The Beginning

The Real Journey Begins ..

The Journey (Re-post)

Many are still coping from the recent flood that hit the nation. Is it the climate change? Is it the people who don't care for their environment or those officials who don't fulfill their duties? Okay, blame it to the dam.

Our journey is still on. I'm re-posting below verse just to motivate.

LIWANAG SA DILIM

Kung sa'yong paghakbang ay mayroong humadlang

Hatakin kang pilit sa madilim na daan

Ulirat' lakas sinakop ng kawalan

pagasang bitbit mawawalan ba nang saysay

Lugmok ang katawan isip tila walang malay

Binalot ng takot kaloobang lupaypay

Sa isang sulok ng kadilimang parisukat

Walang kaakibat ni isa mang balikat

Sa sadlak na pangarap ba'y magsasawalang kibo

Di ba't likas na tapang ay nasa iyong dugo

Sarili'y ibangon humayo kang nakatayo

Yaong liwanag na mithi ay di na nalalayo

Achieving Excellence

THE KEY TO BEING EXCELLENT AT ANYTHING


I'm not aiming to be on top but at least to excel on what I do best. We want that - success!


There are times we fail. There are times we nearly give up when everything fall out of place. Yest it's hard if you let yourself stuck in the shadow. REACH OUT!

"It's possible to build any given skill or capacity in the same systematic way we do a muscle: push part your comfort zone, and then rest."


If you want to be really good at something, it's going to involve relentlessly pushing past your comfort zone, as well as frustration, struggle, setbacks and failures. That's true as long as you want to continue to improve, or even maintain a high level of excellence. The reward is that being really good at something you've earned through your own hard work can be immensely satisfying.


Here, then, are the six keys to achieving excellence that you might want to consider:


1. Pursue what you love. Passion is an incredible motivator. It fuels focus, resilience, and perseverance.

2. Do the hardest work first. We all move instinctively toward pleasure and away from pain. Most great performers, Ericsson and others have found, delay gratification and take on the difficult work of practice in the mornings, before they do anything else. That's when most of us have the most energy and the fewest distractions.


3. Practice intensely, without interruption for short periods of no longer than 90 minutes and then take a break. Ninety minutes appears to be the maximum amount of time that we can bring the highest level of focus to any given activity. The evidence is equally strong that great performers practice no more than 4 ½ hours a day.


4. Seek expert feedback, in intermittent doses. The simpler and more precise the feedback, the more equipped you are to make adjustments. Too much feedback, too continuously can create cognitive overload, increase anxiety, and interfere with learning.

5. Take regular renewal breaks. Relaxing after intense effort not only provides an opportunity to rejuvenate, but also to metabolize and embed learning. It's also during rest that the right hemisphere becomes more dominant, which can lead to creative breakthroughs.


6. Ritualize practice. Will and discipline are wildly overrated. As the researcher Roy Baumeister has found, none of us have very much of it. The best way to insure you'll take on difficult tasks is to build rituals -- specific, inviolable times at which you do them, so that over time you do them without having to squander energy thinking about them.

askmen.com

Missing Out

This post is based on the article that caught my interest, written by Peter Hoare, a screenwriter and a magazine columnist. It's all about Relaxation. HOW TECHNOLOGY IS MAKING US MISS OUT ON LIFE. 

"Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.” 

-Ferris Bueller



Blame it to technology (I just can't). As said, it's a fast changing world so bear with it. The Social Media, you have it. But still, you have the options. Get life and be productive!


Hoare said Relaxation is now becoming a lost art. Take this one. 
Old people can sit on a stoop, sip a glass of iced tea and just, well, be. They don’t feel the need to Instagram their view from the porch. They don’t need to tweet, “This iced tea sucks a fat one! LoLz!” They don’t check in at “Jeb’s Porch.” They can just sit, decompress, think, reflect, relax. How many of us can do the same? 

Try to go outside and look around, most of the people are on their phone. In the Bar, Restaurants, Beaches and other areas designated for relaxation, are people do talk to each other more? I bet everybody is updating the Facebook status to say "At the beach!". How many letters do you currently write? Just go chatting, that's easy. (So now I'm guilty!) 

Why don't get into physical activities rather than spending the day in your laptop.

We all love technology, we shouldn't give it up, we're in a modern world. But, like everything in life, MODERATION is the key! Too much use can distract us from real life. 

Hoare's point - appreciate the moments in real time.

Fact(s) Of The Day

Everyone is panicking about this hot weather condition and it's getting hotter and hotter.


May I have your 60 seconds, improve your day with some facts as compiled by askmen.com and I hope these would give you a dose of cooling effect.

"Holding a gun or knife makes you appear larger."

"Baboons can recognize words."


"The left side of your face is your "good side.""

"A beer belly comes from binging, not necessarily beer drinking."

"Writing about your anxiety makes you better at test-taking."

"Some facial muscles actually do illustrate a speaker's truthfulness."

"Tetris lessens the impact of traumatic events."


"Niceness is partially genetic."


"Thinking about sex makes you take more risks."

"Migraines are linked to impotence."




Agree?

10 Things To Never Say To Your Boss

"A strictly educational environment might promote the idea that there is no such thing as a dumb question, but this isn't true at the office."

In your career you will inevitably come to say some dumb or regrettable things to your boss. At one time or another, we all do it to varying degrees. The following list of such things is by no means exhaustive, but if you can avoid saying them, you will be doing yourself, your professional persona and your boss a tremendous service.

So, keep these top 10 things to never say to your boss in mind the next time you're chatting him up by the water cooler.

“Impossible; That Can't Be Done.”

“This is the best they could do, huh?”

“Not My Problem.”

"That Isn't In My Job Description.”

"Does it really matter if I get this finished?”

“That's A No-Brainer.”

“I Just Followed You On Twitter”

“I Got So Trashed Last Night…”

"I Don't Get Paid Enough For This.”

“Sigh!”

by: Ross Bonander

Career Advisor

askmen.com

It's You!

You make me feel warm when it’s cold

You brighten the day when darkness fall

You even catch me when I’m in trouble

I see You smile then ease all the pain

Now life is complete for God sent You here

Things To Do On Valentine's Day

The Red Month. Sure it's a big deal, so whatever you have planned for February 14, be sure to make it memorable. It doesn't have to cost a fortune or be specially elaborate, but making your love one special is essential.

Here are some date ideas that are sure to please this Valentine's Day.


No.10 Reenact Your First Date

There’s a good chance that the beginning of your relationship was the time when you made the most effort to show her your romantic side, so why not turn back the clock and remind her how charming you were when you were wooing her?

No.9 Get Physical

No, not that kind of "physical." With any luck, that’s where your Valentine’s Day date will end up, but you can start things off by getting your heart rates up together doing something fun.

No.8 Go For A Massage

Massage is a must-do activity for Valentine’s Day. You can either treat her to a full-body, sensual massage with scented (and even edible) oils or lotions, or give yourself a little pampering and book a couple’s massage at a spa.

No.7 Make A Path Of Rose Petals

Anticipation is half the fun of a romantic surprise. Start the excitement when she walks in the door by leaving a trail of rose petals leading to the bedroom, where she’ll find Valentine’s Day gifts.

No.6 Get A Room

Changing up your surroundings can give an automatic boost to your love life. A hotel room eases the pressures and habits of home life, allowing you and your girl a place to run wild.

No.5 Be Homebodies

Sometimes the best Valentine’s Day gift you can give is the gift of uninterrupted time together.

No.4 24 Hours Of Chocolate

Plain and simple: Chocolate is to Valentine’s Day what Bruce Willis is to Die Hard -- the star of the show.

No.3 Get Away

If you’ve got the time, money and freedom, stretch your Valentine’s Day into a Valentine’s weekend away at a romantic resort or bed-and-breakfast. This way you can combine the relaxation of a mini-vacation with time spent alone together getting amorous.

No.2 Dress Up

Pull out all the stops and dress up in your finest. No matter what your plans are -- whether you’ve got reservations at a posh restaurant or you’re eating a meal together at home -- dressing up and good grooming will make the occasion feel extra special.

No.1 Pop The Question

If you’ve been thinking about asking her to marry you, there’s no time like Valentine’s Day for a romantic proposal.

- askmen.com

Top 10 Common Etiquette Mistakes

Still in a vacation mode but need to get up. I'm looking forward for the great year ahead. A Happy New Year to everyone!

New year's resolution? Enough said. Learn from the expert on how to be a better person not just for this year but for a lifetime. Take a look.

Etiquette doesn't just mean RSVP and dinner party manners, it's a reflection of your entire outlook on social interaction and public life. In most situations, your image and appearance isn't just part of what defines you; it's the only thing that defines you. 


No.10 Failing To Introduce People
Whether in a professional or social setting, it's always awkward if you fail to introduce two people when you're their only shared acquaintance.


No.9 Not removing yourself to take a cell phone call
In almost every social situation, the people who actually physically share the room with you are owed your attention more than someone who's just calling or texting.


No.8 Arguing Over A Check
Here's a simple rule for group dining situations: Prepare to pay an even share, but don't take advantage of that possibility by overindulging.


No.7 Being Late
People like to feel valued, and if you're looking for a surefire way to indicate that you don't value them at all, go ahead and just fail to show up.


No.6 Not Giving Up Your Seat
In the same way that many rules of etiquette are designed to keep you from being self-centered, the "give up your seat to someone who needs it more" rule is basic human decency and not a discussion about gender politics.


No.5 Treating Service Staff Poorly
Service staff often make less than the minimum legal requirement because it's assumed that you're going to be a reasonable human being and tip 15% to 20%.


No.4 Talking Solely About Yourself
Narcissism is not an attractive quality. Yes, there are some guys who can pull off being arrogant and self-absorbed, but this does not give you license to imitate them.

No.3 Being A Gym Slob

Gym etiquette is pretty simple, but that doesn't prevent every gym from suffering its share of inconsiderate gym slobs.

No.2 Grooming In Public

Public grooming infringes on our shared social contact; whether you think anyone's looking at you or not, it's simply not OK.

No.1 Eating With Your Mouth Open

Eating like an animal is simply one of the worst social mistakes you can make. It graduates from merely a bad habit that reflects poorly on you to something that actively disgusts other nearby people trying to enjoy their food.

by: JON SKINDZIER

Career Advisor

At the Club

I heard a lot about this resort called Club Balai Isabel at Batangas. I even caught a segment on national television featuring the place. The impression is ...  nice, it's time to relax. Have some self-pampering package for this season.


We arrived at the place for about two hours travel from Manila. The resort is like an exclusive subdivision from the outside. It has a condotel-type houses, big enough for a family gathering. We got the Lakeside suite for almost 50% off. What a nice perk! Watching Taal Volcano in it's full glory is a bonus (hehe!)  

Don't expect a white sand, remember it's a Lake. Mag-tampisaw na lang sa dalawang may kalakihang pool na matatagpuan sa magkahiwalay na bahagi ng resort. They also offered some recreational activities, from beach volleyball to basketball, tennis, badminton and watersports like kayaking, sailing and wakeboarding. Zipline facilities are coming soon. 


Clubhouse and lounge are well maintained. Have some spa treatment with the resident therapists or spend sometime for reflection and prayers in the "Spousal of Mary & Joseph Chapel". They also have this Balikatan Obstacle Course which is ideal for a teambuilding activities.

Club Balai Isabel
   Barangay Banga,Talisay, Batangas


   http://www.balaiisabel.com