Nobody likes making mistakes. But, unless you want to go through life as a complete recluse, you are guaranteed to make one every now and them. If you learn from mistakes correctly, they can propell will you forward.

You must also realise that mistakes are an essential part of self improvement. Don’t be overwhelmed with guilt and regret, analyze how you can learn from them.

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Choose one of two ways to get off to a great start.

The first is to dive in; tackling whatever is in front of you. You might check your emails. This is an interesting beginning as it is always possible something fun and new came in since you last looked.

Another scenario is firefighting. Firefighting is the act of facing and finding quick fix solutions for all the
emergency situations that seem to be coming at you from unknown sources. These urgent problems can also eat up an alarming amount of your work day.

Maybe you are fighting fires. Are you facing and finding quick fix solutions for all the emergency situations that seem to be coming at you from unknown sources? These urgent problems can wreck havoc on your time.

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The word “university” would seem to imply the universe, infinity, no limitations. The reality of today’s universities is quite different.

Limitations of the Traditional System

University today is an institution with severe limitations. There are limitations on who gets in, limitations on who is teaching courses, limitations on what courses are offered, limitations on which courses you can enroll in, limitations on when courses are offered and on and on.

What’s more, universities are tremendously expensive. The average cost in North America is in excess of $25,000 per year per student, or around $5,000 for an 8 month course of study in one subject. In Canada, for example, 6.1% of GDP is spent on “higher education”.

The Potential of Online Education

The Internet is a much more promising model. The possible methods of delivery of educational content include video, audio, text, web conferences, blogs, podcasts, forums, and other forms of interactive learning.

Face to face meetings can also be efficiently organized through the web. Age, nationality and language need not restrict this interaction.

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The Renaissance was a defining period in history — a time when artistic, social, scientific, and political thought all turned in new directions.

The Renaissance (which is French for “Rebirth”) began in Florence, Italy in the late 13th century and continued until the 17th century, by which time it had spread to the rest of Italy and Europe.

The Renaissance spirit was one of rejuvenation, enthusiasm, and experimentation. It is perhaps in art that this bold new spirit reached its sharpest formulation, in particular in the works of geniuses such as Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo.

Whilst the Renaissance is long gone, it is still possible to embrace its spirit. Indeed, you have probably heard a person referred to as either a “Renaissance man” or “Renaissance woman”. Here then are a selection of the most important characteristics of the Renaissance spirit, with some simple suggestions for how you can embrace it and suggestions for further reading.

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Recently I’ve been dealing with the issue of time scarcity. Between this site, my regular job, preparations for the CFA exam, and other projects, things get busier every day. I wouldn’t have it any other way, but in order to fit everything in, I’ve been searching for new ways to use time more efficiently.

Through reading books and articles, I’ve found a dozens of time management tips. Some have been more useful than others, but as I continue to think about it, I’ve realize that it comes down to one essential concept. If you can master this one time management tip, then all the others become trivial.

There is nothing secret or revolutionary here. It’s a basic economic principle that I’m betting you already know. In fact, it’s so simple that it’s tempting to ignore in favor of flashier alternatives.

Ready to hear it already?

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John Lennon once sang “Imagine no possessions — I wonder if you can.” After I sold everything I owned and moved out of state, these lyrics represented nearly everyone I met.

“You sold everything you owned? That’s crazy. I could never do that.”

I used to feel the same way. Parting with personal belongings was difficult because I viewed an item’s price tag as a solid representation of its value. I often told myself things like:

I can’t afford to lose that, it’s a — $200 stereo, $500 television, $300 suit.

Incidentally, this materialistic mindset almost cost me my life.

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Are you writing the story of your life, or are you letting other people and circumstances write it for you? You might not consider yourself a follower, but here are a few signs you aren’t in control:

You don’t like your job – Maybe you picked something because it was easier or safer than your ideal career. Worse, maybe you’re just doing what your family pressured you to do.

You’re living paycheck to paycheck – The problem usually isn’t money, but your priorities. It isn’t hard for the stuff you own to turn around and own you.

You feel obligated to do things you don’t want to do. Your first duty is to yourself. You can’t save the world while you’re miserable.

Leading your life isn’t easy. It means freeing yourself from many different assumptions. That freedom can be initially terrifying and painful, which is why so few people do it. It is far easier to just follow the assumptions of society, even if it leaves you unfulfilled.

Here are 7 rules that can help you start building a life worth living:

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Don’t you hate being pressured into doing things you don’t want to do?

Savvy influencers like pushy sales people, aggressive colleagues, and annoying neighbors have a knack for pressing the buttons that make it difficult to say no.

To help combat these advances, Stanford Professor of Psychology Phil Zimbardo has put together a list of 20 hints to help you resist unwanted influences.

Particularly handy is this suggested counter-move, for when they try to use the rule book against you:

Rules are abstractions for controlling behavior and eliciting compliance and conformity — challenge them when necessary: ask, who made the rule? What purpose does it serve? Who maintains it? Does it make sense in this specific situation? What happens if you violate it? Insist that the rule be made explicit, so it cannot be modified and altered over time to suit the influence agent.

20 Hints for Resisting Unwanted Influences [The Lucifer Effect]

Getting older is one of those things that nobody welcomes but no one can avoid. There is no alternative to getting older. Therefore, we have to find a way to welcome our advancing years with a positive frame of mind.

Age is in the Heart

We can be in our 20s and have the attitude of an old person. Similarly, we can be in our 70s and still have a childlike approach to life. Age is very much a mental perspective. To remain young at heart we need to retain an open mind and look for the good things in life. Don’t allow yourself to focus on the limitations of age. Instead, think about what you can do. Offer gratitude for small things that you perhaps didn’t have time to appreciate when young.

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I have only recently begun contributing articles to self-help blogs on the internet. Many of the articles are genuinely helpful, as can be judged by the appreciative comments from many savvy readers.

I am trying to learn how to become more efficient myself, to reduce clutter, and establish priorities. I have quite a way to go, and therefore have nothing to offer in terms of advice about efficient work habits.

I am interested in language learning, however, and how humans use language for different purposes, including using eloquence to persuade other people to do things.

When I studied political science in Paris in the 60s, great importance was placed on oral presentations, and these had to follow a precise formula. Subsequently, as a diplomat and corporate executive, I often had to speak publicly in different languages. I still do now, even as a private businessman. Having an effective presentation formula in my pocket has made it all a lot easier.

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