One Amazing Tip for Being More Successful in 2014

Sharing an article from Time magazine's business.time.com

A quick tip that could make all the difference in what you accomplish next year.

By Geoffrey James

                               

Over the past few years, I’ve been playing this really cool game. 

Everybody playing this game starts with a character that’s assigned a random number of abilities (physical strength, creativity, etc.) and amount of resources (money, equipment, time, etc.).

As the game proceeds, you can gamble resources to gain more abilities or gamble your abilities to obtain more resources. You can also trade resources with other players which is a gamble to get more resources.  (Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t).

                                 

                                             

The game is called “Life” and I don’t mean the one where you run a little plastic car around a board. When it comes to success (either at work or at life in general), there are several advantages to thinking of your life as a game:

First, realizing that your genes and your family connections (i.e. resources) were random keeps you from thinking that they make you “superior” to the other people playing the game. As a result, people are more likely to want to work with, or for, you.

                                         

The perspective that there’s randomness involved also keeps you from grousing because you were given less resources than somebody else.  You start focusing on playing with the resources you’ve got rather than focusing on what other people got.

Second, thinking of your life as a game keeps you from taking it too seriously. Yes, there will be ups and downs, which will be big or small, depending upon how you risk your resources and your time.

                                       

However, realizing that life is just a game allows you to experience those ups and downs with a sense of perspective. Because it’s only a game, so you’re freer to shrug off the downs and use the highs to your advantage.

Finally, gamifying your life helps you understand that the winner isn’t the guy who dies with the most toys (i.e. his time ran out), but rather the person who manages to extract as much enjoyment as possible from playing the game.

                                         

For almost everybody, that enjoyment will come primarily from helping other people rather than helping yourself.  You see, life isn’t a “zero sum” game where the number of winners is proportional to the number of losers.

Quite the contrary. In the game of life, winners (people who enjoy life) create more winners. That’s why the game is so cool.

This post is in partnership with Inc., which offers useful advice, resources, and insights to entrepreneurs and business owners. The article below was originally published at Inc.com.

Read more: One Amazing Tip for Being More Successful in 2014 | TIME.com http://www.inc.com/geoffrey-james/dec-20-success-tip-how-to-win-the-game.html#ixzz2olH9aN4Q

Nelson Mandela and YOU

\ In recent days much has been said and written about the late great Nelson Mandela. People far wiser than I have made assessments of his life and his legacy. But the one lesson that I will take away from Mandela was his ability to not "tolerate" situations which he believed to be wrong. No matter how scary the implications were to resist the status quo. We all tolerate and accept the status quo in a variety of situations. Situations which are not even in the same league as apartheid. In our professional lives there are some common areas we tolerate:   We tolerate pointless rules and policies We tolerate incompetent and disrespectful managers, co-workers and clients We tolerate a job or career which we dislike We tolerate a lifestyle that we've fallen into rather than one which we've chosen We tolerate being undervalued and underpaid We tolerate hiding our talents instead of fully utilizing them We put up with these situations because the opposite of tolerating them is usually scary, uncertain and usually involves an investment of time and effort. So it becomes easier to just 'fit in', to accept and delay. But there will come a time when you can no longer tolerate the status. When you finally have the fire in your belly to resist and initiate change. And when you do, you'll spin your wheels and usually face some major set backs. You'll have pangs of self doubt and start questioning yourself.                  But as the anti-apartheid movement in South Africa showed - those struggles and dark days are all part of the journey to a brighter future. And as Nelson Mandela showed, it all starts with one person, one day being courageous enough to say "no" and refuse to tolerate the status quo. 3 Questions for you: 1) What are you tolerating right now? 2) How can you start resisting and saying "no"...? 3) What's the next step?

Inspiration "I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear" - Nelson Mandela  Reblogged from:  www.sitalruparelia.com

The Elephants Knew

I contemplate the mystique of this message and it brings me such bliss.

Love,
I AM, Dr. Wayne W. Dyer

SOMETHING IN THE UNIVERSE IS GREATER
AND DEEPER THAN HUMAN INTELLIGENCE.

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

The Elephants Knew

And some will say there is no God, try and tell that to the elephants...

 

THE ELEPHANTS' JOURNEY TO PAY RESPECT, BUT HOW DID THEY KNOW?

                                                  

Lawrence Anthony, a legend in South Africa and author of 3 books including the bestseller, The Elephant Whisperer. He bravely rescued wildlife and rehabilitated elephants all over the globe from human atrocities, including the courageous rescue of Baghdad Zoo animals during US invasion in 2003.

   

On March 7, 2012 Lawrence Anthony died.
He is remembered and missed by his wife, 2 sons, 2 grandsons, and numerous elephants.

Two days after his passing, the wild elephants showed up at his home led by two large matriarchs. Separate wild herds arrived in droves to say goodbye to their beloved 'man-friend'. A total of 31 elephants had patiently walked over 12 miles to get to his South African House.

Witnessing this spectacle, humans were obviously in awe not only
because of the supreme intelligence and precise timing that these
elephants sensed about Lawrence's passing, but also because of
the profound memory and emotion the beloved animals evoked
in such an organized way: Walking slowly, for days, making their way in a solemn one-by-one queue from their habitat to his house. Lawrence's wife, Francoise, was especially touched, knowing that the elephants had not been to his house prior to that day for well over 3 years!

But yet they knew where they were going. The elephants obviously wanted to pay their deep respects, honoring their friend who'd saved their lives - so much respect that they stayed for 2 days 2 nights without eating anything.

Then one morning, they left, making their long journey back home.

From Dr. Wayne Dwyer's facebook update.

Top of Form

Timeless Rules for Learning and Life

Via Brain Pickings http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2013/02/27/sister-corita-kent-lisa-congdon/

Light Up Your Life!

Diwali: Festival of Lights

from: http://hinduism.about.com/od/diwalifestivaloflights/a/diwali.htm

                                     

By Subhamoy Das

• Celebration
 
• Diwali 

Deepawali or Diwali is certainly the biggest and the brightest of all Hindu festivals. It's the festival of lights (deep = light and avali = a row i.e., a row of lights) that's marked by four days of celebration, which literally illumines the country with its brilliance, and dazzles all with its joy. Each of the four days in the festival of Diwali is separated by a different tradition, but what remains true and constant is the celebration of life, its enjoyment and goodness.

The Origin of Diwali

Historically, the origin ofDiwali can be traced back to ancient India, when it was probably an important harvest festival. 

However, there are various legends pointing to the origin of Diwali or 'Deepawali.' Some believe it to be the celebration of the marriage of Lakshmi with Lord Vishnu. Whereas in Bengal the festival is dedicated to the worship of Mother Kali, the dark goddess of strength. Lord Ganesha, the elephant-headed God, the symbol of auspiciousness and wisdom, is also worshiped in most Hindu homes on this day. In Jainism, Deepawali has an added significance to the great event of Lord Mahavira attaining the eternal bliss of nirvana. Diwali also commemorates the return of Lord Rama along with Sita and Lakshman from his fourteen year long exile and vanquishing the demon-king Ravana. In joyous celebration of the return of their king, the people of Ayodhya, the Capital of Rama, illuminated the kingdom with earthen diyas (oil lamps) and burst crackers.

These Four Days

Each day of Diwali has its own tale, legend and myth to tell. The first day of the festival Naraka Chaturdasimarks the vanquishing of the demon Naraka by Lord Krishna and his wife Satyabhama. Amavasya, the second day of Deepawali, marks the worship of Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth in her most benevolent mood, fulfilling the wishes of her devotees. Amavasya also tells the story of Lord Vishnu, who in his dwarf incarnation vanquished the tyrant Bali, and banished him to hell. Bali was allowed to return to earth once a year, to light millions of lamps to dispel the darkness and ignorance, and spread the radiance of love and wisdom. It is on the third day of Deepawali — Kartika Shudda Padyamithat Bali steps out of hell and rules the earth according to the boon given by Lord Vishnu. The fourth day is referred to as Yama Dvitiya (also called Bhai Dooj) and on this day sisters invite their brothers to their homes.

The Significance of Lights & Firecrackers

All the simple rituals of Diwali have a significance and a story to tell. The illumination of homes with lights and the skies with firecrackers is an expression of obeisance to the heavens for the attainment of health, wealth, knowledge, peace and prosperity. According to one belief, the sound of fire-crackers are an indication of the joy of the people living on earth, making the gods aware of their plentiful state. Still another possible reason has a more scientific basis: the fumes produced by the crackers kill a lot of insects and mosquitoes, found in plenty after the rains.

The Tradition of Gambling

The tradition of gambling on Diwali also has a legend behind it. It is believed that on this day, Goddess Parvati played dice with her husband Lord Shiva, and she decreed that whosoever gambled on Diwali night would prosper throughout the ensuing year. Diwali is associated with wealth and prosperity in many ways, and the festival of 'Dhanteras' ('dhan' = wealth; 'teras' = 13th) is celebrated two days before the festival of lights.

From Darkness Unto Light...

In each legend, myth and story of Deepawali lies the significance of the victory of good over evil; and it is with each Deepawali and the lights that illuminate our homes and hearts, that this simple truth finds new reason and hope. From darkness unto light — the light that empowers us to commit ourselves to good deeds, that which brings us closer to divinity. During Diwali, lights illuminate every corner of India and the scent of incense sticks hangs in the air, mingled with the sounds of fire-crackers, joy, togetherness and hope. Diwali iscelebrated around the globe. Outside India, it is more than a Hindu festival, it's a celebration of South-Asian identities. If you are away from the sights and sounds of Diwali, light a diya, sit quietly, shut your eyes, withdraw the senses, concentrate on this supreme light and illuminate the soul.