給兒子的信 - 梁繼璋
JOSEPH K. H. CHENG·WEDNESDAY, JULY 18, 2018
Joseph K. H. Cheng
July 16 at 3:34 AM · tagAdd Topics
給兒子的信 - 梁繼璋 ( HK DJ at a radio station )
給孩子的備忘錄
我兒:
寫這備忘錄給你，基於三個原則：
(一）人生福禍無常，誰也不知可以活多久，有些事情還是早一點說好。
(二）我是你的父親，我不跟你說，沒有人會跟你說。
(三）這備忘錄里記載的，都是我經過慘痛失敗得回來的體驗，可以為你的成長
省回不少冤枉路。
以下，便是你在人生中要好好記住的事：
（一） 對你不好的人，你不要太介懷，在你一生中，沒有人有義務要對你好，
除了我和你媽媽。至於那些對你好的人，你除了要珍惜、感恩外，也請多防備一
點，因為，每個人做每件事，總有一個原因，他對你好，未必真的是因為喜歡你，
請你必須搞清楚，而不必太快將對方看作真朋友。
（二） 沒有人是不可代替，沒有東西是必須擁有。看透了這一點，將來你身邊
的人不再要你，或許失去了世間上最愛的一切時，也應該明白，這並不是甚麼大
不了的事。
（三） 生命是短暫的，今日你還在浪費著生命，明日會發覺生命已遠離你了。
因此，愈早珍惜生命，你享受生命的日子也愈多，與其盼望長壽，倒不如早點享
受。
（四） 世界上並沒有最愛這回事，愛情只是一種霎時的感覺，而這感覺絕對會
隨時日、心境而改變。如果你的所謂最愛離開你，請耐心地等候一下，讓時日慢
慢沖洗，讓心靈慢慢沉澱，你的苦就會慢慢淡化。不要過分憧憬愛情的美，不要
過分誇大失戀的悲。
（五） 雖然，很多有成就的人士都没有受過很多教育，但並不等如不用功讀書，
就一定可以成功。你學到的知識，就是你擁有的武器。人，可以白手興家，但不
可以手無寸鐵，緊記！
（六） 我不會要求你供養我下半輩子，同樣地我也不會供養你的下半輩子，當
你長大到可以獨立的時候，我的責任已經完結。以後，你要坐巴士還是 Benz，
吃魚翅還是粉絲，都要自己負責。
（七） 你可以要求自己守信，但不能要求別人守信，你可以要求自己對人好，
但不能期待人家對你好。你怎樣對人，並不代表人家就會怎樣對你，如果看不透
這一點，你只會徒添不必要的煩惱。
（八） 我買了十多二十年六合彩，還是一窮二白，連三獎也沒有中，這證明人
要發達，還是要努力工作才可以，世界上並沒有免費午餐。
（九） 親人只有一次的緣份，無論這輩子我和你會相處多久，也請好好珍惜共
聚的時光，下輩子，無論愛與不愛，都不會再見。
Showing posts with label LINKS-L. Show all posts
Showing posts with label LINKS-L. Show all posts
Wednesday, July 18, 2018
Tuesday, July 17, 2018
Revealed: What the colour of your urine can tell you about your health - and the exact shade when you need to reach for a bottle of water this summer - Daily Mail
Revealed: What the colour of your urine can tell you about your health - and the exact shade when you need to reach for a bottle of water this summer
Dark yellow or brown urine is a sign someone is not drinking enough water
Dehydration causes dizziness and headaches but can become more serious
Clear or pale yellow urine is ideal and means someone is drinking enough
By SAM BLANCHARD FOR MAILONLINE
PUBLISHED: 02:09 AEST, 17 July 2018 | UPDATED: 05:52 AEST, 17 July 2018
The colour of your urine can tell you if you should be drinking more water, which is extra important during the hot summer months.
Urine is usually varying shades of yellow and, the darker it is, the more likely it is that you're becoming dehydrated.
Dehydration can be a serious health risk and is particularly dangerous for babies, children and elderly people.
The NHS says people in the UK should drink at least 1.2 litres of water a day – 2.4 pints – and more when the weather is hot.
And if your urine is consistently red or orange it could be a sign of a more serious underlying condition such as a urine infection, prostate problems or kidney disease.
Using a urine colour chart like the one below created by sports drink company iPro Sport, you can work out if you're drinking enough water.
The colour of urine can be an indicator of how well hydrated you are and can also point to more serious problems like kidney disease or cancer +2
The colour of urine can be an indicator of how well hydrated you are and can also point to more serious problems like kidney disease or cancer
Video playing bottom right...
The urine of someone who is properly hydrated should be a very pale yellow or clear, according to the sports drink company.
Whereas a darker yellow or more brownish colour could be a sign someone is getting dangerously dehydrated.
Dehydration can usually be easily avoided and treated by drinking enough water, but if left to get worse it can cause dizziness and tiredness or lead to more serious complications like heatstroke, muscle cramps or exhaustion.
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Someone's heatstroke could be severe or life-threatening if they are not sweating even though they are too hot, have a body temperature of 40C or more, becomes confused or short of breath, or has a seizure or passes out.
If this happens an ambulance should be called immediately.
Often dehydration is simple enough to avoid – just feeling thirsty is likely a sign that someone's body needs them to drink more water.
iPro Sport's chart explains that someone whose urine is brown is likely to be seriously dehydrated.
The symptom could be a sign of something more serious, however, and may need medical attention if it continues.
Yellow or dark yellow urine are signs of dehydration
Yellow or dark yellow urine are also both signs of dehydration, but it is not likely too severe – drinking more water immediately should be enough to rehydrate the body.
Some people are more at risk of dehydration, including those with diabetes, people who have been vomiting or suffering diarrhoea, and people who have been in the sun for a long time.
Exercising and sweating, drinking alcohol, and having a fever or taking medicines which make you pee more can all raise the risk of dehydration.
The colour chart produced by iPro Sport acts as a handy guide for people to check whether or not they are dehydrated +2
The colour chart produced by iPro Sport acts as a handy guide for people to check whether or not they are dehydrated
Red or orange could be a sign of something more serious
If urine is a colour other than yellow – such as red, orange or green – it is likely to be because of something you ate or drank.
For example, beetroot may turn urine red temporarily.
But urine that is consistently another colour for a long time could be a sign of something more serious.
Red urine can be caused by blood, which could be pointing towards kidney disease, cancer, an infection or prostate problems.
Meanwhile orange could signal a problem with the liver or bile duct.
DRINKING TOO MUCH WATER IS ALSO DANGEROUS
Drinking too much water can lead to just as severe problems as not drinking enough, but is far less likely.
American football player Tom Brady, the quarterback for New England Patriots in Boston, revealed in a book that he drinks a whopping 37 glasses of water a day – half of his own body weight.
Drinking too much water can dilute vital sodium supplies in the body and cause a condition called hyponatremia.
This is most common in endurance athletes or people who take drugs like ecstasy, which can make them feel thirstier than they really are.
If sodium in the body becomes too diluted, your cells start to swell.
This can cause headaches and confusion and fatigure, but can also lead to muscle weakness, cramps, seizures, and even a coma.
Dietitian Abbey Sharp said it was highly unlikely Brady needs to drink as much water as he claims to, and said: 'My recommendation is to forget all of the standards about how much you should be drinking each day.
'It's not half your body weight, it's not two liters, it's not that any one size fits all.
'Listen to your body's thirst cues and keep plain water near by at all times to hydrate. Check in with yourself regularly to see if you are indeed thirsty and don't deny those cues.'
Dark yellow or brown urine is a sign someone is not drinking enough water
Dehydration causes dizziness and headaches but can become more serious
Clear or pale yellow urine is ideal and means someone is drinking enough
By SAM BLANCHARD FOR MAILONLINE
PUBLISHED: 02:09 AEST, 17 July 2018 | UPDATED: 05:52 AEST, 17 July 2018
The colour of your urine can tell you if you should be drinking more water, which is extra important during the hot summer months.
Urine is usually varying shades of yellow and, the darker it is, the more likely it is that you're becoming dehydrated.
Dehydration can be a serious health risk and is particularly dangerous for babies, children and elderly people.
The NHS says people in the UK should drink at least 1.2 litres of water a day – 2.4 pints – and more when the weather is hot.
And if your urine is consistently red or orange it could be a sign of a more serious underlying condition such as a urine infection, prostate problems or kidney disease.
Using a urine colour chart like the one below created by sports drink company iPro Sport, you can work out if you're drinking enough water.
The colour of urine can be an indicator of how well hydrated you are and can also point to more serious problems like kidney disease or cancer +2
The colour of urine can be an indicator of how well hydrated you are and can also point to more serious problems like kidney disease or cancer
Video playing bottom right...
The urine of someone who is properly hydrated should be a very pale yellow or clear, according to the sports drink company.
Whereas a darker yellow or more brownish colour could be a sign someone is getting dangerously dehydrated.
Dehydration can usually be easily avoided and treated by drinking enough water, but if left to get worse it can cause dizziness and tiredness or lead to more serious complications like heatstroke, muscle cramps or exhaustion.
Fat consumption is the only cause of weight gain!...
Stop binge-watching Netflix, go for more walks and ditch...
Woman, 29, has dangling, overgrown lumps of scar tissue...
The children destined to die, turn blind or fight a lifetime...
Someone's heatstroke could be severe or life-threatening if they are not sweating even though they are too hot, have a body temperature of 40C or more, becomes confused or short of breath, or has a seizure or passes out.
If this happens an ambulance should be called immediately.
Often dehydration is simple enough to avoid – just feeling thirsty is likely a sign that someone's body needs them to drink more water.
iPro Sport's chart explains that someone whose urine is brown is likely to be seriously dehydrated.
The symptom could be a sign of something more serious, however, and may need medical attention if it continues.
Yellow or dark yellow urine are signs of dehydration
Yellow or dark yellow urine are also both signs of dehydration, but it is not likely too severe – drinking more water immediately should be enough to rehydrate the body.
Some people are more at risk of dehydration, including those with diabetes, people who have been vomiting or suffering diarrhoea, and people who have been in the sun for a long time.
Exercising and sweating, drinking alcohol, and having a fever or taking medicines which make you pee more can all raise the risk of dehydration.
The colour chart produced by iPro Sport acts as a handy guide for people to check whether or not they are dehydrated +2
The colour chart produced by iPro Sport acts as a handy guide for people to check whether or not they are dehydrated
Red or orange could be a sign of something more serious
If urine is a colour other than yellow – such as red, orange or green – it is likely to be because of something you ate or drank.
For example, beetroot may turn urine red temporarily.
But urine that is consistently another colour for a long time could be a sign of something more serious.
Red urine can be caused by blood, which could be pointing towards kidney disease, cancer, an infection or prostate problems.
Meanwhile orange could signal a problem with the liver or bile duct.
DRINKING TOO MUCH WATER IS ALSO DANGEROUS
Drinking too much water can lead to just as severe problems as not drinking enough, but is far less likely.
American football player Tom Brady, the quarterback for New England Patriots in Boston, revealed in a book that he drinks a whopping 37 glasses of water a day – half of his own body weight.
Drinking too much water can dilute vital sodium supplies in the body and cause a condition called hyponatremia.
This is most common in endurance athletes or people who take drugs like ecstasy, which can make them feel thirstier than they really are.
If sodium in the body becomes too diluted, your cells start to swell.
This can cause headaches and confusion and fatigure, but can also lead to muscle weakness, cramps, seizures, and even a coma.
Dietitian Abbey Sharp said it was highly unlikely Brady needs to drink as much water as he claims to, and said: 'My recommendation is to forget all of the standards about how much you should be drinking each day.
'It's not half your body weight, it's not two liters, it's not that any one size fits all.
'Listen to your body's thirst cues and keep plain water near by at all times to hydrate. Check in with yourself regularly to see if you are indeed thirsty and don't deny those cues.'
Monday, July 9, 2018
This is Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak’s simple formula for happiness - CNBC News
This is Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak’s simple formula for happiness
Catherine Clifford 11:30 AM ET Sat, 3 Feb 2018
Steve Wozniak
When Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak was young, he defined a successful life for himself — one that, despite its radical simplicity, has worked for almost 50 years.
"I thought out my philosophies when I was about 20 years old ... How do you do in life? ... How do you become a good person?" explains Wozniak, speaking at the at the Nordic Business Forum in Stockholm on January 24.
He continues, "It if I died and had all this wealth and yachts and all this stuff, would I be as happy as when I laugh? And I thought about pranks I played and jokes I had told and music I would hear that would make me smile, and I came up with my formula that life is about happiness."
Yes, a formula. Always the engineer.
26-year-old CEO: Happiness is NOT the same as success, here's why 26-year-old CEO and self-made millionaire: Happiness is not the same as success—here's why
"Maybe success with money makes you happy too — but for me it was really just down to earth laughter and smiles. So I came up with my formula: Happiness equals smiles minus frowns," says Wozniak. "H = S-F."
"The Woz," as he is affectionately called, determined a key way to maximize happiness is to decrease the amount of sadness in your life.
"How do you get rid of the frowns? I worked on that," says Wozniak, who is now 67.
"Don't care that much that you are going to frown. Let things happen. Things do go badly in life and just say, 'Hey, my car got scratched, I will fix it,'" he explains.
In these situations, complaining or blaming others is just going to make things worse, says Wozniak. So will judging other people.
"And don't argue. Don't argue! You don't win an argument, you just walk away unhappy," says Wozniak. "You only have to convince one person in life, and that is yourself.
"This kept me so happy, to this day. My mind just kind of floats in a state of happiness and I just don't really have a lot of always being upset," he says.
James Altucher shares his simple formula for achieving happiness James Altucher shares his simple formula for achieving happiness
Indeed. Speaking in Stockholm, Wozniak continually smiles, gestures and is easily excited. It's that genuine enthusiasm that drove Wozniak to work in computing. Building computers was not a plan to get rich.
"I was never into money in any way — finance — to this day I have never used Apple stock app, I don't buy and sell stock," Wozniak says.
In fact, Wozniak sold virtually all his bitcoin holdings when the price shot up so he wouldn't be compelled to watch the price yo-yo. "I don't want that kind of care in my life. Part of my happiness is not to have worries."
Of course, Wozniak is worth millions, by one account as much as $100 million, so perhaps that's easy to say.
But there is one thing that makes him mad, he says: illogical, counter-intuitive machine user experience.
Catherine Clifford 11:30 AM ET Sat, 3 Feb 2018
Steve Wozniak
When Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak was young, he defined a successful life for himself — one that, despite its radical simplicity, has worked for almost 50 years.
"I thought out my philosophies when I was about 20 years old ... How do you do in life? ... How do you become a good person?" explains Wozniak, speaking at the at the Nordic Business Forum in Stockholm on January 24.
He continues, "It if I died and had all this wealth and yachts and all this stuff, would I be as happy as when I laugh? And I thought about pranks I played and jokes I had told and music I would hear that would make me smile, and I came up with my formula that life is about happiness."
Yes, a formula. Always the engineer.
26-year-old CEO: Happiness is NOT the same as success, here's why 26-year-old CEO and self-made millionaire: Happiness is not the same as success—here's why
"Maybe success with money makes you happy too — but for me it was really just down to earth laughter and smiles. So I came up with my formula: Happiness equals smiles minus frowns," says Wozniak. "H = S-F."
"The Woz," as he is affectionately called, determined a key way to maximize happiness is to decrease the amount of sadness in your life.
"How do you get rid of the frowns? I worked on that," says Wozniak, who is now 67.
"Don't care that much that you are going to frown. Let things happen. Things do go badly in life and just say, 'Hey, my car got scratched, I will fix it,'" he explains.
In these situations, complaining or blaming others is just going to make things worse, says Wozniak. So will judging other people.
"And don't argue. Don't argue! You don't win an argument, you just walk away unhappy," says Wozniak. "You only have to convince one person in life, and that is yourself.
"This kept me so happy, to this day. My mind just kind of floats in a state of happiness and I just don't really have a lot of always being upset," he says.
James Altucher shares his simple formula for achieving happiness James Altucher shares his simple formula for achieving happiness
Indeed. Speaking in Stockholm, Wozniak continually smiles, gestures and is easily excited. It's that genuine enthusiasm that drove Wozniak to work in computing. Building computers was not a plan to get rich.
"I was never into money in any way — finance — to this day I have never used Apple stock app, I don't buy and sell stock," Wozniak says.
In fact, Wozniak sold virtually all his bitcoin holdings when the price shot up so he wouldn't be compelled to watch the price yo-yo. "I don't want that kind of care in my life. Part of my happiness is not to have worries."
Of course, Wozniak is worth millions, by one account as much as $100 million, so perhaps that's easy to say.
But there is one thing that makes him mad, he says: illogical, counter-intuitive machine user experience.
Saturday, June 30, 2018
A Korean janitor who found seven gold bars worth $325,000 in the trash could be allowed to keep them - CNBC News
A Korean janitor who found seven gold bars worth $325,000 in the trash could be allowed to keep them
The unidentified male cleaner found the thrown away gold bars at Incheon International Airport on Thursday, according to local media reports.
The owner of the bullion is a Korean man, according to Yonhap News Agency, and two other men ditched the bars out of fear of being searched at customs.
Ryan Browne | @Ryan_Browne_
Published 6:39 AM ET Thu, 3 May 2018 Updated 10:46 PM ET Thu, 3 May 2018
CNBC.com
Gold bars on display in Tokyo on September 27, 2010.
Yoshikazu Tsuno | AFP | Getty Images
Gold bars on display in Tokyo on September 27, 2010.
A janitor in South Korea who discovered seven gold bars in a garbage bin could keep them if no-one else claims ownership.
The unidentified male cleaner found the discarded gold bars, that each weighed 1 kilogram and were wrapped in newspaper, at Seoul's Incheon International Airport on Thursday, according to local media reports. Altogether, the bars are worth 350 million won ($325,000).
The owner of the bullion is a Korean man, according to Seoul-based Yonhap News Agency, and two other men ditched the bars at the request of the owner out of fear of being searched at customs.
According to Yonhap, police said that the men were traveling from Hong Kong to Japan, and went through South Korea in the belief that it would be easier to bypass customs searches.
Whether the owner makes a claim for the discarded gold or not, the janitor will still be able to keep 5 to 20 percent of its market price, amounting to between 17.5 million won ($16,250) and 70 million won ($65,000), in accordance with South Korean law, The Korea Times reported. But he could also lose it all if the items are found to be tainted or linked to criminal activity.
Correction: This report has been updated to reflect a proper conversion of 350 million won into U.S. dollars.
The unidentified male cleaner found the thrown away gold bars at Incheon International Airport on Thursday, according to local media reports.
The owner of the bullion is a Korean man, according to Yonhap News Agency, and two other men ditched the bars out of fear of being searched at customs.
Ryan Browne | @Ryan_Browne_
Published 6:39 AM ET Thu, 3 May 2018 Updated 10:46 PM ET Thu, 3 May 2018
CNBC.com
Gold bars on display in Tokyo on September 27, 2010.
Yoshikazu Tsuno | AFP | Getty Images
Gold bars on display in Tokyo on September 27, 2010.
A janitor in South Korea who discovered seven gold bars in a garbage bin could keep them if no-one else claims ownership.
The unidentified male cleaner found the discarded gold bars, that each weighed 1 kilogram and were wrapped in newspaper, at Seoul's Incheon International Airport on Thursday, according to local media reports. Altogether, the bars are worth 350 million won ($325,000).
The owner of the bullion is a Korean man, according to Seoul-based Yonhap News Agency, and two other men ditched the bars at the request of the owner out of fear of being searched at customs.
According to Yonhap, police said that the men were traveling from Hong Kong to Japan, and went through South Korea in the belief that it would be easier to bypass customs searches.
Whether the owner makes a claim for the discarded gold or not, the janitor will still be able to keep 5 to 20 percent of its market price, amounting to between 17.5 million won ($16,250) and 70 million won ($65,000), in accordance with South Korean law, The Korea Times reported. But he could also lose it all if the items are found to be tainted or linked to criminal activity.
Correction: This report has been updated to reflect a proper conversion of 350 million won into U.S. dollars.
Friday, June 29, 2018
Bill Gates: Everyone should know these 3 facts - CNBC
June 29, 2018
Bill Gates: Everyone should know these 3 facts
Catherine Clifford
Bill Gates
Adam Galica | CNBC
Bill Gates
Billionaire Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates says you need to know three facts to better understand the world.
Those statistics are the global rate of childhood deaths, the fertility rate and the number of people who escape extreme poverty.
The facts come from Oxford economist Max Roser, the founder of the data and statistics website, OurWorldInData.org.
“One of my favorite websites is OurWorldInData.org. Based at the University of Oxford, it uses statistics — on everything from health and population growth to war, the environment, and energy — to give you phenomenal insight into how living conditions are changing around the world,” says Gates in a post published on his blog Tuesday. “I asked its founder, Oxford economist Max Roser, to share three facts from the site that everyone should know.”
Roser says memorizing a few statistics gives you a framework to more accurately understand the world.
“Yes, for some details, it makes sense to just search for them when you need them. But for the large global developments, it is important to know some basic statistics that describe living conditions currently and the direction of change that we have seen over the past few decades,” says Roser in a piece published on the Gates Notes blog.
“Knowing the facts on global changes gives you the context for the daily news and allows you to make sense of new information that you learn. And it must be the basis for political debate, so that we can discuss what we should and shouldn’t do as a society.”
Here's what Gates and Roser say you need to know:
1. Annual childhood deaths have fallen by more than half since 1960
Each year, 5.6 million children under the age of five die. That’s 15,500 deaths per day and 11 deaths of children per minute, according to data from the UN. In the 1950s and 1960s, 20 million children were dying every year, according to the same data set.
“One key reason why we struggle to see progress in the world today is that we do not know how very bad the past was. Both are true at the same time: The world is much better than in the past and it is still awful,” says Roser.
Bill Gates
✔
@BillGates
· 27 Jun
Replying to @BillGates
Here are three facts from the site that Max thinks everyone should know…
Bill Gates
✔
@BillGates
Fact #1: Fewer children are dying before the age of 5. pic.twitter.com/RNcCNcBTFz
3:21 AM - Jun 27, 2018
“To bring this to mind I need to know both statistics: When someone says we can sit back and relax because the world is in a much better place, I point out that 11 children are still dying every minute. We cannot accept the world as it is today. And when I feel hopeless in the face of this tragedy, I remember that we reduced annual child deaths from 20 million to 5.6 million in the last 50 years," writes Roser.
2. The average number of children born per woman per year is falling
In the last 50 years, the global fertility rate, or the average number of children every woman in the world has, has fallen from five to less than 2.5, Roser says. That means the rate of population growth has gone from 2 percent a year to just over 1 percent per year.
Availability of contraceptives and access to education and higher quality jobs affect fertility rates, says Roser. So too does child mortality rates.
Bill Gates
✔
@BillGates
· 27 Jun
Replying to @BillGates
Fact #1: Fewer children are dying before the age of 5. pic.twitter.com/RNcCNcBTFz
Bill Gates
✔
@BillGates
Fact #2: Since 1960, the number of children born per woman has fallen by half. pic.twitter.com/BzCFzdwdWE
3:21 AM - Jun 27, 2018
“Improvements in conditions for women and the health of children have driven a rapid reduction in fertility rates across the world,” says Roser. “The statistic that I remember on population growth is the one that tells me that rapid population growth is coming to an end in this century.”
Why is that important? "The problem is that the population is growing the fastest where people are less able to deal with it," Gates explained in a 2012 blog post, so there is an inability to feed, educate, employ and protect the environment.
3. More than 100,000 people a day have escaped extreme poverty in recent decades
Between 1990 and 2015, 137,000 people left “extreme poverty” each day, says Roser.
Someone is defined as living in "extreme poverty" if they live on the equivalent of less than about $1.90 per person per day, as determined by the World Bank.
Today, 706 million people in the world live in extreme poverty. In 1990, 1.86 billion people lived in extreme poverty. That means the number of people living in extreme poverty has fallen to one in 10 people from one in three.
Bill Gates
✔
@BillGates
· 27 Jun
Replying to @BillGates
Fact #2: Since 1960, the number of children born per woman has fallen by half. pic.twitter.com/BzCFzdwdWE
Bill Gates
✔
@BillGates
Fact #3: The world is making progress against extreme poverty. pic.twitter.com/PCH6aMzxfd
3:21 AM - Jun 27, 2018
“When you ask people whether the world is making progress against extreme poverty, the majority of us believe things are getting worse — that the number of people in extreme poverty in the world is rising,” says Roser. “The opposite is true. Both the number and the share of people in extreme poverty is falling.”
Though the number of people living in extreme poverty is still “unacceptably large," says Roser, "we should also know that the trend is moving in the right direction. The number of people in extreme poverty is falling. It is possible to end extreme poverty.”
Knowing these statistics is a reason feel optimistic, says Roser. “The statistics on global change over time tell us that it is possible to work for a better world. The number of child deaths is dropping. The challenges of rapid population growth will not continue indefinitely. And the number of people in extreme poverty is falling,” he says. “Our past successes should encourage us to work for more progress.”
Gates also advocates holding onto an optimistic view of the world.
“I’m not trying to downplay the work that remains. Being an optimist doesn’t mean you ignore tragedy and injustice. It means you’re inspired to look for people making progress on those fronts, and to help spread that progress,” Gates wrote as the guest editor for Time magazine in January.
“To some extent, it is good that bad news gets attention. If you want to improve the world, you need something to be mad about," he said. "But it has to be balanced by upsides. When you see good things happening, you can channel your energy into driving even more progress."
Bill Gates: Everyone should know these 3 facts
Catherine Clifford
Bill Gates
Adam Galica | CNBC
Bill Gates
Billionaire Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates says you need to know three facts to better understand the world.
Those statistics are the global rate of childhood deaths, the fertility rate and the number of people who escape extreme poverty.
The facts come from Oxford economist Max Roser, the founder of the data and statistics website, OurWorldInData.org.
“One of my favorite websites is OurWorldInData.org. Based at the University of Oxford, it uses statistics — on everything from health and population growth to war, the environment, and energy — to give you phenomenal insight into how living conditions are changing around the world,” says Gates in a post published on his blog Tuesday. “I asked its founder, Oxford economist Max Roser, to share three facts from the site that everyone should know.”
Roser says memorizing a few statistics gives you a framework to more accurately understand the world.
“Yes, for some details, it makes sense to just search for them when you need them. But for the large global developments, it is important to know some basic statistics that describe living conditions currently and the direction of change that we have seen over the past few decades,” says Roser in a piece published on the Gates Notes blog.
“Knowing the facts on global changes gives you the context for the daily news and allows you to make sense of new information that you learn. And it must be the basis for political debate, so that we can discuss what we should and shouldn’t do as a society.”
Here's what Gates and Roser say you need to know:
1. Annual childhood deaths have fallen by more than half since 1960
Each year, 5.6 million children under the age of five die. That’s 15,500 deaths per day and 11 deaths of children per minute, according to data from the UN. In the 1950s and 1960s, 20 million children were dying every year, according to the same data set.
“One key reason why we struggle to see progress in the world today is that we do not know how very bad the past was. Both are true at the same time: The world is much better than in the past and it is still awful,” says Roser.
Bill Gates
✔
@BillGates
· 27 Jun
Replying to @BillGates
Here are three facts from the site that Max thinks everyone should know…
Bill Gates
✔
@BillGates
Fact #1: Fewer children are dying before the age of 5. pic.twitter.com/RNcCNcBTFz
3:21 AM - Jun 27, 2018
“To bring this to mind I need to know both statistics: When someone says we can sit back and relax because the world is in a much better place, I point out that 11 children are still dying every minute. We cannot accept the world as it is today. And when I feel hopeless in the face of this tragedy, I remember that we reduced annual child deaths from 20 million to 5.6 million in the last 50 years," writes Roser.
2. The average number of children born per woman per year is falling
In the last 50 years, the global fertility rate, or the average number of children every woman in the world has, has fallen from five to less than 2.5, Roser says. That means the rate of population growth has gone from 2 percent a year to just over 1 percent per year.
Availability of contraceptives and access to education and higher quality jobs affect fertility rates, says Roser. So too does child mortality rates.
Bill Gates
✔
@BillGates
· 27 Jun
Replying to @BillGates
Fact #1: Fewer children are dying before the age of 5. pic.twitter.com/RNcCNcBTFz
Bill Gates
✔
@BillGates
Fact #2: Since 1960, the number of children born per woman has fallen by half. pic.twitter.com/BzCFzdwdWE
3:21 AM - Jun 27, 2018
“Improvements in conditions for women and the health of children have driven a rapid reduction in fertility rates across the world,” says Roser. “The statistic that I remember on population growth is the one that tells me that rapid population growth is coming to an end in this century.”
Why is that important? "The problem is that the population is growing the fastest where people are less able to deal with it," Gates explained in a 2012 blog post, so there is an inability to feed, educate, employ and protect the environment.
3. More than 100,000 people a day have escaped extreme poverty in recent decades
Between 1990 and 2015, 137,000 people left “extreme poverty” each day, says Roser.
Someone is defined as living in "extreme poverty" if they live on the equivalent of less than about $1.90 per person per day, as determined by the World Bank.
Today, 706 million people in the world live in extreme poverty. In 1990, 1.86 billion people lived in extreme poverty. That means the number of people living in extreme poverty has fallen to one in 10 people from one in three.
Bill Gates
✔
@BillGates
· 27 Jun
Replying to @BillGates
Fact #2: Since 1960, the number of children born per woman has fallen by half. pic.twitter.com/BzCFzdwdWE
Bill Gates
✔
@BillGates
Fact #3: The world is making progress against extreme poverty. pic.twitter.com/PCH6aMzxfd
3:21 AM - Jun 27, 2018
“When you ask people whether the world is making progress against extreme poverty, the majority of us believe things are getting worse — that the number of people in extreme poverty in the world is rising,” says Roser. “The opposite is true. Both the number and the share of people in extreme poverty is falling.”
Though the number of people living in extreme poverty is still “unacceptably large," says Roser, "we should also know that the trend is moving in the right direction. The number of people in extreme poverty is falling. It is possible to end extreme poverty.”
Knowing these statistics is a reason feel optimistic, says Roser. “The statistics on global change over time tell us that it is possible to work for a better world. The number of child deaths is dropping. The challenges of rapid population growth will not continue indefinitely. And the number of people in extreme poverty is falling,” he says. “Our past successes should encourage us to work for more progress.”
Gates also advocates holding onto an optimistic view of the world.
“I’m not trying to downplay the work that remains. Being an optimist doesn’t mean you ignore tragedy and injustice. It means you’re inspired to look for people making progress on those fronts, and to help spread that progress,” Gates wrote as the guest editor for Time magazine in January.
“To some extent, it is good that bad news gets attention. If you want to improve the world, you need something to be mad about," he said. "But it has to be balanced by upsides. When you see good things happening, you can channel your energy into driving even more progress."
Tuesday, June 26, 2018
Narcissists 'irritating but successful' - BBC News
Narcissists 'irritating but successful'
By Sean Coughlan
BBC News education and family correspondent
26 June 2018
Narcissists might be irritating attention seekers - but they are also annoyingly likely to be successful, according to researchers.
Even though their personality traits might seem negative, psychologists say their sense of superiority gives them a "mental toughness" not to give up.
An international team of researchers says narcissists tend to come out on top in education, work and romance.
Their "heightened sense of self-worth" gives them great self-confidence.
For psychologists, narcissism is one of the "dark triad" of malevolent personality traits, along with psychopathy and Machiavellianism - with narcissists having a tendency to be self-centred, vain, grandiose and to need the admiration of others.
Narcissism 'short-lived way to popularity'
Why we should pity attention-seeking narcissists
But Dr Kostas Papageorgiou, from Queen's University Belfast, says research shows that narcissists are often socially successful and undeterred by rejection and their craving for attention can make them "charming" and highly motivated.
Narcissists can have an exaggerated view of their own importance
"If we could abandon conventional social morality - and just focus on what is successful," he says, then narcissism can look like a very "positive" trait.
"If you are a narcissist you believe strongly that you are better than anyone else and that you deserve reward," says the psychologist.
This might be unbearable for everyone else around them, but Dr Papageorgiou says this kind of boundless self-belief is also linked to being "mentally tough" and a readiness to "embrace challenges".
It's all about me
The "power" of narcissism is currently on public view, he says, in the prevalence of narcissistic behaviour in popular culture, whether on social media, reality television or in politics.
Dr Papageorgiou is part of a research team including academics from Goldsmiths, the University of London, King's College London, University of Texas at Austin and Manchester Metropolitan University, which used performance in secondary school exams to show how narcissists could overtake people who had more ability than them.
It is "all about me" for narcissists
Using a sample of more than 300 young people identified as narcissists in secondary school in Italy, the researchers found that they tended to score much better in exams than would have been expected from other tests of their intelligence.
Psychologists said that as well as traits such as egotism and the need to dominate, these narcissists had high levels of resilience and determination.
They were not cleverer, but were more confident and assertive and were able to overtake students who otherwise would have more ability.
Charming monsters
Dr Papageorgiou says this pattern of advantage at school carries through to university and work - and also in romance.
He says that narcissists are likely to attract more partners.
"They're quite charismatic. If you spend a lot of time trying to be charming and persuade other people, it might well make you more attractive, says Dr Papageorgiou.
He says there could even be an evolutionary element to what he says is a rise in narcissism, with narcissists having more sexual partners and passing on their genes to more people.
Dr Papageorgiou says about 60% of narcissism is inherited, with the rest shaped by the environment.
Narcissists can be "absolutely destructive for those around them", says the psychologist, but there is nothing inevitable about this and they can limit the impact of these character traits.
"You can control them, rather than let them control you," he says.
Dr Papageorgiou argues that such personality traits should not be seen as "either good or bad" but as "products of evolution" and "expressions of human nature".
By Sean Coughlan
BBC News education and family correspondent
26 June 2018
Narcissists might be irritating attention seekers - but they are also annoyingly likely to be successful, according to researchers.
Even though their personality traits might seem negative, psychologists say their sense of superiority gives them a "mental toughness" not to give up.
An international team of researchers says narcissists tend to come out on top in education, work and romance.
Their "heightened sense of self-worth" gives them great self-confidence.
For psychologists, narcissism is one of the "dark triad" of malevolent personality traits, along with psychopathy and Machiavellianism - with narcissists having a tendency to be self-centred, vain, grandiose and to need the admiration of others.
Narcissism 'short-lived way to popularity'
Why we should pity attention-seeking narcissists
But Dr Kostas Papageorgiou, from Queen's University Belfast, says research shows that narcissists are often socially successful and undeterred by rejection and their craving for attention can make them "charming" and highly motivated.
Narcissists can have an exaggerated view of their own importance
"If we could abandon conventional social morality - and just focus on what is successful," he says, then narcissism can look like a very "positive" trait.
"If you are a narcissist you believe strongly that you are better than anyone else and that you deserve reward," says the psychologist.
This might be unbearable for everyone else around them, but Dr Papageorgiou says this kind of boundless self-belief is also linked to being "mentally tough" and a readiness to "embrace challenges".
It's all about me
The "power" of narcissism is currently on public view, he says, in the prevalence of narcissistic behaviour in popular culture, whether on social media, reality television or in politics.
Dr Papageorgiou is part of a research team including academics from Goldsmiths, the University of London, King's College London, University of Texas at Austin and Manchester Metropolitan University, which used performance in secondary school exams to show how narcissists could overtake people who had more ability than them.
It is "all about me" for narcissists
Using a sample of more than 300 young people identified as narcissists in secondary school in Italy, the researchers found that they tended to score much better in exams than would have been expected from other tests of their intelligence.
Psychologists said that as well as traits such as egotism and the need to dominate, these narcissists had high levels of resilience and determination.
They were not cleverer, but were more confident and assertive and were able to overtake students who otherwise would have more ability.
Charming monsters
Dr Papageorgiou says this pattern of advantage at school carries through to university and work - and also in romance.
He says that narcissists are likely to attract more partners.
"They're quite charismatic. If you spend a lot of time trying to be charming and persuade other people, it might well make you more attractive, says Dr Papageorgiou.
He says there could even be an evolutionary element to what he says is a rise in narcissism, with narcissists having more sexual partners and passing on their genes to more people.
Dr Papageorgiou says about 60% of narcissism is inherited, with the rest shaped by the environment.
Narcissists can be "absolutely destructive for those around them", says the psychologist, but there is nothing inevitable about this and they can limit the impact of these character traits.
"You can control them, rather than let them control you," he says.
Dr Papageorgiou argues that such personality traits should not be seen as "either good or bad" but as "products of evolution" and "expressions of human nature".
Saturday, May 12, 2018
Bill Gates to Harvard students: 'This is a fascinating time to be alive' - CNBC News
Bill Gates to Harvard students: 'This is a fascinating time to be alive'
Kathleen Elkins | @kathleen_elk 3:01 PM ET Wed, 9 May 2018
Bill Gates, an American businessman and co-founder of the Microsoft Corporation.
Sanchit Khanna | Hindustan Times | Getty Images
Bill Gates, an American businessman and co-founder of the Microsoft Corporation.
Bill Gates says he's envious of the complex problems that today's young people will get to solve.
During a Q&A at Harvard last month, the Microsoft co-founder told students that it's a "more interesting time to be lucky enough to be a student at Harvard" than it was when he entered the Ivy in 1973.
Gates continued: "The ability to take innovation and solve problems including: How do you help low income students do as well as high income students? How do you go to Africa and help the health and education and take the incredible population growth that will be there and make that a positive asset for that continent?"
Bill Gates: These skills will create the most opportunity for you in the future job market Bill Gates: These skills will be most in-demand in the job market of the future
Today's hot topics, which also include climate change and artificial intelligence, are complex and wide-reaching, but that's what makes it "a fascinating time to be alive," he told students. "I don't know what it'll be like 50 or 60 years from now, what the problems will be. But in your generation, cancer, infectious disease, so many things will be solved."
If Gates had to pick one specific topic to zero in on if he were a Harvard student today, it would be artificial intelligence, since there are plenty of complex problems left to solve in the space, he said: "Computers still can't read. They cannot take a book of information and, say, pass an AP test on that book. And that's a solvable problem."
"I'm jealous that maybe one of you gets to work on that," he added. "It's the juiciest problem ever."
Kathleen Elkins | @kathleen_elk 3:01 PM ET Wed, 9 May 2018
Bill Gates, an American businessman and co-founder of the Microsoft Corporation.
Sanchit Khanna | Hindustan Times | Getty Images
Bill Gates, an American businessman and co-founder of the Microsoft Corporation.
Bill Gates says he's envious of the complex problems that today's young people will get to solve.
During a Q&A at Harvard last month, the Microsoft co-founder told students that it's a "more interesting time to be lucky enough to be a student at Harvard" than it was when he entered the Ivy in 1973.
Gates continued: "The ability to take innovation and solve problems including: How do you help low income students do as well as high income students? How do you go to Africa and help the health and education and take the incredible population growth that will be there and make that a positive asset for that continent?"
Bill Gates: These skills will create the most opportunity for you in the future job market Bill Gates: These skills will be most in-demand in the job market of the future
Today's hot topics, which also include climate change and artificial intelligence, are complex and wide-reaching, but that's what makes it "a fascinating time to be alive," he told students. "I don't know what it'll be like 50 or 60 years from now, what the problems will be. But in your generation, cancer, infectious disease, so many things will be solved."
If Gates had to pick one specific topic to zero in on if he were a Harvard student today, it would be artificial intelligence, since there are plenty of complex problems left to solve in the space, he said: "Computers still can't read. They cannot take a book of information and, say, pass an AP test on that book. And that's a solvable problem."
"I'm jealous that maybe one of you gets to work on that," he added. "It's the juiciest problem ever."
Thursday, May 10, 2018
Are you really too busy to be mindful? - Telegraph
Are you really too busy to be mindful?
'Not only are the benefits of mindfulness obvious, the approach is also easy to learn'
'Not only are the benefits of mindfulness obvious, the approach is also easy to learn'
Linda Blair
10 MAY 2018 • 11:00AM
We often think our lives are too busy to be mindful – but there are good reasons why you should make time.
Since the early 1980s, when Jon Kabat-Zinn demonstrated its relieving properties for patients who endure severe chronic pain, mindfulness – a discipline that helps you achieve intentional, non-judgmental awareness of the present moment – has been applied in a vast range of settings.
Mark Williams and colleagues at Cambridge taught patients suffering from recurring bouts of depression to use MBCT (short for “Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy for Depression”), and found their chance of relapse was significantly reduced.
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Paul Grossman at the Freiburg Institute for Mindfulness Research reviewed the literature and concluded that mindfulness can help relieve symptoms across a wide range of health problems, both mental and physiological.
Sarah Bowen at the University of Washington used mindfulness to help prevent relapse in adults recovering from substance abuse. It has also been shown to help parents with autistic children cope more adaptively with their child’s challenging behaviour.
Even Martin Seligman, who, in his latest book The Hope Circuit, argues that the key to happiness is all about having an optimistic view of the future, rather than focusing on the present, would have to accept that it’s impossible to be realistically optimistic about what lies ahead until you first take a calm, non-judgmental look at what’s happening right now.
Not only are the benefits of mindfulness obvious, the approach is also easy to learn. There will almost certainly be a mindfulness course on offer near your home or workplace. In the rare circumstances where this isn’t the case, there’s always Mark Williams and Danny Penman’s excellent book, Mindfulness: A Practical Guide to Finding Peace in a Frantic World; or my own, The Key to Calm.
It’s much better instead to think of mindfulness as a way of being; a way of doing what you already do
Why, then do so many of us believe it’s difficult to find time to be mindful? The reason is that too many practitioners teach it as a separate entity, as something you need to set aside special times to practice, an additional activity you have to fit into your already packed day. Most people, quite rightly, find this off-putting.
It’s much better instead to think of mindfulness as a way of being; a way of doing what you already do, but with focus and curious, open-minded, non-judgmental awareness. You can make that happen simply by starting each day feeling calm and balanced.
As soon as you wake, sit up in bed and begin by taking breath in through your nose slowly and evenly. Hold it for as long as you comfortably can, then exhale slowly and evenly through your nose. Do 10 of these mindful breaths, concentrating fully on your breathing throughout.
This will only take two minutes. Yet by starting your day like this, later on you’ll find it easy to become aware whenever negative thoughts or anxious feelings start to sabotage your inner calm. You can then rebalance by taking another 10 mindful breaths.
Once mindful breathing becomes an ingrained habit, you can use it anytime and anywhere. Then you really can live the life you want – only better.
Linda Blair is a clinical psychologist and author of Siblings: How to Handle Rivalry and Create Lifelong Loving Bonds. To order for £10.99, call 0844 871 1514 or visit books.telegraph.co.uk
'Not only are the benefits of mindfulness obvious, the approach is also easy to learn'
'Not only are the benefits of mindfulness obvious, the approach is also easy to learn'
Linda Blair
10 MAY 2018 • 11:00AM
We often think our lives are too busy to be mindful – but there are good reasons why you should make time.
Since the early 1980s, when Jon Kabat-Zinn demonstrated its relieving properties for patients who endure severe chronic pain, mindfulness – a discipline that helps you achieve intentional, non-judgmental awareness of the present moment – has been applied in a vast range of settings.
Mark Williams and colleagues at Cambridge taught patients suffering from recurring bouts of depression to use MBCT (short for “Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy for Depression”), and found their chance of relapse was significantly reduced.
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Paul Grossman at the Freiburg Institute for Mindfulness Research reviewed the literature and concluded that mindfulness can help relieve symptoms across a wide range of health problems, both mental and physiological.
Sarah Bowen at the University of Washington used mindfulness to help prevent relapse in adults recovering from substance abuse. It has also been shown to help parents with autistic children cope more adaptively with their child’s challenging behaviour.
Even Martin Seligman, who, in his latest book The Hope Circuit, argues that the key to happiness is all about having an optimistic view of the future, rather than focusing on the present, would have to accept that it’s impossible to be realistically optimistic about what lies ahead until you first take a calm, non-judgmental look at what’s happening right now.
Not only are the benefits of mindfulness obvious, the approach is also easy to learn. There will almost certainly be a mindfulness course on offer near your home or workplace. In the rare circumstances where this isn’t the case, there’s always Mark Williams and Danny Penman’s excellent book, Mindfulness: A Practical Guide to Finding Peace in a Frantic World; or my own, The Key to Calm.
It’s much better instead to think of mindfulness as a way of being; a way of doing what you already do
Why, then do so many of us believe it’s difficult to find time to be mindful? The reason is that too many practitioners teach it as a separate entity, as something you need to set aside special times to practice, an additional activity you have to fit into your already packed day. Most people, quite rightly, find this off-putting.
It’s much better instead to think of mindfulness as a way of being; a way of doing what you already do, but with focus and curious, open-minded, non-judgmental awareness. You can make that happen simply by starting each day feeling calm and balanced.
As soon as you wake, sit up in bed and begin by taking breath in through your nose slowly and evenly. Hold it for as long as you comfortably can, then exhale slowly and evenly through your nose. Do 10 of these mindful breaths, concentrating fully on your breathing throughout.
This will only take two minutes. Yet by starting your day like this, later on you’ll find it easy to become aware whenever negative thoughts or anxious feelings start to sabotage your inner calm. You can then rebalance by taking another 10 mindful breaths.
Once mindful breathing becomes an ingrained habit, you can use it anytime and anywhere. Then you really can live the life you want – only better.
Linda Blair is a clinical psychologist and author of Siblings: How to Handle Rivalry and Create Lifelong Loving Bonds. To order for £10.99, call 0844 871 1514 or visit books.telegraph.co.uk
Wednesday, May 9, 2018
A Harvard Study Says 5 Habits Can Help You Live Way Longer. This One Is the Most Important - Fortune
A Harvard Study Says 5 Habits Can Help You Live Way Longer. This One Is the Most Important
By SY MUKHERJEE April 30, 2018
A new study by Harvard researchers suggests that five lifestyle habits may be key to extending life expectancy by more than 10 years. But one of the longevity-boosting habits is especially important for living longer—staying away from smoking and tobacco.
The research published in the medical journal Circulation cites five behaviors associated with significantly longer life: not smoking, keeping a healthy Body Mass Index (BMI), avoiding excess alcohol consumption, moderate-to-vigorous exercise, and keeping a healthy diet. Sticking to all five of those healthy habits was associated with 12.2 years of longer life for men and 14 years of longer life expectancy for women, according to the researchers. (Ok, this is a good time to note the caveat that this was an observational study and not a randomized clinical trial, and that correlation isn’t the same as causation.) Out of all these behaviors, however, avoiding smoking and tobacco products has been proven time and time again to be the most effective way to live longer—or at the very least avoid dying at an unnecessarily premature age.
Let’s let the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) explain exactly why. “Smoking causes cancer, heart disease, stroke, lung diseases, diabetes, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), which includes emphysema and chronic bronchitis,” writes the agency.
On a larger scale, that amounts to an estimated 16 million Americans living with a disease caused by smoking in some way or another. And it checks all of the big-name killing boxes: heart disease (the number one killer of Americans), cancer (the number two killer of Americans), and COPD (the number three killer of Americans).
That’s a likely reason why the criteria in the latest study included avoiding smoking altogether. While the other associations surrounding diet and exercise have also shown strong associations with longer life expectancy and more healthy lives, avoiding smoking remains the single most powerful way to prevent an early death and extend life, according to multiple large-scale analyses.
By SY MUKHERJEE April 30, 2018
A new study by Harvard researchers suggests that five lifestyle habits may be key to extending life expectancy by more than 10 years. But one of the longevity-boosting habits is especially important for living longer—staying away from smoking and tobacco.
The research published in the medical journal Circulation cites five behaviors associated with significantly longer life: not smoking, keeping a healthy Body Mass Index (BMI), avoiding excess alcohol consumption, moderate-to-vigorous exercise, and keeping a healthy diet. Sticking to all five of those healthy habits was associated with 12.2 years of longer life for men and 14 years of longer life expectancy for women, according to the researchers. (Ok, this is a good time to note the caveat that this was an observational study and not a randomized clinical trial, and that correlation isn’t the same as causation.) Out of all these behaviors, however, avoiding smoking and tobacco products has been proven time and time again to be the most effective way to live longer—or at the very least avoid dying at an unnecessarily premature age.
Let’s let the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) explain exactly why. “Smoking causes cancer, heart disease, stroke, lung diseases, diabetes, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), which includes emphysema and chronic bronchitis,” writes the agency.
On a larger scale, that amounts to an estimated 16 million Americans living with a disease caused by smoking in some way or another. And it checks all of the big-name killing boxes: heart disease (the number one killer of Americans), cancer (the number two killer of Americans), and COPD (the number three killer of Americans).
That’s a likely reason why the criteria in the latest study included avoiding smoking altogether. While the other associations surrounding diet and exercise have also shown strong associations with longer life expectancy and more healthy lives, avoiding smoking remains the single most powerful way to prevent an early death and extend life, according to multiple large-scale analyses.
Thursday, May 3, 2018
The 24 Rules for Success Left Behind by a Legendary Wall Street Banker - TIME Business
The 24 Rules for Success Left Behind by a Legendary Wall Street Banker
Posted: 01 May 2018 01:39 PM PDT
Richard Jenrette, who co-founded the investment bank Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette in 1959, spent four decades on Wall Street. When he died last week from complications of cancer at the age of 89, he left behind on his desk 24 rules to succeed — in finance, and in life. The list, titled “What I Learned,” was shared Sunday at an intimate memorial service for family and local friends in Charleston, South Carolina. Here’s what it said:
What I Learned (How to Succeed) (and have a Long and Happy Life)
1. Stay in the game. That’s often all you need to do – don’t quit. Stick around! Don’t be a quitter!
2. Don’t burn bridges (behind you)
3. Remember – Life has no blessing like a good friend! You can’t get enough of them. Don’t leave old friends behind – you may need them
4. Try to be nice and say “thank you” a lot!
5. Stay informed/KEEP LEARNING!
6. Study — Stay Educated. Do Your Home Work!! Keep learning!
7. Cultivate friends of all ages – especially younger
8. Run Scared — over-prepare
9. Be proud — no Uriah Heep for you! But not conceited. Know your own worth.
10. Plan ahead but be prepared to allow when opportunity presents itself.
11. Turn Problems into Opportunities. Very often it can be done. Problems create opportunities for change — people willing to consider change when there are problems.
12. Present yourself well. Clean, clean-shaven, dress “classically” to age. Beware style, trends. Look for charm. Good grammar. Don’t swear so much — it’s not cute.
13. But be open to change — don’t be stuck in mud. Be willing to consider what’s new but don’t blindly follow it. USE YOUR HEAD – COMMON SENSE.
14. Have some fun – but not all the time!
15. Be on the side of the Angels. Wear the White Hat.
16. Have a fall-back position. Heir and the spare. Don’t leave all your money in one place.
17. Learn a foreign language.
18. Travel a lot — around the world, if possible.
19. Don’t criticize someone in front of others.
20. Don’t forget to praise a job well done (but don’t praise a poor job)
21. I don’t like to lose — but don’t be a poor loser if you do.
22. It helps to have someone to love who loves you (not just sex).
23. Keep your standards high in all you do.
24. Look for the big picture but don’t forget the small details.
Tuesday, May 1, 2018
5 ways you can travel the world for (nearly) free - CNBC News
May 1, 2018
5 ways you can travel the world for (nearly) free
Jimmy Im | @Realjimmyim
The best things in life are free, or close to it — even travel. It's easier than you'd think to take a trip without cracking open your wallet, and plenty of savvy travelers know the tricks of the trade.
Lee Abbamonte, travel expert and entrepreneur who has visited every country in the world, says, "If you really put some effort in, you can travel for free often by maximizing miles and points, social media and other specials."
Try these strategies below to take a dream vacation without spending much, or any, money.
1. Use all your frequent flier miles
Flying for free helps you get on your journey for less. If you have a stash of frequent flier miles, use them now. Miles lose value every day and often expire, so redeem them for a free trip while they have value.
To get the best deal/reward ticket, Lee says pay attention: "Check fares and redemptions on airline websites often to get the saver fares, and plan your travel around them." Airlines often promote deals and flash sales with low redemptions for mileage tickets exclusively in their newsletters.
The Points Guy, a travel site dedicated to frequent flier points, regularly posts mileage deals.
2. Sign up for credit cards with travel rewards
"Credit cards are a great way, perhaps the fastest way, to earn free travel quickly," says Lee. A sign-up bonus alone often equals a free trip. For example, Bank of America Premium Rewards credit card offers 50,000 points ($500 value), which can be used to purchase a flight almost immediately when you sign up.
3. Work in the travel industry
Free travel is a major incentive to work in the travel industry. Airline cabin crew, like pilots and flight attendants, get to see the world on company dime and other professions related to travel have the same perks, like hotel managers, travel agents and publicists at a travel PR firm.
4. Get active on social media
Content creators and bloggers with a large number of followers are known to get free travel, including hotel rooms, meals and often flights, in exchange for posts on various social media platforms like Snapchat, YouTube, Instagram and Twitter. "The beauty of the whole social media game is that anyone can do it," says Lee, "and it's the easiest way for people with a following to leverage it for some publicity."
But, he warns, "you have to work it right and be genuine. PR folk are savvy at detecting scammers, like those who buy fake followers."
5. Get lucky in a contest
Companies often offer "dream travel job" contests for one lucky winner, like The New York Times' search for someone to travel the world researching destinations (the company received 13,000 applicants). ThirdHome paid one lucky winner $10,000 a month to travel to and stay in multi-million-dollar rental homes for their Best Job on the Planet contest last year.
Iceland's flagship budget carrier WOW Air is currently holding its WOW Travel Guide competition, seeking two people to make Reykjavik their home base this summer while taking short trips to 38 locations the airline serves. In exchange for creating digital guides, the duo will get $4,000 each in stipend, as well an apartment.
5 ways you can travel the world for (nearly) free
Jimmy Im | @Realjimmyim
The best things in life are free, or close to it — even travel. It's easier than you'd think to take a trip without cracking open your wallet, and plenty of savvy travelers know the tricks of the trade.
Lee Abbamonte, travel expert and entrepreneur who has visited every country in the world, says, "If you really put some effort in, you can travel for free often by maximizing miles and points, social media and other specials."
Try these strategies below to take a dream vacation without spending much, or any, money.
1. Use all your frequent flier miles
Flying for free helps you get on your journey for less. If you have a stash of frequent flier miles, use them now. Miles lose value every day and often expire, so redeem them for a free trip while they have value.
To get the best deal/reward ticket, Lee says pay attention: "Check fares and redemptions on airline websites often to get the saver fares, and plan your travel around them." Airlines often promote deals and flash sales with low redemptions for mileage tickets exclusively in their newsletters.
The Points Guy, a travel site dedicated to frequent flier points, regularly posts mileage deals.
2. Sign up for credit cards with travel rewards
"Credit cards are a great way, perhaps the fastest way, to earn free travel quickly," says Lee. A sign-up bonus alone often equals a free trip. For example, Bank of America Premium Rewards credit card offers 50,000 points ($500 value), which can be used to purchase a flight almost immediately when you sign up.
3. Work in the travel industry
Free travel is a major incentive to work in the travel industry. Airline cabin crew, like pilots and flight attendants, get to see the world on company dime and other professions related to travel have the same perks, like hotel managers, travel agents and publicists at a travel PR firm.
4. Get active on social media
Content creators and bloggers with a large number of followers are known to get free travel, including hotel rooms, meals and often flights, in exchange for posts on various social media platforms like Snapchat, YouTube, Instagram and Twitter. "The beauty of the whole social media game is that anyone can do it," says Lee, "and it's the easiest way for people with a following to leverage it for some publicity."
But, he warns, "you have to work it right and be genuine. PR folk are savvy at detecting scammers, like those who buy fake followers."
5. Get lucky in a contest
Companies often offer "dream travel job" contests for one lucky winner, like The New York Times' search for someone to travel the world researching destinations (the company received 13,000 applicants). ThirdHome paid one lucky winner $10,000 a month to travel to and stay in multi-million-dollar rental homes for their Best Job on the Planet contest last year.
Iceland's flagship budget carrier WOW Air is currently holding its WOW Travel Guide competition, seeking two people to make Reykjavik their home base this summer while taking short trips to 38 locations the airline serves. In exchange for creating digital guides, the duo will get $4,000 each in stipend, as well an apartment.
Jeff Bezos and Bill Gates both do this mundane chore that may have significant mental benefits - CBNC News
Jeff Bezos and Bill Gates both do this mundane chore that may have significant mental benefits
Marguerite Ward | @forwardist 11:47 AM ET Fri, 10 Nov 2017
Jeff Bezos
Jeff Bezos and Bill Gates may be the two richest men on the planet, but that doesn't mean they're above doing the dishes.
Both billionaires say they take care of their family's dirty plates and glasses every night.
In a 2014 interview with Business Insider CEO Henry Blodget, Bezos said that doing the dishes is a part of his daily routine.
"I do the dishes every night," said Bezos, who's currently worth almost $95 billion. "I'm pretty convinced it's the sexiest thing I do," he joked.
Gates, who is currently the world's second-richest man, not only does the dishes every night, he enjoys it.
Bill Gates, the co-Founder of the Microsoft company and co-Founder of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
Bill Gates, the co-Founder of the Microsoft company and co-Founder of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
When asked in a 2014 Reddit Ask Me Anything, "What is something you enjoy doing that you think no one would expect from you?" Gates, who is now worth $89.2 billion, replied, "I do the dishes every night — other people volunteer, but I like the way I do it."
While both businessmen have their own individual reasons for doing the daily chore, science suggests they may be on to something. Multiple independent studies have found that doing the dishes can reduce stress and boost creativity.
A Florida State University study found that students who were primed to be mindful while washing dishes (i.e. focus on breathing and the touch, smell and feel of the task) saw a decrease in their stress levels and a boost in inspiration. Concentrating on the feeling of the warm water or the smell of the soap stimulated the brain.
Another study by the University of California, Santa Barbara, found that doing mindless tasks allows the brain to wander and engage in creative problem-solving.
For instance, people who first completed a "boring" task, like copying numbers from a phone directory, were able to think more creatively afterward, according to a study by the University of Central Lancashire.
The evening routine that helps Bill Gates relax and boost his creativity The evening routine that helps Bill Gates relax and boost his creativity
Think about it: When do you get your best ideas? Is it when you're at your desk willing them to come? Or is it when you're mindlessly taking a shower or working out that a brilliant thought suddenly pops into your head?
The less-than-thrilling process of doing the dishes could provide the same opportunity.
So the next time you see a pile of dirty dishes in the sink, follow these billionaires' lead and dive in. The task could help you feel calmer and more creative.
Marguerite Ward | @forwardist 11:47 AM ET Fri, 10 Nov 2017
Jeff Bezos
Jeff Bezos and Bill Gates may be the two richest men on the planet, but that doesn't mean they're above doing the dishes.
Both billionaires say they take care of their family's dirty plates and glasses every night.
In a 2014 interview with Business Insider CEO Henry Blodget, Bezos said that doing the dishes is a part of his daily routine.
"I do the dishes every night," said Bezos, who's currently worth almost $95 billion. "I'm pretty convinced it's the sexiest thing I do," he joked.
Gates, who is currently the world's second-richest man, not only does the dishes every night, he enjoys it.
Bill Gates, the co-Founder of the Microsoft company and co-Founder of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
Bill Gates, the co-Founder of the Microsoft company and co-Founder of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
When asked in a 2014 Reddit Ask Me Anything, "What is something you enjoy doing that you think no one would expect from you?" Gates, who is now worth $89.2 billion, replied, "I do the dishes every night — other people volunteer, but I like the way I do it."
While both businessmen have their own individual reasons for doing the daily chore, science suggests they may be on to something. Multiple independent studies have found that doing the dishes can reduce stress and boost creativity.
A Florida State University study found that students who were primed to be mindful while washing dishes (i.e. focus on breathing and the touch, smell and feel of the task) saw a decrease in their stress levels and a boost in inspiration. Concentrating on the feeling of the warm water or the smell of the soap stimulated the brain.
Another study by the University of California, Santa Barbara, found that doing mindless tasks allows the brain to wander and engage in creative problem-solving.
For instance, people who first completed a "boring" task, like copying numbers from a phone directory, were able to think more creatively afterward, according to a study by the University of Central Lancashire.
The evening routine that helps Bill Gates relax and boost his creativity The evening routine that helps Bill Gates relax and boost his creativity
Think about it: When do you get your best ideas? Is it when you're at your desk willing them to come? Or is it when you're mindlessly taking a shower or working out that a brilliant thought suddenly pops into your head?
The less-than-thrilling process of doing the dishes could provide the same opportunity.
So the next time you see a pile of dirty dishes in the sink, follow these billionaires' lead and dive in. The task could help you feel calmer and more creative.
8 proven habits for ultimate success - CNBC News ( source : Entrepreneur.com )
8 proven habits for ultimate success
1:47 PM ET Mon, 23 April 2018
The Oracles
Finocchiaro | The Oracles
We are the result of our repeated behavior. Or as Aristotle put it, "Success is not an action, but a habit."
Here, top entrepreneurs and members of The Oracles weigh in on the one mental habit that drove their success and how to cultivate it in yourself.
1. Visualize your goals
Since I was an athlete in high school, I've envisioned my goals as if they were already happening. I've used this visualization practice for decades now, and it's supported my athletic career, my business achievements, and my current endeavor to make a massive global impact through the media.
There's no right or wrong way to visualize your goals. It's a matter of setting time aside every morning or night to close your eyes and play a movie in your mind of what your life will be like when you've achieved your dream.
This practice primes your mind to believe your end goal has already happened, so when the time comes to perform, you're confident and ready. —Lewis Howes, former pro athlete, global top 100 podcast host, NYT-bestselling author of The School of Greatness, and creator of The Millionaire Morning; follow Lewis on Facebook, Instagram or YouTube
2. Update your mental tapes
We all have old tapes in our head that we put on replay whenever a new opportunity arises. I was a terrible student in school, so for years, the tape that ran in my head reinforced old, negative beliefs about myself. I would play the tape and go into a meeting convinced that I was not likely to succeed or get what I wanted.
I soon realized that my old tapes had outlived their usefulness and were getting in my way. So, I formed a new mental habit of updating the content of these tapes. I swapped out, "You're not very good at this!" for "You're just amazing! Show them what you've got!"
Recording over my old mental tapes was the one habit that has contributed most to my success. —Barbara Corcoran, founder of The Corcoran Group and Shark on "Shark Tank"
3. Rewire your beliefs in just five minutes a day
While visualization and goal-setting are essential, one simple, daily practice can bring your goals to life. Set aside five minutes each day to write your goals down in the present tense with a specific result, as if you have already accomplished them.
For example, you may write, "We have 2,500 clients paying us $99/month for copywriting services," or, "We operate 32 buildings and generate $128,000/month in rental income."
The act of writing and rewriting your goals daily from memory rewires your nervous system to create a unique singularity of focus. It also gives you total clarity on what your subconscious should be focusing on every single day. —Sharran Srivatsaa, angel investor and president of brokerage (western region) at Douglas Elliman; grew Teles Properties 10X in five years
4. Arrive 15 minutes early to everything
Punctuality alone will get you very far in life. Growing up, I made it a point to be early to everything. Although I didn't realize it at the time, I was priming myself to become a successful businessman.
My motto is, "The tardy salesman never makes the sale." This couldn't be more true. Being late to a meeting inevitably starts the discussion off on the wrong foot. It's very hard to recover from that poor first impression. Being late essentially says, "My time is more important than yours." These are words no businessperson ever wants to hear.
For those who have not cultivated this essential skill and are perpetually tardy, my suggestion would be to make a conscious effort to arrive 15 minutes early to everything you do. Whether it's your gym class, a dinner reservation, or the business meeting of your dreams, be early.
This will give you time to collect your thoughts and soothe any anxious feelings you may have. As the great philosopher Bertrand Russell once said, "In the ordinary business of life, punctuality is ... necessary." —Jonathan Gilinski, serial entrepreneur, executive director of CapsCanada, and founder of Capsuline; follow Jonathan on LinkedIn and Twitter
5. Go for 'No'
Everyone yearns to hear "Yes," but the way you handle hearing "No" will make you great.
Most people only set their sights on "Yes" targets throughout their day; they worry about hearing "No," and feel deflated when it happens. But in trying to avoid "No," you place too much pressure on yourself,leaving you uptight, not having fun, and ultimately, less successful.
I learned that "No" is an important part of the "Yes Process." Embrace it. Rather than avoiding "No," I learned to "Go for No!" It became my primary goal to reach each day. The difference between "Wanting No" and "Avoiding No" made all the difference. My natural fear of rejection practically went away. I became better, faster, and made a lot more money.
Remember: all of the "Yeses" you want are buried in a sea of "No's." Set a goal for how many "No's" should you target each day. "Go for No!" I bet it'll become the number one habit that builds your empire. —Shaun Rawls, lifelong entrepreneur, founder and CEO of Rawls Consulting
6. Remove all distractions
I've always been fond of the Antoine de Saint-Exupéry quote, "Perfection is achieved, not when there is nothing more to add, but when there is nothing left to take away."
This summarizes how I like to approach business, my software platform, and life. With so many available distractions, the true essence of progress is deep thought, coupled with simplicity. To achieve simplicity, you must remove the unnecessary.
Give this a try: log your daily activities for a few days. After a fixed period, assess. You'll be astounded by the amount of unnecessary and time-consuming distractions you have in your life.
Remove these distractions, and you'll have time for the life-changing deep thought and profound advances in your career that can only come if you make room for them. —Kenny Rueter, co-founder of Kajabi
7. Put yourself in a bubble
Growing up, my friends were preoccupied with trending news and pop culture. Since I threw my TV out at 16 years old, I became somewhat of an outcast. Instead of mimicking the distracted behavior of my peers, I put myself in a bubble and only surrounded myself with other driven individuals.
Defying the "norm" and focusing on my greater mission made it harder to relate to the average person. However, to pursue excellence, you sometimes have to distance yourself from the average.
Ultimately, the willingness to make the social sacrifices necessary to prioritize my mission helped me succeed more than anything. I've since made so many more valuable connections: people who root for my success, want me to win, and see my business thrive. Focus your time on the things that matter; it will change your whole perspective on people and business. —Sweta Patel, founder of Silicon Valley Startup Marketing who has advised over 200 early stage startups and high-growth companies; connect with Sweta on Facebook and Instagram
8. Invest in yourself and take action
Success is the ability to do what you love every day. To be successful, you have to know what you love, who you are at your core, and be courageous enough to take action.
Investing in yourself requires perseverance and determination. You can do anything you set your mind to, but to achieve your goals, you must be willing to face your fears. You may feel scared investing in yourself. However, not investing in yourself is actually worse, once you realize what your inaction has cost you: opportunity, time, learning, and your potential.
The only difference between who you are and who you want to be is the action you take and what you do. — Marina Rose, QDNA® , founder and developer of Quantum DNA Acceleration®, a revolutionary technique for quantum growth in health, life, and business; connect with Marina on Facebook
Want to share your insights like those above in a future column? If you're an experienced entrepreneur, please get in touch here.
Want to suggest a future topic for these entrepreneurs to answer? Email suggestion@theoracles.com, and it's very possible we'll make your suggestion the focus of a future article!
Follow The Oracles on Facebook.
This article originally appeared on Entrepreneur.com.
1:47 PM ET Mon, 23 April 2018
The Oracles
Finocchiaro | The Oracles
We are the result of our repeated behavior. Or as Aristotle put it, "Success is not an action, but a habit."
Here, top entrepreneurs and members of The Oracles weigh in on the one mental habit that drove their success and how to cultivate it in yourself.
1. Visualize your goals
Since I was an athlete in high school, I've envisioned my goals as if they were already happening. I've used this visualization practice for decades now, and it's supported my athletic career, my business achievements, and my current endeavor to make a massive global impact through the media.
There's no right or wrong way to visualize your goals. It's a matter of setting time aside every morning or night to close your eyes and play a movie in your mind of what your life will be like when you've achieved your dream.
This practice primes your mind to believe your end goal has already happened, so when the time comes to perform, you're confident and ready. —Lewis Howes, former pro athlete, global top 100 podcast host, NYT-bestselling author of The School of Greatness, and creator of The Millionaire Morning; follow Lewis on Facebook, Instagram or YouTube
2. Update your mental tapes
We all have old tapes in our head that we put on replay whenever a new opportunity arises. I was a terrible student in school, so for years, the tape that ran in my head reinforced old, negative beliefs about myself. I would play the tape and go into a meeting convinced that I was not likely to succeed or get what I wanted.
I soon realized that my old tapes had outlived their usefulness and were getting in my way. So, I formed a new mental habit of updating the content of these tapes. I swapped out, "You're not very good at this!" for "You're just amazing! Show them what you've got!"
Recording over my old mental tapes was the one habit that has contributed most to my success. —Barbara Corcoran, founder of The Corcoran Group and Shark on "Shark Tank"
3. Rewire your beliefs in just five minutes a day
While visualization and goal-setting are essential, one simple, daily practice can bring your goals to life. Set aside five minutes each day to write your goals down in the present tense with a specific result, as if you have already accomplished them.
For example, you may write, "We have 2,500 clients paying us $99/month for copywriting services," or, "We operate 32 buildings and generate $128,000/month in rental income."
The act of writing and rewriting your goals daily from memory rewires your nervous system to create a unique singularity of focus. It also gives you total clarity on what your subconscious should be focusing on every single day. —Sharran Srivatsaa, angel investor and president of brokerage (western region) at Douglas Elliman; grew Teles Properties 10X in five years
4. Arrive 15 minutes early to everything
Punctuality alone will get you very far in life. Growing up, I made it a point to be early to everything. Although I didn't realize it at the time, I was priming myself to become a successful businessman.
My motto is, "The tardy salesman never makes the sale." This couldn't be more true. Being late to a meeting inevitably starts the discussion off on the wrong foot. It's very hard to recover from that poor first impression. Being late essentially says, "My time is more important than yours." These are words no businessperson ever wants to hear.
For those who have not cultivated this essential skill and are perpetually tardy, my suggestion would be to make a conscious effort to arrive 15 minutes early to everything you do. Whether it's your gym class, a dinner reservation, or the business meeting of your dreams, be early.
This will give you time to collect your thoughts and soothe any anxious feelings you may have. As the great philosopher Bertrand Russell once said, "In the ordinary business of life, punctuality is ... necessary." —Jonathan Gilinski, serial entrepreneur, executive director of CapsCanada, and founder of Capsuline; follow Jonathan on LinkedIn and Twitter
5. Go for 'No'
Everyone yearns to hear "Yes," but the way you handle hearing "No" will make you great.
Most people only set their sights on "Yes" targets throughout their day; they worry about hearing "No," and feel deflated when it happens. But in trying to avoid "No," you place too much pressure on yourself,leaving you uptight, not having fun, and ultimately, less successful.
I learned that "No" is an important part of the "Yes Process." Embrace it. Rather than avoiding "No," I learned to "Go for No!" It became my primary goal to reach each day. The difference between "Wanting No" and "Avoiding No" made all the difference. My natural fear of rejection practically went away. I became better, faster, and made a lot more money.
Remember: all of the "Yeses" you want are buried in a sea of "No's." Set a goal for how many "No's" should you target each day. "Go for No!" I bet it'll become the number one habit that builds your empire. —Shaun Rawls, lifelong entrepreneur, founder and CEO of Rawls Consulting
6. Remove all distractions
I've always been fond of the Antoine de Saint-Exupéry quote, "Perfection is achieved, not when there is nothing more to add, but when there is nothing left to take away."
This summarizes how I like to approach business, my software platform, and life. With so many available distractions, the true essence of progress is deep thought, coupled with simplicity. To achieve simplicity, you must remove the unnecessary.
Give this a try: log your daily activities for a few days. After a fixed period, assess. You'll be astounded by the amount of unnecessary and time-consuming distractions you have in your life.
Remove these distractions, and you'll have time for the life-changing deep thought and profound advances in your career that can only come if you make room for them. —Kenny Rueter, co-founder of Kajabi
7. Put yourself in a bubble
Growing up, my friends were preoccupied with trending news and pop culture. Since I threw my TV out at 16 years old, I became somewhat of an outcast. Instead of mimicking the distracted behavior of my peers, I put myself in a bubble and only surrounded myself with other driven individuals.
Defying the "norm" and focusing on my greater mission made it harder to relate to the average person. However, to pursue excellence, you sometimes have to distance yourself from the average.
Ultimately, the willingness to make the social sacrifices necessary to prioritize my mission helped me succeed more than anything. I've since made so many more valuable connections: people who root for my success, want me to win, and see my business thrive. Focus your time on the things that matter; it will change your whole perspective on people and business. —Sweta Patel, founder of Silicon Valley Startup Marketing who has advised over 200 early stage startups and high-growth companies; connect with Sweta on Facebook and Instagram
8. Invest in yourself and take action
Success is the ability to do what you love every day. To be successful, you have to know what you love, who you are at your core, and be courageous enough to take action.
Investing in yourself requires perseverance and determination. You can do anything you set your mind to, but to achieve your goals, you must be willing to face your fears. You may feel scared investing in yourself. However, not investing in yourself is actually worse, once you realize what your inaction has cost you: opportunity, time, learning, and your potential.
The only difference between who you are and who you want to be is the action you take and what you do. — Marina Rose, QDNA® , founder and developer of Quantum DNA Acceleration®, a revolutionary technique for quantum growth in health, life, and business; connect with Marina on Facebook
Want to share your insights like those above in a future column? If you're an experienced entrepreneur, please get in touch here.
Want to suggest a future topic for these entrepreneurs to answer? Email suggestion@theoracles.com, and it's very possible we'll make your suggestion the focus of a future article!
Follow The Oracles on Facebook.
This article originally appeared on Entrepreneur.com.
Saturday, April 28, 2018
Naked butts, crime confessions and bullying: What Facebook won't let you post - CNN Tech
Naked butts, crime confessions and bullying: What Facebook won't let you post
by Sara Ashley O'Brien @saraashleyo
April 24, 2018: 2:42 PM ET
Mark Zuckerberg's House testimony in two minutes
Facebook clarified exactly what you're not allowed to post on the platform, and the list is super-long and specific.
The company's 7,500 content moderators use Facebook's new 27-page content guidelines list when deciding what's acceptable content on the platform — and what should be taken down. It includes obvious bans like copyright and trademark infringement, credible threats of violence, and sexual exploitation. But it also sheds new light on how Facebook regulates "gray area" posts.
For instance, you're not allowed to post hate speech ... unless you're raising awareness about it. Facebook clarified that the onus is on users to make their intentions clear when sharing content.
Here is some of the content Facebook says isn't allowed on its platform.
Nude pictures of children -- even when posted by parents
"We know that sometimes people share nude images of their own children with good intentions; however, we generally remove these images because of the potential for abuse by others and to help avoid the possibility of other people reusing or misappropriating the images."
Facebook also says once a child outgrows the "toddler-age" uncovered female nipples in photos aren't allowed.
Most, but not all, female nipples are banned
"For example, while we restrict some images of female breasts that include the nipple, we allow other images, including those depicting acts of protest, women actively engaged in breast-feeding, and photos of post-mastectomy scarring."
The company also advises users not to share content that shows "squeezing naked female breast except in breastfeeding context."
Claiming that a victim of a tragedy is actually a liar, or being paid to lie
It's considered a form of harassment, according to Facebook's guidelines.
"Claims that a victim of a violent tragedy is lying about being a victim, acting/pretending to be a victim of a verified event, or otherwise is paid or employed to mislead people about their role in the event when sent directly to a survivor and/or immediate family member of a survivor or victim."
Confessions of crimes
Facebook isn't a place to come clean about crimes ranging from theft to sexual assault on the platform.
"We do, however, allow people to debate or advocate for the legality of criminal activities, as well as address them in a rhetorical or satirical way."
Seeking to buy, or sell, marijuana and other drugs
People cannot sell or buy marijuana, or pharmaceutical drugs on the platform. That includes stating interest in buying -- or asking if anyone is selling or trading the item.
When it comes to gun sales, Facebook does allow certain companies to sell firearms or firearm parts -- but it restricts visibility to adults 21 or over.
Being insensitive
Targeting someone's vulnerabilities could get your posts removed on Facebook.
The company advises not to post content that depicts real people and "mocks their implied or actual serious physical injuries, disease, or disability, non- consensual sexual touching, or premature death."
No nude butts, unless...
According to its guidelines "visible anus and/or fully nude close-ups of buttocks" aren't allowed on the platform "unless photoshopped on a public figure."
Calls for violence due to the outcome of election
Under a section about credible violence, Facebook explicitly states that "any content containing statements of intent, calls for action, or advocating for violence due to the outcome of an election," is not permitted on the platform.
by Sara Ashley O'Brien @saraashleyo
April 24, 2018: 2:42 PM ET
Mark Zuckerberg's House testimony in two minutes
Facebook clarified exactly what you're not allowed to post on the platform, and the list is super-long and specific.
The company's 7,500 content moderators use Facebook's new 27-page content guidelines list when deciding what's acceptable content on the platform — and what should be taken down. It includes obvious bans like copyright and trademark infringement, credible threats of violence, and sexual exploitation. But it also sheds new light on how Facebook regulates "gray area" posts.
For instance, you're not allowed to post hate speech ... unless you're raising awareness about it. Facebook clarified that the onus is on users to make their intentions clear when sharing content.
Here is some of the content Facebook says isn't allowed on its platform.
Nude pictures of children -- even when posted by parents
"We know that sometimes people share nude images of their own children with good intentions; however, we generally remove these images because of the potential for abuse by others and to help avoid the possibility of other people reusing or misappropriating the images."
Facebook also says once a child outgrows the "toddler-age" uncovered female nipples in photos aren't allowed.
Most, but not all, female nipples are banned
"For example, while we restrict some images of female breasts that include the nipple, we allow other images, including those depicting acts of protest, women actively engaged in breast-feeding, and photos of post-mastectomy scarring."
The company also advises users not to share content that shows "squeezing naked female breast except in breastfeeding context."
Claiming that a victim of a tragedy is actually a liar, or being paid to lie
It's considered a form of harassment, according to Facebook's guidelines.
"Claims that a victim of a violent tragedy is lying about being a victim, acting/pretending to be a victim of a verified event, or otherwise is paid or employed to mislead people about their role in the event when sent directly to a survivor and/or immediate family member of a survivor or victim."
Confessions of crimes
Facebook isn't a place to come clean about crimes ranging from theft to sexual assault on the platform.
"We do, however, allow people to debate or advocate for the legality of criminal activities, as well as address them in a rhetorical or satirical way."
Seeking to buy, or sell, marijuana and other drugs
People cannot sell or buy marijuana, or pharmaceutical drugs on the platform. That includes stating interest in buying -- or asking if anyone is selling or trading the item.
When it comes to gun sales, Facebook does allow certain companies to sell firearms or firearm parts -- but it restricts visibility to adults 21 or over.
Being insensitive
Targeting someone's vulnerabilities could get your posts removed on Facebook.
The company advises not to post content that depicts real people and "mocks their implied or actual serious physical injuries, disease, or disability, non- consensual sexual touching, or premature death."
No nude butts, unless...
According to its guidelines "visible anus and/or fully nude close-ups of buttocks" aren't allowed on the platform "unless photoshopped on a public figure."
Calls for violence due to the outcome of election
Under a section about credible violence, Facebook explicitly states that "any content containing statements of intent, calls for action, or advocating for violence due to the outcome of an election," is not permitted on the platform.
5 ways to be more productive, according to an email Elon Musk sent staff - Independent
April 22, 2018
5 ways to be more productive, according to an email Elon Musk sent staff
by Narjas Zatat in discover
UPVOTE
Elon Musk is CEO of both SpaceX and Tesla, he also founded The Boring Company and put a car into space.
And that’s just the beginning.
The inventor is a poster boy for productivity, and in email allegedly from him to his Tesla staff about increasing productivity to manufacture more Model 3 cars, he outlined some of the best strategies the company should use to be productive.
The email, obtained by jalopnik, says:
First, congratulations are in order! We have now completed our third full week of producing over 2000 Model 3 vehicles. The first week was 2020, the second was 2070 and we just completed 2250 last week, along with 2000 Model S/X vehicles.
Thanks for being such a kickass team and accomplishing miracles every day. It matters. We are burning the midnight oil to burn the midnight oil.
Here are five ways Elon Musk thinks companies - and you - can be more productive:
1. Get rid of frequent meetings.
Excessive meetings are the blight of big companies and almost always get worse over time. Please get of all large meetings, unless you’re certain they are providing value to the whole audience, in which case keep them very short.
Additionally, unless it’s an “urgent matter”, you don’t need to go to frequent meetings.
2. In fact, walk out of a meeting if you're done with it.
Walk out of a meeting or drop off a call as soon as it is obvious you aren’t adding value. It is not rude to leave, it is rude to make someone stay and waste their time.
3. Don't use acronyms.
The Tesla CEO doesn’t like them.
Don’t use acronyms or nonsense words for objects, software or processes at Tesla. In general, anything that requires an explanation inhibits communication. We don’t want people to have to memorise a glossary just to function at Tesla.
4. Stop communicating via "chain of command".
Communication should travel via the shortest path necessary to get the job done, not through the “chain of command”. Any manager who attempts to enforce chain of command communication will soon find themselves working elsewhere.
5. Use common sense.
In general, always pick common sense as your guide. If following a 'company rule' is obviously ridiculous in a particular situation, such that it would make for a great Dilbert cartoon, then the rule should change.
Musk is reportedly sleeping at the Tesla factory in an effort to fix production delays with the Model 3 electric car, and the email tells employees that Tesla will switch to 27/7 shifts to push for 6,000 cars per week by June.
5 ways to be more productive, according to an email Elon Musk sent staff
by Narjas Zatat in discover
UPVOTE
Elon Musk is CEO of both SpaceX and Tesla, he also founded The Boring Company and put a car into space.
And that’s just the beginning.
The inventor is a poster boy for productivity, and in email allegedly from him to his Tesla staff about increasing productivity to manufacture more Model 3 cars, he outlined some of the best strategies the company should use to be productive.
The email, obtained by jalopnik, says:
First, congratulations are in order! We have now completed our third full week of producing over 2000 Model 3 vehicles. The first week was 2020, the second was 2070 and we just completed 2250 last week, along with 2000 Model S/X vehicles.
Thanks for being such a kickass team and accomplishing miracles every day. It matters. We are burning the midnight oil to burn the midnight oil.
Here are five ways Elon Musk thinks companies - and you - can be more productive:
1. Get rid of frequent meetings.
Excessive meetings are the blight of big companies and almost always get worse over time. Please get of all large meetings, unless you’re certain they are providing value to the whole audience, in which case keep them very short.
Additionally, unless it’s an “urgent matter”, you don’t need to go to frequent meetings.
2. In fact, walk out of a meeting if you're done with it.
Walk out of a meeting or drop off a call as soon as it is obvious you aren’t adding value. It is not rude to leave, it is rude to make someone stay and waste their time.
3. Don't use acronyms.
The Tesla CEO doesn’t like them.
Don’t use acronyms or nonsense words for objects, software or processes at Tesla. In general, anything that requires an explanation inhibits communication. We don’t want people to have to memorise a glossary just to function at Tesla.
4. Stop communicating via "chain of command".
Communication should travel via the shortest path necessary to get the job done, not through the “chain of command”. Any manager who attempts to enforce chain of command communication will soon find themselves working elsewhere.
5. Use common sense.
In general, always pick common sense as your guide. If following a 'company rule' is obviously ridiculous in a particular situation, such that it would make for a great Dilbert cartoon, then the rule should change.
Musk is reportedly sleeping at the Tesla factory in an effort to fix production delays with the Model 3 electric car, and the email tells employees that Tesla will switch to 27/7 shifts to push for 6,000 cars per week by June.
Tuesday, April 24, 2018
Harvard's longest study of adult life reveals how you can be happier and more successful - CNBC News
Harvard's longest study of adult life reveals how you can be happier and more successful
Zameena Mejia 9:58 AM ET Tue, 20 March 2018
Why the secret to your success is who you marry Why the secret to your success is who you marry
The United Nations is celebrating the International Day of Happiness today and if you've ever wondered how to live a long, successful and happy life, Harvard researchers may just have your answer.
"The surprising finding is that our relationships and how happy we are in our relationships has a powerful influence on our health," Robert Waldinger, a psychiatrist and professor at Harvard Medical School, told The Harvard Gazette in 2017. "Taking care of your body is important, but tending to your relationships is a form of self-care too. That, I think, is the revelation."
Waldinger, the director of the Harvard Study of Adult Development, said in a viral 2015 "TED Talk" released in 2015, that "good relationships keep us happier and healthier."
The ongoing Harvard study is considered one of the world's longest studies of adult life, having started in 1938 during the Great Depression.
"Our study has shown that the people who fared the best were the people who leaned into relationships, with family, with friends, with community," Waldinger said in the TED Talk.
The study aims to shed light on how "psychosocial variables and biological processes from earlier in life predict health and well-being in late life (80's and 90's), what aspects of childhood and adult experience predict the quality of intimate relationships in late life and how late-life marriage is linked with health and well-being," according to the study's website.
"Most of what we know about human life, we know from asking people to remember the past, and as we know, hindsight is anything but 20/20," Waldinger said. "We forget vast amounts of what happens to us in life and sometimes memory is downright creative."
In the past 79 years, the researchers tracked the lives of 724 men, following up with each one on an annual basis to ask about their work, home lives and health.
They not only received questionnaires, Waldinger said, but they were also interviewed in their homes, provided their medical records from their doctors, got their blood drawn, their brains scanned and let the researchers talk to their children.
Albert Einstein used this mindset shift to be happier and more successful Albert Einstein used this mental shift to be happier and more successful
The participants were broken up into two groups: The first group started in the study as sophomores at Harvard College and finished college during World War II, with most heading off to serve in the war. The second was a group of boys from Boston's poorest neighborhoods, selected specifically because they were from some of the most troubled and disadvantaged families in the Boston of the 1930s, Waldinger said.
After gaining tens of thousands of pages of research data based on these participants, Waldinger said, the clearest message from the study is that "good relationships keep us happier and healthier."
Here are the three lessons you can learn about relationships from the study, according to Waldinger:
Social connections are 'really good' for you
Waldinger said the first lesson you can take is that "social connections are really good for us and that loneliness kills."
"It turns out that people who are more socially connected to family, to friends, to community are happier, they're physically healthier and they live longer than people who are less well connected," he said.
On the contrary, keeping to yourself and experiencing loneliness is toxic. Waldinger points out that people can even feel lonely in a crowd of people or in their marriage.
"People who are more isolated than they want to be from others find that they are less happy, their health declines earlier in midlife, their brain functioning declines sooner and they live shorter lives than people who are not lonely," Waldinger explained.
Rashida Jones as Ann Perkins, Amy Poehler as Leslie Knope in "Parks and Recreation."
Colleen Hayes | Getty Images
Rashida Jones as Ann Perkins, Amy Poehler as Leslie Knope in "Parks and Recreation."
When it comes to relationships, pick quality over quantity
Just as a parent or teacher may have once warned you, Waldinger said that when it comes to friends, it's not about the number of friends you have, but "it's the quality of your close relationships that matters."
Waldinger adds that you should also make sure your relationships are healthy because your willingness to commit to a person or people is not enough to reap the benefits.
This simple exercise helps you figure out what to do with your life and career This simple exercise can help you figure out what to do with your life
"It turns out that living in the midst of conflict is really bad for our health," Waldinger said. "High-conflict marriages, for example, without much affection, turn out to be very bad for our health, perhaps worse than getting divorced."
Good, warm and close relationships, on the other hand, have the ability to "buffer us from some of the slings and arrows of getting old," Waldinger said.
Eighty-year-old men and women who were happily partnered reported that on the days when they had more physical pain, their mood remained just as happy. Meanwhile, those in unhappy relationships had their physical pain magnified by being in more emotional pain.
Good relationships actually protect your brain
Waldinger explained that in addition to positively affecting your physical and emotional health, good relationships have the power to sharpen your memory.
People who are in relationships where they feel they can count on their partner in times of need actually have a sharper, longer-lasting ability to remember things.
All the same, those who were in a relationship where they felt they couldn't count on their partner experienced early memory decline.
To clarify, it's not that the researchers found that people in good relationships were flawless or had to be easygoing all the time.
"As long as they felt that they could really count on the other when the going got tough, those arguments didn't take a toll on their memories," Waldinger said.
If you want to be happier and have stronger, positive relationships, Waldinger recommended "replacing screen time with people time," "livening up a stale relationship by doing something new together," such as long walks or date nights, or "reaching out to that family member who you haven't spoken to in years."
"Relationships are messy and they're complicated and the hard work of tending to family and friends, it's not sexy or glamorous," he said. "It's also lifelong. It never ends."
Zameena Mejia 9:58 AM ET Tue, 20 March 2018
Why the secret to your success is who you marry Why the secret to your success is who you marry
The United Nations is celebrating the International Day of Happiness today and if you've ever wondered how to live a long, successful and happy life, Harvard researchers may just have your answer.
"The surprising finding is that our relationships and how happy we are in our relationships has a powerful influence on our health," Robert Waldinger, a psychiatrist and professor at Harvard Medical School, told The Harvard Gazette in 2017. "Taking care of your body is important, but tending to your relationships is a form of self-care too. That, I think, is the revelation."
Waldinger, the director of the Harvard Study of Adult Development, said in a viral 2015 "TED Talk" released in 2015, that "good relationships keep us happier and healthier."
The ongoing Harvard study is considered one of the world's longest studies of adult life, having started in 1938 during the Great Depression.
"Our study has shown that the people who fared the best were the people who leaned into relationships, with family, with friends, with community," Waldinger said in the TED Talk.
The study aims to shed light on how "psychosocial variables and biological processes from earlier in life predict health and well-being in late life (80's and 90's), what aspects of childhood and adult experience predict the quality of intimate relationships in late life and how late-life marriage is linked with health and well-being," according to the study's website.
"Most of what we know about human life, we know from asking people to remember the past, and as we know, hindsight is anything but 20/20," Waldinger said. "We forget vast amounts of what happens to us in life and sometimes memory is downright creative."
In the past 79 years, the researchers tracked the lives of 724 men, following up with each one on an annual basis to ask about their work, home lives and health.
They not only received questionnaires, Waldinger said, but they were also interviewed in their homes, provided their medical records from their doctors, got their blood drawn, their brains scanned and let the researchers talk to their children.
Albert Einstein used this mindset shift to be happier and more successful Albert Einstein used this mental shift to be happier and more successful
The participants were broken up into two groups: The first group started in the study as sophomores at Harvard College and finished college during World War II, with most heading off to serve in the war. The second was a group of boys from Boston's poorest neighborhoods, selected specifically because they were from some of the most troubled and disadvantaged families in the Boston of the 1930s, Waldinger said.
After gaining tens of thousands of pages of research data based on these participants, Waldinger said, the clearest message from the study is that "good relationships keep us happier and healthier."
Here are the three lessons you can learn about relationships from the study, according to Waldinger:
Social connections are 'really good' for you
Waldinger said the first lesson you can take is that "social connections are really good for us and that loneliness kills."
"It turns out that people who are more socially connected to family, to friends, to community are happier, they're physically healthier and they live longer than people who are less well connected," he said.
On the contrary, keeping to yourself and experiencing loneliness is toxic. Waldinger points out that people can even feel lonely in a crowd of people or in their marriage.
"People who are more isolated than they want to be from others find that they are less happy, their health declines earlier in midlife, their brain functioning declines sooner and they live shorter lives than people who are not lonely," Waldinger explained.
Rashida Jones as Ann Perkins, Amy Poehler as Leslie Knope in "Parks and Recreation."
Colleen Hayes | Getty Images
Rashida Jones as Ann Perkins, Amy Poehler as Leslie Knope in "Parks and Recreation."
When it comes to relationships, pick quality over quantity
Just as a parent or teacher may have once warned you, Waldinger said that when it comes to friends, it's not about the number of friends you have, but "it's the quality of your close relationships that matters."
Waldinger adds that you should also make sure your relationships are healthy because your willingness to commit to a person or people is not enough to reap the benefits.
This simple exercise helps you figure out what to do with your life and career This simple exercise can help you figure out what to do with your life
"It turns out that living in the midst of conflict is really bad for our health," Waldinger said. "High-conflict marriages, for example, without much affection, turn out to be very bad for our health, perhaps worse than getting divorced."
Good, warm and close relationships, on the other hand, have the ability to "buffer us from some of the slings and arrows of getting old," Waldinger said.
Eighty-year-old men and women who were happily partnered reported that on the days when they had more physical pain, their mood remained just as happy. Meanwhile, those in unhappy relationships had their physical pain magnified by being in more emotional pain.
Good relationships actually protect your brain
Waldinger explained that in addition to positively affecting your physical and emotional health, good relationships have the power to sharpen your memory.
People who are in relationships where they feel they can count on their partner in times of need actually have a sharper, longer-lasting ability to remember things.
All the same, those who were in a relationship where they felt they couldn't count on their partner experienced early memory decline.
To clarify, it's not that the researchers found that people in good relationships were flawless or had to be easygoing all the time.
"As long as they felt that they could really count on the other when the going got tough, those arguments didn't take a toll on their memories," Waldinger said.
If you want to be happier and have stronger, positive relationships, Waldinger recommended "replacing screen time with people time," "livening up a stale relationship by doing something new together," such as long walks or date nights, or "reaching out to that family member who you haven't spoken to in years."
"Relationships are messy and they're complicated and the hard work of tending to family and friends, it's not sexy or glamorous," he said. "It's also lifelong. It never ends."
Monday, April 23, 2018
Millennial millionaire: The 8 steps I took to make my first million - CNBC News
Millennial millionaire: The 8 steps I took to make my first million
Bryan M. Kuderna, Contributor 4:12 PM ET Fri, 16 Feb 2018
Since releasing my 2015 book "Millennial Millionaire," I have enjoyed speaking alongside icons of the business world and sharing my advice on all things related to money. As fun as this journey has been, I realized there never was a chance to look in the rear-view mirror, a habit this usually forward-thinking millennial happens to frown upon.
Then, during a recent radio interview with Forbes host Gregg Stebben, he put me on the spot by simply asking, "How did you do it?"
So enough of the grandiose wisdom of macroeconomics and high-flying business heroes. Here are the eight steps a twenty-something took to make his first million!
Graduate college fast
I entered college in 2005 at The University of Tampa. Despite attending four different colleges, I met my goal of graduating in four years from The College of New Jersey in 2009 with a BS in Finance and a minor in Economics.
Walking into a career in insurance and investment advising three days after graduation gave me a huge head start on my peers and, of course, it eliminated the need for more student loans.
Be an entrepreneur
The subtitle to my book, "A Guide to Becoming a Millionaire by 30," has provoked the hardest question I've been asked over the past two years: Is there a prerequisite? The honest truth is yes, and the prerequisite is capital. Without an advanced degree, the most common way I've seen to generate a high early income is sales and/or entrepreneurship.
Only three days after graduating from college, I jumped headlong into a position as a financial sales representative. The first two years were a real struggle, long hours and low income based 100 percent on commission. Coming from a family that relied on a steady paycheck (my dad worked for the army and my mom was a paralegal), this volatility caused a lot of friction on the home front. My parents couldn't understand my working crazy hours, studying for so many licenses, and then hardly getting by.
But I believed the hard work would pay off and began building my own practice right out of the gate.
Here's how this college grad saved $47,000 Here's how this college grad saved $47,000
Live at home
Recognizing that capital is the precursor to wealth, a financial plan becomes feasible by either earning more or saving more. A combination of the two provides the best odds. You might land a great job out of school only to watch much of your early earnings go to rent and living expenses. I lived at home until age 25, which made a nice income seem enormous.
For the first six months of my career I did nothing but put money in the bank. This allowed me to zero out my credit cards every single month. One of my proudest achievements is never paying a penny of interest while collecting some nice rewards along the way.
By age 24, my income, generated by financial advising, began to surpass that of most of my peers. From there it snowballed almost month by month as I accumulated more clients and bigger accounts. I parlayed these earnings into the same investments and financial planning strategies I teach my clients and watched my wealth grow. I added book royalties and speaking gigs on top of my day-to-day job as a CFP.
With some real estate thrown in during the second half of my 20's, I made my million during my 29th year!
The definitive guide to retirement savings plans The definitive guide to retirement savings plans
Fund the 401(k) to the match
After my first year of employment, I was eligible for a 3 percent company match on my 401(k) contributions. I immediately began investing 3 percent of my compensation to the Roth 401(k) option, allocated to 100 percent equities. This quickly went from 3 percent to the IRS maximum after the next three steps were met.
Buy individual disability insurance
Knowing that income is the engine which makes any financial plan run, I purchased the maximum amount of "True Own Occupation" disability insurance with options to increase throughout my career. I've since added a second individual policy and maxed out our Group Long-Term Disability. This makes me feel invincible.
Tony Robbins shares why being a millennial homeowner isn't the smartest move Here's how Tony Robbins suggests millennials approach buying homes
Buy real estate
With capital at my disposal and the leverage of a conventional mortgage, I bought my first property at age 25. Such a large purchase was a frightening progression, but, like anything else in life, you adapt and continue moving forward. Two more properties have since been added, which yield additional rental cash flow while paying off my mortgages.
Open a brokerage account
Once I settled into home ownership and restored my "rainy day fund" to adequate levels, I searched for greater return on my money. A moderately allocated, tax-sensitive ETF account allowed for growth opportunity without sacrificing much liquidity. Any extra, un-earmarked funds quickly find their way here.
By no means are these steps direct recommendations for the masses; they're a biographical sketch of my 20's. Your goal might be $100k, $1 million, or even $1 billion. But I hope a look behind the curtain at a CFP and fellow millennial might help you make the most of your early years.
Bryan M. Kuderna is a CFP, Life Underwriter Training Council Fellow, and Investment Adviser Representative with Kuderna Financial Team, a New Jersey based financial services firm. He is the author of the best-selling book, "Millennial Millionaire: A Guide to Become a Millionaire by 30."
Bryan M. Kuderna, Contributor 4:12 PM ET Fri, 16 Feb 2018
Since releasing my 2015 book "Millennial Millionaire," I have enjoyed speaking alongside icons of the business world and sharing my advice on all things related to money. As fun as this journey has been, I realized there never was a chance to look in the rear-view mirror, a habit this usually forward-thinking millennial happens to frown upon.
Then, during a recent radio interview with Forbes host Gregg Stebben, he put me on the spot by simply asking, "How did you do it?"
So enough of the grandiose wisdom of macroeconomics and high-flying business heroes. Here are the eight steps a twenty-something took to make his first million!
Graduate college fast
I entered college in 2005 at The University of Tampa. Despite attending four different colleges, I met my goal of graduating in four years from The College of New Jersey in 2009 with a BS in Finance and a minor in Economics.
Walking into a career in insurance and investment advising three days after graduation gave me a huge head start on my peers and, of course, it eliminated the need for more student loans.
Be an entrepreneur
The subtitle to my book, "A Guide to Becoming a Millionaire by 30," has provoked the hardest question I've been asked over the past two years: Is there a prerequisite? The honest truth is yes, and the prerequisite is capital. Without an advanced degree, the most common way I've seen to generate a high early income is sales and/or entrepreneurship.
Only three days after graduating from college, I jumped headlong into a position as a financial sales representative. The first two years were a real struggle, long hours and low income based 100 percent on commission. Coming from a family that relied on a steady paycheck (my dad worked for the army and my mom was a paralegal), this volatility caused a lot of friction on the home front. My parents couldn't understand my working crazy hours, studying for so many licenses, and then hardly getting by.
But I believed the hard work would pay off and began building my own practice right out of the gate.
Here's how this college grad saved $47,000 Here's how this college grad saved $47,000
Live at home
Recognizing that capital is the precursor to wealth, a financial plan becomes feasible by either earning more or saving more. A combination of the two provides the best odds. You might land a great job out of school only to watch much of your early earnings go to rent and living expenses. I lived at home until age 25, which made a nice income seem enormous.
For the first six months of my career I did nothing but put money in the bank. This allowed me to zero out my credit cards every single month. One of my proudest achievements is never paying a penny of interest while collecting some nice rewards along the way.
By age 24, my income, generated by financial advising, began to surpass that of most of my peers. From there it snowballed almost month by month as I accumulated more clients and bigger accounts. I parlayed these earnings into the same investments and financial planning strategies I teach my clients and watched my wealth grow. I added book royalties and speaking gigs on top of my day-to-day job as a CFP.
With some real estate thrown in during the second half of my 20's, I made my million during my 29th year!
The definitive guide to retirement savings plans The definitive guide to retirement savings plans
Fund the 401(k) to the match
After my first year of employment, I was eligible for a 3 percent company match on my 401(k) contributions. I immediately began investing 3 percent of my compensation to the Roth 401(k) option, allocated to 100 percent equities. This quickly went from 3 percent to the IRS maximum after the next three steps were met.
Buy individual disability insurance
Knowing that income is the engine which makes any financial plan run, I purchased the maximum amount of "True Own Occupation" disability insurance with options to increase throughout my career. I've since added a second individual policy and maxed out our Group Long-Term Disability. This makes me feel invincible.
Tony Robbins shares why being a millennial homeowner isn't the smartest move Here's how Tony Robbins suggests millennials approach buying homes
Buy real estate
With capital at my disposal and the leverage of a conventional mortgage, I bought my first property at age 25. Such a large purchase was a frightening progression, but, like anything else in life, you adapt and continue moving forward. Two more properties have since been added, which yield additional rental cash flow while paying off my mortgages.
Open a brokerage account
Once I settled into home ownership and restored my "rainy day fund" to adequate levels, I searched for greater return on my money. A moderately allocated, tax-sensitive ETF account allowed for growth opportunity without sacrificing much liquidity. Any extra, un-earmarked funds quickly find their way here.
By no means are these steps direct recommendations for the masses; they're a biographical sketch of my 20's. Your goal might be $100k, $1 million, or even $1 billion. But I hope a look behind the curtain at a CFP and fellow millennial might help you make the most of your early years.
Bryan M. Kuderna is a CFP, Life Underwriter Training Council Fellow, and Investment Adviser Representative with Kuderna Financial Team, a New Jersey based financial services firm. He is the author of the best-selling book, "Millennial Millionaire: A Guide to Become a Millionaire by 30."
Sunday, April 22, 2018
By RACHEL GILLETT/BUSINESS INSIDER July 17, 2017 - TIME ( Business Insider )
By RACHEL GILLETT/BUSINESS INSIDER July 17, 2017
Don’t have the time or money to get a bachelor’s degree?
Don’t fret. There are plenty of high-paying jobs that require only a two-year associate degree, postsecondary non-degree certificate, or even just a high-school diploma.
According to the latest data from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, these are the 25 highest-paying jobs that you don’t need a four-year degree to pursue.
Each has a median annual salary of at least $68,000.
25. Aerospace engineering and operations technicians
They operate and maintain equipment used in developing, testing, and producing new aircraft and spacecraft.
Median annual wage (2016): $68,020
Education required: Associate’s degree
Projected job openings (through 2024): 3,200
Work experience: None
On-the-job training: None
24. Magnetic-resonance-imaging technologists
They monitor patient safety and comfort and view images of areas being scanned to ensure quality of pictures.
Median annual wage (2016): $68,420
Education required: Associate’s degree
Projected job openings (through 2024): 9,800
Work experience: Less than five years
On-the-job training: None
23. Gaming managers
They plan, direct, or coordinate gaming operations in a casino.
Median annual wage (2016): $69,180
Education required: High-school diploma or equivalent
Projected job openings (through 2024): 800
Work experience: Less than five years
On-the-job training: None
22. Diagnostic medical sonographers
They use special imaging equipment that directs sound waves into a patient’s body to assess and diagnose various medical conditions.
Median annual wage (2016): $69,650
Education required: Associate’s degree
Projected job openings (through 2024): 27,500
Work experience: None
On-the-job training: None
21. Ship engineers
They supervise and coordinate activities of crew engaged in operating and maintaining engines, boilers, deck machinery, and electrical, sanitary, and refrigeration equipment aboard ship.
Median annual wage (2016): $70,570
Education required: Postsecondary non-degree award
Projected job openings (through 2024): 3,500
Work experience: Less than five years
On-the-job training: None
20. Postmasters and mail superintendents
They plan, direct, or coordinate operational, administrative, management, and supportive services of a US post office, or coordinate activities of workers engaged in postal and related work in an assigned post office.
Median annual wage (2016): $71,670
Education required: High-school diploma or equivalent
Projected job openings (through 2024): 3,800
Work experience: Less than five years
On-the-job training: Moderate-term on-the-job training
19. Transportation inspectors
They inspect equipment or goods in connection with the safe transport of cargo or people.
Median annual wage (2016): $72,220
Education required: High-school diploma or equivalent
Projected job openings (through 2024): 7,100
Work experience: None
On-the-job training: Moderate-term on-the-job training
18. Captains, mates, and pilots of water vessels
They command or supervise operations of ships and water vessels, such as tugboats and ferryboats.
Median annual wage (2016): $72,680
Education required: Postsecondary non-degree award (Required to hold license issued by US Coast Guard.)
Projected job openings (through 2024): 17,200
Work experience: Less than five years
On-the-job training: None
17. Dental hygienists
They clean teeth, examine patients for oral diseases like gingivitis, and provide other preventative dental care.
Median annual wage (2016): $72,910
Education required: Associate’s degree
Projected job openings (through 2024): 70,300
Work experience: None
On-the-job training: None
16. First-line supervisors of non-retail sales workers
They directly supervise and coordinate activities of sales workers other than retail sales workers.
Median annual wage (2016): $73,150
Education required: High-school diploma or equivalent
Projected job openings (through 2024): 69,900
Work experience: Less than five years
On-the-job training: None
15. Funeral-service managers
They plan, direct, or coordinate the services or resources of funeral homes.
Median annual wage (2016): $73,830
Education required: Associate’s degree
Projected job openings (through 2024): 7,400
Work experience: Less than five years
On-the-job training: None
14. Nuclear medicine technologists
They use a scanner to create images of various areas of a patient’s body. They prepare radioactive drugs and administer them to patients undergoing the scans.
Median annual wage (2016): $74,350
Education required: Associate’s degree
Projected job openings (through 2024): 4,200
Work experience: None
On-the-job training: None
13. First-line supervisors of fire fighting and prevention workers
They directly supervise and coordinate activities of workers engaged in fire fighting and fire prevention and control.
Median annual wage (2016): $74,540
Education required: Postsecondary non-degree award
Projected job openings (through 2024): 33,400
Work experience: Less than five years
On-the-job training: Moderate-term on-the-job training
12. Power-plant operators
They control, operate, or maintain machinery to generate electric power. Includes auxiliary equipment operators.
Median annual wage (2016): $74,690
Education required: High-school diploma or equivalent
Projected job openings (through 2024): 14,100
Work experience: None
On-the-job training: Long-term on-the-job training
11. Powerhouse, substation, and relay electrical and electronics repairers
They inspect, test, repair, or maintain electrical equipment in generating stations, substations, and in-service relays.
Median annual wage (2016): $75,670
Education required: Postsecondary non-degree award
Projected job openings (through 2024): 3,900
Work experience: None
On-the-job training: Long-term on-the-job training
10. Commercial pilots
They pilot and navigate the flight of fixed-wing aircraft on nonscheduled air-carrier routes or helicopters. Requires commercial-pilot certificate.
Median annual wage (2016): $77,200
Education required: High-school diploma or equivalent
Projected job openings (through 2024): 15,100
Work experience: None
On-the-job training: Moderate-term on-the-job training
9. Detectives and criminal investigators
They conduct investigations related to suspected violations of federal, state, or local laws to prevent or solve crimes.
Median annual wage (2016): $78,120
Education required: High-school diploma or equivalent
Projected job openings (through 2024): 28,300
Work experience: Less than five years
On-the-job training: Moderate-term on-the-job training
8. Elevator installers and repairers
They assemble, install, repair, or maintain electric or hydraulic freight or passenger elevators, escalators, or dumbwaiters.
Median annual wage (2016): $78,890
Education required: High-school diploma or equivalent
Projected job openings (through 2024): 5,900
Work experience: None
On-the-job training: Apprenticeship
7. Nuclear technicians
They assist physicists, engineers, and other professionals in nuclear research and nuclear production.
Median annual wage (2016): $79,140
Education required: Associate’s degree
Projected job openings (through 2024): 2,800
Work experience: None
On-the-job training: Moderate-term on-the-job training
6. Radiation therapists
They check equipment, observe patients’ reactions to treatment, and document sessions.
Median annual wage (2016): $80,160
Education required: Associate’s degree
Projected job openings (through 2024): 6,200
Work experience: None
On-the-job training: None
5. Power distributors and dispatchers
They coordinate, regulate, or distribute electricity or steam.
Median annual wage (2016): $81,900
Education required: High-school diploma or equivalent
Projected job openings (through 2024): 3,900
Work experience: None
On-the-job training: Long-term on-the-job training
4. First-line supervisors of police and detectives
They directly supervise and coordinate activities of members of a police force.
Median annual wage (2016): $84,840
Education required: High-school diploma or equivalent
Projected job openings (through 2024): 43,000
Work experience: Less than five years
On-the-job training: Moderate-term on-the-job training
3. Transportation, storage, and distribution managers
They coordinate transportation, storage, or distribution activities in accordance with organizational policies and applicable government laws or regulations.
Median annual wage (2016): $89,190
Education required: High-school diploma or equivalent
Projected job openings (through 2024): 27,100
Work experience: Five years or more
On-the-job training: None
2. Nuclear-power-reactor operators
They operate or control nuclear reactors, move control rods, start and stop equipment, monitor and adjust controls, record data in logs, and implement emergency procedures when needed.
Median annual wage (2016): $91,170
Education required: High-school diploma or equivalent
Projected job openings (through 2024): 2,600
Work experience: None
On-the-job training: Long-term on-the-job training
1. Air-traffic controller
They monitor and direct the movement of aircraft. Median annual wages of air-traffic controllers are the highest of any occupation in which workers typically do not need a bachelor’s degree.
Median annual wage (2016): $122,410
Education required: Associate’s degree
Projected job openings (through 2024): 7,500
Work experience: None
On-the-job training: Long-term on-the-job training
This story originally appeared on Business Insider.
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