Tag Archives: people skills

Flow

Mihály Csíkszentmihályi in his book “Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience” outlines what it takes to achieve happiness – a state of flow.

It turns out that the state of flow comes more naturally to some people. Some people are Autotelic  and this means that they have self-motivation and are internally driven. This quality of their personality makes them “gifted” when it comes to being able to achieve the state of flow. But others can achieve this state as well if they know what to do to achieve it.

How do you achieve it? There are certain factors that allow the state of flow, and they are…

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Self-help Motivational Reading List

I have purchased and read (or listened to the audio-book) probably around 30 books on self-improvement (self help) and motivation. I’ve told you the common messages in a previous postAnd, I’ve told you what works and what doesn’t. But what if you want to read (or listen to) these yourself? Which ones should you pick? Below are my recommendations.

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Working with Foreign Cultures – Changing Speech and Writing

When working with foreign cultures, it can influence the way you speak and write to the point where your speaking and writing with your home country colleagues can change – for the worse!

I’ve noticed this because I have worked with foreign cultures for years now and have adjusted my writing style in emails to foreign contacts in order to accommodate their limited understanding of my English language and grammar. How, you ask?

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Try Until – A Debrouillard Strategy

First, a definition of the French word, debrouillard…

debrouillard: [de-broo-yar]

- adjective
1. skilled at adapting to any situation;
resourceful.

- noun
2. a resourceful person who can act
independently or cope with any development.

One of the things that this word means to me is that I must “try until.” This “try until” attitude is a hallmark of great people and it is a system of thinking that will make you extraordinary! Who would not want someone on their team that embodies the debrouillard mindset? Who wouldn’t want to know someone like this? They don’t give up.

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Self-help – What works and what doesn’t?

You’ve seen my list of self-help lessons I have learned from reading lots of books on the subject of personal development, and my self-help book reading lists. But what really works?

Here again is my list of lessons learned from reading self-help and motivational texts, but this time with notation to tell you what works and what doesn’t, and what is supported by scientific evidence, and what just seems to work without science to back it.

Tony Robbins and Jim Rohn: Two of the most effective personal development gurus available.

My List:

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A Chronology of Motivational Writers and Speakers

Updated 2-August-2011

This concept map shown here is the linkage and chronology (upper people are older or were born earlier) of motivational and self-help writers and speakers throughout history, based on how they attributed who taught or influenced them. Continue reading


Self-help’s Common Messages

I have read a lot of “self-help” and “motivational” books lately. They certainly work. They all have the same things in common. Here they are: Continue reading


Assertiveness

Here is a cheap, easy and effective life-enhancing technique that you can begin and see immediate results whether you fit any of the criteria or not.  I highly recommend that you do this because it is simple, effective, and it works immediately. You will see results.

I have learned that many people, including me, are not very assertive. They get “ran over’ by everyone else and do not stand up for themselves. They get frustrated at how things are going. Discouraged. Upset. Maybe they even live in constant anxiety and fear. Fear of losing their job. Fear of failure. Anxious to please others. Sound even a little bit familiar to you?

If so, there’s good news. You can change this. I have started this process myself, and it is making a huge difference in how I feel and how I deal with others. Keep in mind here that I didn’t have to do it. I didn’t have to change anything. I was acceptably effective at dealing with situations and people, but I wanted more. That is the key. I wanted to be better.

Also, if you are the other way – too assertive. Too angry all the time. Too demanding. This can help.

Doesn’t sound familiar? Do it anyway. You will be surprised! No matter who you are, you have to deal with people – probably daily. Deal with them better. Interact with them better. Feel better about what you do. Reduce your anxiety.

Enough of me talking, o.k. here it is. It’s easy: Continue reading


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