Top 10 Best Personal Finance Books of All Time!

As I was arranging the numerous personal finance books I've accumulated over the years, I couldn't help but wonder how I can put everything together in such a tiny little space. Then I asked myself, if I had a very small book shelf that can accommodate only 10 of these books, which books would I choose? I had to think really hard because I love reading books and I've learned a great deal about life and money through ALL of them.

These 10 books are special in that they have completely altered the way I view money and life! They have inspired me to learn more about money and pursue financial freedom! May these same books help you achieve your financial dreams!

Here are Rich Money Habits' top 10 best personal finance books of all time!
#10. 8 Secrets of the Truly Rich by Bo Sanchez

This one is special because it's written by a preacher - and a famous Filipino preacher at that! Bo Sanchez is a best-selling author of inspirational books in the Philippines. This is his first book that openly talks about money, business and investing.

What I particularly like about this book, is that it tackles one of the most critical obstacles in making money - that is, how to reconcile money and religion. Living in the only predominantly Catholic country in Asia, it is very important for me to align what I believe in whether it be on religion or money. Otherwise, I'll just be confused and end up going nowhere.

The book is full of stories on how daily money habits make you rich or poor. It describes the most common perceptions we have about money. We were taught that money is the root of all evil. When we watch our favorite TV shows, rich people are often portrayed as greedy. They only got rich through "drug" dealing or some other "illegal" means. Due to this stereotyping, some us unconsciously don't want to be rich! Who would want to be the "bad" guy in our own soap opera called life?! :)

As a result, there is conflict inside of us. Some of our internal dialogs are
"I want to be rich...BUT not so rich that my friends would hate me and I would no longer have friends." err...who wants to be loner?! :)

Or the most common,
"I want to be rich...and I'm so desperate the only way for me to get rich is by winning a million dollars through lottery."

The great tragedy is never realizing that you don't have to be a crook, or be greedy, or become unfriendly, or win a lotto ticket to be rich - you only need to build rich money habits!

#9. Multiple Streams of Income by Robert G. Allen

This is one of the books I bought when I was in the US. Since I love reading personal finance books, I ordered a bunch of them online. I was able to get them cheaper because I looked under the "used" books section. Surprisingly, most of them are in relatively good condition and look almost new!

The book was my first exposure to having multiple streams of income. For someone who worked as an employee most of his life, I thought I could only earn from one stream of income - my job! I realized having only one stream of income is not a very good idea because there's also only one way money can come to me - through my paycheck!

Having multiple streams of income is NOT necessarily having a second job, or even a third! Multiple streams of income building systems so that money can flow through your life. It means, investing both your time and money to learn how to build those systems.

One way could be through real-estate investments where you get a "stream" of income from the monthly rental of your tenants. Another "stream" could be getting portfolio income like "dividends" or "interests" from your stocks or bonds investments. And yet another "stream" could be from royalties you receive from publishing a book or a music recording if you're a singer. Having a LOT of "streams" where money can come to you is certainly better than relying on just your "job" to make money. The challenge is how to utilize what you have like time, skills, and money to setup these streams of income.

#8. Secrets of the Millionaire Mind by T. Harv Eker

The great thing about the book is it makes you realize what money habits you have developed since the day you were born. It brings out those subconscious thoughts that are hindering you from achieving financial success. Some of the internal dialogs with yourself could be.

"I am not good enough. I'll never be amount to anything financially."

Or you might say

"I'm poor because my parents are poor...and my grandfather is poor...and my great grandfather is poor...so I will always be poor..."

You might not be saying it out loud. You might only be thinking about it. Worse, you might not even be aware of it. And you wonder why you'll not getting anywhere. As T. Harv Eker aptly put it
"...if your subconscious 'financial blueprint' is not 'set' for success, nothing you learn, nothing you know and nothing you do will make much of a difference."

#7. The 4-Hour Workweek by Timothy Ferriss

The book speaks about the "New Rich", a group of people who have the time, money and mobility to spend only 4 hours a week to generate money and live the life they want. The rest of their time is spent on things they love to do like dancing in Buenos Aires, scuba diving in Panama or basking in the Hawaiian sun.

Who wouldn't want to spend only 4 hours of his time working instead of the usual 40 hours a week? Who wouldn't want to have the luxury of time to do the things you really love? Who wouldn't want to take a very long vacation in the beaches of Hawaii while your business is taken care of and money is still coming in?

For employees, it offers practical tips on how to negotiate with your boss for a work-at-home arrangement. It also provides ideas on how to plan your own "mini" retirements so the money is still coming in, without you around. It even discusses how you can "outsource" your life!

The 4-hour workweek is easy to read. The ideas are presented in a simple and uncomplicated manner that you think you're reading a comic book. The book is conversational and funny. Reading it is like speaking with the author face to face. You might even find yourself occasionally laughing at his jokes. (I know I have) :)

#6. Rule #1 by Phil Town

I picked up this book out on a whim when I was at a bookstore in Malaysia. The book explains investing in a very simple and understandable manner. It is not intimidating in any way. After reading this book, it made me realize that I did not need to be afraid of investing. I just need to learn how to do it right.

Rule # 1 is "Don't lose money."

Whether the market is going up or going down, don't lose money. Whether it is a bear market or a recession, don't lose money. Whether you have billions or just a couple of hundred dollars in investment, don't lose money.

The book discusses some of the basic myths about investing and provides simple strategies for successful investing while spending only 15 minutes a week. It tells about the five key numbers that really count when determining the value of a stock or business. It even mentions valuable internet tools and the advantages of managing your own investments to achieve your investment goals.

I know there may be other books on investing out there, but so far, this is the only one I've come across that made me understand the world of investing a little bit better.

#5. The Richest Man in Babylon by George S. Clason

I came across the Richest Man in Babylon from reading Rich Dad, Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki. It tells about the ancient secrets of money. The book coined the phrase "pay yourself first". In ordinary terms, it means - SAVING. But it is more than that. The book tells that in any trade you're in, you CAN still "pay yourself first". Once you have "money" in savings, you can then have that "money" work for you.

But how can you save when your little money is not even enough to survive on? How can you set aside 10% of your income when you're living on 110% of it? How do you "pay yourself first" when the creditors are coming after you?

Paying yourself first is certainly not easy. It takes tremendous discipline. That's one of the reasons why it is not popular. But once you get the rich money habit of controlling your money instead of it controlling you, your confidence builds up, you'll think that if you can do this then you can do anything. And as with anything related to money, it touches everything. Your health improves. You become successful in what you do.

People will wonder why you're always brimming with confidence. You become the richest man in every sense of the word.

Isn't it better to walk into a store knowing you can buy anything you want because you have the money (saved)? Doesn't it give you peace of mind knowing that if some emergency occurs, you can readily rely on your saved "emergency fund"? Would it be nice to be able to help your family or those closest to you "financially" for a change? That's the dream. And it starts with paying yourself first.

#4. The Millionaire Next Door by Thomas J. Stanley Ph.D. and William D. Danko Ph.D.

The book is based on a comprehensive research on the money habits of millionaires. The results are surprising in the sense that majority of those millionaires are not what we commonly expect them to be. As aptly described in the book,
"These people cannot be millionaires! They don't look like millionaires, they don't dress like millionaires, they don't eat like millionaires, they don't act like millionaires - they don't even have millionaire names. Where are the millionaires who look like millionaires?"

Many of the "next door" millionaires are first-generation. They did not inherit their riches, they built them. Few of them do not spend more than $100 for a watch. Others don't even wear a suit to work! They engage in types of businesses which could be classified as dull-normal. Some are welding contractors. Some are rice farmers. Some are pest controllers. Others are coin and stamp dealers.

What separates the "next door" millionaires from the rest is their money habits. They are frugal in nature. They value money. They invest at least 20% of their income. They even have a "go-to-hell fund" which can provide for their expenses for at least 10 years without working at all.

I think the most important lesson from the book is not that we know who the actual millionaires are, but the realization that it could be YOU! If they can do it, so can you! It's time to build your own rich money habit and be the "millionaire next door"!

#3. Your Money or Your Life by Vicki Robin and Joe Dominguez

I bought this book out on a whim. I was actually looking for the book "Outliers" by Malcom Gladwell when I saw this book at 20% off.

The book tells about managing not only your money but looking at it in totally different way. Your money is only part and parcel of what your life is. There is also time. There is also your dream! What do you enjoy most? How do you spend your money? What do you do with your time? Would you still do what you do even if you have all the money in the world?

The book emphasizes managing the resources that you have like money and time. It offers very specific tips like monitoring your spending and whether each of those is contributing to your goals or not. It also has some ideas on how to identify exactly what you like to do and manage both your money and time so you can do more of what you love to do and less of what you don't like to do. It even has some charts to help you
picture out and plot where you are and when your freedom day will be.

I think the main message of the book is not to choose money over your life or the other way around - it is to have BOTH.

#2. Rich Dad, Poor Dad by Robert T. Kiyosaki

As mentioned in my personal finance story, this is one of the books that made me realize I really need to develop rich money habits to achieve financial freedom. The book is a story of growing up learning about money from two different dads: one is rich and the other one is poor. The story unfolds to describe the different money habits of the rich dad and the poor dad, each one producing a different financial result.

The book makes the very complex world of money and business seemingly simple. It is so simple that the ideas can be explained to a child using only sketchy drawings. The drawings illustrate how cash flows from your pocket to the bank when you pay your bills, and how it flows from your company to you when you get your paycheck.

What you do with the money after your receive it determines whether you become rich or poor. Do you use the money to buy assets like real estate investments or setup businesses? Or do you use it to buy liabilities like a brand new LCD TV in 12-easy-monthly-payments-with-zero-interest!

The reason I liked the book is because it inspired me to become better and to view business and money in a totally different way. It expanded my understanding of how money really works! Most of all, it gave me the confidence to dream again!

#1. Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill

Think and Grow Rich is one of the first books I've read about money. The main message of the book is that you have to "think" about money first before it becomes real. It is a direct translation to the phrase "what your mind can conceive, your body can achieve". When you really think about money and you have this "burning desire" to make it real, all the universe conspires to build the means to bring it to you.

Money is, first and foremost, only an idea. It is not real. The money you hold when you buy a bag of grocery is only as real as the "mutual" agreement you have with other people that the paper you're holding is worth something of value equal to that you're buying.

The book doesn't say "Work Hard and Grow Rich". Working hard means different things to different people. For an employee who doesn't like what he's doing and only get paid very little, everything is "hard work". For someone who love what he does, "working hard" is not in his vocabulary.

As Henry Ford said,

"Thinking is the hardest work there is, which is probably the reason why so few engage in it."

There you have it! Rich Money Habits' top 10 best personal finance books of all time!
P.S. How about you? What are the best personal finance books you've read?

By Allan Inocente

Why Feeling Your Pain Is the Secret to True Happiness

As a psychotherapist one of the weirdest things we tell people to do is to be willing to "feel their pain." When I was in therapy, I asked the same question they ask me: "Why should I feel my pain? Isn't it better to avoid pain at all costs?" Actually, a willingness to feel your pain is the secret of true happiness. Here is why.

In my family, Sunday night is movie night. As a film buff, I try to find something my wife, my 8-year-old daughter, Maya, my 5-year-old son, Ethan and I will all like. It is a chance for some shared fun, and to grow.

Stories, I believe, are the best way to teach children of all ages from 5 to 90.

I found a film on Netflix-On-Demand that looked like it would work. It was called "Where the Red Fern Grows."

This film, from 1974, is based on a 1961 children's novel by Wilson Rawls. It tells the story of apoor boy from the Ozarks, Billy, who dreams of owning a pair of coonhound hunting dogs. With great determination he works for two years to save enough money to buy the dogs. Billy's hounds become known as the best raccoon hunters around.

Toward the end of the film, Billy goes out hunting with Old Dan and Little Ann. He gets threatened by a mountain lion. Old Dan saves Billy's life, but dies from his wounds. A few days later, Little Ann dies on his grave of a broken heart.

My wife and I had no idea that this would happen in the film, and maybe we wouldn't have watched it if we had known. We were all balling. My kids were inconsolable.

My son, protested loudly through his tears. "I don't like this movie! I want there to be a different ending!"
My wife brought him to bed. I lay down with Maya, still crying, to talk about the lessons of the movie, to help her with her sadness.

We talked about the many things we learned from the movie and then we got to the end. We plan to get a dog soon. "Will our dog die?" Maya asked. "Yes," I said. "Do you still want to get one?" I asked her. She had to think about this for a minute. Then she understood.

The movie is told in flashback. Billy is a grown-up when he tells us the story of his boyhood in the hills with Old Dan and Little Ann. He remembers this time as the happiest of his life. How could that be, when it ended so tragically?

After his dogs die, as a result of their fame and winnings in hunting contests, Billy and his family are able to leave their farm and move into town. Right before he leaves he visits the grave and discovers that a red fern has grown there. In Indian legend only an angel can plant a red fern, and it makes that land sacred.

Maya and I talked about what the red fern means. We decided that it means that Billy was so happy in that time of his life because he had the love of his dogs and family, and because he loved them. Now we all know that dogs die, and we will all suffer grief and pain when they do. But if we want love, if we want to truly live, if we want true happiness, we need to be willing to feel that pain.

All too many people suffer lives of emptiness and regret because, in avoiding pain, they never get the most important thing we can have in our one chance at life: love. The red fern tells us that though we shed tears of sorrow for the loss of Old Dan and Little Ann, it is worth it, because it is only by being willing to feel our pain that we can have true happiness.

By Glenn Berger, Ph.D

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Why Qualifications Are Important for an Aspiring Electrician

For anyone aspiring to become an electrician it is essential you obtain the relevant credentials to achieve qualified status. There are a number of reasons, both professional and personal, why electrical qualifications are desired, this article will highlight a few of these:

Part P

To carry out electrical tasks you need to be Part P registered. This allows you to self certify that the electrical work you do complies with the standard expected by building regulations. After completing the necessary training you can become Part P registered which will allow you the freedom to perform electrical tasks without the hassle of having to inform the local authority building control each time.

Safety

There are countless accidents each year as a result of poor electrical work carried out by unqualified personnel. Don't put your life and the safety of others at risk by attempting to do electrical tasks without the appropriate skills and qualifications. Building regulations are introduced for safety reason and you could be prosecuted if you are found to be in breach of Part P.

Pay

It goes without saying that anyone with the highest level electrical qualifications can expect to earn more than those without these expert credentials. According to City & Guilds the average income of an electrician is £29,964 (predicted for next year), however the highest earners take home in excess of £40,000. With positive figures such as these becoming fully qualified is definitely preferred.

Reputation

Training and qualifications will give you skills so you can always execute quality electrical work. If you maintain this high standard you will get an excellent reputation for being reliable and trustworthy, which will help your future job prospects or improve your current customer base. Satisfied customers will make recommendations to their friends which will lead to further recognition.

Easier to find work

Many people are finding it difficult to get a job without any qualifications. Completing an electrical training course can improve your prospects and increase the number of job opportunities available. If you already have basic electrical skills obtaining the full qualifications to become an electrical engineer can increase your potential for promotion within a company.

Types of electrician

There are a variety of types of electrician: domestic electricians are responsible for installing, maintaining, repairing and testing electrical equipment, appliances and systems in houses, commercial electricians typically work in business environments such as schools, offices and shopping centres and industrial electricians usually have very specialised knowledge, carrying out tasks in industrial factories. If you want to work and succeed in any of these areas you will need electrical qualifications.

Sense of achievement

After completing an electrical training course you will no doubt feel a sense of achievement and get a confidence boost. This sort of training can give you the drive to achieve more in your personal life as well as your professional life.

Skills for life

The skills you gain when working towards electrical qualifications are skills for life. They are also transferable e.g. problem solving and time management are useful attributes for any career. Your options are not limited when you are fully qualified.

There are many benefits of achieving qualifications through an electrical training course. Aside from the fact that building regulations require you to have credentials to carry out certain types of electrical work there are also personal benefits such as a sense of achievement and gaining transferable skills.

By Charlie Maine

The Wonders of a Step-Parent

I wanted to share a few tips with all fellow step parents new and old looking for a helping hand.

I have been a step parent for 5 years now, my husband has 2 children from a previous marriage and they are now 16 and 12. We also have a child of our own who is 4, step parents have a tough role in life and it IS NOT easy. My step son age 16 has recently moved in with us and has that been a life changing event.

There are many pros of having stepchildren living at your home, as being the step parent you will ALMOST ALWAYS be the bad parent regardless if you have done everything to the advantage of the child or not. You will most certainly go to bed crying at night not understanding why you are always made out to be the bad person. The biggest and most important role to keep in being that step parent is knowing your spouse is behind you 110%

The children need to realize you are there to stay and so are they so they can make the most of it or suffer in their self pity for the next how many ever years until they turn of age. I will be with my husband when the children move out and start there own family, and I keep telling myself this is our house my husband and mine so... TOUGH LOVE comes to mind.

No matter how much your step children despise you and ignore you, in the end 95% of children will come back to their step parent for advice and love when they are adults themselves. No step parent is EVER alone if they have an understanding with their spouse about how they feel and the children know you are as much of an authority as their mom or dad is.

One thing you should NEVER, EVER do is make your spouse choose between you and his/her kids, if that is how you feel and you make mention of this to your spouse then by all means your spouse should ALWAYS say "It has been fun and you will be missed, so pack your bags." Remember to always work together as a team and in the end YOU WILL be REWARDED.

By Kristen Swanson

Want Tips on Improving the Health of Your Children? Here Are 5 Suggestions to Aid You

Being the father of five healthy kids, sometimes I forget that not everyone has the same experience. Every time I'm around other parents and their kids, I'm shocked to see how unhealthy some of these kids are.

I feel like I know a little bit about this subject, so I will offer a little bit of information on having healthy kids.

1.) Chiropractic - I bet you didn't see this one coming. When we think about the birthing process and how traumatic it often is, especially with forceps and vacuum extractions, this is a no brainer. Babies are so fragile that even the best of birthing experiences can still create a subluxation.

Each one of my kids has been checked by a chiropractor after birth. With our oldest, it was three hours later. With our next two, it was within a couple days. With our fourth, she was checked within the hour of being born.

Having a vertebral subluxation is no fun as an adult. Think about how it feels for child that can't communicate with words; a lot of colic and a lot of sleepless nights, for both baby/toddler and parents.
The moral of the story? Get your kids' spines checked!

2.) Get educated on vaccines - Within a child's first six months, it is recommended that they get upwards of 16-18 immunizations containing multiple diseases and multiple preservatives. No child's immune system is even developed by six months, so how can they deal with this onslaught of immune system bombardment?
Look at the rise of conditions like autism and ADD/ADHD. No one can prove that increased numbers of vaccines caused the astronomical rise in conditions like those. But seeing how autism rates have skyrocketed since the 1990s, along with increasing numbers of recommended immunizations since the 1990s, I have a hard time ignoring the connection.

Once when our oldest daughter was younger, back when we only had one child, I remember getting into a discussion with a lady at church about vaccinations. Her brother was an MD so she thought she knew more about what my kids needed than I did. She was adamant that I needed to get my daughter vaccinated. Her kids were always sniffling, coughing, and sneezing. My daughter hadn't experienced any of those things even once. That logic didn't make sense to me.

It's up to you to decide if you want to take this course of action. If you decide against immunizations for your kids, make sure you are doing the other four things in this list. If not, your kids will have very weak immune systems and they will be susceptible to a whole host of things neither of you will want them having.

3.) Cut down on the junk food and increase the fresh fruits and vegetables - Regular diets of mac n' cheese, milk, pudding snacks, candy, and ice cream will not foster a feeling of well-being in kids. Processed foods with 30 different ingredients that you can't pronounce are not the best thing to be feeding a child.

Try giving them some fresh organic apples, bananas, oranges, and pineapple. Sneak some greens into a smoothie. We often make a smoothie in the Vitamix with a huge handful of spinach, a big kale leaf, frozen strawberries or blueberries, a few bananas, and some water. The kids love it and they don't even know they're drinking spinach and kale.

4.) Get the kids to bed early - Besides being a wonderful thing for the parents, getting the kids to bed early insures they will be rested and happy. Children need a lot of sleep. I'm fine with six hours of sleep. My kids? Not unless I want them turning into little demons.

No matter what, my kids all wake up around 6:30-7:00. If we put off bedtime until 9-10 pm, they will be too tired and too cranky the next day. Bedtime for the kids in our house is around 7:30. This way the kids get 11-12 hours of sleep. Our younger two still take afternoon naps as well.
Now, if only my wife and I got that much sleep...

5.) Get those kids outside - Kids need to get off their butts and go play outside. Sure my kids watch some shows and movies during the day, but they also get outside and run around. Lately it hasn't been all that often because it's been so cold here in Texas. But usually they will go outside and run around and play on the swings.

There is no reason for obesity and Type II diabetes to be increasing among children. Humans are not meant to be indoors as often as we are. Back in the days of our grandparents, they got outside and did yard work, gardening, and manual labor. With the abundance of white collar jobs dominating the work force in our society, manual labor is all but forgotten.
Our kids see what we do and want to do the same thing. When I go running, my kids want to go running.
When I play a video game, they want to play that game, too.
So get those kids outside and get them playing! They'll do it a lot easier if you go outside with them (hint, hint, wink, wink).

Again these are the things we do for our kids in my house. Based on our experience with our four kids, these five strategies have worked like a charm.

By Brandon Harshe, D.C

Parenting Tips - How to Keep an Open Mind With Your Teenager

Parenting teenagers is extremely hard-work, that's why learning how to keep an open mind with your teenager is so important. Most parents have failed miserably at meeting their teenagers in the middle. Just because Facebook, MySpace, and sex bracelets didn't exist when you were growing up, doesn't give you a hall pass. It's clear that lots of parents are suffering from generational and technological gaps; still effective face-to-face communication is the key to being a better parent.

Remember not to yell, teenagers hate it when a parent yells and then realizes it (feels bad), is nice for the next ten or fifteen minutes and then starts yelling again.

I just gave you a straightforward example of ineffective communication; it even confused me for a second! STOP sending mixed messages to your children! Teenagers growing up in what's now being called the YouTube generation have already been exposed to issues older parents just cannot relate too. I strongly suggest that you level the playing field and learn how to speak their language - speak teenager. This basically means developing a unique parenting style that enables you to hear what they are saying.

Parenting Tips - How to Keep an Open Mind With Your Teenager

In my opinion this is hands-down the biggest mistake that parents make when trying to discipline a teenager. Never ever compare your childhood experiences. Saying things like, "Why can't you be more like I was when I was your age?" Allow your teenager some space to make his or her own mistakes - they have a lot to deal with such as living above the influence, sex/std, dating, prom, college, and let's no forget the gossip.

If your teen does something wrong, speak your peace, dish out the punishment, and move on. Most of the time s/he knows s/he is wrong, and wants to admit it. There is no sense of going on and on about what your teenager did wrong - it'll only flare up into a bigger argument.

Make some time for your baby. You probably have no idea what your teen is like outside the house. Learn to listen, the teenage years is when a child discovers life for him/herself and that's never easy.

Always be there. Drop everything you are doing and try to help. Teens like to know they haveparents that care.

Remember that you're not perfect. Stop thinking you are! Although, you may be right sometimes; you're not ALWAYS right. Try giving your teenager some credit s/he maybe living through issues you are aware of.

That's why double standards make your teenager so angry, the whole "do as I say and not as I do" is enough to drive anybody insane. Yes, it's true that most parents have uttered the phrase "I brought you into this world, and I can take you out". Kids really hate that line, plus it has worn out its welcome! In other words, unless you're planning an extended vacation in prison, quit using those one-liners, you can be a little more creative than that right?

A more effective approach is to get in the habit of giving a reason for your actions, even if you feel you shouldn't be explaining yourself. Giving a reason for your actions will generally lead to a more well-rounded teenager, because s/he has learned from "real-life" examples.

By Nazari G Parker

Why Taking a Break Can Also Make You More Effective At Work

Last year my husband suggested that I stop working on Saturdays so that we could have a day each week to do family stuff and relax. As a work at home mom with two kids, I had been working whenever I had the opportunity and, the weekends when my husband is home, made up a big chunk of my workweek. The thought of taking a whole day off made me nervous. How would I be able to sustain the same amount of effectiveness in less time? Despite my fears, I decided to give it a try. After all, my family is the reason why I work so hard to begin with. What's the point if we can't spend time together?

A few months after implementing "family day", I realized that my fears weren't warranted. I was worried that by turning Saturdays into a work free day, I wouldn't be able to keep up with the demands of my business, but in fact the opposite was true. By not working on Saturdays, I seemed to be getting more done on the days that I did. At first this seemed counter intuitive, but over time I made some observations that help to explain why working less can actually be more...

• Although many of us try, the bottom line is, you can't work all the time. If you attempt to, you wind up getting burned out and there is no way you can do your best in that state.
• Guilt can be a powerful distraction. Before we started family day, I hadn't set any clear work schedule for myself. Because of this, I would often feel guilty formy family when I was working and then guilt for my clients when I wasn't. Once I started setting up more of a routine, the guilt subsided and I was able to focus better on the tasks at hand.
• Distancing yourself can be a great way to troubleshoot a problem. My occupation can get rather technical and there are often instances when I run into problems that seem disastrous to the entire project. If I try to work through it, I often miss the obvious. By taking a day off, I come back with fresh eyes and almost always come up with a sensible solution in much less time. Even if you don't have a technical profession, occasionally distancing yourself from your work can be a great way to gain a different perspective on any job related difficulties.
• Balance is healthy. If you focus too much on work, it can create problems with your personal relationships, which can in turn cause you to be distracted in your professional life. It's important to create a sustainable work and life balance for your own personal happiness and the happiness of those around you. Happy people are more effective.

You may think that by not taking a vacation or by checking your emails over the weekend, that you are doing your company a huge favor. As noble as this is, it may not be having the impact that you or your organization really desires. If you can relate, you may want to try to implement a "family day" of your own or take that vacation you've been putting off. It might surprise you how much you can accomplish when you get back to the grindstone.

By Milly Welsh

Why Is Humor Important in Your Life?

Do you think you can make it through the day without fun and laughter? Can you imagine the world without humor? Indeed, it will not be appealing since every people you may encounter along your way will have grimace or serious faces. You won't find it pleasurable if even once in a while you can't laugh or even smile.

Humor, in a form of jokes and amusements, is important because it is one of the major ways that you can laugh out. Laughter is good as it symbolizes happiness. In fact, studies show that laughter is the best medicine; if you laugh or smile, there are lesser muscles being used than frowning.

In your daily activities

Everyday people are being engaged with lots of activities. Like for instance, fathers go to work to earn for a living; students go to school to shape their future; mothers stay home to take care of their children; and children play around. If all of them focus on their goals seriously, they may get tired. There is a possibility that they may not see the real meaning of their lives because humor is not there.

It is a great feeling when in the middle of your being preoccupied, a joke from your office mate strikes. You will then find yourself hysterically laughing. Humor can lighten up your days. It gives you opportunity to rest for a while and to loosen up.

When you laugh, you will feel like being freed from stress and pressure. Actually, once you focus on the positive side of life like never minding problems that can make you feel sad, it has the ability to make you look young and healthy.

It may help you see and appreciate the beauty of the world. It can help reduce negative atmosphere when there is threat of arguments among your colleagues.

In a Teaching

Perhaps, you have been in a seminar or in a class. Listening is essential for you to learn. But when you find your instructor boring, you tend to be distracted. That's the time when you focus yourself on imagining pleasurable thoughts to divert your attention. But this will also hinder you to acquire knowledge from your instructor.

Sense of humor must be included in the characters of teachers. This way, they will be able to get the attention of their students to focus on the lesson matter. If everybody in the room would laugh, it will help them relieve the tension and feel more relax. Each of the students will have the interests to interact during the class. They will feel more comfortable with their instructor.

In Entertainment

Entertainment will not be pleasurable without humor in it. Like for instance, attending a party must be entertaining. You got the chance to meet other people and to mingle with them. But if you would only talk about pure business, you might find yourself want to leave and go home.

Humor has the power to unite the people together. For those artists who have sense of humor, they capture the hearts of many audiences. The audiences feel being closed to their idols. And also, they will have an impression that their idols are approachable compared to those artists who are strict and serious.

Impersonators and drag queens are really appreciated with the way they make others laugh with their fabulous and colourful wigs, attire, and makeup. The viewers enjoy watching them because of their great humor.

By Todd Wertz

Why Do Children Ask?

When my oldest son was 4 he asked a lot of "why" questions. "Why do people have bones that are hard?" "Why are frogs green?" "Why is this puzzle piece shaped like this?"

It got to be exhausting. I felt as a responsible parent I should provide my son with answers, but some "why" questions are hard to answer if you are not a walking encyclopedia. I felt bad because I could not give him the answers he seem to need. There were also times where I did know the answers. I would launch into a lecture on the migrating patterns of the Canadian goose in our backyard. After about 30 seconds his eyes would glaze over and he would run to play on the swings.

Parents do not need to feel inadequate if they don't have the answers or take the podium when they do have knowledge to share. Most experts agree that when children ask questions, they don't want our answers.

They are really saying, "That is so interesting, I would like to figure this out myself or with a little bit of help from an adult." That is why it is more effective to say to a young child, "That is a great question. Why do you think the sky is blue?" "What an interesting question, can you think of some reasons why the rain makes mud?"

When we answer a "why" question with another "why" question we encourage children to think for themselves and explore their own ideas. Children have wild imaginations and they like to use it. There is nothing a child loves more than having an adult who is genuinely interested in what they have to say. Kids want to come up with their own answers and it gives them something to mull over. It also helps them develop critical thinking skills. Children feel important when we ask them their opinion. It can help build a child's self esteem.

This technique of responding "why do you think?" to our children's "why" questions, is not only good for children, it benefits adults as well. It gives us an idea of what children are thinking about and reminds us to stop and appreciate our wonderful world through the eyes of our children. Children love to engage us in this way. It is a great way to bond with our children. Learning together in a respectful way is a great way to nurture your relationship with your child.

By Adina Soclof

Why Being a Father is An Important Role for a Family

The importance of the role of a father can't be stressed enough. According to many studies, a household that lacks the presence of a father are more prone to suffer in many aspects. And that includes the aspects like financially, emotionally, socially and developmentally. According to statistics, out of 10 children today, 4 of them would grow up without the care of a father. Growing up without a father doesn't bode well for the future of the child. Here are some unfortunate scenarios that have been proven to be interrelated to the absence of a father in a household:

• 70% of the worst criminals grew up without a father's guidance.
• 72% of adolescent age murderers grew up in a home without a father.
• Girls that grew up in a single parent environment have a 150% probability of having an early pregnancy and become single moms as compared to girls who grew up in a two parent family.
• 20% of children that lives in the United States are suffering from poverty, and a good majority of them are coming from households without a father.
• Children that grew up in a single parent family is 100% more likely to end up using drugs as compared to those children who grew up in a two parent household

Whether it is the absence of a father or having an abusive one, it can cause a great psychological impact into the child that would somehow affect him or her significantly as he or she grows up. And that is why many children just lost their way and get involved with drugs and crime because of the lack of a father that can guide them. But it is not all about the presence of a father because that does not guarantee the best for the child. In some cases having an abusive father can even be worst than not having one. The presence of abusive parents cannot only cause physical harm, but can also create emotional trauma for the child. This particular form of abuse can cause scars both physically and psychologically. So it is not enough that a father is present, he also have to be a responsible parent.

Fathers are the one who earns for the family in order that they can provide them with food, shelter, clothing and education. But aside from being the breadwinner, a father also needs to guide his children so they may not wander into doing bad things. As a father it is your sole responsibility to show them that you love and care for them. And by doing that, you are helping your child develop emotionally and this helps in building his or her confidence and self-esteem.

Being a father is one of the most important job a man can take. It is not easy and it entails many obligations and responsibilities. But it is also said to be one of the most rewarding experience a man would ever go through. So learn to enjoy being a father and be responsible.

By Cameron Fowler

Subliminal Messages - to Help you Focus, and Concentrate

I want to share you quite an amazing story today. It is from a guy called Gary who used a new personal development tool to overcome some issues and mental blockages he suffered from for years.

The method he used was subliminal audio:

If you are new to this it might sound strange, but if you like the idea of changing your subconscious beliefs and limiting thoughts naturally then check out Gary's story as it really highlights how it worked for him in a simple way:

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I consider myself quite intelligent, but my problem is coping with pressure, and getting stressed out.

When the pressure builds I just can't focus. I panic and worry, at worst to the point of making myself physically ill, and mentally exhausted or at best simply unable to study, or to stay focused for any duration of time.

I have been really struggling to study recently because of the building stress and worry of failing.. Well anyway, I started to play your harmony album and after about 20 minutes I amazingly (I wasn't expecting all that much to be honest) felt the world of difference - for the first time in weeks I just sat and relaxed and my mind seemed to clear.. it was like the stress was being lifted out of me!

I was quite impressed to say the least, so I picked up 2 more albums - subliminal learning, and improve concentration.... I am blown away - NEVER have I been able to work like this... for the last 5 hours I have sat with a cup of tea (with the albums playing one after another in the background - love the ocean tracks best) and read my materials notes and made notes. Usually I would get distracted, lose focus, make excuses, get up from my desk and do something else... but today (for the frst time ever?) I have really been able to focus and actually take things in.

Thank you so much, I feel amazing and can't thank you enough!

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Why You Should Stop Worrying What People Think About You

Have you ever thought that you might be holding your life in your own hands as if it were a ball of modeling clay which you are always shaping and developing according to your thoughts and wishes? Have you ever considered that all of your thoughts and wishes can almost always be positive? Imagine your life being almost always positive simply because you chose it to be so. The way I see it, you are evolving from moment to moment and you have the power to manifest your life into exactly what you want it to be. Your life is a very creative process at work. Worrying about what others think about you blocks this creative process and stops you in your evolutionary tracks. It is a waste of your time and of your precious life. Worrying is 'de'constructive. Focusing on developing your life is 'con'structive and very much worth your time.

Having been a fashion model most of my life, I know first hand how the modeling world is riddled with rejection. Models worry all the time what others think about them. They worry they are not good enough and that people won't like them. This detracts from their personality and style. It wears on them and distracts them and takes their energy. Some models will try to change who they are and become who they think others want them to be. When they do this they have just cloaked themselves with falsity and pretense. Now people have a reason not to like them and so the models have just proved themselves correct.

Why should we stop worrying about what others think of us? Because worrying only exacerbates the situation; once you start worrying you start to see all sorts of things to worry about. The worrying then starts to escalate with no end in sight. It is up to you to control your worrying and you do this by directing your attention to what you think is best about a situation. This will strength you, empower you and stop the worrying. Also, having a true sense and deep feeling of gratitude will diminish your worrying of what others think of you.

Worrying creates negativity and concern where it didn't exist before. Your thoughts of worry are all self fabricated. You really don't know what others are thinking about you. When you worry it is an indication of low self-esteem and self-doubt. Love yourself and come to embrace the fact that no one else in this world is exactly like you. You are unique and special in that uniqueness, as is everyone else. Take that ball of modeling clay and create a life of inexhaustible positivity which is not weighed down with worry but spiraling onward and upward into your own beautiful masterpiece of life.

By Roxan Gould

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That's right. Headaches suck!

It’s just not fair. Headaches can change the way you live your life. You don’t join friends and family because you don’t want to deal with the head pains that you know will soon follow. You try to avoid that person at work because you just know that after talking to them you are going to have a headache for a few hours. 

Simply put.. It’s just not fair. On top of that if you take drugs like aspirin you have to worry about your health. If you take too much or if you take aspirin too often you’ll suffer from internal bleeding. It just doesn’t seem like there is a solution that can make your life easier does there? I know EXACTLY how you feel. It’s just not fair. Headaches suck. Now is the point in the letter when I tell you that no matter what kind of headache you have we can fix it. But that’s not going to happen.

What I can tell you is simply this. More than 95% of the people who have used this product get rid of their headaches in about 2 minutes. You may be part of the 5% that the product doesn’t work for. So we have to ask ourselves a few questions. What do I have to risk? How much is it going to cost? Why didn’t the doctors teach me about this product? Why didn’t I know that aspirin causes internal bleeding? Let’s go over a few of these.

Why didn’t the doctors tell you about this……..we don’t know. They should have. It’s pain free, it’s drug free and works for over 95% of people. Plus it has ZERO side effects so you won’t have to worry about internal bleeding, constipation or any other drug induced side effect. On top of the fact that’s it’s pain free and works on most people you can use it over and over and you can use it on friends and family without a prescription.

What else needs to be said? If you try it, you will like it. Headaches suck. Fix this silly problem once and for all. Now is the point in the letter where we are supposed to hit you with some magic sales B.S. Obviously you won’t find any. This product speaks for itself.

Simply put if you’re looking for an all natural easy to use product that can get rid of your headaches in about 2 minutes you should stop taking aspirin on a regular basis and start fixing these headaches naturally in just a couple of minutes.

Why You Should Read and Re-Read Think and Grow Rich

Many people may feel that since they have already read Think and Grow Rich that there is little reason to revisit the book. However, this is definitely not the case with this timeless classic. Think and Grow Rich is the type of book that you can reread every few months. In fact, many highly successful business people keep an earmarked copy of it handy and refer to it constantly. And if you have never read Think and Grow Rich, I highly recommend that you pick up a copy immediately!

If you doubt that you should periodically re-read Think and Grow Rich, simply recall the sheer number of important and accomplished individuals that felt the book had a major hand in their success. The simple fact that so many people felt that Napoleon Hill's timeless work was vital to their success should be enough to keep you referring back to it again and again.

Think and Grow Rich highlights the power of focus and determination in reference to getting what you want out of life. Think of it in this fashion; if you make it a habit to read the book periodically, then you have a built in safeguard. What is meant by safeguard? On your path towards accomplishing your goals, you might run into some serious bumps in the road. As a result, it is in your best interest to remind yourself of the key concepts of the book, such as revisiting the story of Thomas Edison and Edwin Barnes. Barnes was the man who through nothing more than determination forged a working relationship with Thomas Edison. How Barnes went about forging this relationship was quite impressive and remarkable. (If you do not remember how he did it, then there is further proof of why you need to re-read this book.)

The bottom line is that Think and Grow Rich is full of thought-provoking and relevant material for anyone looking to achieve their goals. It can be constantly mined for new insights. While on the topic of mining, perhaps you've forgotten the section of Think and Grow Rich entitled, "Three Feet From Gold." This is the story of a miner who gave up looking for gold when he was only three feet away from striking it rich. The point is that we never know how close we are to actually achieving our goals and, as a result, should not give up. These and other points made in the book are so valuable that you should work to embed them into your mind and revisit these thought provoking lessons whenever possible.

By Debbie S. Parker

Tips For Step Parenting

Parenting is one of the hardest jobs in the world. Step parenting, however, is a notch harder. A step family is commonly formed due to the death of a spouse or a failed marriage that ended up in divorce. Deaths and divorces are traumatic events not just for children but also for the parents themselves. Children may still be recuperating or grieving for their loss. Most children dream that their step family would be the same as their original one. They have expectations which a step parent might find hard to fulfill.

The main duty of a step parent is to redefine what a family is and to develop new relationships. Step parenting requires step parents to make their step children understand that a new identity and a better bond can be formed by integrating the different interests and hobbies of each step family member. It is unrealistic to expect instant love or attachment from step children but it is necessary to ask for respect as a step parent.

You can do so by first showing the children respect-leading by example. Avoid any derogatory comments about their biological parents or their siblings. In disciplining the children, let their biological parent-your spouse-lead the way, especially with the older children.

For situations when the children rebel and adopt the you-are-not-my-parent tactic in order to avoid following you, try to be more patient but always be firm and clear. Be confident and say that your intention is not to replace their lost parent. If your spouse is not available to discipline your kids, you may tell them that you are the only adult at the moment and that you have the responsibility to uphold the rules of the house. Also, make sure that you and your spouse always show that you are united whenever in front of your step family.

When your kids are not around, you and your spouse can talk about the differences of the original and the present family. If you have your own kids and they live together with your spouse's own kids, it is necessary to apply the same rules to all of them. Try to spend as much time alone with your step children to strengthen your relationship. Both biological and step children have the tendency to seek for your exclusive attention.

Make time for all of them and try to spend as much time with all of them together. When having special talks with your biological kids, keep your voice down so that your step kids may not overhear you and think that they are less favored.

Always remember to have a positive attitude. Avoid sarcasm or criticism when communicating with your step children. This may help cement an everlasting good relationship with them. If your kids live in separate households, you and your spouse may have to visit them together to show that both of you support each one of them. Try keeping your schedule open for them even if it is inconvenient for you. If you see the children need both of you, always take the opportunity to be there and help out. This could earn their trust and their love. Also, never forget to keep your marriage in good status. Set some time aside so that you and your spouse can have your own time together.

By Rebecca Prescott

Why Do Parents Allow Children To Travel Unrestrained In Cars?

In most first world countries, it is the law that kids travelling in cars must be in the correct seat for their weight and must be restrained. There is a good reason for this and what I cannot understand is seeing children of apparently sensible parents standing between the two front seats while the car is in motion. I often see a baby on an adult's lap in the front seat, and I have occasionally seen toddlers with their heads and arms sticking out of the windows.

I have come to the conclusion that we as adults are largely reactive, instead of proactive, we often don't consider the possible consequences of our actions until it is too late and the damage is done. These parents absolutely love their children and I'm sure would die for them and that is why I cannot understand why they do this.

At present, there are adverts on the TV warning of what can happen with an unrestrained child travelling at 30 mph where the car crashes. Basically, the child is thrown forward with a force 30 to 60 times their body weight. They would be thrown about inside the vehicle, becoming seriously injured and quite possibly seriously injuring (or even killing) other people inside the vehicle. They are also likely to be ejected from the car through one of the windows.

It is not safe to hold a child on your lap with neither restrained with a seat belt. In a crash, the child could be crushed between your body and part of the car's interior. Even if you, yourself are using a seat belt, the child would be torn from your arms - you would not be able to hold onto them, no matter how hard you try. It is also dangerous to put a seat belt around yourself and a child (or around two children) as they would crush each other.

The safest way for children to travel in cars is in a child seat that is suitable for their weight and size. A shopkeeper can advise on the correct seats and a child should be in a booster seat until approximately 12 years of age.

When I see unrestrained babies and children, my heart jumps, but what do I do about it? I do absolutely nothing and this is to my shame. I guess its difficult when the car passes me and I am in the middle of something so have not taken details of registration. It is another story however when the parent is a friend or their child is a friend of my child and this is where is gets really tricky. What do you do, apart from never allow your child to travel with them? Having weighed up the consequences of telling them versus not telling them, I have decided to drop hints by referring to my own car seats in conversation, saying that they are great, they give me so much peace of mind and touching on the disastrous consequences of us being involved in a crash without them.

I will probably lose friends and maybe risk my child losing friends also but I feel most parents will think twice about it and I could even save a life or a child from permanent injury.

Speaking up when you feel that it's right is another topic for another day but this is just one example where I personally have been silent for purely selfish reasons and I plan to rectify this very soon.

By Noelle Leahy