Life and Productivity Tips

1. "Currently," as in "I’m currently making…" The most common question recruiters will ask a candidate is something like, “So where are you right now in terms of salary, and what are you looking for if you make this move?” Don’t fall for it. “I call this  The Dreaded Salary Question , and it’s tricky because it usually comes up early in the interview process, and most candidates don’t think of it as part of a salary negotiation even though it is,” says Doody. “Answering this question by disclosing numbers can make it very difficult to negotiate effectively later on because it can box the candidate in. Once they disclose current or desired salary, the offers they get are very likely to be tied to those numbers. That can be very expensive if the company might have offered them a much higher salary than they disclosed.” 2. "Desired," as in "My desired salary is…" Don’t disclose your current or desired salary! “Recovering from this mistake c...

1. Just start working for 2 minutes on your most important task. I use this one at least one day every week. On some days I simply don’t feel like getting started with work. I’d much rather stay lazily on the sofa. So on such days I just start to work for 2 minutes on my most important task. That is the deal. The thing is: getting started is pretty much always the hardest part. After I have started moving and been at work for those 2 minutes it is usually pretty easy to just continue working on that task. 2. Review and appreciate your day at the end of it. If you do good things during the day and get things done then that can  raise your self-esteem . If you reflect upon that you have done so that is. So take two minutes of the end of your workday. Appreciate what you did and what you thought. That is what I will do when I am done with this article and workday. 3. Set a low bar for happiness for the day. One thing I like to tell myself when I wake up in the...

Imagine I magically added hours of time to your day. You would have more time to do what you love, whether that is relaxing, time with family, reading, working, etc.. Well this is your lucky day! In the next  minute  or so, I will share hacks that will  add HOURS to your day, every day. 1. Install a Facebook feed-blocker and the StayFocused Chrome extension. Since I’ve installed a feed-blocker, I have  saved AT LEAST 30 minutes a day that I would have otherwise spent on  Facebook . As for StayFocused, I have put 10 minute  time limits on Instagram , where I could otherwise spend north of 2 hours a day scrolling around [check settings in your iPhone. It tells you exactly how much time you’re wasting on there..] I also delete my social media apps on my phone when I want to be extra productive and therefore force myself to only access them from a desktop. 2. Put your phone in another room when you start working or come home. Make it hard for...

1. Never ever get uncomfortable. If you are uncomfortable, it means there is something you fear from. Don’t let fear ruling you! You will see they don’t even exist. 2. Fake it till you make it. Perception beats reality. Before I start doing something challenging, this is simply what I do. If the goal is too keep yourself mentally strong, don’t hesitate to believe you are. I bet it works. 3. Say it out loud! Say what you want out loud. It is that much simple to keep yourself motivated and so mentally strong. 4. Try to define actions reversely. Maybe you call yourself a procrastinator or late doer. This is not the true way of defining your actions. Approach from the different perspective and say you are able to do it such quick that you don’t even need to start so early. 5. Act of kindness. I think act of kindness interestingly and impressively increases the level of happiness. You should also try. 6. Try to spend time with motivated people. In ...

Be adaptable. Stop using 18th Century wisdom for 21st problems Hard work doesn't pay, only working smart does. No matter how much you earn at your job, the company you work for always goes home with a profit. So start your own business. Giving is better than receiving. If you do not ask, the answer will always be NO. 80/20 rule. Most of the people in your life are useless. Less is more. If you do not step forward, you will always be in the same place I am where I am now because of my decisions. My destiny then is in my next decision. Don't compare your Chapter 1 to someone else's Chapter 20. Your own book may end at Chapter 7. Once you feel someone avoids you, never disturb them again. To be a burger, eat a burger. To be an apple, eat an apple. You are what you eat. Life doesn't give you what you want, it gives you what you deserve Treat people with respect, help them when you can, everyone has value, look down on no one. The gift of being let down is th...

While there is no perfect formula for everyone, I want to share some study techniques that have allowed various people to excel through high school and other academics. Top students practice self-discipline instead of relying on motivation.  I’ve touched on this quite a bit in my previous posts, but the gist is if we wait until we feel motivated to complete an assignment, we will have wasted precious time putting it off and also added unnecessary stress. Instead, we need to schedule out or write down when we will be completing this assignment, whether we want to or not. This leads me to my next point. Top students stay organized.  I carry a planner where I write down my schedule for the day and any new homework that I receive. I’ve written out important dates (like exams and essay due dates) on a large calendar in my room so that no assignment sneaks up on me. Knowing exactly what needs to be done allows me to be uber-productive and never be surprised by an assignment ...

Focus on the top most and the lower most part of your attire, that is your hair and your shoes, these are the most noticed things. Never easily trust people or tell your secrets to every other person you are comfortable with. Be an “information digger”, listen to everyone, you will get to learn so many important things, speak only when it's essential. Always carry a little smile of confidence on your face, this can be done by thinking about all the good things in life. Keep focus on what comes out of your mouth, “smell” and “words” both matter a lot. Maintain a high grade. Keep yourself simple. Complicating yourself or over doing things only makes you look like a bunch of entangled wires. Speak with ease, don't rush, even if you are short of time. Always pay attention to the clothes and accessories you wear. Price doesn't matter, cleanliness matters. Don't talk about your weaknesses in public, work on them in private. Never stop learning, learn about shit, but...