http://www.wealthnuggets4u.com/Get-Rich-blog.html The personal development blog will keep you informed on all the latest news at Wealthnuggets4u.com en-us personal development Fri, 03 Feb 2012 05:54:57 GMT Fri, 03 Feb 2012 05:54:57 GMT wealthnuggets4u.com http://www.wealthnuggets4u.com/Get-Rich-blog.html#Who-Wears-the-Trousers?-(No63)-Part-2 There's no point deciding to live together if you prefer being with someone all of the time, but your partner would rather just do their own thing, because in the long run it just wont work. W - "Sorry hun, I can't go to dinner with you on Saturday evening, I'm going out with the girls. No, Sunday I'm going shopping with my mum and sis, and Monday night I'm working out at the gym. Let's see, Tuesday I've promised to go for a drink with Claire from work, and Wednesday I've got that netball tournament. How about we grab some breakfast together on Thursday Morning? ... Sorry darling, Thursday's cancelled, I forgot, I'll have to leave early because I'm working in London all day. I'll tell you what, I'll check my diary for the week beginning the 15th and get back to you A.S.A.P. Anyway, I must love you and leave you honey - T.T.F.N. - Mmwwaa!" Irrespective of, how much or how little time you get to spend with your partner try not to waste any of it arguing! As someone once said "Don't sweat the small stuff." A loving relationship is worth more than anything else in the world, and I believe it should be a priority in everyone's life. The vast majority of us are selfish by nature; thus, we must keep working and trying to achieve and maintain a prosperous and healthy relationship with our partners. M - "Why should you have listened to what your mother said about me? Was she singing my praises again by any chance?" To be continued ... Andy. Fri, 03 Feb 2012 05:36:55 GMT http://www.wealthnuggets4u.com/Get-Rich-blog.html#Who-Wears-the-Trousers?-(No63)-Part-1 COHABITING: Spending time together: (cont) We've all been there, shuddering at the prospect of two to three months of horrible cold weather and wondering what the hell we can do to bring a little 'sunshine' into our lives. I believe it's imperative to keep active during such times, also to consider your partner's wishes as much as your own. A good idea to keep your relationship healthy is to take turns at choosing what you are going to do on a weekend, and no matter what your partner plumps for (within reason) you should go along with it. You may even discover that you enjoy some of your partner's activities as much as, if not more than, your own. M - "Okay, hun for this weekend's excursion I've booked us two tickets to go and see the English Football Museum. It's located at Preston North End's stadium, home of the great Tom Finney." On second thoughts, maybe not! Although quality time spent together, is the key to the success of any relationship you should still consider whether you and your partner are compatible in regards to the amount of time you both want to spend with each other. Fri, 03 Feb 2012 05:36:55 GMT http://www.wealthnuggets4u.com/Get-Rich-blog.html#PD-Diary-Archive-1st-Feb-2012 RETRO POST: ORIGINALLY POSTED MON 6TH/DEC/10 It's Monday morning, I know...stop yawning. It's not just ANY Monday though, my buddies outside the UK please indulge me for a moment because this is important. It's Coronation Street 'tram crash' night. Yikes! my nails are already bitten to the quick, half the cast wiped out in one fail swoop! Am I being TOO optimistic? Come 8pm tonight I'm convinced we are still going to be left with 'Dreary Deirdrie' 'Boring Ken' and 'claire and Ashley' - half price tickets on sale here guys, can I tempt you? Turning a tad more serious now, wiki-leaks suggest that the US have mocked the 'special relationship' with the Uk. I don't often give my oppinion on politics on this site but on this occasion I will: I believe the Uk will always be friends with the US, we have always supported each other and we watch each others backs, we are like brothers in arms, as long as I live and breathe I will support the USA and no-one will ever convince me to do otherwise. Jealous people will always try to ruin other people's good relationships, the trick is not to let them. This is way too heavy for a Monday morning but my final word on the US/UK relationship is 'We Love you guys' (In a manly back-slapping kind of way of course) but having said that why did your/our ancestors p*** off and leave us in this freezing, godforsaken country? You can soon go off someone you know. You did send us home the McDonald's franchise though...thanks. Andy. Wed, 01 Feb 2012 05:22:25 GMT http://www.wealthnuggets4u.com/Get-Rich-blog.html#Who-Wears-the-Trousers?-(No62)-Part-1 "WHO WEARS THE TROUSERS?" (NO 62) COHABITING: Spending time together: When you first move in with your partner everything is new and exciting. Finally, after months or even years of seeing each other two or three times a week you are now able to see each other 24/7 if you so desire - Absolute bliss! There will come a time, however, when the initial newness and excitement wears off, and I suppose this is when the reality of living with someone truly kicks in. W - "Please tell me, you are not planning on sitting there and watching that thing all day." If you want your relationship to flourish, both you and your partner must be prepared to put in a little effort. Too much time spent watching television suppresses a relationship. Therefor, instead of vegging out in front of it all night long it's far more beneficial for your relationship if you spend at least a proportion of your evening just chatting to each other. It's enjoyable to sit down and have a meal and perhaps a glass of wine together, (but not in front of the TV!) and just discuss what you've both been doing during the day. These days most of us have extremely busy schedules, therefor the amount of time available to spend on our relationships can become limited. However, I think that the quality of the time spent together is just as vital as the quantity. M - "Come on honey, pack your bags, I've booked us a trip to Paris!" Mon, 30 Jan 2012 05:30:53 GMT http://www.wealthnuggets4u.com/Get-Rich-blog.html#Who-Wears-the-Trousers?-(No62)-Part-2 If you have kids, it is even more critical that you put time aside to spend solely with your partner. After all, the greatest gift you can give your children is a stable and happy relationship. Always ring or text your partner during the day to see how they are and to have a little catch up. This becomes even more crucial if one of you spends time working away from home. Communication is so much easier nowadays, so we should all take advantage of the fact and contact our loved ones more often. Many couples live together quite happily during the week but come the weekend they find themselves with too much time on their hands and subsequently end up feeling bored. If you are fortunate enough to be able to spend the whole weekend with your partner, then it's a crime if you don't make the most of it. Summertime is a lot easier to find things to do because there are many more options available to us than in wintertime. In most relationships, the first few weeks after Christmas tend to be the most stressful time of the year. W - "You never take me anywhere, you know I suffer from Seasonal Affective D-I-S-O-R-D-E-R, but do you care? All you can do is whinge about how much YOU spent over Christmas and that now we must all tighten our belts in order to pay for it. Sometimes, I wonder what it was I saw in you. I never thought I'd say this, but I should've listened to my mother ..." To be continued ... Andy. Mon, 30 Jan 2012 05:30:53 GMT http://www.wealthnuggets4u.com/Get-Rich-blog.html#PD-Archive-27th-Jan-2012 RETRO POST: ORIGINALLY POSTED FRI 3RD/DEC/10 Top 10 internet searches on Yahoo for 2010 (UK and Ireland only) are as follows: 1. Lottery, 2. Job centre, 3. Weather, 4. Big Brother, 5. Cheryl Cole, 6. TV guide, 7. World Cup, 8. Train times 9. Katie Price 10. Horoscopes. A recent report has revealed that China ranks fourth in the world in scientific research and development spending ($87.25 billion) behind the US, Japan and Germany. China has called on all sides to exercise calm and restraint and not 'to pour oil on the flames' as tensions continue on the Korean Peninsula. On a lighter note, Hertfordshire (England) police officers dined on pizzas at a crime scene before realising they had been ordered by a gang of torture suspects and should have been kept as evidence, a court heard...Doh! Knowing that our general safety and protection is in the hands of such professional and competent people kind of gives you a warm glow, it's either that or indigestion. A three-year-old boy in China had to be cut out of a washing machine this week after becomming stuck while playing hide and seek with his mother. Don't you just love smartass kids. Coming READY or NOT. Andy. Fri, 27 Jan 2012 05:25:37 GMT http://www.wealthnuggets4u.com/Get-Rich-blog.html#PD-Diary-Archive-25th-Jan-2012-(Part-1) RETRO POST: ORIGINALLY POSTED TUES 13TH SEPT/11 "WHO WEARS THE TROUSERS?" (NO 30) LIFESTYLE: Men's haircuts versus women's hairdos: Legislation should be passed outlawing unisex hair salons. Only men should be allowed to cut men's hair and only women should be allowed to cut women's. In fairness, women probably observe this unwritten law already, but the guys are far more gullible. W. "Would you like a shampoo and rinse before I cut your hair sir?" M. "No thanks, just a regular haircut, will be fine." W. "Are you sure sir, it's included in the price?" M. "Okay, go on then." After the shampoo and rinse, the hairdresser will give you a free (sorry, a complimentary, all inclusive in the price) appraisal of your hair's condition. A guy's some total interest in hairdressing is to come out of the shop with shorter hair than when he went in. Of course, girls don't subscribe to this theory. Oh no. Wed, 25 Jan 2012 05:30:27 GMT http://www.wealthnuggets4u.com/Get-Rich-blog.html#PD-Diary-Archive-25th-Jan-2012-(Part-2) W. "Hmm ... let's see (Musses guy's hair - a la Stan Laurel) I could really do something with this hair. How about highlights? They would hide that tinge of grey and give you a whole new look." M. "A standard trim will be fine thanks." W. "Are you sure, I'm feeling creative?" M. "Yeah, I'm sure - thanks all the same." W. "How about extensions?" Well the experiment was worth a try, but you can't beat your dependable old barber. A chat about the footy, same old trusted haircut you've had for the last twenty years, mirror at the back of the head, and it's job done in less than fifteen minutes. Women, however, view the whole hair-styling process as some kind of ritual. Pick up any woman's magazine (metaphorically speaking of course) and you'll see at least half a dozen features about hair: 'Check out this week's fab celebrity hairstyles'. 'Hairdos and hairdont's'. 'Does your hairstyle suit your face shape?'. WT - Oh my goodness, I'd never thought of that, I must look in the mirror immediately. (sucks cheeks in, puffs cheeks out, smiles, musses hair, shakes head, bares teeth) Hmm, probably not. That does it, it's time for a change, I wonder how violet dipped with pink would look? - Well, if it's good enough for Rhianna ... To be continued ... Andy. Wed, 25 Jan 2012 05:30:27 GMT http://www.wealthnuggets4u.com/Get-Rich-blog.html#PD-Diary-Archive---23rd-Jan-2012 RETRO POST: ORIGINALLY POSTED WED 1ST/DEC/10 Bob Gelfof has admitted he feels responsible for two of the worst songs of all time. 'Do They Know it's Christmas?' and 'We are the World' In other words the Band Aid songs. He goes on to tell us how he hates hearing them at Christmas time (I thought that was the whole point) before finally reminding us AGAIN that he WAS the one who wrote them, we know Bob, we know. I used to have a friend that was always denying how good he was at things only to be continually reasured by others that contrary to his own 'beliefs' he WAS good at them. They are great songs Bob and so are you, stop being so humble all the time it doesn't become you. Turning now from hot air to the freezing conditions that are currently gripping the whole of the UK, forecasters say that conditions are going to get worse over the next few days and are advising us not to travel unless it's absolutely necessary. That's it then, public holiday declared until spring 2011, great idea, with the National debt standing at £4.8 trillion a couple more billion can't do any harm, surely. If we ask him nicely Bob might even write us a song, in fact on second thoughts, just you try stopping him. Andy. Mon, 23 Jan 2012 05:32:08 GMT http://www.wealthnuggets4u.com/Get-Rich-blog.html#Who-Wears-the-Trousers?-(No61)-Part-1 MARRIAGE: The guest list: (cont) These days, the average cost of a wedding reception is about fifty pounds per head, and the overall cost of a wedding is approximately ten to twenty thousand pounds (Ouch!). So getting the guest list right both in terms of size and personnel is a vital ingredient of the overall success of your day. The invitation of children is always a contentious issue when composing a guest list. I recommend inviting your immediate family's children only, otherwise your wedding day could become overrun by boisterous kids that you've never even met before. In the early stages of planning your wedding it's advisable to keep the guest list as fluid as possible, as I've already mentioned, it impacts on so many other aspects of the wedding, so it's sensible to make significant progress with your wedding plans as a whole before committing yourselves to a final decision about the guest list numbers. W - "Right the Appleby only caters for ninety people, so that means you need to get rid of at least twenty from your side, and I'll sacrifice my old headmaster and his wife." Most families have at least one or two undesirables amoungst their ranks, people who are likely to cause trouble or make a scene. Take my advice, and do NOT invite them under any circumstances, and don't make excuses about why you're not inviting them either. It's your day, and even if you have the slightest inkling that some idiotic relative is likely to spoil it, then steel yourself and nip it in the bud as soon as possible. It's preferable to deal with an argument prior to the wedding day than deal with one on it. Fri, 20 Jan 2012 05:22:03 GMT http://www.wealthnuggets4u.com/Get-Rich-blog.html#Who-Wears-the-Trousers?-(No61)-Part-2 The quality of your guest list is far more important than the quantity. It's the most significant day of your life, and you should want it to be witnessed by the people you care about the most. You wouldn't invite people you didn't like round to your home for a meal, so why invite them to your wedding? Don't succumb to parent pressure, even if they are footing the majority of the bill. Of course, it is an extremely joyous occasion for them as well, but they have to realise that you are the focal point of the event and not them. If you feel as though you are being steamrollered by a bossy parent take them to one side and tell them so, in all the excitement they may not even realise they are being so overpowering - perish the thought! W - "It's going to be nothing but the best for my daughter, She'll have a horse-drawn carriage, her reception at the Savoy, and the most beautiful wedding dress that money can buy." When you've finally decided on your ultimate guest list be sure to inform both sets of parents and any other relevent parties of it's composition, and make it crystal clear to them that it is now impossible, both financially and logistically, to invite anyone else. Good luck! To be continued ... Andy. Fri, 20 Jan 2012 05:22:03 GMT http://www.wealthnuggets4u.com/Get-Rich-blog.html#PD-Diary-Archive---18/1/12 RETRO POST: ORIGINALLY POSTED MON 29TH/NOV/10 Don't you just love Monday mornings! Well to get us back in the swing of the working week 'Yahoo Finance' has come up with 'Six ways to impress your boss' so here goes. 1. Ask what needs to be done: Yeah, no problem with that, bosses just love people who help them to impliment THEIR ideas. 2. Demonstrate your value. 3. Be a team player: The most motivational person I've ever worked for used to use the expression "Kick one of us and we all limp." I always liked that sentiment. 4. Brief your boss: YF suggests 'a brief e-mail summing up your day-to-day accomplishments.' I'd be careful with this one, no-one likes a creep, I prefer No 1 because bosses are mainly interested in what YOU can do for THEM. 5. Network like you're unemployed: YF suggests that you should 'reach out to colleagues in other departments and request their feedback on how you can help them be more effective.' - Get real. "Excuse me John, (seeing as you and your department are such a bunch of morons - cue cheesy grin - and I am so wonderful) can you think of any areas where I can help you and your department become more effective? I'll give that one a whirl today...I can sense that salary increase already...back of the net! 6. Be heard and seen: Yep, doing the right things of course. (honking all over your bosses shoes at the Christmas party will get you 'heard AND seen' - Promoted, I'm not so sure) Well, I'm all revved-up and raring to go now, thanks YF. Take heed, confession is good for your soul but bad for your career and if at first you don't succeed, re-define success. Keep smiling, but NO cheesy grins. Andy. Wed, 18 Jan 2012 05:21:03 GMT http://www.wealthnuggets4u.com/Get-Rich-blog.html#Who-Wears-the-Trousers?-(No60)-Part-1 MARRIAGE: The Guest List: One of the key elements of wedding planning is the compilation of the guest list. It has a significant bearing on many other aspects of the occasion, notably the cost and location of the reception. It is easy to get over excited in the days just after the announcement of your wedding and this can have a dramatic impact on the size of your guest list. W - "I hope you don't mind sweetheart, but I said mum could invite all the girls from her jazzercise class. I know it will cost us a bit extra, but I want the whole world to see us get married." M - "Woah! Steady on love, we are paying for this wedding ourselves, you know, and we have to be careful not to blow the entire budget on the reception alone ... Don't look at me like that." It's vital to consider that the majority of people you invite will have a spouse, and it's considered wedding etiquette not to seperate a couple on a wedding day. The outcome of this policy, however, is that potentially you may not even know a fair proportion of your wedding guests, but that is more desirable than having people cancelling at the last minute because they don't feel comfortable attending without their partners. Sun, 15 Jan 2012 12:38:53 GMT http://www.wealthnuggets4u.com/Get-Rich-blog.html#Who-Wears-the-Trousers?-(No60)-Part-2 So who do you invite then? The list should be divided into six categories: 1. Immediate family, 2. Close friends, 3. Old friends, 4. Coworkers, 5. Neighbours, 6. Children. Although both parties need to be fairly well represented, it doesn't necessarily follow that you have to invite exactly the same amount of people on both sides. If you adopt this method one of you will undoubtedly start inviting people just to make up the numbers, ultimately you've got to remember that this is the most momentous day of your life and not just another party. M - "Well, you've got seventy-eight people on your list and I've only got forty-four so why can't I invite the lads from the footy team there's only eighteen of them?" W - "If you think I'm having MY wedding day ruined by that bunch of beer-swilling, loud-mouthed, womanising neanderthals, you've got another thing coming." M - "It was just a thought." To be continued ... Andy. Sun, 15 Jan 2012 12:38:53 GMT http://www.wealthnuggets4u.com/Get-Rich-blog.html#Who-Wears-the-Trousers-(No59)---Part-1 DATING: What do people look for in a partner: (cont) Compatibility: (cont) Seriously, though, I know it's a cliche that opposites attract, but I think it's a lot easier to have a relationship with someone with similar likes and interests as yourself. There are several key issues in life that are fundamental to our success and happiness, and if your partner holds totally opposite views to you on these issues then your relationship is inevitably going to come under strain. I think the key life issues are; work/life balance, marriage, children, money, leisure, security, family and politics. It's necessary to know roughly where your prospective partner stands on these issues fairly early on in the relationship. However, it's unnecessary to ascertain all of this information by the end of the first date. W - "I want to get married while I'm young John, and I want to have at least four children, how about you? ... Oh My God, are you okay John? Did your drink go down the wrong way? Here, let me slap you on the back ... Phew! You gave me a fright there, now where was I ..." Self Esteem: If you are one of the many millions of people who suffer from low self esteem, it is vital that you take action to improve it, because sadly society tends to victimise people who think lowly of themselves. Thu, 12 Jan 2012 17:37:27 GMT http://www.wealthnuggets4u.com/Get-Rich-blog.html#Who-Wears-the-Trousers-(No59)---Part-2 At times, we are our own worst enemies, and we are undoubtedly our own biggest critics. Turning self criticism into self praise is a crucial part of improving self esteem. You must learn to praise yourself for every little thing you do well. After a while, it becomes second nature, and you'll find that this practice is a massive confidence generator. You do not have to be Mr or Ms 'life and soul of the party' in order to be respected and liked. It is a fact, not just my opinion, that generally-speaking quietly confident people are far more popular than extroverts. Bridging the gap between low and normal self esteem is a lot easier than most people think, but it is vital to recognise that self belief comes from within and not from without. Someone can only crush your feelings if allow them to. Try to develop the hide of a rhino and the heart of an angel. Avoid negative people at all costs, because they will only serve to bring you down. W - "You can say what you like about me, that's your opinion, and your entitled to it, but I'm good enough to do this job, and, what's more, I'm going to prove that I am." Make it your goal to become the best possible version of you. A person who's constantly learning and evolving. People around you will realise that you are trying to become a better, more rounded, individual, and furthermore they'll appreciate you for it. To be continued ... Andy. Thu, 12 Jan 2012 17:37:27 GMT http://www.wealthnuggets4u.com/Get-Rich-blog.html#The-Power-of-Empathy-(Part-2) The Oxford Dictionary definition of empathy mentions the 'feelings' of other people. This is important because if we can actually empathise with a person's feelings as well as their oppinions the overall effect of the sentiment is magnified and the chances of the negotiation coming to a successful conclusion are greatly increased. As an aside I have actually read Dale's most famous book 'How to Win Friends and Influence People' about 15 times and each time I read it I learn something new. There are many benefits to aquiring the quality of empathy, people will start to see us in a different light and we will become known as a person who understands and cares for others' feelings. Wether we work in sales or not we are all selling ourselves and our ideas on a daily basis. Empathy undoubtedly increases sales because people buy from people they like and trust and moreover they will tell their friends that we are the person to go to for XYZ product or service. As well as improving our business results empathy will greatly improve our social and family lives. People will always be drawn to someone who is prepared to listen to them. The greatest conversationalists speak the least, they simply ask the best questions and then let others do all the talking. The native Americans had a saying that you should never judge a man until you had walked a mile in his shoes, and this holds true today. In this era of hyper communication sentiments such as empathy and gratitude are our most important tools. "The great gift of human beings is that we have the power of empathy." - Meryl Streep Andy. Thu, 28 Jul 2011 08:39:31 GMT http://www.wealthnuggets4u.com/Get-Rich-blog.html#The-Power-of-Empathy-(Part-1) The Power of Empathy The Oxford dictionary defines 'empathy' as; the ability to understand and share the feelings of another. "If there is any one secret of success, it lies in the ability to get the other person's point of view and see things from his angle as well as your own. " - Henry Ford Along with gratitude, empathy is one of the most important people skills to master. We all want similar things from life and the simplest way to discover how someone else is thinking is to ask ourselves how we would think in a similar situation. Empathy diffuses anger and frustration in people because most of us just want to be understood. American writer and lecturer, Dale Carnegie believed that we should never disagree with anyone because 'people like people who are like they are'. However, Dale stated that if we ever found ourselves in a situation where we felt so strongly about an issue that we simply couldn't agree with someone then we should disagree with them as diplomaticaaly as possible. "When you start to develop your powers of empathy and imagination, the whole world opens up to you." - Susan Sarandon Under no cicumstances should we merely use the phrase "Yes but" when voicing an alternative oppinion. Instead we should endeavour to 'stretch' the "Yes but" by saying something like; "I understand what you are saying but.." By doing this we convey to the other person that although we disagree with them we understand their point of view and psychologically this is a very powerful negotiating technique. Thu, 28 Jul 2011 08:39:31 GMT http://www.wealthnuggets4u.com/Get-Rich-blog.html#The-Influence-of-TV-on-Our-Lives-(Part-2) What's bad about TV? "Television has changed a child from an irresistible force to an immovable object." - Author Unknown "Today, watching television often means fighting, violence and foul language - and that's just deciding who gets to hold the remote control." - Donna Gephart Again, the list of what is bad about TV is also virtually endless, it really is amazing that something can have so many positives and yet so many negatives. # TV has promoted laziness in ourselves and our children. We now take less exercise because it is a much easier option to simply switch on the TV and veg out on the sofa. # The power and influence of TV can be exerted negatively as well as positively. we are constantly subjected to unscrupulous advertising and in extreme cases malicious propaganda. # It is human nature to mimick other people, therefor we are prone to copying things that we see on TV. Because of our obsession with bad news and shocking behaviour the programme makers are increasingly exposing us to more and more of it and this is having a self depricating effect on our own behaviour and lifestyles. A frightening spin off of this supply and demand mechanism is that the programme content has got to become increasingly shocking in order to retain the same impact and thus we are being exposed to and subsequently copying worse and worse situations and behavioural traits. # Finally, family interaction has certainly suffered at the hands of TV. Board games and book reading are increasingly becoming things of the past. Is there a compromise? Communication will always play a key part in our society and anything that enhances communication will always become popular. With this thought in mind it would be foolish of anyone to try to prohibit these improved medias. It is wiser to embrace and understand them if only to develop the ability to monitor and regulate them. Many people throughought history have been credited with promoting an attitude of 'moderation in all things' and it is great attitude to embrace. If we limit the amount of time we spend watching TV to a reasonable level it will do us more good than harm. "Never go to excess, but let moderation be your guide." - Marcus Tullius Cicero "They say that ninety percent of TV is junk. But, ninety percent of everything is junk." - Gene Roddenberry Andy. Thu, 14 Jul 2011 08:14:23 GMT http://www.wealthnuggets4u.com/Get-Rich-blog.html#The-Influence-of-TV-on-Our-Lives-(Part-1) If there is one invention that has been equally good and bad for society it has got to be television. "All television is educational television. The question is: what is it teaching?" - Nicholas Johnson Commercial television broadcasting began in earnest in 1946 and it's success has been nothing short of phenomenal. The only problem with watching TV is that it can do us as much harm as it can do us good. What's good about TV? There are many good things about TV; # It keeps us informed and brings the world community closer together. # It's combination of words and images makes it a valuable and effective learning tool. # TV helps to promote understanding and acceptance of each other's cultures and it has done a great deal for our freedom of speech. # It is the King of family entertainment. # Knowledge really is power and TV has undoubtedly been a major source of learning for humankind over the last seventy years. Thu, 14 Jul 2011 08:14:23 GMT http://www.wealthnuggets4u.com/Get-Rich-blog.html#Decluttering-Your-Home Clutter is one of my pet hates. Fortunately, my wife hates it too therefor most of the time the house tends to remain fairly tidy. However, if either you or your partner has a tendency to horde things then your clutter can soon get out of control. "Don't own so much clutter that you will be relieved to see your house catch fire." - Wendell Berry It's a good idea to adopt the habit of never leaving a room without removing something from it that shouldn't be in there. This makes tidying up much easier. If you don't collect it in the first place then you will never have to dispose of it. Think long and hard before making purchases for the home, if it's not essential then leave it for another day, if you really want or need it you will buy it eventually. Photographs: We all know what each other looks like so it is totally unnecessary to keep loads of family photographs out on display. Okay, the odd important one is fine but there's nothing more offputting when visiting someone's home than being confronted by hundreds of pictures of them and their relatives. Be brutal: When you are decluttering it's important that you are ruthless. If you've not used or worn something in over a year then bin it. If you really can't bear to part with it then store it out of the way in the loft. "The more you have, the more you are occupied. The less you have, the more free you are." - Mother Teresa I'm a big believer in breaking problems down into small chunks, so if your clutter is out of control attack it bit by bit, one room at a time, one part of a room at a time even. Benifits of decluttering: As well as the obvious benefits of improving your house's appearance and if it's up for sale, making it more appealing to potential buyers, there are other hidden benefits of decluttering. Clutter has a tendency to keep us living in the past. Therefor by spring cleaning from time to time we keep ourselves in a better emotional state. Good memories are fine but we don't need constant reminders of them. In order to keep living in the present and for the future it is important to surround ourselves with new things. "Less is more." - Ludwig Mies van der Rohe Andy. Thu, 07 Jul 2011 11:52:13 GMT http://www.wealthnuggets4u.com/Get-Rich-blog.html#The-Most-Important-Word-in-Business I once posted an article on a personal development forum entitled 'The most Important Word in Business'. I'll be honest, it's a long time ago now and I've actually forgotten the exact word I proposed. Not too impressive you might think? What I do remember though was the best business word someone else suggested but I'll come to that in a little while. "Disneyland is a work of love. We didn't go into Disneyland just with the idea of making money." Walt Disney My 'word' at that time may have been VALUE and I still see it as a very important business word. Afterall if you can add value to people's lives they will reward you for it. If you're being hard-nosed about it you could say PROFIT is the most important word in business. In fairness most successful businesses make a healthy profit and this enables them to continue to grow and become more successful. TRAINING is another important business word. As well as making a living and paying the bills a job can improve us as individuals. Training is vital for any organisation's desire for continual improvement. "Effort only fully releases its reward after a person refuses to quit." - Napoleon Hill Closely linked to training is the word PEOPLE. It's worth a fair proportion of our income to work for and with decent people. Companies that care of their employees will always out perform companies that don't in the long run. There are may other important business words inluding: SUCCESS, CONFIDENCE, CUSTOMER, INVESTMENT, RESPECT, PROACTIVE etc. However, I believe the most important word in any business is TRUST. Trust is the oil of all business. People buy from people they trust and everyone likes doing business with people they trust. Is there a moral to this story. I don't know, like I said I originally posted this article a long time ago. I know this much though if people trust you and your products, you'll never go hungry. "Every young man would do well to remember that all successful business stands on the foundation of morality." - Henry Ward Beecher Andy. Thu, 30 Jun 2011 14:26:59 GMT http://www.wealthnuggets4u.com/Get-Rich-blog.html#Best-Hangover-Cures-(Part-2) 3. Food: Eating plenty of food with our alcohol definitely has a positive effect but we must avoid eating late on because our systems will have to use up a lot of excess energy digesting it whilst we sleep. Best foods to combat a hangover are eggs wich help mop up left over toxins and bananas/Kiwi fruit which replace potassium lost to alcohol's diuretic effect. Also all non acidic fruit juices are good hangover remedies. 4. Freshening up: It can seem like a real hassle but showering and general grooming will always make us feel better, the worst thing we can do with a hangover is mope around the house in our dressing gowns all day 5. Fresh air: Get out of the house, and take a little light exercise, the endorphins produced by the exercise will automatically make us feel better and the fresh air will help to clear our heads. 6. Herbal remedies: Most are a load of rubbish but one that does 'exactly what it says on the tin' is 'Milk thistle liquid extract' If you take the recommended dosage mixed with WATER just before retiring you will feel one hundred per cent better in the morning. "I spent most of my money on alcohol, women and fast cars, the rest I just squandered." - George Best Andy. Thu, 23 Jun 2011 14:22:10 GMT http://www.wealthnuggets4u.com/Get-Rich-blog.html#Best-Hangover-Cures-(Part-1) "I feel sorry for people who don't drink. When they wake up in the morning, that's as good as they're going to feel all day." - Frank Sinatra Most people like the odd alcoholic drink and most of us are guilty of occasionally having one too many. Yeah, at the time we feel great, the party's in full flow and so are we. It's just a pity it all has to end but unfortunately it always does. The next morning, the first thing that hits us is our banging headache, we open our eyes and eventually the room swims into focus. We experience flashbacks of the night before and if the memories are good ones we smile or even laugh at them but this only makes our headache worse so we turn over and try to get some more sleep. Our bodies natural reaction is a good one and if we have the time we should go with it and try to sleep off the hangover. Alternatively here are the best hangover remedies: 1. Do not make it worse: Hangovers make us dehydrated but we must avoid caffeine and orange juice at all costs. Caffeine will serve only to make us more dehydrated and the acid in orange juice will play havoc with our digestive systems. It's also unwise to eat a fry up for similar reasons. "It takes only one drink to get me drunk. The trouble is, I can't remember if it's the thirteenth or the fourteenth." - George Burns 2. Water: Water is the main antidote for a hangover. Alternating alcoholic drinks with glasses of water is not always fun but drinking a pint of water before we go to bed is a good remedy. If it makes us need the loo in the middle of the night we should use the opportunity to have another drink of water, our bodies will be extremely grateful for it come morning time. Drinking water the morning after the night before is also beneficial but has nothing like the effect of the bedtime drink. Thu, 23 Jun 2011 14:22:10 GMT http://www.wealthnuggets4u.com/Get-Rich-blog.html#How-to-Act-in-an-Emergency "There is nothing so strong or safe in an emergency of life as the simple truth." - Charles Dickens Most of us don't like to contemplate the thought of being involved in an emergency situation, parents tend to concentrate more on teaching their children to avoid such situations rather than how to deal with them. This is understandable, no parent likes to envisage their children having to cope with an emergency, however a few simple tips could one day help save their lives and possibly the lives of others. What are the most common emergency situations? 1. Car accidents 2. house fires 3. invasion of home 4. personal attacks 5. severe weather 6. Bomb scares We would all like to think that we would remain calm in a crisis because we all know that this is the most vital thing we must try to do. “If you can keep your head when all about you are losing theirs, and blaming you...The world will be yours and everything in it, what's more, you'll be a man, my son.” - Rudyard Kipling The main thing that gives us confidence and helps us remain calm is knowledge and preperation. In an emergency the most vital commodity is TIME. The more effectively we act the better the outcome will be. We should always keep important numbers written down and in a place that all the premises' occupants are aware of. Important documents should be photocopied and kept in a safe place. Example of simple preperation - Fire: There are several simple things that we can learn about fire that will prove invaluable if we are ever unfortunate enough to be confronted by it's wrath. 1. Never throw water on an electrical fire. 2. Pan fires are best dealt with by smothering with a damp towel. 3. Never give fire extra OXYGEN by unnecessarily opening doors/windows. 4. If confronted by smoke keep as low to the floor as possible. 5. Prevenative: Fire extinguishers and smoke alarms are a must. The GOLDEN rule of emergency situations is: Safety comes before material goods, we must never, ever risk our welfare or that of others for the sake of our posessions, they can all be replaced. The successfull outcome of any emergency situation is judged solely by the prevention of death or serious injury, anything else is regarded as a bonus. We must be brave but not wreckless: As soon as it is safe to do so we must always call the emergency services. They are the experts and it is always best to let them deal with an emergency. All we can do is keep the situation as contolled as possible until they are able to take over. This may involve acts of courage and bravery but these must be performed with minimal risk to ourselves and others. "My ideas have undergone a process of emergence by emergency. When they are needed badly enough, they are accepted." Richard Buckminster Fuller Andy. Thu, 16 Jun 2011 14:03:26 GMT http://www.wealthnuggets4u.com/Get-Rich-blog.html#Visiting-the-Doctor-(Part-2) If patience IS one of your virtues and you have a couple of hours to kill, you will eventually get through. (promise) “God heals, and the Doctor takes the Fees” Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790) When you arrive at the surgery the afoementioned receptionists treat anyone who is not a waiting room veteran with disdain and contempt, as for people who work for a living, they are just looked upon as an inconvenience to the system. The waiting room experience is another joyous event. Everyone sat there in silence. First you flick through a five-year-old magazine (£1 a day for a few newspapers is beyond the budget - afterall we do only pay 98.4% of our salaries in Income Tax and NI) before reading all the medical literature that's pasted up on the walls. You then start scrutinizing the room in far greater detail, the colour of the carpet, the type of furniture... "De dum, de dum, de dum." Next you try and guess what everyone else has come for, who looks genuine, who doesn't, time slows down, and then S-T-O-P-S altogether. Your watch is not broken, it's just an illusion. By the time your name is finally called you are aproaching a state of catatonia. You never see the same doctor twice, unless as previously mentioned you are willing to wait up to three weeks for the pleasure, so most of the actual appointment time is taken up with the doctor familiarising themselves with your notes. The medical advice you actually receive can be anything from common sense to absolute baloney. Some of the newer doctors have a tendency to read from medical books or consult the internet whilst they're speaking to you. On occasions doctors will ask YOUR advice on what YOU think the diagnosis is! - Scary. Invariably you are told to take 'Paracetamol' or 'Panadol' for a fortnight and return if the symptoms persist, well they do only get paid £150,000 per annum so I suppose it's unfair to expect too much of them. In fairness though the system works well because every time you undergo the ordeal of visiting the doctor, it puts you off the idea again for at least another five years, unless that is you become seriously ill and if that happens, God help you. “My doctor gave me six months to live, but when I couldn't pay the bill he gave me six months more.” - Walter Matthau Andy. Thu, 09 Jun 2011 12:01:51 GMT http://www.wealthnuggets4u.com/Get-Rich-blog.html#Visiting-the-Doctor-(Part-1) "Doctors are men who prescribe medicines of which they know little, to cure diseases of which they know less, in human beings of whom they know nothing” - Voltaire (1694 - 1778) In this day and age the vast majority of people are fortunate enough to enjoy relatively decent health but there comes a time in everyone's life when they require medical advice and/or treatment. Wether to visit the doctor or not is always a tough decision though, the main consideration being, do you feel ill enough to undergo the ordeal? On the occasions that you do decide to ask for medical guidance, invariably, by the time you have gone through with the whole painful process you wish you hadn't've bothered. Unmistakeably there are a lot of good doctors out there, afterall the qualification process is lenghy and arduous, (or so the layman is led to believe) but there are a lot of quacks as well. Before you actually get to see the doctor though you must first make an appointment. That should be easy you may think? - Wrong. Unless you can prove you are actually close to death, the earliest a doctor will see you is three weeks next Friday. After much pleeding with the most unpleasant receptionists you could ever have the displeasure of speaking to (everyday's a bad day for these people) and if you are able to fill the most anti-social part of their schedule, (IE within the next five minutes or five to midnight) you may just manage to get an appointment that same day. However, before you experience the joy of speaking to the receptionists you must first get through to one of them. This process usually consists of getting aprox 27 engaged dialing tones before finally getting a successful one. (punch the air in celebration - back of the net! - get in there my son. etc) Of course, this goes unanswered for 5 minutes before eventually ringing off. You frantically press re-dial only to be met with the engaged signal once again... Patience is a virtue. Thu, 09 Jun 2011 12:01:51 GMT http://www.wealthnuggets4u.com/Get-Rich-blog.html#The-Importance-of-Education-(Part-2) Psychology is one of my passions and I've always appraoched the subject of success with the same attitude: 'Try your best and then forget it'. Why waste time worrying about things we can't influence? Education and schooling prepares children for life, it teaches them the improtance of discipline and routine. It's only the fortunate few who are naturally gifted, most of us have to work damned hard for a living, so the sooner we learn the work ethic the better. If you want to teach your children about life, get them a pet. Learning to care about something other than ourselves is a vital life skill. I think the most important part of education is 'vocabulary'. The ability to communicate effectively with people is one of if not THE most important life skills. Being able to express oneself is so important. I believe a large percentage of violence stems from the inability to communicate ones true feelings effectively and the subsequent frustration that that brings. Wars have been fought in the past simply because of prejudice and a lack of tolerence and understanding of others. The world is undoubtedly becoming a 'smaller' place and our understanding of each others cultures and traditions is improving. I just hope that we don't become to reliant upon technology because I'm a firm believer in the concept of moderation in all things. "The great thing, then, in all education, is to make our nervous system our ally instead of our enemy." - William James (1842 - 1910) Andy. Thu, 02 Jun 2011 17:06:52 GMT http://www.wealthnuggets4u.com/Get-Rich-blog.html#The-Importance-of-Education-(Part-1) "Human history becomes more and more a race between education and catastrophe." - H. G. Wells (1866 - 1946) I first came across the above quotation about ten years ago when I read a book on prophets, the quote has stuck with me over the years but I must admit I had always thought it was Jules verne that said it. (Doh!) Science fiction writers are by their very nature good predictors of the future and H. G. Wells' words have always resonated with me. Potentially, the next twenty years or so are going to be the most critical years we will ever face. So much is happening so fast these days that it is vital that we have the werewithall to keep up with it. Therefor the role of education is taking on a greater and greater significance. A hundred years ago it was only the priviliged few who were fortunate enough to receive an education and reading and writing were considered great skills. Fortunately, we've reached a point in our evolution where illiteracy has for the most part been eradicated. "Only the educated are free." - Epictetus (55 - 135 AD) There are five ways that we absorb information, in order of popularity they are; Verbal, Visual, Tactile, Kinesthetic (info manipulation) and Aural. Personally, I think people learn better if they enjoy what they are doing. Ocassionally, people contact me and ask me things like "why are you always fooling around?" or "Why don't you take personal development seriously?" I always give the same answer: I DO take PD seriously, I get up at 4:30 am every morning to write my website's daily update, now that's taking things seriously! As for the fooling around part, well old habits die hard... "What we learn with pleasure we never forget." - Alfred Mercier (1816 - 1894) As parents we cannot force our children to study, we can only advise them that it's in their best interests to do so. As a child I received zero pressure, only encouragement from my parents and their approach paid off. Thu, 02 Jun 2011 17:06:52 GMT http://www.wealthnuggets4u.com/Get-Rich-blog.html#The-Joys-of-Supermarket-Shopping-(Part-1) Come on admit it, we all love supermarkets?!? Struggling to find a parking space, all the people, negotiating our trolleys up and down the aisles, trainee checkout staff. It's blissfull. We've not tried doing the food shop on line yet but I don't like waiting in for people and I've never really fancied the idea of someone else deciding on 'suitable alternatives' for me. But they say don't knock something 'till you've tried it, so maybe sometime soon we'll give it a whirl. Anyway, my wife and I LIKE the struggle and the challenge of doing the foodshop ourselves, it's extremely satisfying, really, and I want to carry my own shopping over the threshold thank you very much, even if it is persisting it down. So every weekend, we tootle off down to Tesco's - the people who insist that they are "helping us save money, every single day". Hardly bloody likely, we must put the best part of ten grand into their coffers "every single year" but unfortunately we live in a time when convenience is king. When I think about it though, it would be cheaper to give up work and start growing the stuff ourselves. Now there's an idea. So, we arrive at the carpark. In fairness to Tesco's, it's large enough, but if you are able-bodied, not a mother with child, toddler, guinea-pig or whatever other restrictions they feel fit to impose on parking then it's a bit of a struggle. We're still calm though, even though we've been circling the carpark trying to find a parking space for the last ten minutes. Finally, we catch someone vacating a space, well for the time it takes them, maybe emigrating's a more appropriate word - Patience is a virtue. The trolley we choose seems decent enough. Although, after taking on the minutest of payloads ie. one newspaper and a tin of beans it somehow develops a mind of it's own, and moving it let alone steering it becomes virtually impossible. Why do some people insist on clogging up the aisles? They bring the whole family, including great aunts and uncles with them, the more the merrier I say. Then they bump into the family from down the road and voila, you're faced with twenty odd geriatrics, toddlers, pregnant wives and their househusbands blocking of the aisles - joy. Thu, 26 May 2011 11:39:32 GMT http://www.wealthnuggets4u.com/Get-Rich-blog.html#The-Joys-of-Supermarket-Shopping-(Part-2) Why do old people insist on doing their weekly shop at the weekend? They can shop any day of the week, they can shop when it takes half the time to shop, they can divide their shop into five and do it Monday to Friday if they like, but oh no, they wait until the weekend and then descend on the supermarkets in their droves, you can't move for old dears at the weekend, bless 'em. No problem though, the aisles are clearing a little, actually, we're doing quite well for time but hold on a minute, they've moved the bread, AND the milk, we don't mind though, we love a game of hide and seek. When we finally find the new, improved locations (eye-level is buy-level) you've guessed it, there out of stock. The check out experience is just that, an experience. My favourite part is when having just watched you load 115 items onto the conveyor belt the assistant asks "Do you need any bags for those?" I always feel like saying "No thanks, we're going to carry each item out to the car individually." But we always smile and say "Yes please" mainly out of politeness but partly because I honestly believe that if we said we didn't they would take us at our word. Supermarkets don't like us using their bags anymore, it's another cost saving exercise that they can wave the green banner at but they still feel grudgingly obliged to offer us them, so subsequently they have reduced the quality of the bags to such an extent that they tear if you put anything heavier than a newspaper in one of them. The assistant looks at you in shock-horror if you ask for a wine carrier, so if you've purchased more than one bottle of wine (heaven forbid) then load them into one of their plastic bags at your peril. Having taken out a remortgage to pay the bill, even though we had 53 BOGOFS, (Buy One Get One Free) 27 discounts and God knows how many special purchases we struggle past all the people who insist on checking their bills right in front of the exits and out to the car. Finally, ten broken plastic bags later, everythings stowed in the car and we tootle off home again. Having put everything away in it's rightful place we come to the best part of the day, a well earned drink down the pub, but that's another story. Andy. Thu, 26 May 2011 11:39:32 GMT http://www.wealthnuggets4u.com/Get-Rich-blog.html#Why-do-People-Gossip?-(Part-2) Unfortunately, bad news sells, hence the media exploit and exagerate it, it boosts their ratings, which is fine, they are doing their job, they are giving us what we want. However, what do the media do when there is no bad news to report and their ratings start to suffer?. Obviously, they go looking for more bad news or worse still they invent it. Revelling in other people's problems make us feel better about our own. It's human nature to enjoy feeling superior and self-righteous, it makes us feel good, It satisfys some inner need. Communication is the life blood of society so we could argue it would be foolish to try to supress it. Improved communication makes the world a smaller place and that for the main part is a good thing. The more we talk to one another the more tolerant we become of each others views. Gossip is just the down side of communication, it's like a raw material before it has been processed and purified to make the finished product. It's always better to get our facts straight before we pass on any information and if we do have to gossip it's more constructive to concentrate on the positive because the negative can be extremely dangerous. People take insults to their graves, we are all a lot more sensitve than we like to admit, a loose comment can create a life-long enemy and the fewer of those we have the better. Knowing that people will always gossip and talk about us as much as they talk to us we can use the 'grapevine' to our own advatage. For example we can praise people that are important to us as long as the praise is genuine of course, sure enough the praise will eventually find it's way back to them. Furthermore, if we know someone is prone to gossiping we can use them to spread news fast. Words are extremely powerful and if we can limit the amount of times we criticise and/or disagree with people to a minimum then we will undoubtedly improve our own lives. we all live in glass houses and if we throw a rock at someone they have a tendency to throw one back. "Fire and swords are slow engines of destruction, compared to the tongue of a Gossip." - Richard Steele Andy. Thu, 19 May 2011 15:17:08 GMT http://www.wealthnuggets4u.com/Get-Rich-blog.html#Why-do-People-Gossip?-(Part-1) Why do People Gossip? Everyone loves a scandal, none of us like to admit it but who could honestly say they have never gossiped about anyone? People have gossiped since the birth of mankind, there is obviously something very addictive about it, it's ingrained in our psyche and although it is wrong and often unfair people we will never stop doing it. "A rumor without a leg to stand on will get around some other way." - John Tudor Gossip is one way of letting off steam about the frustrations of our own lives. We all strive for bigger, better and more rewarding lives and when we struggle to meat our own expectations other peoples' misfortunes become an antidote for our own shortcomings. We all love to bring people down a peg or two especially if they are perceived to be doing better than us. Jealousy is a catalyst of rumour and scandal. Revenge is never pleasant and it's often as harmful for the perpitrator as it is for the recipient. Therefor, it is unwise to disrespsct people just because we don't like them, or we believe they have done something to upset us. Celebrities are an easy target of the rumour mill. We could argue that the extreme scrutiny they are subject to comes with the territory but they are still human beings with the same frailties as everyone else and they are entitled to their privacy. "It is the gossip columnist's business to write about what is none of his business." - Louis Kronenberger Don't get me wrong, some celebrities make a living just from being a celebrity and if you make a living just from being in the news then you have to be prepared to accept the negative consequences. But genuine 'A' list celebrities, people who are famous for what they actually do or what they contribute towards society should be given a certain amount of freedom so they can live their lives in a relatively normal way. Thu, 19 May 2011 15:17:08 GMT http://www.wealthnuggets4u.com/Get-Rich-blog.html#Using-All-of-Our-Senses The five senses; Taste, Touch, Site, Sound and Smell are undoubtedly the greatest gifs we will ever receive but how many of us can honestly say that we make the most of all of our senses? Most of us live our lives, at least to some degree on auto pilot, the days turn into weeks, the weeks into months and before we know it another year has passed us by. It is possible to 'slow' this process down and to get more out of our lives if we chosse to and the main way to do this is by increasing our sensory perception. "I think this is true for all artists. My senses are very important to me." - Sharon Olds Visualisation is a great method for bringing about desired outcomes, in fact the majority of successful people from all walks of life practice it. Rather than just wishing we had something it is much more productive to visualise having it. Importantly though, to acheive the best results we must 'visualise' with all of our senses. By doing this we fully engage our subconscious mind and once we convince it that we really want something it will go into overdrive in order to deliver it to us, that's what it's programmed to do. Practice fully utilising one sense at a time, you'll be amazed at how clearer your thinking will become. With just a little practice we can double our ability to process and remember information. "Observe, record, tabulate, communicate. Use your five senses. Learn to see, learn to hear, learn to feel, learn to smell, and know that by practice alone you can become expert." - William Osler Greater use of the senses promotes greater understanding, not just of ourselves but of others, we begin to exhibit greater empathy for others and empathy is one of the tools of success. People like people who understand and sympathise with them. People like people who are like they are. Whenever I go on holiday I make a conscious effort to remember as much of the experience as possible. Yes, we take snapshots and video but there's nothing like the memory of actually being there. People that are unfortunate enough to lack one or more of the senses develop their remaining senses to compensate. Pop Star, Stevie Wonder credits a great deal of his success to his blindness. Rather than constantly griping and complaining about all the things we lack we should concentrate on celebrating the most wonderful gifts in our posession, our five senses. "Purity of speech, of the mind, of the senses, and of a compassionate heart are needed by one who desires to rise to the divine platform." - Chanakya Andy. Thu, 12 May 2011 12:05:33 GMT http://www.wealthnuggets4u.com/Get-Rich-blog.html#Why-Are-We-so-Obsessed-With-the-Weather-(Part-1) Like it or not we are all obsessed with the weather. Granted, us Brits are more obsessed than most but our excuse is our climate is probably the most miserable. The weather does affect each and everyone of us though and it affects virtually everything we do. information on the weather is available in every form of media but the most annoying 'forecasts' are the ones that proudly declare what the weather HAS actually been like! (We know that, tell us something we don't know) Invariably the forecasts are innacurate but that does not stop us from listening to them and even trusting in them time after time, it's so frustrating. (Do old people talk about anything else but the weather? Okay, hospitals - fair point) "Don't knock the weather. If it didn't change once in a while, nine out of ten people couldn't start a conversation." - Kin Hubbard "I cannot command winds and weather." - Horatio Nelson # the weather affects our mood, we all feel better when the Sun is shining, it puts a stride in our step, a smile on our face. Some people, my wife included claim to suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder (S.A.D., not for them that's what it stands for). Basically sufferers become depressed throuugh a lack of sunshine (my wife's excuse for booking more holidays! - Us men are not fools you know, I promise) # Many peoples livelihoods are dependent upon the weather, fishermen, farmers, gardeners to name but a few. Snowfall can bring a nation (well the UK anyway) to a grinding halt. Seriously though, droughts have wreaked havoc across the World and caused large scale famines and untold deaths. The forces of nature are invincible. The UK is the only country in the world that has an annual rainfall in excess of 35 inches but still has to suffer a hosepipe ban if it doesn't rain for over a week. Last summer we couldn't've watered our lawns if we'd wanted to, because for the most part they were submerged under two feet of water! but was the ban lifted, not on your life. Wed, 20 Apr 2011 09:34:16 GMT http://www.wealthnuggets4u.com/Get-Rich-blog.html#Why-Are-We-so-Obsessed-With-the-Weather-(Part-2) # We all wish for clement weather during our leisure time, we want it to be sunny when we are on holiday, when I was a child I used to holiday with a friend whose mother used to insist that 'we looked like we were enjoying hot weather' for the photographs (us Brits - scary people) # outdoor sports and events are always better when the Sun is shining, I always love the start of the football season (mid August) there's nothing like watching a game of footy in the sunshine. # Our clothing choice is dependent on the weather. Will we be warm enough? cool enough? do we need to protect ourselves with Sun cream? "There's no such thing as bad weather only innapropriate clothing." - Billy Connolly # Most importantly the weather and forces of nature are all powerful. The recent events in Japan are all too commonplace in the World and we are virtually powerless to do anything about them. We are at the mercy of the weather. # Climate change is a big concern for all of us but I think we are exageraring our impact on the Earth, yes we should all respect the environment and do all we can to reduce our own personal and corporate carbon footprints. However these actions are necessary for our own wellbeing and that of our children because the Earth was here a long time before we arrived and it will be here for a long time after we are gone. "No matter how rich you become, how famous or powerful, when you die the size of your funeral will still pretty much depend on the weather." Michael Pritchard Andy. Wed, 20 Apr 2011 09:34:16 GMT http://www.wealthnuggets4u.com/Get-Rich-blog.html#I-Can't-Sleep-For-the-Cats Man befriended the cat many centuries ago. Initially it was because they were skilled at hunting rodents but down the years the bond between humans and felines has become stronger. They make ideal pets because they are relatively low-maintenance. "When I play with my cat, how do I know that she is not passing time with me rather than I with her?" - Montaigne We have two cats, a pedigree Blue Persian called 'Furby' and a black and white moggy called 'Gizmo' I can't remember when they first started sleeping on our bed at night but at times it can be a real pain. In fairness Furby isn't that much trouble but for a small cat even he takes up a lot of room when he stretches out and my wife refuses to move him an inch insisting that he gets a good nights sleep! (What about me?) Furthermore, he is prone to snoring. Again the sound he makes is totally disproportionate to his size. If I snore my wife unceremoniously digs me in the ribs until I stop but if Furby snores she just coos and says how cute he is. Gizmo, the moggy is far bigger and although he is a tad overweight he is a powerful cat and at night time he can be a real handful. As soon as we go to bed he will jump up and lie on my chest. I stroke him and he purrs incessantly. The problems arise when I stop stroking him, he doesn't like this and he will paw my face in order to make me start again. His pawing regularly draws blood! but shouting at Gizzy has little effect, he doesn't like being told off but still it doesn't deter him. "After scolding one's cat one looks into its face and is seized by the ugly suspicion that it understood every word. And has filed it for future reference."- Charlotte Gray After being pushed onto the floor for lacerating my face he will wait a while and then try his luck again. Whenever I wake up his face is always less than six inches away from mine and as soon as he realises I'm awake he starts to purr. If I get up during the night when I return he kindly vacates my place and goes and stands on the bedside table, he allows me to get back into bed and then comes and lies next to me again. This may or may not sound cute and most of the time I don't mind but sometimes it's nice to have a bit of space. we recently re furbished our bedroom and decided to invest in a king-sized bed. Problem solved we thought. No chance, we still seem to sleep with minimal space and the cats just have an even comfier nights sleep. Yes we are barking/meowing mad and tired in the mornings. "I have studied many philosophers and many cats. The wisdom of cats is infinitely superior." Anon Andy. Thu, 14 Apr 2011 09:25:31 GMT http://www.wealthnuggets4u.com/Get-Rich-blog.html#Why-do-We-Buy-Things-(Part-1) We buy things for many reasons, we buy lots of things we need and lots of things we don't need. If you have serious designs on making money it is vital that you understand why people buy. # Necessity: We can't live without things such as food, water, shelter etc, so we have to aquire them. However there is a subtle difference between actual necessities and perceived necessities. Human beings can be extremely impulsive and exposure to products and services can make us think that we cannot live without them. Furthermore we are very susceptible to the power of peer pressure. 'The kid next door has got a new bike so our kids have to have one.' We actually feel guilty or bad if we don't buy our kids everything their conmtemporaries have. Thus, we as a society leave ourselves wide open to exploitation by the advertising industry. "An object in possession seldom retains the same charm that it had in pursuit." - Pliny the Younger (62 AD - 114 AD) # Emotions: Our emotions play a great part in our shopping habits, lots of people comfort-shop, they buy things to give themselves a boost. Our mood is easily manipulated and our senses our susceptible to music, visual displays, enticing smells etc. We buy for fun, we buy things that give us pleasure, we buy things that make us feel good, we buy to escape reality. Mementos are also big sellers, there is nothing we like more than something that reminds us of a cherished memory - The power of nostalgia is immense. We are all capable of greed, we all love a bargain, we all buy bulk items that we will never use. # Real benefits: We are fortunate to live at a time of great technological advancement, the labour-saving devices that have become available to us over the last 50 years have been astonishing. Thu, 07 Apr 2011 14:06:29 GMT http://www.wealthnuggets4u.com/Get-Rich-blog.html#Why-do-We-Buy-Things-(Part-2) Most of us like to improve ourselves, we will buy something if it will educate us or our children. Education is now available to a large proportion of us whereas less than a hundred years ago it was only available to a priviliged few. Furthermore the internet has made it possible for us to access information like never before. We also buy things that we hope will make us money, we invest in all manner of things from jewellry to stocks and shares. "To have little is to possess. To have plenty is to be perplexed. Lao-tzu." (604 BC - 531 BC) # Image: Everyone loves to look and feel good. image and prestige are both key buying motivators, if something makes us look good in the eyes of other people then we will buy it. # Health: If we don't have our health then we have nothing. People will pay to become healthier. Too often though we think we can get a 'bargain' a 'quick fix'. Prevention is always better than the cure, moderation in all things # Influences: I started my career in retailing so I know a bit about sales psychology. I think the most important thing you can convey to someone in order to get them ito buy from you is TRUST. We all like to buy from people we trust, someone that is going to make sure we get value for money, someone who is going to guide us through the minefields of their particular product or service. Trust is a key ingredient of repeat business. Top advertisers and retailers are extremely adept at influencing our decision making when it comes to buying things, they create the right ambience for their products and services. They appeal to our ego's, they make us think buying their goods will improve us in all manner of ways. Personally, apart from life-saving products I think freedom and space are the most important commodities. If we can acheive these things then we owe it to ourselves to find the time to enjoy them. "Before we set our hearts too much upon anything, let us examine how happy those are who already possess it." F. Rochefoucauld (1613 - 1680) Andy. Thu, 07 Apr 2011 14:06:29 GMT http://www.wealthnuggets4u.com/Get-Rich-blog.html#How-to-Get-Promoted When pitching to a group of people it is crucial that we ascertain as early as possible who the decision maker(s) is. A good way of doing this is to ask the group a key question and look who they all turn to for the answer. It's very similar when we are looking to advance our careers. Find out who the key people are in your organisation and start getting to know how they tick. Find out as much as possible about them and what you have in common with them. Nurture this common ground. 'My own business always bores me to death; I prefer other people's.' Oscar Wilde.' - (1854 - 1900) # Empathy: Don't kid yourself that your boss will promote you just because they think you are a wonderful person or even because you're good at your job. They'll promote you because they think you can help them realise their OWN ambitions, they want someone who will act as an extension of themselves. Thus, if you want to get promoted you must learn to live and think like your boss. # Responsibility: Ask for more responsibility, be honest, don't bite off more than you can chew, but do everything well. Produce quality work that has impact, not mass output that anyone can do. Keep asking for more and more responsibility and if you keep doing a good job then eventually you will become indespensible. *If your boss refuses to give you additional responsibilities ask why and what you have to do in order to be considered for more important tasks. # Image: Act as if you've already been promoted, not in a conceited way but simply assume the position you are aiming for. Dress smarter, walk faster, this conveys importance, stand up straight. Convince yourself and those around you that you are capable of greater things. 'I find it rather easy to portray a businessman. Being bland, rather cruel and incompetent comes naturally to me.' - John Cleese (1939 - ) # Knowledge: Be in the know, not just about your own business but about business in general, I read the financial pages on teletext every day, it takes less than 5 minutes. # Confidence: Don't be afraid to be a bit cheeky but know where to draw the line. Ask for a better car/package/salary. If they turn you down on one thing ask for another. It's hard for people to keep saying no. # Determination: Don't give up, you'll keep improving and learning, eventually you'll get to where you want to be and if you don't then at least you can rest easy in the knowledge that you gave it everything you had. # Patience: All good things take time, rather than hopping from one career to the next, find out what you're good at and keep doing it. 'In the business world, the rearview mirror is always clearer than the windshield.' - Warren Buffett (1930 - ) Andy. Thu, 31 Mar 2011 14:24:43 GMT http://www.wealthnuggets4u.com/Get-Rich-blog.html#Why-do-We-Love-Food? "Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince, and dinner like a pauper." - Adelle Davis (1904 - 1974) Even though we all need food to survive our relationship with food goes much deeper than that, we have developed this amazing love affair with it. All animals need to eat but we have turned eating and drinking into an art form. # The senses: Eating and drinking is one of the few things that involves using all of our senses, we can see, hear, smell, touch and taste it. A good meal is indeed a truly absorbing experience. # Provision: Our ancestors prided themselves in hunting down their food. Feasting on the catch was considered a great celebration, a time to be happy and grateful. # Preparation: Many people love the act of preparing food, and making a delicious meal can be extremely rewarding. # Dining/eating out: This is a very sociable thing to do, wether it's in a posh restaurant or at a roadside cafe. Sharing food and conversation is a very important part of our society. 'If more of us valued food and cheer and song above hoarded gold, it would be a merrier world.' - J R R Tolkien (1892 - 1973) # Diet: Obviously a balanced diet is vital for us to lead a happy life. Modern-day life has made the availability of food plentiful for many of us. The down side to this is that we tend to over eat and under exercise. However, too much is made of dieting, the more we think about something the more we want to do it. Food is part of our lifestyle, and as such if we want to lose weight we need to change that lifestyle. Starving the body is no good for anyone. Small portins eaten often is the key to a healthy diet. Modern-day lifestyles do not lend themselves to 'not eating between meals'. Once we accept this we will also accept that we can and will eat many times a day. Thus the smaller the portions the better. The three square meals philosophy believed in by our parents and grand parents no longer holds true. Let's hope we can maintain our centuries-old love affair with food because at the end of the day we should eat to live not live to eat. 'Part of the secret of success in life is to eat what you like and let the food fight it out inside.' - Mark Twain (1835 - 1910) Andy. Thu, 24 Mar 2011 14:52:40 GMT http://www.wealthnuggets4u.com/Get-Rich-blog.html#Best-Use-of-Time Time is precious, we all know that. We all get the same amount of time each day, time is perhaps one of the few even playing fields in life. Thus how we utilise it is vital to our success and happiness. We must use time as a tool, not as a crutch. - John F. Kennedy (1917 - 1963) Dashing around like a headless chickens acheives nothing, thus planning is vital in everything. If we take a relatively small amount of time to plan it will pay us great dividends later on. I always start a task by brainstorming, just jotting down everything I (We) know about a subject, it doesnt matter how crazy the ideas are, it's just important to get it all out. Next add to your own ideas with a bit of research and then arrange your information into some kind of logical order. Time is so important and non renewable that we must try to make the most of every second of it. For example even when we are doing mundain things such as queueing we can still occupy our minds in a useful way such as reciting affirmations or 'compiling' articles. Rather than dashing everywhere it is more productive to build TEMPO. The earlier in the day that we can manage this the more prooductive our day will be. It is also important to pace ourselves and to take breaks for food and rest. Burnout sucks, believe me. There is never enough time, unless you're serving it. - Malcolm Forbes (1919 - 1990) Once we have planned our day or task, we must then prioritise, contrary to most other PD specialists I believe in working through easy to tough, except of course when something is time critical. The easy jobs help build tempo and as the difficulty of the tasks increases we have also gained in fluidity. Furthermore if we spend hours on our most difficult task we then find ourselves short on time to do everything else. It's better to have one unfinished piece of work than twenty. I think that routine gets a bad press, routines can be very beneficial to us and are an integral part of success, we should always try to become quicker and more skilled at all our daily tasks and eventually we will be able to do more and more in the same amount of time and with the same amount of effort. If something saves me 20 seconds then I'll do it. Leisure time is vital, not only do we all need time to re charge our batteries but rest and play gives the subconscious mind time to mull over all our goals and problems. It is possible to 'stretch' time by being more aware about what we are doing not just going through the motions of life. Time is infinite, it will still be around long after we are gone. If we all achieve emotional happiness our time here will have been well spent. Andy. Thu, 17 Mar 2011 15:26:00 GMT http://www.wealthnuggets4u.com/Get-Rich-blog.html#The-Unexplained We have a tendency to dismiss everything we do not understand. Many of the things we take for granted in today's society would have been considered unthinkable even fifty years ago. We soon absorb technological wonders into our current reality, without realising how amazing these discoveries and inventions really are. However, as sophisticated as we like to think we are there are still many things that remain a mystery to us. Hopefully the more of these mysteries we solve the stronger the human race will become. "Mysteries are due to secrecy." (Francis Bacon) Communication is key to success and we have never previously been able to communicate as effectively with one another, the world is definitely becomming a 'smaller' place and hopefully we can take advantage of this. Keeping an open mind on everything is far more productive than cynicism, if we are open-minded we will learn more and at a faster rate, it is vital that our education keeps pace with our technological advancement. There are many unsolved mysteries including crop circles, out of body experiences and the Mayan prophecy but the most absorbing mystery to mankind has got to be: Wether alien beings exist or not. Odds are that there are likely to be other intellegences in the universe but wether it is a good idea to try to contact them is another matter. "Of course it is possible that UFO's really do contain aliens as many people believe, and the Government is hushing it up." (Professor Stephen Hawking) Perhaps one downside to technology is the fact that the more technologically advanced we become the further we are seperated from the ways and beliefs of our ancient ancestors. Sometimes the easier things become the less we tend to try. However, If we can combine technological advancement with ancient wisdom and also be a little more tolerent of one another then our future will be bright. "Mysteries are not necessarily miracles." (Goethe) Andy. Thu, 10 Mar 2011 15:39:00 GMT http://www.wealthnuggets4u.com/Get-Rich-blog.html#Do-You-Want-to-Stay-Young-Looking-(Part-2) 2. BODY The body is most definitely our temple and if we put crap into it we can't complain if it malfunctions. # Quit Smoking: The biggest single thing you can do for your body is to free it from the torture of cigarette smoke, trust me it will thank you incessantly. # Food and water: Eat fruit as soon as you get up, it creates a good chemical reaction in the body, conversely, never eat fruit on a full stomach, ie as a dessert because it creates the opposite effect. Buy fresh fruit and veg and stick it in the fridge so that you see it every time you go for something to nibble on. Drink lots of water. # Exercise: Do a little every day, some is most definitely better than none, plus try and get more fresh air, again 5 minutes is better than nothing. # Posture: Stand straight(er) and walk faster. If you saw a person hunched over and shuffling along would you think they were important or even worthy of respect? Good posture makes you look taller and feel better. # Clothes: Wear smart clothes, they do not have to be expensive, if you are used to or like 'comfy' clothes start wearing 'smarter' clothes indoors and they will soon start to feel more comfortable. 'Youth has no age.' (Pablo Picasso) 3. MIND # Psychology: People tend to be as old as they want to be, you can be old at 20 and young at 90. I am not suggesting that a person should suddenly start acting as young as their kids, they'd just look stupid but I am a big believer that people of all ages should strive to get along with one another. We are all living our lives on this planet at the same time. The universe has been around for billions of years so why should age gaps prevent us from communicating effectively and sincerely with one another. # Meditation: Meditation is as important for the mind and soul as food and water is for the body. # Laughter: Smile and laugh as much as possible, there is no better medicine or anti-aging product available to mankind than the positive effects on the body of smiling and laughing. 'Those who love deeply never grow old; they may die of old age, but they die young.' (Sir Arthur Pinero) Andy. Thu, 03 Mar 2011 14:49:14 GMT http://www.wealthnuggets4u.com/Get-Rich-blog.html#Do-You-Want-to-Stay-Young-Looking-(Part-1) I've written numerous articles on this subject in the past many of which I've posted on various forums and blogs across the internet and they have always created a lot of interest and reaction, not all of it positive I might add! There is a lot of moral high ground concerning the subject of looks and ageing but all I can say to the people who congregate up there is that people spends billions of pounds every year on anti-ageing products and procedures so lets stop being so hypocritical about it. The fact of the matter is that the majority of people want to look better, this may or may not include wanting to look younger. Personally, up until the age of about 23 I hated looking young, I felt that it held me back, it's only in the last 10 to 15 years that I have actually started to apreciate the fact that I look younger than I actually am. 'To get back my youth I would do anything in the world, except take exercise, get up early or be respectable.' (Oscar Wilde) Regardless of wether you want to look, feel or act younger than you actually are there are certain simple things you can do in order to look and feel healthier. 1. FACE # Facial hair: Always keep your eyebrows neatly trimmed, bushy/long eyebrows add years to a person and the 'uni-brow' is not a desirable look. Definitely no nose or ear hair this is the height of unsightliness. Some men can look attractive with beards or stubble but they do add between 5-10 years to a man's perceived age. # Moisturising: Come on, we are living in the 21st century there's nothing unmanly about a man who moisturises. Good hair and facial care is bound to pay dividends. # Sun: Use good sun creams and no sun beds. Thu, 03 Mar 2011 14:49:14 GMT http://www.wealthnuggets4u.com/Get-Rich-blog.html#How-to-Plan-the-Decor-of-a-Room-(Part-1) How to plan the Decor of a Room Most of us like to keep our homes looking clean and fresh and irrespective of differing taste there are simple rules we can follow in order to acheive a quality look. My wife and I are quite fortunate, she has a very good eye for design and I spent the first five years of my career in retail furniture, so together we usually come up with some pretty good ideas. These are the steps we take when planning the decor for a room: # Decide on your budget: If you can afford it bring in the professionals, yes it's more expensive but you will acheive a much better finish, more quickly and it will last much longer. Even if you want to DIY getting quotes doesn't cost anything and you will pick up some really good ideas. # Decide on the look you want to acheive: Utilise what is already there but do not plan round things that can be easily removed or replaced. For example, if the room already has solid-wood flooring you would probably want to keep it but don't plan round existing wallpaper, furniture etc. I personally like the minimalist, clean-line look. # Colour scheme: Pick a feature colour(s) but use it sparingly, the bulk of the room-colour should be relatively neutral. # Walls: Dado's may be a bit dated but they are great if you have pets, top half wallpaper, bottom half painted lining paper. Hence bottom half is easily and cheaply replaced and also you can keep painting it different colours. You can use feature walls in a similar way, but subtle is best, all four walls painted red? - No. # Furniture: Again, I prefer modern to traditional, I wouldn't go for something too trendy though because it will date just as quickly, There is a lot of classical furniture out there both modern and traditional that will look just as good in ten years time. # Protect it: The biggest harmers of furniture and fabrics are pets and sunlight, fit door handles that prevent your pets from gaining entry to a room when you are out. Likewise, fit blinds to protect your suite and other furniture from fading. Wed, 23 Feb 2011 15:33:56 GMT http://www.wealthnuggets4u.com/Get-Rich-blog.html#How-to-Plan-the-Decor-of-a-Room-(Part-2) # Storage: We all accumulate clutter so it is vital we have plenty of storage space so we can keep it out of view, don't have a thousand books on display, either get units to house them in or buy a Kindle. # Flooring: Personally, I like solid wood flooring, with the exception of the lounge we have it fitted downstairs throughout, we paid a lot of money for it but it will last a lifetime. Dark carpets only so they don't show the dirt and tiles in the bathroom. # Tradesmen: If you do decide to use skilled tradesmen for kithen/bathroom fitting then select the tradesman first and then the furniture not the other way around. Use store fitters at your PERIL. # Fixtures and fittings: Finishing touches and light-fittings make a room so I wouldn't be tempted to skimp on them. However, not everything that looks expensive is expensive, as long as you have some good peices the rest will simply blend in. # Pictures and mirrors: Big mirrors obviously make a room look bigger, and a couple of big pitures are preferable to lots of smaller ones. Limit the number of family photos, you know what each other looks like. # Bringing the outside in: Get as much light into the room as possible and paint and decorate with lighter shades. The room will look better and bigger. # The overall look: If the overall look of the room is relatively neutral it enables you to go a bit crazy in one area ie a brightly coloured suite or lots of colurful accessories and this will give the room impact. A patterned suite on a patterned carpet with patterned wallpaper - NO! Even if it's all the same pattern? - STILL NO! Happy decorating. Andy. Wed, 23 Feb 2011 15:33:56 GMT http://www.wealthnuggets4u.com/Get-Rich-blog.html#What-do-People-Want? There are essentially six basic things that all human beings NEED. These are: Air, Food, water, clothing, shelter and sex. Everything else is a bonus. Unfortunately, the more we attain the more we tend to want and this if we are not careful can become extremely self damaging. "Man is the only animal whose desires increase as they are fed; the only animal that is never satisfied." (Henry George) Although all our tastes vary, generally speaking we all want the same things. If we can identify what these core things are not only will we improve our own quality of life but also that of others. Furthermore, we are paid in proportion to the amount of value we add to society. Therefor, the more value we add the more we will get paid. Here is a general list (in no particular order) of what I think most people want: To be loved, financial freedom, happiness for their children, a good partner, a nice house, friends they can trust, a career, a car, to be happy, regular holidays, recognition, to be needed, pets, hobbies, excitement, laughter, to help others, good food, challenges, status, to look good, to feel good, security, comfort, freedom, sport, entertainment, choice... I suggest that you draw up your own personal list of what YOU want and then prioritise it, I guarantee you'll be surprised by it. You have to be really honest though because much of our early lives are spent being pre-conditioned. From an early age we are told what we should and shouldn't like, we need to strip away this pre-conditioning in order to get to the truth of what it is we really want. Once you know what it is you REALLY want you can start to go after it. Most elderly people don't regret the lack of material goods in their lives they regret the lack of emotional fulfillment. They say things like they wished they'd laughed more or stayed in contact with their old friends or cared about people more. "Happiness is that state of consciousness which proceeds from the acheivement of one's values." (Ayn Rand) Money and material goods are important, particularly if you suffer from a lack of them but we should always keep them in perspective and moreover be grateful for what we DO have. Instead of always chasing the rainbow we should concentrate on FEELING HAPPY NOW. "The bird of paradise alights only upon the hand that does not grasp." (John Berry) If we can acheive true happiness for ourelves and those around us I think we will have acheived our main purpose in life. Andy. Thu, 03 Feb 2011 12:00:18 GMT http://www.wealthnuggets4u.com/Get-Rich-blog.html#Are-you-Stopping-Money-from-coming-to-you? No matter what we think about money it is vital to everone's existence. Money often gets a bad press but placed in the right hands it can do amazing things. Money is meant to be fluid, to flow from one person to another, it is not meant to be horded. "Money can't buy you happiness but it can buy you the kind of misery you prefer" (Author unknown) Many people prevent money from comming into their lives for a variety of reasons. Some people don't think they are worthy of it, it's not the money they cant handle it's themselves. To allow more money to come into our lives we have to believe we are worthy of it. How do we do that? We must practice what it is like to have lots of money, get used to the 'feel' of being rich. In fact if we want to be good at anything we must practice how to do it. Hang out where rich people do, save up and buy quality clothes and products. Start dressing, acting and thinking like a wealthy person. Ignore your shortcommings: Too many people get hung up on their weaknesses instead of concentrating on their strenghs. Just because a person has a limited education, comes from a poor background, speaks with a common accent etc doesn't mean that they cannot become wealthy. On the contrary most rich people have major shortcommings in other areas of their lives. "Money frees you from doing things you dislike. Since I dislike doing nearly everything, it comes in handy." (Groucho Marx) Money can come to us from many different sources. Too many people think they can only get money from their jobs. This is such a limmiting belief. Money can come to you from everywhere if you let it. Start thinking positively about it and it will start to flow to you. Right out of the blue last week I got a cheque from the taxman for over £1,000, the week before my wife found a £20 note whilst clearing out a drawer, the week before that we received an insurance cheque for £850. Start expecting it, asking for it, wanting it, thinking positively about it, stop moaning abouty the lack of it, being grateful for it and it will start comming to you. Yesterday, I dropped a penny down the side of my car seat and spent 15 minutes retrieving it, not because I'm a skinflint but because I respect money and what it can do for us. Andy. Thu, 27 Jan 2011 14:42:41 GMT http://www.wealthnuggets4u.com/Get-Rich-blog.html#Things-That-do-not-Irritate-me-(Part-1) I get up at 5am and make my way to the bathroom. It does not irritate me that the toilet roll holder is empty, In fact I smile to my self feeling quite confident there will be some in the bathroom cupboard but nope the cupboard is also empty, no problem, I go down to the garage and get a fresh pack. On my way down the stairs I think back to the film I watched last night what a great film it was, just a pity the last five minutes hadn't recorded but I dont mind, I'd only sat riveted for almost 2 hours, I didn't really want to know the end. I must've set the DVD incorrectly because I'd been interupted for the third time that evening by one of those wonderful telesales people who insist on saving you money, they always become annoyed though when I suggest ringing them back an hour after they have finshed work for the day to discuss the matter further, funny that. I pass the kitchen sink and spot a dirty cup and plate on the side which one of the kids must've left out for me to stow in the dishwasher, I'm still smiling even when I discover jam in the butter. As I leave for work, I glance at one of our neighbours houses and think for the hundredth time 'why have they not taken down their Christmas lights yet, it's May for God's sake.' As I head for the petrol station, someone pulls out right in front of me, then proceeds to go at twenty miles an hour, I'm a little late but I dont mind. I try to fuel up but the attendant wont switch my pump on, I'm sure he will eventually, when he's finished his first cup of coffee of the day, after the second maybe? I then go 1p over the amount I intended putting in, no problems, £20.01 is just fine and dandy, well ok I top it up to £25, that feels better. As I am leaving the forecourt a young lad pulls in, stereo blaring, no one else bar him has the foggiest idea what the tune is, get me out of here, sorry I mean, we all like a good tune first thing in the morning especially when it's played by someone else at 500 decibels. At work we hold an early meeting about the effectiveness of yesterday's meeting and what we plan to discuss in tomorrow's meeting. This afternoon we are having another meeting to discuss wether to divert time away from customer support and use it to hold more meetings. I must dash I'm late for another meeting. Colin the finance director is chairing it and I promise to smile every time he uses the words 'cool', 'dude' or 'sweet'. I also promise to laugh politely whenever he mimicks speech marks with his fingers or says "Let's not go there". I'm still smiling... Thu, 20 Jan 2011 13:52:35 GMT