1.Because I feel that the New Year’s Eve is really knocking at our door(s), so I think that we need to read articles that give us trust, that kind of trust we need to make plans, to stick to them, to focus, to be organized and optimized. Optimize Your Life With the SWOT Matrix & 10 Questions That Will Change Your Life: SWOT Analysis Part #2

“A SWOT matrix is a framework for analyzing our strengths and weaknesses, and the opportunities and threats we face. In the first article of this series, I discussed the two top SWOT quadrants, Strengths and Weaknesses. This second part of the series focuses on the two bottom quadrants, Opportunities and Threats.”

“The economic crisis is casting a shadow on many lives at the moment. Maybe you too have some fears about the future? Are you worried about your job? Or about having less opportunities?

I’m going to to show you a simple way of optimizing your life. It’s called the SWOT analysis and is usually used for analyzing businesses. However, it’s actually a great tool for getting a grip on one’s life! I found that I could see more opportunities, as well as be alert to possible dangers, after I did a SWOT analysis.”

2. One of my  lifetime regrets, is that I am not organized enough or how i wish to be.  I found here some very good advices!  Train Yourself to Be Organized

Contrary to popular belief, people are not born organized, it is a learned behaviour. Some may have the good fortune of learning at an early age, from organized parents; some have to figure it out as they go along; and some never learn.

Also contrary to popular belief, being organized isn’t rocket science. It is a habit based on basic principles and tips.

The first thing you have to do is train yourself. Being organized begins in the mind.

3. I am pretty sure that you all know, that if you do a thing and you don’t like it, you will never have the same feeling like when you do it with passion. Focus is another essential point, that I’ve  told you before.   How Passion and Focus Will Rock Your Career

Why Focus is So Important in Work
If you’re drawn to doing a lot of different things like I am, it’s probably because you enjoy the rush you feel when trying something new. The Pareto principle applies here because you might be able to learn 80% of a skill in 20% of the time it would take to master it. That quick progress is addictive and fun.

For starters, I want you to know that I am huge fan of the ZenHabits-blog, so my recommendations for today are mostly from them.

1. In one way or another, we all get tired at some point to work at the same project, or doing the same stuff. so, we have here a “A Guide to Cutting Back When You Feel Overwhelmed”.

There are days in everyone’s life when they feel overwhelmed by the stresses and tasks and projects and phone calls and emails that weigh upon them. Yes, even the minimalists like me get overwhelmed from time to time.

How do you deal with it? There are many ways, of course, from eating and smoking and drinking to exercise and meditation and more.

My recommendation: Cut back. Simplify. De-load.

2.  I really like reading motivational articles. It motivates me, and that is happening … daily. So, here is a ” Top 20 Motivation Hacks – An Overview”

Achieving goals is not a matter of having “discipline”. It’s a matter of motivating yourself, and keeping your focus on your goal. Follow these hacks, or any combination of them that works for you, and you should have the motivation and focus you need.

Here they are, in reverse order (links take you to more on each)…

3. I like this Christmas-New Year’s Eve period. It’s when we all think about what we did in the year that has just passed, and we make plans for the one that’s about to come. But, do we really stick to this exact plan?  “The Definitive Guide to Sticking to Your New Year’s Resolutions.”

Let’s face it: most of us fail when it comes to sticking to resolutions — so much so that many people swear never to make resolutions again.

And yet the rest of us are eternally hopeful when the New Year comes around, believing without any credible evidence that we can improve our lives, that change is possible, that we’re not going to be stuck in the same old rut again this year.

I’m here to tell you that you can do it. It’s possible. I’ll show you how.

4. Al last but not least, from the Dumb Little Man – Blog,  I have something that’s going to help us mantain our plans for the next year. And that is Ten Essential Time Management Tips

It doesn’t matter whether you’re self-employed, employed or a student: over the past six years, I’ve been an undergraduate student, a full-time employee, a part-time postgraduate student, and a freelancer – and these tips work for all those situations!

1. For this article, I think it’s better to start with the headline. “The Most Powerful Productivity Technique Ever”. Well, isn’t that a thing that almost every GTD user would like to know?

“Work as if you are being audited, and have to explain every single minute of your day.”

2. Trends that will influence 2010 and beyond This is kinda the often subject that  bloggers are writing about, at one year’s end. What will happen in the year that comes?

“Ad giant JWT has done a year-end forecast for the past several years and has just released their thoughts on what 2010 will bring.

Here’s a glance at the 10 trends they believe will shape this next year.”

3. 25 Tips to Help Keep You Motivated In the battle of “who’s more productive than me” I suggest you all to keep your spirit motivated! So… who’s the most motivated?

Do you find it difficult to stay motivated long enough to accomplish your goals? Do you find yourself losing interest just even before you reach your goals? Here are some tips to help you learn motivation mastery and maximize your success.

1. I, sometimes find myself in a lack of motivation. So I look around me for something to click me. Wish I had known these at the right moment. Top Ways To Stay Motivated

Motivation is something that can either make or break your aspirations, and I notice that when my personal sense of motivation is high, my current “status” is right up there with it. With that realization, I started analyzing the times when I was feeling motivated, and the times where I was in need of some, and managed to find at least six main things that contribute to my motivation.

2. Dumb Little Man is one of the blog that I read every day (If the post something new, of course), so today I have something written by them. 20 Powerful Beliefs That Will Push You Toward Success.

Success, first of all, is not a set of achievements or a combination of external factors; it is a mindset. Success is an attitude that comes from a framework of powerful beliefs and empowering thoughts.

3. In time, I managed to figure out that, in order to have success doing something, you really have to keep an order and to have a good set of principles >>to follow<<. Check this 6 out, and tell me the result. 6 Productivity Principles to Live By

Whenever I follow these guidelines, I am at my very best, feeling productive and joyful. If I feel that I am doing things outside these guidelines, I know I can refer to them and quickly get back on track.

1. First of all, because of the holidays we all have to learn how to be optimist and happy. Here are  7 Ways to Make Your Life More Meaningful. just perfect for you.

Most of us want to lead a happy life. That’s natural, because pleasure is more attractive than pain. But should happiness be the ultimate goal in life – as the Positive Psychology movement proposes?

2. This is a title that I liked from the very start. Yes, I also liked the article.  How to Do Something Even When You Don’t Feel Like Doing It

Often you have to do something you don’t feel that much like doing. Such is life. Maybe it’s telephone call where you risk rejection in some way. Maybe it is finishing a report or essay for work/school. Maybe it’s just about getting those dishes done or going to the gym.

3. I know it’s probably not easy to admit, but it’s better for all of us to do what we love. To do it with passion. Still, if we can’t do what we love, we still have to have the passion. So, How to Find Passion in Your Career ?

This lack of interest in people’s professional lives at first confused me, like people didn’t care enough about their friends to bother finding out what they did eight or ten hours a day.

After a while, however, when the cultural shift started happening in my brain, I understood the reluctance to ask: Work life isn’t important.

1. It’s almost the end of the year, and many people around me started planning for 2010. Have You Started Planning for a Successful 2010? Here’s How!

The New Year is fast approaching. Do you have a plan for your business? Do you know what you’re going to do for 2010 to make your business grow and see your income dreams realized? If not, use these guidelines to plan ahead, so you can make 2010 your year of success!

2. Some are born with a certain talent. Some, learn it… What do you think about it?  Can you Learn to Be Creative?

Do you have to be born a creative person? Or will you suffer the fate of being dull and unimaginative for the rest of your life?

Can you learn to come up with great ideas or learn to create unique, original things like art, music, poetry or ingenious inventions?

What about creativity being something like making a lot out of a little?

These are all questions that I have thought about for a very long time. I never really thought of myself as being creative, and I see the same attitude with so many people. “I just can’t come up with good ideas” or “I can’t start my own business, I’m not creative enough”.

3. Are you encountering difficulties  Finding Your Motivation ?

I’ve found the best way to change that filter for me is physical movement.  To get my butt in gear about something, even the littlest thing, like walk around the block. Sometimes…

1. The key of being optimist and also succeeding in being a good audience keeper on How to Be Assertive?

At some point in time, you’ll need to be assertive.  The ability to be assertive without coming across as aggressive or offensive will be key to your effectiveness.  Following these steps will lead to assertiveness success.

2. Have you heard of Parkinson’s Law before? Well, I haven’t (shame on me). Reading this post “How Parkinson’s Law Blocks Your Happiness And Creativity” I realized that, yes, timing in the key to everything.

Parkinson’s Law is a theory of productivity made wildly popular by Tim Ferris in The 4-Hour Workweek (amazon link). I’ll use his expression of the “Law” since I invoked his usage:

Parkinson’s Law dictates that a task will swell in (perceived) importance and complexity in relation to the time alloted for completion.

3. Have you ever thought of a good for the existence of a Lag in your life? Well, Mary Jaksch found 10 Reasons Why Lag is an Advantage. Enjoy!

My worst experience of lag was when I started out as a blogger two years ago. I created Goodlife Zen and sat back, waiting for people to subscribe. For many months nothing happened. My posts seemed to disappear into a black hole in cyberspace. At times I was ready to give up. But I kept going, doggedly writing post after post. Patience paid off and now Goodlife Zen is thriving.

1. How to keeep your focus, productivity & consistency..   The Key To Consistent Creativity and Productivity

How long can you concentrate and focus on one thing before your energy and attention begins to falter? How long does it take you to engage in a particular thing to make the effort of engagement worth it?

The answers to those two questions make up (what I’m calling) your engagement threshold, and figuring out your engagement threshold is probably the most important thing you can do to become more consistently creative and productive.

2. Probably every brand creator asks or was asking himself this… Which are the 5 reasons why other people will spread your personal brand

I was part of a panel (with Claire Celsi, Nathan T. Wright & Dr. David Bulla) talking to journalists about personal branding this morning.

Part of my message was that it’s fine and dandy to have a personal brand…but one of the keys to its success is in how you share your brand with the world. I used the analogy of a dandelion.

Once you figure out what your personal brand is all about….you hold it out to the world, like a dandelion.

3. I really don’t like wasting time sorting my emails, so I found these  Tricks for capturing Waiting For emails

One of the key buckets in your GTD system is Waiting For.  So what’s the biggest creator of Waiting For? Sent emails. Sure, you could slog through your Sent folder for which ones you actually need to make sure to track, but that’s like searching for a contact lens on the beach.  Good luck having that be a trusted and efficient system.

1. I guess we all have habits. Some of them are good for us, and some are not… but still, how do you react when you change your habits? “Do You Make These 7 Common Mistakes When Changing a Habit?”

Changing a habit is not always easy. It becomes even harder to change when you make what I believe are some common mistakes. I have at least made them quite a few times.

So I hope you’ll find something helpful in this article. Something that will make it at least a bit easier to change your habits and change your life.

2. Because it’s December, the month of sales and gifts.. i guess we all have to have a plan. And we I say we, I mean WE Bloggers! I recommend you to read: December Content Strategies .

1 – Re-evaluate everything.

2 – Ramp up content.

3 – Use December to get a blogging jumpstart on 2010.

4 – Experiment.

5 – Become a commenting superhero.

3. My friends say that their inspiration comes when they feel free. So, here are 7 Ways to stop feeling Stuck and Start Feeling Free.

It doesn’t matter how self-aware you are, we all get ’stuck’ sometimes.

Usually we’re resourceful enough to find out what we need to know to move forward especially if it’s just information: we read a book, listen to a seminar, search the web or ask a friend in the know.

1.How many of you have dozens of projects, that just … stay at the first stage of development?  Do You Have Dozens of Unfinished Projects? Here’s What to Do

Are you the sort of person who gets really fired up and excited by new ideas, who dives straight in … and who then loses enthusiasm and ends up with dozens of half-finished projects all on the go at the same time?

2. Feel like you have a lack of motivation? Here’s 20 Key Questions on Motivation and Habits, Answered

It’s that time of year — the end part — when people start thinking about their lives, their goals, their habits, and how to change everything for the better.

3. Try to find a way not to kill your time. And make it a success, not a failure!   Is Prioritization Failing You?

If you’ve ever struggled with time management (and who hasn’t?), I’d bet you’ve given the advice to prioritize. You make a list of all the things that need to be done – and even doing that is scary. Then you try to rank them in order of which ones matter the most.