#'' why is each new task / a trifle to do? / because i am living / a life full of you ''

[lichlover]

taakitz getting stuck in a rainstorm on a date?

The pros of a parasol: An excellent accessory, fits seamlessly with his fantasy Scarlett O’Hara vibe, easily transmutable to match his color scheme of the day. He’d add “does not contain the arcane essence of his long-lost sister” to the list, but that’s sort of a given.

The cons of a parasol: Provides absolutely no protection whatsoever when the heavens open up and drop an ocean’s worth of rain on them.

To be fair, the forecast had predicted a perfect day. Sunny, with the promise of autumn in a cool breeze that buffeted the coastline. It was the kind of weather that encouraged long skirts and gauzy sleeves and wide-brimmed hats, and if you were feeling particularly flirty, a nice lacy parasol to complete the look. The look is always key, of course, but especially on the afternoons Taako can get Kravitz all to himself. It’s an auspicious thing when their schedules align, so Taako’s going to do a little more than go the extra mile. Or the full nine yards. Or whatever distance he needs to cross in five-inch wedges to fluster the hell out of his husband.

So that’s why he’d met Kravitz on the patio of a seaside café, decked out in his finest beach chic and a pair of rose-colored glasses (because he’d just known Kravitz’s cultured, dorky ass would appreciate the reference). They’d had some halfway decent crepes and lemon tea as the odd cloud flitted overhead, and Kravitz caught Taako up on the astral plane’s latest top-notch gossip. It morphed into a brief but heated discussion over whether or not fishnets should be regulation wear for reapers—Taako’s position was entirely self-indulgent, of course, but no less valid—which was promptly forgotten when the talk of dress code turned into questions about his latest visit to the Amazing School of Magic. “Oh, y’know,” was all Taako had said. “Still amazing. Gave some kiddos a kickass lecture on the virtues of arcane cosmetics. Not that I’d know. Wink.”

Their date was going flawlessly.

And then they’d noticed the clouds.

More specifically, that the clouds were not so innocent anymore. They’d grown heavy and dark over their last hour of conversation, and now Taako could make out the occasional flash of lightning across the horizon. He’d waved his gold card at the waiter, who brought them their check in a hurry, and they were out of there faster than he could namedrop his brand. The once-bustling boardwalk was almost completely cleared.

“Well,” Taako had said, nudging Kravitz with a good-natured smirk. “Can’t rag on us for PDA if there’s no public around, eh?”

Right as he’d said that—like a well-timed joke—a fat, round raindrop had landed on Taako’s parasol.

Then another.

And another.

And that’s how they find themselves huddled under the awning of a kitschy little souvenir shop, watching rain lash the pavement just inches from their feet. Taako’s blouse is sticking to his shoulders, and despite his best efforts, he can’t swallow a shiver. He shifts his parasol to a different arm and tucks further into Kravitz.

“Gotta say,” he mumbles into Kravitz’s shirt, “this is not how I was hoping the day would go. I mean, fuck’s sake, I got you to wear grey.”

True to his word, Kravitz is sporting a light grey button-up and a vest that ripples with iridescence, shifting from a deep indigo to an impossibly dark blue. He huffs a laugh and brings his arm up to rub circles into Taako’s shoulder, and, well, it’s a real trip when your undead beau is warmer than the utterly abysmal weather around you. “You know, I still don’t know how you talked me into that.”

“Easy,” says Taako, and shoots him a sly grin from underneath the brim of his sunhat. “I’m charming as all get. Just look at me.”

Kravitz looks at him, raises an eyebrow, then staggers dramatically back against the exposed brick of the shop. “Oh, spare me. I’ve been hopelessly charmed. I don’t know if I’ll ever recover.”

A gust of wind sends another chill cascading over Taako and leaves his hat dangling off his shoulders, and his ears pull flat against his head as he lunges for Kravitz’s arm. “Fuck off and get back here. You’re the only source of heat I’ve got.”

His husband pauses. This time, both of his eyebrows quirk upward and threaten to graze his hairline. “It’s that cold?”

“Wh—you can’t tell?”

“I mean… no. Not at all.” He frowns and steps forward to put a hand out towards the rain. “I guess it feels a little chilly, but…”

“It’s fuckin’ freezing, Krav.” Taako gives up on Kravitz’s arm and wraps around himself in a desperate attempt to kickstart a little friction. Between his icy hands and sheer sleeves, it’s a brave but futile thing. “Oh my God, get over here or I’m gonna kick your ass for real.”

Kravitz holds up his hands in surrender and retreats fully under the safety of the awning. He wraps Taako in a loose embrace, and Taako’s best ploy at mock frustration melts away with the rain as he relaxes into Kravitz’s arms. It’s like trying to leech warmth out of a half-drowned, charmingly dapper statue, but he’ll make do with what he has. The closeness isn’t so bad, either.

“The one day we’ve got,” he mumbles.

A sigh ruffles the top of Taako’s head. “It’s been hard, lately, hasn’t it?”

“Considering the universe is trying to get us to take a fuckin’ raincheck, yeah, I’d say it is.”

“And yet,” Kravitz reminds him, “we’re making it work.”

“If that’s what you wanna call this, fella, have at it. I mean, if we’re gonna drown, at least we’ll drown together, right? Very Fantasy Titanic of you.”

For awhile there’s nothing but rain dripping off the awning and the roar of waves beating against the shoreline, surging up to meet the storm. Taako’s parasol dangles off his arm as he makes himself small against Kravitz, shrinking inward to conserve every scrap of heat he can. Kravitz’s hands drift upward and shape themselves around his, coaxing feeling back into his fingers.

He’s humming, Taako realizes. It’s nearly soft enough to lose itself in the rain, but he keeps it up—a jaunty, consistent melody.

And then he recognizes Kravitz’s gentle falsetto, partially mumbled into his hair.

“… in the rain,” he’s lilting. “Just… singin’ in the rain.”

Taako snorts. “You absolute dork. Is that what I think it is?”

Kravitz just hums again and leans them into a lazy, languid sway as he goes on. “What a glorious feeling… I’m happy again.”

It’s not just a show—hell, it’s an entire production, the way Taako rolls his eyes, but he sways with Kravitz anyway. They shuffle in the limited space of the overhang, framed by the sheet of rain coming down around them and the souvenir shop’s tacky storefront, and across the boardwalk the ocean lunges and dances along the coast.

[vantelieth-blog]

                       Prologue Chapter XIII: The Betrayer’s Stand

Nimbus clouds darkened the skies above a barren plateau with crumbling snags and rustic grass. Astot took each step forward with intrigue and caution alike, closely followed by Enlenia and Madcow. The familiar scent of the once sacred lands lightly touched the air. The Garden of Mercy was but a few paces farther.

Astot looked at Enlenia with a smile. “Do you feel regret having left these lands to oblivion?” he asked with a moment of hesitation.

“If I had never left, I would not have come this far.” Enlenia murmured, silently mourning the withered meadow over what little remained of its scent. “I have no regrets.”

“To be reunited with the air beyond the tower… such a pleasant sensation,” Madcow mused. “And with all I have learned, I may prowl the fields under a greater perspective. You have opened my eyes to the glory of freedom, and for that, Enlenia, I am ever grateful.” Madcow looked at Astot. “We are but strangers to one another, but you have naught to fear from me; you need not hide your companions from me.”

“Oh, dear; if my actions seemed suspicious in any way, I apologize,” Astot promptly responded. “But, truly, I have hidden naught from you. Constius journeyed ahead of us whilst Enlenia sought your aid; I can only pray he has found the meadow. Inguis departed elsewhere with naught an explanation, but I was assured he would return to me in the meadow. Regnal, I pray, does not find us.”

“So it seems one hound ventures far from his leash,” Madcow quipped.

Astot laughed. “Forsooth, forsooth!”

At the precipice of the plateau was a plain of brown grass spanning far and wide, untouched by all but the weather and the scourge. The great lake could be seen before the horizon, and the vague ruins of Old Halia stood beyond a fog.

“How pleasant to see we are among the first upon the meadow as it is now,” Astot spoke while gazing longingly ahead, before he promptly turned his attention to a man dressed in white and a woman in a black coat standing a short distance ahead. The woman was unmistakably the Halian fighting alongside the Blade of Humanity; the man, Enlenia was certain she had not met before.

“Who's there!?” the Halian woman shouted as she turned frantically, facing Astot with a meek expression as he greeted her with a smile.

The man merely observed the trio from behind his back as though their arrival had been long anticipated. “History repeats itself in curious ways,” he mused in a gritty tone, greeting the tainted with a smile of his own. “From upon the day we hid from mankind, our fear has persisted unwavering throughout the ages. Oh yes, we knew, however we denied it—t'was only a matter of time ere a new scourge would come—that of revenge, that of destructive inquisition—to churn the wounds which had yet to heal. But nevertheless, I welcome you proudly. Welcome to the Garden of Mercy, once a beautiful meadow about our humble home, now a reminder of forgotten misdeeds.”

Astot furrowed his eyebrows, glaring at the man with a fierceness Enlenia had never before observed in him. “So you, too, are Halian,” he muttered. “For what purpose have you come?”

The man's eyes shifted toward the horizon. “Have you not guessed already? Be it Old Halia or New Halia, you will not be permitted upon our sacred lands.”

“Assuming you speak in earnest, that is fair enough,” Astot sighed. “But surely you do not intend to best us with your power alone?”

The man drew closer, his arms outstretched. “So I am to die here. What of it? I am but a calm before the tumultuous storm, an eminent preacher who would only observe the coming reckoning. To smite me would be to lay bare your cowardice. I permit my death, I welcome it… for soon shall you all wish you could die as well. No matter your struggles—your efforts to seek truth—you will find those efforts thwarted time and time again. You will live eternally wallowing in your own helplessness, trembling afore our cleansing light in wake and in slumber.”

Enlenia stepped forward. “What would you know of our determination? Ne'er will we cower whilst in trying we lose naught. You Halians will be the ones who learn to curse your own mortality 'till the day comes when not one of you remains.”

“And of course, I must also consider the possibility that you wish to stall us,” Astot added. “Let us be done with this trifling; you may die now.”

But just as Astot raised his hand to personally execute him, the man lurched forward into the ground, the moment heralded by a deafening sound. Blood pooled underneath his buried face from a wound at the back of his head, the assailant standing behind his lifeless body as none other than the Halian woman.

“Is this what you wanted?” Astot asked the woman after a pause, suspending the bewilderment in his expression.

The woman lowered the weapon held in her trembling arm. “My mother... she took me somewhere far away to be raised by a human family,” she thoughtfully murmured. “I loved my family; I didn't know what I was before I decided that I wanted to try to save the world, just like the man I always thought of as a father. If that means taking a stand against my entire race, then that's okay to me, because I never was one of them as far as I was concerned.” She turned to face the horizon. “And I'm not here to listen to anything they have to say; there's something there for me and I'm taking it by force.”

Astot drew closer until he stood beside the woman. “I will confess that I had wished to use you to slaughter the Halians from the beginning. I did not foresee that you would willingly commit to such a task alone. Would you not consider us your enemies as well nevertheless?”

“I've experienced enough to know that not all of you are enemies. In fact… maybe we could even work together. What do you think?”

As Enlenia and Madcow walked toward the precipice alongside him and the Halian woman, Astot smiled assuredly. “Though one day we may truly be as enemies, perhaps we had best be concerned with that another time. You may call me Astot, wayward Halian.”

The Halian woman gave Astot a wry smile. “My name is Cygna.”

Madcow proceeded to introduce himself as well. “I am Madcow, an advocate of wisdom.”

And with some hesitation, Enlenia stated her own name. “And I am Enlenia, a tainted birthed within this very meadow.”

“Enlenia and I, as do all of the Chariots, seek only to understand the truth of our existence,” Astot explained. “Old Halia was the seat upon which everything began—of that, I am certain.”

Cygna's eyes widened. “So if I follow you there, I could find a way to stop the scourge forever. And you're really okay with that?”

Astot nodded. “That is what I wish, so long as I am given a chance to meet with my creator before embracing death eternal. If only would you grant me this will I see your own desires fulfilled.”

“But how?” Cygna worriedly asked.

“To speak frankly… do not destroy the scourge before the moment I deem it fitting.”

Cygna narrowed her eyes. “Can I trust you?”

Astot raised an eyebrow. “Can you be trusted?”

“We have not the time to argue trust amongst one another,” Enlenia finally interjected.

“Oh, how could I argue with that?” Astot sighed before pausing abruptly. “Ah, Cygna... has the Blade of Humanity not come along with you?”

“Yeah,” Cygna answered. “She's the one I'm trying to save. Maybe her life is more important than mine, but that's not why I've come this far. I'm just trying to save a friend, that's all.”

“I want to save her, too,” Enlenia spoke before looking directly into Cygna's eyes for a lasting moment. The Halian woman gazed sharply upon her featureless face as though making a futile attempt to read into her thoughts. In the end, Cygna acknowledged her with a slow nod before looking away, the two having silently agreed to express themselves through actions rather than words.

A pillar of black miasma had spewed upward into the sky from a higher plane standing a small distance to the West. The lands quaked from its gargantuan force, and Astot faced its direction with a frantic look. “Constius!” he shouted. “Let us go with haste ere the Halians vanquish him.”

As Enlenia and Astot rode the winds on the way to the presumed onslaught, Cygna rode atop Madcow's back and the two followed closely behind them. Though the strife had settled by the time they arrived, they had found Constius as Astot predicted, standing by the side of Albus the guardian hound. Hovering above them in opposition was a sizable creature shrouded in black flames, its shape reminiscent to that of a phoenix.

“Regnal?” Enlenia whispered.

And by the sound of Enlenia's voice, the creature, or rather the entity that had claimed its form as his own, glanced carelessly upon her with unmistakable blue eyes before descending ceremoniously to the earth like a higher being ready to pass judgment upon mortals. Regnal drew closer to Constius and Albus, his every step followed by a resounding tremor, and he spoke first to Constius, “Sight the faces of those who pay audience to your abasement ere aught else, Lord Constius. Abandon your pride; bask in humiliation; know humility and enlightenment in turn. And claim my words as your own blanket of comfort should you look back fondly upon your glorious days ever: I alone—now and eternally so—shall smile upon you who was but destined as ornament to the dirt I tread upon. To embrace one's fate is such a beautiful thing.”

Constius stamped the ground in a display of defiance and valor, trembling with anger. “Oh, you would smile upon me nevertheless?” he growled in a low tone. “Then hearken my words, traitorous caitiff: I would be so beholden as to carve painstakingly every letter of my name into your defiled skull once I have mounted it upon the tip of my BLADE!”

“To think I would die alongside this many of my foes,” Albus cackled as he poised himself to lunge.

“What's going on?” Cygna whispered to Enlenia.

But Astot would be the first to respond with a slow clap, as all three of the battling tainted turned to face him. “You should be praised in having found this place before me, Regnal,” he began with a wary expression. “Now, pray tell, why are you here?”

“To emboss your path with the bodies of your foes, Astot,” Regnal answered without the slightest of emotion present in his tone. “I knew you would come, as did I know the Halians would await you,“

Astot furrowed his eyebrows. “Then allow me to speak my mind forsooth—what has Constius done so deserving of your wrath?”

“Heed not one word this traitor speaks; he is gone beneath all reason,” Constius hissed.

Regnal ignored Astot and Constius as he spoke to Cygna, “If you, Halian, would seek the Blade of Humanity, then look to the garden and think naught of my own presence; you do not concern me.” He looked up into the cloud-blotted sky. “Yea, the Chariots have returned, yet Inguis has not come… or have my eyes been so cruelly deceived?”

Astot quietly sighed before closing his eyes, as if to brace himself for what was to come. “I do not take comfort in being left without Inguis… but 'tis as you say.”

And in the very instant Astot had finished speaking, Regnal outstretched his powerful wings, sending torrents of errant flames and volatile winds forth. “Oh, yes… I am fortunate.” He looked into the faces of his distraught spectators in respective moments of pause as he called out their names, “Herald Astot, Enlenia the Painted, Lord Constius, Guardian Albus, nameless beast I newly meet… I shall walk the path to Old Halia alone with the existences of each of you cast unto my own, along with the burdens of your impossible fantasies which I will so proudly bear in remembrance of you. Is it not that we all would wish to be free from our own wants?”

“Enough!” Enlenia finally spoke out as she stepped forward, facing Regnal directly. “Regnal… what of your own fantasies—your own existence? Or are you naught more than what you design to imitate?”

Regnal lowered his head as he gazed before Enlenia with eyes that seemed longing for resolution. “You, Enlenia, whose own spirit is as the recompense of mockery, hold not the right to cast judgment upon me.”

Astot frowned. “Few could know of her power. I did not think to count you among them.”

“And you did well to stay from me your knowledge, Astot,” Regnal interjected. “But of what little you knew that she and I are as opposites. And opposites are ever drawn to one another.”

And so began the conflict of the Chariots and their betrayer.

[maritzaerwin]

16 Good Habits to Achieve Success in Business

Each of us wants to achieve goals: create a successful career and achieve success in business, and live a decent life. But much depends not only on our desires but also on our character. There is a pearl of well-known wisdom: “Do an action, get a habit.

If you get a habit, you create a character. If you create a character, you will receive fate. ” Any psychologist will tell you that most of the problems are the cause of our attitude to our environment and habits. Good habits can make you a successful businessman and just a good person.

Therefore, in this article we will give you some tips to help you become better and progress every day.

1. Set Day Mode and Start Your Morning with Physical Exercise

Morning is a very special part of the day that sets the tone for the rest of the day. Of course, all successful people know about it and use the potential of morning hours to the maximum. If you ask any successful person how he spends the morning, he will answer you that every day he performs certain actions in the morning that keep him in good shape and give energy.

Usually it is physical exercises (strength training, yoga, running, stretching, etc.), meditation for 10-15 minutes, reading useful literature, and sometimes a simple conversation with your spouse/partner, when you can share thoughts and plans.

Think about what morning ritual will set you up for a successful and productive day. It may be a glass of water with lemon after waking up, but the daily performance of even such a simple ritual will certainly bear fruit. This is useful not only for your health, but also for your discipline and inner harmony.

2. Do What Must Be Done Today

All successful people adhere to the principle of “do not put things off for later.” They well understand that only the moment here and now has real power. Usually, people put things off until tomorrow, Monday, at the beginning of the new year, because they think that later they will do better than today. But this is a very common misconception because tomorrow there will be new tasks and tasks that will also require their fulfillment.

Incomplete and deferred affairs take away a lot of your energy, which you could direct to new achievements. You want to start a new day with pure consciousness, and not think about the need to “redo work or be distracted by trifles”? It may be better in your to-do list for today to be only 3 points, not 10, but by the end of the day you will complete them. Learn to do everything planned for today. Such a path will lead to effective time management.

3. Focus on What’s Important

One of the most useful and necessary habits for a modern person is the habit of focusing on the most important. When Steve Jobs returned to Apple, the company was in a state of destruction. And it was her lack of focus that destroyed her. The company was sprayed on trifles and let out already more than 300 products.

Therefore, the first thing Jobs did was to reduce the number of manufactured products to 10. When he focused all his attention on several of the most important products, the company began to develop again and became the powerful brand that we now know. Keep it simple and keep your focus. There is an interesting saying about this aspect: “One full glass is better than ten slightly filled ones.”

4. Turn Obstacles into a Story of Success

How do people usually respond to the word no? Having been refused, they stop and stop taking further actions. How does a successful person act?

Each “no” makes it even stronger and more persistent on the way to its goals, bringing it closer to “yes”. A successful person simply adds this factor to his plan and tries to take it into account. But this does not scare him away from actions and desire to achieve the goal.

As Nietzsche said: “Those things that do not kill us make us stronger.” Successful people know that failure trains our character and the will to succeed. They celebrate their failures and become tempered during their overcoming. In other words, the more obstacles a person encounters on his way now, the more success he will achieve in the future. Remember – success depends on failures; do not give up when they occur.

5. Finding Positivity in Negative Circumstances

Of course, sometimes deals break down and a potential partner can go to a competitor. But it’s important to understand that this is not the end of your story. Besides, negative and negative emotions will not bring any benefit either to their health, or personal life, or business. That is why they can find positive aspects in any negative situation.

Successful and prosperous people are distinguished by a great vision, so they know that today’s unpleasant circumstances tomorrow can turn into a blessing and present a surprise. And such trifles as a stain on clothes or a broken teapot are not worthy of their attention at all – there is reason to buy a new beautiful shirt and a teapot of the latest model.

For example, Thomas Edison conducted more than 10,000 experiments to improve the incandescent lamp. And here is what he said about this: “I did not suffer defeats. I just found 10 thousand ways that do not work. “Every failure is a step forward. Analyze your actions, change the strategy, and do it again. Repeat until successful.

6. Leave Your Comfort Zone

This is evidenced by almost every psychologist, motivator, and business coach. No matter how trite it sounds, but a new challenge will be useful to you. Because we are either progressing or degrading, we cannot just stand in one position. If we are not trying to overcome a new peak, it means that we are sliding to its foot.

Overcoming the comfort zone is one of the most significant steps on the path to becoming an individual. For life to shine with new colors and reach a new level, you need to be able to cross the line with the inscription “I am so comfortable.” This is fraught with certain fears and stress, but for successful people, leaving the comfort zone is an important way not to stand still and develop, because only in this way you can realize yourself and find your calling.

Of course, it is not at all necessary to immediately turn your life upside down and introduce cardinal changes. For starters, it’s enough, for example, to get up early or change the diet and each time take ever wider steps beyond the boundaries of comfort and celebrate your small victories. After all, even the longest journey begins with the first step.

7. Listen to Your Intuition

Sometimes even a thorough analysis is not able to say why you refused the transaction or chose another partner. But a successful person is used to trusting his “sixth sense”. Therefore, it is worth listening to the inner voice and trying to develop these abilities.

Therefore, it is difficult to overestimate the importance of meditation and intuition for making important decisions. A large number of famous people and businessmen, not only after major transactions, the launch of new projects but in everyday life, always act following personal feelings. They know that within us there are already answers to all questions, you just need to ask and be ready to receive information.

Meditation is the surest path to a pure mind, getting rid of emotional trash and awareness. By practicing meditation, successful people clear the way for intuition, which is nothing more than a door to all knowledge in the universe.

8. Be A Master Of Thoughts And Habits

Habits and thoughts are what create a person’s lifestyle, and they need a very competent approach. Therefore, this situation has two options – you can manage habits or obey them. Successful people and businessmen cultivate good habits and the right thoughts, and each of them has their list.

They think about success and wealth, are set for a positive outcome in any situation, they are constantly engaged in self-development, pay the necessary attention to their health and personal life, etc. Surely each of them will say that this was not always the case, but only a conscious choice of thoughts and habits and efforts in this direction allowed them to create the lifestyle they aspired to.

9. Visualization of Success

Even athletic trainers say that after training it’s useful to look in the mirror and imagine which muscles are bigger and stronger. A similar situation concerns success in life. Visualization is very effective and at the same time simple method of bringing the right events, people, and circumstances into your life. However, to achieve high results, the visualization should become a habit.

That is why prosperous people prefer to create reminders that do not let them forget about big plans. Most often, this is a visualization board or a map of goals, looking at which a person always remembers his focus. Try it and you create your reminder of the plans. It may be some item on the desk (for example, a book) or even your morning ritual of success can remind you of how today will bring you closer to your dream.

10. Keep a Personal Journal

It is said that Mendeleev saw a table of chemical elements in a dream. There are many such examples. An ingenious decision can come at any second. Therefore, it is important to have a notebook and pen next to it in case of such moments.

Besides, no successful person will begin to think about a new project, negotiate or plan for the future without having prepared a sheet of paper and a pen in advance. This is because only recorded thoughts and ideas gain strength, form, and the necessary potential for implementation. You’ve probably heard of people who even wake up at night, stop the car or get out of the shower to record a good idea that came to mind.

These people understand the value of thoughts and ideas, and also know that a good idea can just as easily disappear and then not return. All inventions of the modern world were at first thought. Start recording your own, and who knows what discoveries this will lead you to.

 11. Don’t Be Afraid of Criticisms

Typically, criticism is associated with conflict and confrontation. But successful people always benefit from criticism. They are always ready for dialogue and receiving feedback – albeit not always positive, as the only way to make changes to the chosen development strategies and improve.

No wonder Aristotle said: “To avoid criticism, do not say anything, do nothing, and be nobody.” Also, one of the important qualities of successful people is not only to gratefully accept and respond to constructive criticism but also to easily forget about destructive criticism, which does not bring any benefit.

12. Find a Good Mentor

You are well aware that the environment forms a person. However, most people do not notice how their environment appears on its own and does not always have the best effect. Thriving people do not make such a mistake and carefully choose those who surround them. The vast majority of successful people have had mentors. They do not hesitate to ask questions, ask for help and support, learn from those who have already achieved success in business.

Start and surround yourself with people who strive for goals like yours, as well as those who have already achieved success in business and areas that inspire and attract you. Very soon you will see how this will help you transfer your life to a higher quality level.

13. Do Not Forget to Take a Break

Of course, work is an important component of success. But without rest, your body will quickly give up. A depleted organism is more prone to stress, negative thoughts, and much closer to failure. Therefore, it is important to relax. Try to sleep 6-7 hours a day and create the most comfortable atmosphere in the bedroom. Moreover, the rest can be not only in the bedroom.

For example, popular computer games (in particular, strategies) will help you develop useful skills, improve your reaction, and improve mental abilities. 

14. Compete Only with Yourself

The easiest way to lose time is to compare yourself with others. You think: “They do everything much better than me,” “Why is his company more successful than mine,” “What am I doing wrong? Why is he in front of me? ” Such negative thinking causes damage and ultimately leads to death. It is much more effective if you spend time competing with yourself.

Of course, you need to evaluate competition in business, but constantly comparing your successes with others is not useful in any case. Analyze your results and compare what and how you are doing now, with how you did it before.

15. It’s Never Late to Learn New Things

Another interesting wisdom: “Live and learn.” This means that until the end of our days we should try to get new information and knowledge. For example, before starting the SpaceX project, Elon Musk read and studied so much literature about rocket technology and power plants that he could well build a rocket. It would seem, why would he? After all, he has already built successful companies – PayPal and Tesla. But he wanted more and realized that if he wanted to become a competent leader in the space industry company, he would have to gain new knowledge.

In this regard, I like such quality in people as the recognition of their ignorance. Usually people try to pretend that they know a lot, and they are confident in themselves, even if it is not. However, if you admit to yourself and others that you don’t know something, you have the opportunity to learn this.

Make a habit of constantly improving and learning. Take an hour every day to read a book, learn about something new. Just do not get stuck in the status of “eternal student.” It’s not enough just to read and receive knowledge. You need not be afraid to test them in practice and draw conclusions by analyzing negative experiences. We already wrote about this earlier.

16. Keep Moving Forward

Are you told that your idea will fail or that you will not succeed? Wait upset. All great people have been told at least once that nothing will work out for them. Today it seems that the success of Bill Gates was inevitable, however, at the beginning of the journey, everyone around him was sure of his failure. Walt Disney was fired from the newspaper for a “lack of imagination.” Sigmund Freud was booed by his colleagues when he presented them with his theories. If you want to become an outstanding person, you need to develop immunity to skepticism. Even experts are wrong, remember this.

Conclusion

Of course, there is no specific recipe for how to become a successful person and create the perfect business. But with good habits, diligence, and a little talent, even the most difficult tasks will be submitted to you.

There is such a phrase: “Genius is 1% talent and 99% sweat.”

If you are ready to work a lot, you will achieve a lot. If you expect that everything will somehow form and you are lucky, then “Even water does not flow under a lying stone.” Take control of the situation and become the master of your destiny. Work is also a habit. Good and useful habits. May luck be on your side.

The post 16 Good Habits to Achieve Success in Business appeared first on CareerMetis.com.

16 Good Habits to Achieve Success in Business published first on https://skillsireweb.tumblr.com/

[plogan721]

Please Talk Among Yourselves

Hello, today, I have another topic about trolling.  You know the word.  You are watching a video and make a mean remark about how the mother is dressed.  I am not talking about the self-talk you make

Candle Nestled Among Flowers By Pegleess Barrios from Burst.

as you are watching the video (also called talking to the screen).  We have all done that. I am talking specifically about the trifling comment you added in the comments section.  Yes, that troll comment.

There are other forms of trolling and I have mentioned them before, but making rude and hateful comments on another site is becoming more common, and frankly, I do not like it.  Here is why.

YouTube or Bust.

I have mentioned that I watch videos on YouTube and I also make them.  Two of the families that I watch on a regular basis recently had comments that popped up on my Google news feed, and frankly, I did not like what was said about them.  I know what you are going to say, “Tricia, why do you care what is said on these YouTube channels?”  Well, I do care because these two families, who by the way, are friends with each other, and are Christian families, really care about their families.  I also know what some of you are about to say, “well, they asked for it, putting their lives out there for all to see”.  Well, yes, they do, and only God knows why they are making videos, but, I also believe that it is only in God’s plan that they do continue. 

The first family, an interracial couple, with a boy and girl, started vlogging before the boy was born.  The comment I read on Lipstick Valley.com was things like: “why are they (the husband and wife) are so “Vegan” and “Micro” manage their diet while they feed their children crap food”.  By the way, crap, meaning McDonalds, pizza, Mac & Cheese, you name it.  My question to these people is why do you watch?  No, seriously, why do you watch the channel if you are going to criticize the family? I have seen the latest videos and the children are eating the same thing that the parents are eating.  Not only that, the mom did feed baby girl the same thing that she was eating for lunch.  They very seldom eat the “crappy” stuff, as this troll called it.

The second family, an African American husband and wife, with 3 boys and a girl, started vlogging when the oldest boy was a baby.  The comment I read on the same site was from 2013, and the comment was on the next oldest child’s hair, and why his hair was not cut.  This was during the time when the two oldest was born and she was pregnant with the youngest boy.  Baby girl was born last year and will be 1 next month.  Anyway, the comment was on things like, “is she hoping to have a girl so bad that she refuses to cut this child’s hair?  Again, my question is, why do you watch this channel?

I know as a vlogger myself, I am supposed to have “thick skin”, but my question is, why be so mean?  My mom gave me this insight when we were talking about my business the other day.  As business people, it is hard to talk about the business with family and friends, and here is what I believe is the answer to my question:  People are jealous.  They are jealous because:

·         You accomplished what they are trying to do. 

Many people say that they are going into business or start a vlogging channel or a blog, but cannot because of time, money, and/or the backlash from family and friends until they are afraid of starting. 

·         You are making a success out of the very thing they want to do.

These families are making a nice size chunk of change from vlogging. They are being savvy about the brand deals they are working with and who they are working with.  I will not mention some of the brands, but they are some of the ones I want to work with in the future, but it takes time to build a relationship with these brands.  Some YouTubers have been at it longer than me, but I cannot let that stop me from trying.

So, I did a little research into Lipstick Valley.com….

Caution: I am using a little slang here.  I will explain myself along the way.

Three Women Discuss over Coffee and Laptops By Sarah Pflug from Burst

So, I pulled up Lipstick Valley.com, and this stuff is lit.  For those of you who do not know what “Lit” means, “lit” means it is hot, a trend, or popular.  If you are a black person, this is the place to be (although I have seen other topics on other races).  As a black person, I beg to differ.  I did not like what I read from these posts, and I would have to say that these people are mean, jealous, and have no life goals.  I mean, people, do you even work?  Are you so jealous of these families to the point of talking about how they dress, how they feel about their children, and so forth?  How would you like it if someone pointed out your stuff on social media?  You would not like it, huh?  You are lucky that these families do not care about your catty mouth.  They only care about what their “true” fans think.  I did not nor I will not sign up for this site.  On second thought, I should not have said that these people who frequent this site do not have life goals.  Everyone has life goals, and these life goals may not line up with mines and yours.  This might be a way for some people to unwind from the day, like a glass of wine and a good book, only they choose to gossip about people.  See, that was a form of trolling and I am sorry for having written that.

I am not that type of person who is here for the gossip.  God and my mother taught me better than that.  That does not mean I listen.  I have no choice.  I have chatty church members, social media is always chatty, and my family and friends are chatty.  The only difference is I try not to start something.  If it is something I do not want to hear (like the opinions of people I watch on YouTube) I walk away, turn it off, or mouth off, which is something I started to do to these people.  Good thing you have to sign up to give your .02 (two cents). I probably would have blasted out these catty women out of the water.

So what if I find myself in this situation?

If you find yourself in the situation of giving an opinion that is troll-like:

·         Go to the person who is the subject of the talk. 

You might want to give you an opportunity to air your difference to them. Now, it may be a little difficult if it is social media.  Sometimes, you do not know these people personally, you never met them in person, and you do not know their home life, except what they are willing to share. 

·         Do you know what is really going on in their life?

On my channel, my social media accounts, and on my blogs, there are a lot of things I personally do not share and do not want to share with the public.  Some of it has to do with the people in my family who do not want their life being put on blast, and some of it has to do with the situation I am in, and the public does not be on a “needs to know” basis.  Besides that, people are nosey, and people get jealous and want to see you fail at something.   

·         Commenting with mean, evil things does not help the situation. 

What does trolling do?  For one, it makes a person who is miserable, have no love for life, nor care about people feel better about themselves while making the person being trolled feel worse about themselves.  One of the worse trolling methods is when the troll tells the one being trolled to go kill themselves.  In that case, it becomes cyberbullying.  This is common in teens and young adults.  This must be stopped. 

What if you find yourself being trolled or cyberbullied?

·         First, you need to develop a thick skin. 

Yes, it is not easy to ignore the comments.  YouTube and other sites have a way for you to report the person doing the trolling, but you may not be in a position to do so.

·         If you cannot handle it, find someone who can. 

If you have a business, you can hire a virtual assistant to screen your accounts, especially comments.  In fact, virtual assistants are good for a lot of tasks, which is something I will tackle in a later post.  If you cannot afford to hires someone or if you do not have a business, get a friend to screen your social media account.

·         If it is cyberbullying, contact an authority, contact your local police, your company’s security, IT, or if you are a student, contact a teacher, principal, or guidance counselor, and most importantly, your parents.  These are your first responders, and they do not take lightly the threats, the trolling, and meaningful suggestions.  They know what to do, and how to contact the next person in this sort of situation to the right people.

Finally, do not take matters into your own hands.  You could end up losing your life over this.  If you have to, walk away from social media.  It is not that important that you have to document every detail of your life on social media.  In fact, this is the reason for me not sharing everything.  It is not that I do not want to because I love helping people, but sometimes, helping people can cost.  There are the judgments, the funny looks and stares, and the comments.  I always welcome comments if I am wrong on something, but when it comes to my life and my well-being, I have to decipher what is best for me and my life.  I will listen because introverts are good listeners, but then I have to choose from what I want or need versus what you are telling me.  We all make choices in life, and my comment to you today is:

“Choose to be happy, and make the right choice in your life and the life of others.  You never know who you may touch the right way or the wrong way.”

Related Articles:

Attention all Trolls (This means Me Too).

Related YouTube Channels to this Article:

GabeBabeTV

The Daily Davidsons

Check out my Channel while you are there:

Patricia L. Logan

from Blogger http://bit.ly/31VfsS9 via IFTTT