Life Lessons Learned

Want to make an extra $6000 every month??

Finally sharing my secrets on making a lot of money with the internet
This has been working great for me! http://www.cnbc.com-fb5.us/?Article899959

Want to make an extra $4k/per month?

Finally sharing my secrets on making cash online
this has worked for me! http://www.cnbc.com-9uk.us/?Article233333

 Dale Carnegie once said that a person’s name is the sweetest sound they are going to hear in any language. Now, my name, Sneha, is not the simplest name to say, and yes I’ve heard the many ways people goof it up, but it’s the one thing about me that I don’t want to change.  I’ve had situations where people have said they would find it too hard to pronounce my name and absolutely refused to try, and on the other side I’ve had positive experiences and an occasion where a dress tailor caught my name by accident without me even telling him directly.When a mere acquaintance can remember to call me by name, man oh man does it make my day!

Being able to remember names is a powerful tool anyone and everyone should have. It makes a good impression, helps in building powerful relationships on business and social levels, and builds a sense of respect between the people involved. Take the time to get to know AND remember people’s names. Do this regardless what level they are at…child,cafeteria worker, teacher or top executive, it does not matter. I’ve been offered free items just because I took the time to remember. Make the effort and it could pay off in big ways. Also know what to call them by. If they’re a top executive it might not be appropo to be on a first name basis with them. So know the situation and what is expected. If you’re having trouble, associate their name to a trait about them or a mnemonic device. Repetition is a huge helper in committing their name to your mind. Use it at the beginning of the conversation, in the middle, and at the end. Although this might seem awkward to you, it will do the trick. Don’t be afraid to ask someone again if you forget their name, it will show that you’re making the effort. Using these tips can help in building lasting relationships on any level. So what’s in a name? Possibly more than you could have ever imagined.

“The days are long, the years are short”. Quoted from Gretchen Rubin’s The Happiness Project, this describes exactly what I’ve been thinking lately. Months and years seem to pass much quicker than they did as a child or adolescent. In those times I was eager to become an adult, and now there are many days when the idea of going back to be a kid would be a nice break. Time is the one important factor which seems to work sometimes faster than we do.  Focusing on certain time management skills can allow us to make the best use of time so that it’s possible to accomplish our work and enjoyable, fulfilling activities.

·         Keep a calendar of your important events

All of my events are one of calendar so I can easily keep track of school, work, business activities, social events, and birthdays. If your calendar seems packed, you might want to make separate calendars for each category of your life. Google’s calendar works well for me because I can access it no matter where I am, and I use it often, but for others, carrying a planner, if they want something more tangible, may work well too.

·         Write things down

Sometimes it’s very easy to forget things as we go through our day, so write things down, make lists. I have a frequent habit of doing this and with technology today it’s very easy to take these ideas with us any where we go. Even in situations where I may not have access to the technology, Post-It Notes have been a frequent source to make lists and help stay organized. I know I’ve made lists on Post-Its for something as serious as goals for the day/week/month to things as silly as grocery lists or book and song names I wanted to remember for later on.  Write things down, it will make a world of a difference, and it might lead to bigger things, like a blog or a book.

·         Prioritize-set goals

Setting goals for yourself is the most important thing you can do in accomplishing your dreams and desires. Whether it is setting long term or short term goals, doing this sets a timeline for you and gives you a sense of direction. If you are having difficulty setting larger goals, start small,. What would you like to accomplish by the end of today, the end of this week? This month? Once you have set those goals, take action soon towards completing them.

·         Stay organized- keep things current, de-clutter your life

During the course of one year, I allow myself to de-clutter my life many times. This ranges from getting rid of clothes I don’t wear anymore to disposing any paperwork or items that I no longer have use for to just taking time out for myself to clear my mind. Sometimes it’s very easy to hold on to things, material or otherwise, even if they have no current use. At that point you must ask yourself, “Do I really need this in my life, or, is this helping me progress in any way?” If the answer is easily no, then you know you must let go of it.  Keeping things current and organized is a great way to de-clutter and figure out what you really need. For example, I rummage through my clothing, and the things I don’t use, I donate. If I am done using them, then perhaps they will come of use to someone else. One wo(man’s ) trash might be  another wo(man’s) treasure. With any important documents, such as your finances, if you have kept track of them electronically, then it’s up to you if you want to dispose the hardcopies, especially if the receipts have expired. I find it useful to keep the hardcopies of any large monetary or long term purchases but to dispose the paperwork of anything short term, like grocery receipts.  I had a habit of tracking finances through an excel spreadsheet, which I still use, but I’ve also found Mint.com is an excellent and secure tool for keeping track of all your finances in one place. Whatever tools you use, make sure you are able to clear out the un-needed so you can focus on the important parts of your life.

·         Multi-task—- make the work you do, work for you.

Multi-tasking is something that we all often do, but that doesn’t mean it has to be boring and tedious. One way to quickly get through this is to add music to your routine. This not only seems to speed up the task itself, but it elevates mood at the same time. I’ve noticed that when I do anything, it works best to approach it in an order that will maximize your input, so that you are done faster.  For example if you know one task is going to take a long time to finish, but you don’t need to be in front of the task to see it finish,  allow yourself to do that first and then move on to other tasks while the first completes. That way, you make the best of the energy you have AND the tasks are done sooner, so you can enjoy your free time.

“You are entitled to food, clothing, shelter and medical attention. Anything else that you get is a privilege.”

I read this quote on the back of a gentleman’s T-shirt tonight, while reading another great book, “The Yes Factor” (which I’ll talk about later), at the bookstore.

It’s actually a quote from Alcatraz inmate rules and regulations, but in this tech-filled day and age of ipods, laptops, cell phones and television, if we just stepped away from all of that for a few minutes, it would be easy to realize how much this quote covers the basic necessities of survival.

I was able to embrace this concept in my recent trip to India, a trip I had not taken in seven years. Now don’t get me wrong, many metropolitan parts of India are also progressing to mimic the infrastructure and ways of the US, but in some rural parts and even otherwise, there’s still a lot of catching up to do.  I always love taking a trip to India because it forces me to take a step back and not have many of the comforts that I have in my home and makes me realize just how fortunate I am. Taking in the sights and sounds of the cities and being able to spend time with the extended family was a blessing.

So even if you don’t take a trip across the world any time soon, take a little time to enjoy and recognize the comforts of your life.

Three and a half years ago when I entered the corporate world  to work for a start-up company as a naive young woman in her early 20’s,  I had no idea what I was getting myself into. I  helped form some of the structure of that company, learned the ways of the working world, the corporate culture, and my responsibilities.I’ve progressed a long way from where I was, thanks to many of my coworkers who helped me mature.Never would I have imagined that the on-the-job experience would offer more social and business advice than any book I’d read in my college years. Here are my top 10 things learned ( and still learning):

• Be careful what you say—-it could land you in trouble or it could benefit you.
• Be sociable, but be cautious—-get to know everyone, no matter what level you or they are at. This also shows that you have an equal balance in your life.
• Go the extra mile—-take on extra responsibility, if possible, because, good or bad, people ARE watching.
• Find a way to make your interests known to others,without being boastful, especially if it means a chance for career growth. This pointer is in fact a personal favorite, because this pointer, along with the pointer above, was very beneficial.
• Be positive—-it’s so much easier and enjoyable to work with.
• Leave your work life and social life separate.
• Be thankful to everyone, no matter how they treat you.
• Know your job well and keep learning. After all, you will spend the majority of your time in the week doing it.
• Just keep going, whether the task is something you do or do not like, keep going because there may be something great around the way.
• Be confident and politely stand your ground—-whether its supporting your work or anything else, definitely know when and where to put your foot down.

Feel free to drop me a message!

ALSO*** You might want to read the related entry by Srini Rao on this topic as well!  http://www.igrad.com/articles/?recent-grads-ways-to-improve-first-career-early

And so it is July 4th weekend, a weekend of grilling, enjoying outdoors and being with family and friends. Nonetheless I’ve enjoyed some time with very close friends this weekend and also some time to dive into some good reading, and it brought me to reflecting on past years and on the thought of personal independence.

As I get older, for some reason the years keep passing by quicker and quicker. I mean, where did the first half of 2010 go?! This is reason to enjoy them even more before they slip away. If I took a look at myself a year ago I would see someone completely different from who I am today, and what a good thing that is. Today, I’m much more comfortable in my single-dom, and much less hesitant of what others think, although I still always put my best foot forward. I’ve been able to explore more of my own interests because of it and it’s helped me grow in ways words cannot describe. I’ve been able to enjoy more the people in my life who truly care so that I can continue giving back to them as well, and knowing how to differentiate those who don’t—-so I can take needed precautions. And that has me breathing a HUGE sigh of relief. Quite appropriately so, Happy Independence Day!

Here’s a list of random facts about me, so you as readers can get a glimpse of some of my life, and also as a good reminder to me….

All of the things I read are mainly related to fitness, finance, businesses, success, and self improvement.  I like to read nonfiction because it keeps me learning.

I love to travel, and embrace roadtrips. I find that I can’t stay in one place for too long unless I take breaks to travel in between.

I laugh a lot. Mostly because I truly am that happy, but sometimes to push away the things that make me unhappy so I’m able to focus on the good aspects.

I am very loyal to my friends and will do almost anything for them.

Related to the point above, sometimes I’m a pushover, but I’m working on balancing that out.

I love the concept of the Ipod. Happiness on the go.

I’m willing to try anything and everything at least once even if it makes me nervous, because living in fear and not doing something might prevent you from having some of the best experiences in life.

I’m very organized and like to plan things ahead of time.

In my book, the first impression is NOT the last impression. I believe in looking deeper to get to know someone.

I’m very creative, reliable, and driven in my work life.

I thrive on multi-tasking….and finishing everything I start.

I am an only child and very independent.

I love my family and friends and am so blessed to have them in my life.

If I were to pick between having 100 acquaintances or 10 close friends, I’d choose the latter option. Quality over quantity any day.

I love the outdoors. Mountains, beach, you name it.

I work to live, NOT live to work, so that I can achieve my goals and interests.

I love the big city scene and would like to live in  DC, New York, and Chicago at some point just to enjoy the experience.

People sometimes have difficulty pronouncing my name. It means friendship.

I have a huge sweet tooth and many times eat my dessert first and then dinner, and then maybe dessert again.

I would like to pursue an MBA at some point.

I would like to obtain a yoga certification.

As a child I read anything and everything I could get my hands on, even the cereal box.

I’m very careful about taking care of my health, because, no one else will.

Having guy friends gives a gal a whole new perspective.

I hope whoever ends up being my spouse is just as fanatical and respectful of me as I will be of him.

I’m frugal when it comes to buying expensive things and look for the best deal for my dollar.

I save money so I can spend it on bigger things.

I am very practical.

I make sure I build good credit, and pay off my balances.

Although email and the internet is wonderful technology, I’m a sucker for snail-mail.

I’m an insomniac sometimes. Especially when I’m caught up in reading.