Someone once asked me this question. “Why do I always see you smiling all the time? You are always so happy whenever I see you. It’s pretty obvious that you have something that I don’t! Don’t get me wrong though, I love catching up with you and being around you as the joyful aura around you never fails to lift up my spirits.”

After hearing what was said, my reply was another polite smile. In my mind I was thinking how to share with this acquaintance I have known for some time. However, I decided not to take the risk in case I offend him because I was like him before I came to know the Lord, my savior. I guess I needed more wisdom and confidence back then to share. Oh well!

Going back to my story, things were never the same again after I accepted Christ. Please don’t get me wrong! I was happy before I accepted Christ, but there were so much more downs in my life that the happiness were short lived. I used to let my hair down and “buy” happiness with money and time. I was clearly living in a false illusion of glamor back then which brought along much attention because of the “in” look from the clothing,hairstyle and grooming i splurge on myself.

This soon led to a few once “fairytale” love that brought nothing but disillusion, lies and tremendous hurt that left scars on me for life. Those memories are still there but have faded into history.

Little that I know what He has prepared for me. The moment I accepted Christ, the past was erased by the salvation I have received from Him. Slowly through time reading the bible, I started feeling happier and happier day by day. My heart is being flooded with immerse joy inside out.

The feeling of immerse joy from within is very difficult to pin down in words. It is more than being on top of the world. If I were to explain, it is true liberation from everything. I can feel a huge burden lifted off my chest. In the bible, a verse: Nehemiah 8 says this “The Joy of the Lord is your strength”. I can finally relate to that. Even though I am still struggling with the day to day affairs of the cruel life, I can now face it with confidence and joy. Everything becomes clearer whenever I read the bible of truth.

If you are a christian like me struggling with life, you can be assured that everyone of us will go through this phase. However, He will from time to time comfort you and give you unexplainable joy that appear out of no where. Be strong, read the bible and be happy!

One of the most famous quotes by Peter F. Drucker is on time management. This was what he said: “Time is the scarcest resource and unless it is managed nothing else can be managed.”

Indeed time is in fact one of the most precious commodity in the world. You simply cannot attach a price to it. I sometimes wonder whether time will ever be available for purchase in the market, since we often hear people complaining about a lack of time. How wonderful will it be when that happens? Everyone will be able to complete the tasks they are required to accomplish for the day by buying time. However, the reality is that a lot of people are either misusing or trying to find more time.

One of the many reasons why we hear complains about a lack of time is due to doing too many things at a time. Poor prioritisation of tasks has led to everything being important and urgent. In the long run, it will definitely result in work overload and burnout. Before you are exhausted physically, mentally and emotionally due to poor time management, it’s time to take action to manage the only component manageable within the entire time management puzzle, that is you. What do I mean by this?

If you are always finding no time to complete your tasks at work no matter how hard you try and everything seems to be urgent to you all the time, you are probably trying too hard to manage time. The solution to get out of this predicament is to manage yourself instead of trying to manage time. Time is just too big for anybody to handle. Prioritising and organising what is important should be your goal. It is the key to good time management. To assist you in taking charge of your life and managing your time better, here is a five step approach to better time management:

Step one – Prioritise your tasks according to the level of importance

The first step is the most important of the five step approach where you list out all the tasks to be done and prioritise them accordingly in a top down approach from the most to the least level of importance.

Step two – Organise and plan your schedule

The second step will involve the allocation of time and planning of your personal schedule. In order to get the things done, time has to be set aside and integrated into your daily list of activities. You need to plan ahead and allocate enough time to avoid disappointment and prevent last minute rushes. This will allow you to complete your tasks in an efficient manner and also reduce stress caused due to last minute rushes to meet your work deadlines.

Step three – Choose the appropriate course of action for each task

The third step will require you to think about what course of action you will be taking. The action chosen will be repeated over time to complete the tasks. Therefore, it is important to plan ahead to prevent a waste of valuable time if a wrong course of action is chosen.

Step four – Set a deadline for each task

The forth step is also the step that will force you to work towards to meet the deadline for the task in case you are lazy. Most people tend to shelf the tasks that have no deadlines and will leave them there for an indefinite amount of time. These tasks will be forgotten over time. When a necessity suddenly arises for any of these tasks to be completed, that is when stress builds up as the deadline for these tasks are often very close as they are left uncompleted for such a long time.

Step five – Create a routine and stick to it

The last step is where you integrate all the tasks to be done into a routine so that they get completed slowly over time in an efficient manner. This allows you to better manage your tasks and ensure that they are completed on time.

If you are new to job seeking, writing a cover letter may seem unnecessary to you. However, the missing cover letter can be just that missing ingredient that gives you a higher chance of landing that job. A cover letter as the name suggests, is a formal letter that you write to a potential employer in an attempt to better position yourself as the ideal candidate they are looking for. It is sent together with your resume to the hiring manager and it is the first thing that he or she will read. A well-composed cover letter helps you to stand out among the crowd and capture the attention of the HR manager, prompting him or her to read your resume. Here are 3 key pointers that you need to keep in mind when writing a cover letter:

Key Pointer #1 – What Is The Purpose Of The Letter?

State the position you are applying for in the company. This must be apparent to the hiring manager. You may consider making it as the header of the letter. After your initial meeting, define and state your purpose for writing the letter. If you are referred by someone, state that person’s name in it. Otherwise, let them know that you are responding to a job posting that you have seen on the newspaper or from the internet. If you are sending the letter cold, it is wise to conduct your own research on the company and what captured your interest in that company.

Key Pointer #2 – What Do You Have To Offer To Your Employer?

List down all your qualifications, qualities, skills and experiences that match well with the requirements listed by that company. Specifically state your areas of expertise that are relevant to the position you are applying for. Focus on what you can offer for the company and not what the company can offer for you. This is the most important part of the letter where you are writing from your heart. Therefore, be genuine and sincere in what you write here. The cover letter should also be brief and in lesser details than your resume. The purpose of the cover letter is to peak the hiring manager’s attention to want to read your resume.

Key Pointer #3 – What Is Your Intended Follow-Up?

When you are closing the final paragraph in your letter, remember to thank the hiring manager for considering your application and that you greatly appreciate the opportunity granted for an interview. Do let them know when and how you are intending to follow up and remember to keep your word. Next, do remember to leave every piece of your contact information together with the best times to contact you. This is very important as you do not want the hiring manager to get frustrated searching for your contact details within the letter when he or she is so impressed by what you have written. Writing an impressive cover letter will no doubt require time and effort. However, this missing ingredient during your job hunt can mean a difference landing that ideal job when there are a lot of people fighting for the same job at the same time. The cover letter is what your potential employer has to first get past before he or she decides to read your resume. If you fail to capture the attention, no matter how impressive your qualifications are, you will fail to get the recognition they deserve. Therefore, do not overlook the importance of writing a good cover letter as it is the document that can make you stand out in the crowd during your job hunting.

“Honey” where are we going for dinner tonight? The man continues to walk, not knowing that someone was talking to him. “Hey! I am talking to you! Are you deaf? Why are you ignoring me?” The next moment, he realizes that she has stomped off in anger as there wasn’t any form of reaction from him. The rest is history as you recapped yourself chasing after your girlfriend, coaxing and comforting her.

I believe this scenario is not new to many men out there. It’s not that you refused to listen to her. The real reason boils down to the fact that your hearing might be impaired without you realizing it. After a couple of consultations with the doctor, you discovered that the root cause might be due to the long hours of Ipod blasting and dancing next to mega huge speakers in clubs that resulted in the hearing loss of your right ear. Fortunately, the doctor explained that the hearing loss is only temporary as you discovered the problem early.

As people age, structures in the ear may become less elastic after undergoing changes that result in less responsiveness to sound waves. This is called presbycusis, where hearing loss is due to ageing. Hearing degenerates gradually as we age, the trick is to not accelerate this process prematurely. This hearing degeneration begins when you soon enter your early teen years and may start to be noticeable when you are over 50. According to the statistics provided on the National Institute On Deafness and Other Communication Disorders ( NIDCD ) website, men are more likely to experience hearing loss than women. 

Before you start to go into a panic stricken mode, here are 4 practical ways for you to protect your sense of sound against premature loss from noise and carelessness, the two killers that are responsible for most hearing losses.

#1 Exercise common sense and stay away from noise producing equipment. 

The most common danger to your hearing is noise. Noise consists of a mixture of sounds that are too loud or loud sounds that last over a long period of time. Prolong exposure to these noises, will definitely result in hearing impairment as there is high probability of the sensitive structures within our inner ear being damaged. This kind of loss is termed as noise-induced hearing loss. These noises are present in our surrounding environment such as construction sites, traffic, mechanical equipments, household appliances…etc

#2 Reduce the volume in your portable music players.

Before you decide to blast your Mp3 player, think again! The distance from the source of the sound is important as earphones are mere centimeters from your eardrums. Listening to loud music over time can cause hearing loss. Generally, the louder the sound, the lesser the time you should exposed yourself to it. Hearing damage occurs even after continuous listening to music at a reasonable volume.

#3 Use ear plugs if required.

Sounds of 75 decibels or less are unlikely to result in hearing loss. A normal conversation is roughly about 60 decibels, however in clubs the noise level can go up to as high as 110 decibels which is equivalent to an aero plane taking off.

If you are exposed to an environment where noises are prevalent, you may want to consider using ear plugs to reduce the stress caused on your ear drums.

#4 Protect your head.

Head injuries may also result in hearing loss. Impact trauma can affect in a fracture of the cochlea which is the auditory portion of the inner ear and is usually permanent. Protect your head at all cost!

Sometimes it does not pay to be so honest with your boss. Do not misunderstood the meaning here, I am not telling you to go against your policy and start lying to everyone you see on the streets, besides it is wrong to lie in the first place. In most cases, the old adage remains true where total honesty can be deadly to your career. This can be in situations when you have decided to spill the beans to your boss regarding certain instances but it appear totally offensive and aggressive to him or her. Here are 6 deadly career killers you should never tell your boss:

Career Killer #1 – I want your position.

Imagine you are the boss and someone you just employed by the name of Tim said those words to you on the second day. Wouldn’t that put you on guard that you are working with a walking lion waiting ever to devour you? In such cases, Tim most probably won’t be promoted for the next five years or so, or maybe not until you are promoted.

All good bosses certainly appreciate the ambition in their employees, however in reality, no one desires to swim in a tank of piranhas. You may want to be the boss someday, that’s definitely a great goal in mind, but it’s better to be left in private to yourself.

Career Killer #2 – I’m just here temporary till something better comes along my way.

If you say that to your boss even give the slightest impression, chances are your days are numbered. In the first place, something better may in fact never come along. You will be stuck in a job where you will grow to hate and grumble as you have been perceived by others as a disgruntled employee or troublemaker. On the other hand, you may decide you like your job after all. Now you will never move up but only out!

In the realistic society, everyone keep their eyes peel for better opportunities but the most important thing is to let your boss know that you are completely committed to your job.

Career Killer #3 – You are such a horrible jerk!

Indeed, your boss may be such a person, but if you value your job, you will let someone else lecture him on his or her unacceptable behaviour. If you must speak up, approach your boss in a positive manner with gentle advice.

Never criticize. Try your best to communicate the problem. If it’s a problem, let your anger find a solution and not release and vent the anger. Do yourself a favour by remembering never to attack but by using tactics to resolve the situation.

Career Killer #4 – I am afraid to give it a try.

Are you are terrified of meeting with a client or leading a project for the first time? When you are exposed to new things at the beginning, the fear of uncertainty and failure is present. Discuss strategies with your boss but vent fears with your peers or family. Do your due diligence and dive right in. Trying something new will jumpstart your confidence and give you a better chance of climbing that dreadful corporate ladder.

Career Killer #5 – I will not consider a move, work different hours or take on any new tasks!

Most people are too comfortable within their own comfort zone. The question is, are you uncomfortable with change? Always remember that too much rigidity will keep you in that assistant position till retirement. As much as you dislike working the graveyard shift during a economy crunch or shifting to the other side of the continent, don’t be too vocal about it. A change should be considered a chance for proving your capabilities and opportunity for improvement. Sometimes this chance may never come by, but if it does, remember that those willing to move for a company move in the company.

Career Killer #6 – I am warning you now!

Never ever think of giving your boss an ultimatum! Those words are taboo. If you threaten to quit because of unhappiness, your boss may very well call your bluff. That’s no way to get what you want in mind.

Some of you may be thinking that it’s time to pack up your desk as you have already committed any of the 6 listed deadly career killers. Do not be discouraged as there is still hope if you have decided to make that obvious change in your heart which will usually find you back in your boss’s good graces. You might consider scheduling a conference with your boss to discuss your feelings that you are committed to your job. Bosses love to hear an employee say “Please let me know how I can do an even better job”. Those words are very important for 2 reasons. First if there is a problem, you will be better off knowing it as early as possible so that you may find solutions to rectify the problem. Asking that question also provides your boss the opening to dispense some constructive criticism. Second, approaching your boss in this manner will communicate your willingness to give more than 100% to your job. This may increase your chances of securing that corner office with that huge window overlooking the entire financial sector.