What is cyber security?
It seems that almost everything now relies in internet and computers - entertainment, communication, transportation medicine, shopping, etc. How much of your life is dependent on internet? How much of your information is stored on your or someone else’s computer? With such a high dependency on computers, neglecting the increase in Cyber crime is extremely harmful.
Cyber security actually protects your personal information by responding, detecting and preventing the attacks. Cyber security is actually introduced to decrease cyber crimes. All banking institutions and businesses today run their business online. Hackers can hack your computer system and misuse your personal information and pictures. Various other dangers associated with cyber crimes are entry of virus into your system, altering your files, change of passwords, stealing credit card information and make unauthorized purchases.
Today, there are several universities and colleges that are offering Cyber security degrees. In associated degree program you can learn about cyber forensics, data encryption, network security, etc. In the associate degree program a student is taught to use the recent technology and ensure that digital information communication is carried in an appropriate manner that is secured from surveillance or attack by expert hackers and malevolent computer users. Organizations and businesses will have ascending requirement for cyber security professionals in future to protect their company’s records and private information.
A degree in this field will provide you with an opportunity to work as a computer support technician, systems administrator, network administrator or similar position. People with associate cyber security degrees may enjoy following career opportunities and annual incomes:
Network Administrator: $58,190
Support Specialist: $40,430
Systems Administrator: $58,190
The career opportunities for cyber security profession is expected to increase in the coming few years. The demand for systems administrators and network administrators will grow at a rapid rate.
The typical coursework for the Associate Cyber Security Degree includes Cyber forensics, Computer hardware, Cyber security, working with Computers and Internet, applied mathematics and software support. In the degree course program a student is expected to learn about antivirus software, encryptions, firewalls, and other similar techniques to ensure the safety of data communications as per your company’s guidelines.
Are you living an authentic life?
Are you living an authentic life?
By Craig Nathanson-The Vocational Coach™
Have you ever asked yourself if you are living the life you were meant to live?
Have you ever asked yourself, as you pondered your life, is this all there is?
These are great questions to ask when you reach forty and beyond.
Who Needs an authentic life?
If you are satisfied with the status quo life that no longer challenges you or gives
you inspiration and passion, then you don't need an authentic life.
What is an authentic life?
This is another good question since we rarely teach children or adults how to live such a life.
You are living an authentic life if you feel you are in control and you are determining your own direction. Your work is a natural outlet for your creativity, your interests and your abilities.
Why is living an authentic life important?
We are living longer than ever before. One hundred years ago we wouldn't even be having this conversation since the average lifespan was barely mid-forties.
There are more opportunities then ever before to recreate our lives and our work.
When we work without purpose and without meaning, our lives grow empty and lifeless. Each day is just like the previous day and the cycle continues until we retire and die.
We live for tomorrow; just 2 more years, or 6 more years, or 10 more years at our miserable jobs until we've saved enough money to finally stop. We're not sure what we will do but we know it won't be anything like what we are doing now.
Then sadly, life gets in the way, and something happens to block our hopes and dreams of a more fulfilling life.
How can I live a more fulfilling life?
I developed the simple Ten P Process™ over four years ago to help people, especially those over forty, discover and do the work they love. During the last four years, through workshops, teaching, talks and private coaching, I have seen this model applied and used by many people on the way to a more authentic life.
I think it's time now for you to follow the Ten P™ model and make the necessary changes in your own life.
Purpose
What is your life about? How will you make a difference in the world? What bothers you about the world or your neighborhood, and how can you contribute to solving it through your work?
What work could you do that would give you more daily energy and passion?
With Purpose, you will experience a greater sense of integrity and authenticity.
Is this enough incentive for you?
Prize
What is most important to you; what do you Prize?
Too often we are afraid to admit the answer, too afraid that we will be judged by our decisions rather than by who we are. Are you working today in a job that has nothing to do with what is most important to you?
If you love teaching, for example, and your days are spent balancing financial statements, only you can do anything about it.
Define what is most important to you and think through now what you will have to do to follow what is most important. Write down specific goals that align with what you Prize.
This can be a lonely exercise but the most important one you will ever do.
Perspective
What is your view of yourself? Are you happy with your life, your choices, and your work?
What is your view of the world? Does your world inspire you and bring you energy?
What is your Perspective of others? Do other people interest you, arouse your curiosity?
Much of our activity in the world revolves around strictly monetary pursuits and land and political interests. I believe this is a result of people not taking the time to follow a more authentic life that honors themselves, others and the world they live in.
You can be different; it starts with you.
Possibilities
Have you given up on yourself or have you started to think of what is Possible for you and your work?
It's easy to let others influence your life's direction because of what they think is impossible. Listen to your own language. Does it inspire you or depress you?
Don't settle for "One day" or "I hope" or "Maybe if I could do what I really love..."
Start now to shape more Possibilities for yourself. For example, imagine a new Possibility for yourself and your work right now. Notice how this thought brings on a new thought and another and another.
Place
What is your Place or role in the world? Have you thought about this?
Have you just assumed that what you do today is the role you are destined to carry out for the rest of your life? We are all pre-conditioned by the environments, cultures, economic situations and the personalities we were born with. These are all hard to change.
It will take disciplined effort on your part to think through the roles you want to play in life. No one will do this for you even if you got good grades in school and awards at the office.
Position
What is your Position or attitude on a daily basis? How do you think about yourself, your work, your world and those around you? Do you wake up daily being grateful or jealous? Do you wake up angry at yourself, your work and those around you? Your daily position will either support you and nourish you, or prevent you from both enjoying the moment and moving towards what you want. What can you do now to change what is not working each day with regards to your attitude, especially towards your work? This will make all the difference to you!
Passion
Have you ever gone to sleep at night tossing and turning with the excitement of waking up in the morning because you can't wait to get started on your work?
This is Vocational Passion™ and it is one of the most exciting feelings in the world. You feel like you are spending your days doing what you love and your work creates meaning for you.
Make a list of all your passions. Now envision how you could spend your day using these same passions in your work.
Perfect Vocational Day
What would be Perfect for you and your work? Most of us settle for so much less.
We hope that if we work harder and faster, the boss will notice us and perhaps we'll get those four days off next winter or that bonus or maybe that promotion. With the promotion, we will get to work even harder and faster doing more of what we don't like.
Seems silly, doesn't it?
Spend some time thinking deeply about and writing down exactly what an average day might be like for you if it revolved around your passions for the rest of your life.
Present
What are you doing now to close the gap between living an authentic life and your life today? If you don't know where you are going, then perhaps any old road will do.
Write down what you want and compare it to where you are right now. If there is no gap between these two realities, there will be no tension and no problem.
Following this road will not be easy.
There will be emotional challenges. You may have to change some of your beliefs.
There will be relationship challenges. You may have to change some of your relationships.
There will be financial challenges. You may have to make some financial changes in how you spend your money.
Permission
Putting this all together starts with the right support network. Start surrounding yourself with people who encourage you, believe in you and who provide daily inspiration and ideas about what you want to do.
Look for defining moments in your life. Use these as the trigger to finally live an authentic life, starting with doing the work you love.
Give yourself Permission now to follow your heart.
Still not convinced?
The alternative for you is to simply retire ("retire" comes from the French word for "retreat" and "hide") and prepare to die. You'll die slowly, of course, surrounded perhaps by other like-minded people in a golf club community playing bingo and discussing what you used to love to do.
By the way, the French also gave us the word "career" which means "fast track".
Sadly, this is the way many people live their lives; running fast through their work only to discover they wasted years and years doing useless work only to retire and play bingo.
You can make a different choice now to start to live an authentic life.
This will be the hardest path you will ever follow. It will be lonely and provide lots of challenges.
It is also the only path towards your authentic life.
There is No More Job Security!
In today's world, the lines are sometimes blurred between career fields as so many market segments interact with each other in many respects. A good example is the automotive industry, one that I have a great deal of experience with, both as a customer and a consulting salesperson. The big auto-makers are connected to their supply chains like at no prior time in history.
The United Auto Workers have now gone on strike against General Motors with the central issue being job security. Job security? There is no more job security! How can any company be expected to provide such a thing? You've got to be kidding. That was my reaction when an in-depth NY Times news story detailed the situation. UAW president Ron Gettelfinger said "GM can't take their eyes off the bottom line, which is lifetime job security for union members," reported Internet news source, Scrappleface.
When I was a kid, it was common to see people work their entire career for a single company, retiring after 40 years with a handsome pension. I do not believe that the term "job security" was even an issue then. It was more of a given. People assumed that their employer would take care of them. That perception is almost unheard of anymore, with many people having five or more distinct careers over their lifetime. Times have changed well beyond the imagination of anyone from that period.
Since there is no such thing as job security anymore, the UAW's expectations are totally unrealistic. What are they thinking? Even if GM wanted to grant this, they are hardly in a financial position to do so, especially right now. Employers these days compete in a global economy, subject to worldwide market forces and far-reaching economic considerations. Companies have been forced to become more efficient, to automate, to eliminate unnecessary jobs, all the while combatting escalating raw material costs, skilled labor scarcity and health-care expenses rising at 25-30% per year.
The best way for an individual to guarantee their financial security is to forget about job security and other entitlements and begin thinking about investing in their own financial security. They must learn, learn, learn; becoming an expert in a given particular field, becoming utterly invaluable to an employer or an industry.
A salesperson, for instance, with such knowledge and skills will soon become a critically important resource in her industry, always in demand and generating a handsome living. It's all about financial security, not job security. Learn to: Adapt. Adjust. Change. Listen. Stretch. Learn. Apply.
Job security... what a concept!
Retirement? What For?
Is your work coherent with your life?
This is a question rarely asked before 40, but it’s so important after 40.
Most of our work lives have been about accepting the views of others and working to the plans of others. We had jobs and we were expected to meet the requirements of our jobs. While this is a good and important ego building and development part of life before 40, after 40, it destroys the soul.
What does work coherence mean?
Does your work make sense to you? Is your work an end in itself or is it just an activity to please someone else or to make money?
After 40, it becomes necessary to make our work self-directed, and it has to fit our own values. The opposite of this ideal is directed work in which we have little choice when it comes to what we work on, and how we work.
Organizations are mandated by law to maximize shareholder profit. This competes with the needs of the individual, who first and foremost, wants to maximize work happiness and meaning. Organizations are often confused about this, assuming that if everyone makes money, then everyone is happy. This thinking can be traced back to turn of the century management practices (and many HR practices), and they are in direct conflict with personal values such as independent work, creativity, and joy for workers.
Motivation vs. Meaning
Research into organizational life has been focused on how people can be motivated to work. Sadly, this has left little room for ideas about helping workers find meaning in their work — and these two ideas are very different.
You might, for example, be motivated by the promise of more money for a task well done — but in our current system, this becomes the major focus, while finding meaning in what we do takes a back seat.
After 40: Meaning craves attention and respect
While organizations focus on a person’s competence to do a job, it is more important after 40 to understand whether a person has the capacity to enjoy his or her job. Society’s view of success is often biased towards the material: accomplishments, awards, and money.
In over-40s who don’t enjoy their work, however, deeply hidden is a person desperate for the key out of their job prison.
How can over-40s recreate a richer sense of work and life?
The Buddha said, ‘’Work out your own salvation; do not depend on others.’’
Self-reflection must start with an inventory of what is most important in your life. This must be an honest open dialog — with yourself — about what kind of work makes you feel alive, and gives you unlimited energy and excitement about your day. What work makes you feel whole? What work makes you feel your contribution fills a need in the world — gives you a sense of purpose?
Following your calling and your heart is a matter of understanding the type of work that has the greatest pull on your life.
How can we know what we want to do after 40?
Researchers have suggested that having vision matched with action is the best course of action. In the organizational context, this is approached as a competition — developmental plans to meet some short term organization need, for example.
Instead, finding your calling after 40 must be approached as a game — no different than a child playing on the playground. It is through this playing and self-discovery that you can finally find work that is full of meaning, and coherent with your life.
Self-awareness
Each person in mid-life must answer for him or herself the most difficult questions they will ever have to answer. Who am I? What is most important to me? How do I feel about myself? Which of my life-long beliefs are no longer useful, and must now be changed? What new possibilities might there be for my work and my life?
What is my place in the world and what work might renew my energy and attitude about life itself?
What would be perfect for you?
Mid-life adults must ask themselves this question: What would be perfect for me now? What work will fit my daily patterns? What must I do now to move toward what I want? How will this new movement toward a more joyful work life affect my relationships with others, and with money?
What can I do to build my emotional state so I am ready for this journey?
How can I build a new support network to help me through these changes?
Retirement is a silly idea for those OVER 40
Retirement seems like a much better idea to those in their 20s and 30s. After all, most people don’t like their work, and the thought of retirement down the road to do something else gives many people the energy to get up in the morning.
After 40, it takes more than the dream of retirement to get us out of bed — it takes the vision of waking up to work that feeds our souls.
After 40, most of us are smart enough to see into the future, and we know we will need more than book clubs and cruises — assuming we can even afford this as we age!
What are you waiting for?
Perhaps you are waiting for permission — permission from someone else — to tell you it’s OK to start searching for your calling — the work that will last your lifetime, and bring you joy and happiness.
I have bad news: This permission will never come from anyone else — even those who love you. Permission to find your passion must come from YOU. Once you give yourself permission, your life and your world will open up like a new rose beginning to bloom.
You deserve this
You have probably worked 20 years or more at jobs meant to use you to JUST maximize shareholder profit.
Don’t you think your time has come to maximize the joy and coherence in your life and work instead? I think so.
I’ll be cheering you on as you go- Craig Nathanson
Better Options to Returning to the Corporate World After Layoff or Downsizing. Numerous Choices are Available Once You Let Go of the Past
Well, did you get a chance to make two columns with the “pros” in one and “cons” in the other about your current or downsized job? What were your findings? Most people are surprised to find the “cons” list will be longer (if you are truly being upfront with yourself).
Back to the first article below, I had some people share their concerns with me privately about their specific situations related to downsizing and/or layoff. I thought I would pass on one of the questions and my response--in case someone else has the same question.
Jane (name is fictitious, of course) writes: I am 40 years old and have been working for this company for 15 years. I have worked my way up the corporate ladder. I can’t believe they are laying me off. How can I ever find something to replace this where I can make $70,000 a year? It is practically impossible; and to start all over again. I am devastated.
Dear Jane: I realize this is a shock for you. It is never easy to make a drastic change, particularly when you have worked so hard to make your way up the corporate ladder, and particularly as a woman. MAY I SUGGEST you make a list of all your talents and skills. I am sure they are numerous because you could not have moved up without them (unless you are related to the boss, in which case you would not have been let go, right? Sorry, I digress.) Now, to get to the point; if you had enough money to do whatever you wanted without needing a “JOB” (which is JUST OVER BROKE, by the way), how would you use your talents to make an impact in your life and in the life of others?
Could you start your own business in a field about which you are passionate (maybe even an avocation you feel strongly about), or be a consultant to companies who could use your talents? Why not establish a non-profit to train the low-income or disadvantaged in the skills they need to become employed? Is your status such that you could travel to other areas or other countries who might appreciate your many attributes in the business world? There are numerous positions available overseas where you could teach others what you know? What about writing a book? How about an e-book on the Internet?
As you can see, there are so many options. Look outside the PROVERBIAL BOX and you will find an entire world of possibilities that will make you more money, and more whole and complete. IF YOU BELIEVE THAT EVERYTHING HAPPENS FOR A REASON (WHICH IT DOES, BY THE WAY), you will find more satisfaction, less stress and greater freedom when you leave the corporate world. (15 years with the same company is long enough to devote your life to LETTING SOMEONE ELSE reap all the benefits).
By Denise Knapp–Ms. Maestro
A Chiropractor Career
A chiropractor diagnoses and treats patients with health issues regarding the musculoskeletal system. Chiropractors heal using a discipline firmly grounded in science. Although its focus is on the relationship between the skeleton, particularly the spine, and the nervous system that runs through it, chiropractic is concerned with the care of the entire body. In the United States, this is the largest alternative medical profession and you can find a number of them through a chiropractor directory.
A chiropractor focuses on addressing the source of your problem, and not just treats the symptoms. Many chiropractic treatments deal specifically with the spine and its manipulation. It bases on the principle that spinal joint misalignments interfere with the nervous system and can result in lower resistance to disease and many different conditions that can diminish health. The chiropractic approach to healthcare focuses on the patient's overall health. Chiropractors provide natural, drug-less, and nonsurgical health treatments, relying on the body's inherent recuperative abilities. They also recognize that many factors affect health, including exercise, diet, rest, environment, and heredity. Nevertheless, in some situations, they may refer patients to other health practitioners.
More specifically, chiropractic is an effective treatment for back pains, headaches, neck pain, whiplash injuries, spinal disc problems, leg and knee pain, numbness, and tingling in the arms or legs. It also does well with shoulder, arm, hand, and jaw pain, as well as carpal tunnel syndrome, dizziness, fatigue, chronic stress injuries, and strain caused by postural problems. A chiropractor can effectively treat other injuries, which may be sports- and work-related, including falls and other traumas.
Like other health practitioners, chiropractors follow a standard routine to get information needed to diagnose and treat patients. They take the patient's health history, conduct physical, neurological, and orthopedic examinations, and may order laboratory tests, too. Some used tools are X-rays and other diagnostic images, which are important because of the chiropractor's emphasis on the spine and its proper functions. They also analyze the patient's posture and spine using a specialized technique. For patients whose health problems trace to the musculoskeletal system, a chiropractor can manually adjust the spinal column.
Some chiropractors use additional procedures in their practices, like therapies using heat, water, light, massage, ultrasound, electric currents, and acupuncture. They may apply supports such as straps, tape, braces, or shoe inserts. They often counsel patients about health concepts such as nutrition, exercise, changes in lifestyle, and stress management, but they do not prescribe drugs or perform surgery.
In addition to general chiropractic practice, some chiropractors specialize in sports injuries, neurology, orthopedics, pediatrics, nutrition, internal medicine, or radiology. Like other health practitioners, a chiropractor is sometimes on his/her feet for long periods. Those who do X-rays often must employ appropriate precautions against the dangers of repeated exposure to radiation. On average, they work 40 hours per week, although longer hours can be common. Private practitioners set their own hours, but may work evenings or weekends to accommodate patients.
Like the podiatrist, chiropractors must be licensed, too, which requires 2 to 4 years of undergraduate education, completion of a 4-year college course, and passing scores on National and State examinations. They can only practice in States that have issued them a license to practice chiropractic, although some States have agreements permitting chiropractors licensed in one State to obtain a license in another without further examination, if their educational, examination scores, and practice credentials meet State specifications. Newly licensed chiropractors can set up a new practice or enter into partnership with an established practitioner. They may also take a salary earning position with a secure chiropractor, group practice, or healthcare facility.
Chiropractic requires keen observation to detect physical abnormalities. It also takes considerable manual dexterity, but usual strength or endurance to perform spinal adjustments. Chiropractors should be able to work independently and handle responsibility. As in other health-related occupations, empathy, understanding, and the desire to help others are good qualities in dealing effectively with patients.
Has Lady Gaga brought back Dance Music to the Top 40?
People in general seem to forget that Lady Gaga has surpassed being a "pop icon". She is an original singer who has an amazing vocal and infectious beats. She keeps getting her new music out there and keeps promoting it, she's always got something going on, never a dull moment. She sings like a pop artist should and her ‘freakiness' is just something that makes her better.Lady Gaga has really revolutionized pop music at the end of decade with her perfect timing and the Fame really brings disco-pop and yes, even electro pop to life. While Pink, Christina, Beyonce and company are releasing their albums and singles, Gaga has already cemented herself as not only one of the fastest emerging female artists in history, but also as a pop culture icon and one of the biggest favorites of disc jockeys.She is a staple of pop culture continuing come up with new concepts. Gaga sings (live too!), dances, combines music and fashion, designs her own stage, plays an actual instrument (true musician), and most of all, actually writes her own material. Her strengths have produced a million wannabe's that want to dance like Gaga or sing like Gaga. She's such incredible entertainer that disc jockeys can't wait to see what she gives next.Gaga can tear the house down sitting on a stool with a mic in her hand or do a full out dance routine and knock others dead. What Alexander McQueen did for fashion, Gaga is doing to dance music. The most amazing with Lady Gaga is that she can change style, whether ballad or pop dance which makes her the new Queen Of Pop. Gaga will continue her career the same way Madonna has. She is a marketing machine for her amazing concerts and the disc jockey who need dancable hits to play.One thing you all have to admit finally is that Lady Gaga really shook up Top 40 into liking electronic/dance music and abandoning the aggressive sounds of hip-hop in the early and mid 2000s.Your browser may not support display of this image. Gaga is certainly one of the most famous and popular singers right now and she is walking in the same steps as Madonna did in the 80's.
The Most Important Things You Should Focus on in Your 40’s, 50’s and 60’s
As we get older, the need and importance of exercise changes. You need to know exactly what it is that you should be focusing on during each decade so that you can remain healthy and vibrant, as well as keep that powerful, strong body you have worked so hard for. There are physical and emotional changes that go along with each set of 10 year increments. And every decade promotes new benefits and challenges to keep you on your wellness plan. The years of 20 to 39 really are not considered high risk. Your agenda during these two decades is to have fun, enjoy your youth and start healthy habits that make it easier to maintain a healthy lifestyle year in and year out. FORTIES These are great years. Most people have an established career or family by then. You have worked hard at making sure fitness and clean living are a priority and now you just need to ride the wave. However, there will be some sneaky changes to be cognizant of during this period. Your main goal is to stay healthy, sharp, and energetic. What happens now? - Metabolism: Slows by 2 percent per decade from this point forward. - Muscle: More challenges to build muscles starting now. - Bone: Starting in your 30's you lose approximately 1 percent a year. - Libido: Men start to lose that desire due to stress. Women start to feel the effects of hormonal changes. - Stress: Tends to be more elevated due to increased responsibilities for children, aging parents, more focus on health issues, career, and finances. - Depression: Tends to be a factor due to stress. Your Personal Catalyst Of Change For Your 40's: Eat breakfast every day. WHY? It boosts metabolism, which is highest in the morning, ensures you are energized for the day's activities and prevents cravings that arise when blood sugar drops later in the day. Keep OR start strength training. WHY? You need to elevate your resting metabolism to guarantee you burn more calories even when you're watching TV. Added benefit: increased bone strength, sustainable balance and added injury prevention. Let's face it, as we age we get a little clumsier. Stronger bones and less likelihood of falling will keep you active. Bonus: Strength-training also helps you shore up bones, maintain balance, and avoid injury. Women should add calcium and vitamin D to their supplementation. WHY? Experts feel the levels of calcium and vitamin D naturally produced decrease as you age. Women have a higher chance of osteoporosis as well. Recommended dosage - 1,000 mg of calcium and 400 to 800 IU of vitamin D. Eat more protein. WHY? Other than the fact that it helps with your metabolism, lean muscle mass and energy; more protein just puts you in a better mood. Aim for 0.8 g to 1 g per pound of body weight total each day. FIFTIES You have now made the switch from thinking that eventually things will need to be dealt with, to knowing it's time to get and stay on top of your body. For women, there is the issue of menopause—which affects just about every system in your body. Men have a higher risk of prostate issues as well as depression and effects from an overactive youth. What happens now? - Heart disease: Risk goes up to almost 40 percent. Stay aware of cholesterol, blood pressure and activity levels for the best return on your investment. - Women and Menopause: You need to talk to your doctor about estrogen. Main concerns are hot flashes, night sweats, and a rising risk of heart disease and osteoporosis. - Men and colorectal cancer: More than 90 percent of cases occur after age 50. It's time for a regular colonoscopy. - Immune function: Declining and lower than usual, but it can be managed with a healthy lifestyle. It's no time to fall off the exercise band wagon. - Memory: Studies show memory decreases starting now. Crossword puzzles and learning a new hobby are great ways to make sure you stay sharp and vibrant. Your Personal Catalyst Of Change For Your 50's: Get at least seven hours of sleep. WHY? Studies show those who ensure they get 7-9 hours of sleep a night live longer. But hot flashes for women and conditions like arthritis and stress make it more difficult to get solid sleep. Your body senses the lack of sleep and releases a hormone which hinders immunity and makes you more susceptible to sickness. Get your 7 hours of sleep and you increase your memory, mood, which is important in building bone and muscle mass. You told your kids... But now it is your turn to eat more green and leafy vegetables. WHY? Dark lettuce and spinach effectively lower risk of heart disease and vegetables, fruit, legumes, fish, poultry, and whole grains all help as well. Take a multivitamin... (You should have for decades. But if you haven't, start NOW.) WHY? Getting enough zinc, iron, beta-carotene, folic acid, and vitamins B6, B12, C, D, and E gets harder to do as we age. You want to ensure you are doing everything possible to keep your immune system working on all cylinders. Try and get most of your nutrients from fruits, vegetables, and whole foods, but make sure you cover all the bases by taking a multivitamin. Keep a food log. WHY? Keeping track of food intake doubles your chances for weight loss because you are aware of everything you put in your mouth. And keeping a reasonable body weight with low body fat decreases your chance of developing Alzheimer's disease. Get moving so you can think better. WHY? You want to keep your mind focused and sharp. Moving decreases the likelihood of many things, but especially your risk of dementia. SIXTIES You developed solid habits in your 40's and 50's; it's time to reap the benefits. Your quality of life is directly proportionate to how you take care of yourself every day. What happens now? - Oxygen: The ability to intake oxygen decreases by up to 1/3 compared to when you were 25. - Vitamin B12: Studies show we need more of it for digestion as we age. - Joints: The hip and other key joints are more likely to develop arthritis. Stay on top of it. - Creativity: Willingness to express yourself is at its highest ever. Share your knowledge. Your Personal Catalyst Of Change For Your 60's: Exercise five to six days a week. WHY? You can boost your level of oxygen intake by 15%. Create a systemized supplement plan. WHY? Each decade you have added more vitamins and supplements to keep your body efficient. Hopefully you are not on any major medications. Taking your supplements at regular and prescribed intervals guarantees you are playing at your best. Time for More Fiber. WHY? This decreases symptoms of poor digestion and diverticulitis. Good suggestions are pears, apples, and beans. Work your pelvic muscles. WHY? Reverse any chances or symptoms of incontinence by squeezing the muscles that control your urine flow and hold for 10 seconds. Do this 3x a day and you will see massive improvement in any issues you have while also preventing future problems. Stretch your mind. WHY? The more active you stay, the happier you are and the better your memory. What better way to beat an onset of depression and memory loss than by learning something new? Show what it really means to be young at heart. It's inevitable that we are going to experience different things as we age. You might have to grow older, but you don't have to grow up.
Can NLP really change your life?
“After the NLP course, it was clear that I would never again be happy working in a dead end job which I hated. My ambition and desire completely outweighed all other considerations. With the support of my wife, I quit my job in January and I've not looked back. I now earn in 9 hours what I previously earned in 40 hours and I'm happy in my work.
I'm sure you would be happy to know that I am now able to walk through large groups of people with no fear at all, I am the family member removing all the spiders and I am finally finding the outer and inner peace I craved for so long. Anyway, this was just a quick note to let you know I am still thinking of you and the miracles you have bought into my life. Thank you so much.”
The above is one of many examples of how experience with NLP transformed one’s life. When I find in my inbox message of similar nature, my heart always shakes with excitement… then next minute I read blogging activity on one of the major online networks, only to find hundreds of Anti-NLPers.
NLP (Neuro-linguistic programming) is without a doubt one of the most controversial topics. Whilst there can be no argument about usefulness of NLP techniques in personal development, business, coaching and education, it is often criticised (usually by people with very little or no experience with NLP) as being too ‘soft’, and ‘oversold’. It is criticised for the lack of the scientific evidence. So where is the truth? Is NLP worth of your investment? Can it really change your life?
Before you read the rest of this article, I would like to warn you:
Nothing here is truth. Because there is no truth. There is only our own perception of it.
In fact these are the very same words I often start my own trainings.
Those who attended some of NLP trainings will know that apart from many practical tools that NLP has to offer, it teaches the attitude that is responsible for desired change and results.
NLP teaches the attitude of curiosity. NLP teaches the attitude of opened mind. NLP teaches the attitude of flexibility.
There are no truths or facts presented during NLP trainings, there are only models. It is purely up to individual to accept those models, or not.
Only those people who are mature enough to adopt the attitude of opened mind and curiosity, will produced the best possible results with their acquired NLP learnings.
“The mind is like a parachute. It works only when it’s opened.” Dr. Krasner
They don’t doubt that NLP works. They make NLP working for them.
NLP students learn how to manage their own thinking in a way that is the most productive. They learn how to elicit and change their beliefs about themselves. They learn about their values for life, money, relationships, career, health & fitness, spirituality. They learn how to change automatic programmes running in their mind, adjusting their habits and unhelpful responses. They learn how to let go of negative emotions and limitations they put upon themselves. They learn how to deal with fear and obstacles. They learn to accept themselves and to accept and forgive others. They learn how to be happy with themselves whilst learning dozens of tools to help them with their future goals. They learn how to bring miracles into their life.
Today, there is still not enough of scientific evidence to prove that 'NLP works'. However; there are thousands of living examples demonstrating that it does. Perhaps that day will come when the science will find the way of measuring happiness, success and fulfilment, making scientific evidence at all possible.
NLP is essentially about training and managing your own mind, which is one of the most important life skills, both in terms of your own success and happiness.
Going back to the original question. Can NLP really change your life? ….it is YOU who decides!
How to Love Your Career
When you see the glow of joy on the face of children when they get to go to a fire hall, get into one of the shiny red trucks, and enjoy watching them respond to calls, you do not always think that these children will end up making this their life goal and their lifelong love.
Captain Scott Sedore was just such a child. He grew up just north of Newmarket in small town Queensville, and he became a volunteer firefighter as soon as he turned 18 years old.
He said, “I never wanted to do anything other than to be a firefighter! All through high school I knew what I wanted to do. All my friends were taking courses to prepare for university or college and I was taking subjects like scuba diving and rock climbing.
It drove my mother crazy. She was of the mindset that I should attend university and get a degree.”
He enjoyed the fact that the fire department was a paramilitary organization; respect for this structure is the cornerstone of the culture of a fire department. The fire department was what he wanted in a career. He wanted to work as a team member, be one of a brotherhood and he wanted a career where not one day would be the same as the preceding one. Scott loved the challenge of not being sure what the next day would hold, what it would ask of him. It could be as varied as rescuing a cat from a tree or extricating a person from a vehicle.
Scott said, “People ask all the time what a typical day is for us at the fire hall? There is no typical day. That is what I love about the “job”. It never gets dull or boring. We work the 24-hour shift, which mean we report on duty at 7 a.m. and for the next 24 hours, who knows! The station I work out of runs 40% of the calls. Plus, we back up a number of stations if emergency dictates. There never seems to be enough hours in a day to get everything done. Our morning coffee meeting is very important. That is where the crew sits down and discusses what we did on off days. It is important to have a laugh or to commiserate with a crewmate if there has been a mishap. We decide on what training we will embark on next and also discuss who is cooking supper. Then the tones go off and off we go. Where that will be, we never know ahead.”
All an applicant needed when he started was to have a grade 12 Diploma, a D license, first aid and CPR. Anything else was considered icing on the cake. He had been a volunteer firefighter, a certified diver, a rock climber and had a few college courses related to firefighting. Twenty-one years later, the learning is still going on. He is currently enrolled at Dalhousie University, halfway through
The Company Officer Program at the Ontario Fire College and working on a certificateat George Brown College for Emergency Preparedness. He has never stopped learning or training. The fire department spends countless hours training on new equipment and maintaining skills.
“I’m living my dream.” He reminisced. “I remember walking in the door at Station 81,
our headquarters for six weeks of training before being assigned to a crew.”
He was twenty years old. He was so excited he arrived an hour early and that excitement and that habit has stayed with him all these years. “If I’m not walking through the door
thirty minutes early for my shift, I think I’m late.”
He was assigned to Station 83 under Captain Blair Robson, a rough looking stocky pipe-smoking guy. He found that looks were very deceiving. Captain Robson taught him how to relax and breath.
Scott said, “I can remember him being so calm at calls and around the station. He would tell me that cooler heads prevail and will always get the job done right. I hold that
thought close today. When I look back I can’t believe how long ago that was and how much I enjoy this job! I have seen a lot of change from our turnout gear to the response vehicles we use. I find it hard to believe I used to ride on a tail board engine wearing the old pull up boots and long coat!”
When Scott Sedore became Captain, he wanted to do more for the community and the people he served. He was fortunate to work with a like-minded crew and a Platoon Chief who supported them all the way. One Halloween they carved pumpkins, then distributed candies at a street corner to the trick or treaters. This led the crew to read to school kids at Christmas, wearing elf hats and giving out candy canes. Later the crew got involved with L’Arche Daybreak, a home for challenged adults. They found it to be a very heart-warming place to visit.
“We go by to say hello and see what their friends are making at the craft studio get involved in their bowl-a-thon and have hosted BBQ’s for the families and friends of Daybreak.” Scott said. His crew has entered two floats in the Richmond Hill Santa Claus Parade for the past four years. They have won the Optimist Award twice and this year they won the Best Theme Float.
Scott continues, “Any time that my crew has the opportunity to get involved in the community we jump at the chance because we see the excitement in not only the children, but in their parents as well. It is also a great time to get a safety message across.”
He became Captain of Company One, Richmond Hill Fire Department in 2002. He said,
“My crew members are exceptional and perform diligently, taking seriously their responsibilities as firefighters, and also the community involvement I ask of them. They are eager to be involved and be the helping hands in the community. Behind every Captain is a responsive, adaptable and hard working crew.”
He is quick to say that his Acting Captain and the crew embody the same determination, the community involvement and the dedication, not only to the job but to the public that he has.
Captain Scott Sedore has recently been presented the “Fire Chief’s Award” at the annual Firefighters Awards Dinner by Commissioner Shane Baker for his excellent performance of duty and his dedication to effecting customer service, continuously promoting the Richmond Hill Fire department within the community and leading others to improve public service in an exemplary manner.
What makes him an outstanding Captain are his leadership skills, his ability to stay calm in all situations, his compassion when it is needed most, such as when the call becomes a recovery rather than a rescue. He exhibits a love for people, his community and most of all, for his career choice. He says unequivocally, “I just love my job. It is still my dream job. The best job I could ever have had!”