Set Course!

"If you don't know where you're going, then any path will take you there".

Is there anything in life you've always wanted to do? Do you find yourself coming back to the statement "I wish I...."?

Write these things down.

What's the Value of College Education

The following is an extract from a blog by Tamara Erickson posted on Harvard Business Online. The full article is entitled "I've Got a Job Offer! Placing a Future Value on College Degrees".

clipped from discussionleader.hbsp.com I caught an interview with Simon Cowell on Good Morning America recently (June 6). In case you’ve somehow managed to insulate yourself from popular culture over the past five years, Simon is the hard-hitting judge on American Idol. He is also #21 on the Celebrity 100 list Forbes compiles of the most powerful and highest paid stars, has launched half a dozen shows, and is worth an estimated $200 million. After commenting on his success, the interviewer asked him if he had any regrets for having dropped out of high school as a teenager and never having gone to college. His response caught my attention to the degree that I replayed it on TiVo often enough to write it down word-for-word. Here’s what the wise one said: “Absolutely not. Because there was nothing I could or wanted to learn in school; it was just a complete waste of my time. What I did have, and I've always had, is that I'm a hard worker. The secret of my success is that I make other people money.”

Isn't it "basic human nature" that those of us that went through college - at least if we consider ourselves even a little 'successful' - are going to take the position that "a college education is a prerequisite for a balanced, fulfilled, and successful life", whereas those who didn't - and consider themselves even a little 'successful' - are going to take the view that it's not.

Too often, it seems to me, people are encouraged to do the right thing according to someone else's set of values, rather than to work out what their own values are and then do the right thing according to them. "Above all - to thine own self be true".

The fundamental question, it seems to me, is not whether it is more 'valuable' to have a college degree than not (those whose interests lie in 'selling' college education will, of course, attempt to quantify its value in terms of dollars and cents), but whether young people have the opportunity and the mentors to help them a) establish what their life goals are, and b) find the best ways - inside or outside of formal education - to equip themselves to achieve those goals.

Finally, I can't help but wonder at how 'success' is defined. Simon Callow - as far as I can make out - is a bitter, vindictive, publicity hound, a bully whose "talent" lies in his ability publicly to ridicule and humiliate people without shame or remorse.

Hands up all those who want their kids to grow up to be like that!

There's no time for doubt

Time spent doubting is time spent in paralysis. "Should I? Shouldn't I? What if I make/have made a mistake? To be or not to be, that is the question...."

You can't be fully alive, seizing the day, pursuing your goals, if you get locked in the doubt trap. Remind yourself that a bad decision is always better than no decision at all. If you find yourself agonizing, you have to do some relaxation exercises, breathe, close your eyes, and listen. Listen to your heart. Then take that decision and move. Move one way or the other. Your heart knows which is right, but whatever you do, act... and move on.

Time is too short. Life is no dress rehearsal. Stop agonizing and get on with it!

You Can't Always Get What You Want

Ever got to the end of the day and wondered what on earth you accomplished? Or, worse, ever got to the end of the day, and been sure you'd accomplished absolutely nothing? Zip. Zero. Nada.
It's a pretty depressing place to find yourself. Dwell on it, too long, and it'll take you down roads where you end up questioning the whole meaning, purpose and direction of your life.

Don't get me wrong: a little self-analysis, every now again, is no bad thing. We all need to check where we are and where we're headed against where we want to be, once in a while. But the end of a long day of spinning your wheels is not the time.

So. If you find yourself in this situation, what should you do? And how do you avoid getting to this place in the first instance?

Get Smarts

What could possibly go wrong?

clipped from www.guardian.co.uk Doing 'brain exercises' such as watching Countdown, playing Sudoku or taking a shower with your eyes closed can make us all up to 40 per cent cleverer within seven days, according to research by a BBC programme this week THE GET SMARTER GUIDE Saturday Brush your teeth with your 'wrong' hand and take a shower with your eyes closed. Sunday Do the crossword or Sudoku puzzle in your Sunday paper and take a brisk walk. Monday Have oily fish for dinner, and either cycle, walk or take the bus into work. Tuesday Select unfamiliar words from the dictionary and work them into conversations. Wednesday Go to yoga, Pilates or a meditation class, and talk to someone you don't know. Thursday Take a different route to work; watch Countdown or Brainteaser. Friday Avoid caffeine or alcohol; memorise your shopping list.