Six Rules To Success

Recently, I have watched this video from YouTube. It is really impressed!

Man United crush LA Galaxy 7-0 in Van Gaal debut

Pasadena (United States) (AFP) - Louis van Gaal's reign as manager of Manchester United got off to a rousing start on Wednesday with a 7-0 friendly victory over Major League Soccer's Los Angeles Galaxy.

In the first match of van Gaal's tenure, Wayne Rooney scored twice in the first half, converting a penalty in the 42nd minute after Galaxy midfielder A.J. Delagarza handled a cross from Antonio Valencia.

Three minutes later, Los Angeles defender Tommy Meyer failed to intercept Danny Welbeck's cross, giving Rooney another chance to beat Jaime Penedo.

Welbeck had opened the scoring in the 13th minute with a 25-yard strike that crashed in off the post.

Youngster Reece James, 20, and Ashley Young added two goals apiece in the second half as the English Premier League club romped in the first match of their North American pre-season tour.

Van Gaal was tapped two months ago to replace the sacked David Moyes, but took the reins only after guiding the Netherlands to a third-place finish at the World Cup.

The 62-year-old Dutchman is tasked with restoring United to their position as the Premier League's preeminent force.

Read More at Yahoo!

Despite watching football, we should spend more time with the little one. But the better way is to get him in, as part of our football life. Imagine the wonderful moment that father and son both cheering for every single goal scoring moment!

This life-long like father like son Man Utd fan journey would be started on this meaningful gift, the Man Utd Sporty Set for your boy.

Measurement:

Get it for your boy now at D'Poketto!!!

New Man Utd Hope!!!

During 2014 FIFA World Cup, all frustrated Man Utd fans are obviously see the sun lights off the dark age (2013-2014 season) of Man Utd. That's right, the combination of Louis van Gaal and Robin van Persie has demonstrate their strong capability of winning that defeated Spain 5-1.

Despite watching football, we should spend more time with the little one. But the better way is to get him in, as part of our football life. Imagine the wonderful moment that father and son both cheering for every single goal scoring moment!

This life-long like father like son Man Utd fan journey would be started on this meaningful gift, the Man Utd Sporty Set for your boy.

Measurement:

Get it for your boy now at D'Poketto!!!

Guess Who

Yay! I am cat.

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To play this guessing with your friends, just post the "half-cut" pictures and ask.

The reason being I do this, is very obvious, is to get a little traffic to this site. (and hopefully someone can click on the ads). And help me to fulfill my dream!

7 Things You Need To Stop Doing To Be More Productive, Backed By Science

Work Hard, Work Smart

Consider a small business owner, who works non-stop. However, working hard won’t help him compete with his multi-million competitors. Time is a limited commodity. An entrepreneur can work 24 hours a day and 7 days a week (the most amount of time anyone can work, really). His or her competitor can always spend more money, build a bigger team and spend a lot more time on the same project. Then why have small start-ups accomplished things that larger corporations couldn't? Facebook bought Instagram, a 13-employee company for a billion dollars. Snapchat, a young start-up with 30 employees is turning down offers from tech giants Facebook and Google. Part of their successes were based on luck — the rest is based on efficiency.
The key to success is not hard working but smart working.

There’s a notable distinction between being busy and being productive. Being busy doesn't necessarily mean you’re being productive. Being productive is less about time management and more on managing your energy. It is the business of life. We need to learn how to spend the least amount of energy to get the most benefits. I am so lucky to work with an amazing team here at Filemobile. Everyone always challenges me and helps me sort my priorities to become more productive. I learned to reduce my work week from 80 hours to 40 hours, and get a lot more work done in the process. In other words, less is more.

Here are 7 I things I stopped doing to become more productive.

1. Stop working overtime and increase your productivity

Have you ever wondered where the 40-hour work week came from? In 1926, Henry Ford, American industrialist and founder of Ford Motor Company, conducted experiments with interesting results: when you decrease your daily working hours from 10 to 8, and shorten the work week from 6 days to 5, your productivity increases.

Source: Calculating Loss of Productivity Due to Overtime Using Published Charts — Fact or Fiction

The more you work, the less effective and productive you are going to become over both short and long term. “Scheduled Overtime Effect on Construction Projects”, a report issued by The Business Roundtable in 1980 states.

“Where a work schedule of 60 or more hours per week is continued longer than about two months, the cumulative effect of decreased productivity will cause a delay in the completion date beyond that which could have been realized with the same crew size on a 40-hour week.”

Source: Calculating Loss of Productivity Due to Overtime Using Published Charts — Fact or Fiction

In an article for AlterNet, editor Sara Robinson referenced research conducted by the US military that revealed that “losing one hour of sleep per night for a week will cause a level of cognitive degradation equivalent to a .10 blood alcohol level.” You can get fired for coming to work drunk, but it is deemed acceptable to pull an all-nighter.

It’s important for us not to overwork ourselves and get enough sleep to maintain a high level of productivity. Next time you’re wondering why you may not be working productively, the reason may be simple as you being one of 70% of people who doesn't get enough sleep.

Did you know?

• Leonardo da Vinci took multiple naps a day and slept less at night.
• The French Emperor Napoleon was not shy about taking naps. He indulged daily.
• Though Thomas Edison was embarrassed about his napping habit, he also practised his ritual daily.
• Eleanor Roosevelt, the wife of President Franklin D. Roosevelt, used to boost her energy by napping before speaking engagements.
• Gene Autry, “the Singing Cowboy,” routinely took naps in his dressing room between performances.
• President John F. Kennedy ate his lunch in bed and then settled in for a nap—every day!
• Oil industrialist and philanthropist John D. Rockefeller napped every afternoon in his office.
• Winston Churchill’s afternoon nap was a non-negotiable. He believed it helped him get twice as much done each day.
• President Lyndon B. Johnson took a nap every afternoon at 3:30 p.m. in order to break his day up into “two shifts.”
• Though criticized for it, President Ronald Reagan famously took naps as well.

Source: 5 Reasons Why You Should Take a Nap Every Day — Michael Hyatt

On a personal note, since I started getting at least 7 to 8 hours of sleep a day, I've noticed a change: I became a lot more productive and got a lot more work done than when I worked 16 hours a day. Who knew sleeping was such a great tool for marketers?

2. Don’t say “yes” too often

According to the Pareto Principle, 20% of the effort produce 80% of the results; however, 20% of the results consumes 80% of the effort. Instead of working harder, we should focus primarily on those efforts that produce 80% of the results and forgo the rest. We will have more time to focus on the most important tasks. We should stop saying “yes” to tasks that bring low or almost no result.

“The difference between successful people and very successful people is that very successful people say “no” to almost everything.” — Warren Buffet.

This begs a question: what should you say “yes” and what should you say “no” to? If you can’t figure if something is going to be worth your time, consider running a simple split test. Track everything you do and optimize if it is possible.

Most of us say yes more often than we should because it is so much easier than saying no. Nobody wants to be the bad guy.

In a 2012 study published in the Journal of Consumer Research, researchers split 120 students in 2 groups. One group was trained to use “I can’t”, while the other was trained to use “I don’t”. The results were interesting:

The students who told themselves “I can’t eat X” chose to eat the chocolate candy bar 61% of the time. Meanwhile, the students who told themselves “I don’t eat X” chose to eat the chocolate candy bars only 36% of the time. This simple change in terminology significantly improved the odds that each person would make a more healthy food choice.

Next time you need to avoid saying yes, say “I don’t”.

Another great trick to avoid activities that don’t add enough value into your life is the 20-second rule: give yourself 20 seconds longer for activities you shouldn't be doing.

Lower the activation energy for habits you want to adopt and raise it for habits you want to avoid. The more we can lower or even eliminate the activation energy for our desired actions, the more we enhance our ability to jump-start positive change.

Source: The Happiness Advantage: The Seven Principles of Positive Psychology That Fuel Success and Performance at Work

3. Stop doing everything yourself and start letting people help you

At some point in my career, I was managing a very large community and couldn't handle it. I tried to do everything myself. I burnt out, but the community ended up taking over and managing itself. Surprisingly, members did a better job than I have ever done. I learned the power of community and why brands need user-generated content.

Consumers understand what they want and how they want it better than any marketer. Did you know that, according to Octoly, user-generated videos are viewed 10 times more than brand-generated videos on YouTube? When seeking information about a particular brand,over half (51%) of Americans trust user-generated content more than the content on the brand website (16%) or media coverage on the brand (14%). It’s important for marketers to open up and seek help from the brand’s community.

Source: Earned Media Rankings on YouTube — Octoly

Being a great content marketer is not about creating the best content, but building a great community that will generate high-quality content for you.

It’s important for us to realize we can seek help when needed. We cannot do everything ourselves. It is better for you to let someone who can do a better job taking over some of your tasks. It will give you more time to focus on your most important tasks. Instead of wasting your time trying to figure something out yourself, let the experts help you.

A lot of time, even if your friends can’t help you, having them around can help you become more productive.
Just having friends nearby can push you toward productivity. “There’s a concept in ADHD treatment called the ‘body double,’ ” says David Nowell, Ph.D., a clinical neuropsychologist from Worcester, Massachusetts. “Distractable people get more done when there is someone else there, even if he isn’t coaching or assisting them.” If you’re facing a task that is dull or difficult, such as cleaning out your closets or pulling together your receipts for tax time, get a friend to be your body double.
Source: Friendfluence: The Surprising Ways Friends Make Us Who We Are

4. Stop being a perfectionist

“We found that perfectionism trips up professors on the way to research productivity. The more perfectionistic the professor, the less productive they are,” Dr. Simon Sherry, a Dalhousie University Psychology Professor who conducted a study on perfectionism and productivity, tells University Affairs magazine. Dr. Sherry found a robust correlation between increased perfectionism and decreased productivity.

Here are some problems associated with being a perfectionist:

• They spend more time than required on a task.
• They procrastinate and wait for the perfect moment. In business, if it is the perfect moment, you are too late.
• They miss the big picture while being too focused on small things.

Marketers often wait for the perfect moment. In doing so, they end up missing it.

The perfect moment is NOW.

5. Stop doing repetitive tasks and start automating it.

According to a research study conducted by Tethys Solutions, A team of 5 people who spent 3%, 20%, 25%, 30% and 70% of their time on repetitive tasks respectively reduced this time to 3%, 10%, 15%, 15% and 10% after 2 months of enhancing their productivity.

Source: Using Automation Software To Increase Business Productivity & Competitiveness -Tethys Solutions

A week ago, I spent 15 minutes writing a basic Python program. The idea was to generate content from the data, which I pulled from Twitter API using a Ruby bot, and use Hootsuite to bulk schedule them. While it used to take me an entire day to accomplish, it now takes me less than 5 minutes. Nowadays, whenever I do something repetitively (more than 5 times), I would ask myself if I can find a program to do it for me.

You don’t have to be a coder to able to automate your repetitive tasks. It’s nice to have the skills or the resources, but it’s not a requirement. If you cannot build it, buy it.

People often forget that time is money. People usually do things manually because it’s easy and requires almost no research. It is manageable to moderate 30 images on Instagram for your user-generated campaign. But if you have to manage 30 000 photos and videos from 5 different platforms, you need a good digital asset management software. At Filemobile, we help people to solve that problem generate even more user-generated content. Just like managing rich media, you can easily purchase a software to solve almost all of your problem on the internet.

If you still can’t find a solution, you can hire an expert to help you. Keep in mind that you need to spend money to make money and that time is your most valuable commodity.

Tips for marketers: check out GitHub or Google app script library. Often times, you’ll find free ready-to-use open source code that requires very little programming knowledge.

6. Stop guessing and start backing up your decisions with data

If you can optimize websites for search engines, you can optimize your lives to grow and reach your maximum potential.

There are so many research studies out there that can provide answers in a range of areas. For instance, did you know that most people are more easily distracted from noon to 4PM? This random statistic comes from recent research led by Robert Matchock, an associate professor of psychology at Pennsylvania State University. Even if you can’t find the data you need, it doesn’t take a lot of time to run a split test.

For instance, last week we did a few tests to figure out the best way to optimize images for Twitter in-stream preview.

Keep asking yourself how you’re going to measure and optimize everything you do.

7. Stop working, and have do-nothing time

Most people don’t realize that we’re essentially locking ourselves in a box when we are too focused on something. It’s important to walk away from our work once in a while and have some alone time. Alone time is good for the brain and spirit, according to The power of lonely , an article in The Boston Globe.

One ongoing Harvard study indicates that people form more lasting and accurate memories if they believe they’re experiencing something alone. Another indicates that a certain amount of solitude can make a person more capable of empathy towards others. And while no one would dispute that too much isolation early in life can be unhealthy, a certain amount of solitude has been shown to help teenagers improve their moods and earn good grades in school.

Source: The power of lonely

It‘s important for us to take time for reflection. We often find the solutions when we’re not searching for them.

We don’t become more productive overnight. Like everything in life, it requires efforts. Change doesn't happen if you just sit there and wait for it. It’s important for all of us to learn more about our body and find ways to optimize our energy for a more successful and happy life.

Article Source: https://medium.com/business-marketing/a988c17383a6

12 Most Effective Ways to Take Care of Your Mood Daily

Maintaining your happy index is important, therefore you need good mood almost all the time.

Good mood is something that depends entirely on our perception of the world and you can control it.

The point is that this is not an easy task to accomplish but there is nothing impossible for us, isn't it?

If you are ready to become a new better person, then follow these 12 tips.

Most Effective Ways to Take Care of Your Mood Daily

1. Eat well

When all of your body systems function right and your health rarely fails you, this is a great source of good mood. That is why it is so important to take care of what you eat. A sound mind in a sound body, remember that. You should also eat well daily. When you are not eating enough you are most likely to be in bad mood and even depressed. And that is apart from the likelihood of weakening your health strength. The best way is to eat healthy food in proper amount and balance it with enough exercise. You need to eat enough calories so that your body functions properly.

2. Do exercises

Physical exercise is an effective way to stay active, to mobilize your strength and energy. No matter how busy you are, it's possible to find 15 minutes to do a few exercises. I recommend you to start exercising in the morning. Yes, that sounds completely impossible, but honestly, did you try it? Give it a try and you will see numerous positive results, such as good appetite, even hormones level, burst of energy and a general sense of self-respect which will make you go on and on.

3. Make rest a high priority

I advise you to spend some time during your busy day just sitting, relaxing and thinking of something good and pleasant. You will feel refreshed and full of energy so your work will bring you more pleasure. A good night sleep is also important. So, try to sleep at least 7-9 hours at night. Your getting up in the morning won't be a problem if you do so and as a result you will have a bright smile on your face all day long.

4. Look closer who is around you

Look at the people who surround you, there might be a few negative people who spoil your life and influence your mood. Don't be afraid to eliminate them from your life and have space for good, positive people. You should take care of yourself, your mental and physical well-being, so avoid toxic, sneaky people by all means.

5. Communicate

A human being is a social creature; we live among other people and need to get in contact with others. The psychological need of communication is to be fully satisfied in order to feel happy and be in a good mood. So talk to your friends, co-workers, communicate with your family more than you do now. It would be nice to start conversation with a stranger, do it regularly as a means of overcoming modesty and reserve.

6. Give up addictions

First of all, you have to get rid of the most harmful habits like smoking and drinking alcohol. There are also some addictive foods which do not do much good to your health. Among them are sugar, caffeine, processed foods and, of course, all kind of fast food and semis. Just start reducing the intake of these foods and you will see the improvement in your overall health state as well as in your mood.

7. Keep track of finances

As a rule financial pressure is a source of great stress in our life. To avoid it, you should always keep it in order. Choose the best way of tracking finances for you and use it regularly. This way you will be able to manage all your income and expenses and it will help you avoid possibility of being broken.

8. Eat more vegetables

Adding more vegetables to your diet is one of the best ways to make yourself feel better. They are full of vitamins, nutrients, minerals and microelements, and are super delicious, which is also a very persuasive argument. There are many easy recipes worth trying so you will be surprised how easy and wonderful they are.

9. Include fat

Although you have to exclude a lot of harmful foods out of your diet, you should not exclude fats completely. They are essential for our body systems to function properly, they influence hormone production and guarantee brain health. The best sources of healthy fat are nuts, seeds, avocado and wild fish.

10. Try magnesium

Another useful thing is to get enough of magnesium. It has a positive effect on almost every system in the body. Magnesium calms the nerves and helps with stress. I get it from special magnesium supplements as getting it from regular foods is insufficient. Just make sure you consult your doctor before you start adding it to your diet..

11. Avoid sugar and gluten

What is the first food that comes to rescue when you get depressed? Sure, it is a dessert. Even though when a woman commits such a small crime she blames herself for that, it is a repeated scenario. Sugar and gluten are difficult to digest and are considered to be addictive because you want them more as you keep consuming it. If you start to eat less sugar you will notice that you stop even wanting it.

12. Get enough B vitamins

This kind of vitamins plays a very important role in the body systems. B vitamins help prevent depression, improve metabolism and digestion. So make sure that your food is reach in B vitamins or get it from special supplements. Anyway having a proper vitamins balance guarantees you strong health and good mood.

Taking care of your mood is quite an easy task if you follow these tips. These ways are natural and healthy, I have tried all of them and I can say that they really improve the overall feeling and the mood. Which of these have you already tried and what was the result? Let's share experience and find out if there is something we can add to the list.

5 signs there might be something wrong with your car

You don't always need to visit the workshop to find out if there is something wrong with your car. Just pay attention to the signs.

The cars of today aren't the unreliable, poorly built, rust buckets their ancestors were. In terms of reliability, service life and safety standards, the cars of today are light years ahead of the humdrum econoboxes they were derived from. But because of these reasons, many believe that spotting problems with modern cars is something best left to the professionals.

Though this is true when it comes to engine and gearbox performance, other issues don’t require a degree in Mechanical Engineering to figure out something is wrong. Here are five signs that there is something's gone wrong:

Sign 1: Difficulty in turning the steering wheel

Has it become increasing difficult to turn the steering wheel? There could be a number of reasons why this happens. The first could be due to having under inflated tyres. Pump them to recommended levels and you should notice a difference.

If your tyres aren't the problem than it might be more serious than initially expected. It could be that there isn't enough power steering fluid (this only applies for hydraulic power steering systems) in the system or that there might be a leak somewhere. If it just requires topping up, take a crack at it but if you aren't confident, take your vehicle to the mechanic.

Sign 2: Difficulty in starting the engine

If it feels as though your engine is struggling to turn over, you might have a weak battery. Neglecting to get it checked can result in a fully flat battery, meaning your stranded. Tips to jump start a car can be found here. How long it takes the engine to turn over depends on how much of charge is left in the battery. If you hear the usual cranking noise but the engine doesn't want to fire up, the problem could be due to a failed fuel pump.

Sign 3: Blue smoke from the exhaust

Occasionally, once you've started up the engine, get someone to sit in the driver’s seat and rev it a few times while you watch the exhaust tip for smoke. If you see faint blue smoke coming out, that’s bad news. This is a clear indication that your engine is burning engine oil.

Engine oil is used to lubricate moving parts within the engine such as the pistons. It is never used in the combustion process. Its only when it manages to seep through the sidewalls of the pistons does it come into contact with the air fuel mixture and burns along with it. That’s why you see blue smoke. Mending it is going to be expensive but needs to be done.

Sign 4: braking power has decreased

There could be a number of reasons but there are two that you most know about. The first, it could be due to worn brake pads. Over time, through continuous use, brake pads loose their thickness. The more worn they become, the further the brake pedal needs to travel towards the floor. The second reason could be due to a leak in the hydraulic brake system. In either case, it’s a serious matter that needs to be tended to immediately.

Sign 5: headlights aren't as bright as they used to be

The simplest explanation for this is that your headlights need polishing. If that’s not it, then it’s a more serious problem. It could be that your alternator has failed and your vehicle’s electrical systems are relying on the battery to keep them alive. Because the alternator isn't working, the battery isn't being recharged. The more you drive the car, the weaker the battery becomes till eventually everything dies on you.

More from Motor Trader on Yahoo! Autos can be found here.

Yoga With Mom - Pre-school Yoga

This Adorable Preschooler Does Some Yoga With Mom And The Results Are Heartwarming 

Okay, we’re officially doubled over in cuteness-pain, the latest a result of a New Jersey yoga instructor, Laura Kasperzak, and her two preschool children, who totally love being in front of the cameras.

The yoga mom of two’s stunning depictions of flexibility and strength have garnered her more than 700,000 Instagram followers.

The best shots, however, are those of her and her little ones stretching and spending quality time on the yoga mats.

Source: http://elitedaily.com/women/preschool-girl-and-mom-create-adorable-and-impressive-yoga-poses-photos/

14 Things Successful People Do On Weekends

Spencer Rascoff is only 37. Yet the Harvard grad and father of three has already accomplished so much.

He cofounded Hotwire.com and served as a VP for Expedia EXPE +0.63%; he held the roles of CFO, vice president of marketing and COO at Zillow; and in 2008 Rascoff was promoted to chief executive of the popular real estate information site.

Wondering how the Zillow CEO has achieved and maintained his success? His weekend routine has something to do with it.

“My weekends are an important time to unplug from the day-to-day and get a chance to think more deeply about my company and my industry,” Rascoff says. “Even when I’m technically not working, I’m always processing in the background and thinking about the company. Weekends are a great chance to reflect and be more introspective about bigger issues.”

He says he always spends weekends with his family. “Even if I’m on the road on a Friday and have to be back in that same city the following week, I always come home no matter what.”

Here are 14 things successful people do (or should be doing) on weekends:

1. Make time for family and friends. 

This is especially important for those who don’t spend much time with their loved ones during the week.

2. Exercise. 

Everyone needs to do it, and if you can’t work out 4 to 5 days during the workweek, you need to be active on weekends to make up for some of that time, Vanderkam says. It’s the perfect opportunity to clear your mind and create fresh ideas.

“I know an owner of a PR firm who takes walks in the park with his dog to spark ideas about how to pitch a new client, or what angle to take with the press for a story,” Kurow says.

Cohen suggests spin classes and outdoor cycling in the warmer months. “Both are energizing and can be organized among people with shared interests. For example, it is not uncommon for hedge fund folks and Wall Street professionals to ride together on weekends. It is a great way to establish and cultivate relationships based on membership in this elite professional community.”

3. Pursue a passion.

“There’s a creative director of a greeting card company who went back to school to pursue an MFA because of her love of art,” Kurow says. “Pursuing this passion turned into a love of poetry that she now writes on weekends.”

“Successful people make time for what is important or fun,” Egan adds. “They make space for activities that add to their life balance.”

4. Vacation.

Getting away for the weekend provides a great respite from the grind of an intense week at work, Cohen says.

5. Disconnect.

The most successful people avoid e-mail for a period of time, Vanderkam says. “I’m not saying the whole weekend, but even just a walk without the phone can feel liberating. I advocate taking a ‘tech Sabbath.’ If you don’t have a specific religious obligation of no-work time, taking Saturday night to mid-day Sunday off is a nice, ecumenical time that works for many people.”

6. Volunteer.

“I know a commercial real estate broker who volunteers to help with cook-off events whose proceeds are donated to the Food Bank,” Kurow says. “The volunteer work provides a balance to the heavy analytical work she does all week and fulfills her need to be creative — she designs the promotional material for the nonprofit.”

Cohen says a lot of successful people participate in fundraising events. “This is a great way to network and to meet others with similar interests,” he says. “The visibility also helps in branding a successful person as philanthropic.”

7. Avoid chores.

Every weekend has a few have-to-dos, but you want these to take the minimum amount of time possible, Vanderkam explains. Create a small window for chores and errands, and then banish them from your mind the rest of the time.

8. Plan.

“Planning makes people more effective, and doing it before the week starts means you can hit Monday ready to go, and means you’ll give clear directions to the people who work for you, so they will be ready to go, too,” Vanderkam says.

Trunk agrees. She says successful people plan their month and year because “if you get stuck on short-term lists you don’t get anything big accomplished.”

9. Socialize.

“Humans are social creatures, and studies of people’s experienced happiness through the day finds that socializing ranks right up there, not too far down below sex,” Vanderkam says.

Go out with friends and family, or get involved in the local community.

“It has been demonstrated that successful people find great satisfaction in giving back,” Cohen says. “Board membership, for example, also offers access to other successful folks.”

10. Gardening/crafts/games/sports/cooking/cultural activities.

This is especially important for those cooped up in an office all week.

“For the pure joy, some folks find great satisfaction in creating beautiful gardens,” Cohen says.

Kurow knows an attorney who uses her weekends to garden and do mosaics and tile work to satisfy her creative side. “Filling her life this way enables her to be refreshed on Monday and ready to tackle the litigation and trial prep work. Artwork for her is fulfilling in a way that feeds her soul and her need to connect with her spiritual side.”

Bridge lessons and groups can also sharpen the mind and often create relationships among highly competitive smart professionals, Cohen says. “I once saw a printout of a bridge club’s membership list; its members were a who’s who of Wall Street.”

Theatre, opera and sporting events can also enrich one’s spirit, he adds.

11. Network.

“Networking isn’t an event for a successful person, it’s a lifestyle,” Trunk says. Wherever they go and whatever they do, they manage to connect with new people.

12. Reflect. 

Egan says truly successful people make time on weekends to appreciate what they have and reflect on their happiness and accomplishments. As Rascoff said, “weekends are a great chance to reflect and be more introspective about bigger issues.”

13. Meditate. 

Classes and private instruction offer a bespoke approach to insight and peace of mind, Cohen says. “How better to equip yourself for success in this very tough world?”

14. Recharge. 

We live in a competitive world, Vanderkam says. “Peak performance requires managing downtime, too–with the goal of really recharging your batteries.” That’s how the most successful people get so much done.

Successful people know that time is too precious to be totally leisurely about leisure, Vanderkam concludes. “You’re not going to waste that time by failing to think about what you’d like to do with it, and thus losing the weekend to TV, puttering, inefficient e-mail checking and chores. If you don’t have a busy workweek, your weekend doesn’t matter so much. But if you’re going from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. every day, it certainly does.”

Full article at Forbes

Beat the Monday Blue

In studies conducted with US participants, results have shown that suicides are more likely to occur on Mondays than any other weekday, and not surprisingly, the amount of suicides are the least during weekends. It is also revealed that Monday depresses the most people compared to any other days of the week. Seems like there is a reason behind the term ‘Monday Blues’ after all.

It probably wouldn’t come as a shock to you that a UK research also found that most sick leaves are also taken on Mondays. As to why Monday is a particularly moody day, well, it’s pretty obvious that we’d end up a bit down when returning to work, especially after a fun and rested weekend. In reality though, the real reason may be more than meets the eye.

It turns out that Monday Blues could be a case of biological emotional cycles that determine our ‘biological’ moods. In other words, it’s not the negative feelings we have of going back to work that’s making us blue, but periodic mood shifts that go by the week. Fortunately for us, there are a few simple things we can do to help minimize the ill effects of Monday Blues.

1. Have Something To Look Forward To On Monday Nights

What is it that keeps you going from Monday ’til Friday? Weekends! You’d probably be thinking about the weekend getaway with your buddies, daydreaming about the sea breeze and the golden sandy beaches that awaits your arrival; no doubt these thoughts would help make the time pass faster.

The same theory thus, should also apply to your Mondays. Plan something for after work so that you have something to look forward to. Monday is probably just the start of a hard week ahead, so you deserve an exciting event at the end of the day to motivate you while you work.

If you feel that you’d be too exhausted for a night out, consider doing something at home; something relaxing. Taking a long bath while indulging in soothing music and a homemade aromatherapy session should lessen the stress you are facing at work or after a long weekend, partying.

If you make it a habit to go home to relax every Monday evening, sooner or later you’d not see each Monday as a taxing day. Rather, it will become the day that you’ll long for. Monday doesn’t have to be the most painful day of the week; it is only so, if you focus on it.

2. Prepare Monday’s Work On Friday

This one seems like common sense, but people don’t seem to heed it. It is a case of instant gratification versus delayed gratification. Yes, Friday is the day when we can finally say take a breather and count down to the weekend. But in reality, some of us have already ‘closed shop’ by midday, and simply thinking about plans for the weekends.

The result? We leave Friday’s work to pick up on Monday,and we face a double whammy when we return to work after the weekend.

I suggest that you bring the coming Monday’s work to this Friday. This will not only minimize the dread you’ll face on Monday mornings, but also keep your mind off work during the weekend. At the very least, if you plan out Monday’s workload on Friday, you’ll feel less overwhelmed come Monday. Planning ahead can help you cope with Mondays and maintain your productivity levels for the rest of the week.

3. Socialize

Humans are social animals. Even if you are an introvert and prefer to keep to yourself most of the time, you still need some social contact once in a while. Engaging in a conversation stimulates the mind enough to actually kick-start it for the day. If you dive straight into your work the moment you reach the office, chances are that your brain is still trying to ‘wake up’. Like a car engine, your brain needs to warm up before it can function optimally.

Other sources would suggest waking up earlier, getting some sunlight, or finding something to laugh about, etc. The idea is to freshen up your mind before you start work, so that you’ll get enough motivation and energy to face yet another demanding Monday.

I suggest socialization here because there’s nothing more invigorating than the exchange of ideas and opinions via conversations. The conversations need not be ‘deep’ in nature; even a simple chat about how the weekend was spent can wake up all your senses and your mind for the day ahead.

4. Re-conceptualize Mondays

This one is a little tricky because it has a lot to do mind over matter. Ask yourself: why does Monday have to be blue? Just because everyone says so? Well, it doesn't have to be. Yes, you should ‘reprogram’ the way you see Monday. Monday may be the day we have to drag our feet back to work after an awesome weekend but if you look at it as the beginning of a great week ahead, the thought can empower you and propel you to a great start.

As it is with other things in life, it is a matter of seeing the glass half empty or half full. You can be overwhelmed with all the duties and deadlines you are in charge of, or you can be enthusiastic about the responsibilities and goals thrown upon you.

If this doesn't work for you, my fifth and final tip, the simplest and most counter-intuitive solution could just be the answer to your Monday woes.

5. Accept It

Monday blues is like a Chinese finger trap; the more you struggle, the tighter it gets. In other words, fighting the blues only makes it worse. The solution to both Monday blues and the finger trap is surprisingly very similar. For the finger trap, you just need to relax your fingers and push them further in. The trap will then loosen and you’ll get your fingers out. As for your Monday blues, just accept that it’s a dreadful day and that you’ll probably feel a bit tired and down.

Think about it: Monday is already a miserable day and you’re still thinking of ways to stop yourself feeling that way? It will only exhaust you further. Why not go with the flow and cope with the stress? Time passes by quickly when you don’t dwell on it.

After awhile you wouldn’t even remember that Mondays are supposed to be blue. It’s just the day after the weekend when we all have to return to work.

How do you cope with your Monday blues? Share your thoughts about the phenomenon and how you cope with the first-day blues in the comments section. Have a great week ahead and Cheers!

Source: HongKiat.com

35 Secret Starbucks drinks you didn't know you could order

Okay. Starbucks. Everyone love Starbucks. Don't deny it, we always have cravings for it, and there are so many times we hope that Starbucks do delivery.

So this whole post is gonna be bout Starbucks drinks!!

Most people don't know this, but Starbucks has a secret menu created by dedicated baristas and enthusiastic customers. It's not listed anywhere, and most of the drinks are region specific. But if you know the recipe¨Cyou can ask for them anywhere!

Ever notice custom Frappuccino suggestions scrawled on blackboards in the store, with a barista's name as the creator? That's where these come from! Some of these have become popular and wide-spread, but you should know the recipe as asking for a drink by name will NOT be familiar to almost all baristas.

Please be respectful to your Baristas; none of these items are on the actual menu, and are instead creations/customization by enthusiastic customers and baristas from throughout the world. If you'd like a drink you see here, don't ask for it by name; ask for it by the recipe! And please be mindful of seasonal ingredients in some of the drinks when that is noted.

1. Caramel Apple Frappuccino

This one can taste like caramel dipped apples, or even like a slice of cinnamon-scented apple pie topped with caramel. Delicious! For a more pronounced caramel flavor, try ordering (if the caramel ribbon crunch frappuccino's dark caramel is available):

Apple juice to the first line
Whole milk to the second line
Cream base (4 pumps for venti, 3 pumps grande, 2 pumps tall)
Dark caramel (3 pumps for venti, 2 pumps grande, and 1 pump for a tall)
Cinnamon dolce syrup (3 pumps for venti, 2 pumps grande, and 1 pump for a tall)
Caramel ribbon crunch pieces
Caramel drizzle
Get it with whipped cream and cinnamon dolce topping
If that seems like too much caramel for you, try asking for:

Cream base to the first line
Apple juice to the second line
Caramel syrup (2 pumps for venti, 1.5 pumps grande, and 1 pump tall)
Cinnamon dolce syrup (2 pumps for venti, 1.5 pumps grande, and 1 pump tall)

2. Orange Creamsicle Frappuccino

Orange and vanilla go so well together. What's not to like? When summertime refreshers are available, try ordering a Valencia orange refresher blended with the vanilla bean frappuccino base. Whipped cream on top goes well here. Very simple to order, but only available seasonally.

For other times of the year, try asking for:

Orange mango juice to the first line
Milk (soy, dairy, whatever you prefer) to the second line
Cream base (4 pumps for a venti, 3 pumps grande, and 2 pumps for a tall)
Classic syrup (4 pumps for a venti, 3 pumps grande, and 2 pumps for a tall)
Scoop of ice, then blended together
Get it with whipped cream on top

3. Nutella Frappuccino

For the numerous Nutella lovers out there, order:

Coffee frappuccino
Hazelnut syrup (1.5 pumps for venti, 1 pump for a grande, half a pump for tall)
Mocha syrup (3 pumps for venti, 2 pumps for a grande, 1 for tall)
Whipped cream blended in
Top it with whipped cream and/or caramel if you so desire.

4. Spiced Apple Chai

This one is delicious and simple to order. You can have it either hot or iced. It tastes like a spiced apple cider, and it's very refreshing when iced. I've actually been able to just ask for an iced/hot apple chai at most places and the baristas know what to do, but I've run into a few locations where they're a little confused.

If the barista is unfamiliar, just tell them it's a chai infusion in apple juice after asking for it hot or iced. That's how most ring it up on the register, too¨Calthough I've also seen some do a chai latte minus milk and with apple juice, which will be a bit more expensive. It varies depending on location. Try it with caramel drizzle and whipped cream on top if you're getting it hot.

5. Mint Chocolate Chip Frapuccino

You can try this flavor a number of ways. Our favorite is a mocha frappuccino with peppermint syrup (number of pumps according to your taste) and java chips blended in! You could also try:

A green tea frappuccino
Peppermint syrup (1-4 pumps, adjust for taste and size)
And java chips (1-4 scoops)
Alternatively:

A green tea frappuccino
Java chips
Mocha syrup (3 pumps for a venti, 2 for grande, and 2 for tall)
Peppermint syrup (2 pumps for a venti, 1 pump for grande and tall)
If the green tea is too strong, just ask for less green tea powder in the future. Find out which combination is your favorite!

6. Peach Ring Tea

Remember those sugary circular peach ring candies? This reminds us of those. Make sure it's summertime and refreshers are available.
Ask for:

Half Valencia orange refresher and half passion tea
No water
Peach syrup (6 pumps for trenta, 5 for venti, 3 for grande, and 2 for tall)

7. Caramel Snickerdoodle Macchiato

This one is reminiscent of a caramel covered snickerdoodle cookie. Ask for an iced soy caramel macchiato, upside down (this makes it so the flavors blend together better) with vanilla syrup (2 pumps for venti, 1.5 for grande, and 1 for tall) and cinnamon dolce syrup (2 pumps venti, 1.5 grande, and just one for tall).

8. Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Frappuccino

This dessert drink is as close to cookie dough as you can get with Starbucks. It's a bit complicated.
Here's what you order:

Chai creme frappuccino
Get it with with soy milk
Whipped cream blended in
Java chips blended in
Cinnamon dolce syrup (3 pumps for venti, 2.5 grande, and 2 for a tall)
Chocolate whipped cream on top
Mocha drizzle

9. Ferrero Rocher Frappuccino

I can't get enough of those hazelnut chocolate sweets, and now I can have them in drink-form!

Double chocolate chip frappuccino (or java chip if you want the caffeine)
Hazelnut syrup (2 pumps venti, 1.5 pumps grande, 1 pump tall)
Mocha syrup (3 pumps venti, 2.5 pumps grande, 2 pumps tall)
Hazelnut drizzle on top
If you happen to carry around any of the candies, you can drop them in when you get your order! The whipped cream on top is your choice.

10. Caramel Popcorn Frappuccino

This sweet drink is buttery and tastes like cracker jacks! It's very simple, too; especially if it's when they're serving salted caramel drinks. Just order a toffee nut frappuccino with caramel drizzle & whipped cream on top, and top with sea salt (somewhere between one and two packs depending on taste and size).

11. Nutter Butter Frappuccino

You know, the cookies shaped like peanuts with a peanut butter filling? This tastes oddly similar. Order:

Hazelnut frappucino
Blend in a whole banana
Cinnamon dolce syrup (3 pumps for a venti, 2 pumps grande, 1 for a tall)
Toffee nut syrup (3 pumps for a venti, 2 pumps for grande, and 1 for tall)
With or without whipped cream on top¨Cthis nutty drink is tasty.

12. Peach Cobbler Frappuccino

The icier version of a hot slice of peach cobbler. This drink is all about the mix of vanilla, cinnamon, and peach flavors. Mm-mm. Order:

A vanilla bean frappuccino
Cinnamon dolce syrup (2 pumps for venti, 1.5 pumps grande, and 1 pump for tall)
With peach syrup (4 pumps for venti, 3 for a grande, and 2 pumps for a tall)
Whipped cream blended in
Cinnamon dolce drizzle on top
Get it with whipped cream on top
Add a pump of classic syrup if it's not sweet enough for you.

13. Blackberry Cobbler Frappuccino

This fruity drink is pretty and it tastes great! This is one of the combinations that is thanks to Starbucks introducing their fruity summertime refreshers. Order:

A vanilla bean frappuccino
White mocha syrup (2 pumps for a venti, 1.5 for grande, and 1 pump for a tall)
And a scoop of freeze-dried blackberries blended in
Top with whipped cream if you'd like!

14. Cadbury Creme Egg Frappuccino

Ugh, the cloyingly sweet fondant of Cadbury Creme Eggs is my arch-nemesis. And now I can gorge myself on this drink year-round! Here's what to order:

Java chip frappuccino
2 shots of espresso for venti and grande, 1 shot for tall
Vanilla bean powder (4 scoops for a venti, 3 scoops grande, and 2 scoops for tall)
Caramel syrup (1 pump for a venti-sized drink, and .5 pumps for grande and tall)
Vanilla syrup (2 pumps for venti, 1.5 pumps grande, and 1 pump for a tall)
Whipped cream on top is optional, but recommended. Likewise for the caramel drizzle on top.

15. Rainbow Sherbet Frappuccino

I love rainbow sherbet in the summer. This one is for those with a sweet tooth. It's only available while Starbucks is doing their refreshers. For a grande, order:

A strawberries and cream frappuccino made with orange refresher instead of strawberry pur¨¦e
3 pumps of cream base
A scoop of vanilla bean powder
A pump of raspberry syrup
A pump of peach syrup
Add ice and blend it all up
Again, this is one of the drinks on our list that is only available seasonally.

16. Black Forest Frappuccino

Berries and chocolate is such a tasty flavor pairing. And now you can have it in drink form! If mocha cookie crumble frappuccinos are available, order one of those and add raspberry syrup (2.5 pumps for venti, 2 pumps grande, and 1.5 pumps for a tall) rather than the vanilla syrup it normally has.

17. Banana Chocolate Chip Frappuccino

A thick & delicious dessert beverage. Try getting it with whipped cream on top! Order:

A vanilla bean frappuccino
With java chips (3 scoops for a venti, 2 scoops grande, and 1 for tall)
And a whole banana blended in

18. Caramel Macchiato Frappuccino

Now you can have your favorite two-layer drink in frappuccino form (albeit without the two distinct layers). Try:

A vanilla bean frappuccino
With 2 shots of espresso
Extra caramel drizzle on top, whipped cream optional

19. Key Lime Pie Frappuccino

Perfect for a tart treat in the summertime, this one will only be available when their refreshers are on the menu. It's a long one; here it is:

Cool lime juice to the bottom line
Whole milk to the second line
Cinnamon dolce syrup (1.5 pumps for venti, 1 pump grande, and .5 for tall)
Vanilla syrup(3 pumps for a venti, 2 pumps for a grande, and 1 for tall)
White mocha (3 pumps for a venti, 2 pumps for a grande, and 1 for tall)
Whipped cream blended in
Add toasted coconut flakes if those are available on top, along with whipped cream to top it off!

20. S'mores Frappuccino

This popular campfire snack is now in beverage form! Try ordering:

A java chip frappuccino (double chocolate chip works if you'd rather not have the caffeine)
Toffee nut syrup (1.5 pumps for venti, 1 pump grande, .5 pumps for a tall)
Cinnamon dolce syrup (1.5 pumps for venti, 1 pump grande, .5 pumps for a tall)
Whipped cream blended in
Whipped cream and cinnamon dolce sprinkles on top

21. Red Velvet Frappuccino

This one is simple and delicious. Order a half white chocolate mocha, half regular mocha frappuccino with 2 pumps of raspberry syrup (or 3 for a venti) and top with whipped cream!

22. Neapolitan Frapuccino

Triple the flavor in this creamy treat.

Order:
A strawberries and cream frappuccino
Mocha syrup (3 pumps venti, 2 grande, and 1 pump for tall)
Vanilla bean powder (1.5 scoops for venti, and 1 scoop for grande and tall)
Get it with chocolate drizzle and chocolate whipped cream (if available) on top

23. Oreo Frapuccino

This is super simple to order. Just ask for a double chocolate chip frappiccuno with white chocolate mocha in the place of the regular mocha syrup.

24. Zebra Frappuccino

Do you like white chocolate and regular chocolate? For the best of both worlds, try asking for:

A mocha frappuccino
Made with half white chocolate mocha and half regular mocha
Add java chips
You can also try this combination (with or without the chips) in non-frappuccino iced drinks, or even hot drinks!

25. Butterbeer Frappuccino

As if it came from Hogsmeade, try ordering:

Creme frappuccino base with whole milk
Toffee nut syrup (4 pumps for a venti, 3 pumps for grande, and 2 pumps tall)
Caramel syrup (4 pumps for a venti, 3 pumps for grande, and 2 pumps tall)
Add caramel drizzle
Get it with whipped cream if you'd like.

26. Cake Batter Frappuccino

This one might sound weird, but it works and is very simple to order. It's just a vanilla bean frappuccino with almond flavoring added. Alternatively, vanilla bean powder added to a vanilla frappuccino with added almond flavoring. Unfortunately, the almond flavoring isn't always available anymore.

27. Cinnamon Roll Frapuccino

The frozen, drinkable version of a cinnamon bun:

Vanilla bean frappuccino
Cinnamon dolce syrup (3 pumps venti, 2 pumps grande, 1 pump tall)
White chocolate mocha syrup (3 pumps venti, 2 pumps grande, 1 pump tall)
Cinnamon dolce powder sprinkled on top
Or if you want something easier to order, ask for a vanilla bean frappuccino with cinnamon dolce syrup added.

28. Banana Split

The frappuccino version of a favorite sundae, order:

A strawberries and creme frappuccino
A whole banana blended in
Vanilla bean powder
Java chips blended in
Get it topped with whipped cream and mocha drizzle
You can even add caramel drizzle on top of all of that for an even tastier dessert.

29. Creamy Dark Caramel Espresso Frappuccino

This one is deliciously rich and thick. It's different than the preparation of most other frappuccinos, so be very clear in your requests. For a grande:

Get heavy whipping cream (different from whipped cream) blended with just ice and cream base
Add 3 pumps of dark caramel sauce to the bottom of the cup, then pour the blended mix into the cup
Add a shot of espresso
With whipped cream and cookie crumbles on top (when available)

30. French Vanilla

Sweet and creamy. For a grande, ask for:

A vanilla bean frappuccino
2 pumps of toffee nut syrup
2 pumps of vanilla syrup
Extra caramel drizzle blended in
Top with whipped cream
You can also order any drink with a french vanilla flavor just by ordering something with half vanilla and half toffee nut. Go wild!

31. Turtle Frappuccino

Tastes just like the holiday chocolate turtle candies, and is a nice substitute if you're missing Caribou Coffee's frozen turtle mocha drink. Here's what you order:

A java chip frappuccino
Toffee nut syrup (3 pumps venti, 2 pumps grande, and 1 pump tall)
Whipped cream on top
Caramel and mocha drizzles on top

32. Twix Frappuccino

Inspired by the chocolate coated caramel cookie candy bar, this is another drink with a few variations. Try:

Caramel frappuccino
Java chips
Hazelnut syrup (2 pumps venti, 1.5 pumps grande, 1 pump tall)
Whipped cream blended in
Coat the cup with caramel sauce
And add mocha drizzle on top
Alternatively:

Caramel frappuccino
Chocolate syrup (adjust amount of pumps with drink size and taste)
Whipped cream on top
Topped with caramel and mocha drizzles
Sprinkled with crunchy caramel pieces (either from their holiday-time br?l¨¦e drinks or the summertime caramel ribbon crunch)
Or you could even ask for (grande size):

Java chip frappuccino
Add a pump of caramel syrup
Blend in half of a chocolate caramel pretzel (from their pastry selection if available, and not all locations will blend in whole food items like this)
Whipped cream and caramel drizzle on top
Add in the rest of your pretzel to stir with

33. Horchata Frappuccino

If you've never had this spicy traditional Latin American/Spanish drink made with rice milk (or tigernuts in Spain), then you're missing out!
For the frappuccino version, try:

Chai creme frappuccino
Cinnamon dolce syrup (3 pumps venti, 2 pumps grande, 1 pump tall)
Vanilla syrup (1.5 pumps for venti, 1 pump grande, half a pump for tall)
Chai (4 pumps venti, 3 pumps grande, 2 pumps tall)
Sprinkle cinnamon on top
Or for a simpler version, order a chai tea frappuccino with cinnamon syrup added, and garnish with cinnamon powder on top.

34. Caramel Nut Crunch Frappuccino

This one is crunchy, nutty, and packed with caramel flavor, but not as strong of a caramel punch as the caramel ribbon crunch frappuccino. It's just about as sweet, though.
Order:

A vanilla bean frappuccino
Toffee nut syrup (3 pumps venti, 2 pumps grande, 1 pump tall)
Caramel syrup (3 pumps venti, 2 pumps grande, 1 pump tall)
Add in the caramel ribbon crunch pieces to the bottom of the cup before pouring in the blended mix
Add whipped cream and caramel drizzle on top
With more caramel crunch pieces on top
Enjoy!

35. Snickers Frappuccino

Just like the candy bar. Ask for:

A java chip frappuccino
Toffee nut syrup (3 pumps venti, 2 pumps grande, and 1 pump tall)
Whipped cream on top
Caramel drizzle lining the cup and on top
Add mocha drizzle on top for even more chocolate flavor (optional)

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