How to keep getting motivated

Feeling lazy,  stuck, lost or “not in the mood”?? Don’t feel like doing anything or tend to procrastinate what you’re supposed to do??

It happens to me and might happen to you as well.

Tony Robbins once said:

People are not lazy. They simply have impotent goals – that is, goals that do not inspire them”

So setting goals, having faith and keeping motivate yourself from day to day especially when you’re down are critical. I believe we can achieve any goals if we motivate ourselves enough. Here are some sources of motivation I can find on a daily basis:

• Review or at least rewrite my own goals
• Visit blogs of people who have achieved my goals. Their “top 100 things to do”s really refresh me.
• Listening to inspiring videos by famous speakers like Jim Rohn, Tony Robbins, Les Browns.
• Find some funny yet informative or intriguing photos. (9gags may have some for you – don’t overdo it)
• Re-read some of my bookmarked articles.
• Read a few motivational quotes & take a short coffee break to think about & feel it (Again don’t overdo it)
• Talk to a stranger

You may try those or find your own inspirations, and make it a daily habit to get inspired! Then go for your goals & dreams!

Do note the Law of momentum that says “A body at rest tends to remains at rest while a body in motion tends to remain in motion”. So if you feel discouraged, the best way is to stop doing what you’re right now, completely & thoroughly! Then go do something differently which will move yourself nearer to achieving your goals!

Italy go through the European Cup final

No one would expect The Azzurri to go the last game of the tournament. But they do with the influential & the shining performances of  Andrea Pirlo & Balotelli respectively.

As I mentioned 2 years ago in Italy: Behind the early exit! after the embarrassing in the Wolrd Cup, Buffon, Chiellini, Pirlo, De Rossi, Cassano have now in deed been an indispensable pillars  for the Prandelli’s team. With the shine of Giovinco and particularly Balotelli, Italy have incredibly defeated England and Germany to face Spain in the final.

Balotelli leads Italy to the final

They may win or be crushed by the “invincible” Spain, but their performances deserve big praise from the fans as well the critics!

Get Anyone To Do Anything Overview

Although its title and subtitle sound a bit trite and hollow , this book is not a crap at all. In fact, it does offer many “specific psychological tactics governing human behavior” as well as some good relationship advices. Using simple language and going sharply into details of each main point with a sumary after each chapter, Lieberman makes it look like an “action book” whereby I really enjoy reading the first few chapters. A good read! decent add-on to “How to win friends and influence people” classic. – Rexy

My Notes:

Get anyoone to like you … every time

1. Law of association

unconscious victims of circumstance
you were planning your vacation you would associate those favorable feelings with whoever was around you at the time, and you would subsequently like the person more.

– try talking to him when she’s in GOOD MOOD or EXCITED about sth (direct eye contact/full smile, eyes wide open)

2. Repeat Exposure

familiarity breeds contempts NOT TRUE

the MORE you interact with someone, the MORE he/she will like you!
(as long as the initial reaction is not negative)

the greater the exposure, the more positive the response

3. Reciprocal Affection.

We tend to like more those who like us.

You wanna let your ‘target person’ know that you like and respect him, if inddeed you do.

4. Similarities

Like attract likes.
When you speak to this person , talk about what you both enjoy and what you have in common
“Comrades in arms”

5. How you make her Feel

how nice it is to be around s/o who is complimentary and sincerely kind and warm?

being the person who makes ppl feel good will go a long way toward their finding you quite likable.

5. Rapport

Appears as we do – in sync
+ matching posture and movements
+ matching his rate of speech:

6. Helping her out.

If you can get her to DO YOU a small favor, this will generate kind and warm feelings toward you.

Often, in our attempt to get so to like us, we make the mistake of doing nice things for him. And while he may appreciate your kindness and think you’re a nice person, it doesn’t make him like you more, even though you may be viewed as more likable.

8. He’s only human

Seeing someone you admire do sth stupid or clumsy will make you like him more.

When you wanna be seen as more likable, do sth embarrasing and smile at yourself. Don’t try to ignore it or pretend it didn’t happen.

– Nobody likes a show-off

We do like confident people.
A person who is confident doesn’t feel the need to let the world know how great he is; he lets the world find out for itself.

Not taking yourselves so seriously and acknowledging our faults and mistakes shows the world that we are confident.

9. Be Positive Attitude

nobody wants to be around a moody, often pissed-off, pessimistic person

BE AROUND THE PERSON AS MUCH AS YOU CAN!

TRY TO SPEAK WITH HER WHEN SHE’S IN A GOOD MOOD. TALK ABOUT COMMON INTERESTS or experience that you share and try to do more of the LISTENING and less of the talking.

IF YOU RESPECT OR ADMIRE HIM FOR STH, MAKE SURE THAT HE KNOWS THIS.

LET HIM DO A SIMPLE FAVOR FOR YOU, but make sure that it’s not out of sense of obligation.

we are drawn to confident people. Show your confidence by being able to laugh at yourself and not taking yourself too seriously.

Make her feel good about herself.

GET ANYONE TO FIND YOU IRRESISTIBLY ATTRACTIVE

EMOTION AROUSAL

– adrenaline
Anytime a person is aroused, such as with scary movies, amusement park rides, or even physical exercise, his arousal will in part be attributed to whomever he is with.

WALKING STYLES

GAZING INTO A PERSON’S EYES
look her directly in the eyes when speaking and listening.

THE LAW OF CONTRAST AND ASSOCIATION

We don’t often judge a person by himself, but in contrast with other people. This is intensified when it comes to meeting so for the first time. We see and think of his physical attributes in comparison to those he is with.

Herein lies one of the biggest mistakes we often make. Before so has a chance to know the real you, and to be influenced by these other tactics, your PHYSICAL BEAUTY is the 1st thing you’re judged by. So put the odds in your favor.

DO NOT find yourself in the company of those who are more attracitve than you (of the same seex)/those who are terribly unattractive people, of either SEX, when you want so to become interested in you. – THE LAW OF ASSOCIATION – where we tend to see a group as a whole and not the individuals.

Your best approach is to be by yourself or with an attractive person of the opposite sex.

SELF-ESTEEM AND ATTRACTION

a woman who is introduced to a man will find him more appealing if her self-esteem has been temporarily injured than a woman whose self-esteem has not been impaired.

This law is what is responsible for the good old rebound effect whereby a person finds herself fast into a rel right after one ends, usually with so whom she wouldn’t under ‘normal conditions’ date.

‘slip in under the radar’ – to simply approach her when she is with other more attrative people. we tend to feel less confident about ourselves and our apprearance when … so when the person is feeling less than good about herself, be flirtatious and friendly.

RECIPROCAL LIKING

When we find out that someone we like finds us appealing, it actually awakens romantic feelings within us.

not only we like those who like us, but we’re also more attracted to those people once we learn that they’re attracted to us.. – this is becos am essemtoa; as[ect pf [assopmate fee;omgs is HOPE. if the other person has absolutely no interest in you then you may find attractive but not develop a real and intense attraction and dersire.

Once she already likes you, deepen the attraction by letting her know that you’re attacted to her.

HOW TO MAKE A FANTASTIC FIRST IMPRESSION

SMILE!!!

Engage the primary effect and make that inital moment (first 5 mins or so) the very best and the rest of your conversation will be filtered throught it, thereby creating ahighly favorable impression.

The psychological phenomenton of accessibility and priming can drammatically influence how we are intilally perceived. Lay the unconscious groundwork prior to your meeting.

—
make yourself more valuable by not being so available. Sex? give it freely initially, and little value is placed on it, and on you.

—
DOES HIS STORY CHECK OUT?
Conundrum – simply introduce a piece of evidence and see how she handles it.
She will do the one thing that every liar does when confronted with conundrum – he will hesisteate — deciding how to answer.
– The more detailed he is the more you can beliee in what he’s saying.

GET ANYONE TO SAY WHAT’s he’s really thinking

->Well, now that I think of it.
like -> what would it take for you to love the idea?
do you like my new deck? -> what would it take for you to be really excited about going?
do u like my new deck? how do you think i can make it even better?

** DON”T SAY
What didn’t you like about it? How did she screw up?
***
how would you have done it? what would you have done differently?

to be cont

The Red Devils

There are two small stories about the red devils that I would love to share:

1. Attack is the best way of defense:

I don’t really remember exactly how I fell in love the Red Devils. But like other youngsters, I & my bro were fascinated & attracted to Manchester United during one of their peak periods in the late 90’s. Together with the facts that English football was very popular in Vietnam back then and  they got some of the most talented & handsome guys like Ryan Giggs and David Beckham in their team,  United attracted us by  the way they played their football, extremely beautiful & sexy. Attack, Attack & Attack. It seemed like everytime they played, not matter where they did or who their opponents were, we would always get something interesting to watch. There were some amazing & thrilling moments that I still remember till now like the dramatic late 2-extra-minutes comeback to champion over Bayer Munich or the heavenly 5-3 comeback over Tottenham after being led 0-3.

I can’t forget a famous speech of one of their legends – Ryan Giggs, which summarized all their philosophy, before a returned away match versus the giant Real Madrid that basically says “Although we’ve got the advantage, we’re gonna still attack because we know attack is the best way of defense“. Oh what a thought! The saying still impresses me untill now.

…

Their philosophy is now changed. They are now willing to play passively & unbeautifully as long as they get results. Because of 3 points, they are willing to play down times. They hardly dare to play their traditional 4-4-2 formation in Champion League away matches. I know there are always ups & downs. Now they’re no longer the one and only one English giant. The emergences of Chelsea and recently Man City, who are all backed by their mega wealthy owners from Russia &the Middle East respectively, have threatened their opportunities much more than ever before. Heavily in debt, they now couldn’t afford to buy the top and most expensive players. Some of their best players even left them for bigger challenges. Although Sir Alex Ferguson has been working miracle in order to lengthen their glory days while they’re deeply in crisis; although, in fact, they went to the 3 over 4 Champion Leaguge finals before the disappointed elimination in the Group Stage this year, they’ve got to change and rejuvenate themselves faster and more thoroughly so as to prove again their manager’s famous saying: “Form is temporary, Class is permanent!”

2. Thrilling

First of all, with my favorite team losing the champion with 30 seconds remaining, I have to say, f*ck you, Manchester City! But… what a game!

1-0 City led at the very first minutes, a little wonder. But whoever could imagine that QPR could equalise, keep the score and even lead 1-2 until the last couple of minutes?

It was the minutes of excitement and fascination – yah, City, who are you? You’re nothing but an inexperience competitor.

But then something happened. An equalized goal at 90′ – no problem, when the ball was kicked off again, it would be gone already. But no.. a stupid kick-off between two QPR players… the last attack.. Oh… GOAL! Miracle really occured!

Watching their fans and players celebrating, I feel really touched. It reminds me of the reasons why I love football in general and United in particular. 90+ minutes of ups and down, of happiness and sadness. All of them mixed together created a very-hard-to-describe feeling. Although I still shake my head in disbelief, I have to admit that was what football is all about and it was indeed one of the best moments I have ever seen. If the 2-extra-minute winning back the champion of United created history, this 4-extra-minute coming back from hell of City deserves the same praise!

After an excellent fight to equalise the 8 points difference, there is really no better way to win the titlte. What a match! What a season! Manchester City, you totally deserved it. Congratulation!

National Achiever Congress 2012

My first ever seminar: The National Achiever Congress 2012. I attended the last day as my bro passed me his ticket – which was free but sadly I didn’t registered. Missed a great chance to see Robert Kyiosaki in person. Anyway I learned a lot in though. Here are some of the keywords:

Mentor

Clarity – Packaging -Positioning (triangle)

permission, flexibility, unique & unfair adv

– Customer relationship

– Products to sell

– Learn how to sell

acquire & nurture your db – every email is worth $1 of passive income

– Your story sells everything

System

Branding –

Investment – prescious resources (oil, gold, silver, platinum, palladium)

The last presentation was former vice president of Microsoft’s. They saved the big name for last. His presentation was as boring as a Uni lecture though. He had 7 points & a good quote:

#1. Be a person who actively looks for opportunity (Disruption & Change)

#2. Re-invent yourself when necessary (personal values, etc.)

#3. Always strive to make a difference

#4. Commit to be a top performer

A strong leader is both hard headed and soft hearted – Dave Packard

Hard headed – products/profits & results + high standard..

Soft hearted: care about people, customers & communications

#5. Be self-aware/seek out & open to feedback (accept bad news/criticisms)
Be hard on yourself! – point of views/perspective

#6. Perseverance has rewards
Things don’t usually work at the first time
Try different things
Keep moving forward

#7. Integrity is your foundation/reputation
commit to do what you say
what’s the right things to do?

A personal lessons: Be ready (communications, questions, common sense knowledge, etc.) & know what to ask. Else waste your chance even if you meet great people.

In short, it was a great day!

Common Sense: common, make sense & wrong!

I had a good chat with a close friend of mine. We was talking about lots of shitty stuff that we don’t usually do. Among them was the common sense. After a while discussing, we both came to a same conclusion that: most of the so-called “common sense” are surprisingly wrong! In other words, most of those routine “principles” we apply in daily lives are unfortunately just fallacies.

Here is our own definition of common sense: Common sense are those which make sense, are very common and basically wrong!

Common sense is nothing more than a deposit of prejudices laid down by the mind before you reach eighteen.” — Albert Einstein

The first two characteristics are straightforward. Because they sound right, “make sense” and are pretty easy to understand, they’re very common. But why are they intriguingly wrong? Well, it’s a well-known fact that the poor (& the middle class) is far more than the rich; the fat (& the skinny) is far more than the fit; the sad is great deal more than the happy? And you know something, they – the majority, interestingly share a common trait: they’re using & following common sense, which the minority don’t.

To illustrate the point, let’s take a look at some of the most popular “common sense” that are believed and applied by many folks:

• We need to sleep earlier (as much as) in order to wake up earlier (to compensate each other)
• We need to go to gym everyday, doing 10-20 sets of 100 to 200 repetitions of ab cruches and sit ups in order to get 6-pack abs
• We need to skip meals and eat less in order to lose weight.
• We need to get lots of money in order to become rich.
  Here comes another interesting myth among the guys:
• We need to be tall, handsome & have lots of money and such to date sexy, beautiful, long legged girls.

They all seem logical & legitimate right? Alright, let me tell you the truths:

• Have you had a long 10-14 hours sleep, then waking up & still feeling tired and exhausted? Truth be told, it’s not really the number of hours you sleep but the quality of your sleep that matter!
• Have you followed that strict schedule & exercise? Do you get 6-pack abs? If not, go & have a good diet instead (yet again the term “good diet” is really ambiguous and confused)!
• You know what? If you follow that diet, eventually you’ll gain weight instead!
• Refer to my old post “Money won’t make you rich”.
• Have you ever seen pretty gorgeous gals hang out with some relatively short & “ugly”, & “homeless” guys? And this is not rarely at all. Looking for my coming post, “How to date every girl you like”  for the answers.

They are all actually very interesting & controversial topics, which I’d like to go further one by one in the near future.

Dr Jim Taylor in his post also about “common sense” says: perhaps the biggest problem with common sense is that it falls prey to the clear limits of personal experience. In fact, common sense is often used by people who don’t have the real knowledge, expertise, or direct experience to actually make sound judgements. If we know something very well, do we call them common sense? Apparently no, we call them facts. Further, what we believe to be true, have been told is true or even our own personal experience alone are obviously not adequate to draw reliable conclusions.

In short, the little wisdom that we learn after the discussion is simply to stop listening to and make judgement based solely on the so-called “common sense” from now!

Protected: April-May Journals 2012