we want to learn to love, we must first learn to forgive and
let go of past hurts and grievances.
Love means letting go of our fears, prejudices, egos and conditions.
"Today I let go of all my fears, the past has no power over me - today is the beginning of a new life."

The seventh secret - the power of communication.
When we learn to communicate openly and honestly, life changes.
To love someone is to communicate with them.
Let the people you love know that you love them and appreciate them.
Never be afraid to say those three magic words: "I Love You."
Never let an opportunity pass to praise someone.
Always leave someone you love with a loving word -it could be the last time you see them.
If you were about to die but could make telephone calls to
the people you loved, who would you call,
what would you say and ... why are you waiting?

The eighth secret - the power of commitment.
If you want to have love in abundance,
you must be committed to it, and that
commitment will be reflected in your thoughts and actions.
Commitment is the true test of love.
If you want to have loving relationships,
you must be committed to loving relationships.
When you are committed to someone or something,
quitting is never an option. Commitment distinguishes a fragile
relationship from a strong one.

The ninth secret - the power of passion.
Passion ignites love and keeps it alive.
Lasting passion does not come through physical attraction alone,
it comes from deep commitment, enthusiasm, interest and excitement.
Passion can be recreated by recreating past experiences
when you felt passionate. Spontaneity and surprises produce passion.
The essence of love and happiness are the same;
all we need to do is to live each day with passion.

The tenth secret - the power of trust.
Trust is essential in all loving relationships.
Without it one person becomes suspicious, anxious and fearful
and the other person feels trapped and emotionally suffocated.
You cannot love someone completely unless you trust them completely.
Act as if your relationship with the person you love will never end.
One of the ways you can tell whether a person is right for you is to ask
yourself, "Do I trust them completely and unreservedly?"
If the answer is "no", think carefully before making a commitment.

THE PARADOX

The paradox of our time in history is that we have taller buildings, but shorter tempers; wider freeways, but narrower view points.

We spend more, but have less; we buy more, but enjoy it less.

We have bigger houses and smaller families; more conveniences, but less time.

We have more degrees, but less sense; more knowledge, but less judgement; more experts, but more problems; more medicine, but less welness.

We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values.

We talk too much, love too seldom, and hate too often.

We learned how to make a living, but not a life.

We've added years to life, not life to years. we've been all the way to the moon and back, but have trouble crossing the street to meet the new neighbor.

We've conquered outer space, but not inner space; we've cleaned up the air, but polluted the soul; we've split the atom, but not our prejudice; we have higher incomes, but lower morals; we've become long on quantity, but short on quality.

These are the times of tall men, and short character; steep profits, and shallow relationships.

These are the times of world peace, but domestic warfare; more leisure, but less fun; more kinds of food but less nutrition.

These are the days of two incomes, but more divorce; of fancier houses, but broken homes.

It is a time when there is much in the show window and nothing in the stockroom; a time when technology can bring this letter to you, and a time when you can choose either to make a difference or just ignore

The Power of Words

A group of frogs were traveling through the woods, and two of them fell into a deep pit.

All the other frogs gathered around the pit. When they saw how deep the pit was, they told the two frogs that they were as good as dead.

The two frogs ignored the comments and tried to jump up out of the pit with all of their might. The other frogs kept telling them to stop, that they were as good as dead. Finally, one of the frogs took heed to what the other frogs were saying and gave up. He fell down and died. The other frog continued to jump as hard as he could.

Once again, the crowd of frogs yelled at him to stop the pain and just die. He jumped even harder and finally made it out. When he got out, the other frogs said, "Did you not hear us?" The frog explained to them that he was deaf. He thought they were encouraging him the entire time.

This story teaches two lessons:

1. There is power of life and death in the tongue. An encouraging word to someone who is down can lift them up and help them make it through the day.

2. A destructive word to someone who is down can be what it takes to kill them. Be careful of what you say. Speak life to those who cross your path. The power of words....it is sometimes hard to understand that an encouraging word can go such a long way. Anyone can speak words that tend to rob another of the spirit to continue in difficult times. Special is the individual who will take the time to encourage another.

Be Special to others.

Lend me your ears

Hey, here's something to think about. Maybe you've seen this before, but have you THOUGHT about it??

*************************************************

We are born with two eyes in front because we must not always look behind, but see what lies ahead, beyond ourselves.

We are born to have two ears - one left, one right so we can hear both sides, collect both the compliments and criticisms, to see which are right

We are born with a brain concealed in a skull then no matter how poor we are, we are still rich, for no one can steal what our brain contains, packing in more jewels and rings than you can think

We are born with two eyes, two ears , but one mouth for the mouth is a sharp weapon, it can hurt, flirt, kill remember our motto: talk less, listen and see more

We are born with only one heart, deep in our ribs.
It reminds us to appreciate and give love from deep within

Happiness isn't about what happens to us - it's about how we perceive what happens to us. It's the knack of finding a positive for every negative, and viewing a setback as a challenge. If we can just stop wishing for what we don't have, and start enjoying what we do have, our lives can be richer, more fulfilled and happier. The time to be happy is NOW.

Life's a "beach"!

If you have food in the refrigerator, clothes on your back, a roof overhead and a place to sleep... you are richer than 75% of this world.

If you have money in the bank, in your wallet, and spare change in a dish someplace... you are among the top 8% of the world's wealthy.

If you woke up this morning with more health than illness... you are more blessed than the million who will not survive this week.

If you have never experienced the danger of battle, the loneliness of imprisonment, the agony of torture, or the pangs of starvation... you are ahead of 500 million people in the world.

If you can attend a church meeting without fear of harassment, arrest, torture, or death... you are more blessed than three billion people in the world.

If your parents are still alive and still married... you are very rare (even in the United States).

If you hold your head up with a smile on your face and are truly thankful... you are blessed because the majority can, but most do not.

If you can hold someone's hand, hug them or even touch them on the shoulder... you are blessed because you can offer healing touch.

If you can read this message, you have just received a double blessing in that someone was thinking of you, and furthermore, you are more blessed than over two billion people in the world who can't read at all. Count your blessings and pass this message along to remind others how blessed we all are.

The 6 Criteria of Powerful Goals

[email from Adam Khoo sent on 08 Jan 2007]

To set powerful goals that drive you to manifest them into reality, you must set goals that have 6 criteria! You can remember this by the acronym SMSPDA. What does this stand for?

Specific. Your goals must be specific! A goal of losing weight or making more money is not powerful. You have to be specific like saying, ' I will lose 14 kg' or ' I will increase my income from $2,000 to $4,000 a month.'

Many people are afraid to commit to a specific figure because they are afraid that it will not be achieved. So instead, they set a very general goal or give themselves a range. Unfortunately, unspecific goals never get achieved because there is nothing clear to focus on.

When you set specific goal, you are then able to develop an effective strategy. When you set a goal of losing 14kg, you can then develop an effective strategy of the number of calories you can afford per meal, the number of calories to burn a week, the number of exercise sessions and how many kilograms to lose a month.

Even if you don't achieve the loss of 14kg, you can bet that you will get somewhere around that figure!

Measurable. Your goals must be measurable. Being healthy is NOT a measurable goal. Losing 14kg or having a body-fat ratio of 4.3% is measurable.

Most people never achieve their goals because they are not measurable enough. Again, when you make your goals measurable, your mind will have something definite to focus on!

Stretch. Puny, incremental goals will not excite and motivate you. As a result, you will probably not take the massive action necessary to achieve it.

However, when you set a huge, stretch goal that pushes you out of your comfort zone (like doubling your income in 6 months), the thought generates a lot more excitement and energy within us.

Setting stretch goals may seem 'unrealistic' at the time, but it forces you to think out of the box for new strategies to make it happen. Remember that everything is possible, it is only a question of how!

Purpose. Have you ever set a goal, only to lack the motivation to achieve it? You see, goals by themselves do not motivate you. Goals merely provide you with a direction and target to hit. What truly motivates you is the purpose behind the goal.

The 'why' is very important! (Read more about this in the next success tip). So, after setting a goal (e.g. like losing 14kg), you must then think of and write down all the reasons WHY it is important for you. Only when the why is strong enough will you get the motivation to take action.

Deadline. Another main reason why people never achieve their goals is because they have no definite deadline or time frame. Most people tell themselves that 'someday' they will start that business, so they continue waiting for that 'someday' to come. Many people are still waiting.

To get yourself moving, you must set a deadline and make it real by having a self penalty for exceeding it. For example, make a bet with some friends that if it is not done by then, you will pay $500 penalty. You can bet that this will get you going.

Action Plan
Finally, goals are nothing but pipedreams unless you develop an action plan to make it happen. You action plan must specify all the steps to be done (as well as the deadline) to achieve the goal. My personal secret is that I get myself to take 3 action step within 36 hours that will set the goal into motion.

For example, if my goal was to write a book with a 1-year deadline, I would write a table of contents, make an appointment with a publisher and hire a book cover designer within 36 hours. Once you take the first few steps, you will gain the momentum to continue until the goal is achieved.

To Your Success,

Adam Khoo
www.SecretsOfSelf-MadeMillionaires.com

Reflections

If we could shrink the earth's population to a village of precisely 100 people, with all the existing human ratios remaining the same, it would look something like the following:

There would be:
57 Asians
21 Europeans
14 from the Western Hemisphere, both north and south
8 Africans

52 would be female
48 would be male

70 would be non-white
30 would be white

70 would be non-Christian
30 would be Christian

89 would be heterosexual
11 would be homosexual

6 people would possess 59% of the entire world's wealth
and all 6 would be from the United States.

80 would live in substandard housing
70 would be unable to read
50 would suffer from malnutrition
1 would be near death;
1 would be near birth
1 (yes, only 1) would have a college education
1 would own a computer

When one considers our world from such a compressed perspective, the need for acceptance, understanding and education becomes glaringly apparent.

The following is also something to ponder. If you woke up this morning withmore health than illness. you are more blessed than the million who will not survive this week.

If you have never experienced the danger of battle, the loneliness of imprisonment, the agony of torture, or the pangs of starvation you are ahead of 500 million people in the world.

If you can attend a church meeting without fear of harassment, arrest,torture, or death. you are more blessed than three billion people in the world.

If you have food in the refrigerator, clothes on your back, a roof overheadand a place to sleep. You are richer than 75% of this world.

If you have money in the bank, in your wallet, and spare change in a dish someplace you are among the top 8% of the world's wealthy.

If your parents are still alive and still married you are very rare, even in the United States and Canada.

If you can read this message, you just received a double blessing in thatsomeone was thinking of you, and furthermore, you are more blessed than over two billion people in the world that cannot read at all. Someone once said: What goes around comes around.

Work like you don't need the money.
Love like you've never been hurt.
Dance like nobody's watching.
Sing like nobody's listening.
Live like it's Heaven on Earth.

Thoughts

There are moments in life when you miss someone so much that you want to pick them from your dreams and hug them.

Dream what you want to dream; go where you want to go; be what you want to be, because you have only one life and one chance to do all the things you want to do. May you have enough happiness to make you sweet, enough trials to make you strong, enough sorrow to keep you human, enough hope to make you happy.

Always put yourself in others shoes. If you feel that it hurts you, it probably hurts the other person, too.

The happiest of people don't necessarily have the best of everything; they just make the most of everything that comes along their way.

Happiness lives for those who cry, those who hurt, those who have searched, and those who tried, for only they can appreciate the importance of people who have touched their lives.

Love begins with a smile, grows with a kiss and ends with a tear.The brightest future will always be based on a forgotten past, you can't go on well in life until you let go of your past failures and heart aches.

When you were born, you were crying and everyone around you was smiling.

Live your life so that when you die, you're the one who is smiling and everyone around you is crying.

90/10 Secret

Discover the 90/10 Secret: It will change your life

The 90/10 secret is incredible! Very few know and apply this secret. The result? Millions of people are suffering undeserved stress, trials, problems, and heartache. They never seem to be a success in life. Bad days follow bad days. Terrible things seem to be constantly happening. Theirs is constant stress, lack of joy, and broken relationships. Worry consumes time, anger breaks friendships, and life seems dreary and is not enjoyed to the fullest.. Friends are lost. Life is a bore and often seems cruel. Does this describe you? If so, do not be discouraged. You can be different!. Understand and apply the 90/10 secret. It will change your life!

What is this secret?
10% of life is made up of what happens to you.
90% of life is decided by how you react.

What does this mean? We really have no control over 10% of what happensto us. We cannot stop the car from breaking down. The plane may be late arriving, which throws our whole schedule off. A driver may cut us off in traffic. We have no control over this 10%.

The other 90% is different. You determine the other 90%! How? By your reaction. You cannot control a red light, but you can control your reaction. Don't let people fool you, YOU can control how you react! Let's use an example.

You're eating breakfast with your family. Your daughter knocks over a cup of coffee onto your business shirt. You have no control over what just happened. What happens next will be determined by how you react.

You curse. You harshly scold your daughter for knocking the coffee cup over. She breaks down in tears. After scolding her, you turn to your spouse and criticize them for placing the cup too close to the edge of the table. A short verbal battle follows. You storm upstairs and change your shirt.

Back downstairs you find your daughter has been to busy crying to finish breakfast and get ready for school. She misses the bus. Your spouse must leave immediately for work. You rush to the car and drive your daughter to school. Because you are late, you drive 40 miles an hour in a 30 mph speed limit.

After a 15 minute delay and throwing $60 (traffic fine) away, you arrive at school. Your daughter runs to the building without saying good-bye. After arriving at the office 20 minutes late, you find you forgot your briefcase.

Your day has started terrible. As it continues, it seems to get worse and worse. You look forward to going home. When you arrive home you find small wedge in your relationship with your spouse and daughter.

Why? Because of how you reacted in the morning.

Why did you have a bad day?
A) Did the coffee cause it?
B) Did your daughter cause it?
C) Did the Policeman cause it?
D) Did you cause it?

The answer is D. You had no control over what happened with the coffee. How you reacted in those 5 seconds is what caused your bad day.

Here is what could have and should have happened.

Coffee splashes over you. Your daughter is about to cry. You gently say "It's OK honey, you just need to be more careful next time". Grabbing a towel you rush upstairs. After grabbing a new shirt and your briefcase.You come back down in time look through the window and see your child getting on the bus. She turns and waves. You and your spouse kiss before you both goto work. You arrive 5 minutes early and cheerfully greet the staff. Your boss comments on how good of day you are having.

Notice the difference. Two different scenarios. Both started the same. Both ended different. Why? Because of how you REACTED. You really do not have any control over 10% of what happens. The other 90% is determined by your reaction.

Here are some ways to apply the 90/10 secret.

- If someone says something negative about you, do not be sponge. Letthe attack roll off like water on glass. You do have to let the negative comment affect you! React properly and it will not ruin your day. A wrong reaction could result in losing a friend, being fired, getting stressed out, etc.

- How do you react if someone cuts you off in traffic? Do you loose your temper? Pound the steering wheel? (A friend of mine had the steering wheel fall off!) Do you curse? Does your blood pressure skyrocket? Do you tryand bump them? WHO CARES if you arrive ten seconds later at work? Why let the blue car ruin your drive. Remember the 90-10 principle, and do not worry about it!

- You are told you lost your job. Why lose sleep or get irritated? Itwill work out. Use your "worrying" energy and time into finding another job.

- The plane is late. It is going to mangle your schedule for the day.Why take out your frustration on the flight attendant? She has no controlover what is going on. Use your time to study, get to know the other passenger, etc. Why get stressed out? It will just make things worse.

You now know the 90-10 secret. Apply it and you will be amazed at the results.

The 1% Solution

THE ONE PERCENT SOLUTION
By Philip E. Humbert, PhD

Many years ago, someone told me that the key to success is not doing something big or spectacular, but doing the little things extraordinarily well.

When we think of Olympic athletes, it's tempting to pretend that they are somehow "different." We tell ourselves they were born with incredible strength or unusual talent, or had training that we could never get for ourselves. We look at Michael Jordon in sports, or we compare ourselves to Barbra Streisand as an entertainer, and say, "I could never do that."

While there is truth in acknowledging their incredible talent, there is also a lie in pretending that because we don't have their genetic gifts, we are somehow excused from the necessity of doing our best. That is simply not true!

The vast majority of highly successful people, in any area of life, are simply those who worked a bit harder, stayed a bit longer, and did a bit more.

The highest paid people in any industry earn many times more than the average income. Is that because they are 100 times smarter? Are they 50 times more ambitious? Do they work 20 times harder or do they have more hours in a day? Of course not!

The highest paid, most successful people do the little things extremely well. They remember the details, acknowledge their friends, and they keep their promises. They return phone calls on time. They remember to say "Please" and "Thank You!," and they smile. They get to work just a bit earlier, make one or two more calls or stay just a bit later at the end of the day. The simple truth is this: They go the extra mile, and it makes a difference.

They take care of the "little things", and the difference is reflected in their paychecks!

What opportunities do you have to improve your performance by just 1 percent this week? It's called the "1 Percent Solution", and over time, it makes all the difference!

The Resolve to Succeed

If your New Year's resolution involves career advancement, you're not alone.

A poll by myGoals.com found that starting a business ranks second only to losing weight as the most popular New Year's resolution for 2007.

Other resolutions on the list are being financially independent and starting the search for a new job.

At least half of our waking hours are spent on the job and going to and from the job. It stands to reason that improving this major component of one's life can lead to greater overall happiness. But if you want to be more successful climbing the corporate ladder, you need some focus. With that in mind, here is a list of resolution worth considering for employers, entrepreneurs and employees.

- Career Goals
Job Seeking, Education & Skills, Entrepreneurship, Promotions...
- Time Management & Organization Goals
Recordkeeping, Housekeeping, Budgeting Your Time, Staying in Touch...
- Health & Fitness Goals
Exercise, Nutrition, Weight-Loss, Peak Performance, Cosmetic Surgery...
- Family & Relationship Goals
Friends, Romance & Marriage, Family, People Skills, Family Goals...
- Personal Finance Goals
Investing, Paying Off Debt, Cutting Expenses, Charity & Philanthropy...
- Education & Training Goals
College & Grad School, Job Related, K-12, Languages, Technical Literacy...
- Personal Growth & Interest Goals
Arts, Music, Writing, Community, Spirituality, Joie de Vivre...
- Recreation & Leisure Goals
Travel, Boating, Golf, Outdoors, Cooking, Dancing...
- Home Improvement & Real Estate Goals
Kitchen, Pool, Buying a Home, Rental Property, Cabin, Garden...

[click here to explore more]