Life Improvement Tips For The Wise Few

From a very young age, you have been told to go to school, get good grades, graduate with top honors and then land one of those big paying wonderful JOBS. It is all nice and dandy, and really makes a lot of sense, so tell me why so many people are unhappy where they work?

Didn’t they do the things I described above?

I am having a hard time understanding why this is happening and why this is going wrong for so many people, or better said; Let’s stop worrying about why, and start thinking about how to change this. I don’t know if there is any particular thing anyone can do to change this today, but, what you need to know is that it all starts with you.

First, let me just say that JOBS comes and goes, and so does life…

What I really mean with that sentence is that we seldom sit down and picture where our life is going, what we are really doing to change things for the better or how our health is really being affected by the adapted attitudes we have on our job, or even how to perform better under less stress. If you would spend a little more time analyzing the situation and a lot less time criticizing, you would see that your work environment and your boss would also change.

Sometimes the change needed to turn things around, starts with… you. Yes, your the cause of everything good or bad that happened in the past or is happening in your life at this present moment.

I have been a victim of this, and with victim, I do mean that I was on a mission with no end in sight. The moment I decided to stop focusing on me, to stop working so hard and to start working smarter, is when all things turned around.

Do you grasp what I am saying here?

The situation on your JOB can change, stop being a slave to your job, and coming to work with a bitter face. Let go of the trigger, and release the tension, your not at war. Stop being so swift to use your tongue and lash out at people, just listen, that is all it takes to make this happen once you understand that your not always right, and no one even cares if you are.. Before the break of dawn, you will start to see a turn around, not only on your job, but in your life as well.

How many of you can honestly say without thinking, I am working my dream JOB?

I know you paused for a brief moment there, as your mind wondered off to draw that perfect picture in your mind. Please allow yourself some extra time if you need, it’s important. I myself, can’t say that I am living the life of my dreams, because I had to go through a lot of organizational change as well as attitude changes.

Is this what I want to do for the next 20 years?

To be totally honest, if my writing was paying the bills and gave me enough to live an enjoyable life, then I would be doing this with a smile. But, it’s not, and that is why I will continue to do this part-time while I continue to put forward my best effort on the job, until that big day. It really motivates me and encourages me to press on with a big broad smile on my face when people tell me how much they enjoy reading what I write, and that I should continue to write and to never stop.

The way to go about life is to make sure you enjoy life, because life passes by with the wink of an eye, and I do hope you won’t be caught reflecting back on what you didn’t do, it will be too late. Your Job is just a meant to help you, it not an end to all means, so don’t fight about it, it’s not yours nor mines. So just enjoy your work while you still have life.

Many times I meet people and is very much impressed by the way they speak and go about life. The one thing that stands out is how they dress, and the neat way they are groomed. For the same reason, I know you can relate to this, is when you meet certain people that are an immediate turn off because of how they dress and carry themselves.

And then… the big moment comes and you finally get to visit that impressing personality and visit their home, office or place where they work. And the first thing that hits you, smack in the face, is the clutter. For some it means nothing, but the way I see it, is that it’s just another a very unorganized person. They give excuses right away and say that they are swamped with work, without you even asking about the clutter. But, guess what? If you return every other day for one week, you will notice that nothing changes. They are just sloppy, a sign that is very easy to spot. And I can guarantee you, this is the same clutter you will find in their home and in their life.

If I can give you one piece of advice, that would make you a more successful person, would you listen and trust and believe in these two little words?

Organize Everything

Yes, those two words is what you have to live by. You have to organize your life, organize your home, organize the clutter and all that organizing can be summed up in two words: Organize Everything!

Have you ever been to a cluttered home or office? Did you ever lend or gave that person a document and notice how they start shuffling through papers on their desk first, and then randomly trough many draws and then saying: It was just right here… How the heck, do they expect to find anything in the rubbage. And to top that off, if you come back later with a new document, they just dump it in the same pile. If this is you, then it’s time to change your life.

How To Change Your Life?

Maybe I should have named that headline; “How To Organize Your Life?”

As far as I am concerned, you will be doing both at the same time, to be organized means less stress and a more professional look. On the JOB, many of my colleagues always turn to me for anything that they are missing, because they know that I keep my stuff organized, but you know what? They have the same skills, and can do the same thing.

Here is a short list showing you how to get organized:

1. Organize your home - Get rid of all the old clothes you no longer use, give them away to charity or some organization close to you. And the same goes for old items in your home.
2. Organize your work space - Get rid of everything on your desk, put them away in drawers with labels, so you can find them later.
3. Complete that document on your desk - Handle a document that comes to you only once, complete that task, if it can’t be done file it away in a review folder.
4. Get a Professional Organizer - If you can afford it, get a professional organizer, if you can’t, get a sheet of paper or a small book, and keep a daily to do list.
5. Organize your bed room - Keep your room clean at all times, where you sleep should be like heaven, it is the place you come to for peace and a sound and solid rest.
6. Organize yourself - Start making small changes to the way you look, just start dressing different, a new hair do will work miracles.
7. Organize your kitchen - Make everything easier to find, and add whatever is missing.
8. Plan Your Day - If your going to cook something, make sure you take a list with you. Do what you say you would, and don’t use no excuses.
9. Organize your emails in-box - Yes, you also have to create a filing system for your emails, read a email once and file it away, either by name or by groups. I saw that my 12 year old daughter has her MSN-chat organized, she has a group for people she don’t like… Wonder who all is in that group?
10. Organize your clothes press - When your done washing, fold your clothes and put them away.
11. Just remove the clutter, and start to focus on a new you.

Many of you will think that this is some freaky stuff, and it will make you into some kind of a cleanse freak, but the truth is far from that. It is the first step in becoming a more organized person. Don’t act like a cleanly freak, just do it for yourself. When you confront people with clutter, don’t say a word. Just smile and know that your different.

Remember, whatever you do in life has to be fun, and you have to make sure your doing it for yourself. Obsession is something you want to avoid. So don’t become obsessive about cleaning.

Your reward for being a neat and organized person is the joy you will feel and have when you get home to your little paradise, where you know exactly where everything is and where you can find exactly what your looking for.

As you get closer to ending this school year, many of you will be sitting exams, sorry, but this article goes out to the students of the world, who are in their final stage of their final exams. For those that were working all through the year, congrats, there is no doubt that you have a big smile on your face, your sure that failure is not an option for you.

But, what about those that are still struggling?

For those who are having a hard time, I won’t say I told you so, or I told you to work hard from the get go. You already knew that. Sometimes, you let things slip through the cracks and get lazy and you end up paying the price with another year. But, look at the bright side, to fail means you get to start all over again, now isn’t that fun, isn’t that what we call seeing things from a positive point of view.

Now, to be honest, I hate failing as much as I hate repeating a class. In my life I had to repeat the fourth grade, and you know why? Because of attitude and over confidence. I had a great report but the teachers told my Mom that it would help him to stop touting his own horn. Did it really work? I can’t say for sure, but it did slow me down, but it didn’t take away any of that positive belief I had in my own abilities to get things done.

Many of you out there look at failure totally wrong, I got a chance to repeat the fourth grade and made it sure that I would plan better. Did I hate my Mom for her decision? Hell, I can’t even recall what I did, I was only nine years, and I honestly don’t know what took place. All I know is I was repeating that class. I can’t say it happened overnight, it all started when I was 20 years old.

What did I do to turn things around?

I created a more fail safe secure environment that would guarantee I pass all my classes. I adopted a go getter attitude, not the geek type, but that of a more calculated person, who did calculate his average score for all his grades, and decided before hand, exactly what grades I needed to pass, and what grades I would go slow on.

Let me give you an example: If I had three tests, depending on how many the professor had scheduled for that school year, usually the amount was very low, no more then six. I would calculate exactly what grades I needed to pass with just two test based on three, and then would work really hard for the first two, and then pay more attention to other subjects that I was weak in, yes, you will always have one or two your not good at.

That way I was always sure all would work out, and I was in control, and it always did.

Now, let me run this by you, today I got an email from “Lilo”, and she stated how well she was doing, how much fun she was having, happy belated B-day by the way. And to be honest, that really touched me! She is one of those persons that has the ability to achieve so much, but she got lazy, she began to complain. Her attitude was set for catastrophic failure. All she did was complain and blame everyone for all that was going wrong in her life, she never took responsibility for anything, and would never look within for her own faults nor flaws. Why she complained so much, I don’t know, but what I do know is she won’t ever forget the words I spoke to her on my dining table. hey No hard feelings “Lilo”, I love you just the same.

Much success to you “Lilo”, like I said I believe in you, and know now, you believe in yourself even more. Go for gold and have fun, leave complaining to those who don’t know that: “To fail means that you get to start all over again.”

It doesn’t matter if you fail, once you don’t blame yourself and call yourself a failure, you can never fail, it is either the system that fails or your plan that failed. Talking about plan, make sure you have a plan while studying, if you don’t know how to study, ask your neighbor, just kidding, ask someone who is doing great in your class how they study, it’s that easy.

And read my article: Studying For Success.

Many of you will be all nervous and banging your head against the wall right now, but you have to learn how to relax and get a grip of yourself. You can still make it, and you know the other option, it was mentioned above. Just tell yourself, I don’t give a dawn if I fail, I knew I worked hard and did my best. Now, don’t fool yourself if you been doing nothing, because you will fail.

Pay close attention, I will only say this once…

…if your grades are shaky, and you still feel you have a chance, then here is what you have to do. First , thing first… Carnival is right around the corner, you will have to make up your mind and tell yourself; “I will miss out this year”. Lucky for me, I can’t afford to miss out, but, your the one with the plan, and who is still in school, so you have no choice.

And from the minute you finish reading this article, you will start putting a schedule together with all your subjects, and decide how you will tackle all those subjects, You have to study for one hour, then take a half hour break, and then study for another hour. Then take a hour break,  eat a meal or something to much on, and then back at it. Don’t take no long breaks until after you have studied for at least two to three hours. Do this for at least four consecutive hours. Ever time you have studied a chapter from one subject, you switch subjects. At least two subjects per day.

The objective and goal your thriving for is to prove that failure is not an option. You can only fail if you quit, and no one reading this blog is a quitter. Sorry for those who haven’t found this blog yet.

Don’t allow no distractions, no internet, no girl friend boy friend, blah, blah, and if your studying in groups or with a friend, make sure you stick to your time limits, no “pussy footing” (just wanted to write that word, don’t know why, it just sounds great), nothing that will keep you from your books. You now have a plan, and it’s better than no plan at all. Your MIA for a couple weeks, Missing In Action. You have to eliminate that single point of failure and study every subject, even the ones you dislike.

Follow this routine religiously for the next 4 to six weeks before exams and you will be on your way to a nice and secure fat payday… your “Diploma”. Did you hear me say it won’t be stressful? Nope, it will take a lot out of ya, but nothing in life will ever be easy, so learn to live with that idea in your head. And if it was easy, everyone would be able to do it, your not everyone, your you, and that means your different.

I notice something wrong here, your still reading, didn’t I say ” No Internet”, get off the computer and go study… duh, duh… (got that from my kids)