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Happy Grass

The average person spends more than 2.5 hours a day watching television. Many of us spend a full 8 hour workday in front of our computers, and then hop online as soon as we get home. Is it any wonder we feel detached, stressed out, and unhappy sometimes?

I know it’s hard to put down the computer. There’s an almost infinite world wide web out there. Even if you love to Stumble Upon, there will always be the next dramatic chipmunk video you’re missing out on.

The television isn’t any easier to turn off. With awesome shows like Heroes, The Office, and Nip/Tuck, it’s almost a sin to miss out.

All these distractions can weigh down on you and make you miss the important things in life. Whether it’s taking steps to achieving your dream or just being with people and creating relationships, you need to escape the deadly glow.

Not only will you save money and energy, but you will be doing your part to be green and healthy.

So, how do you free yourself?

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November 11, 2007 | tags: Happiness and Productivity.

12 Sure-fire Ways to Have Energy All Day Without Caffeine

Wide eyed

Need your cup of coffee every day to stay awake? Four cups of coffee? I know your pain.

I get up at 6am every day. It sucks.

I used to have to drink a Red Bull (sugar free of course, wouldn’t want that in my system) on my way into work in the morning just to make it through the day. Then at noon I would go to the store and get a Monster energy drink (lo-carb, no doubt, gotta stay healthy). I knew it was terrible for me and it had to stop before my heart did.

So I started finding new ways to stay awake all day without caffeine. Here are the 12 easiest ways I found to get energy without the drug many of us rely on so much.

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November 2, 2007 | tags: Happiness and Productivity.

8 Reasons Happiness Sucks and What You Can Do About It

Happy Person

Happiness sucks.

What a strange statement for a blog about pursuing your dreams, happiness, productivity, and overall enjoyment of life. I’m not talking about the state of happiness as the goal, but rather the happiness we surround ourselves with that is “good enough.”

When we settle for a level of happiness that is far below what we expect or deserve, we lose sight of our potential and our dreams. So why does happiness suck?

Complacency

Why it sucks
You’re happy, satisfied, and don’t have any battles to fight. So, you become lazy, stagnant, and don’t reach for your dreams with all of your heart.

What you can do about it
Don’t lose sight of your dream. Make sure you make goals that will move you forward while keeping your life happy. Of course you shouldn’t let go of the things that make you happy, but don’t get short sighted. Bring the happiness with you and include it in your life with your dreams.

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October 25, 2007 | tags: Happiness and Self Improvement.

31 Ways to Productively Waste Time

Girl Relaxing

You don’t have to work hard to be productive.

Instead, have fun. Productivity is just a side effect when you’re doing the right things.

Since I’m a big fan of doing things the easiest and most entertaining way, I’ve compiled a bunch of ways to waste time productively.

Play productive games

Have fun playing games while secretly becoming smarter.

  • Lumosity - Increase your brain activity while you play. These games are surprisingly fun and challenging.
  • Do crossword puzzles - They not only improve memory, but they increase your problem solving skills and can keep you up with pop culture.
  • Cranium - This is my favorite board game of all time. It will be yours too once you play it.
  • Jeopardy - Bet your friend a dollar to whoever wins the game and try to answer before the contestants can.

Get Inspired

Enjoy the pretty pictures and sounds that surround you.

  • Look at good art - Great artists, whether discovered or not, can be a great way to get your creative drive in gear.
  • See interesting photography - Good or bad, the photography should be unique and creative to get you going creatively.
  • Discover good music - Music that you already like is good, but new music will expand your horizons.
  • Watch a movie that isn’t mainstream - A movie everyone has seen is a good start, but watching a movie like Tsotsi will really give you a new perspective.

Write

Do something with all those English classes you’ve taken.

  • Write a journal - Work on your writing skills or just do it to remember what you did that day.
  • Blog - There are a million reasons to blog, so why not get started?
  • Make a book - It’s easier than ever to get published nowadays. Not to mention it feels pretty awesome to say you’ve written a book.

Draw

Feed your creative side.

  • If you don’t know how, learn - Being able to express yourself creatively will bring you a lot of happiness.
  • Start a sketchbook - You can see how you progress as an artist.
  • Draw pictures as your todo list - A fun way to remember what you have o do for the day.

Read

I love to relax with a good book.

Watch smart television

Sitting on the couch can actually be considered productive (if done correctly).

  • The Discovery channel - Shows like Planet Earth and Mythbusters are entertaining and educational.
  • The History channel - Don’t let the name fool you, there are a lot of interesting shows on this channel.
  • The Learning Channel - Fairly self-explanatory, but often a missed opportunity to learn and enjoy.
  • Food Network - Really fun shows like Iron Chef and my personal favorite, Everyday Italian with Giada De Laurentiis, make this channel addictive.
  • Try to avoid MTV and Vh1 - They seem to actually make you dumber.

Get fit

A healthy body lets you eat another cookie and not feel bad about it.

  • Work out - Have fun with it though. The easiest way to do that is to have a workout buddy.
  • Do yoga - It is relaxing and enjoyable more than it is hard work.
  • Go for a run - Clear your head and relieve some stress.
  • Pick up a martial art - One of the most fun ways to get in shape is to kick some ass.
  • Box - If you’re a sucker for pain, then pick up boxing. I did for a few months and was in the best shape of my life.

Do nothing

No, it’s not an oxymoron to do nothing and be productive.

  • Meditate - There are many benefits from meditating and it’s not nearly as boring as it sounds. Find out what’s going on in your own head.
  • Observe - Being able to sit back and observe what goes on around you can lead to millions of possibilities. Try it sometime and you’ll see how beneficial it can be.

Now when you decide that you don’t want to work anymore it won’t be such a waste of time. You can have fun while being productive. Yes, it’s possible.

Now go own the world.

-Ravi Vora

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September 25, 2007 | tags: Happiness, Self Improvement and Productivity.

Stop Worrying About Your Future Once and for All

Boy in Corner

Why aren’t you pursuing your dream?

Most people are afraid to pursue their dreams because they don’t know what the future will have in store for them. They don’t know what’s coming. Bad things could happen. How unfortunate that people with skill, talent, and natural ability get lost because of fear.

It takes drive. It takes determination. It takes will. You have to want it so bad that whatever happens in the future is worth the sacrifices.

It’s time to stop fearing the future and start living for it.

Every day won’t be perfect. Sometimes you will fail. Sometimes no one will want to listen to you. Sometimes everyone will turn the other way.

Sometimes you will succeed, though. Sometimes you will win. Sometimes everyone will rejoice and want more of you.

It is the strength to get through the tough times that makes the good times so wonderful.

It is the nature of the future to be dangerous.

That’s what makes life worth living. Not knowing how your actions or the actions of others will effect your life is why you keep trying every day. The danger of good things happening, the unknown, even the supposed certainties.

We all know we’re going to die. That’s a certainty. But we’ve all wondered “What if I didn’t die? What if there was a way?”

The danger of the future is what makes it wondrous, exciting, mysterious, enigmatic, fantastic, and worth seeing.

So what are you waiting for? Go get it. Reach for your dream. Your life can only get better from here.

Now go own the world.

-Ravi Vora

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September 23, 2007 | tags: Big Dreams, Motivation, Inspiration, Happiness, Success and Self Improvement.

Comic Book Characters and Their Real Life Enemies

Superman

Every man of steel has his kryptonite.

Some can be defeated with common household items.

Yes, even with all of the superpowers in the world, there are still things that can easily destroy these superhumans. Whether you read comics or not, I think you’ll be able to appreciate this list.

Banshee
Power:
Sonic scream		 Natural enemy:
A cave
Banshee

Catwoman
Power:
Cat-like reflexes		 Natural enemy:
Water
Catwoman

Gambit
Power:
Manipulating Kinetic Energy
Hypnotically charm people		 Natural enemy:
Rosie O’Donnell
Gambit

Human Torch
Power:
Flame Body		 Natural enemy:
A room full of gas
Human Torch

Wolverine
Power:
Adamantium Skeleton
Healing Power
Claws		 Natural enemy:
Appalachian State University
Wolverine

Cyclops
Power:
Psionic Blast		 Natural enemy:
His own reflection
Cyclops

Thing
Power:
Superhuman strength
Withstands extreme environments		 Natural enemy:
Women
Thing

Sabretooth
Power:
Superhuman strength
Superhuman smell
Superhuman reflexes		 Natural enemy:
Everlasting Gobstoppers
Sabretooth

Spiderman
Power:
Spider-sense
Web-shooting		 Natural enemy:
Shoes, newspapers, and other blunt objects
Spiderman

The Hulk
Power:
Superhuman Strength		 Natural enemy:
Nalgene water bottles
The Hulk

Rogue
Power:
Drain other’s powers		 Natural enemy:
Conformity
Rogue

Invisible Woman
Power:
Turn invisible		 Natural enemy:
Clothes
Invisible Woman

Professor X
Power:
Mind Reading
Telepathy		 Natural enemy:
Jessica Simpson
Professor X

Watcher
Power:
Cosmic Awareness		 Natural enemy:
Hats
Watcher

There you go. A bunch of superpeople defeated by everyday things. Gives hope to the rest of us, doesn’t it?

Now go own the world.

-Ravi Vora

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September 20, 2007 | tags: Humor, Happiness and Ravi Vora.

15 Ways To Speak With Confidence and Be Taken Seriously

Girl smiling

Speaking with confidence is usually a problem for many people. It doesn’t have to be a problem for you.

Being able to speak confidently in conversations and in public is important to success and will gain respect. Here is a breakdown of the steps you can take to be a confident speaker.

Speaking

  • The 3-second rule. When you’re speaking with someone, take 3 seconds before you respond. This may seem awkward at first, but it gives you a chance to do a lot of things before you say something you might regret. In addition to letting you think about what you’re going to say, it also allows room for them to continue talking. If they feel uncomfortable in the silence, you’ve gained the upper-hand.
  • Have a plan. Go into the conversation with a plan and think about the responses you are likely to get. Play it out like a chess game. Where each move you make has an effect on them, and vice versa.
  • Be comfortable. Use your plan to leave room for awkwardness on their part. If they feel like they are fumbling for words and trying to gain your confidence in them, then you’re in control. You have to be comfortable and relaxed enough so that you can say what you want without feeling stupid.
  • Don’t talk so much. When you don’t say much, people have to try and assume what you’re thinking. Getting inside your head is much harder than knowing what you feel or think.

    It is better to keep your mouth closed and let people think you are a fool than to open it and remove all doubt.
    -Mark Twain

  • Think about what you say. Take some time to think about what you’re going to say. You’re bound to run into snags, but if you can recover well it will look planned. So take a second and think before you start talking.
  • Diction. Enunciate and speak well. Make sure to pronounce your T’s. Try some tongue twisters to improve your diction. Here are a few of my favorites:

    She sat upon the balcony inimically mimicking him and amicably welcoming him in.

    You have to be careful with this one.

    She plucked mother pheasants. She was the most pleasant mother pheasant plucker I ever did meet.

  • Use proper English. You will sound smarter, more confident, and feel better. Colloquialisms are great for friendly conversation but not for confident speaking.

Body language

  • Don’t smile so much. People take smiling as a sign of warmth but also a sign of emotional involvement. The more distant you are, the harder it is for someone to disregard you.
  • Look them in the eye. This shows confidence and makes the other person know you mean business.
  • Don’t look down. People believe that if you are looking down you don’t know what you’re talking about. They might also think you are lying. Fight the urge to look at your feet and look into the other person’s eyes instead.
  • Show less emotion. The less emotion you show the more people are likely to really listen. Now, this isn’t to say that you shouldn’t be passionate. Just don’t get crazy excited like Howard Dean. Instead, use your passion to fuel your speech.
  • Don’t blink so much. Next time you’re watching a movie during a serious scene, watch the actor’s eyes. If they are good, you will notice they barely blink, if at all. The more people can see your eyes the more sincere they believe you to be.

In general

  • Make sure your body language and speech patterns match. If one is exciting and the other dull this will confuse your listeners and make them feel unsure about what you’re saying.
  • Practice. Practice your voice, speaking in front of a mirror, and practice with people you are comfortable with. The more you do it, the easier it will come.

By speaking well and having your body language in check you will be able to speak more confidently and be taken seriously. Use these tips in conversation, presentations, and every day speaking and you will be respected.

Now go own the world.

-Ravi Vora

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September 16, 2007 | tags: Happiness, Success and Self Improvement.

Warning: You may never want to work with a big client ever again

Grinning shark

Should you choose a small client or a big client for your work? The answer isn’t always as simple as you’d think.

Money isn’t the only factor when dealing with projects. Happiness matters.

So, do you want to help a bunch of little fish get big or help out the fish who’s already the king of the sea? Here’s a breakdown of the major factors between each type of client

Hands on

The little guy: Smaller clients like to be hands on and have an open line of communication. This can be slightly burdensome when they want to be updated on the progress of the project all the time. However, it also gives you a reference point for what the client wants so you’re not second-guessing as you work.

The big guy: On your weekly meeting they will want to see all of the updates they told you about last week and have them done to perfection. With such a time gap between contact there is little room for minor changes or errors to take place on either end.

Creative freedom

The little guy: They probably don’t have their brand identity set in stone yet. Even if they do, there is a lot of flexibility in the direction they want to take the company. It’s still a game of figuring out what works and what doesn’t, so they let you come up with creative solutions to their needs.

The big guy: The brand is set. Hundreds of documents have gone out with their logo, tagline, messaging, colors, and tone attached. Their image is polished to perfection. All you have to do is follow exactly what they have been doing for years, but with your own twist. Everything they’ve been putting out there has some grounding in the company’s image and your stuff better match it.

Deadlines

The little guy: You don’t always have to be right on time for the little guy. Sometimes you can be done ahead of time and bring the deadline up. Other times you can be a little bit late (because they often are) with your work and it won’t be a huge deal. The chain of command is limited so the deadlines aren’t as fixed. I’d still recommend you never be the reason anything is late, though.

The big guy: When they give you a deadline there is no changing it. Every person in the chain of command is pushing for that deadline. If a single link breaks, someone gets in big trouble. Rarely is there any flexibility in a deadline since everyone is making sure their end gets done by then. Again, don’t be the reason anything is late. Ever.

Money

The little guy: If it is a small company but is well funded there might be a bit more money that comes your way. Otherwise, a lot of projects get the shaft financially for companies that are still short-sighted.

The big guy: The bigger the company, the more money they have to spend on you. Making your work worth their money is your job. Big clients who know how things have worked in the past know what they are worth. They will not only put more money into a project, but they will also make sure it comes through.

Exposure

The little guy: Your work has to be awesome and unique to get a lot of exposure. It has to have a lot of promotion behind it, whether viral or otherwise. The likelihood of a this is based solely on the execution of the product.

The big guy: Whether it’s awesome or it sucks, people are going to know about it. Just look at any of the terrible movies that come out of Hollywood. The promotion behind movies is huge. Even “The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause” was hyped enough that people would know about the awful Tim Allen as Santa Clause sequel. If there’s enough money backing it, there will be a lot of exposure.

Recognition

The little guy: They will pat you on the back, thank you in person, even remember your name attached to the project. They know you did it and you did a great job.

The big guy: To them you are just a member of the team. A contributor. No matter how big or little your part is, to them you did an equal amount of work to anyone else who was in the process of creating the final product. Sometimes you will get no recognition at all besides your paycheck. Other times, if your exposure is good enough, other people will see it was your handiwork and request you for other projects.

People telling you what to do

The little guy: There are usually a couple of people contributing to the idea behind the project. Sometimes there are a few more contributing to the execution. Besides these key people, there are rarely people that are not attached to the project whose opinions have any weight.

The big guy: The chain of command is long. The board who elected a president who appointed a team of people who delegated a group to deal with the communication of the project to the two creatives who are now dealing with you all have a say. Every time a change is made it has to be approved higher and higher up. It may get frustrating when one person in the whole chain wants to make a change and it takes a long time before the kinks are ironed out.

Resources

The little guy: Their resources are limited. The amount of guidance and information about their company is not as extensive as it could be. Instead, they are looking for fresh new ideas from you to help their company grow.

The big guy: There is a history of the company. Photos of things that have happened. Branches that can get you what you need. Anything that is not “in your department” is in some other department, and they will get it to you as soon as they can. While this is very helpful, it makes you seem like a cog in the big machine.

Time

The little guy: Time is of the essence. The faster you move the faster they can keep growing. Their revenue depends on your success and their incorporation of your work.

The big guy: They know when things will get done and want them done by then. Things can (and for the most part will) move slower for big companies because there is so much that needs to change. They have plenty of other projects making them money so it’s not crucial to get your project done as fast as possible. Instead, they are focused on getting things done as flawless as possible.

You can decide for yourself what kind of client you want working for you or who you want to be working for. Just remember that the best work and the best ideas can come from anywhere.

Now go own the world.

-Ravi Vora

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September 12, 2007 | tags: Happiness and Business.

11 Ways to Wake Up Feeling Great

Sleeping girl

Face it, you hate waking up. You love your bed.

It’s time to change that, though. Here are 11 ways to make the morning your friend just as much as your comfy covers.

1. Listen to your favorite song as your alarm clock.

Wake up to a pleasing sound (even if your favorite song is BANANAS, but I hope not) and your day will start off on the right foot for sure. No more annoying beeps and buzzes that make you loath the morning. Use a program like Karen’s alarm clock for PC or Aurora for Mac that take a song from anywhere on your computer or from a CD.

2. Have something to look forward to.

Either the night before, or earlier, come up with something you can look forward to the next day. No matter how simple it is, from a smile to pay day (for me, my beautiful girlfriend), make sure there’s something that makes you happy every day.

3. Lay your clothes out the night before.

What you decided to wear in the morning is like making the decision of how high your expectations are for the day. Don’t do it when you’re tired and groggy, do it the night before. Lay out clothes that will make you happy during the day or give you a confidence boost. After all, you spend 12 hours a day in your clothes. Wouldn’t it feel nice to have them compliment you all day long?

4. Go to bed earlier the night before.

Waking up, rolling over and turning off the alarm clock feels so nice when you’re tired. So get to bed earlier! When you wake up feeling refreshed you’ll be happier and ready to seize the day.

5. Have a happy visual in plain site when you wake up.

Whatever your favorite thing is, have it there when you wake up. A picture of your dog, your dream car, rain in the evening, your significant other, or anything that makes you smile. You can change this every once in awhile to wake up to something that makes you happy every day.

6. Drink lots of water.

A healthy body makes a happy mind. Drinking plenty of water makes sure you’re well hydrated and fluids are running well in your body. If you feel good when you wake up you’ll be happier. Plus, if you’re one of the many that find it difficult to get out of bed, drinking a glass of water before bed makes sure you want to get up.

7. Don’t eat before bed.

Even if you have the late night munchies, try to leave snacks alone. Your body isn’t doing any work as you sleep so the fat will just get stored and make you feel worse the next day. Instead, eat lighter and earlier and you will feel more energetic and happier in the morning.

8. Clear your mind before you go to bed.

Stop thinking about the worries of the day. Turn off the television. Unplug. Relax. It feels so much better when you can just lay in bed and sleep without worry. Let the world pass you by for the night and you can wake up feeling renewed.

9. Don’t stress.

Plan out your morning the night before so you won’t get stuck in traffic or rushing out the door with your shirt untucked and a powerbar half eaten. Make sure you know what you have to do the next morning so that it goes by easily and simply. You will be much happier when you can relax and go through your morning at your own pace.

10. Don’t drink a lot of caffeine.

I used to drink a huge energy drink or two every morning and then another one during the day because I hate coffee but needed the energy. I wouldn’t be able to function without it. Or so I thought. Slowly I weened myself of the constant need of caffeine and started replacing it with water. I realized that my body was already starting to positively react to the water after only a week of cutting down to one energy drink a day. Now I drink only one or two a week when I absolutely need to and feel a thousand times better. When I wake up I can stay awake and still feel great even after I’ve broken the addiction. So I encourage you to do the same, whether it’s energy drinks, coffee, or tea, the caffeine can be helpful, but don’t rely on it.

11. Let the sunlight in.

Sunlight gives you energy and invigorates you for the day. If you wake up to a dark room you’re more likely to want to sleep more. So, open your window at night so that when you wake up to sunlight you can hop out of bed with a smile on your face.

Now go own the world.

-Ravi Vora

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September 10, 2007 | tags: Happiness.

Top 15 Lies People Tell You About Pursuing Your Dreams

Ugly Woman Lying

Everyone thinks they’re the expert on your life and loves to give you advice. Most of it is complete garbage.

Here are 15 of the most popular nay-saying tips and why you can tell them to shove it.

1. Your dream is unrealistic. What’s unrealistic is trying to live your life working at a job you don’t love doing something you hate for the rest of your life while regretting trying to live your dream.

2. You’re screwed if it doesn’t work out. No, you’re not. In fact, the worst possible scenario is that you go back to what you would be doing if you hadn’t pursued your dream. That’s the worst possible scenario.

3. You weren’t cut out for that. Who’s to say that? If you don’t fit the stereotype for your dream then you’re the one to break the mold. You will stand out.

4. You can follow your dream someday. Someday will never come. Follow your dream today.

5. Only a few people “make it.” That’s because they lack the drive, determination, and will that you have. You’re one of the few.

6. You should just be safe and get a job. In fact, a job is even more dangerous than pursuing your dream. Not only do you feel terrible doing something you don’t want to do, but with two simple words your livelihood can change. “You’re fired.” When you’re pursuing your dream, you’re the only one that can stop you.

7. That’s impossible. Yes it’s impossible. For them. Not for you though, because you can dream and make it real.

8. You would have to go through so much work to do that. Yeah, but you’re willing to do it. You know what you want and you know what you have to do to get there. To you it’s not work, it’s what you want to do with your life.

9. You don’t need a backup plan. Yes, you do. Even if it’s just for supplemental income, use your talent or perfect your dream by doing something that may not be the exact same, but is related. It’s always better to be good at two things than one.

10. It’s a one in a million chance. No, actually, it’s probably less. But it doesn’t matter to you, because you know you’re going to do it. That’s what really matters.

11. Bad things will happen. Failures are just steps towards success. Any successful entrepreneur will tell you that. If you can’t handle failure, then success is going to be very difficult to achieve.

12. You won’t be able to live off that. If you can do it and find an avenue that will pay you for it, then yes you can live off of your dream. Even people who can fit into a box found an market for their talent that people would pay them to perform.

13. You’re going to be the next “BLANK.” No, you’re not. You’re going to be the next YOU. Don’t follow the mold, be different. Be yourself.

14. That’s a lot of pressure. Of course there is; it’s your life. That doesn’t matter to you though because you’re willing to take it on and make it your own.

15. You have to do this, this, and this, to do that. Wrong. Follow what you believe and find your own way to achieve your dream. Studying those who have succeeded in the same field helps, but copying won’t get you anywhere.

If you can disregard these bits of “advice” people give you, you’re well on your way to succeeding.

Don’t let their jealousy and worry get you down.

Now go own the world.

-Ravi Vora

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September 8, 2007 | tags: Big Dreams, Inspiration, Happiness and Success.