Don't fail to read good books

"Some books are to be tasted, others to be swallowed, and some few to be chewed and digested." - Sir Francis Bacon

"The road to knowledge begins with the turn of the page."

"The books that help you most are those which make you think the most."

“The man who doesn't read good books has no advantage over the man who can't read them” - Mark Twain

“Reading is to the mind what exercise is to the body.”

Good books are indeed great source for information and knowledge. However, you need to spend time reading to acquire the necessary information and knowledge. Anyway, remember that it is not how many of them you can get through, but rather how many can get through to you.

Read books. They are good for us.

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Life - The game we should play extremely well

“Life is the only game in which the object of the game is to learn the rules” - Ashleigh Brilliant

Life indeed can be interesting, challenging, and fun. Consider yourself blessed, if you have compelling choices in your life. To move on, you have to make some decisions, experience the consequences, and grow from there.

“Life is like a game of tennis; the player who serves well seldom loses” - Anonymous

“To win you've got to stay in the game.” - Claude M. Bristol

“The way a man plays a game shows some of his character. The way he loses shows all of it.” - Anonymous

A game is a lot more fun and you will keep playing with greater motivation if you expect some difficulties, obstacles and varieties. Likewise, if all of your attempts succeeded the first time or instantly, life can be really boring!

Learn the rules of life well. Be patient and you can be a better player of the game of life. Life is indeed a constant learning experience. Those who truly understand the purpose and meaning of life can have a wonderful fulfilling life.

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Do things in the order of importance

“Our choices in life are made according to our sense of our own worth” - Kaylan Pickford

With the Internet, we are all overloaded with pages of information to read, and explore. There is no more lacking in term of Information nowadays. However, we need to sift through and takes in quality information. Only then we can make use of the knowledge comprehended in our daily living.

Don't put the cart before the horse. Learn to do things in the order of importance.

Take a look at the following quotes and see what comes to your mind.

“We must be silent before we can listen.
We must listen before we can learn.
We must learn before we can prepare.
We must prepare before we can serve.
We must serve before we can lead.” - William Arthur Ward

"Change before you have to." - Jack Welch

“Your actions, and your action alone, determines your worth.”- Evelyn Waugh

Before doing anything, always remember to consider whether it is right or wrong. Do consider seriously what's worth living for? Think before you act and go and do something that is worth doing! Things should be done in the order of importance.

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The Fountain Of Youth

"Age ... is a matter of feeling, not of years." - George William Curtis

A matter of reactions
It is now believed that a man reaches his peak mentally around the age of 35 and that this peak is maintained even past 70 years of age.

It has also been proven that the old saying, "You can't teach an old dog new tricks" is untrue.

The learning power at 70 is about the same as it is at 17. As one authority put it, we do not become old through the passing of years, but rather by our reactions to the circumstances of life.

Interest makes the difference
When I and my family was in Genting Highlands - a famous mountain resort informally known as the Las Vegas of Malaysia, me and my wife were astonished at the casino. We saw aged man and woman so accustomed to all sort of gambling rules and have all the know how to operate any slot machines. On the other hand, we were totally lost and have no idea how those games or slot machines were played.

I also remembered at the very beginning, it was difficult to get older generation people onto Internet because many of them have phobia of IT stuff. However, when I show them how to use the Internet browser to look at the share price, the acceptance level suddenly shot up and the teaching becomes so easy!

Thus, age doesn't really matter and nothing is really difficult. It is just a matter of interest.

“There is a fountain of youth: it is your mind, your talents, the creativity you bring to your life and the lives of people you love. When you learn to tap this source, you will truly have defeated age.” - Sophia Loren

“Anyone who stops learning is old, whether at twenty or eighty. Anyone who keeps learning stays young."

"The greatest thing in life is to keep your mind young.” - Henry Ford

"Age is an issue of mind over matter. If you don't mind, it doesn't matter." - Mark Twain

The Secret
To remain young while growing old is indeed the highest blessing. You become old by not continuing to grow. When you stay interested and keep learning, you will stay young.

You're as old as you feel!

What do you think? Do you agree?

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Learn to adapt to changes

"To the man who only has a hammer, everything he encounters begins to look like a nail." - Abraham H. Maslow

One of the reasons that may hinder us from reaching our goals is our inability to be flexible. Being too rigid in our thinking tends to make us difficulty in adapting to change. Adapting to changes in our lives sometimes can be easy and at other times can be difficult.

Everywhere, major change is occurring. Those especially in technology fields have to rethink the way they look at markets. I remember in the past, all banks put up signs that mobile phones are not allow in the bank. However, as more and more people are having mobile phone, I could now see many people using mobile phones in any of the bank without any problem. Think why?

“The key to success is often the ability to adapt.”

"When we allow ourselves to adapt to different situations, life is easier." - Catherine Pulsifer

"The art of life is a constant readjustment to our surroundings." - K. Okakaura

“The wise adapt themselves to circumstances, as water moulds itself to the pitcher” - Chinese Proverbs

“Enjoying success requires the ability to adapt. Only by being open to change will you have a true opportunity to get the most from your talent.” - Nolan Ryan

"If you do not change, you can become extinct. Get out of your comfort zone and adapt to change sooner. Take control, rather than let things happen to you." - Dr. Spencer Johnston

The only constant is change. Sometimes things change and are never the same again. Will you be ready?

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Personal Development

“The best contribution one can make to humanity is to improve oneself.”

By spending time in personal development, you can learn to become more productive and effective at work and able to maintain focus on what really counts in all aspects of our life. You will definitely do better if you have more control of your own actions and emotions and able to stay motivated no matter what situation or environment you’re in.

“The aim of life is self-development. To realize one's nature perfectly - that is what each of us is here for.” - Oscar Wilde

I have been tagged by Life Reflection. This Personal Development List meme was started by Priscilla Palmer with the objective of compiling a master list of Personal Development blogs that we feel can benefit us in our growth process.

Each person who participates are to put up a list of their 5 favorite personal development bloggers, and then let Priscilla know so she can compile a master list.

Below are sites Priscilla listed that I find very useful:

• Aaron Potts at Today is That Day
• Donald Latumahina at Life Optimizer
• Dawud Miracle at dmiracle.com
• Jacklyn Ker at Inspiring and Empowing Lives
• Karen at Journey with Water Learner

And here is my top 5 blogger list:

• Jennifer at Goodness Graciousness
• Surjit at Gurushabad
• Honman at Open Your Mind to Prosperity
• Killeris at Attitude, The Ultimate Power
• SJ Yee at Personal Development for the Book Smart

“If you wish to achieve worthwhile things in your personal and career life, you must become a worthwhile person in your own self-development.” - Brian Tracy

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The Never Ending Education

"Instruction ends in the schoolroom, where real education starts."

“The difference between school and life? In school, you're taught a lesson and then given a test. In life, you're given a test that teaches you a lesson.” - Tom Bodett

“The object of education is to prepare the young to educate themselves throughout their lives.”- Robert M. Hutchins

“Life will teach you the lessons, it is up to you to learn them”

“Life is a succession of lessons which must be lived to be understood.” - Helen Keller

"Life is like riding a bike. It is impossible to maintain your balance while standing still." - Linda Brakeall

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In life there are no shortcuts!

"Be true to the game, because the game will be true to you. If you try to shortcut the game, then the game will shortcut you. If you put forth the effort, good things will be bestowed upon you. That’s truly about the game, and in some ways that’s about life too." - Michael Jordan

"There are no shortcuts in the quest for perfection." - Ben Hogan

"People who enjoy what they are doing invariably do it well." - Joe Gibbs

"When it comes to success, there are no shortcuts." - Bo Bennett

"There is no elevator to success. You have to take the stairs."

"Nothing can come of nothing." - William Shakespeare

"People create their own success by learning what they need to learn and then by practicing it until they become proficient at it." - Brian Tracy

"You have to work for it. It is the result of preparation, hard work and learning from failure."

"It takes a lot of devotion and work, or maybe I should say play, because if you love it, that's what it amounts to. I haven't found any shortcuts, and I've been looking for a long time." - Chet Atkins

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Experience or Failure? You determine!

(c) Copyright Sean James Cameron / Interfusion Films Ltd 2006

Sometimes it is alright to make the same mistake more than once. Isn't that's how we learn to walk and to ride a bicycle?

"Failing doesn't make you a failure. Giving up, accepting your failure, refusing to try again, does!" - Richard Exley

“Mistakes are painful when they happen, but years later a collection of mistakes is what is called experience.” - Denis Waitley

“Experience is the name every one gives to their mistakes.” - Oscar Wilde

You may make mistakes, but you are not a failure until you start blaming someone else. Mistakes show us what we need to learn. Mistakes are a great educator when one is honest enough to admit them and willing to learn from them.

“Success seems to be connected with action. Successful people keep moving. They make mistakes, but they don't quit.” - Conrad Hilton

"No one has the right to brand you a failure except yourself."

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What you know can save your life!

"An investment in knowledge pays the best interest." - Benjamin Franklin

Below is a true story where two hikers survived when they put their knowledge into use.

Two New Zealand hikers lost in hilltop mist for two nights were saved after they re-charged their dead mobile phone by removing the battery and leaving it for 15 minutes in the sun when it broke through.

More ...

"The single most important lesson for anyone anywhere is that what you know can save your life and what you don't know can kill you" - Dengle (a member of the Tsunami Survey Team)

It is the lack of knowledge and warning system about Tsunami that killed so many people on 26 December 2004. This incident tell us that knowledge can save many lives!

"Knowledge is of two kinds. We know a subject ourselves, or we know where we can find information upon it." - Samuel Johnson

For those who travel a lot, it might be beneficial to know a list of gadgets and ideas that might help you survive in the wild.

Being aware of all the Warning Signs of Heart Attack and Stroke is valuable because it could be a matter of life and death .

Have you personally experience such in your life or have any story to share?

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Listen with your Hands, Mind and Eyes

Listen with your hands
When you take note, you experience everything twice, and understand it a thousand times better.

Listen with your mind
Even after a conversation, it pays to think about it. Indeed listening without reflecting is like eating without digesting.

Listen with your eyes
There is a road from the eye to the heart and mind that does not go through the ears.

Listen with 100% attention
When you focus all your senses to the task of listening, you'll be able to pick up little nuances that can make all the difference.

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Hear or Listen? - Listen with your ears

Most of us just hear and do not listen.

When someone really listens to you, bridges are built, and chasms are crossed.

Give someone the true gift of listening. After all, why lend a listening ear when you can afford two? Just listen. There's music to all things, if we had the ears for it.

"Know how to listen, and you will profit even from those who talk badly." - Plutarch

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Frequent Self check is necessary

“The great thing in the world is not so much where we stand, as in what direction we are moving.” - Oliver Wendell Holmes

Tony Robbins says: "The past does not predict the future - unless you live in it".

That last part - "unless you live in it" is the key - because we all do. Somehow, many still have not come to the realization of this fact. We may not make any good progress until we had truly decided to change for the better.

Dale E. Turner says: “Some of the best lessons we ever learn are learned from past mistakes. The error of the past is the wisdom and success of the future.”

That's true. However, make sure you got get rid of all painful and damaging thoughts that entrap you. Forgive and love yourself and let go of the past and learn to live in the now.

“Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment.” - Buddha

“He who moves not forward, goes backward” - Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

“We all want progress, but if you're on the wrong road, progress means doing an about-turn and walking back to the right road; in that case, the man who turns back soonest is the most progressive.” - C.S. Lewis

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Looking for Instant Success?

"A firm foundation is built on growth, not rushing. We need to be patient."

“Adopt the pace of nature; her secret is patience.” - Ralph Waldo Emerson

“Patience is a virtue.”

"First try seldom wins great success."

Nowadays, most people want instant gratification, instant fame and instant success. Well, what grows fast, fades fast too! There is an old saying, "Easy come and easy go!" Instant success could be temporary only. One must put in effort, time or money to build something that last.

The rush of improving our PageRank and Technorati rank.
Many are trying to improve their PageRank and Technorati rank by employing certain so call shortcuts. Everyone learn fast from each other because everyone wants instant success. Well, I did some research and found that Technorati is not happy about this and has taken some action. Besides, those that employed Link Farm can also be penalized by the search engines.

Make your choice!

What is your view about this?

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Quickly learn all you can from others

Who is the wise man?. To succeed early in life, choose the quickest way: Learn all you can from others. We can't learn enough soon enough from our own experience to succeed when young.

Do you know that you learn when you teach? Ensure you have perfected your own effective learning skills. Follow no one but learn from everyone.

The winner does in the beginning what the failure does not in the end - learns from others.

"Learn all you can from others. The school of experience takes so long that the graduates are too old to go to work." - Henry Ford

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No choice? - You have choices

"God created us, but he gave us the power of choice to shape our own lives and fortunes."

"We can't choose our relatives, but we can choose our thoughts which influence us much more."

"One of the big reasons, that most people go through life getting so little out of it is that, they do not really know what they want. Thing happen to them more by chance than by choice."

"Everything's in the mind. That's where it all starts. Knowing what you want is the first step toward getting it." - Mae West

"A person doesn't learn to choose a good alternative without choosing a few bad ones."

"Too many people, instead of choosing their jobs to fit their talents, let circumstances choose them. And what's left to chance gets chance results."

Tell yourself this: "My mind is a tool I can choose to use any way I wish."

So do you know what you want?

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Practise makes perfect

“If your're not practicing, somebody else is, somewhere, and he'll be ready to take your job.” - Brooks Robinson

You'll develop more power, physical, mental, or any skill in 30 minutes of practice than in 20 years of positive thinking. No one ever became a champion athlete or master musician in 20 years of positive thinking about music or athletics unless he also practiced.

"Knowledge and timber shouldn't be much used till they are seasoned."

“Knowledge is of no value unless you put it into practice.”

“All wish to possess knowledge, but few, comparatively speaking, are willing to pay the price.”

Paderewski said: "The only way to become a master of any skill is first to become its slave. And that takes practice, practice, practice." There can be no gains without pains; no victory without drudgery. Before a general can give commands, he must first take commands...as a trainee.

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Sharpen your mind

"Many complain of their looks, but none of their brains" - Yiddish

“If I had eight hours to chop down a tree, I'd spend six hours sharpening my ax” - Abraham Lincoln

“If you have ability in a certain area, why not capitalize on it and improve it and use it?” - Wilt Chamberlain

“You are doing your best only when you are trying to improve what you are doing”

You spend 16 hours working and sleeping every day. Why not 30 minutes sharpening your mind?

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Grow and move forward wisely!

“You can't keep blaming yourself. Just blame yourself once, and move on.” - Dan Castellaneta

"Youth is when you blame everything on your parents. Maturity is when you learn that everything is the fault of the younger generation." - George Bernard Shaw

You're not fully mature unless you're prepared for the unexpected.

Wisdom is when you accept the blame and embrace the learning.

“Growth begins when we begin to accept our own weakness” - Jean Vanier

He that never corrects his mistakes will never be wiser on the morrow than he is today.

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Don't repeat the same mistake - Be wise

All men make mistakes; only the fools repeat them.

“Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it” - George Santayana

When a wise man is advised of his errors, he will reflect on and improve his conduct. When his misconduct is pointed out, a foolish man will not only disregard the advice but rather repeat the same error.

Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.

"Iteration, like friction, is likely to generate heat instead of progress." - George Eliot

"Tomorrow, you promise yourself, will be different, yet, tomorrow is too often a REPETITION of today." - James T. Mccay

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