I created a Crypto-Gaming bootcamp!
The cryptocurrency craze is no longer a niche phenomenon. All you need to do is go to any forum or subreddit and you’ll find addicts exchanging bitcoin trading strategies, posting frantic memes about market changes and anxiously watching charts. The world of cryptocurrency is here to stay, but many people are still unaware of it or just don’t know how they can get involved. That’s why I decided to start a Crypto-Gaming Bootcamp!
I believe that the principles of finance in the crypto-world are too complicated for most people right now so I created this program that teaches people some basics for free and then lets them buy into courses with cryptocurrencies which they learn about as they progress through each lesson. Having completed the free course, students can then choose to pay for any of my crypto-gaming courses with bitcoin. I’m sure that the current crypto-mania will get a lot of people interested in this topic and hopefully, most of them will see the message about my boot camp, so let’s get started!
The first lesson was just a simple introduction to bitcoin and blockchain technology without any math involved, so anyone can take it. You don’t need to know anything about finance or economics as all the concepts I teach are explained simply enough that even kids will understand! The next lesson opens with a discussion on how you earn money when you buy something online and how that process works. Then we will look at how bitcoin can help you do that in a much safer and better way! There is also a lot of information about the current market trends, how to track different exchanges and watch specific crypto-currencies, so you can keep your finger on the pulse. The last part of this lesson looks at some other ways to make money with cryptocurrencies by investing in them or by trading on the exchange.
The next lesson teaches more about how to invest with bitcoin using a hybrid approach. You don’t need to dig through tons of research reports and compare multiple charts, you just need to choose the stocks that you like the most in a particular market. The lesson also shows you how to make money with arbitrage to take advantage of price differences between exchanges. You can find out more about leverage trading, but be careful with it! You may lose all your money if you don’t do it right and I don’t recommend trying it without careful research first.
The third lesson teaches even more about leveraging and arbitrage and also briefly delves into some fundamental analysis of different crypto-currencies and investing in ICOs (Initial Coin Offering). We will also look at how to use the Kraken exchange and the basics of stop and limit orders. You will also learn about how to use stratagems in crypto markets, which are techniques that can help you maximize your profits. The lesson ends with a brief example of a trading strategy that uses insider information from a recent ICO.
The fourth lesson explores more advanced financial concepts such as treasury bills, bonds, futures, and options. These are also known as derivative financial instruments and they use leverage to help you make money. You can buy these instruments on the crypto exchanges with leverage and then sell them once the underlying asset goes up. Since it’s a derivative instrument, you can also sell them at any time without having to wait for the underlying asset to go up. You can also take out your profit by buying put options with leverage so you can get out of your trade if the price goes down. The lesson ends with a brief discussion of different strategies I’ve used that were shown in my trading journal, but those lessons are not for beginners due to introduction to math very quickly and I recommend reading my trading journal first before trying any of those techniques.
The fifth lesson is the only lesson that can be purchased with bitcoin and teaches all the strategies I used to plan and execute my trades. It also contains many of the lessons from my journal, but I will explain most of them in the sixth lesson. The lessons in this series are all designed to get you started on your trading journey, but they are quite long. If you don’t have time to take all five lessons (which might take several months), just focus on learning about options first and then return later for more complex strategies like futures or other derivatives that require more math.
And of course a whole lot more, it's just overwhelming to see like-minded individuals, try to collab and do something we love! Cheers to all of us!
Win in silence, let them think you're losing
Successful people win in silence, so they thought you are losing.
#1. Don’t be afraid to look like a fool
#2. Prepare for success before opportunity knocks
#3 Shoot for the moon and even if you miss you’ll land among stars
#4. Keep your goal in your mind at all times
. Don’t get distracted from your goal. Constantly focusing on your goal will keep you so busy that you will not have time to be distracted
#5. Give up now and you will never succeed
#6. Don’t let people drag you down
#7. Follow-through!
#8. Work hard on your goals every day for 4 years, then work even harder for the next 40 years
#9 Don’t look for excuses, make them!
#10 Overcome the Haters!
Some people will try to drag you down. Some people will criticize you, some people will tell you that they just don’t believe in your dream.
Don’t let them!
You have a dream and you chose to chase it! Don’t let anybody hold you back!
Sometimes it can take days, weeks, months, and even years to achieve your goal but that doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t start or continue.
You are going to take a lot of steps backward, you will fail many times. But that doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t do it.
Even if the people around you don’t believe in your dream, focus on your goal and ignore them. When they realize that you can chase your dreams, then they will join you in trying to make them come true.
Don’t let someone tell you that your dream is not achievable and don’t be afraid to look like a fool while chasing it.
Don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t achieve your dream because you are not smart enough.
Don’t let people tell you that it will be too hard to achieve your dream because you are too poor.
Don’t believe them when they say that your dream is impossible for them to achieve.
You may think that they don’t have the ability but they do! You may think that they don’t have the time but they do! You may think that they don’t have the money but in this economy, everyone struggles with money and unfortunately, having more than others does not mean having more than necessary anyway.
Don’t let people tell you that your dream is too unrealistic and don’t be afraid to look like a fool while chasing it.
Some people will tell you that no one has ever done it before you and therefore, it’s impossible to do.
Don’t let them discourage you! Just do your best, work hard and follow the right path instead of the easy one.
You don’t have to quit your job or sell all of your possessions to follow your dream but don’t be afraid to sacrifice some of them.
Let the haters make more excuses for you; they are going to anyway.
People can make excuses about you, your family, your nationality, or even about the economy.
Don’t let them drag you down with their excuses.
Don’t be afraid to look like a fool when chasing after your dreams but don’t let that fear stop you from following the right path and achieving your goals.
Some people will tell you that they are not worth of it because of their past failures.
Failure is nothing more than an experience and for sure, it is going to happen anyway but how does that mean that you shouldn’t chase your dreams?
Because of past experiences, some people will try to discourage you from trying again.
Don’t let them.
Do it your way and if you fail, at least you will have tried!
Some people will tell you that they are not sure that they can do it either.
Don’t listen to them!
Don’t let people tell you that your dream is impossible.
People will try to discourage you from going for your dreams but don’t listen to them even if they may seem like a good friend or family member.
If they continue to keep telling you what "isn't" possible, then perhaps it is time for you to stop listening and do what YOU want the most.
Some people will try to drag you down.
Do it your way and if you fail, at least you will have tried!
Some people will tell you that they are not sure that they can do it either.
Don’t listen to them!
Sometimes all of our friends and family members seem to be negative about everything. This is due to stress in their lives, frustration with their situation, the economy, or even with their own life choices.
Do not let this discourage you from doing what you were meant to do.
Don’t let the negative comments and opinions of those who don’t understand your dream prevent you from following it.
There are many ways to be discouraged but as long as we don’t listen to them and keeping doing what we want, no one can stop us from achieving our dreams.
It is better for you to love your dream than hating your dream because hate is never going to get you anywhere.
Don’t deny yourself happiness just because someone else tells you that it isn't possible or couldn't be done.
Do it your way and if you fail, at least you will have tried!
Some people will tell you that you are not going to succeed no matter what.
Don’t listen to them!
Don’t let people tell you how impossible your dream is.
Do it your way and if you fail, at least you will have tried!
Sometimes people don’t like our dreams because they are afraid of something. They are afraid of change because they don’t know how things work out in the world outside of their comfort zone. They are afraid of failure or being judged by others for doing something different than what everyone else does.
You have to realize that the world is different today.
Do it your way and if you fail, at least you will have tried!
Some people will tell you that they don’t care about your dreams or goals. They just want to complain about their life and feel sorry for themselves.
Let them!
It’s not your job to fix their problems, it’s their job. Besides, if they don’t care enough about themselves then why should you?
Don’t let them drag you down with their negative energy.
People will always try to discourage you from doing what you love.
Do it your way and if you fail, at least you will have tried!
People are going to discourage you but as long as you believe in your dream and do your best to reach it, then there is nothing that can stop you!
It doesn’t matter how many times people have failed before; the only thing that matters is that they keep trying until they succeed. So don’t be afraid of failing because, in the end, failing is another experience that we all have to go through anyway.
Learning to keep your enemies closer
It’s no secret that people are territorial creatures. Every animal on the planet wants to feel like it has a place in the world, and for good reason. Humans are no different, and as a result, we all have our favorite pastimes, friends, places, and things that make us feel at home. Most of us don’t realize that this same instinctive feeling can be applied not simply to physical objects but also people. In fact, for many people, it is even more important to connect with people.
This is why people often argue over trivial things; if you get the attention of someone you want to befriend, and they feel like they belong near or with you, then no matter how trivial that argument was, it’s effectively been won. However, if you want to create meaningful friendships with others, and ensure that they are loyal to your cause (and not just themselves), then there are some things that you can do to make sure that they trust you.
The first thing that you have to do is let them see your weaknesses. It may seem counter-intuitive, but the fact is that people like vulnerability in others – especially in leaders. This can be easy if you are a good leader, and can take care of other people while at the same time being able to put yourself at the service of those around you; however, it is important to make sure that these people know how much you care about them.
Another way of doing this is by showing people how much you need them. This is where you have to be careful because the trust that you are building has to be earned between you and your friend. It cannot be forced, because this is where relationships fall apart. If someone sees that you need them for something, then they will feel like they can manipulate you.
On the other hand, if someone sees that you need them just to survive and be happy – and not just because of one specific thing – then they will feel a deep sense of loyalty towards your cause. After all, it’s hard to watch a friend suffer when there is nothing that can be done about it. It’s also a lot harder to watch a friend suffer if they know that this suffering has been brought on by inaction.
It is easy for people to demonstrate their loyalty, but it is much harder to prove that they are. This is where having someone you care about as a friend can help – you can be honest with them and show them the way that you really feel, without worrying about what others think of you. By doing so, the outcome will be very clear; if your friend feels like he needs your friendship, then it will show in his actions and words – anyone who opposes this person now has an open invitation to attack him or her.
This is where you have to be very careful, because if your friend feels the need to cut all ties with you to keep his or her own status in the eyes of friends, then this person was never a true friend; just someone who was being used for an end goal.
Allowing people to see your weaknesses is a good way of clearing up any confusion or misunderstanding that may exist between you and the person you are trying to form a friendship with and building trust. If you show how much you need your friend, then there is no longer any possible way of surprising them or co-opting them into a position in which they could be used against you.
When we talk about building trust between friends, we have to mention that certain subjects are not safe to be discussed. For example, talking about your personal life – especially your love life – is definitely not one of these topics. Admittedly, this isn’t because it would reveal too many details; it’s because subject matter such as this can easily be used against someone.
If you find yourself in a situation where some of your friends are claiming to be loyal to you, and others are not, then you have to be honest about this fact. If they act against you because of it, then they were never your friends in the first place.
Creating trust through friendship is an art that cannot be forced; it has to happen naturally. Asking someone to do things for you will only make them feel used, especially if they cannot do what it is that you’re asking of them for one reason or another. This is why building real friendships require some finesse, but the benefits far outweigh the costs by far.
Learning to keep it original everyday
Have you ever been walking down the street, and out of the blue a person jumps out from behind you, tackling you to the ground?
The fear of being taken by surprise in public is evident. People want to be able to see threats coming, even if it's no more than a shadow on the corner. However, sometimes people just need that little extra reminder that somebody else is there with them on their journey through life. We're all human and life will always throw curveballs at us as we travel along the road.
If you go and see 'Batman' with your family, I'm sure you noticed that there was a great deal of building taking place around the area where the Batmobile would eventually be. This is because General Fox has hired the entire city to erect masses of buildings to watch the events unfold around Gotham City. It's not just to keep him safe; it's because he wants to find out what everyone else knows and how they all behave in this strange new world that he is living in. He then takes these necessities into his own hands so that he can know for himself and make sure nothing bad happens. If it does happen, he knows how to predict and counteract before any major destruction occurs. Batman became the ultimate detective by making sure he 'stared' into the eyes of a million people as a means of self-preservation.
In my first ever blog post way back in February from a different platform, I said that content is "king". No matter what you are creating, whether it's music or video or stories or even games, you need to have an audience there to appreciate your work. The more people that you get talking about your work will build a base for your reputation in this world of ours. The same also applies to your personal life. In order to protect yourself from the dangers of the public, you need a base of friends and family that you can rely on in times of crisis or even just some good old-fashioned advice. They'll be there to watch your back and build up mutual trust for each other.
The problem is, it's hard to be a content creator in this day and age. You might be working hard on your next post, which might take hours upon hours of editing and writing, only for someone else to come along and share their own article filled with recycled ideas that have already been published by other bloggers across the web. By the time you've spent hours creating something and you end up with some garbage that someone else has already made, then it's almost like your work was in vain. You might have spent all of that time creating something, but it's a very hard thing to make relevant again when everyone's doing the same thing in their posts. It can be downright depressing to have everything you produce taken away from you.
This is why I like to go hunting for new articles. They're great and they help my blog meet new people as well as keep me current with the recent happenings in this world of ours. And when I get a fresh article such as that one here, then I know I can use it to build my reputation in the gaming world. It'll get me new followers, but more importantly, it'll introduce me to new people who might read my blog and become fans of the blog itself.
I know for a fact that there are many people out there who have yet to begin using Twitter or Facebook or perhaps even those other social media services. For some reason they are all scared off by the idea of adding an account and just simply being somewhere online where they can keep up with everyone else along their path through life. But I've found that this is a great advantage for us content creators. For one thing, it'll keep us current with what's going on in the world around us. We'll be able to see what people are talking about and then we can make our own posts about these events that are happening. It's a great way to spark conversation and get people talking about your work.
It's really a never ending cycle of information exchange. You share someone's post and they sign up so that they can read your blog which will create more people for you to share the same post with, along with the next person who joins in on the conversation. It's really quite interesting if you think about it. And if you're a great writer, then you'll be able to share your thoughts and feelings with the world in a way that other people can understand. It's definitely not an easy feat, but it's very important to know how to do this right. You don't want your content to get lost in the masses of ideas out there.
It's like I said in an earlier blog post, where I shared my thoughts about making sure you are ahead of the curve when it comes to searching for new things on the net. We want to put new information out there in a way that makes us stand out from the crowd so that people will come back for more. I am very proud of the articles that I write here, and they are definitely capable of making me a household name in the blogging world. The last thing I want to do is have someone come along and steal my work for their own blog. And that's why I'm doing this.
I also like to keep an eye on what other people are saying about themselves, as well as making sure that everyone is aware that they can do the same with my writings. We all need a bit of self-promotion to make sure that we're getting our word out there in the best way possible. I've been eyeing my own website for weeks now, and I was really surprised to find that a good deal of people have actually signed up to be followers of this blog. I guess as you get older, you realize that this is the only way to stay current with the world around us. It's a great thing.
Let's think about it for a moment. When was the last time that someone said something really stupid? It happens all of the time but these days everyone seems to be getting on board with everything else first before they even give a second thought to what they are saying. You can tell that everyone is trying to be the first to post something online, and this is exactly what it does. Your opinions seem to be out in front of everyone else's and people are now starting to kind of take notice of everything you've said.
The struggles I'm having, trying out "Axie Infinity"
For most of us, the idea of becoming an entrepreneur can seem pretty overwhelming. Like a total game-changer, or a chance to make things happen in your life that you always wanted to happen. But what about if you're looking at it from the perspective of someone who is just getting started and is struggling to find their place? This article will tell you all about my experience trying out Axie Infinity as an indie developer, and why I think it's worth trying out even if your situation is difficult for you at the moment.
Though right now, in my case, I've been having some difficulty completing my team since whenever I try to buy affordable axies, BOTs seems to buy them first in lightspeed! In which we don't know how to report such events.. I've always been a gamer. Ever since I can remember, my first videogame console was the Nintendo 64. It was so cool, with games like Mario Kart and Goldeneye. A few years later, I got really into playing multiplayer PC games, mostly third-person shooters like Call of Duty or Medal of Honor. Like a lot of people my age, I spent an incredible amount of time playing these games, and that's how I got my start in competitive gaming. One day when I was streaming CoD on Twitch.tv , I got a message from someone who told me about Axie Infinity. At the time, I was really excited to see what it was all about.
The www.axieinfinity.com officially launched at the beginning of March, and the first thing that caught my attention was that this game already had a lot of community support, which impressed me since I hadn't seen another game like this before except for CryptoKitties. The color variety and process of breeding attracted me to the game since it reminded me of my childhood days where I would play Pokémon or Digimon games on Gameboy Advance whenever I'm at home sick from school. The idea of making a game that's as appealing to children and adults alike was a big plus since I've been looking for something like that for myself without much luck before. And after seeing the trailer, it just seemed too good to be true.
So since I've been testing out the game for a while, I wanted to take the time to share my progress with everyone who is thinking about getting involved in Axie Infinity.
Anyway, how do you get started with Axie Infinity? Let me know in the comments below, and as well the "auto buy" bots, what do you think about them?
Dragging yourself to work, job burnout...
If you feel the need to show up at work one day, but can't muster the energy to get out of bed, you might be experiencing job burnout (aka. staleness). Job burnout is a chronic condition that’s characterized by emotional and physical exhaustion. When it reaches severe levels, you may feel like life has lost its meaning or purpose.
Burnout can force you into a depressive state and cause memory loss over time. It also increases your risk of developing illnesses such as alcoholism or drug addiction and even depression later in life. Many people with job burnout will experience physical symptoms such as headaches or colds due to lowered immunity from stress hormones flooding their bodies continually for extended periods of time.
To put it in perspective, the average American worker puts in 45.2 hours a week or roughly eight hours of sleep per night. If you’re not sleeping and working long hours, you’re probably burning out, and this could cause your performance to decline in a negative manner.
What causes job burnout?
It can be caused by excessive stress and long hours spent at work. When people are being overworked, they often remain emotionally exposed long after the workday has ended. This leads them to become desensitized towards their job and responsibilities as a result of lost interest in their coworkers. The lack of passion for what you do can reduce job satisfaction with minimal effort on your part.
Major stressors can also cause job burnout. For example, if your workplace is not supportive and encourages you to take breaks, you may experience job burnout when you’re not given anything to do. It’s even more likely if your boss is being belligerent or acts unsupportive towards you.
Fortunately, job burnout can be avoided by adjusting workloads. In fact, work overload can make people depressed while leading to job burnout. If you feel like giving up and are starting to feel tired of going to work every day, it may be time for a change in your career or profession.
Job burnout and chronic fatigue can be dealt with through proper management and communication between employees. When managers understand how to manage their employees properly, they will be able to minimize the effects of job burnout on staff.
How you can prevent job burnout:
Talk to other people at work about the things you’re experiencing such as physical symptoms, anxiety, or depression. Don’t keep these feelings bottled up inside or you’ll start to develop depression.
Keep a journal in which you can track your physical changes so that you can see how the emotional drain is affecting your physical health.
Avoid being overly negative towards your job and colleagues. This can only lead to worsening your burnout condition. Keep a positive attitude for a healthy work environment with the other employees.
How to manage job burnout:
Be proactive at work by asking for time off or taking breaks despite what your boss says about it. Even if you’re doing a good job, you can still take some time off just to reset yourself and feel fresh again.
Always communicate with your colleagues when you’re feeling burned out about work. Share with them how you feel and they might just have the same problems so they can help out and support you.
Check to see if your workplace is supportive of employees taking breaks or getting sick. If not, speak to the manager so that they can receive training on how to be more supportive.
If your job is causing you to feel depressed like it's taking over your life or making you feel resentful, find something else that gives you purpose and meaning in life. You may be better off in another profession altogether.
How to get rid of job burnout:
Talk to your boss about taking time off work for a week or two to re-energize yourself. In turn, you should work hard when you return from your break and ask for a promotion in exchange for this extra perk. Bosses love employees who boost their performance and make them feel appreciated at the same time.
Don’t let your job get in the way of your family or social life. Remember that you have friends and family that love you regardless of what’s going on at work. Make time to see them and do the things you enjoy doing.
Don’t let yourself get too overwhelmed by excessive workloads, and if your boss tries to tell you otherwise, find another job somewhere else. You’re not a machine that should only put in as many hours as possible without getting any sort of rest. Employees like this will get stressed out quickly and experience chronic fatigue over time.
"Illegal Termination"
It's time to make sure your employees know what their rights are. It's hard to believe that a company would fire an employee because they're not legally allowed to work here, but it happens all the time. In fact, many of the most egregious cases of wrongful termination have actually resulted in people taking legal action against their employers with "illegal terminations." What does this mean? It means that, if you get fired for a prohibited reason like having the wrong immigration status or being under age 18, you can sue your employer and win! That salaried position just might be worth more than what you think. When you get fired just because of how they felt about you, how the boss doesn't like you, and all of the things that is emotion-based judgment. If you're fired like that, it's time to find out if you can take legal action against your company.
I have heard of employers firing an employee due to the fact that they have more than one job, the reason being that if the two jobs are paid for by the same employer and performed simultaneously, then it is considered illegal. Is this true?"
Under Federal law, it is a violation of Federal law to require an employee to perform multiple jobs that are paid for by the same employer. Additionally, in many states, an employer is prohibited from limiting the amount of time a person can spend performing one job because doing so would make them appear as though they were working more than one job.
Here in the Philippines, they have what they call, DOLE or Department Of Labor and Employment. DOLE is composed of the Bureau of Working Conditions, the Bureau of Employment Services, the Bureau of Employment Allowances, and the Bureau of Labor Relations. The work that DOLE does is to enforce compliance through labor standards laws, promote productivity and profitability in business enterprises and protect workers and their organizations in this country.
By law, every establishment must have a labor standard compliance certificate (LSC).
The LSC is a form issued by DOLE that states compliance with certain labor standards laws governing all establishments employing 15 or more employees for at least three months. This makes it mandatory for employers to have their LSCs.
Here are the Labor Standards that DOLE enforces in the Philippines:
1. Overtime Pay - No employer may require an employee to work or to work for more than eight hours in any single day, and more than forty-eight hours in a week, without additional compensation other than pay at premium rates.
2. Maximum Hours of Work - No employer shall employ an employee for more than eight hours in any one day, and more than forty-eight hours in a week, unless otherwise authorized by law.
3. Working Hours - Every employer shall provide his employee with a total of forty-eight hours of work within a week unless the employee has been granted or extended other authorized leave.
4. Rest Period - Every employer shall provide his farm labor and domestic helpers with a rest period of at least ten (10) minutes in every one hundred eighty (180) minutes of work except for work on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays.
5. Minimum Wage - Every employer shall pay his employee a wage rate not less than the minimum wage set by the Bureau of Labor Relations.
6. Maternity Leave - female employees are entitled to a maternity leave of sixty (60) days with full pay.
7. Sick Leave - Every employee is entitled to an annual sick leave of not less than one hundred twenty (120) days of paid sick leave with full pay after six (6) months of service. After three (3) years or more, he or she shall be entitled to an annual paid sick leave of one hundred fifty (150) days, and for every additional five (5) years, twenty-five per centum thereof.
8. Personal Leave - Every employee is entitled to an annual personal leave of not less than twenty (20) days, one (1) day every two months.
When your company, does not comply with this kind of system, then you better think twice, I know it's hard to get a job right now, but always remember, that your mental health is much important than physical health.
When you hit the Writer's Block...
You probably know it by its other name, writer's block, and have experienced it firsthand. It can be frustrating for both writers and readers alike. But what is the cause of this problem? How do you overcome writer's block? What can you do to avoid experiencing it in the future? And what exactly is going on in your brain when you experience writer's block? This post will answer all these questions for you.
Today I'm going to take some time to explore what causes writer’s block, how to overcome it once and for all, as well as some tips for avoiding it down the road.
Writer's block is one of those things that can happen to anyone. Not only is it a great impediment to any writer or blogger, but it also causes a lot of stress and frustration because you feel like you have nowhere to turn. It can be pretty paralyzing when you can’t find the words. It doesn’t matter if you are new or old; writer's block can strike anyone at any time, and usually does at least once in a lifetime.
It comes when inspiration seems hard to find and your mind is blank on what should be said next. Whatever you are writing seems to be going nowhere. You have lost the path and have no idea how to proceed, and hence you are stuck. Sometimes you can’t even write one more sentence without some kind of help or guidance. Few experience it, but if you want to become a successful blogger, then this is something that is very important to learn about as soon as possible.
**Writer's Block and Ideas**
So what exactly is writer's block? Well, the term refers to a sudden inability to produce new content in your writing for any reason at all; your mind just goes blank. And if that's all that it is, then this is not the same as creativity, which is natural and normal and what everyone experiences every day; you just have to make sure you don't overreact to it.
Creativity takes over anyway and eventually leads to awesome new ideas. That's when everything flows. Writer's block does not happen randomly, but rather as a result of something else that happens while you are trying to be creative. Just because your inspiration isn't flowing today doesn't mean your talent will fail tomorrow. That's the most important thing to remember.
***The causes of writer's block are usually a combination of different things:***
**Lack of experience and knowledge in writing**. This is especially true if you don't write very often. Sometimes it takes time to develop your ideas, your writing skills, and even the ability to speak clearly about what you are trying to convey. It may take a while before you can begin to feel confident in your writing and begin expressing yourself freely.
**You're afraid of failing**. Many writers who are new on the scene experience great fear about getting their works discovered by others. They are afraid that their writing will be terrible and nobody will like it. You have to keep in mind that writing is not about you, it's about the readers and what they want to read.
**A fear of looking stupid**. This is especially common with young writers who are just starting out. Many are afraid to show others their work because they believe what they've written is subpar, and that no one would understand it or agree with them. You may start getting a lot of negative feedback soon if you don't start believing in yourself and your abilities!
**A lack of confidence**. If you lack self-confidence, then this can really slow down your motivation when you write your blog posts (or any type of article).
**Lack of inspiration**. Writer's block is a result of a lack of inspiration. When you're stuck in your creative process, then you may feel like you have nothing new to say. Feeling this way can make you feel discouraged and tired.
**Lack of motivation**. Sometimes having a specific topic in mind, or an upcoming deadline can cause writer's block because you may not be motivated enough to write. Not having the idea for how to start does not mean you will never be able to write again. You should start by brainstorming about ideas and topics that inspire you in order to find the original one again that will help improve your creative output.
**Lack of passion**. Sometimes, being too passionate about a specific niche can be a problem. Too much focus on one thing can make it hard to write anything new without feeling bored or exhausted. If you feel this way, then take a break from the topic for a little while and allow yourself to be inspired by other things before you come back to it.
**Lack of rest**. If you're tired and exhausted, then that will definitely affect your creativity. This is especially true if you work all day and then try to blog in the evening when your brain is already tired and exhausted. So always make sure that you get enough rest before trying to create something new!
**The lack of knowledge in blogging**. This is especially true if you're a new blogger who has only been blogging for a short time. You'll have to take time to learn the basics and learn what others are doing before you try to write your own content. If you're not prepared, then there's not much point in starting your blog, because you won't be able to achieve anything at all! So make sure to read up on things like SEO so that when the time comes, you'll be ready.
Multiple times that "The Simpsons" predicted the future
I've always been a fan of The Simpsons family, but if I ever knew that this kind of scenario back when it was aired was going to happen, I would definitely love them more!
It's difficult to imagine a world without "The Simpsons" and it's equally difficult to imagine one in which the show only predicted things that came true. But what if this was actually the case?
With 20 years of hindsight on our side, we now know that there are several occasions in which Matt Groening and his team accurately predicted events with uncanny accuracy. In these blog posts, we'll dissect four different instances where "The Simpsons" had already foreseen major historic moments before they occurred.
Siegfried and Roy's Tiger Attack
**Season 5, Episode 10: $pringfield (Or, How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love Legalized Gambling)**
**Predicted:** 1993
**Came true:** 2003
Autocorrect Fails
**Season 6, Episode 8: Lisa on Ice**
**Predicted:** 1994
**Came true:** 2007
FaceTime
**Season 6, Episode 19: Lisa’s Wedding**
**Predicted:** 1995
**Came true:** 2010
Faulty Voter Machines
**Season 20, Episode 4: Treehouse of Horror XIX**
**Predicted:** 2008
**Came true:** 2012
The God Particle
**Season 10, Episode 2: The Wizard of Evergreen Terrace**
**Predicted:** 1998
**Came true:** 2012
NSA Spying Scandal
***The Simpsons Movie***
**Predicted:** 2007
**Came true:** 2013
Smartwatches
**Season 6, Episode 19: Lisa’s Wedding**
**Predicted:**1995
**Came true:** 2014
America's Ebola Outbreak
**Season 9, Episode 3: Lisa’s Sax**
**Predicted:** 1997
**Came true:** 2014
FIFA's Corruption Scandal
**Season 25, Episode 16: You Don’t Have to Live Like a Referee**
**Predicted:** 2014
**Came true:** 2015
Greece’s Debt Default
**Season 23, Episode 10: Politically Inept, with Homer Simpson**
**Predicted:** 2012
**Came true:** 2015
The Nobel Prize
**Season 22, Episode 1: Elementary School Musical**
**Predicted:** 2010
**Came true:** 2016
President Donald Trump
**Season 11, Episode 17: Bart to the Future**
**Predicted:** 2000
**Came true:** 2015
Lady Gaga's Halftime Show
**Season 23, Episode 22: Lisa Goes Gaga**
**Predicted:** 2012
**Came true:** 2017
Disney's Fox Takeover
**Season 10, Episode 5: When You Dish Upon A Star**
**Predicted:** 1998
**Came true:** 2017
Team USA's Olympic Curling Win
**Season 21, Episode 12: Boy Meets Curl**
**Predicted:** 2010
**Came true:** 2018
Drogon's Fiery Rampage on *Game of Thrones*
**Season 29, Episode 1: The Serfsons**
**Predicted:** 2017
**Came true:** 2019
The 2020 Experience
**Season 4, Episode 21: Marge in Chains**
**Predicted:** 1993
**Came true:** 2020
In March, episode co-writer Bill Oakley told The Hollywood Reporter that any parallels to coronavirus that the script seems to invite are totally accidental. “The Simpsons have just a few times predicted something,” he added. “It's mostly chance since the episodes are so old that history repeats itself,” says the author. The majority of these episodes are based on events that occurred in the 1960s, 1970s, or 1980s that we were aware of.”
Embracing your Shadow Self
Every person has a shadow self, and it's not always pretty.
It might be someone you've hidden. It could be an essential part of yourself that you refuse to let anyone else see. It could be your worst nightmare, or it could be your inner voice.
Regardless of who or what it is, you need to learn how to embrace that part of yourself and not let it control you.
There are lots of great books and resources on the subject, just make sure to find what works for you. There is no one right way, but there are many small everyday steps you can take to begin the process.
The more awareness you have of your shadow, the easier it will become to embrace it and give it a chance to grow and change.
One of my favorite quotes on the subject is from Alice Miller: "The same person who is cruel and violent will also be tender and caring when he is in touch with himself".
The truth about your shadow self maybe a little scary at first, but remember it's not something bad that has happened to you, but rather a part of your psyche that you will never be able to fully understand until you come face to face with it.
As your understanding grows, so too will your ability to cope with the memories and thoughts that have been locked away for too long.
Here are some initial steps you can take to begin embracing your shadow self.
1. Get Comfortable with the Feeling That Comes Up When You're Alone: Remind yourself that this is a safe place, and not something scary or shameful. Find out what makes you feel good when you're alone there, write it down and make this part of your daily routine.
2. Take Care of Your Body and Mind: Make sure your body is getting enough sleep, exercise regularly and eat healthy. Anything that takes away from your mental health is unhealthy for you. Give yourself time to recharge.
3. Explore Your Shadow Self through Dreams and Journaling: You can take the time to be alone with your shadow and explore it in a dream journal. This is a great place to start making connections between what you see in your dreams and how you feel when you are alone.
4. Change Your Shady Habits: Do things that make you feel good about yourself, spend time with people who like and respect you, follow through on commitments that support your growth, and do something nice for someone else. All of these things will help bring the positive part of your shadow out into the light where it can grow strong and bright enough to overshadow the dark parts of your psyche.
5. Start a Support Group: Find others who are willing to help you learn to embrace your shadow self and the parts of yourself that remain hidden.
6. Start Slowly: Your shadow self is not a bad thing in itself but it can be scary at first. Start with one small step, such as doing a drawing, writing an essay or making something that expresses what you see in your shadow self and how you feel about it.
7. Don't Be Afraid To Talk About It: The more you talk about the darker side of yourself within a safe environment, the more comfortable you will get talking about those things that frighten most people.
8. Leave Your Comfort Zone: Try things that are outside your normal routine. This might be a little scary at first but you can always fall back to your comfort zone if it becomes too much to handle.
9. Be Patient: You might feel like you're never going to get out of the dark side of yourself, but believe me, this is just the beginning and it will get better little by little until one day you will have a full, beautiful life.
10. Enjoy Your Life: Be kind to yourself, treat yourself with respect and let go of the guilt because you have given your life a chance to heal. You have done nothing wrong and you will never fail at loving your shadow self if you are open to this process.
Who knows that working too hard is a negative thing to do...
*Well, this is the article where you find out. So, shall we start?*
Working too hard is a negative thing to do for yourself. We all know that an important part of health and happiness is the ability to balance your life and not let work stress take over every aspect of it. But everyone goes into that mental mode where they think they can handle more than they actually can because it's easier to focus on work in short bursts and then power down for a bit before getting right back in. Losing that energy becomes difficult when you're carrying such heavy workloads, but luckily there are some simple tips on how not to always be so exhausted at work so you can stay healthy and happy.
Work is a full-time job, but it shouldn't be the only thing you do.
You have to stay healthy and enjoy life to be able to balance all of this out. It's easy to forget that people in different places can handle different workloads, so don't let your stress level get out of hand if your schedule seems like it'd overload everyone else.
Don't keep going beyond the point of exhaustion. You'll only start gaining weight and losing energy from lack of sleep and constant stress. So take a break every now and then, even if it's just for 15 minutes or so every couple hours that can help you feel refreshed.
Don't forget to stay active.
This is a big one because being active doesn't just impact your physical health but your mental well-being as well. People often tend to not exercise for even 30 whole minutes because they're busy working, but it's necessary to have an outlet in order to relieve stress and reduce the chances of heart problems, or just overall health problems from the lack of physical activity. Make sure you have designated time in your schedule for some sort of physical activity like yoga or even going out with friends to play some sports.
Make sure you take care of yourself at work.
It's important to remember that feeling like you need a break doesn't mean you're not good at your job, so don't feel the urge to push yourself too hard. This is an important point because you can actually get work done faster and better if you're not constantly worried about hitting deadlines. You will have less stress if you know what's expected and how much time is available to accomplish tasks. Again, it's healthy to take mini-breaks throughout your day as needed.
Don't sweat the small stuff.
This is a big one for me. I know that most people who work in offices complain about small things that don't affect them at all, but remember that there are more important things in life to stress over than your coworker sitting in a different seat than you are used to seeing them in. Don't let these minor annoyances get under your skin, just try and ignore them so you can focus on bigger tasks.
Take some time off every now and then.
This isn't always an option, especially if the job is your only source of income, but if you have the flexibility to take time off then do it. You'll feel more refreshed and return with renewed enthusiasm for work. If it's not possible, then make sure you get enough sleep every night and keep a good balance between work and personal life to keep yourself productive.
Actively care about how you're feeling at work.
If nothing else is going well at your job then take some time to reflect on how you're feeling in general. You might be stressed and not even realize it. Taking an honest look at how you feel can help you discover stress symptoms before they become a bigger burden.
Follow the above tips to stay healthy and happy at your job so you can maintain your energy levels and do well at work and in life. Remember that if you feel tired, stressed, or overwhelmed from work then it's time to take a step back, relax, breathe, and take care of yourself so you can continue to do it as well as possible during stressful times.
Self-Doubt: A Major Cause Of Failure And A Threat To Your Life
Nothing will stop you from achieving your dreams. However, for a variety of reasons, many people find it difficult to believe in themselves and their abilities, which leads them to give up in the face of adversity. Self-doubt is a major cause of this phenomenon—it can severely impair your life and slowly take away the will to live. If self-criticism and self-doubt are a problem for you, here are helpful tips that can help you overcome these limiting ideas about yourself!
Self-doubt changes your whole being more than you could imagine
Self-doubt can lead to consequences like depression or even suicide. Depression is a mental illness that prevents you from enjoying life to the fullest. In fact, most people who lose hope also lose the will to live. Studies have shown that those who feel they have failed and give up do not live long enough to see what they could achieve with their lives. For instance, even though Martin Luther King Jr was an intelligent man, he too suffered from self-doubt when he was starting out in his career as a civil rights leader. He thought about quitting several times because of the hurdles he faced, but after realizing that quitting was not an option for him, he became a civil rights leader whose voice resonated with millions of people.
Some people are seemingly born driven to succeed, and while success is a blessing, it doesn't make success inevitable. As a result of self-doubt, people quit their jobs and careers before they have the chance to enjoy what they do. In fact, studies have shown that people who are successful believe that happiness is as much due to luck as it is due to hard work. This clearly shows that self-doubt is behind most failures because those who are successful know the value of hard work. People who feel they don't deserve success often also feel undeserving of anything good in their life. This leads them to resent others because they secretly think that everyone else has it better than them.
Many people who think they don't deserve success also feel undeserving of anything good in their life. This leads them to resent others because they secretly think that everyone else has it better than them.
Self-doubt is dangerous because it can prevent you from achieving your goals and dreams. Studies have shown that those who do not believe in themselves do not tend to work hard enough, which prevents them from making dreams a reality. In fact, people who have self-doubts often cannot get past their critics and find themselves unable to move on despite having good talent and capabilities for excelling in their careers or careers.
Self-doubt is the main reason why people give up on their dreams. Most of the time, people who doubt themselves give up on their careers even though they could be successful because they are more concerned about proving to others that they are capable.
People who suffer from self-doubts often give up on their careers even though they could be successful because they are more concerned about proving to others that they are capable.
You can do something good with your life despite what you feel!
There's a story of a man named George Mallory who climbed Mount Everest and was asked why he wanted to climb it. His response was "Because it is there.” This quote shows that it does not matter whether you are afraid of failure, because if it is a dream you want to achieve, then nothing can stop you from pursuing it. However, having said that, there are several ways to overcome self-doubt. Here are some tips that can help you do so:
1. Understand the nature of your self-doubt
Most people who experience self-doubt do not understand the source of their doubts and negativity. They think they are intrinsically bad or have no hope for success. In fact, there is a big difference between intrinsic and extrinsic reasons for failure. Intrinsic reasons are lifelong traits that make a person unattractive for working hard and achieving success. These people have high self-doubt and tend to give up easily even when things are going great. Although you do not have to be inherently bad for failure, if you possess certain qualities like low self-esteem or negative thinking, then it can dramatically disrupt your progress and achievements in life.
The most important thing you need to understand is that your feelings are not reality; they're your thoughts. It is the thoughts that make you feel bad about yourself. It's not you; it's your thoughts. It's not you; it's your thoughts!
2. Understand how to change your negative thinking
Negative thought patterns and self-doubt can prevent success and happiness for a person. In fact, studies have shown that negative thinkers tend to experience depression sooner due to their tendency to believe in their limitations rather than in the possibilities of the future. They may also experience panic attacks, which is a deeper form of anxiety than regular anxiety due to its ability to immobilize people in ways that they have no control over.
However, self-doubt is often an inherited trait because parents have certain expectations of their children. However, if you were raised in a warm, supportive environment, you won't have to worry about self-doubt. Contrary to popular belief, there are positive things that can happen if your parents were negative and critical of you! They can actually help you achieve more than they imagine by giving you a reason to work hard.
3. Understand the value of success to both yourself and others
Some people believe that everyone will just laugh at them or judge them because they are not good enough for success or the satisfaction it brings. This is the main reason why they feel like failures. However, that's not true because they are the ones who determine how important success is to them. In addition, studies have shown that people who are successful exhibit high levels of self-doubt as well, which shows that success does not come easily for anyone. Everyone has to work hard at some point in their lives to achieve their dreams and goals.
4. Understand your motivation for success
Success is important in your life because it allows you the freedom to control your life and live according to what you want with a strong sense of purpose and fulfillment. It also helps you grow as a person by learning new skills, developing your personality and strengthening your character. Moreover, success can help you attract the people and things that can potentially improve your life.
5. Understand that failure does not always mean that you are a failure
Another reason why people give up on their dreams is that they think they are failures in life because of their failures. This can be considered a self-fulfilling prophecy because if you think to yourself that you're a failure, then likely you will fail at anything you try to do in life.
So once again, I will leave you with this quote that I always use on my every article. Please understand it, use it, live it. Definitely, change is going to be wonderful and you would feel it the moment you embrace it, rather than doubting it. Love you all!
The myth of the "Shadow People"
***Shadow people are a myth***
This post will explore the “shadow people” phenomenon and why this is more likely to be an imagined story than something supernatural. Made me think twice about the things that I have been doing to my body as well for the past years... So hopefully, I could somehow shed light to most of my readers an idea, and at least how you could take care of yourself.
Most of us have heard a story about a person waking up in the middle of the night due to feeling as someone was sitting on their chest. A common question that arises from these stories is, “Is it possible that I am not alone in my room?” The answer to this question may surprise you and help explain why many believe they see shadow people. Scientists agree that sleep paralysis occurs when your brain slows down just before you go into REM (Rapid Eye Movement) sleep or in-between states of consciousness, which can lead to hallucinations. When you can't move, your brain starts seeing things that are not there and erroneous memory is created.
One can clearly see evidence of sleep paralysis, which is why it is so prevalent in those with narcolepsy. The more common hallucination experienced during sleep paralysis is the belief that someone or something is sitting on your chest. (I have gone through this myself.) I am going to go in-depth about the history of sleep paralysis as well as the research concerning why this happens.
In the 19th century, doctors observed that some people had an extremely difficult time sleeping because they were having highly vivid dreams while sleeping. They considered these individuals to be suffering from sleep paralysis, a temporary inability to move or speak. They thought that at night, the brain was making it hard to breathe and that this was why the person would wake up with a feeling as if someone were sitting on their chest.
In 1919, Sigmund Freud believed that sleep paralysis was caused by dreams. He thought that there are monsters in our subconscious and they would take over our bodies and cause us to become paralyzed while asleep. He believed that people could become possessed by dreams and as a result, these individuals would stop breathing when they woke up. The history of sleep paralysis is full of theories from religion and science about what causes it. For example, one theory is that sleep paralysis is a demon. In most ancient cultures, demons were blamed for this phenomenon. A name for this demon was “Marduk” and the word comes from the Babylonian language.
In many cultures, it was believed that sleep paralysis was a warning sign from god. It was believed that you must have done something wrong or evil before falling asleep resulting in your inability to move and the feeling as if someone were sitting on your chest or back. If you slept with another person, they could also be spotted during the night. The most common person that is seen is a witch or sorcerer sitting on your chest. Many people who believe they experience supernatural events often blame witches, demons, and “shadow people.” However, this irrational behavior is the result of nightmares, hallucinations, and sleep paralysis all combined together.
In our current time period, there are still some scientists who consider sleep paralysis to be a very serious phenomenon. Some theories claim that it can lead to schizophrenia or other psychological disorders. It has been found that those with narcolepsy have had better sleep quality than the general public. However, there is a correlation between excessive daytime sleepiness and sleep paralysis. Researchers have found that narcolepsy patients who have sleep paralysis are more likely to have an increased risk of anxiety, panic disorder, and depression.
Other studies suggest that those who experience sleep paralysis are not more likely to experience hallucinations at night or anxiety during the day. Instead, they are more likely to experience mood disorders like schizophrenia or depression as well as panic attacks during the day. They suggest that those with anxiety disorders and mood disorders may be more easily triggered by stimuli such as stress, lack of sleep, physical exhaustion, or drug use.
Another research study showed that sleep paralysis can be a sign of severe depression or schizophrenia. The subjects reported being more anxious throughout the day and their social and occupational functioning was evaluated to be less effective. However, they did not report hallucinations during the night or hallucinations while awake. They did seem to recall dreams more often during REM sleep, which most people do.
Sleep paralysis is not associated with body temperature or breathing problems. It has been shown that those who have had sleep paralysis in the past are more likely to experience nightmares and nightmares include scenes from their past experience with sleep paralysis. The subject may not remember much at all from that night, but the nightmares included vivid images and memories of their past experience with sleep paralysis.
There is also a rare form of sleep paralysis that does not depend on the brain slowing down just before you go into REM sleep. This condition is called “somnambulistic” sleep paralysis. Somnambulistic sleep paralysis occurs when you suddenly become paralyzed and cannot move during the day or night. You will be awake, but unable to move and your body temperature will stay normal. This phenomenon often happens immediately after waking up in the night or having a very vivid dream early in the morning (called REM rebound).
Somnambulistic sleep paralysis is very difficult to treat. Most of the time, it does not have any medical significance and is considered a nuisance issue. However, for those who experience these events over and over again, it may be a sign of narcolepsy or another kind of sleep disorder. If you want to learn more about this phenomenon or you are experiencing these symptoms, it is important that you consult your doctor or go see a sleep specialist right away.
I wanted to say thanks for my first sponsorship!
I wanted to give thanks to my first ever presence sponsor, and I hope more of my followers do too so this post reaches the top!
It can be very difficult for a new blogger such as myself to get noticed at first, but I'm thrilled that my blog was recently sponsored by @Pantera here in read.cash.
Through this sponsorship, it helped me make some significant confidence and inspiration to do more. This is all thanks to his unbiased support.
I have been looking for a way to break into the blogging community and was told that a good way was through sponsorships with big name bloggers who could share your content and your site with their followers (who are practically guaranteed to be interested, well hopefully they would). I am very surprised by the support that I have been shown and I am pleased with the great opportunities this Sponsor offer.
I would like to thank @Pantera for giving me a push to continue what I love the most, and I hope my readers will do the same, so that we can help each other out!
I firmly believe that if someone supports something they love, then it's a win-win situation. As you can see, @Pantera supports various things such as his blogs and love for cryptocurrency, but one thing is for sure, he knows a good topic when he sees one. Unlike other bloggers, this was my first time being sponsored and I will continue to pursue more if possible. To be honest, I get excited just thinking about it!
I am a new blogger here on read.cash, and I'm very grateful to have gotten the sponsorship.
It really means a lot to me, before I was just seeing his post from time to time, and seeing him sponsor other people, so I wasn't expecting him to notice me and my post. So again, thank you so much!
I guess it's hard to believe because there are so many abused accounts out there who try to influence people into buying their votes or promoting their blog posts for some profit in return... Idk, I heard that works for others, but for those who truly love what they are doing, it's something that disgrace the craft of sharing and expressing yourself through writing, don't you think?
A lot of us have been in this position, not knowing what our goal here is, and it's hard for new bloggers to compete with those that come and go. I guess you just get better with time and don't really need to worry about things like that as much any more.
Just thought I'd share this info because I know a lot of us don't really know how to get noticed or build our presence around here... Not to brag or anything, but I guess it's just great to have this type of support!
I'm a bit of a minimalist when it comes to the style of my writing, I do not like it when people try to make things seem more exciting than they really are.
For me, things are easily said and understood if you keep your sentences short and concise.
Life has not always been easy for me, but that does not mean that I should be sad or express myself as such.
That is why I like to write about my life experiences here on read.cash, I like to keep it just as it is, and I am going to be writing about my life's journey.
I have not always been this way though.
Sure I was optimistic, but I also had lots of unwanted things in my life that made me feel the opposite.
Nowadays, even though I still have a lot of things to worry about at times, it still feels good to share stories like these with you guys and everyone else who reads!
More often than not lately people are saying something along the lines of "Wow, your posts are getting better and more interesting!"
I am very glad that you guys seem to like what you are seeing here on read.cash!
I hope that I will be able to post something interesting and exciting soon, and I will try to make sure that what I write is presented in an interesting way.
So far this year has been great for me, but I am also well aware that there are still a lot of issues that I will have to deal with.
As with all things, it should just be a matter of how you look at things.
I was looking at the negative side of things, which caused me to feel negative emotions about the same things as well.
For me it was a case of believing the negative things that people would say, because I could not see what I did wrong.
I also exaggerated what people said about me because I had become numb to the negativity.
After all, we all know how important it is to leave your problems behind, and express love for mankind!
I hate my job, but life hardly gives me a choice about it
I'm not sure if you ever had the same feeling, but I have it every single day. That's why I decided to write this article so I can ask for help, or share some little piece of advice with others who might be in the same position as me.
Today, I work at a small startup company and while working there has its perks, it also has its drawbacks. For instance, I am not able to enjoy my life as much as I like. In fact, lately, I feel more stressed-out than ever.
I am not saying that my work isn't fun or rewarding, it's pretty challenging if you pay attention to detail, but that's not a problem. What bothers me is the fact that I'm dealing with stress most of the time.
No matter how much sleep I get or how good of a mood I'm in, stress is still there and sometimes it doesn't go away for 2 days straight. It all starts when you realize you're working at a startup and there's no guaranteed salary so your money comes from your own efforts; therefore making things harder for you personally.
Does it sound too familiar?
It does for me. In fact, I am working almost every day from Monday to Sunday and it's not just because I love what I'm doing but because I have no other choice. But what is it about working at a startup company that makes things harder for you personally? For a startup to be successful in the long run, it needs as much staff as possible (which requires money). But the problem is that there is no guaranteed salary so you either earn it or lose it. You also cannot count on a fixed amount of money which means you have to work even harder just to make sure you don't go hungry in the future.
You might be thinking: "Okay, but you can always get another job right?" That's good and all, but I don't want to get another job so I can enjoy my life. I would rather do that when I am retired.
I know that many people are working at startups and it's a great environment to work in general. But the only problem is that you never know when your job will last forever. If you're lucky, your company will become very successful and you'll be rewarded for all the hard work you've done from day 1. But if not, well... In that case, you won't have a choice but to keep working there until your death or until something else comes along to replace it.
I understand that there are people who truly enjoy their work, but honestly, I wouldn't. I like my life and I don't want to work a job that takes up my entire life.
Unfortunately, that's the way it is in the startup world. You probably won't be able to change it because companies like Facebook and Google wouldn't hire most of the people they have if they knew they would be working from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM in a 100 square foot room for the next 20 years or so. Also, one part that ticks me off is the company bosses that clearly don't know what is going on, but steadily push you to do what they want. Which in particular, since they don't know what to do about the system, they would run or ask someone to run it, the wrong way. Instead of making things run smoothly in perfect rhythm and harmony, it's most likely a long drive in the dream world. And that's not the way it should be. I feel like I've lost my inspiration to keep going due to reality being a harsh place to live in, especially if you're used to a happy life. Though I know happiness is subjective and one person might find happiness in a lifestyle another might reject, I still don't want to live in misery all day long.
My plan is this: To be independent, that can replace my daily routine and my current job while I continue working on projects on the side, but never letting them be as important as my main source of income so it can last for as long as possible even if something happens to me. Other than that, I guess, all I have to do is to spring back and forth, and to hustle my way to a good life!
The dilemma brought by the language barrier!
It's hard not to feel frustrated when you see a language barrier. You can't eat your meal because they don't understand, you can't express your feelings because they don’t speak the same language, and you can't even offer them a handshake in consolation. But this is all normal and should be expected for people who are separated by their language barriers.
Language is an important part of a culture that affects how we interact and relate to each other — but it can also hold us back from making progress. When one person cannot communicate with another person by way of spoken or written words, it's hard for two people to connect on the surface level or on any deeper level at all. But the power of communication can be a game-changer for people from different cultural backgrounds and help them assess each other even if they are not from the same culture.
When we don't connect with someone we see, we tend to talk about and think about that person in a negative way. A new study showed that when people connect with someone through a language barrier, instead of taking the time to solve that barrier, they continue to discuss their experience as though this person was an outsider. One research participant said, “I actually felt angry because I had to repeat myself so much…I just thought she was being rude and wasn't trying hard enough.” Another participant says, “I was doing a lot of hand motions and I know I was tapping, but she didn't really react. I even tried to laugh a little bit to make her feel more comfortable but she just didn't laugh.” In these situations, we fail to see the person in front of us because we’re so focused on solving the language barrier. The participants in the study focused on finding someone who speaks their language rather than finding someone with whom they have a more meaningful connection — and it's hard to blame them because it is not their fault that they cannot communicate.
But there are several ways that people can work together despite language barriers. We may not always be able to communicate the way we want to, but we can still make the best of it. A participant in the study pointed out, “I was trying to think of scenarios where you're stuck and there's no one else around who speaks your language…and I just kind of had my eyes open for that.” We instinctively recognize the importance of communication and are willing to work hard to make it happen. When we come face-to-face with another person with who we are unable to communicate by speaking or writing, we realize that it's more important to make the best of our situation than it is to blame each other. People can be their most authentic selves and get to know each other on a deeper level.
There are numerous ways people can connect despite language barriers, so don't forget the best way: you're not alone! A language barrier only serves as a reminder that your differences are what allows you to connect on such a deep level — for better or worse — and that it's all about accepting your differences and creating meaningful connections for your lives.
Sometimes language barrier creates a far distance to different races, ethnicity, and emotions. But with the help of technology, we have a lot of ways to overcome them.
The Internet has become a common thing for everybody: we use it when we buy products and groceries, when we search for information and learn something new when we contact somebody; even in dating. This is why so many services via the internet are so popular nowadays. You can find anything there: from buying clothes to finding friends or meeting a soulmate and get married to him/her.
It is a great advantage for those who are in need of foreign language speakers for specific purposes because they can easily find their language assistants on the Internet without traveling far away from their home or from their country. People of different races, ethnicity can be easily found and hired for small payments.
Another useful way to overcome language barriers is translation services. Translation services allow people who do not speak the same language to communicate with each other without spending too much time learning the new language. They help people get the information they need quickly and efficiently. People also choose translation services because it is a more convenient way to get information from foreign countries or from their native speakers.
It is really hard to keep up with the language changes in your native country. This is why so many people want to learn a foreign language. The Internet offers people various ways to find the language they need and become more comfortable living in a multicultural society.
Japan is the best country for me
Regardless of whether you want to visit, the United States of America is not the best country for everyone. Here are four main reasons why Japan might be a better choice for you if you are thinking about opening a new life abroad.
1. Japan is the most wealthy country in Asia, surpassing South Korea by nearly $500 billion in 2013 and China by over 300 billion dollars. It is also number one in global competitiveness, beating out top European countries like France and Germany which were close behind at number three on the list.
2. It is a country with a very low level of corruption, even compared to the United States. Japan, along with Switzerland and New Zealand, has one of the lowest levels of corruption in the world according to Transparency International.
3. Japan is safe and has low crime rates. Japan has one of the lowest numbers of violent crimes in the world according to FBI statistics. And unlike other developed countries like Canada and Britain, Japan's crime rate is only just above that of developing countries such as Brazil or Russia .
4. The cost of living in Japan is much lower than in many other countries around the world. It is low enough that even if you are unemployed you may only need to work a couple of hours a day and still be able to afford food and shelter for the rest of your time.
So why should you consider living here? For many people, money is the most important part. And as far as money goes, Japan tops most countries while also being safer than 5 out of the top 6 most developed countries in terms of crime statistics. The ability to live well in a safe country and save much more money than other countries makes Japan an ideal choice for anyone who just wants to live comfortably for less money.
Japan offers more than just economic benefits though. It is a country that has developed a unique culture and tradition that gives it a special attraction unlike most other countries in the world. It is one of the few countries that have never been fully colonized by an outside power. Japan has developed its own character over the centuries, shaped by its unique history and geography. As one of the most ethnically homogenous countries in the world, it is also a very safe place for foreigners to live as well.
If none of these reasons are enough for you, try thinking about other things like lifestyle, health, or aesthetics. Maybe you decide that Japan isn't the best country for you after all. But if you haven't already thought about it, I think you might be surprised to know that Japan is the best country in the world for some people.
Some of the reasons why you need to check out Japan:
**Hakone** - the mountain village that inspired the manga "The Tale of Genji"
***Fushimi Inari Shrine*** - an important Shinto shrine in Kyoto. The place is covered with thousands of Torii gates which stand as a symbol for longevity, prosperity and good health.
***Nara and Tōdai-ji*** - Nara is one of the most important cultural and historical places in Japan. It was once a capital of the ancient Japanese state of Baekje, and its beautiful rock gardens are one of the country's oldest structures. Tōdai-ji is a
Buddhist temple located south of Kyoto, built by Emperor Shōmu in 607.
**Kyushu**
***Amanohashidate*** - Japan's longest bridge (1583 meters), connecting Kumamoto to Hahakuda Island, both located in Kumamoto Prefecture. At night, it looks like a giant firefly shining down on the water. Fourteen islands sit inside the bay, which makes it a popular place for freight ships and fishermen.
***Kumamoto*** - capital of Kumamoto Prefecture, located on the island of Kyushu
***Higashiyama District*** (Higashiyama-ku) - one of the most well-known areas in Kyoto. It is located near Fushimi Inari Shrine and Kiyomizu Temple, which are among the best-known places in all of Japan. There are two main sights that draw tourists here: the Cypress Garden and Ryoanji temple. The garden is famous for its large number of cypress trees, which is especially beautiful in winter when covered with snow. The temple has a large statue of Kannon, a white statue with four arms and the face of an elephant, which symbolizes the power to save people. Many tourists come here to pray for their own good fortune.
***Miyajima*** - one of the three islands that make up the island group known as Miyajima in Hiroshima Prefecture. This island is surrounded by water and has temples on it, such as the famous Fushimi-innari Shrine (Fushimi Inari Shrine). The shrine is known for its thousands of Torii gates that stand as a symbol for longevity, prosperity, and good health.
***Matsushima*** - located in Miyagi prefecture, on the northern coast of Japan. Its name literally means "pine island", because it is surrounded by pine trees. It was also the inspiration for one of the most famous Japanese paintings made by Katsushika Hokusai: The Great Wave off Kanagawa (also known as The Great Wave).
***Sado*** - another island, located near Niigata city in Niigata prefecture. It is famous for its 100% pure gold-sand beaches. The sand is also a well-known tourist attraction.
***Yakushima*** - famous for its beautiful scenery, its large forests, and its distinct culture. It's one of the best places to visit in Japan.
***Hiroshima*** - an island in Hiroshima Prefecture, made famous worldwide by the atomic bombing of that city on August 6, 1945.
***Kurashiki*** - a city located near the Seto Inland Sea (Seto Naikai). It's known for its unique culture and many historical buildings that have been preserved over hundreds of years. There is also a great Gion district where many famous geisha live.
**Kyoto** - one of the most important cultural cities in Japan. In addition to being the spiritual and artistic center of Japan, it is home to many historical buildings and temples. It is also the birthplace of many traditional Japanese arts that still survive today: Noh theater, gourmet cuisine, calligraphy, and wood carving.
Dinner date in Italy
In the land of wine, pasta, and adventure, it is easy to find a close romantic partner. But on the off chance you are looking for a little culture on your next night out with friends, here are some places that will make you feel like a local.
Whether you spend your days seated behind an office desk or surrounded by stacks of books at home, traveling inspires new opportunities to explore more than just the city limits. Offering cultural venues and adventures for both travelers and locals alike, this list contains the ideal places for culture-hungry travelers.
Italy is famous for its unique local cuisine. The combination of local ingredients and fresh taste gives it a certain something that cannot be explained in words.
The Italian cuisine is a real treasure, and it is rich in traditions from all over the country, such as Cucina Povera, Cucina casereccia, and Cucina alla Romana.
Italy's iconic attractions are well known around the world. From its rich history to the works of Renaissance artists and architects, there are many positives about walking into Italy's most famous destinations.
It is said that a good time is the one where you ask yourself, "How much better can it get?" The list below shows you places to experience Italy's top attractions:
1. Leaning Tower
- the Leaning Tower is an iconic landmark in Italy. It is a historic theater and entertainment venue in Rome, Italy. The tower is the most recognizable feature of Piazza Della Rotonda, close to many of the center's main attractions, including Pantheon and Piazza Navona. It is commonly called "il Torrione", because of its turret-shaped appearance when viewed from afar.
2. Colosseum
- The Colosseum, located in the city of Rome, is an oval amphitheater. It was built by the emperor Vespasian as a magnificent temple to the goddess Roma. Today it is a symbol of Roman Italy and is one of the best-preserved ancient structures (on its original site), having been restored several times during its history.
3. Piazza Venezia
- central Piazza Venezia, also known as Piazza Della Signoria (Italian for "Square of the Signoria"), is an expansive city square in central Florence, Italy that forms the nucleus of that city's historic center.
4. The Sistine Chapel and the Vatican Museums
- The Sistine Chapel is a chapel located in the Apostolic Palace, the official residence of the Pope, in Vatican City. The chapel is used for both religious and papal functions by the Catholic Church.
5. Duomo di Milano (Milan Cathedral)
- Milan Cathedral is a Roman Catholic cathedral in Milan, northern Italy. Dedicated to Saint Mary of the Assumption, it is the seat of the Archbishop of Milan, but it also serves as the main church of the Diocese of Milan. The cathedral is one of the largest in Italy and one of northern Europe's largest churches.
6. Versailles Palace and Gardens
- Château de Versailles, or simply Versailles, is a royal château in Versailles in the Île-de-France region of France. In French, it is the "château de Versailles".
7. Villa d'Este
- Villa d'Este, Italian pronunciation: also known as Villa Erba, or Villa Ellena, is a 16th-century villa near Tremezzo on Lake Como. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, it is one of the Residences of the Royal House of Savoy listed by UNESCO since 1997.
8. Rome: Catacombs of San Callisto
- The Catacombs of Rome (Latin: "Cripta di San Caius") are series of ancient underground tunnels carved through the rock of the city of Rome, Italy.vered through the rock and representing the earliest phase of Christianity in Rome, they are also a major pilgrimage site.
9. Vatican City
- Vatican is a walled enclave within the city of Rome, Italy, created by Pope Pius IX on 21 February 1870 from the territory of Vatican Hill, an area on which various Popes had previously erected monuments and buildings throughout history as a symbol of their stronghold over Europe.
A passport is used for identification purposes, but proof of identity, color photo, and signature are not required to enter Italy as a tourist. However, if you will be staying in Italy for more than three months, you will need to apply for a Residence Permit ("permesso di soggiorno"). Borders are policed by both uniformed and plain-clothed officers. But whether you spend a dinner date in Italy or stay there for a long vacation, you won't regret the wonderful scenery that one must see once at least in his life!
Image reference:
https://www.pinterest.ph/pin/827043919065141598/
Human Psyche and how it could help and ruin a healthy mind
According to Freuds' Conception of the Human Psyche, also known as psychoanalytic theory, there are 3 components that form both the unconscious and conscious mind. They are:
1. The Id- This is the source of all human pleasure, and is a person's original nature.
2. The Super-ego- This represents how a person thinks they should act in society, based on all their experiences with their parents and other influential figures in their lives.
3. Ego- A person's conscious self that controls both the Id and Super-ego to create a balance between our original nature and what we think we should do as a member of society.
Throughout our lives, the Super-ego constantly creates new rules for us to follow. The ego then must make sure it doesn't go against any of these rules, otherwise, the Super-ego may create negative feelings such as guilt that will be difficult to overcome (Freud's Theory of Defense Mechanisms).
The Super-ego continues throughout a person's life, providing him or her with new values and self-control. Eventually, when a child reaches adulthood, the ego has learned how to control the Id and Super-ego to live according to society's standards (the Ego has gained "Ego Mastery"). However, the Id, Super-Ego, and Ego can quickly change. If a person doesn't live up to what he or she thinks they should be doing in society, the Super-ego may start to impose new rules. This is known as "Mishandling of the Ego" (Freud's Theory of Defense Mechanisms).
When this happens, it causes a person to do things that are against their original nature. When this happens, the Psycho-Analytic Theory of the Neuroses is called into effect. The theory states that a person can have both healthy and unhealthy versions of their mind (Freud's Theory of Defense Mechanisms).
There are two ways to cure this:
1) To strengthen the Ego by raising it to be a stronger, more powerful version of itself. This involves introspection, meditation, and/or psychotherapy. The goal is to make sure that the Ego is always in control (Freud's Theory of Defense Mechanisms).
2) To weaken or "over" correct" the Super-ego by changing societal values, controlling it, or otherwise torturing it psychologically. This involves changing religion, community values, mental health care systems, or contacting an alive or dead loved one (Freud's Theory of Defense Mechanisms).
The goal is to make sure that there is a balance between the Id and Super-ego. The ego should stay in the middle in order to have a healthy mind. In addition, society must attempt to promote personal growth and happiness by not overcorrecting social problems through a weak Super-ego or crippling it with unrealistic responsibilities (Freud's Theory of Defense Mechanisms).
There are many reasons why Freud felt the theory was controversial. One of the main reasons is that it tries to explain an innate function of the mind by using influence from Freud's personal experience with a family member. The theory also seems to contradict itself at times. There are many other criticisms such as the lack of scientific evidence used in its development, leading many people to believe it is not a proven theory.
Despite these difficulties, Freud felt this was his biggest accomplishment because he was able to determine how he could give help and therapy through the use of psychoanalysis (Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy). The Psychoanalytic Theory plays a key role in all psychoanalytic therapies because it is used as a basis for the theories behind them (Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy).
The Id, Super-ego, and Ego are the three main components that contribute to the human psyche. There is a lot of controversy surrounding this theory. Regardless of opinions, there is a lot of support to suggest this theory has merit in explaining some functions of the mind.
Referencing Information:
1. Freud's Theory of Defense Mechanisms. (2013). In Encyclopedia Britannica.
2. Id, ego, super-ego, (n.d.). In Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy.
Feeding your EGO through a bad health journey
Have you ever felt like having a huge ego is a key to success?
Many people who have large egos are actually hiding their unhealthy need for praise and approval. By saying they’re great at something and boasting about it, they create an artificial aura of superiority. Other people will actually believe them, even if they’re not that good at all. In fact, their inflated sense of self-worth may even lead them to get in over their heads with debt or put themselves into dangerous situations. This is why it's important to remember the saying: "Feed your ego but don't feed your credit card.”
When it comes to your dietary habits, an unhealthy ego can do worse than ruin your credit. It can also prevent you from ever getting healthy, by making you feel that you don't need to change your ways. If you have a large ego, here's how it affects your eating habits:
Ego prevents you from admitting that what you're doing isn't working. A healthy diet is best achieved by trial and error. In other words, there are no magic pills for losing weight or preventing disease. Even if the last diet worked for someone else, but not for you, it doesn’t mean that the next one won’t work just as well as the last one did. The way to be successful is by making small changes when you can and trying new things until you find what works for you. If you’re overly attached to the idea that your eating habits don’t need to change, then it's no wonder that they don’t change.
Ego prevents you from seeking advice from others, especially if it's someone who has more experience with health than you do or they disagree with your approach. When this happens, the ego prevents you from finding out why something isn’t working. It also makes it hard for someone to prove them wrong if they say: "There are alternatives to what I do.” The best way to make sure you're getting the right information and advice is to ask someone who is knowledgeable about nutrition, or doctors who have dealt with a specific condition or disease.
Ego makes you believe that everyone has the same type of weight loss goals and lifestyles as you do. If no one else in your life is following a low carb, high-fat diet, then it's possible that you may think: "I'm different." You may even start trying new things without thinking about them first. If this happens, be sure to keep a journal of your progress. It will help you keep track of what's working and what's not so that you can make adjustments when necessary.
Ego makes it hard for you to accept that something could be wrong with your body, even if you don’t feel healthy or look the way that you want to. Even if your friends and family can tell that something is wrong, ego can prevent you from seeing it for yourself. The only way to make sure that there is no problem in your body is by getting a medical check-up with a doctor who specializes in nutrition.
Ego makes it hard for people to believe how much weight they’re losing, especially when they haven’t done anything differently than usual. A person with a large ego may be proud of their progress, but they may also feel that it's too much too fast. They may try to sabotage their success by overeating or changing the way they're eating when things get too good. If you're trying to lose weight, it's important to ask your doctor about any supplements or medications that could be hindering your progress.
Ego makes you believe that no one else is as healthy as you are, so they don’t have anything useful to say about what you eat. Of course, this is not true. Almost everyone has been through health problems like a bad case of the flu or high blood pressure at one point in their lives. It’s important to talk to a doctor and get tested for any diseases that you may have before starting a new diet. If you’re not sure about your health, make an appointment and get tested.
Ego keeps you from seeing the value in doing things that are difficult for you. For instance, if you know that eating a certain food will make your teeth ache, then it's important to not only avoid it but also talk to your dentist about what else they can do for your teeth and gums. However, if you refuse to acknowledge the problem or give up on it too easily (like some people would do), then it might be much harder for them to help you in future visits.
Ego prevents you from making good friends in the first place. If you have a large ego, then it's more likely that you will not try to make friends with people who are different than you, or who may not have as much experience with your particular issues. You might even avoid talking to someone to avoid having them give you their opinion about things that you feel strongly about.
Ego makes it hard for people to tell when you're trying something new because of how much pride you take in your actions. If you start to do the wrong thing, then it's up to those around you to tell you about it. If they let their ego get in the way, then they might be afraid to say anything for fear of insulting you.
Ego prevents people from being grateful whenever they encounter something that works for them. If there is one thing that everyone can agree upon, it's that being grateful is a good thing. When someone has an overly large ego, then they will not be able to see why they should be grateful because of who they are and how much success they have.
Ego makes people believe that if something isn’t working now, then there must be no point in trying anything else again in the future. If you have a large ego, then it’s likely that you might not be able to recognize that there is help for the things which are not working well for you.
If you believe in yourself and don’t take anything from others, then it’s less likely that you will have an ego. If people around you acknowledge your efforts and try to help point out things that need improvement, then their praise will eventually win out over your ego. At the end, when your life is as fulfilling as everyone expects it to be, they will understand why they had such high expectations of you in the first place.
Binary Options... Is it an option?
You may be wondering what binary options are and why you should care. Binary options put simply, are a type of investment that allows people with limited funds to participate in things like the stock market. Since it started in 2009, more than $10 billion have been invested in binary options - making it one of the fastest-growing asset classes of all time.
This is not a get-rich-quick scheme, but real cash can be made in binary options as long as you understand how they work and you have a plan of how to invest your money wisely.
So, what is binary options?
Binary option is simply a way of investing in the market using options strategies. This is done with an account that is aimed at providing a safe and secure environment for investors. Binary options do not aim to make huge gains like other investment instruments but it does not mean that you cannot make money.
How do binary options work?
A binary option works by providing investors the chance to predict if a specific asset will be above or below a certain value at any time within the set time period. The odds of winning vary depending on the asset and the time period.
For example, if you predict that a stock is going to be $15 per share within the next 30 seconds, then you can get that price or more by buying one binary option contract. If you are right, then you win a specific amount. If you are wrong, however, then your investment will go down in value and it won't provide any return at all.
How to start with binary options?
There are many brokers who offer binary options trading platforms and since there is so much hype surrounding them, it is important to choose wisely.
Binary options require a minimum deposit of $250 and the monthly volume needed to trade with this amount is anywhere from $2,500 to $25,000. Being able to meet these requirements is necessary if you want to get involved in binary options investment.
The broker that you choose will depend on your budget, trading style, and how much of a risk-taker you are. If you do not have any money to invest, then they will allow you to start off with virtual money. This is not the same as demo trading because it still has real-time pricing for the assets but your trades will not be real until you deposit money into your account.
Once you join a broker, you will need to get familiar with how the platform works and how to set your trading objectives for different asset classes. It is important to also have a strategy before you start investing in binary options. Having an idea of where you want your money, allows you to develop a decision-making process that will allow you to trade the same assets consistently.
What are the factors that affect binary options trading?
The time period in binary options is usually between 60 seconds and 10 minutes. This means that there are only two factors that affect the price of an asset: supply and demand.
The supply in binary options is the number of contracts that are available to trade at any point in time. This also includes the bid and ask price as well. When a trader sees an asset that they have been monitoring, they often go to the bid and ask prices to decrease the cost for buying. The supply determines how the price of an asset changes throughout the time period.
Demand, on the other hand, is determined by how many people are interested in buying an asset at that particular time period. For example, if there is a contract for one lot but one million people want it at that time, then there will be a bidding war between buyers. This will affect the price of an asset because there are many people who want it. Demand can be affected by volatility in the market and news that is being released about a particular asset.
Some binary options brokers allow investors to take advantage of long-term trading options while others offer short-term deals that are as short as 10 minutes only. Regardless, you should choose one based on your reasons for investing in binary options and how much time you have to trade them successfully.
What assets can I choose from?
There are several assets that you can invest in when it comes to binary options trading. The list includes currencies, equities, indices, commodities, and several other things.
The most common asset choice is equities. You can invest in stocks, options on stocks, or commodities. The most common asset to trade is equities because they are the easiest to understand so it is easier to learn how to invest in binary options with them.
There are several types of exchanges that you can use when trading in binary options. Some of them include:
Settlement-based price exchanges - The settlements always occur on the day after expiration and this means that you have to use your time wisely if you want to receive compensation for your trades because these settlements will reduce your profit significantly.
Price-based exchanges - These exchanges will determine the price of an asset at expiration. This is the easiest to use because you can place trades with a very short time period. However, your investment amount will not be guaranteed to be returned to you.
Everything-based exchanges - This type of exchange will determine the price of an asset at expiration but it will also include other factors such as volatility, supply, and demand. This means that this type of exchange has a larger range for prices and there are more possibilities than in any other binary options trading platforms.
Now that you have learned what kinds of trades you can make in binary options, it is important for all traders to understand how to trade them effectively. You may also want to sign up with a broker and trade binary options for real money.
The process is simple: you open an account with the broker, enter your contact and email information. Then, you deposit some funds into your account to have a starting point for trading. You can start with a small amount and then gradually increase it as you become more successful in trading.
Pros and Cons of Online Learning
Online learning has a ton of benefits. It's convenient, you can learn from the comfort of your own home, and it's really cheap. On the other hand, if you're not self motivated and disciplined, it won't work out well for you.
Before, many colleges offer their courses for free online or through an app. MIT offers nearly all of its courses for free on edX with another 200 schools available through Coursera. But with the years of pandemic, all that is usually done physically, are replace by Online Learning. So all of us are getting used to this kind of learning nowadays. But the benefits or the disadvantages are not clear for everyone.
So this article is to decide whether Online learning is good or bad.
The biggest advantages and disadvantages of online learning which others tends to think about these are here. Let's first analyze them. And I'll follow it up with my own thoughts and review it later on.
Pros:
1) Convenience: The convenience is a huge advantage for Online Learning as we can always access the courses anytime anywhere from our mobile phones, laptops, tablets, etc., all you need is Internet connection. At first, for a student having a busy schedule it can be convenient. It means you wont have to waste all your time going to college classes and you can save your time for other works.
2) Cost: Online courses are free. Studies show that online learning is more than 40% cheaper than attending on-campus classes at a university in the US. It saves cost on transportation, and printing of class materials.
But there is also cost depending on the tools you will need to have in order to do this course.. internet, laptop, printer, scanner, etc.,.. but can be bought on a tight budget.
3) Self-pace: The self-pace is the main advantages of online learning. Students have control over their pace. They can move at the speed that suits their life style and schedule. They can even pause the course at any time without any penalty, though this is an unlimited access course so they will be able to resume it whenever they want after suspending it for a while. This flexibility is one of the main reasons that students prefer this method of learning.
4) Accessibility: Since almost all universities offer their courses online in one way or another, it doesn't matter if you're studying in a third world country, then you can access any course you need. You don't need to depend on physical space to attend the lectures. With online learning, one can attend the course anytime anywhere from home or work just as long as you have an Internet connection. You can be able to take your time watching and listening lecture again whenever you want to at no cost.
5) Personalization: Online learning is very personalized as it allows students to tailor his/her own experience according to his/her preferences and abilities. It also means that he/she can study the topics in a way they are most interested in, in a way he/she is suited to.
6) Accessibility: It's an easy way to learn. Online learning is accessible to everyone, which means it's easier for some people than others unless the courses are very specific and hard to access.
The disadvantages of online learning is as follows:
1) Privacy: Privacy concerns are one of the most important issues with online learning. Some colleges have a policy whereby instructors do not record students' responses to questions and assessments during lectures or peer feedback (except for behavior-based elements). In other cases, some online classes are recorded, but the data is inaccessible to students except under special circumstances (such as a student's graduation requirements).
2) Cost: It's not cheap. On-campus classes at private colleges are often very expensive. Online courses have overhead costs like servers and maintenance fees that are not an issue with on-campus programs.
3) Accessibility: The cost of online courses can make them less accessible to those with economic disadvantages than traditional education. The price difference can be upwards of five times the cost of on-campus courses at public institutions and one or two times more than private universities. In addition, some universities are charging $70 to enroll in a course considered to be free from the rest of the community.
4) Control: In online courses, there is no personal touch. The instructor can only respond to student questions by email or phone. There is no physical contact with them and that's what makes online learning so impersonal. The most important relationships are often in person and online programs miss out on some of this essential aspect of education.
5) Real life skills: Students who take online courses may not get the same level of interaction they would have got in a face-to-face classroom setting, thereby making it difficult for them to develop their real life skills and attitude towards studying.
6) Interaction: It's hard to interact with the other students and that's one of the negative factors of online learning.
7) Learning: While there are some good advantages of online learning, there are some disadvantages too. For instance, most people still think that they have to learn in a traditional classroom format where they can have access to a teacher or lecturer who can teach them or people whom they can ask questions from. It is however important for the students to understand the kind of learning environment online learning provides and hence should carefully choose what type of course suits you best where you get all the benefits without having any negative impact on your life style and schedule.
8) Problems: Online learning is not free from problems. There are occasions when students can not access the course for various reasons, such as losing their connection, technical difficulties and many others. The courses are also susceptible to hackers who may try to disrupt the class in various ways but this is usually only a problem for Internet users rather than a hindrance to those who don't have an Internet connection.
9) Preparation: Students probably won't get the same preparation that they would get in face-to-face classes because they can't interact with their classmates and instructors. This can be a significant problem for students who are not self-motivated. However, there are some ways to prepare such as reading up information on the online course and watching pre-recorded videos.
Overall, both forms of learning have their own advantages and disadvantages to them so a student has to choose which is best for them according to what they want in terms of training, experience and living.
1) It's an easy way to learn: One of the big advantages of online learning is that it's an easy way to learn. Students can learn anything from anywhere at any place so long as they have access to Internet or Wi-Fi network or even make use of their mobile data services where available depending on the phone carrier.
2) Access: It's easy to access anything online so long as you have access to the Internet. There are a number of websites that would allow you to learn anything from anywhere in the world and students can access these sites through their mobile phones, tablets, computers, laptops, etc.
3) Flexible: The courses are also very flexible since they can be taken by day or night and at any time of the day. The course modules can easily be done on their site or on their mobile devices. Students can also pause, rewind or even fast forward at any given stage of the course if they feel that it would help them better understand what they have been learning so far.
4) Effective: Compared to the traditional classrooms, online courses are effective because students can learn from anywhere. For example, they can even learn while they are sleeping since there are plenty of websites that are available online. Moreover, since they don't need to go to classes or seminars or other lectures, it makes it easier for them to prepare for their exams.
5) Free: Another advantage of online learning is that there's no need to waste money for the course because it's free. They just need to pay for their data services and internet access so that they can access resources in the online course.
6) Less Hassle: Online learning is easier for students because they don't have to deal with any schedule changes. They can also interact with their instructors and other students in the course if they want to have some help with their studies.
7) No Distractions: There are no distractions in online courses because there aren't any people around them making noise, inviting guests that can distract them from studying or any other noises that can affect their concentration.
8) Portability: Students are free to study wherever and whenever they want in online courses since it's portable unlike traditional ones where there are strict rules about which place and time they should study in.
9) Adjustable difficulty levels: It's possible for students to adjust the difficulty level of online courses according to their preferences without having to worry about lacking behind their peers.
10) On-demand: The on-demand nature of online courses is one of their biggest advantages in terms of flexibility. Students can study whenever they want as long as they have access to the Internet and their home computer or laptop or even use their mobile devices.
11) More efficient: Since students can study when they want and from wherever they want, it's also more efficient than attending lectures. It allows them to do other things aside from classes and it's also possible for them to prepare for their exams if they want too.
12) Less competition: There are less competitions in online classes since students have more chances to learn compared with traditional ones where there are always a lot of students around and they have nothing else to do but compete against each other. This is different in online classes where there aren't so many people around.
In conclusion, online learning is not all bad. It has its advantages and disadvantages just like any other type of learning.
Extroverts' inner thoughts
If you could hear what extroverts are thinking, they'd tell you that they're not thinking about you. Extroverts want to enjoy their time in solitude and have deep conversations with themselves. But if you approach them, they'll be more than happy to spend time with someone who's open and friendly. So don't let their inner thoughts bother you—they're just thinking of themselves!
-Kevin Duhaney, PhD
It's very common for people to find mystery in people who are considered introverted in nature, but with extroverts, do you think we could say the same thing? I mean, extroverts by nature tend to express themselves freely without any difficulty, in fact, they are very open with regards to their thoughts and emotions. But since the mind of a person is so amazing, sometimes this criteria has some hidden info or a little bit of mystery left in it. So in this article, we will determine, what really are extroverts' inner thoughts and why do they most of the time, hide them.
Extroverts' inner thoughts are not as mysterious as extroverts themselves make them out to be. If you go deep inside any extrovert's mind, you will see that they're a lot of the time, thinking about themselves. This is because when they are alone all the time and want to enjoy their solitude, well, their minds tend to get into thinking mode. As we know, we cannot always be around anyone all the time, and therefore to take our minds off for a little while and think of our own makes us feel more relieved at times. So in fact what extroverts are truly thinking is just about themselves! They're just thinking that they need some alone space as well.
Not only that, but extroverts are more than happy to talk with someone who's friendly and open to them. In fact, they love such kinds of people because they don't have to put a lot of effort in order to communicate with them and express themselves openly. Such as introverts who need time before they're able to do such activity, extroverts, on the other hand, are always ready for some good conversation!
So if you're a close friend with an extrovert, try not to take what they're thinking for granted because your life would be easier in case you'll just stop judging them for it! Besides that, they would appreciate it if you talk openly and freely without any hesitation. So extroverts are just as interesting as they seem to be!
Everybody needs to be loved and accepted, but not everybody needs the same amount of love...
Living with enough rope to hang yourself
If you heard the word freedom, you correlate it with good vibes. The majority of the time, you feel enlightened, lifted, and positive. But what I want to talk about is the freedom that nobody cares about. Freedom neglected by many, freedom usually forgotten by the people. If one gives someone enough freedom to do as they please, they may destroy themselves by their unwise or foolish actions and decisions. We are told to eat healthily and eat junk food. It's best to take care of your health and avoid risky health conditions. People argue back and forth about life's priorities. Some people love to have freedom from their low-paying jobs while others crave more money. A lot of people blame society for their unhappiness instead of changing their attitude towards things.
The most important thing a person can have is enough rope to hang themselves. Too much freedom can push the person over the edge and eventually lead them to suicide, though it may be sudden or gradual stopping of life in one form or another. There's a borderline between perfection and dependence. What if you don't have the rope to hang yourself with? You will be dependent on someone else to do so or you will end up having no rope at all.
People that are able to live a fulfilled life by taking control of their actions rather than others, this is their dream. They can get the job done as they desire and make the people around them happy. This is not only about love, this is about being the change one wishes to see in the world. Achieving that change seems like a fragile thing for most people and only very few reach that perfect state of truth where they finally say "I feel good".
The reason why some people get everything they want is that they want it so bad that it's the only thing on their minds. They get the job done and work very hard. They show enthusiasm and respect for others and in return, they get what they want. The people that are not able to do this life off of someone else's success. Is a person a leech if he doesn't have enough time to do things? Maybe. I know how it feels to have too much time on your hands, especially if you're unemployed and searching for a job when there isn't any.
So you say freedom is something that everybody should have and everybody should feel. You say freedom is something that belongs to the most enduring, to the most believing. But I say "NO" at all. It should not be handled carelessly. It should be taken care of, like a newborn baby, so fragile, so meek. It should be nourished and be harnessed with positivity. It should not be neglected with love and with kindness. Freedom is something that doesn't belong to everybody. As too much freedom could provide negative results as well, especially in the hands of many.
Anybody that knows the point of my article is in shock. I'm not writing this because I am depressed or suicidal. To be honest, it's about time to move on and live for the rest of my life. It's the feeling you get when you've lost a loved one, or when someone leaves the room and doesn't come back, or when your favorite show gets canceled without a real reason why. It's this feeling that fills me with despair and makes me want to end my days. I don't have a gun or a rope to hang myself with so I figure if I write something down, it can help me move on, or feel free from the negativity that surrounds me. I know I am not alone, as a lot of people are constantly fighting for freedom or constantly regressing from it.
"Living with enough rope to hang ourselves" is a story about life. It's not about suicide. It's about our lives and how we react to certain situations. It doesn't mean "killing yourself", it means "dying". Our minds are like hamsters in a wheel and sometimes it can become too much for them.
Sometimes all you have to do is to check your inner thoughts, and ask yourself:
Is it freedom that I want? Or is it freedom I should let go?
Thank you @ShyLavender for the challenge. Here's a swift response to @JonicaBradley's original challenge.
An introvert on the outside world...
Have you ever found yourself in a situation where you felt the need to get out and be social, but were too shy or self-conscious? I have unfortunately been there many times. I've found that trying to be outgoing can actually create even more anxiety because no one ever understands what I'm going through and they usually end up judging me for being weird. One day, while getting lost in my own thoughts, my mom asked me if I was okay. That made me think back on all of the times when someone would ask if I was okay and it seemed like they just wanted to see how fragile I looked which made me feel worse about myself. I've been trying so hard to be different and to fit in, but if I keep ignoring who I really am then I'm just going to get more anxious and end up causing problems for myself.
I remember being about 9 years old when my little sister was born. At that time, all I wanted to do was spend as much time as possible with her; she was the center of my universe. As time went on, however, she started doing things like talking back or getting into trouble which would cause me to yell at her or disown her. Because of this, it caused me no shortage of anxiety and stress on my part; for years I couldn't figure out how to deal with my feelings about it. I was terrified that my anger would cause me to lose her so I tried to suppress them and avoid dealing with them.
I remember going through stages of being really close to her which caused me so much guilt, stress, and anxiety. Confronting her would mean dealing with whatever problems she was having, which would only prolong the issue because it took so much longer for me to resolve things; however, constantly avoiding confrontation led to even bigger problems in the long run. My parents encouraged this because they thought I was just a little overprotective; however, I felt like they didn't understand what I was going through. Over the course of time, this started to drive a wedge between us and I lost her a couple of times. Eventually, I decided that this was ridiculous and that if I ever wanted to have anything close to a normal relationship with her it would probably need to be as adults.
I went through many of the stages parents go through when they have a new baby; there were so many thoughts running through my mind:
Do you love me enough for her? How could you do this? Why didn't you tell me? Am I doing enough for her? Would you even want me if she wasn't here? Can't we just get rid of her somehow...
I couldn't handle this; I never wanted to be this way. I didn't have a clue as to how I was supposed to act or what I was supposed to do. It's not like there are a lot of books you can read about being an introverted parent.
I've finally started realizing that it's okay to be introverted and that there are actually benefits if you know how to make the most of your inner strengths. For example, introverts usually spend a lot of time reading or listening closely which helps them think clearly; while extroverts tend to think out loud which tends to get them into more trouble, especially as kids because they typically do not think before they speak. Today, it's easier because most kids don't have a lot of freedom to do much more than talk anyway.
I would like to think that my family and friends understand that I have always been like this and I'm trying to figure things out. It would help if people understood how we are different instead of pointing out our differences; I hate that some people automatically assume that an introvert is weird or a loner. It would be helpful if we could work on adapting to each other because that's what I've been trying to do my whole life.
I don't want to be the outgoing parent and I don't want you to be either; you should do whatever makes you feel good and is good for your family. Don't worry about what other parents think of how we are raising our children- after all, it's not like they have been through the same things that we have.
Introverts tend to show off their brains and creative side more, while extroverts tend to show off their athletic or social skills more; unfortunately, elementary school teachers tend to cater more towards extroverts, while college professors cater more towards introverts. The way people act and treat us can be very conflicting. Being an introvert can cause a lot of problems when it comes to trying to be an adult; but why should people have to worry about that? We don't have the same opportunities just because we function differently than they do.
The bottom line is, give introverts a little more time and room to figure things out we'll figure it out! Also, think before you speak- if you don't know what to say then just say nothing. I've always found that a little bit of advice can go a long way.
On a lighter note, I'm really happy to see so many people sharing their stories here! I've always enjoyed reading other people's experiences and stories; it's been really enlightening.
Starting a new career
I'm somewhat aloft with the idea of going back to an office, after spending quite some time, working from home. Since I am the type of person who values safety over anything else, it is quite new to me, to take advantage of something that I know I am not prepared to do 100%.
You see, one of the things that I realized while working at home, is that you really don't have to be in an office to function properly. And at the same time, it will be much cheaper for companies to avail themselves services of other people whom for the longest period of time, is going to work, traveling and wasting valuable time, just traveling in which plays a vital role since it will either make or break your employment if you get tardy/sick/absent. So it actually serves a big convenience to anyone, just like me, who was given a chance.
So going out and going back to an office setting, without any knowledge of what will happen to me, is both giving me goosebumps and making me excited.
Working in a field, I was always in positions that I am comfortable with. But working in an office where you will be sitting all day, having meetings where you are not even sure how many minutes you get to speak...so not the position anyone would want to start off with.
As it turns out, working from home is pretty good for starters. At least you know that if something goes wrong, it still won't really be your fault.
Like if I went back, the first thing that comes into my mind is office politics and gossip. But then again, it's not something that can't be avoided or resisted. If you think about it, people are just giving you their two cents worth and you're not really obliged to listen to it or accept it. And for me, I'll be really glad to see the refreshment of going back to an office environment, with all of its amenities and perks. So I'll see how it goes. But one thing is for sure that I will not let this opportunity pass as an eye-opener, cause this is just a big chance for me to get started with something new and be able to help myself in the process.
So being cautious and having a plan is definitely high on my agenda. I have to consider what I will be faced with and how much I want in return.
Currently, the main reason why I agreed and applied is that I am just near the office location, and that the pay and position is promising.
But then again, safety goes a long way for me, so I would have to be extra careful since the population of this company is quite big.
And if you happen to be someone who is also scared about going back to a corporate office, there's really nothing much you can do about it. You have no choice but just accept the fact that you're still in the workplace and you still have a job that needs to be done. You just have to keep on studying and applying yourself, with all the "knowledge" you have and try your best. And that's really all there is to it.
But in the end, as things go, I guess I will always be glad if I can work on the provided task to me, and make the company earn from this new career that I took.. And that's about it for today.
"Dabalyu.Ep.Eyts"
Colors are shown, possibilities achieved, challenges conquered, indifference united, the common became rare, and a whole lot of insignificant circumstances happen for the past 2 years (more or less) of being in the arms of the dreadful embrace of the so-called, Covid-19 pandemic. But one of the things that long before were not an answer to the majority, brought and showed a bright light to the most common workers of the industry. One of the major players in our economy, the BPO field.
We are fully aware that nowadays the BPO industry, shows great control of how the economy would run the country. We played a vital part, in the money that is going in and out of the Philippines. And one of the untold truths that were exposed during this whole time that the pandemic stays in our country for a vacation.
The term, WFH or Work From Home, is the answer to continuous progress of the striving and suffering economy of our country, whether you agree with me, or not, it is the main reason why we are still generating funds and still making it amidst these trying times.
WFH or Work From Home in the BPO industry is the most common thing in these times, be it is in a call center or a back-end operation. Because of this, workers with special needs were able to get some chance to prove themselves that they can do their works despite their limited skills and knowledge about labor, especially if they are the ones who are going to start their own family.
Nowadays, many marriage agencies are starting up abroad, and at the same time, we have WFH companies. This made a perfect match for many Filipinos who want to work abroad and at the same time starting their own family. Nowadays, there are many other things that make these companies successful. Among them is the outsourcing of some manual work. This is the reason why many Filipino who are capable of working are being hired by these firms because they have a guarantee that their pay will be paid on time, and also there is a possibility of making more money if their skills and knowledge improve or so.
But as I always say, security is not dependable on our skills, but it depends more on our character. It's like if you want to make a lot of money, you need to have the ability to bring it in.
On the other hand, if your skill is limited and you have a bad character, the chances of getting a job in these companies are a little low.
There are things that one needs to consider as a qualification before joining these companies. One of the important things that we need to know is the prevailing labor laws in our country. This is important because some laws were changed in order for these companies to make up their quota by hiring more workers which means that their rate is so much lower than before. there were also some changes during this year, but I will just refer to one of them: Special Compensation for Long Working Hours. This is the reason why WFH companies have started to introduce this special compensation.
This compensation is very important to those who work hard every day, and it also depends on the company's system of reimbursement for employees. These companies will pay a low amount of money per month for those who worked more than 7 hours per day or an equal amount of money as if they were regular employees if they are not working more than 8 hours per day, no matter what company you are working in, there should be at least 1/2 your day to rest. Nowadays, most BPO companies also ask for 3 days off without receiving their salary. This is the reason why they pay more so their employees can get their salary.
But for me, I am in favor of this kind of system because it gives me a chance to rest without losing my money.
Another thing that we need to consider before we start to work in these companies is if they are reliable and how good are they at following up on their promises. Because during this pandemic, a lot of people who were once working with big companies have failed to receive their full paycheck, which leaves some households at the mercy of God for the past 2 years. At the same time, the safety of my family would always be a priority for me. There are also other things that we need to consider, and one of them is the cost of living for those who may be working in these companies. These WFH companies do not pay much for their employees. In fact, this is one of the reasons why there are so many people working in these companies because it doesn't cost much to hire them.
Can you imagine how much money could you save for your family if you did not need to work? Salary or wages isn't everything. In fact, it can even be a burden if it is little and we do not know how to handle such an amount of money.
Nowadays, only a few companies are offering legitimate employment with benefits like paid leaves and medical benefits. There are still a lot of companies that are still hiring people. This is the reason why WFH companies are common in the BPO industry.
After I read this kind of thing in the newspaper and when I talk to my friends, I thought about this. I remembered that before WFH or work from home became so popular, there were other ways to save for our future if we just worked hard and saved each penny that we could get. Today, many people who earn their living through legitimate employment feel that they are losing it because of those who work hard but earn little. You can also feel this way, but there are still a lot of ways for you to earn more in other parts of your life. First, you need to stop thinking about how much money you make or how much money others make. Instead, just focus on saving and investing that little amount of money into something that you can make grow.
As I said before that it is not the amount of money that we have today but how we handle those monies.
I believe that these are now the days where we should be thankful for what we have and not lament what we do not have.
Security and peace come from what God could provide for us rather than what man could give to us.
A dogs' life
A dog's life is a hard one. Most of the time they have to do everything you tell them, and when they don't, they have to live with it - since they can't speak for themselves. They always get into trouble because they smell things that they never will, and usually end up in places where people are eating or drinking something that would be bad for them. And sometimes while doing what we tell them, there are bugs or other animals out there which aren't good for dogs. They can't help it, they really don't mean to get into anything, but that's the way life is. But some dogs manage to get themselves into more trouble than others, and that's what I'm going to tell you about.
The first dog I'm going to tell you about was my dog, who wasn't really mine. He had been my father's dog, and he was a stray, just like all of us. He was a nice dog though, I remember the day my father came home with him quite well. I was six, and he came across him next to a dead animal and pounced right on him. Dr. Milgram was doing some research on the effects of natural vs. artificial stimulants on our pets, so he brought this dog home to test his hypothesis that dogs would become aggressive when fed amphetamines as well as plain sugar water. My father took the dog home and gave it some food and water, and I remember that a few days later while my dad was at work (he wasn't really working because we didn't have any money), I came across the dog lying near the trash can. He looked pretty tired, and when I went to pet him he ran away. I was starting to get worried about him, so I followed him into the living room...
When I found him there, he was on the floor in front of a candlelit dinner table. He lay there shaking with fear and growling at me in what seemed like a very angry way. My dad came home at that point, and when my dad saw the dog on the floor, he immediately pointed out that it was my dog who had crushed the glass of cheap champagne next to it (his brother had bought it at a local market as a present for his upcoming wedding). My dad was very mad at me and the dog, as you might expect, and I started to suspect that he had been on those stimulants he had been fed. I didn't know much about it back then, but there was something odd about my father's behavior after that day. He started treating me like a little boy again (he had let me grow up pretty well), and he seemed to get significantly more aggressive and angry when things didn't go well for him in his work.
One day I was playing with my toy soldiers, and I accidentally stepped on the dog. He growled at me, and my dad came running over to scold me. The next thing I knew, my father was giving the dog a shot of something in his kennel. It was terrible to see him like that, he looked like he was trying to get up and run away from something. My dad had shoved him down there in his kennel and locked the door so that he wouldn't be able to get out, but it seems as if he already had plans to kill my pet if things didn't work out for him in his research (and who else would have done it besides my father?). Anyway...
On the next day, I had fallen asleep on the couch while watching TV. I guess at some point my father had come home, put some sort of mask or something on my face, and knocked me out with a needle or something (I've always wanted to know what it was like); I woke up in a cold sweat with the dog in front of me. He was wet from lying on the floor all night, and he didn't look any better than he had when he was in his kennel. The thing that scared me most about him was the fact that his eyes were open; they looked sunken and painful. I asked him if he was okay, but he just stared back at me. I felt bad for him and decided that I had to get my dad to help him. It turned out that my father was dead, so I covered him up with his favorite flag (a U.S. flag) and put his favorite record ("The King and the Chorus Girl" by Steve Allen) on his stereo and turned it up a little loud so no one would hear me and try to stop me from helping my dog. It took me hours, but I got the dog out of the house without anyone knowing about it and put him in the trunk of my dad's car (his car was like an Alcatraz for dogs). My father's car was in the garage, and I remember looking all around but not seeing him anywhere when I got into it.
I drove my dog home, put him in my parent's bedroom, and said that I was sorry and that they'd be back later. When it seemed like no one was coming to make me take the dog away from my home, I called the police to come and pick him up. It turned out that he had been injected with a poison similar to strychnine (I think) that killed him very quickly once it got into his system. I didn't know anything about any of this at the time, so I just sat there on the bed and cried. My father had become a seriously disturbing kind of person after that day, and I was effectively left without a father in my life.
Now, just to make things clear: I don't know if my dad was actually doing those things to the dog or if he was just trying to get me out of his hair with some sort of experiment. It's also possible that my dad really did kill him and then throw him away like that. I had problems with my dad for a long time after it happened, but we've gotten along well since then. He and my mother don't know that I know, but I did find the knife he used to stab my dog. It was a ten-inch knife with a wooden handle and a blade that had bloodstains on it when I found it. I still have it in my room under my bed (I don't know what to do with it). The worst part of the whole story is that I still have dreams about him, and they're always as real as if he were there in front of me. He seems to haunt me in a way that no animal ever has.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
The "not-so-secret" formula to being SUCCESSFUL
Are you one of those people who work hard to achieve your goals?
What methods, ways, or processes do you apply to accomplish that goal?
Do you think they are sufficient enough or effective as part of your progress?
But before answering these, let's focus first on one of the most perplexing questions you'll ever be asked:
***"What is your definition of success?"***
Is it anything tangible or something that makes us stand out?
Or maybe it's something we've been aiming for and finally gotten!
Success" according to **Merriam-Webster**, is a "favorable or desired outcome". Or if you put it into different words, it is the sense of *****accomplishment*****, a sense of *****winning*****.
One of the most confusing parts of our life's daily process is that do we believe that we are successful in life right now, and what are the signs that we already are? And if we are, what is the next chapter after it? Is this the final chapter of our life?
Most of us, including me, wanted to be successful someday. We're busy doing stuff we think could help us achieve the goals of our lives. But most of the time, we neglect the very significant things we must keep. Also, we believed in a systematic yet traditional way of how our life should be rolling. Where we need to study and do well at school first, choose and finished a great degree so, in the end, we could have a chance to be on the job that we want to be. But, there are a lot of people who critically think that it doesn't stop there. Being successful is not having a great degree, or landing a good job and be employed there forever until you decide to retire. NO! We all know that the only one getting successful in that so-called; "PROCESS" is the top of the food chain, the most elite of the company, the bosses the CEO in other words the ones who provided us the employment in the first place. The true step in achieving one's success is to be in their position: An owner of a business, an owner of a company, being business-minded, or in other terms, to be an "entrepreneur".
What is entrepreneurship?
Whether you have a single clue or not about being an entrepreneur, the fact that you want money to work for you and not the other way around only means to say that you want to be one. You're very lucky since, at this very moment, you will know more about that in a bit.
Based on research and studies, ***entrepreneurship*** is about the concept of *developing*, *innovating,* and *managing* a business venture with the aim of making it as **profitable**, **while facing different risks in the corporate world**. Only means to say, it is not an easy task to accomplish. In fact, even those who are already born with a silver spoon in their mouths are having difficulties and shortcomings when it comes to being successful in this kind of field. Moreover, entrepreneurship starts with a person who is willing to put up a new beginning business.
As of today, entrepreneurship became a career option in the world where it is the most chosen path by the "millennials" especially those who are new in having a family or students with bigger dreams. We can't deny that entrepreneurship has a big role in terms of being a factor in the progress of economic development and status globally in marketplaces. We can't also hide the fact that at this time of the pandemic, many people were suddenly looked into having an entrepreneurial sense of belief and mindset, so-called that they are willing to take the risks involved just to be able to gain something from it...
Do you consider yourself an entrepreneur?
Here are some of the characteristics of being an entrepreneur according to **JBCN International School's** studies about the ***10 Characteristics of an Entrepreneur***. https://www.jbcnschool.edu.in/blog/characteristics-of-an-entrepreneur/
**CREATIVITY**
It is the act of giving birth to something new, implying that creativity promotes innovation. You may produce more fresh purposeful inventions the more creative you are. Furthermore, your ideas will be something skillfully unique that can be used to mitigate future dangers and solve current problems, turning them into opportunities.
**PROFESSIONALISM**
It is one of the most important characteristics. For it talks about the quality and discipline a good entrepreneur must possess. It also talks about your mannerisms and behavior towards employees and clients that will help to develop the culture of the organization. As a result, professionalism provides an example of how to be a dependable, trustworthy, and disciplined entrepreneur, motivating workers to work harder and accomplish their jobs correctly and to the best of their abilities.
**RISK-TAKING**
Because the only constant in the world is "change", an entrepreneur must be willing to accept the risks of evolving or adapting to the changes that occur, as well as having the desire to explore fresh perspectives and ideas that will help him find something unique. However, an entrepreneur must be prudent in the risks he will take in order to win because it will necessitate investments of time, knowledge, talents, and money.
**PASSION**
One of the most fundamental attributes of an entrepreneur, because it all begins with enthusiasm but never ends with passion. You are giving your all in your company endeavor not only because you want to make money, but also because you enjoy what you are doing, which makes you happy despite the difficulties of the corporate world or business industry.
**PLANNING**
An entrepreneur must be skilled at planning and decision-making since there will be no actual success for a firm that has not planned and has no precise goals to aim for. Furthermore, planning is the most significant phase required to manage the business endeavor, as well as a technique to structure processes inside the firm and assist the firm with the strategies that may be implemented. "If you fail to plan, then you plan to fail."
**KNOWLEDGE**
To solve problems that may arise in the business, an entrepreneur must have knowledge of the industry into which he or she is venturing. As long as the entrepreneur is knowledgeable about various aspects of the industry, he or she will be able to make sound decisions and devise new strategies to increase the company's success. He or she must also be aware of his or her own strengths and flaws in order to make decisions on how to improve the organization's success and health. The entrepreneur who understands his or her playground will also understand how to play on it.
**SOCIAL SKILLS**
This trait must be acquired by a competent entrepreneur since it entails connection development, recruiting and talent sourcing, and team strategy design. It discusses how the person will market his company, how he will hire and train employees, and how he will maintain good working relationships within the company. An entrepreneur must not act like a boss who merely gives orders and waits for the money to come in; instead, he or she must be a good leader who not only builds a lucrative company but also fosters positive relationships among employees, business partners, and owners.
**OPEN-MINDEDNESS**
When it comes to learning, people, and even failure, an entrepreneur must have the concept of acceptance or have a teachable personality that allows him or her to turn failures into chances and go on. Having an open mind can enable a person to be more determined when faced with failure, which will serve as a lesson to be learned from and used to open up new opportunities. It didn't focus on the problem, but rather on thinking beyond it and being clever in dealing with it until the fundamental purpose was achieved.
**EMPATHY**
Even if you will be the owner of a firm, it is beneficial for an entrepreneur to have a modest demeanor that still cares for the firm's employees. It's also the capacity to grasp what's on someone's mind, particularly your subordinates' minds. You must know their strengths and shortcomings, as well as whether or not their main personality is capable of maintaining enterprise harmony. You must remember that your staff is the ones that keep your company running, therefore you must show compassion for them. It's not about sympathy, but about recognizing their efforts, even if they're minor because they contribute significantly to the success of your company.
**THE CUSTOMER IS EVERYTHING**
This is something that every competent entrepreneur should be aware of: the capacity to comprehend the demands of clients. Customers are critical to the success of a business since they are both the source of growth and the source of profit. The first step in attracting a consumer to your business is to devise a plan for capturing their attention and compelling them to learn more about your products or services. It's critical to understand their requirements, desires, and even what's popular with them. Finally, establishing consumers' trust or loyalty as a result of the company's high-quality offerings will produce and grow sales, which is a strong sign of the company's success.
But, that doesn't stop here. If you possess the characteristics above, do you already consider yourself a successful entrepreneur? How will you define a successful business owner? You may think that having a business and making it profitable is enough to be called "successful" yet you will feel unhappy, empty, and lonely, do you still think that is considered a successful one?
People nowadays started to realize that success is not always about money nor any achievements or owning a mansion and other properties. Somehow, success is about the sustainability of your genuine happiness, unstoppable passion, and having a legacy in the life of many people. So, what are the things to consider to be a successful entrepreneur? Many people believe that the most successful persons follow passion, not paychecks. It's about putting love and happiness doing loads of work despite hardships, challenges, struggles, and problems without thinking about the money you will earn. It simply means that there are lots of people who became successful but not always after the money but after legacy and good deeds. "Don't worry about being successful but work toward being significant and success will naturally follow", said an American talk show host, television producer, actress, author, and philanthropist named **Oprah Winfrey**.
So, the considered successful entrepreneurs are those people who are able to pursue not just progress in the business industry but also pursuing to be a better person not just for self but also for the family and community. Just like what **Jon Acuff** (a best-selling author and motivational speaker in New York) said *"Dear entrepreneurs, you can start a thousand businesses, launched 100 projects and take dozens of companies public, but you only have ONE SHOT at being part of your kid's childhood."* It simply means that having physical success like building thousands of businesses with an income of millions is nothing to compare with being a hands-on parent, daughter/son, and friend. Being successful is not always about material things nor money, sometimes it's about genuine happiness with genuine people you're growing with. Lastly, the Founder and CEO of **Stella & Dot** (an online social selling company offering fashion accessories in California) named Jessica Herrin gave advice to people wanting to be an entrepreneur, saying that failure should be seen as the beginning and the middle but never entertain it as the end.
Simply because successful business owners are not quitters. They didn't treat failures as their end game but just a beginning of a wonderful opportunity. Nevertheless, if you can't see the good things that will happen or if the opportunity doesn't knock, build a door - said **Melton Berle**, an American actor, and comedian. We can't deny the fact that we can only be successful if we will be also initiative to make something better out of the trash or be a strategic person because entrepreneurship is somehow not about ideas but about making ideas happen which is according to **Scott Belsky** (author and professor of academic finance).
Did you learn something? I hope you did.
Just always remember that being successful on the inside is a pure success of life that no one can take away, and it is more precious than making money.
The reality behind the 4 letters - POGO
Many folks have been wondering what the letters POGO stand for and frankly, when I first came across this term, I was a little lost too. The simple answer is that it's an acronym for "People Over Getting Owned" – which is exactly what it stands for. Nah! I'm just kidding, although you could use that as well. But this POGO is different, it stands for "**Philippine Offshore Gaming Operators**". I want to discuss, what is POGO and why is it having a hard time doing its thing here in the Philippines. I recently came across a forum post wherein the poster complained about POGO not being able to open a casino in Cebu. I was already aware of this but, wanted to get some more information on this. It looks like the gaming industry here in the Philippines is indeed having problems with licensing and licensing commissions.
So why is this? It's not like the Philippines is a small nation, everyone knows that the Philippine government has issues with corruption. So what gives? Well, we can part a major part of the answer to that question. In a nutshell, the reason why this issue has been plaguing our gaming industry is an unfortunate prejudice that our leaders have against other nations. The fact is, some other governments do not believe it's right for other nations to open up casinos on their soil.
*"You don't have one. Why should we?"*
Of course, there are some other factors to consider as well. It is true that the Philippines used to have a flourishing gaming industry until a few years back. One of the reasons for this was the creation of Indian casinos in Northern California where many Filipinos who work there would go on weekends and spend big in these said casinos. This led to a lot of these casino owners coming into the Philippines, scouting out potential spots, and even bringing in money from foreign sources to try and open one here.
Why did this not happen? It seems that these casino investors didn't do their homework as far as local laws were concerned and I'm not just talking about zoning ordinances here either. The Philippine Constitution states that any and all forms of gambling are ***illegal*** in the Philippines. This includes any form of online gambling as well.
I also want to bring up a very important point as well here. A lot of these potential casino investors didn't know the laws here because they were not Filipino citizens! I know it sounds harsh but it's true. However, there are some Filipino investors who have lost money due to this fiasco and those who are still trying to get their investment back. The sad part is, a lot of these people invested based on connections or acquaintances they had with government officials in hopes that this would lead to more business down the road. This would have been a very profitable venture as well, because as we all know the Philippines is one of the top travel destinations in Asia. There are also a lot of wealthy Filipinos who would love to be able to visit a casino without having to leave their own country.
I think I can say with much accuracy, that if foreign investors from other countries were allowed to come here and open up businesses here, that they would not have had many problems obtaining licenses. When they opened up these businesses in other countries, did anyone complain or see this as being unfair? My answer is no but, it's not like I live in any of those places so maybe there were some who complained about it. But these days, I'm not complaining, because I know that such people who complain are nothing but trouble.
But besides this issue of racism, there are other issues at play as well. A notable example is a time it took to get a gaming license in the Northern California area that I mentioned above. In a nutshell, local governments were very hesitant to grant any new licenses due to the reported increase in crime rates in these casinos when compared to other cities with said casinos within their borders. This was also an obstacle that POGO could not overcome and they've been trying for years to get a gaming license here in Cebu. However, some local government officials seem to be reluctant on granting them permission for various reasons.
One such reason is that they're afraid, that opening up casinos here in the Philippines will cause more crime and it will also be a negative to the local economy. This is due to the fact that a lot of Filipino laborers who work abroad make most of their money in these casinos every weekend. One other thing is because there are already so many illegal gaming parlors here, it's also a bit difficult for the local government to grant any new permits to open up any new casinos.
The last point I want to bring up as well as some of the "costs" associated with opening up a casino – especially if you're not from around here. The biggest problem is finding the right people to help you set up all the necessary things required for opening a casino. This means everything from zoning ordinances to obtaining licenses from more government agencies than I can count. Aside from that, you also need to let the community know exactly what it is that you're doing and why they should support it. If this is done correctly, then there shouldn't be any problems with your establishment being robbed or vandalized by any disgruntled locals who may be angry about a foreign investor coming here to open up a casino.
If you're considering investing in the Philippines, then try getting a local citizen as part of your team and this will make things easier on everyone involved in the process. If this still doesn't work, then I'm afraid that you might be out of luck as far as opening up a casino here is concerned. This is because even though the Philippine government wants to attract more foreign investment, there are some parts of the government itself that have an issue with foreign investors coming here and opening up businesses. The sad part is, if they do grant a license to you then it's very possible that there may be attempts by some local officials to try and pressure you into giving them money through their political positions. This has happened before in the country's history in other industries so it's not like it hasn't been done before. However, here's some advice for anyone who is considering investing in a new casino in the Philippines: if things get too difficult and it doesn't seem like they're going to work out with the local government, then you might want to consider opening up your business in another city.
I know that this might sound rather cynical, but it's been done before and can be done again. The fact of the matter is, there are quite a few investors from other countries who have already tried this and succeeded. So it's not like you would be alone if you did decide to do something like this.
@DeeBeeGee
