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Monday 30 November 2015

Are You a REAL Entrepreneur?

Are You a REAL Entrepreneur?
STEVE TOBAK

In Real Leaders Don't Follow, author Steve Tobak explains how real entrepreneurs can start, build, and run successful companies in highly competitive global markets. He provides unique insights from an insider perspective to help you make better-informed business and leadership decisions. In this edited excerpt, Tobak describes the four outstanding traits of true entrepreneurs.
While there's no one-size-fits-all model for real entrepreneurs, there are a number of common themes. It’s not a laundry list of attributes or qualities, but more about their behavior and motivation. What makes them unique is what they do and, just as important, what they don’t do. Becoming a real entrepreneur is certainly not preordained, but it’s not a cakewalk either. In my experience, the following questions, when answered correctly, are what sets real entrepreneurs apart from the crowd.

1. They are driven by passion.

Passion is the primary source of all the behaviors that make entrepreneurs successful. Their passion for their work is at their very core. It’s what motivates and inspires them. It’s what sets them apart.
That’s what makes finding what you love to do, what makes you obsessive and crazed with excitement, so critical to becoming a successful entrepreneur. It’s what drives you to work 24/7 and not give a crap that the rest of your life has gone to hell. It’s what keeps you going when everyone says you’re nuts. It’s what occupies your mind every waking moment and keeps you hungry and focused on accomplishing that one thing.
Steve Jobs was a card-carrying control freak, a maniacal micromanager who could never pay too much attention to the details of the companies and products he built. Had he been any other way, Apple would not be Apple today. Neither would Pixar be Pixar. Nearly every great entrepreneur I can think of -- Bill Gates, Larry Ellison, Mark Zuckerberg, Michael Dell, and a laundry list of those less famous -- were all passionate about their work.
If you find that you’re always in need of motivation and inspiration, all that means is you haven’t found what you love doing yet. Keep looking. Keep the faith. You’ll find it.

2. They don't let anything stand in their way.

Real entrepreneurs never think about work-life balance. They don’t do a little of this and a little of that. They don’t do things in half measures. When they hit on something they think is really cool and exciting, they go all in. They don’t just dip their toes in the water. They jump in headfirst without a moment’s thought about the rocks below. They’re mostly workaholics because their work comes first. It’s what they live for. They’re not freewheeling, fun-loving people who live for the weekend. They live to do what they love, and that’s work. While everyone else complains about how much they have to work, successful entrepreneurs usually have to be pried away from it.
They don’t take risks for the sake of taking risks. They just don’t let anything stand in the way of what drives them. Risk just comes with the territory. So does facing fear. Great entrepreneurs often appear to be fearless, but that’s certainly not the case. They feel fear just like you and me -- they just don’t let it stop them from accomplishing what they set out to do. They don’t succumb to those voices in their heads -- the ones that taunt you with everything that can go wrong. Their motivation, their passion, is simply strong enough to overcome their fear. Or maybe they just don’t think about it.

3. They're on a "mission from God."

When Dan Aykroyd as Elwood Blues said, “We’re on a mission from God” with that deadpan delivery, you knew that nothing was going to stop the Blues Brothers from getting the band back together. Not a bunch of angry Winnebago-driving hillbillies with shotguns, Aretha Franklin as Matt Guitar Murphy’s pissed-off wife, a high-speed car chase through a shopping mall, or what appeared to be the entire Chicago police force.
Great entrepreneurs also often seem to be on a mission from God. When they speak about their vision or idea, you’d swear they’ve been possessed by some sort of demon that, instead of inciting chaos and mischief, inspires innovation and creation. There’s definitely an aspect of fanaticism in their zeal for whatever has captured their imagination. And it’s often fueled by an unnatural belief that they’re special, an aspect that can become a self-fulfilling prophecy. In his seminal bookOrganizing Genius: The Secrets of Creative Collaboration, five of Warren Bennis’ 15 lessons of what he calls “Great Groups” are that they “see themselves as winning underdogs,” “always have an enemy,” “have blinders on,” always have “a strong leader,” and “think they are on a mission from God.” One of the groups profiled in the book is Apple’s first Macintosh design team, which Steve Jobs famously told their purpose was to “make a dent in the universe.” And they did.

4. They follow no one.

When you work with successful entrepreneurs on a daily basis, you begin to wonder what it takes to influence them. They always seem to march to the beat of a drum only they can hear -- they follow no one.
To them, there's no such thing as conventional wisdom. They have no patience for the status quo. Tell them how things are done, have been done, or should be done, and you’re likely to receive an intimidating stare or be summarily written off as a lost cause.
They have no interest in what anyone else says or does. The wordpopular has no meaning to them. They’re indifferent to social conventions and societal norms. They don’t have personal brands, and they don’t try to be what they’re not. They’re true to themselves and comfortable in their own skin. Dealing with them is relatively simple and straightforward: What you see is what you get.
They strongly identify with their passion, their company, and their products. And when it comes to anything related to their work, they have their own methods, their own way of doing things.
They're generally business-savvy, quick on the uptake, and born troubleshooters and problem solvers. They’re not particularly patient, don’t mince words, and don’t typically suffer fools lightly. They're confident and competent. They are decision makers, not consensus builders. They listen to others, but in the end, they only trust their own gut.
True entrepreneurs carve their own unique path. They’re the makers of their own destiny. And they shape the world we live in.
Entrepreneurship has nothing to do with beliefs or even traits -- it’s entirely about behavior. It’s about starting a business and risking loss to make money. It’s about organizing and managing a company with real products, customers, and employees. And until you accomplish that, it’s a good idea to lose the labels and get to work.
If these four behaviors don’t fit you perfectly, don’t panic. It doesn’t mean you can’t own a franchise or two, a dry-cleaning business, or a restaurant. It doesn’t mean you can’t be self-employed or a small-business owner. But if you want to do great things, if you want to be a real entrepreneur who starts, runs, and grows a successful, thriving business, you’ve certainly got your work cut out for you.

for more details on entrepreneurship contact us at SDIL

Time-Wasting Habits You Need to Cut Out of Your Life for Good


You've probably heard the saying that 20 percent of your activities account for 80 percent of your success. This means that 80 percent of your activities are of at least low value, if not a complete waste of time. If you want to improve your success, you have two choices--find more time in your day or eliminate those time-wasting activities.
The problem is that a lot of those time-wasting activities have become habits--things you do without thinking. Habits can be difficult to change, but it is possible to replace them with new behaviors. When you replace bad habits with activities that focus on that worthwhile 20 percent, you'll find yourself much more successful in the same amount of--or perhaps even less--time  per week.
Here are seven time-wasting habits to cut out of your life for good.

1. Checking email constantly.

In 2013, a whopping 32 percent of U.S. employees reported that they replied to emails within 15 minutes of receiving them. An additional 23 percent responded within 30 minutes. But is faster actually better? Constantly checking email costs us a ton of valuable time, but it is something that can controlled. Create a new habit of turning off your email program and notifications while you work on an important project, or come up with a system to check your new messages only twice a day. You'll save time and get much more done.

2. Waiting for things to be perfect.

It's an unfortunate reality that perfectionism can paralyze you. Instead of doing tasks efficiently, you end up wasting a tremendous amount of time trying to perfect things that should simply be sent on to the next phase. Spending a large amount of time perfecting a task could actually be a sign of procrastinating instead of taking next steps. Instead, crush this time-wasting habit and work until it's "good" before moving forward.

3. Multitasking.

Multitasking has become a bad habit for many Americans, but in reality it makes you less productive. Your brain can focus on only one thing at a time, and constantly switching tasks actually retrains your brain to not really focus at all. If you find yourself toggling between tasks and can't settle on one thing, understand that you're hurting your performance and wasting time. Instead, focus on one task for a specific period of time before moving on to the next one.

4. Inviting interruptions.

Are you working in an environment prone to distractions? One study showed that workers get interrupted every 11 minutes. No wonder we don't get anything done! Think about how many habitual things you do every day that actually invite people to interrupt you, from sending a quick text to checking your email when trying to focus on something else.
Reducing these behaviors will help you keep focused and learn to eliminate distractions. Try blocking out work time on your calendar and marking it as "busy," shutting your door if you have one, silencing your cell phone, and letting others know you will talk to them at another time.

5. Being disorganized.

There are many different ways to organize that don't include a tidy desk. Zappos CEO Tony Hsieh loves a messy desk, while others prefer using filing cabinets. Regardless, a habit of working in disorganized chaos is also a major time waster. Constantly losing important papers, repeatedly asking for key information, and forgetting to complete a task until the last minute are all unnecessary time spenders. Instead, experiment withorganizational habits that work for you and use them consistently.

6. Failing to delegate.


7. Never saying
no.Many people insist on doing everything themselves, but refusing to relinquish control can actually backfire. It's a waste of your time to do things that you aren't the best at. Instead, delegate these tasks to others--either others on your team, an assistant, or a virtual assistant--and focus on responsibilities and projects that are within your zone of expertise. Look to eliminate minor tasks like screening emails or research or passing off duties that just don't suit your talents from your schedule.
Failing to say no when it means focusing on time-sucking activities comes at the expense of your core projects. Whether you need to say no to additional work assignments or unproductive personal engagements, it's important to set firm boundaries. Focus on getting your vital projects completed during work hours while surrendering to renewing and refreshing during your personal time. There are plenty of easy and effective ways to give a powerful no without alienating your personal and professional network.

Personal Habits That Will Hurt Your Business

5 Personal Habits That Will Hurt Your BusinessIt's easy to focus on the business itself when you're considering growth strategies. Our personal lives are connected to our business more then we give it credit. It is easy to act as if everything is separate, but the truth is that each aspect of our lives bleeds into each other. Your business affects you personally, and your personal life affects your business.
If your business is struggling, it may be time to check out your personal life and its effect on your business. The following five personal habits will hurt your business:

1. Lack of rest

Without proper rest, you will take twice as long to do the same projects within your business running on a good night's sleep. A tired mind is a slow mind, yet at times we entrepreneurs burn the candle at both ends leaving no room for rest and recuperation.
Stop wearing the badge of busyness. Rest to be more productive, creative and efficient. Take your business to the next level by getting the rest that your body and mind need.

2. Poor personal finances 

A lack of control over personal finances will rob your mind and your business. When your mind is worried about money, it is not free to be the creative entrepreneur you could be. Expanding personal expenses makes more of an impact on your company then just mental. It can become tempting to raise your salary, taking money that could be used for expansion.
Regain control over your personal finances, and your business will grow and prosper.

3. Relational problems

Problems with relationships -- especially serious problems -- could close the doors on your company. Taking energy from working on your business, relational problems will suck the life right out of you. The more intimate the relationship the more problems will affect you emotionally, mentally and physically.
Take time to repair relationships that need to be repaired, and remove toxic relationships. Fix your business by fixing your personal relationships.

4. Lack of exercise

Many entrepreneurs are notorious for ignoring their bodies. Lack of exercise will reduce your physical and mental stamina. Confidence takes a hit when you aren’t staying physically active as well. With all the physical and mental health benefits of exercise, it is crucial that you do it. Exercise can be intimidating if you haven’t been physically active, so start slow -- but stay consistent.
Make time to exercise to help your business break through barriers and maintain growth over time.

5. Struggling with boundaries

Lack of recognition the between a concern and a responsibility will cause many entrepreneurs to become burnt out and frustrated. When boundaries are not in place, the world sits on your shoulders causing overwhelming pressure.


CONTRIBUTOR
5 Personal Habits That Will Hurt Your BusinessRemove the mental roadblocks by focusing on and fixing what is your responsibility and leaving concerns to the people that are responsible for them. Free your mind and your business by having firm boundaries in place.
Working on these five habits will help to transform your company and take it to the next level. Though mastery will not happen overnight you can make massive improvements by a little bit of focus. If you recognize a specific habit to being the biggest culpri,t use a bulk of your energy in fixing that specific habit.
Remember: Change your habits, change your business and change your life.

Sunday 29 November 2015

Most Common Regrets People Have In Life

COMMUNICATION HAPPINESS LIFESTYLE PRODUCTIVITY RELATIONSHIPS SUCCESS BY 


MOST COMMON REGRETS IN LIFE

Rare facts of Tyson Fury

Tyson Fury has a daughter called Venezuela and his favourite film is The Notebook... here are 20 things you might not know about him ahead of Wladimir Klitschko bout

  • Tyson Fury fights Wladimir Klitschko in Dusseldorf on Saturday night 
  • Ahead of the fight, Sportsmail gives you 20 facts about the British boxer
  • The 27-year-old has a daughter called Venezuela and a son called Prince
  • Fury's height also means he has a custom-made 7ft-long bed at his home
  • Read: Tyson Fury is in the best condition of his life, insists his uncle

The Gypsy King is aiming to secure the world heavyweight title and can take his record to 25-0 with a win over the Ukrainian in Germany.
Although Fury is a very colourful character, there are likely to be many things you don't know about him. Here, Sportsmail gives you 20 facts ahead of the fight... 
Fury trains at Dusseldorf Airport in a public workout ahead of his fight against Klitschko
Tyson Fury trains at Dusseldorf Airport in a public workout ahead of his fight against Wladimir Klitschko
Fury, who is now 27, was born an astonishing three months premature and weighed in at just 1lb
Fury, who is now 27, was born an astonishing three months premature and weighed in at just 1lb
 
1. Tyson Fury was born into an Irish family, and his father John Fury was a gypsy bare-knuckle fighter in the 1980s.
2. John Fury went on to become a British heavyweight contender, losing out in an eliminator to Henry Akinwande in 1991.
3. Tyson was born three months premature and weighed in at 1lb.
4. Fury's mum had 14 pregnancies but only four children survived.
'Gypsy King' Fury (right) is married to Paris
The pair got together when they were 16 and have now been married for six years
Fury is married to Paris; the pair got together when they were 16 and have now been married for six years
5. Fury was named Tyson after world heavyweight champion Mike Tyson. 'Iron Mike' was in the prime of his career when Fury was born in 1988.
6. Fury met his wife, Paris, when they were 15 at a mutual friend's wedding. They got together at the age of 16 and have been married for the last six years.
7. In true Irish traveller tradition, Fury abided by their strict code of conduct and slept in a caravan while Paris slept inside her parents' home before they got married.
Fury (left) with former X Factor contestant Stacey Solomon in a Spanish swimming pool in June 2011
Fury (left) with former X Factor contestant Stacey Solomon in a Spanish swimming pool in June 2011
Fury (right) was set to fight David Haye on two separate occasions but the latter pulled out through injury 
Fury (right) was set to fight David Haye on two separate occasions but the latter pulled out through injury 
8. The couple have a five-year-old daughter called Venezuela and three-year old son Prince.
9. Tyson had expressed his intention to name his son Jesus. However, Paris refused.
10. In 2013, he was fined £3,000 by the British Boxing Board of Control after saying fighters David Price and Tony Bellew were 'gay lovers'.
In scenes far different from those in Dusseldorf this week, Fury (right) weighs in against John McDermott
In scenes far different from those in Dusseldorf this week, Fury (right) weighs in against John McDermott
Fury holds Solomon out of the water during Max Clifford's Celebrity Golf Challenge in Mijas, Spain
Fury holds Solomon out of the water during Max Clifford's Celebrity Golf Challenge in Mijas, Spain
11. The Fury family home in Morecambe was attacked by arsonists in February last year. Fortunately, Tyson was training in France, and his wife and children were with him in Cannes. During the attack, two cars were torched - a Volkswagen Passat and a BMW estate.
12. Fury dressed as batman and wrestled with a man dressed as the joker for the Wladimir Klitschko news conference in September before the fight had to be re-scheduled.
13. Manchester United heroes Roy Keane and Eric Cantona inspired Fury to be more aggressive and stand out from the crowd.
Fury (right) in action against Dereck Chisora, who he beat at Wembley Arena to take his record to 23-0
Fury (right) in action against Dereck Chisora, who he beat at Wembley Arena to take his record to 23-0
Paddy Doherty (right) joins Fury at the weigh-in ahead of his fight against Nicolai Firtha in Belfast in 2011
Paddy Doherty (right) joins Fury at the weigh-in ahead of his fight against Nicolai Firtha in Belfast in 2011
14. Fury recently appeared in a video posted on Twitter eating a watermelon after splitting it in two with a headbutt. 
15. Tyson suffers from bouts of depression and says he is happier when he is boxing and has a focal point.
16. The couple's favourite films are: Troy, The Notebook, Gladiator and The Quiet Man.
17. John Fury, Tyson's father, was jailed for 11 years in 2011 after gouging Oathie Sykes' eye out at a car auction.
Fury (centre), who stands at 6ft 9ins, arrives for his head-to-head press conference with Chisora at Wembley
Fury (centre), who stands at 6ft 9ins, arrives for his head-to-head press conference with Chisora at Wembley
Fury poses in front of a white Rolls Royce after returning to London for his fight with Haye in 2013
Fury poses in front of a white Rolls Royce after returning to London for his fight with Haye in 2013
18. The pair were embroiled in a 12-year feud, which started after a bust-up over a bottle of beer in Cyprus in 1999.
19. John Fury will be at ringside for his son's fight against Wladimir Klitschko on Saturday after being given special dispensation to travel to Dusseldorf. 
20. Fury's towering height, 6ft 9in, means he has a custom-made 7ft wide, 7ft long bed made for him. 


Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/boxing/article-3334975/Tyson-Fury-gets-world-heavyweight-title-shot-against-Wladimir-Klitschko-20-facts-not-know-him.html#ixzz3suGuc8ye 

Stop kidding with your kidneys

on    /   in HealthNews 12:12 am   
The kidneys are very important organs in the body responsible for removal of wastes and control of the body’s fluid balance. They also regulate the balance of electrolytes, blood pressure, and red blood cell production in the body. As the kidneys filter blood, they create urine, which collects in the bladder before it is expelled.
•Dr. Olumayowa Aderinto
•Dr. Olumayowa Aderinto
The kidneys are so tough and hard-wearing organs experts say it is possible to lose as much as 90 percent of kidney function without experiencing any symptoms or problems. But that is not a good thing to happen. On the contrary, it is quite hazardous to allow the kidney to drop to such unsafe functional levels. Don’t kid with your kidneys, because if you do, they may fail when you least expect.
Kidney disease is highly prevalent in Nigeria. It is estimated that 1 in 4 Nigerians have one form of kidney disorder or the other while about 15,000 new cases are diagnosed every year in the country, but very few are receiving specialist care. The reason is not far-fetched. Managing any sort of kidney-related diseases is expensive and complicated. The burden is impoverishing not just to the patient but also the family.
IN the views of Dr. Olumayowa Aderinto, a US trained nephrologist (kidney specialist) and Director, TCNL Healthcare, a dialysis unit and kidney disease prevention outfit in Lagos, initially kidney failure may cause no symptoms. “By the time you are seeing symptoms, it is too late, so keep monitoring your blood pressure and blood sugar levels.”
During an open house activity of the private healthcare outfit located in Gowon Estate, Egbeda, Lagos, Aderinto said symptoms of kidney failure are due to the build-up of waste products in the body that may cause weakness, shortness of breath, lethargy, and confusion.
“Overall, diabetes and hypertension remain the highest risk factors. Prevention is better than cure. It is best to prevent from going into end-stage kidney disease. Things that can be done include checking for blood sugar, blood pressure, and ensuring it is controlled. Also use drugs only with medical guidance and watch what you drink and eat.”
Explaining that the purpose of setting up the facility is to promote preventive kidney care for Nigerians, she pointed out that there are numerous causes of kidney failure, and treatment of the underlying disease may be the first step in correcting the kidney abnormality. “Some causes of kidney failure are treatable and the kidney function may return to normal. Unfortunately, kidney failure may be progressive in other situations and may be irreversible.
The diagnosis of kidney failure usually is made by blood tests measuring certain key parameters. During regular check up, if you are hypertensive, you are checked for protein in the urine. “That is the earliest sign. If we find protein, we might do it again; if it is high you might be prone to kidney failure. Normally there should not be protein in the urine; there could be traces, as a result of conditions such as pregnancy.”
She said treatment of the underlying cause of kidney failure may return kidney function to normal, but lifelong efforts to control blood pressure and diabetes is the best way to prevent chronic kidney disease and its progression to kidney failure.
With age, kidney function gradually decreases over time and if the kidneys fail completely, the only treatment options available may be dialysis or kidney transplant. “As you get older, you lose a degree of kidney function, but it should not be significant. Essentially, your kidneys should last your lifetime.”
An experience as a medical student at the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, LAUTECH, Ogbomoso, Oyo State, in 1992, motivated Aderinto to pursue a career as a nephrologist.
“When I was in medical school, my uncle’s wife died of kidney disease. She was on dialysis for a while; the family sold their belongings to raise money for the procedure. She was being taken from one place to the other, but she still died. Since then, it has been my dream to do something about this problem. I have had it in my mind, so when I had opportunity to become a nephrologist, I did not hesistate.
“We are factoring in a lot of things at this centre to ensure that the cost is as low as possible. We are campaigning against kidney disease and are reaching out to people to access this facility for such needs. The goal is to provide affordable kidney care services, such as dialysis, hence the focus on patients that cannot afford regular cost of dialysis by going to companies to ask for sponsorship until they can get a transplant for those that require it.”
Kidney failure
“When we say the kidneys have failed, they have dropped below 15 percent functional capacity, so you might need dialysis. If you start having symptoms like poor appetite and weakness, etc, we advise you to go on dialysis. But if you are still walking around, then your kidneys, even though may have failed, still have reserve. For people that still have this reserve, they might still get away with once or twice a week. But not so for those that do not have this reserve.
“In acute kidney failure, you might require dialysis for just a while and the kidneys pick up again. Some illnesses cause the kidneys to shut down, also infection, and sudden drop of the blood pressure can cause the kidneys to fail. However, if adequately supported through dialysis, the kidneys can pick up again, but the patient may become prone to chronic kidney failure in future if care is not taken.”
Kidney disease is classified into stages. In Stage 1, function is normal, but there is blood or protein in the urine. It is still chronic kidney disease, but the mild stage. In stage 2, kidney function is 60-90 percent good; stage 3, 30-60 percent, stage 4, 15-30, stage 5 is below 15 per cent. If you are in Stage 2 or stage 3, you might not know you have kidney disease because there would be no symptoms. But such people need to take precautions and be monitored to ensure they do not go into stage 4 or 5.
Dialysis
Dialysis cleanses the body of waste products in the body by use of filter systems. Hemodialysis uses a machine filter called a dialyzer or artificial kidney to remove excess water and salt, to balance the other electrolytes in the body, and to remove waste products of metabolism. The recommendation is for a patient that requires dialysis is to undergo four hours of dialysis at least three times a week. Dialysis is life-saving.
Without it, patients whose kidneys no longer function would die relatively quickly due to electrolyte abnormalities and the buildup of toxins in the blood stream. While patients may live many years with dialysis, it is often unsustainable as a result of the high cost, even as other underlying and associated illnesses have been known to cause the death of the patient.
Kidney transplantation
If kidney failure occurs and is non-reversible, kidney transplantation is an alternative option to dialysis. Not all hospitals are capable of performing kidney transplants. More patients in Nigeria travel to India to undergo their operation and are often in search of funds for the procedure.Prevention
Kidney failure is a serious matter. Most people with kidney disease aren’t aware of it. So get diagnosed early. Prevention is always the goal with kidney failure. Once kidney failure is present, the goal is to prevent further deterioration of renal function. If ignored, the kidneys will progress to complete failure, but if underlying illnesses are addressed and treated aggressively, kidney function can be preserved, though not always improved.
Tips for kidney health
Drink lots of water to flush out wastes. Drinking water also helps lower the chances of kidney stones and infections. Keep your blood pressure in the target range. Weight control, exercise, and drugs can control blood pressure—and prevent or slow the risk of kidney failure. Eat more fruits and vegetables, stay physically active, keep your blood pressure below 140/90 mm/Hg, but check with your health care provider for your appropriate target.
Stay in your target cholesterol range and try to eat foods lower in sodium. If you have diabetes, meet blood sugar targets as often as you can. Go for medical check up at least twice a year. If your blood pressure is high, check it regularly and get it under control to make sure your kidneys remain healthy. Consult a doctor if you have any or all of these symptoms: cloudy or bloody urine, pain or burning when you urinate, or an urgent need to urinate often.