Becoming Who I Should

10 Tips for College Students

admin — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 03:57:56 +0000

1. Understand why you are attending college.

Understanding why you have made the choice to spend thousands of dollars, sacrifice years of time, and dedicate yourself to study is vital to having a positive experience at college. Honesty is the best policy when asking yourself, Why am I going to college? Do you go because your parents expect you too? Maybe you have nothing else to do. Perhaps you don’t want to enter the work force yet. Whatever it may be you must figure it out. Then you must determine the power behind your reason. College is not easy, it is long and grueling so the motivation that powers you through the days must be strong enough to endure through many difficult days. Going to college simply because your parents expect it is a good start but if that remains your reason you will find yourself falling short. Having a reason that truly empowers is priceless and can single handedly be the difference success and failure.

2. Be financially responsible

In modern times it has become socially expectant that the parents provide the financial support. College can be an entirely different experience if you, as a student, take upon yourself the responsibility of supporting yourself. As enticing as it may sound don’t let your love of money rob you of the accomplishments that only the financially independent can experience. If you think you can’t then you won’t. Money grows on trees. People everywhere are willing to dish out cash, they do it everyday, just figure out how to get it into your own pocket. A key point to remember is that grades are a high dollar commodity. If you produce a high quality grade there is always someone willing to pay, if you produce low quality grades then you will end up paying. Scholarships are often times just a numbers game, fill out three $500 dollar scholarships a day for the entire year, if you receive 10% of the scholarships you apply for you will receive $54,750.

3. Be healthy

Professors are constantly waging war on your sleep time. The battle is never ending, so how do you win? Sleep when you can. After the first few weeks of class you will know how your class schedule works, take advantage of power naps. If the professor takes fifteen minutes to get things going, then take a fifteen minute power nap. There are many opportunities to catch a few minutes here and a few minutes there. Avoid soda and alcohol, we all know how good they are for our bodies. Eat healthy, even if you are broke make buying good healthy foods and eating regularly a priority. Set aside some time for exercise, even if it is only ten minute. This time must be regarded as sacred, there are only a few things that are worthy of interrupting this time.

4. Play brain games

Memorize quotes, at least one a day, after a short time you will find that your ability to memorize is strengthened and your memory becomes nearly photographic. Cross words, word searches, riddles, and other games requiring a cognitive effort positively influence the power of your brain. Try doing things different than normal, for example, if you are right handed start using you left. This method of doing things different than normal paves new pathways for the electrical impulses in your brain therefore increasing your IQ.

5. Avoid procrastination

Stay caught up! This is one of the most important factors of success. They work load is heavy and if you skip a days work it only piles up on top of the next days work. Several days of procrastination can ruin a semester of school. Learn the concepts in class. You are spending time in class anyway so make the most of it. Remember, you are paying the professor to teach you, make sure you get your moneys worth. Complete and turn in all assignments on time, if you do your grade will fairly represent your knowledge, if you don’t then your grade simply represents the politics of half off for late assignments.

6. Have some hobbies

Find something outside of school to do. There is a world full of hobbies that you should be a part off. Having a hobby will help you keep from getting burnt out. Fishing, hiking, sports, the list is endless. Your hobbies will most likely revolve around two things, your personal interests and your budget, find one (or a few) that fit.

7. Talk to who you want to be

If you are an engineer in training find some engineers or an engineering firm that focus on your interest within the engineering world. They will help achieve you goals and dreams. You might also be surprised by the opportunities that you may find. Spend time with them asking questions and taking advise so that you know exactly what it takes to get where you want to get.

8. Volunteer

If there is a college in town there is most likely a hospital. Hospitals always have need for volunteers. Make regularly scheduled visits to people that simply need a friend. What comes around goes around, volunteering is an excellent tool for networking. You will meet all walks of life in a positive environment. Note that you don’t always have to volunteer for the sick and weary, volunteering to work for free to gain experience and get your name out there can prove to be invaluable. When you buy a car it is normal to take a test drive, at the dealers expense, rarely do you hear of people making the same offer of themselves.

9. Have fun

College life can and should be very enjoyable. There are always numerous social events directed towards the students. There are thousands of other people walking around campus in your exact situation, seek them out and make friends. Take vacations, enjoy them, and make the most of them by keeping homework to a minimum and playing to a maximum.

10. Don’t burn bridges

Keep a good relationship with family and old friends. Former employers and youth leaders should continue to see you as a friend. Often times life presents itself with overwhelming circumstances, having a place and a home to fall back on in times of desperation. Many students make the mistake of taking off and telling off everyone they have ever known, this is a huge mistake. Imagine finding your self in a tragedy and no one you can fall back on. That is a bad situation that is completely avoidable, don’t burn your bridges.

The Winning Edge

admin — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 02:18:24 +0000

District champions, State champions, MVP, Valedictorian, the winner…… all these phrases represent a state of being that explains a sort of supremacy over an alternative. An entitled award that names those who over come the competition. These titles are continually sought after by general populations and respected as positive notions.

This drive to strive to win is instilled at a young age, we learn it everywhere we go in everything we do. From playing games at home to playing little league sports. Academics also encourages a competitiveness to win. This drive to excel and be above the competition can prove to be a great aptitude in many of life’s aspects.

There are a few parts of life, however, that are better off without this winning competitiveness. Marriage is one of those aspects that rarely benefits from such behaviors. As hard as it may seem it is important to set aside this innate need to win. Many times couples find themselves in a you vs me situation, a situation that tears the bonds of companionship. Arguments can escalate to become an issue of who is right instead of what is right.

Marriage is not the only time we should set aside the urge to win, there so many others usually times when a decision needs to be made by a deciding body.

How to Learn About a Culture

admin — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 01:15:33 +0000

Modern humanity is divided into many different cultures. Cultures that revolve around religion, race, education, geographics, politics, gender, and the list goes on and on and on. Within these cultures exist stereotypes and questions concerning other cultures. We all fall under some sort of cultural classification, and we all know others who classify as another. We question why? There are always inquires from one culture to another.

More than not a person of a culture hesitates to confront one from a different culture just to learn about the other. Instead a person tends to use such resources as the internet. The internet will tell you exactly what you want to hear, there is no system to regulate the quality of information across the world wide web. If you want to support your current ideas and opinions of another culture you will find it on the internet, but you will also find opposing views to your personal opinions. Relying on an internet search to answer questions about another culture is truely inefficient.

Friends within cultures are also a common source of information. But how objective is that? That is like asking Wal-Mart about Target. What do you think Wal-Mart would say? I doubt it would be very positive. Maybe you want to know more about Rush Limbaugh, should you ask President Obama? Probably not. The sources of information in these examples have too much invested to be able to answer these questions without biases.

The best way to learn about another culture is to go to that culture and get some answers. They usually know whats going on inside their own culture, because they live it. If you want to know about a religion go to representatives of that religion. If you want to know about a country ask someone of that country. Get the idea? There are so many special agendas represented by anti-this and anti-that groups that finding true and accurate information is becoming evermore difficult. But one thing is still sure, getting information straight from the horses mouth is still the best.

Setting and Achieving Goals

admin — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 07:11:23 +0000

Why Set Goals?

Goals can provide a powerful form of navigation from where you are to where you want to be. Imagine taking a road trip to a place you have never been. Do you take a map? Of course you do, that is the only way you can know how to get to your destination. Just knowing where you want to end up is not enough to get there; you have to know the way. Goals are much like a road map, they guide by showing the road to the desired destination. If you fail to set goals you sill fail to be where you want be when you want to be there.

When to set Goals?

Goal setting should begin about the same time you learn to talk, and should not cease until you are pushing up daisies. Goal setting should be an actual meeting conducted on a regular basis. A good rule of thumb is to hold s weekly meeting where you spend time reviewing your progress and setting new goals. Try to hold this meeting at the same time and place. Choose a place that allows you to pay full attention to the matter at hand, your goals.

Who should set Goals?

Those who desire success, inner-peace, self-worth, confidence, and the like. Basically everyone. There is no minimum age, the youngest of children can and should be setting goals. There is no maximum age either, you can’t retire from goal setting. In summary, if you can read this you should set some goals.

How to set Goals.

Setting goals is not a complicated concept. It is quite simple. Goals don’t have to be elaborate productions; they should be straightforward steps that lead to your destination. There are several rules and guidelines to keep in mind while setting your goals.

Goals must be attainable. If you set a goal that is unattainable you set yourself up to fail. This can be detrimental to your motivation and only hinder your desire to meet future goals. Lets say you are 35 years old and you set a goal to grow 1 foot in height by the end of the year. This is an example of an unattainable goal. There is absolutely nothing that you could do to reach this goal, no matter how hard you work or how bad you want it, it just won’t happen.
Goals must be specific. Refer back to the road map analogy, imagine the road map only showed a compass and continental outlines. Using that map to travel from Denver to Sacramento would prove useless. The details are lacking and the information void of specifics. To make a successful trip from Denver to Sacramento you must add state lines, highways, and freeways. Goals are the same, they must be detailed and specific.
Goals must harmonize. All of your goals should complement each other. If you have a goal that inhibits you from reaching the other then the big over all goal is skewed.
Goals must be challenging. Pretty much self – explanatory. Remember that a goal must take you somewhere you have never been.

With these points in mind you can set some high quality goals. Step one in goal achieving is to WRITE IT DOWN. The only way to take your goals seriously is to write them down. You should post them where they can be seen as a constant reminder of what you are working for. Goals must be micro managed. The only way to achieve a goal is to set many smaller, time specific goals. You must understand why these goals are important to you and be willing to do what it takes. The art of achieving goals is a mind game, it takes extreme dedication and motivation.

Places To Find A Free Or Near Free Credit Report and Score

admin — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 07:00:41 +0000

Have you seen your credit report? Do you know your credit score? A credit report is simply a report that contains your past and current debts. This should be easy to compile using your own records so you really shouldn’t ever pay for a report. A credit score on the other hand is harder to find on your own. A credit score is calculated by mathematical formulas using the information on your credit report, compared to the information of others. There are several different ways to formulate your score but the most popular amongst lending agencies is your FICO score. This score is important if you find the need to borrow money from any organized institution. The following are online websites that show you your credit report and your score for free or nearly free.

Equifax – No trial, $12.95 per month.

Identity Guard — Free 30 day trial, $14.99 per month.

Credit Check Total – Free 7 day trial, $19.95 per month.

myFico — Free 30 day trial, $7.50 per month.

Free Credit Report — Free 7 day trial, $14.95 per month.

True Credit – No trial, $14.95 per month.

Trans Union — Free 30 day trial, $11.95 per month.

Credit Karma — Totally free.

Establishing a Business Entity

admin — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 08:08:58 +0000

Forming a business entity may at first glance seem to be a daunting task, when in fact it’s really not. You simply have to choose what type of entity you want to form, fill out the paper work, pay a small fee and that’s it. The necessary paper work can usually be found on your state’s Secretary of State website. Some states, however, have another department that takes care of bsiness registrations. (All the links are below)

You don’t need to pay an attorney allot of money or do you need to pay one of those online filing websites. The only fees you should pay are the filing fees charged by the state. You can save a considerable amount of money by filing the papers yourself.

Here are 5 for-profit entities along with a short description and some pros and cons. Some states offer a few other types of entities that may offer a better choice for certain circumstances. Since filings are done on the state level; the steps, fees, laws, forms, and waiting periods are all individually unique to that state. Make sure that you understand the policies within your state. At the end of this article you will find 50 links to the fifty Secretaries of State in the United States. The forms needed to file can be found on these sites. If you have any questions or have trouble finding the necessary forms please contact us.

Sole Proprietorship - A business managed and owned by one person.

Pros: The owner is entitled to all of the profits according to his/her will. The owner also has complete control over every managerial decision. Filing fees are relatively cheap.

Cons: Unlimited liability, which means the owner, is personally liable for ALL of the business’s liabilities such as its debt. Unable to sell stock.

Partnership – Two or more people own the business.

Pros: Can establish General and Limited partners. General partners manage the business and equally share liabilities. Limited partners may not be directly involved with management and are liable only for that relative to their investment.

Cons: The partners are liable for the liabilities of the company just like in a Sole Proprietorship. Unable to sell stock.

Corporation – A business that is owned by shareholders and managed by a board.

Pros: Personal limited liability protection. The owner(s) are not completely responsible for the business’s debts and liabilities. Corporations can sell stock in-order to receive money from investors.

Cons: The amount of time and money is considerably higher than forming other business entities. Possibility of double taxation. Lots of regulations concerning record keeping and holding meetings.

S Corporation – A specific type of corporation that is formed to avoid double taxation. Double taxation is when the corporation pays taxes and then the shareholders pay taxes on the dividends they receive.

Cons: The amount of time and money is considerably higher than forming other business entities. Lots of regulations concerning record keeping and holding meetings.

Limited Liability Company (LLC) – A business entity that offers the liability protection of a corporation, and offers the tax features and managerial perks of a sole proprietorship or partnership.

Pros: Personal limited liability protection. The owner(s) are not completely responsible for the business’s debts and liabilities. Owner(s) has the power to make all managerial decisions. When there is one owner the business is taxed as a sole proprietorship, when there are several owners it is taxed as a partnership.

Cons: Filing fees are generally higher than sole proprietorship or partnership. Unable to sell stock.

Links to Secretary Of State websites:

Unemployed and job searching? Try these 25 Job Search Sites.

admin — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 07:13:01 +0000

Whether you have been laid off, fired, or about to become the newest person in the unemployment line, there is an easily recognizable need. A job. The following links are to the 25 most popular online job searches. Explore them and good luck!

Beyond.com

Search for local jobs, post resumes & find free tools for career development on Beyond.com. Offering recruiting & strategic staffing solutions.

Career Builder

As the U.S.’s largest online job site, CareerBuilder.com puts over 1 million jobs in front of poised job seekers wherever they are – at home or at work – in print and on the Internet. More than 23 million unique visitors come to the site every month to check out the opportunities in every industry, field and job type.

Craigslist

Craiglist offers many available jobs divided by regional locations. The best part about using craigslist is that it is very easy to use, precise, and to the point.

Execu|Search

Execu|Search is based out of the New York and Tri – State area’s. They have been around since 1985 recruiting quality people for quality jobs. If you live on the east coast this site can be a gold mine. If you are a west coaster, it is still worth the visit.

Hound

Hound is a world leader in the monitoring and reporting of jobs on employer websites, that means they compile a collection of jobs listed on an employers website.

Indeed

Indeed.com is a search engine for jobs, allowing job seekers to find jobs posted on thousands of company career sites and job boards.

Job Central

Find local jobs and apply online via company employment career sites. No middle man. Job Central is a free service of Direct Employers Association

JobServe

Search JobServe for thousands permanent jobs, contract jobs and temporary jobs advertised weekly, covering jobs in all industry sectors.

Jobster

Search for Jobs, build a career network, and connect with the hiring team at the companies you want to work for. Meet your future employer with Jobster.

LinkedIn strengthens and extends your existing network of trusted contacts. LinkedIn is a networking tool that helps you discover inside connections to company jobs.

Monster

Find the job that’s right for you. Use Monster’s resources to create a killer resume, search for jobs, prepare for interviews, and launch your career.

Oodle

Post free ads and search millions of free classifieds ads for used cars,jobs, apartments, real estate, pets, tickets and more

onTargetjobs

onTargetjobs is the parent company of HEALTHeCAREERS Network, MedHunters, BioSpace, RegionalHelpWanted, JobLoft, and Hcareers the leading niche job boards that provide online career services to the biotech, healthcare, hospitality, pharmaceutical and restaurant markets.

Simply hired

Search millions of job listings from across the web. Find local jobs, salary comparisons, and employment trends at Simply Hired. New jobs added daily.

Snag A Job

Search over 100000 jobs on SnagAJob.com. Find all types of employment – full time, hourly and part time jobs. Our jobs are updated daily.

TheLadders

Jobs & career management: With Career advice, Job postings, and Job search tools for professionals, TheLadders.com is the most comprehensive source of high paying jobs.

Trovix

Trovix is a personalized job search site that finds the right job for you.

TweetMyJobs

TweetMYJOBS is a service that brings recruiters, hiring managers and job seekers together on Twitter. We are the only job board that provides INSTANT notification of open positions via text messaging.
USAJobs

Yahoo hotjobs

Find your dream job! Search for jobs, post your resume, compare salaries and find career advice and research. Thousands of new jobs listed daily.

Job Fox

Expand Your Job Opportunities with Our Revolutionary Job Technology.

Jobing.com

Search our job listings to find great local jobs in your area. Join your local Jobing community to post your resume and apply for jobs online.

Net-Temps.com

Net-Temps is a job posting and resume searching portal specializing in the temporary and contract staffing industry.

Dice

Whether you’re looking for work, worrying about surviving the next round of layoffs, thinking of starting your own business, or starting life as a consultant, Dice has survival tips, resume advice and job-hunting guidance you can put to use right now.

LinkUp

Exposes those hidden jobs.

Making College Cheaper and Paying For It

admin — Sun, 21 Feb 2010 06:00:20 +0000

The cost of attending college is rising at an exponential rate. In recent times the number of jobs available to graduates has declined, and so have the salaries. The old theory of “go to college, you can pay off your student loans when you graduate” isn’t the best meathod for attaining finacial success. There are ways to reduce expenses and increase incomes, it is a decision that doesn’t require a college degree. (pun intended). The following is the average cost of college tuition and fees according to the United States Department of Education.

Public 4-year college in the US

Tuition: $5,950

Room: $4,072

Board: $3,402

Total: $13,424

According to United States Department of Education

1. Tuition

The chart only represents the cost of in-state tuition. The cost to pay out of state tuition is close to twice as much as in-state. So just by attending a public college in your state you can save thousands of dollars. Maybe your state doesn’t have a college that offers your desired degree, or perhaps the schools don’t meet your standards. The good news is there are a few ways to lower out of state tuition. Contact colleges in neighboring states, often times there are special programs to wave the out of state tuition. Several colleges form regional groups that “trade” students, for example, one state will let five students come from out of state and only pay the in-state, but only if the other state does the same. The bad news is that these opportunities to get a lowered tuition are very rare and often times specific to certain degrees.

2. Room and Board

This is the fun section, this is where a huge difference can be made. In an eight month school year the $4072 becomes $509 per month. I am not sure if that number includes utilities or not. I imagine that in some parts of the country, that number is realistic when including utilities and in others it is not.

If you are single you will have a broader range of choices. You can practically choose the price you want to pay, from as low as $200 per month to thousands and even millions if you really wanted too. To find that $200 per month apartment is difficult and no existent in some places. When attending a small community college I lived in one of these $200 dollar per month places. There was two large bedrooms, living room, full kitchen, two full baths, and a garage. I had to share this small space with five other guys, not exactly home sweet home. Utilities were extra, about $150 split five ways is $30. WiFi Internet was provided at no extra charge. A good place to find reasonable rent is to find someone with an extra bedroom. Many elderly folks rent out the rooms in their basement. These are great deals but require that you be an upstanding person of good character. To find the cheapest apartment requires doing research and making some contacts. Google search for apartments close to the school to get an idea of the current market and what is available. Craigslist is another great way to look for a place to stay.

Be sure that you understand what is included in the rent and what is extra. Does your rent cover laundry, or do you have to use a quarter machine? Is internet included? What utilities do you have to pay? You should also find out how much the utilities bill normally is for that particular apartment. In the end it comes down to simple mathematics.

If you are married the pick’ins are more expensive. I have found some interesting and affordable alternatives. If you are a small family or just a couple then you could consider living in an RV. Before you say no lets consider the following. In an apartment you pay $600 rent, and $150 utilities (water, sewer, electricity). You pay $250 per month for the RV, another $300 per month for the space in the RV park. This space rent includes all utilities all the time, includes Internet, and often times cable TV. The apartment totals $750 per month and all that money goes to the landlord. In an RV you pay $550 per month, but the RV retains some value, so the real cost of your place is depreciation plus interest (if you financed the RV).

Another way to cheapen up the room and board is to make your own food, avoid eating out. Do the math you will see that eating out adds up quickly.

3. Money to Pay For it All

Get a job. Anyone who says that it is hard to work while going to college is fooling themselves. It just takes some hard work (which never killed anyone). Where should you work? There are always a handful of local companies that strive to hire students from their local college. There are also a lot of national companies that have great student job opportunities, for example UPS, Fedex, Wal-Mart, etc.. Do some searching. Find part time work in your field of study. You may have to do allot of free work to get your name and reputation out there then you can make some money. Work at the college under the work study program. Mentor high school students. The list goes on and on and on, be creative.

When summer rolls around it is time to do some slave labor. Summer sales has become a popular choice to many. From selling security systems to pest control there is a long list of places and items. Look for temporary seasonal jobs. These seasonal jobs are often times found in more rural parts. The agriculture industry is very busy during the summer times. The oil and mining fields always have temprary positions to fill.

The FAFSA can be worth the time if you meet certain criteria. Fill it out ever year because the laws continually change. If you are married and/or have kids you could be in for a real treat. The government starts handing out money like candy. The amount of money recieved is based on your and/or your parents income and the cost of your schooling. They also offer low interest student loans for those that don’t qualify for “free” money.

Scholarships can also prove to be a great source of money. Fill-out and apply for as many scholarships you can find, its a number game. Lets say you fill out five scholarships per day, that’s 1,825 a year. If you can manage to win 10% of those with an average of $1,000 that comes to $182,500. Worth the time? Even if you only were awarded 1% it would still be $18,250. Getting good grades and filling out scholarships can be a great way to receive LOTS of money.

In the end, where there is a will there is a way.

Steak or Hamburger?

admin — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 05:57:24 +0000

This article was nominated for an award on Great Leadership by Dan McCarthy

Ask yourself, when was the last time you turned down the opportunity to eat a tasty steak for a hamburger. As for myself I can safely say, never. Why is that? Why might a steak be more appealing than a hamburger? Evaluating the facts we see that steak and hamburger are basically the same, muscle matter from cattle. The differences lie in where they come from, how they are processed, and what they have to offer.

Popular retail steak cuts are commonly found in areas that have a high concentration of muscle tissues such as the back, shoulders, and rump areas. The hamburger comes from the areas of lower concentration of meat. The legs, neck, head, and the spaces in between good steaks contain the muscle tissue that is used to make hamburgers. It is hard to make a good steak from the pieces used for hamburger.

So where do you come from? Are you of high quality? Do you come from a place that is ideal for developing a high quality life? More importantly, where will your children or those who you mentor come from? Hopefully an environment that is designed for producing high quality attributes. The place you came from is largely out of your control, and as difficult as it may sound; losing sleep over the lack of an ideal upbringing it is not always healthy. If you were brought up in a good environment then you should be grateful. But what you can control is what you are personally responsible for, those that rely on you to provide a healthy situation is what you should be losing sleep over.

The processes of preparation are what decide just how great the steak can be. Everybody has their own way of preparing steak. However, the goal remains the same, to create a succulent and flavorsome chunk of very desirable meat. There are so many secret and magical recipes, from hours of marinating in special potions and sauces, to blanketing the steak with salts and herbal seasonings. Cooking methods also vary, some grill, some broil, and some BBQ. Some cook over gas flames and others over wood flames. Some cook slowly and others cook fast. Every method produces a steak with its added flavor. When it comes to hamburger the preparations are relatively limited and simple, some simple season salts maybe added, but other than that not many additional steps are taken.

What decisions have you made in self preparation? Have you taken the time and made the effort to add flavor? This is your responsibility, you have the control. Though it may require more time and energy to prepare, the final product will pay off. If you spend too little time in preparations you fall short, if you spend too much time then it’s been wasted with meaningless actions. There is a fine line between too much and too little. When this line is found it is time to go on, time to enter the oven.

So what are you, a steak or a hamburger? Do you come from a great place, do you take the time and make the effort to properly prepare, and do you offer something more? By becoming “steak” you will be chosen nine times out of ten over any offers that oppose. Think of your boss, if you make an offer that is clearly better than the other you will most likely win. Think of your spouse, when he/she is presented with the opportunity to taste some other hamburger he/she will only think of the steak waiting at home. The analogy of steak over hamburger can be applied to nearly every situation life has to offer. The responsibility is yours, a simple choice to be that which is best; come from a good place, make proper preparations, and offer more than the others. Think of those you teach such as your children or your employees, are you teaching them to become steak?