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29-01-2012 21:49 This video describes some quick tips on how I stay productive using to do lists and other useful tools. Below are some of the links I mention in the video. http://www.google.com http://www.google.com Google Plus Scrapbook Animation guide: plus.google.com Productivity and to do list online app (my recommendation): trello.com Hope this helps and stay tuned for more!

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Living Life in Full Stride Vlog by Amin Shawki: Productivity - Video

Video Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J3jaxL7NBBk

04-02-2012 08:57 http://www.theYESmovie.com.au Brad Sugars CEO, Author and Speaker Brad Sugars is the founder of ActionCOACH, a business coaching franchise. As a world-renowned entrepreneur, author and business coach, he has helped more than a million clients around the world find business and personal success. Sugars has owned and operated more than two dozen companies, and his main company, ActionCOACH, has nearly 1000 offices in 22 countries.

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The YES Movie with Brad Sugars - Video

By Steve Campbell

sfcampbell@star-telegram.com

The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department has pulled in $1.14 million in donations to help its drought-ravaged and fire-singed parks system overcome a $4.6 million budget shortfall.

But contributions from nearly 2,000 park lovers aren't likely to fix the cash-strapped system's mounting money problems, the agency's chief conceded last week, nearly two months after the department made an unprecedented plea for public assistance."Time will tell, but my personal opinion is that I don't think we are going to be able to get out of this situation we're in with $5 at a time," Executive Director Carter Smith said."We have a lot of ground to make up. In addition to this $4.6 million campaign to keep state parks open, we've incurred probably at a minimum $10 million in damages from wildfires. I don't know where we are going to find those funds," he said, noting that recent rains exacerbated the fiscal drain by washing out roads at Bastrop State Park, where a September wildfire denuded 96 percent of the forest landscape."It remains to be seen if we can meet the totality of this challenge. We're going to be facing some tough decisions," said Smith, adding that park closures and more staff layoffs will be among the hard choices if the drought persists."We've had a couple of very large, catalytic gifts. We're ecstatic at the generosity of the gifts at all levels; they are deeply appreciated," he said. "This speaks to the fact that Texans care about the future of their state parks."That being said, this is not the kind of campaign you can sustain year after year. We're going to have to figure out other alternatives," Smith said."Right now it looks like we are pushing a rock uphill."The heat effectThe $4.6 million parks predicament was brought on by a convergence of fiscal factors.First, the Legislature reduced park funding by $23.3 million for 2012-13, forcing the closure of two regional offices and the loss of 76 full-time positions.Lawmakers also authorized an ambitious budget strategy that included the parks department raising an additional $3 million in park fees and $1.6 million annually from an optional vehicle registration donation program that didn't take effect until Jan. 1.But in the meantime, park fees plunged due to a record Texas drought that dried up lakes and streams, causing a nearly 30 percent decline in freshwater fishing licenses.Worse yet, the state's hottest summer ever kept campers and hikers at home. During August, visitation was down more than 50 percent at Guadalupe River and Dinosaur Valley state parks, where picturesque streams are the major attractions.Visitor fees generate about half of the $69 million operating budget for the state parksDuring its first month, the motor vehicle registration option generated nearly $80,000, but that's far short of the $133,000 per month needed to raise $1.6 million.Last week, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission approved adding boat registrations to the check-off program.Big-ticket donationsTwo large contributions got the fundraising off to a solid start.In January, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation donated $500,000, said Dick Davis, executive director of the group that has raised more than $70 million for the agency since 1991, including $35 million in the last six years.The foundation normally raises money for the department's capital projects such as land acquisition, he said."We have the discretion if we have money available to do more than that. The board decided that since we are doing fairly well these days, we would give the $500,000 contribution to jump-start that effort," he saidThe foundation recently started a direct mail effort and is sending donation proposals to individuals and corporations."The parks campaign has become our No. 1 focus. There was no precedent; we had no idea we would pass $1 million as quick as we did. We are not getting huge amounts on average, but we are getting hundreds of contributions. And we think there will probably be a lot of repeat customers. In coming weeks we probably will hear from some funding sources that will contribute larger amounts," he said.The Lufkin-based T.L.L. Temple Foundation, established in 1962 in honor of lumberman Thomas Lewis Latane Temple, the founder of Temple Industries, donated $250,000.Most of the foundation's grants are centered in East Texas, but it does statewide grants "when we think it's appropriate," said Buddy Temple, chairman of the foundation's board of trustees.Temple Industries once owned more than 1 million acres of Texas timberland, he said."Our family has always been interested in parks; we've been aligned with parks and wildlife department forever," said Temple, who said underfunding parks is a short-sighted policy."I'm pretty disgusted with the Legislature and state leadership. They are taking us down the road to a Third World country," he said.Mild winter weather boosted park numbers in January, but Smith said he's closely watching long-term forecasts."We're awfully concerned about predications of the resurgence of La Niña drought conditions and how long that will persist into the summer," he said.Steve Campbell, 817-390-7981

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Despite fundraising success, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department still digging out of deep budget hole

A particular day inspired LaTrice Wilson to get motivated about her fitness -- Sept. 16, 2011.

That was her wedding day, and Wilson, then a size 14, wanted to be a size 10.

Lesley Young/Special to The Commercial Appeal

LaTrice Wilson, 27, lost 30 pounds after meeting with a personal trainer for five months. Now four months' pregnant, she continues her cardio training and better eating habits.

"I wanted to get in my dress," said the 27-year-old student of respiratory therapy.

So Wilson headed to 24 Hour Fitness on Ridgeway in East Memphis and asked for a personal trainer.

They assigned her Andre LeSueur, and after five months of working with him three days a week and exercising some on her own, Wilson walked down the aisle a size 8, and 30 pounds lighter.

"It was a perfect fit," she said.

LeSueur gave Wilson a food chart and guidelines for eating.

She was instructed to eat only whole grains; no starches, carbs or fruit and sweets after 3 p.m., and to eat only grilled or baked meat and healthful proteins, like peanuts, for snacks.

"I started eating more often, like every two or three hours," she said. "It was great having a personal trainer, because if I was sitting in a restaurant and trying to decide what to eat, I could call him and ask him. I called Andre a lot."

Her new eating habits included a cheat day to keep her cravings at bay.

"That way I didn't overindulge," she said.

Wilson, who lives in Bartlett, met with LeSueur three days a week for an hour of weight training and interval cardio training.

"I'd do fast-paced cardio, then low-paced," she said. "After my regular workouts with Andre, I'd do an hour of cardio on my own."

On the days she didn't work with LeSueur, she would put in a half-hour to an hour of cardio on her own.

"Before I got a personal trainer, I was trying to lose weight on my own, and I wasn't motivated. Andre was very professional. With him it was more than losing weight. He taught me how to change my lifestyle and to stay motivated so I was able to come to the gym every day," she said.

Her next challenge is to stay motivated while pregnant.

Four months' pregnant, Wilson goes to the gym three days a week for some light cardio work, either on the elliptical machine or walking with 21/2 -pound weights for 30 minutes.

"Now that I'm trained to eat right, I eat that way pregnant," she said. "I just try to have my cravings before 3 p.m."

Have you lost weight and kept it off, adopted better eating habits, started exercising or had success living a more healthful lifestyle? E-mail your story to sunyata00@gmail.com.

LaTrice Wilson

Age: 27

Home: Bartlett

What she did: In order to fit into her size-10 wedding dress by mid-September of last year, Wilson met with personal trainer Andre LeSueur for three days a week for weight training and interval cardio training, as well as working out on her own. She lost 30 pounds.

Gym info: 24 Hour Fitness, 1285 Ridgeway, (901) 763-3265, 24hourfitness.com

Advice: "Definitely get a personal trainer."

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Success Story: LaTrice Wilson

INDIANAPOLIS — The New England Patriots' playbook should come with a label attached: Some assembly required.

"Coach (Bill) Belichick brings guys in here that really buy into what we're trying to do; guys that are going to put pride and personal statistics aside and go out and try to do what's best for the team to have success," Patriots wide receiver Matthew Slater said. "You get the right group in place and who believe in that and start to buy into it, just doing whatever it takes for the success of the team."

And in a season when the Patriots bring the first defense to a Super Bowl that surrendered at least 400 yards a game in the regular season, Belichick has done some of his best mix-and-match to get the unit through a season's worth of games.

So much so that Slater and fellow wide receiver Julian Edelman have been used as defensive backs. Cornerback Sterling Moore went from his couch after being cut by the Oakland Raiders earlier this season to the Patriots' practice squad to starting at safety for New England.

"After a game, when you feel like you've contributed to a team win, there is nothing better than that," Edelman said. "Any way that you can help the team is always awesome."

Belichick, whose roots in coaching weave back to coaching defensive backs early in his career, is considered one of the league's best talent evaluators at the position. Often, DBs he releases are quickly scooped up by other teams with the assumption that if Belichick had them on the roster, they must have something to offer.

As a result, Belichick also will take more risks at the position. He often used wide receiver Troy Brown as a defensive back during Brown's career, and Edelman and Slater are now in that role.

Because Belichick is the team's top personnel executive as well as head coach, there is nothing to prevent him from making such drastic moves quickly if he sees fit. In Edelman's case, Belichick took a former quarterback at Kent State and made him into a receiver, punt returner and kickoff returner before adding defensive back to the list in November.

Edelman took his first career snaps on defense leading up to the Patriots' Nov. 13 game against the Jets and found himself covering slot receivers just days later.

"(Edelman) is a smart, hardworking guy," Belichick said. "If you ask him to do something, he'll work really hard to get it right and try to do it. He developed a little bit as a defensive player this year."

For his part, Moore is the guy who knocked a potential game-winning touchdown out of Baltimore wide receiver Lee Evans' hands in the AFC championship game, a victory that put the Patriots in Indianapolis. Overall, it was the pile of injuries — safety Patrick Chung (foot), cornerback Devin McCourty (shoulder), cornerback Kyle Arrington (foot) — along with the release of safety James Sanders and cornerback Leigh Bodden, that forced the Patriots into cut-and-paste mode.

Belichick's defensive solution has included Broncos castoffs Nate Jones and Niko Koutivides making starts at safety and linebacker, respectively. It is something the Giants have taken note of along the way this week.

New York wide receiver Mario Manningham, asked about the prospect of facing Edelman in coverage in Sunday's title game, said:

"He plays wide receiver, he's not a real defensive back. Did he get drafted as a defensive back? We have a little bond going on knowing that we can beat somebody. We're confident. I hope he's out there."

Edelman brushed aside Manningham's statement, calling it "a bunch of noise," but the Patriots will need all of the pieces to fit together one last time this season if they are going to add another trophy to the team's case.

Jeff Legwold: 303-954-2359 or jlegwold@denverpost.com

Parts is parts

The New England Patriots have shuffled their secondary often this season. Here is who has started games this season:

Regular season

Player starts:*

CB Devin McCourty 13

CB Kyle Arrington 13

S James Ihedigbo 11

S Patrick Chung 7

S Josh Barrett 4

S Sergio Brown 4

S/CB Sterling Moore 3

WR/DB Matthew Slater 3

CB Ras-I Dowling 2

CB Antwaun Molden 2

CB Leigh Bodden 1

S Nate Jones 1

* Patriots opened two games with five defensive backs

Playoffs

Player starts:

CB McCourty 2

CB Arrington 2

S Chung 2

S Ihedigbo 2

Jeff Legwold, The Denver Post

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Belichick juggles Patriots' injury-riddled secondary to find success

On Monday, Queen Elizabeth II marks the 60th anniversary of her accession to the throne. A small proportion of Her Majesty’s subjects may recall the reign of her father, or even her uncle and her grandfather. But for the vast majority, the Queen is the only head of state they have known – a constant companion through their entire lives, the still point of an often turbulent world.

To have reached this milestone is an extraordinary achievement, as well as a testament to her family’s longevity. Only one other British monarch has done so previously: Queen Victoria, whose Diamond Jubilee was celebrated in 1897. The event, which included a grand naval review at Spithead in which 135 vessels took part, was celebrated, as Jan Morris has written, “as a festival of imperial strength, splendour and unity – a mammoth exhibition of power, in a capital that loved things to be colossal”. The ceremonials in June to mark our own Queen’s Jubilee may be somewhat less grandiose, but they will be spectacular none the less: the river pageant along the Thames, for example, will be a sight not seen in London for centuries.

For Her Majesty, what should be a joyful event will inevitably be tinged with sadness. The anniversary of her accession – which she learned of while on safari in Kenya – is also the anniversary of the day that her father died, and her mother began a 50-year widowhood. Her Golden Jubilee, in 2002, was accompanied by personal loss, with the deaths in quick succession of both her mother and her sister. Indeed, the total and selfless service and dedication that the Queen has shown in her 60 years on the throne have been all the more remarkable when you consider that it was a role she was never expected to fulfil, until the abdication of her uncle, Edward VIII.

For the Queen, monarchy has always been about duty and vocation, not celebrity and wealth. The institution is what matters, and she has been its stalwart custodian. Her reign has seen so many changes in society, especially the decline of deference towards authority and scorn for the emblems of power. Yet this has not diminished the country’s belief in the merits of monarchy. Quite the contrary: it has remained, thanks largely to Her Majesty’s efforts, the indisputable focus of our national community. Even the Scottish Nationalists, who intend to break up the United Kingdom, see the merits of preserving its monarchy.

It has been the Queen’s accomplishment to have kept the institution of royalty secure at a time when it could have been overrun by the forces of modernity, especially those unleashed in 1997 by the election of Tony Blair and the death of Diana, Princess of Wales. In times gone by, the British have retained a love for monarchy even when they have not loved their monarch; today, at a time when the media spotlight falls ever more harshly on those in the public eye, the affection in which she is held is an important bulwark for the institution itself. And yet while television has thrown more light on the Queen than on any of her predecessors, she has remained a private, even reticent individual, the very antithesis of what the modern celebrity culture demands.

Throughout her reign, the Queen’s loyalty to her people has been matched by theirs to her. And it has been to the great good fortune of both Her Majesty and her country that she has been accompanied by a consort who feels the impulse of duty and service just as strongly. As Prince Harry observed this week, it would be hard to imagine the Queen continuing to make such a commitment to her role at the age of 85 without the support of the 90-year-old Duke of Edinburgh, the husband she once called “quite simply, my strength and stay all these years”.

As well as being the oldest monarch to sit on the throne, the Queen, and her consort, must surely be among the fittest. Last year, along with their many other duties, the pair toured Australia, attending the biennial conference of the Commonwealth that Her Majesty has done so much to shape and preserve; visited Dublin on a historic mission of reconciliation; and attended their grandson’s wedding. This schedule would have been taxing for a couple half their age – and there will be no let-up in this Jubilee year, which includes visits to each part of the Kingdom, the formal opening of the London Olympics, as well as a host of state occasions and celebrations to mark Her Majesty’s time on the throne.

One might argue that this extraordinary couple deserve a chance to slow down, and perhaps to reflect on their great accomplishments. But the Queen has always been a woman who has steadfastly put duty to her Kingdom, her Commonwealth and her subjects at the forefront of her life. To do so, she has had to sacrifice much that most of us would consider normal. The trappings of monarchy – the castles, the jewellery, the robes – are not personal baubles but the symbols of office. She is the head of state and has a function to fulfil that is not just ceremonial, but constitutional. That she has done so with such devotion, hard work and steadfastness over six decades is utterly remarkable, and has reaffirmed – in an age of constant turmoil and tumultuous social change – how successful and enduring an institution the British monarchy still is.

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A majestic success in an age of turmoil

SALT LAKE CITY — Today's driven success-minded professional strives to "have it all" — and do it all — with respect to their personal and professional life. However, all too often, this shotgun effort leads to disappointing results on many, if not all, fronts. The complexity lies in creating abundance in your professional life while still being able to relax and enjoy your personal life to its fullest.

Realizing whole-life success is possible. The secret lies in creating and committing to boundaries that keep work and home life separate, so that you may remain career-driven while also carving out as much quality family, couple and "me" time as possible. This helps to reduce anxiety and stress for you, your romantic relationship and a family unit at large.

Consider these tactical strategies that will help working professionals better balance their family, personal and career life:

Be totally accessible to business contacts ONLY during regular working hours whether 9-5 Monday through Friday or other set working hours. Ensure all vendors, business partners, colleagues and clients understand that this is the company culture or your personal policy. Have a personal cell phone that is only for family and friends so you can leave the business phone behind on family outings, personal "me" time at the health club or with friends. Answer the business phone, fax or email ONLY during business hours.

What do you do when you're not at work?

1. Is there anything but work?

2. I saw every blockbuster last summer, just sayin'

3. Spend time with my family

4. You should see my honey-do list

5. Shop, shop, shop

6. Study the back of my eyelids

No Friday afternoon critical endeavors or fire drills. Stack the more labor intensive, mission critical tasks — and those that require third-party involvement or input — early in the week and taper down so that by Friday you can essentially focus on housekeeping items. This strategy can help you avoid weekend work loads and other infringements on what should now be your personal time. Just as you schedule professional obligations, also schedule time off personal family and couple activities. And, don't forget to put in "me time" to exercise, relax, or spend time with friends. It doesn't matter if it is a few hours or days, or a small or large activity - put it on the calendar and plan around it to make it happen! If you are a business owner or manage staff in an operation with extended hours, create processes and protocols that can handle most situations when you are unavailable in the "off" hours or otherwise. Also ensure all staffers understand you are to only be contacted in true emergencies (don't forget to define "true emergency" as well!) and that you have empowered them to support you properly when you are not accessible and make executive decisions in your absence.

There are also a few key principals that can go a long way toward establishing work/life balance and harmony, especially when you are in a relationship with an equally success-minded person:

Establish Open Lines of Communication. Communication is vital to any healthy relationship whether business and personal. It is important to ensure that everyone, including yourself, be able to express themselves no matter what as this helps diffuse misunderstandings and alleviates stress and time spent on repairing these downed communication lines. Operate with Respect, Balance, and Recognition. It's important to have go-to people to lean on in both the career and non-career aspects. This may mean using a mentor, career coach or business consultant who can take the company to the next level or a personal confidant who can help you make personal changes, improve communication, resolve issues and become better people. Identify your Neutral Zone. It is not easy to maintain happy and healthy relationships on a personal or professional level. There will be discord and disagreement, so finding a neutral zone is important where each person can go to get away from stress or the angst of a difficult moment. Establish a place of "escape" from such difficulties, so that you can clear your head, regroup and productively deal with the situation at hand. Focus on Social Responsibility on the Inside and Out. Establishing a business and a family life based on a philosophy of social responsibility can generate a great deal of satisfaction. Whether it is the idea to "pay it forward" by helping those who are less fortunate or creating a bucket list based on what you and/or your company can do for others not only makes a difference in others' lives, but it also enriches your own life - and that of your employees - and makes it feel more fulfilling.

Regardless of whether you're a business owner, a manager, executive or professional, it's easy to get off kilter — especially when under excessive stress and pressure at work or at home. Career demands can cause family disruptions, while other variables like tightening budgets can create friction at home and at the job. However, there are ways to manage such circumstances and, in doing so, regain control of your own personal and professional satisfaction. Start with these action items above and you'll be well on your way.

The CEO Couple Ed and Ellen Schack are living examples of work/life/family balance based on key principles that foster healthy a marriage, business growth, and managing the rigor of everyday life: Respect, Communication, Partnership, Fun, Family, Faith, Balance, and Well-Being combined with many operational components of business like Strategy, Vision, and Competition. They may be reached online at http://www.theceocouple.com and via Twitter @TheCEOCouple .

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Balancing your professional and personal life

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31-01-2012 00:35 What's the Secret to Building More Rewarding Relationships and Contacts? Start by shifting your networking mindset from "getting" to "giving". When Joe Sweeney wrote his New York Times Bestseller: Networking Is A Contact Sport, his goal was simple: help others benefit from all he has learned about building rewarding relationships and successful businesses. For over 30 years Joe has traveled the world asking questions, giving of himself and doing his best to discover what motivates people. And now you have an opportunity to learn the simple skills Joe has perfected to grow your business, expand your influence and take both your professional and personal success to the next level. Steve's next guess come February 4th on The Steve Henry Show. http://www.thestevehenryshow.com

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Joe Sweeney, Networking Is A Contact Sport on TSHS 2.4.12 - Video

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31-01-2012 22:04 FOR MORE INFO ABOUT AiMS Learning International PLEASE CALL 9328 9850/9734 4787 We are all motivated with dreams and hopes but sometimes we find it hard to accomplish it, due to some reason or may be excuses in life. We tend to give up in middle of the race. Discouraged on what we see around us. An American Author named Napoleon Hill, who was one of the earliest producers of the modern genre of personal-success literature, has his popular expression that says "What the mind of man can conceive and believe, it can achieve". Yes you heard it clearly. You create who you will become. You always have two choices in life to walk straight towards your dreams or to stop. Most of the people failed in life because they stop dreaming. Dreams give us reason to pursue life and make it better. "Dream big!", the popular phrase of the well-known Multi Billionaire Donald Trump. Dream big in all areas of your life. Dream big for your love ones, Dream big for yourself. Dream big for as long you live. A Three time Olympic champion, Yolanda Gail Devers said "Keep your dreams alive. Understand to achieve anything requires faith and belief in yourself, vision, hardwork, determination, and dedication. Remember all things are possible for those who believe." We at AiMS Learning International started from a dream, propelled by our passion to help people regardless of who they were and where they came from. We believe that we can make a difference in the life of those, whose dreams were suppressed ...

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AiMS Learning International 1st Commencement Exercises President Message - Video

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23-12-2011 11:55 Unity - Just say YES - Year of Empowering Society Together we can change the world

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http://www.facebook.com/groups/inspire.members Video Short #1 - Video