INeedMotivation.com Blog

Lead Like The Great Conductors

Frederic Premji — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 14:52:25 PST

An orchestra conductor faces the ultimate leadership challenge: creating perfect harmony without saying a word. In this charming talk, Itay Talgam demonstrates the unique styles of six great 20th-century conductors, illustrating crucial lessons for all leaders. Check out the video below:

Definitive Guide To Protecting Yourself Against The Flu

Frederic Premji — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 14:09:34 PST

We’ve all been flooded by the media and our friends about the swine flu running rampant and spreading like mad all over the world. Truth is, swine flu is just one strand of a multitude of flues that are always active around the globe. The “regular” flu itself is responsible for the deaths of hundreds of thousands of people every year. So why the panic now? Any strand of flu can be bad news, so the immediate action that we should all take is prevention. With all this talk about whether the swine flu vaccine is safe or not, there are a variety of things that you can do to minimize your chances of getting the flu without having to resort to a vaccine. Let’s go over them:

Wash your hands frequently
You should wash your hands more than ever especially during flu season. The virus spreads very fast via our hands, as we touch door knobs and furniture and then we touch our face. Make sure you take the habit of washing your hands multiple times throughout the day, especially after going into public places.

Avoid touching your face
As mentioned above, we spread the virus easily by touching a door knob for example and then touching our face. Most of the time, we don’t even realize that we are touching our face. It’s like a reflex. Become aware of where your hands are, especially when at the computer or watching tv. Force yourself to keep your hands away from your face and soon enough, you will instill a newer and better habit.

Clean your work areas
Did you know that most keyboards have more bacterias than a toilet? Make sure that you clean and disinfect your keyboard, phone, cell phone, ipod, computer, mouse, remote control, desk, etc. This should be a common ritual that you do multiple times a day, especially if you work in an office with other people or if you share these items with others.

Drink lots of water
By keeping your body properly hydrated, you are adding one of the most powerful weapons to your arsenal to help fight off getting the flu. Your immune system will function more effectively when adequately hydrated and thus fare better when fighting viruses and bacterias. Do yourself a favor and drink plenty of water throughout the day.

Exercise
From simple exercises such as walking, or yoga, all the way to more strenuous routines, there is no doubt that exercise can boost your immune system and help improve respiratory and cardiac functions within your body. Also, it is a great stress reliever, which brings me to my next point.

Reduce stress
Stress is by far the bigger cause of illnesses. Stress suppresses your immune system, and it exponentially goes up the longer and stronger the stress is there. So you must do yourself a favor and start right now to get rid of stress in your life. Take a walk, do some meditation, take a warm bath, do deep breathing exercises, and so on.

Improve your diet
Take a long hard look at your diet and be honest with yourself. Is it as healthy as it could be? If not, then you are putting yourself at risk of getting the flu. Avoid processed foods and stick to fresh, nutrient-rich, natural, and colorful foods. Choose organic fruits and vegetables for example to avoid toxins.

Get proper sleep
One easy way to make yourself completely prone to getting the flu is to lack adequate sleep, or sleep at inappropriate hours. Make sure you get enough rest and that it happens between 9pm and 7am. Being awake at night and sleeping your 8 hours during the day is just as bad as not sleeping all night. You need your sleep at night, without interruptions, or noise.

Improve elimination
Fiber-rich foods will ensure that you properly release toxins from your bowel and kidneys. By having proper elimination under control, you are making your body a much more efficient system to protect itself from foreign bacterias.

Use supplements
There are a variety of supplements that can help boost your immune system. Such items as flax seed oil, vitamin B, folic acid, omega 3 fish oil, probiotics, and especially vitamin D. Keep in mind that you can naturally increase your vitamin D by simply exposing yourself more to natural sunlight (will not work through glass windows, needs to be directly outside in the sun).

Avoid crowds
The flu easily spreads in crowds, where one person that sneezes can infect 10-20 others around, and so on. If you don’t have to, don’t go in crowds during flu season. If you must, where a scarf or mask, or make sure that you cover your face when coughing or sneezing with a tissue. Then make sure the tissue is properly disposed and wash your hands. Ideally, the less you are in crowds, the lesser the chances that you will get the flu.

Avoid public restrooms
Again, due to the sheer number of people visiting these facilities, it can be a prime location for the spreading of the flu. Simply opening the door knob of the restroom can give you a virus, as a large number of people do not wash their hands properly in the restroom. Try to avoid these restrooms as much as possible.

Don’t share personal items like food and drinks
The mere sharing of a bottle of water or a candy bar can spread a virus like the flu easily. Especially during flu season, keep this to a strict minimum, if not, avoid it entirely.

Keep sanitizers and disinfectant with you
This is very important for people on the go & that travel, but everyone should use some form of hand sanitizer at all times. We are not always near a washroom to wash our hands, so this is the next best thing. I’ve noticed here in downtown Montreal, most buildings now keep hand sanitizing lotion distributors near elevators. So you can quickly disinfect your hands before going in. It’s smart, as lots of bacterias are spread in the elevator simply via the floor buttons!

It will be up to you to decide if you want to get the vaccine for the swine flu or any other type of flu. There are arguments for and against it. However, be aware that by following the advice above, you will dramatically reduce the chances of getting the flu, and that is without having to get the vaccination.

Ways to Relax at Work

Guest Writer — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 01:42:08 PST

The work day is not what it used to be. Employers are hiring less people to do more work. Many people’s work day is hectic non-stop from the time that they arrive until the time they get to go home. There is more and more demanded of them now because of the downturn in the economy. People go to work everyday worried that they will be laid off. There are things that you can do to combat this constant stress and relax a little even while you are at work.

• Take a walk. Use your breaks and lunch hour to take a brisk walk. This can make you feel revived and awake. It also counts towards the 30 minutes of exercise you need each day to be healthy. Regular exercise has been shown to reduce blood pressure and anxiety.

• Have a turkey sandwich for lunch. Turkey has a chemical in it that promotes relaxation and sleep. The carbohydrates in the bread trigger your brain to release serotonin which will help you feel relaxed and calm. Add a slice of lowfat cheese and have an apple with your sandwich and you will have a healthy, well balanced lunch.

• Close your eyes and take several deep, slow breaths. This can calm your nerves and bring you back into the current moment. Make sure that you focus on the way your breath feels as it fills your lungs and then how it feels on the top of your lip as you exhale.

• Buy an ergonomic chair. You sit in your chair for eight hours per day, so you want it to be comfortable. This is one way to stop pain before it even starts.

• Clear the clutter from your desk. The clutter creates metal pollution and can wear you out mentally. Before you leave for the day stop making excuses and clean your desk. This will really feel good the next morning when you come into work to a clean desk.

Taking Control of Your Finances: Budgeting & Saving Seminar

Frederic Premji — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 11:55:12 PDT

One of the most crucial areas of life is our financial situation. It is important to understand it fully, have a plan of action, and gain the proper frame of mind to ensure consistency over time. Having a crystal clear image of your financial situation, potential, and future can relieve your life out of a lot of stress, anxiety, and sleepless nights! This is why it is necessary to start taking control over your finances.

This seminar will be more specifically about budgeting & saving. In this seminar, we will go over a wealth of information to make sure that you are in the driver’s seat when it comes to your financial situation!

You will learn the following:

- Do’s and don’ts of financial planning
- How to balance your budget appropriately
- Figure out what your necessities are and what you can get rid of
- Have a clear picture of your current & future financial situation
- Figure out where every penny goes
- Tips to learn how to save money effectively
- Gain the proper mindset to plan your personal finances appropriately over time
- What is your financial personality and what you can do to better yourself

Plus much more!

This is an in-depth seminar with highly valuable information. Attendance is very limited, so you must hurry to make sure you have a spot.

This is an online interactive seminar, meaning that you will be able to watch the event as if you are there in person LIVE over the internet! We have in place the highest level of technology possible to ensure a smooth experience. You don’t need to install anything whatsoever, if you can watch YouTube videos, you can watch this seminar! We will provide you with the unique URL link upon completion of your reservation. Just go to that URL at the date and time below, and that’s it.

***BONUS***
As well, as a bonus gift for signing up to the live seminar, we will send you a DVD copy of this seminar in high definition, so that you can reference to it and watch it again at a later date!

When: Wednesday October 28th @ 6:30pm EST
Where: Online! Watch from anywhere in the world!
Cost: $19.99 USD per person (Visa/MasterCard accepted)

How to reserve your spot:
By phone: Call 1-800-605-2064 ext. 0 Today
Online: Click here to reserve your spot

Will Smith’s Running & Reading (The Key to Life)

Frederic Premji — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 14:47:21 PDT

Another great video about Will Smith and his view on what it takes to succeed. I had posted another video last week where he discusses how hard work was the reason why he has had such successes in his life. In this video, he refers to it as “running”. The harder you run and the more you keep at it, even if you want to give up and quit, if you can keep on running, there is nothing that can stop you. If you condition yourself to push your threshold for enduring something painful further, then when faced with a painful situation, you will not be tempted to back down. So that’s running.

The other part is the “reading”. He is absolutely right that every single problem that you can think of, someone else has experienced it and written about it. Not just in books anymore, but as articles, blogs, and such on the internet. So the more you inform yourself, the more powerful you will become.

Basically Running & Reading can be translated into Discipline & Knowledge. These are your keys to life according to Mr. Smith. Enjoy the video below:

The Power Of Time Off

Frederic Premji — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 10:19:30 PDT

Every seven years, designer Stefan Sagmeister closes his New York studio for a yearlong sabbatical to rejuvenate and refresh their creative outlook. He explains the often overlooked value of time off and shows the innovative projects inspired by his time in Bali. Check out this inspiring video below:

Ways to Focus on What is Truly Important

Guest Writer — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 17:13:53 PDT

Most of us spend our days feeling like we were really, really busy; but at the end of the day it seems that we have accomplished very little. People spend their days working on urgent matters rather than what is really important. The truth is that if we spent our time working on things that are important we would have little left in our lives that was urgent. Think of it this way: if you neglect your car it will break down. You have neglected what is important, car maintenance, and now you have and urgent matter to deal with. It is better to make sure that your car has the maintenance it needs over time rather than having to deal with a crisis. So how do we stay focused on what is truly important?

• Make a list of the three things that are most important for that day. To make that list ask yourself what you would do if you could only do three things that day.

• Provide value with everything that you do. When you are about to take on a task ask yourself what value you are providing yourself or others by getting it done. You may find that it is time to move on to another task.

• Do your list of most important tasks first thing in the morning. You will have fewer distractions at this time. Even if you do get bogged down later in the day you will still feel like you really accomplished something.

• Judge tasks on their long term value. Checking Facebook will have little future value, where as writing a chapter in your novel will really be a step towards your goals. Eating a healthy breakfast and working out will help you long term much more than a greasy donut.

15 Interesting Quotes Found Today On Twitter

Frederic Premji — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 22:58:24 PDT

One thing that is great about Twitter, is the fact that it has a real-time search engine. So at any moment in time, you can get a glimpse of what people are thinking/saying around the world about any particular topic. So I decided to check out what interesting & thought-provoking quotes were being shared right now in the “Twitterverse”. Here is what I found:

May no gift be too small to give, nor too simple to receive, which is wrapped in thoughtfulness, and tied with love. -L. O. Baird

“Even if you’re on the right track, you’ll get run over if you just sit there”- Will Rogers

“Age does not protect you from love. But love, to some extent, protects you from age.” Anais Nin

Here is the test to find whether your mission on Earth is finished: if you’re alive, it isn’t. -Richard Bach

Not snow, no, nor rain, nor heat, nor night keeps them from accomplishing their appointed courses with all speed. -Herodotus

Success is the sum of small efforts, repeated day in and day out. Robert Collier

“All we need to be responsible for is the present moment. Only the present is within our reach.” — Thich Nhat Hanh

Enjoy your own life without comparing it with that of another. -Marquis de Condorcet

Men for the sake of getting a living forget to live. – Margaret Fuller

“Every thought of yours is a real thing – a force.” — Rhonda Byrne

Do something. If it doesn’t work, do something else. No idea is too crazy. -Jim Hightower

Take a chance All life is a chance. The man who goes furthest is generally the one who is willing to do and dare. -Dale Carnegie

To die for an idea is to set a rather high price upon conjecture. -Anatole France

Forgiveness means letting go of the past. -Gerald Jampolsky

“People tweet, few connect”

P.S. You can Click Here to follow us on Twitter!

Best Ways to Get Rid of a Bad Habit

Guest Writer — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 03:00:09 PDT

Everyone has a bad habit or two. Getting rid of habits is a very hard thing to do. Even if you have a great deal of self discipline bad habits can be very hard to get rid of. Habits take about three weeks to really cement themselves into your mind. The same is true of breaking a bad habit; it takes about three weeks away from the habit to really get past it.

• Tell a friend about your endeavors. This will make you more accountable because it is easy to make excuses to yourself, but not as easy to make excuses when your friend asks how it is going. The more people you tell the more accountability there is. This also means that you can get more support. The same people that are there to keep you accountable should also be there when you need some support. You should tell people who you can call when your resolve is faltering.

• Replace your bad habit with a good habit. If you take smoke breaks at work, then take walk breaks instead. When you want to grab some potato chips, try some carrot sticks or celery with all natural peanut butter.

• End negative self talk. Do not tell yourself that you cannot do it. Even if you believe that you are going to fail, keep telling yourself that you can. Take it one minute at a time. If you are trying to lose weight or trying to quit smoking then just wait a half hour. Your mind can only hold on to a craving for about a half hour. When you make it just 30 minutes you will find that you have out waited the craving. Every time you can wait out a craving you will gain strength in your battle.

Learn To Wake Up Motivated Seminar

Frederic Premji — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 10:45:12 PDT

If you have trouble waking up in the morning with motivation, you are not alone. From the research that I do and the number of people I speak with, this is a very common occurrence. I myself dealt with this issue which lingered on for years. I would go to bed guaranteeing to myself that I would wake up with all the motivation in the world, ready to tackle anything in front of me, only to have all of it completely forgotten in the morning. It’s quite frustrating, to say the least!

There are simple things that you can do that will help ensure that you wake up with the proper level of motivation to get you to have a productive, successful day. In this seminar, we will go over all the possible ways that you get yourself highly motivated and ready for your day!

You will learn the following:

- Tips & tricks to help you get up early
- Techniques to inflict massive motivation to your mornings
- How to keep your motivation level high for the rest of the day
- How to sustain all this information over time

Plus much more!

This is an in-depth online seminar with highly valuable information. Attendance is very limited, so you must hurry to make sure you have a spot.

BONUS!!
As well, as a bonus gift for signing up to the live seminar, we will send you a DVD copy of this seminar in high definition, so that you can reference to it and watch it again at a later date!

When: Tuesday October 13th @ 6:30pm EST
Where: Online! Watch from anywhere in the world!
Cost: $19.99 USD per person (Visa/MasterCard, Paypal accepted)

How to reserve your spot:
By phone: Call 1-800-605-2064 ext. 0
Online: Click here to reserve your spot

LIMITED AVAILABILITY!
Don’t hesitate and make sure you attend this highly comprehensive workshop

INeedMotivation.com Blog

Lead Like The Great Conductors

Other Articles:

Definitive Guide To Protecting Yourself Against The Flu

Other Articles:

Ways to Relax at Work

Other Articles:

Taking Control of Your Finances: Budgeting & Saving Seminar

Other Articles:

Will Smith’s Running & Reading (The Key to Life)

Other Articles:

The Power Of Time Off

Other Articles:

Ways to Focus on What is Truly Important

Other Articles:

15 Interesting Quotes Found Today On Twitter

Other Articles:

Best Ways to Get Rid of a Bad Habit

Other Articles:

Learn To Wake Up Motivated Seminar

Other Articles: