pretium

2011-09-09T16:11:00.000-07:00

There is a light in you which cannot die;

whose presence is so holy that the world is sanctified because of you.

All things that live bring gifts to you,

and offer them in gratitude and gladness at your feet.

The scent of flowers is their gift to you.

The waves bow down before you,

and the trees extend their arms to shield you from the heat,

and lay their leaves before you on the ground that you may walk in softness,

while the wind sinks to a whisper round your holy head

Seven Habits of Highly Effective People

2011-09-07T22:19:00.000-07:00

● Habit 1: Be Proactive

This is the ability to control one's environment, rather than have it control you, as is so often the case. Self determination, choice, and the power to decide response to stimulus, conditions and circumstances. Be Proactive is about taking responsibility for your life. Than to blame everything on your parents or grandparents. Proactive people recognize that they are "response-able." They don't blame genetics, psychic, circumstances, conditions, or conditioning for their behavior. They know they choose their behavior. Reactive people, on the other hand, are often affected by their physical environment. They find external sources to blame for their behavior. If the weather is good, they feel good. If it isn't, it affects their attitude and performance, and they blame the weather. Your language is a good indicator of how you see yourself. A proactive person uses proactive language--I can, I will, I prefer, etc. A reactive person uses reactive language--I can't, I have to, if only. Reactive people believe they are not responsible for what they say and do--they have no choice.

Instead of reacting to or worrying about conditions over which they have little or no control, proactive people focus their time and energy on things they can control. The problems, challenges, and opportunities we face fall into two areas--Circle of Concern and Circle of Influence.

Proactive people focus their efforts on their Circle of Influence. They work on the things they can do something about: health, children, problems at work. Reactive people focus their efforts in the Circle of Concern--things over which they have little or no control: the national debt, terrorism, the weather. Gaining an awareness of the areas in which we expend our energies in is a giant step in becoming proactive. Habit 1 says, "You're in charge. You're the creator." Being proactive is about choice.

Habit 2: Begin with the End in Mind

This is the habit of personal leadership - leading oneself that is, towards what you consider your aims. By developing the habit of concentrating on relevant activities to be who you want to be, what you dreamed you'd be, doing what you always wanted to do and being able to envision in your mind what you cannot at present see with your eyes. It is based on the principle that all things are created twice. There is a mental (first) creation, and a physical (second) creation. You must make a conscious effort to visualize who you are and what you want in life. It's about connecting again with your own uniqueness and then defining the personal, moral, and ethical guidelines within which you can most happily express and fulfill yourself. Begin with the End in Mind means to begin each day, task, or project with a clear vision of your desired direction and destination, and then continue by flexing your proactive muscles to make things happen.

One of the best ways to incorporate Habit 2 into your life is to develop a Personal Mission Statement. It focuses on what you want to be and do. It is your plan for success. It reaffirms who you are, puts your goals in focus, and moves your ideas into the real world. Your mission statement makes you the leader of your own life. You create your own destiny and secure the future you envision. Habit 2 is the first or mental creation. Beginning with the End in Mind is about vision.

Habit 3: Put First Things First

This is the habit of personal management. (Prioritize, say no to interruptions) This is about organizing and implementing activities in line with the aims established in habit 2. To live a more balanced existence, you have to recognize that not doing everything that comes along is okay. Always realize that it's all right to say no when necessary and then focus on your highest priorities. This reminds me of a book on finance management I read sometime which says - “To effectively manage your finance, you must first of all block all leakages” Meaning putting first things first. This habit is where Habits 1 and 2 come together. It happens day in and day out, moment-by-moment. It deals with many of the questions addressed in the field of time management. But that's not all it's about. Habit 3 is about life management as well--your purpose, values, roles, and priorities. What are "first things?" First things are those things you, personally, find of most worth, important. If you put first things first, you are organizing and managing time and events according to the personal priorities you established in Habit 2. Habit 3 is the second or physical creation.

Habit 4: Think Win-Win

This is the habit of interpersonal leadership, necessary because achievements are largely dependent on co-operative efforts with others. He says that win-win is based on the assumption that there is plenty for everyone, and that success follows a co-operative approach more naturally than the confrontation of win-or-lose.

Think Win-Win isn't about being nice, nor is it a quick-fix technique. It is a character-based code for human interaction and collaboration.

Most of us learn to base our self-worth on comparisons and competition. We think about succeeding in terms of someone else failing--that is, if I win, you lose; or if you win, I lose. Life becomes a zero-sum game. There is only so much pie to go around, and if you get a big piece, there is less for me; it's not fair, and I'm going to make sure you don't get anymore. We all play the game, but how much fun is it really?

Win-win sees life as a cooperative arena, not a competitive one. Win-win is a frame of mind and heart that constantly seeks mutual benefit in all human interactions. Win-win means agreements or solutions are mutually beneficial and satisfying.

A person or organization that approaches conflicts with a win-win attitude possesses three vital character traits:

Integrity: sticking with your true feelings, values, and commitments

Maturity: expressing your ideas and feelings with courage and consideration for the ideas and feelings of others

Abundance Mentality: believing there is plenty for everyone

Many people think in terms of either/or: either you're nice or you're tough. Win-win requires that you be both. It is a balancing act between courage and consideration. To go for win-win, you not only have to be empathic, but you also have to be confident. You not only have to be considerate and sensitive, you also have to be brave. To do that--to achieve that balance between courage and consideration--is the essence of real maturity and is fundamental to win-win. According to Paul Zane Pilzer, Nobel Prize Winning Economist and Author - “You only win when you help others win.”

Habit 5: Seek First to Understand, Then to Be Understood

This is habit of communication. One of the great maxims of the modern age, and it's extremely powerful. Covey helps to explain this in his simple analogy 'diagnose before you prescribe'. Simple and effective, and essential for developing and maintaining positive relationships in all aspects of life.

Communication is the most important skill in life. You spend years learning how to read and write, and years learning how to speak. But what about listening? What training have you had that enables you to listen so you really, deeply understand another human being? Probably none, right?

If you're like most people, you probably seek first to be understood; you want to get your point across. And in doing so, you may ignore the other person completely, pretend that you're listening, selectively hear only certain parts of the conversation or attentively focus on only the words being said, but miss the meaning entirely. So why does this happen? Because most people listen with the intent to reply, not to understand. You listen to yourself as you prepare in your mind what you are going to say, the questions you are going to ask, etc. You filter everything you hear through your life experiences, your frame of reference. You check what you hear against your autobiography and see how it measures up. And consequently, you decide prematurely what the other person means before he/she finishes communicating. Do any of the following sound familiar?

"Oh, I know just how you feel. I felt the same way." "I had that same thing happen to me." "Let me tell you what I did in a similar situation."

Because you so often listen autobiographically, you tend to respond in one of four ways:

Evaluating:

You judge and then either agree or disagree.

Probing:

You ask questions from your own frame of reference.

Advising:

You give counsel, advice, and solutions to problems.

Interpreting:

You analyze others' motives and behaviors based on your own experiences.

You might be saying, "Hey, now wait a minute. I'm just trying to relate to the person by drawing on my own experiences. Is that so bad?" In some situations, autobiographical responses may be appropriate, such as when another person specifically asks for help from your point of view or when there is already a very high level of trust in the relationship. Find out what the other party wants first, and then communicate what you want to say.

Habit 6: Synergies

This is the habit of creative co-operation - the principle that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts, which implicitly lays down the challenge to see the good and potential in the other person's contribution.

To put it simply, synergy means "two heads are better than one." Synergize is the habit of creative cooperation. It is teamwork, open-mindedness, and the adventure of finding new solutions to old problems. But it doesn't just happen on its own. It's a process, and through that process, people bring all their personal experience and expertise to the table. Together, they can produce far better results that they could individually. Synergy lets us discover jointly things we are much less likely to discover by ourselves. It is the idea that the whole is greater than the sum of the parts. One plus one equals three, or six, or sixty--you name it.

When people begin to interact together genuinely, and they're open to each other's influence, they begin to gain new insight. The capability of inventing new approaches is increased exponentially because of differences.

Valuing differences is what really drives synergy. Do you truly value the mental, emotional, and psychological differences among people? Or do you wish everyone would just agree with you so you could all get along? Many people mistake uniformity for unity; sameness for oneness. One word--boring! Differences should be seen as strengths, not weaknesses. They add zest to life. Like John D. Rockefeller, Businessman said, “I would rather earn 1% off a 100 people's efforts than 100% of my own efforts.”

Habit 7: Sharpen the Saw

This is the habit of self renewal, says Covey, and it necessarily surrounds all the other habits, enabling and encouraging them to happen and grow. Covey interprets the self into four parts: the spiritual, mental, physical and the social/emotional, which all need feeding and developing.

Stephen Covey's Seven Habits are a simple set of rules for life - inter-related and synergistic, and yet each one powerful and worthy of adopting and following in its own right. For many people, reading Covey's work, or listening to him speak, literally changes their lives. This is powerful stuff indeed and highly recommended.

Sharpen the Saw means preserving and enhancing the greatest asset you have--you. It means having a balanced program for self-renewal in the four areas of your life: physical, social/emotional, mental, and spiritual. Here are some examples of activities:

Physical:

Beneficial eating, exercising, and resting

Social/Emotional:

Making social and meaningful connections with others

Mental:

Learning, reading, writing, and teaching

Spiritual:

Spending time in nature, expanding spiritual self through meditation, music, art, prayer, or service

As you renew yourself in each of the four areas, you create growth and change in your life. Sharpen the Saw keeps you fresh so you can continue to practice the other six habits. You increase your capacity to produce and handle the challenges around you. Without this renewal, the body becomes weak, the mind mechanical, the emotions raw, the spirit insensitive, and the person selfish. Not a pretty picture, is it?

Feeling good doesn't just happen. Living a life in balance means taking the necessary time to renew yourself. It's all up to you. You can renew yourself through relaxation. Or you can totally burn yourself out by overdoing everything. You can pamper yourself mentally and spiritually. Or you can go through life oblivious to your well-being. You can experience vibrant energy. Or you can procrastinate and miss out on the benefits of good health and exercise. You can revitalize yourself and face a new day in peace and harmony. Or you can wake up in the morning full of apathy because your get-up-and-go has got-up-and-gone. Just remember that every day provides a new opportunity for renewal--a new opportunity to recharge yourself instead of hitting the wall. All it takes is the desire, knowledge, and skill.
On the other hand, there is need for balance between production and production capability by carrying out scheduled maintenance of machines and equipment to ensure durability and continuous production. This will prevent inevitable downtime and high maintenance expense.

Tonto Dike Fights Van Vicker At Movie Location

2011-09-06T01:55:00.000-07:00

In what seems like an "OPERATION PUT ME ON THE NEWS", Tonto Dike is back on the headlines. Tonto Dike was said to have been in a fight with Van Vicker at a movie location.

This is how the boring story goes.....Tonto Dikeh and Ghanaian star actor, Van Vicker were rehearsing their lines separately. The movie director feeling this was not appropriate, steps in to bridge the gap between the duo, this however made Tonto Dike to exhibit vexation.

From a mood of "I DEY VEX, I DEY VEX" Tonto lights a cigarette, Van Vicker feeling like a fine boy told Tonto to stop or go smoke outside. This is where the main action began....Tonto took that to be an insult,begin to dey provoke and starts insulting Van Vicker by using words like fuck you, who the fuck do you think you are, asshole, motherfucker.

According to source, It took the timely intervention of cast and crew on set, before they could calm Tonto Dikeh down as she threatened to hit Van Vicker with the table by the side.

Who una think say for KNACK each other?

The Lion King

2011-09-05T13:45:00.000-07:00

The Lion is quite Τ̲̅ђe lazy animal which sleeps 18hrs a day.!!

But still Lion stands as King.!!

If hardwork is the key to success, then Donkey would have been the king of animals.

Dedicated to all my lazy sleeping friends..

Sleep well.
Be the king of animals

streddles: The World Needs Men

2011-09-03T12:44:00.000-07:00

streddles: The World Needs Men: The World Needs Men.... Who cannot be bought; Whose word is their bond; Who put character above wealth, Who possess opinions and ...

The World Needs Men

2011-09-03T12:34:00.000-07:00

The World Needs Men....

Who cannot be bought;
Whose word is their bond;
Who put character above wealth,
Who possess opinions and will,
Who are larger dan their vocation,
Who do not hesitate 2 take chances,
Who will not lose deir individuality in a crowd.
Who will be as honest in small things as in great things,
Who will make no compromise with wrong,
Whose ambitions are not confined 2 deir own selfish desires,
Who will not say dey do it bcos everybody else is doing it,
Who are true 2 deir friends thru good reports and evil reports, in adversities as well as in prosperity.
Who do not believe dat shrewdness, cunning and hard headedness are d best qualities 4 winning success.
Who are not ashamed or afraid 2 stand 4 d truth when it is unpopular.
Who can say "no" with emphasis although all d rest of d world d says "yes".

Make a Free Slideshow With Music | TripAdvisor™ TripWow

2011-09-03T11:57:00.000-07:00

streddles

MY ADVICE TO MOM AND DAD

2011-09-03T10:46:00.000-07:00

My hands are small, please don't expect perfection wheneva I make a bed, draw a picture or throw a ball.

My eyes ve not seen d world as urs ve. Please let me explore it at my own level without unnecessary restrictions.

Housework wil always be there, but I will be little only 4 a short time. Please take time 2 explain about dis wonderful world.

BE A GOOD DETECTIVE

2011-09-03T10:26:00.000-07:00

In your professional life, whatever it is, always be curious. When you meet someone, think of yourself as a blumbling but friendly private detective. Ask questions. Then ask follow-up questions. And then let the answers make you even more curious. Let the answers suggest even more questions. This will motivate you to higher levels of consciousness ...

Evaluating:	You judge and then either agree or disagree.
Probing:	You ask questions from your own frame of reference.
Advising:	You give counsel, advice, and solutions to problems.
Interpreting:	You analyze others' motives and behaviors based on your own experiences.

Physical:	Beneficial eating, exercising, and resting
Social/Emotional:	Making social and meaningful connections with others
Mental:	Learning, reading, writing, and teaching
Spiritual:	Spending time in nature, expanding spiritual self through meditation, music, art, prayer, or service