Gerald Celente Predicts: Revolution, Food Riots, and Tax Rebellions by 2012

The Dash

Top 10 Traits of Highly Successful People - That You Can Learn!

We have all read about people who are successful briefly. They win a gold medal, make a fortune, or star in one great movie…and then disappear. Or, there are those like Marilyn Monroe and Howard Hughes who achieve extraordinary success, at the cost of their own lives. These examples do not inspire me!

My focus and fascination is with people who seem to do well in many areas of life, and do it over and over through a lifetime. In entertainment, I think of Paul Newman and Bill Cosby. In business, I think of Ben and Jerry (the ice cream moguls), and a local hardware store owner who is famous for the money he’s give to children’s charities. As a Naval Officer, husband, businessman, politician and now as a mediator and philanthropist on the world stage, Jimmy Carter has had a remarkable life. We all know examples of people who go from one success to another.


These are the people who inspire me! I’ve studied them, and I’ve noticed they have the following traits in common:

1. They work hard!  Yes, they play hard, too! They get up early, they rarely complain, they expect performance from others, but they expect extraordinary performance from themselves. Repeated, high-level success starts with a recognition that hard work pays off.
   
   
2. They are incredibly curious and eager to learn.  They study, ask questions and read – constantly! An interesting point, however: While most of them did well in school, the difference is that they apply or take advantage of what they learn. Repeated success is not about memorizing facts, it’s about being able to take information and create, build, or apply it in new and important ways. Successful people want to learn everything about everything!
   
   
3. They network.  They know lots of people, and they know lots of different kinds of people. They listen to friends, neighbors, co-workers and bartenders. They don’t have to be "the life of the party", in fact many are quiet, even shy, but they value people and they value relationships. Successful people have a rolodex full of people who value their friendship and return their calls.
   
   
4. They work on themselves and never quit!  While the "over-night wonders" become arrogant and quickly disappear, really successful people work on their personality, their leadership skills, management skills, and every other detail of life. When a relationship or business deal goes sour, they assume they can learn from it and they expect to do better next time. Successful people don’t tolerate flaws; they fix them!
   
   
5. They are extraordinarily creative.  They go around asking, "Why not?" They see new combinations, new possibilities, new opportunities and challenges where others see problems or limitations. They wake up in the middle of the night yelling, "I’ve got it!" They ask for advice, try things out, consult experts and amateurs, always looking for a better, faster, cheaper solution. Successful people create stuff!
   
   
6. They are self-reliant and take responsibility.  Incredibly successful people don’t worry about blame, and they don’t waste time complaining. They make decisions and move on. Sometimes they are criticized for taking this to extremes – Jimmy Carter carried his own briefcase and a President "shouldn’t" do that!  Extremely successful people take the initiative and accept the responsibilities of success.
   
   
7. They are usually relaxed and keep their perspective.  Even in times of stress or turmoil, highly successful people keep their balance, they know the value of timing, humor, and patience. They rarely panic or make decisions on impulse. Unusually successful people breath easily, ask the right questions, and make sound decisions, even in a crisis.
   
   
8. Extremely successful people live in the present moment.  They know that "Now" is the only time they can control. They have a "gift" for looking people in the eye, listening to what is being said, enjoying a meal or fine wine, music or playing with a child. They never seem rushed, and they get a lot done! They take full advantage of each day. Successful people don’t waste time, they use it!
   
   
9. They "look over the horizon" to see the future.  They observe trends, notice changes, see shifts, and hear the nuances that others miss. A basketball player wearing Nikes is trivial, the neighbor kid wearing them is interesting, your own teenager demanding them is an investment opportunity! Extremely successful people live in the present, with one eye on the future!
   
   
10. Repeatedly successful people respond instantly!  When an investment isn’t working out, they sell. When they see an opportunity, they make the call. If an important relationship is cooling down, they take time to renew it. When technology or a new competitor or a change in the economic situation requires an adjustment, they are the first and quickest to respond.
    

These traits work together in combination, giving repeatedly successful people a huge advantage. Because they are insatiable learners, they can respond wisely to change. Because their personal relationships are strong, they have good advisors, and a reserve of goodwill when things go bad. And finally, none of these traits are genetic!  They can be learned! They are free and they are skills you can use. Start now!

"Written by Dr Philip E. Humbert, author, speaker and personal success coach.  Dr Humbert has hundreds of tips, tools and articles on his website that you can use for YOUR success!  It's a great resource!  And, be sure to sign up for his FREE newsletter!  Visit him on the web at:  http://www.philiphumbert.com"

Top 10 Ways to Create and Manage Opportunity

Most of us are used to the concepts of risk management or time management. Many of the same principles can be applied to creating and responding to opportunities. Instead of thinking of opportunities as just "coming along", you can actually increase the number of opportunities available to you, and there are specific principles you can use to assess whether a "possibility" has real "probability" and "profitability" for you. In times of rapid change, increasing the number of options you have available, and a system for prioritizing and responding to possibilities are critical business functions.

1. Enlarge your circle of friends.   To increase the number of opportunities available, you need to go beyond traditional networking to generate friendships and trust with people who "aren't like me". Use any system you prefer, but be certain that your friendships include various ethnic, economic and social backgrounds, people who "think differently" - artists, engineers, teachers, "kids" and "old timers". Don't just "think outside the box"; network outside your circle!
   
   
2. Always be open to possibility.   Years ago one of my mentors told me, "Everything I have is for sale, except my wife." That may be rather crude and politically incorrect today, but his point was that any business opportunity, any creative idea or investment suggestion was worth at least a few seconds of his time. Look for the unlikely, consider the unthinkable and ponder the improbable. Life's biggest opportunities are often disguised.
   
   
3. Practice creativity.  Intentionally think of a way to turn every crack-pot, bad idea into something useful. This is not about finding a way to invest in every scheme that comes your way, it's about practicing creativity, turning ideas on their heads, finding the kernel of wisdom or value, and throwing the rest away.
   
   
4. Avoid being overly tied to your goals.  Goals, and plans for achieving them, can be extremely useful. They can keep us on track, focus our efforts, and motivate us when we're tired. But they can also blind us to new possibilities. Work toward your goals; don't let them run your life. New ideas and alternative possibilities will come along. Don't drive right past them in your hurry to finish last year's project!
   
   
5. "He who hesitates is a damned fool!"  This quote from Mae West is a classic call to action. Being "light on your feet", or in Muhammad Ali's old phrase, being able to "float like a butterfly and sting like a bee" is useful business advice. There are times when opportunity knocks, but only stays at the door for a moment. Be prepared to respond quickly.
   
   
6. "Fools rush in where angels fear to tread."  Being able to respond quickly is not the same as being foolish. About 95% of the opportunities, ideas and invitations that come your way will not be worth pursuing. If it's a good idea today, it will likely still be a good idea after a night's sleep and consultation with your trusted advisors. Balance, thoughtfulness and a healthy skepticism are also critical.
   
   
7. Assess the probability of success.  Just as risk management compares the odds of being struck by lightening (extremely unlikely) to the chances of a critical shipment being lost (more likely), and assigns different values to each, so opportunities have differing probabilities of success. Just because an opportunity could work out, doesn't mean it will.
   
   
8. Assess the potential payoffs.  Again, borrowing from risk management, it's essential to asses the potential for "winning big". The guy who invented the Frisbee had a strange idea with a low probability of catching on, but the rewards have been enormous! The same goes for turning a coffee bar into Starbucks or sneakers into Nike. What were the probabilities that a couple of college students could turn some computer code into an operating system and end up with Microsoft? Low probability of success, but huge payoffs!
   
   
9. Actively invite opportunities.  Let friends, co-workers, colleagues, competitors and customers know that you are receptive to new ideas. They are much more likely to share a possibility with you if they know you are always "looking for ideas", having fun with possibilities and trying to understand the "next big thing".   Let them know you aren't necessarily hoping to change careers, just open and interested in new opportunities. And don't ridicule anything! Every idea is someone's baby and, amazingly, most of them have some value hidden in there somewhere!
   
   
10. Assess opportunities in terms of your values.  You know your strengths, your interests and your core values. There will be opportunities that will ask you to become someone you aren't. You could make a fortune in stocks, real estate, software, or a thousand other industries, but you have to live with yourself. First, maintain your integrity.

The Top 10 Secrets to Achieving Any Goal

We all have goals that are important to us. They range from quitting smoking, to creating our own businesses, to raising great kids. Unfortunately, most of us also have the experience of being unable to reach our goals, of having them always seem just out of reach. We can see them. We want to complete them, but we never quite cross that finish line. Here are 10 steps that are almost like magic! They will help you reach your goals, every time!

1. Precisely define the objective. Exactly what do you want? Measure it, put a number on it.  How many pounds do you want to lose?  How many dollars do you want to earn?  No one can achieve a fuzzy goal.  Be precise.
   
   
2. Align the objective with your values. You won’t work toward a goal that conflicts with your values or sense of purpose.  Make sure your goals are consistent with your religious and moral beliefs, and with other goals that you have.  Internal conflict will undermine your performance, every time!
   
   
3. Develop appropriate affirmations.  A series of positive, powerful, present-tense statements that describe the benefits of having your goal and how you’ll feel when you’ve reached it are essential.   They should be short, active, exciting, and you will need to write them down and repeat them many times, every day!
   
   
4. Develop powerful reasons to achieve your goals.  "If you have enough why’s, you’ll find a way."  We reach goals that excite us, that stimulate our imaginations.  We reach goals that are vital to our health, our family and our future.  Find lots of reasons!  When it’s important enough, you’ll make it happen.
   
   
5. Write your goals and your reasons down!  Write them on file cards every day!  There is power, magic and mystery in writing your goals down.  Put the cards where you’ll see them through the day.   Put them on your mirror, or on your desk.  Carry them with you and read them, over and over, through the day.
   
   
6. Set a deadline. Again, have the courage to be exact.  Quit smoking by your birthday, double your income by the end of this year, get out of debt by September 1st.  A goal without a deadline is just a pipe dream!  Give yourself the discipline of a date.
   
   
7. Define intermediate targets. To lose 40 pounds in 4 months, determine to lose 10 pounds EACH month.  Having smaller goals makes each one easier to achieve, and you can track your progress to your larger goal.  A journey of a thousand miles is just a series of steps, one after another.
   
   
8. Make your goals public. Tell friends and family what you plan to do, and your target date.  Ask them to hold you accountable and to help you along the way.  Knowing your friends are rooting for you is a powerful motivator.  Set yourself up for success by making a public commitment to reach your goals on time.
   
   
9. Get a partner. High achievers rarely do anything significant by themselves.  Get a running partner, make a friendly bet with your spouse to quit smoking, make it a family project to get out of debt.   Always have at least one person who totally supports you, and make sure they are part of your campaign.  Hire a coach, if appropriate.
   
   
10. Celebrate every intermediate victory! Give yourself a reward for each day without a cigarette, have a family celebration for each bill that gets paid off.  High achievers find reasons to celebrate every day!  Like that journey of a thousand miles, you must celebrate – really celebrate! – each step along the way.

Remember, "if you can imagine it, you can achieve it."  Any goal that truly fires your imagination and fills your heart with joy, is reachable!  Set targets, develop an adequate support system, break large goals into smaller steps, and go for it!  You can do this!
Here’s to your success!

"Written by Dr Philip E. Humbert, author, speaker and personal success coach.  Dr Humbert has hundreds of tips, tools and articles on his website that you can use for YOUR success!  It's a great resource!  And, be sure to sign up for his FREE newsletter!  Visit him on the web at:  http://www.philiphumbert.com"

Top 10 Tips for More Fun and Better Health

Professionals and small business/home office workers have tremendous freedom to schedule their days, arrange the furniture, choose the music and take care of themselves at work. Unfortunately, they also have all the responsibilities, make all the decisions, and carry all the burdens. The result is too often we forget to take care of ourselves. Use the advantages you have! The following tips can make the day go easier and help you work smarter, better and healthier.

In the morning, limit caffeine to one cup. Or better yet, switch to herbal teas! Start out calm and you’re more likely to stay that way through the day.

Use up-beat music and humor (I love my daily Far Side calendar!) to get your morning off to a great start.

Make sure your first appointment of the day is a great one! Meet a friend for breakfast, greet co-workers with a big smile, schedule a favorite client first thing in the morning. Start the day with some fun!

1. At mid-morning, stand up, stretch and move around, at least for a moment. Take several deep breaths, wave your hands above your head, be silly, dance a jig, move your body!
   
   
2. Eat a light lunch of fruits, vegetables and carbohydrates. The traditional soup and salad is great, or a half-sandwich and an apple. Your body needs sustenance, not a heavy load, so lighten up!
   
   
3. Take a few minutes during your lunch break to do something totally different: read poetry, call an old friend, take a nap, go for a run. What you do is not as important as getting your mind and body away from your work. Take a real break!
   
   
4. During the afternoon, stand up and stretch at least once every hour. Gently arch your back, touch your toes, or touch the sky. Turn your head from side to side, and take some deep cleansing breaths. And while you’re at it, smile!
   
   
5. When stress and work pile up, take a mini-vacation. Close the door (or go to the restroom, or a broom closet if you have to!) but get alone, close your eyes, and imagine a tropical island, or your favorite picnic spot. Life is good! Breath slowly, and relax.
   
   
6. Once a day, do something "extra" – call an old client to check in, thank a colleague for a referral, send a note to a friend. Have fun with this. Make it a game to combine business with pleasure and broaden your circle of contacts. (Hint: Send a quick 'thinking of you" email!  People love 'em!)
   
   
7. At the end of the day, clean off your desk, and straighten up the office. The janitor will do the routine stuff, but take pleasure in closing down for the day. Develop a routine that signals the end of the day, it’s time to quit, time to go home.   
 

The meaning of life!

My Top 10 Quotes for Living Well!

Over the years many people have offered their models of the "Good Life", and some have left quotes that nicely summarize important truths. The following are ten of my personal favorites.

1. Know Thyself. - Socrates. From ancient Greece comes this reminder that introspection, keeping a journal, paying attention to the heart of things, comes first. Before we can know the world around us, and make reasonable decisions about our roles and goals, it seems we must first come to grips with who we are and what we value.
   
   
2. To Thine Own Self Be True. - Shakespeare. In life there is no substitute for integrity. My grandmother was fond of saying, "We either stand for something, or we'll fall for anything." Integrity is about going beyond the truth to full and complete honesty, openness and fairness.
   
   
3. And the Greatest of These is Love. - St Paul. He also observed that "without love I am just a clanging symbol or a noisy gong." Without love, caring relationships, and compassion, life is indeed a dry and shallow thing.
   
   
4. Imagination Rules the World. - Albert Einstein. The good life is at least partly based on dreams that are worthy of us, dreams that elevate and challenge and inspire our best. Bobby Kennedy noted, "Others look at the world and ask, 'Why?' I dream of a world that never was and ask, 'Why not?'" Martin Luther King's defiant cry, "I have a dream!" will live long after most of us are gone and forgotten.
   
   
5. Too much of a good thing is wonderful! - Mae West. The good life is about living large, about expressing the joy and love of life. It's about song, exuberance, and about taking chances, and "going for it".
   
   
6. Opportunities multiply as they are seized. - SunTzu. Success depends on the courage to act, and courage in turn requires a level of faith that every opportunity acted upon will lead to more and better ways to serve, learn, grow and prosper.
   
   
7. Do, or do not. There is no "try". - Yoda (The Empire Strikes Back). Life requires action, boldness and decisiveness. Mae West also observed, "He who hesitates is a damned fool."
   
   
8. Perfection is achieved, not when there is nothing left to add, but when there is nothing left to take away. - Antoine de St. Exupery. Henry Thoreau recommended, "Simplify, simplify, simplify. Let your concerns be as 2 or 3, no more." Friends, work, the media and this thing called the Internet, along with our own "wish lists" try to seduce us to complexity, busy-ness and anxiety. Keep it simple!
   
   
9. The artist is nothing without gift, but gift is nothing without work - Emile Zola. Only focused, intelligent, diligent effort turns potential into reality. Without creative effort, talent and "gift" seem to atrophy and die. Truly a case of "use it or lose it".
   
   
10. There are two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle. - Albert Einstein. I highly recommend practicing the attitude of gratitude. What else is there?

"Written by Dr Philip E. Humbert, author, speaker and personal success coach.  Dr Humbert has hundreds of tips, tools and articles on his website that you can use for YOUR success!  It's a great resource!  And, be sure to sign up for his FREE newsletter!  Visit him on the web at:  http://www.philiphumbert.com"

The Top 10 Ways to Add "Extra" Value

Everyone wants the best possible value in every transaction, but each of us defines "value" in different ways.  Some customers want the lowest price, while others will place a higher value on reliability, convenience or things like color, popularity (think Pokeman cards!) or durability.  The challenge for  business is to provide extra value for every customer, at the lowest possible cost of doing business.  The following "Top 10" suggestions are particularly suited to service businesses such as coaching or consulting, but can easily be adapted to other environments.

1. "Try before you buy."   Give clients a free sample, taste or experience before asking them to commit.   This can often be done in groups or teleclasses.  Done correctly, it gives you a low-cost opportunity to expose large numbers of potential clients to the value of your service, while giving the potential client a safe, easy way to sample your work.
   
   
2. Follow-up after the sale.  Much like allowing prospects to sample your work, groups or teleclasses allow you to follow-up, add extra value and potentially sell additional services after the original commitment is over.  Many coaches combine these pre- and post- groups into weekly or monthly teleclasses that are open to past clients forever!
   
   
3. Client newsletters.  Use a weekly newsletter to keep past and current clients informed, add extra insights, techniques, tips and solutions to common problems.  Published by email, they are free, and very easy for clients to forward to friends and colleagues, providing you with potential additional marketing.  Extra:  Insert a quick 1-page newsletter with your monthly billing statement!
   
   
4. Let clients share their skills.   Invite your clients to share their experiences, their own tips, discoveries and enthusiasm with each other.  Host a monthly forum and invite guest speakers. Often a client will have particular expertise or a skill they are willing to share with your other clients either in person or in your newsletter.  Everybody wins!
   
   
5. Public newsletters.  In the "information age", the value of  information is rapidly approaching zero, so capitalize on this trend and give away what you know!  Display your skills, expertise and wisdom in either electronic form or on paper and invite past and present clients to participate, pass the information along, and provide a marketing forum for your business at the same time.  Again, everybody wins!
   
   
6. Use your website.  Ask your webmaster to add a newsgroup or set up a chat-room on your website.  As you develop written material for your clients, post it on your website and make it available to other clients (you can password protect it) or to the general public.  Let clients know that your information and experience are available to them 24 hours a day, 7 days a week!
   
   
7. Celebrate with your clients.   This ranges from sending flowers or champagne when they win the big contract, to sending birthday cards and holiday greetings.  Everyone needs more hugs than we receive, so give your clients recognition whenever possible.  Let them know you care.
   
   
8. Commiserate with your clients.   Sometimes things don’t work out well, they lose contracts or miss the big promotion.  That’s a great time to "gift" an extra session, to pay for the lunch or pick up the tab for the phone calls.  Again, it’s about caring and building personal relationships that add real value and go far beyond minimum expectations.
   
   
9. Use your network for your client’s benefit.  One of the most astonishing "extras" is to provide your client with the name of the perfect accountant, lawyer, chiropractor or web designer based on your rolodex of contacts.  As your team of resources grows, use their combined talents and strengths to make appropriate referrals and put people in contact with each other.  This is a huge extra that costs you nothing!
   
   
10. Ask your clients what they need.   Routinely, ask your clients how you could go further, provide better service and be more effective with them.  Almost always, they are delighted to be asked, they know the answer, and the request they make will typically cost you little or nothing to fulfill but will mean the world to that client.
 

"Written by Dr Philip E. Humbert, author, speaker and personal success coach.  Dr Humbert has hundreds of tips, tools and articles on his website that you can use for YOUR success!  It's a great resource!  And, be sure to sign up for his FREE newsletter!  Visit him on the web at:  http://www.philiphumbert.com"

Top 10 Secrets for Being HAPPY!

One of my favorite songs is Bobby McFerrin’s refrain, "Don’t Worry, Be Happy". I recently had the opportunity to observe people’s reactions when a highway was closed because of an accident ahead. As we waited, I watched as some listened to radios, a few began tossing a Frisbee, other’s seemed to be working or reading, and some opted for a quick nap. But, there were also a handful who were clearly agitated and angry. Pacing about, swearing, and upset, they decided that the best response to this event, which none of us could control, was to be very unhappy. I was reminded of Abraham Lincoln’s comment that, "Most people are about as happy as they make up their minds to be." The following are my Top 10 Tips to increase happiness in your life:
 
1.  Decide to be a happy person. As Lincoln observed, most people, most of the time, can choose how stressed or happy, how troubled or relaxed they want to be. Choose to be happy.

2.  Watch and Read less news.  As a recovering news addict, I know this can be difficult because the stock market fluctuates, politicians politic, and sports teams compete. But, most of the time, you don’t need the stress. So, just don’t watch. I think it was Henry Thoreau who noted that if you’ve ever read about a train wreck, you understand the principle and don’t need to know any more about it.

3.  Practice the Attitude of Gratitude.  We all have so much to be grateful for. Just thanking the many people who assist us, encourage us, teach us and open doors for us could take all day!
 
4.  Take Time.  My dog has taught me much about loyalty, about noticing the sights, sounds, and smells in the yard, about being relaxed and about play. Eat when you’re hungry, nap when you need it. Get your ears scratched whenever possible!
 
5.  Laugh everyday. Hear a joke, tell a joke, laugh at yourself, laugh with your friends and family and co-workers. There are very few medicines as powerful as laughter, and I don’t think you can over-dose, although it is addicting!
 
6.  Love well.  Express your affection, appreciation, friendship and warmth to those around you, and they will almost always respond in the most amazing ways! Be generous…it pays great dividends!
 
7.  Work hard.  This one comes as a bit of a surprise, but there is tremendous satisfaction in being competent, and joy in completing our assigned tasks. One of the great sources of happiness is to do work that is worthy of you, and to do it well.
 
8.  Learn something new, everyday.  To be happy, most of us must also be growing, expanding, learning and challenging ourselves.  Read, listen, adapt and stretch to accommodate new ideas and new information.
 
9. Use your body as it was designed.  Walk and run, stretch, throw things, and lift things. Dance! Exercise is good, but so is making love, mixing up a batch of cookies, or exchanging backrubs. You have a body and it can be either a source of joy, or a source of aches and pains. Your choice.
 
10:  Avoid toxins.  I prefer writing positives (things to do) rather than negatives (things to fear), but reality says there are negative people and there are bad chemicals, stressful noises, and unsafe places. Don’t go there!  Avoid poisons whenever possible. It seems to work out better that way.

"Written by Dr Philip E. Humbert, author, speaker and personal success coach.  Dr Humbert has hundreds of tips, tools and articles on his website that you can use for YOUR success!  It's a great resource!  And, be sure to sign up for his FREE newsletter!  Visit him on the web at:  http://www.philiphumbert.com"