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How To Create Your Own Mastermind Group To Improve Your Life

I first came across the words "Mastermind Group" in a self-improvement book. I love reading these books from time to time. They provide interesting pointers about life and sometimes have helped me adapt to better lifestyles. There are many ideas in such books that people like us just skim through or ignore. Sometimes they are too difficult to implement in our lives. The idea of Mastermind Group came across as one of those hard to do self help ventures.

Later on, in fact over a period of 2 - 3 years, I started thinking that it may not be so difficult to form a Mastermind Group after all. I mean, almost all of us make friends in different phases of life. Usually the friends who stick with us through school and college and a few that we make during our professional lives. Whenever we need suggestions about something or want to discuss about a step that we are going to take in life, these friends are among the first people who we call. So you have got the people to create your own mastermind group right there.

There are several benefits that can come out of a group like this. From my own observation, when ever you are in a fix, it is a great cushion to fall back on. Below are the points that make a Mastermind Group worthwhile:

1) Tossing An idea Back And Forth:

If you have an idea about something, the best way to find out its flaws and feasibility is to discuss with some trust worthy people. The group can be the best option for this. As you present your idea for constructive criticism, they will shed some light on it from different angles. The same is true for any solutions to a problem. You present a solution, they present theirs'. From discussion, you can get a concrete solution or idea which came from one of them or is a combination of all the ideas.

2) You Can In Improve Your Knowledge

There is a high chance that people in your group will be from different wakes of life. All of them different careers, different experiences and a different knowledge base. As you talk to them regularly, you will gain information on several subjects. It will change your outlook towards life and free you from having a tunneled vision. It is always beneficial to learn about new things as long as you want to improve yourself.

3) Hanging Out With Successful People Improves You As A Person

One of the most common tips related to self improvement is mingling with successful people. The law of heat transfer states that when a hot and a cold object comes in contact, the warmer object transfers heat to the colder one till both of them are at same temperature. The idea of knowledge transfer works almost in the same manner. As you hang out with the better guys, you will be gaining lots of insight and foresight which will come handy in real life. In this case, however, no one stands to lose any knowledge.

4) It Is A Great Pass Time

It is a lot like hanging out with buddies and having fun except you are not getting drunk while doing so. These sessions are great fodder for mind and will definitely make you a better person. I am not saying that you should not take a drink or enjoy your life in any other way but gathering with your group at least once a week can make a hell of a difference. The difference will show in only a few months.

A few points to consider before going forward with this idea:

1) Hang out more and more with people who are more successful than you. that is the only way you will be able to improve yourself constantly. I am not saying that should shy away from people who are less successful but your efforts should be towards learning as much as possible from the people who can teach you something.

2) It is advisable to form your Mastermind Group with people with whom you can share most of your problems comfortably. Otherwise the whole idea of the group will fail.

3) Try to provide as much input as possible to the group. If you just try to gain from other peoples' feedback, it might send the wrong signal. The people in your group must feel that you are useful for them to talk to.

You will not have to look far and wide to find partners for your group. You must already know some people who are as ambitious as you and would love to bring a change to their lives. I have know people like that for years and talk to them regularly on different topics. I now want to build a Mastermind Group with them and hope you venture into the same. All the best!

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Technology is a good thing. Constant advancement in technology have improved our lives in innumerable ways. Improvement in medical technology has saved countless lives. Our skies, roads and other modes of transportation are a lot safer thanks to technology. Automating certain processes throughout the industrial and manufacturing sector has made the workplace safer and increased productivity. It is technology that allows aged parents connect with their young kids staying abroad and even see their faces over internet. The whole world is now connected and exchange of information happens within seconds.

There is cause of concern on the horizon though. Technology has increased entertainment options manifolds and a certain demographic, especially the young people is hooked on to their gadgets almost every hour of the day. Relying too much on technology is taking away some of the healthy habits and techniques that kept people active and sharp throughout decades. Sometimes technology interferes with our health too. Let me share my views on the technological boom of the last century.

1) We Are Using Our Brains Less And Less:

Studies show that people who use their brains regularly are less likely to suffer from diseases like Dementia and Alzheimer's when they get old. In fact development of brain functions start at a young age when kids play with puzzles and other brain stimulating games. Unfortunately, our generation is using people of our generation are using their brains less than they are supposed to. For even the most menial of arithmetic calculations, kids today whip out their smartphone calculators. Remembering peoples' and friends' telephone numbers are now a thing of the past. This certainly diminishes our mental edge and if studies are true, makes us prime candidates for memory loss and Dementia when we grow old.

2) We Have Stopped Communicating With Each Other

Have you ever seen two friends sitting in the same room exchanging information with each other via chat applications? I know I have. This is what our society is turning into. People are glued to their iPads and smartphones and spend considerable amount of the day on networking sites like Facebook and Twitter. Thus there is less and less quality face to face social interaction in our lives. But a society grows, thrives and moves forward by its members interacting with each other meaningfully, not by them playing Farmville online. The result of this mass social alienation is that people do not develop bonds with each other and help each other in need. A swift glance across any day's newspaper can easily establish this fact. This is probably the best reason that words like LOL, WTF and NOOB are more in circulation than any thoughtful new words.

3) Our Health Is Deteriorating

There was a time when kids spent time <a title="Why Playing Outdoor Sports Should Be Mandatory For Kids" href="http://soumyajitblog.wordpress.com/2013/08/19/why-playing-outdoor-sports-should-be-mandatory-for-kids/" target="_blank">playing outdoors</a>. This built their immunity, increased their stamina and made them ready to face the world in many aspects. Unfortunately, kids today would rather smash away at their <a title="Why Are New PC Video Games Easier To Play With Gamepads And Joysticks" href="http://soumyajitblog.wordpress.com/2013/08/04/why-are-new-pc-video-games-easier-to-play-with-gamepads-and-joysticks/" target="_blank">gamepads</a> and joysticks rather than pick up the baseball bat. The fantasy world of video games is more appealing to them than playing a game of soccer with their buddies. Playing outdoors exposes kids to teamwork and equip them to handle peer pressure later in life. It is already well established that kids who spend too much time at home are often unable to handle themselves properly in high school and colleges. I guess this is one point to think about.

4) Too Much Reliance On Gadgets Can Be Dangerous

We have autopilots for aircraft and all sorts of automatic safety measures in dangerous environments. All these things require regular manual maintenance and intervention but quite often, the people in charge of these operations rely too heavily on the machines an computers. A lack of care on their end can easily turn into a big disaster. Over the last few decades, we have seen hundreds of disasters resulting from humans relying too much on machines and gadgets. Guess it is time for people and technology to go hand in hand instead of man trying to make technology his slave.

I am all for technology making our lives better but that is where we should draw the line. Depending on something too much other than  ourselves can never be good for humanity. So if you have a kid or a re a young guy like me, start adding up your grocery bills using your brain and give Facebook a break for a few days. Your smartphone is very useful but not so much if after 40 years you cannot recall where you put your glasses.

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The cutest water puddle I have seen so far..

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My Effective Workout Diet For My Weight Loss Routine

So you have decided to finally start exercising to lose weight. The chances are you have already told my articles about 6 guaranteed exercises to lose weight and weight loss exercises for busy people. But working out alone does not help in losing weight unless you control your food intake. It is a known fact that calorie intake is much more easier than losing calories. It takes a healthy amount of exercise to lose 500 calories but only a small ice-cream to gain it back.

You must be thinking that what are the foods that will set you on the path to weight loss. Well coming from a family with many doctors and having some prior bodybuilding experience, I definitely have a few tips to share about weight loss diets. There are certain foods that if taken regularly will satisfy your daily calorie needs without piling on the fat. If you are exercising then you will need foods that give you considerable energy to workout and perform your daily chores effectively.

The last time I set out to lose some Pounds, I did so with some light exercising and a very effective diet. I am going to share the same with you here. Some adjustments to the diet may be necessary as young people need more energy than aged people. Being a grown male, I need around 2600 Calorie per day to function properly. If you are a woman, you will need 500 - 600 calories less than me. There is a myth that to lose weight, you need to take less than your daily requirement calories. Well, it's a BLATANT LIE! The fact that you are overweight means you have been taking more calories than needed for a long time. For weight loss, all you need to do is eat the right amount of calories and work out to shed off the existing fat.

Well, here is my diet for the whole day if you are doing light workout everyday:

1) Breakfast: Start with a glass of warm water. If you plan to exercise in the morning then after having the water, have half a glass of milk and two fiber biscuits 10 - 15 minutes later. Working out on an empty stomach is not healthy. After the exercise have a toast with low fat butter or some other spread and two boiled eggs. You can conclude the breakfast with a large glass of fresh fruit juice or some fruit salad. I personally prefer the salad.

If you are lactose intolerant then instead of milk drink fruit juices. Drink fresh fruit juice instead of boxed ones. A basic juicer does not cost much money and there are many varieties in the market. Some people prefer bacon and salami in the morning but I personally never preferred meat in the breakfast.

2) Lunch: Since I used to be in office during lunch hours, my choices were considerably limited. The same might be the case for you. But no matter where you are, getting a bowl of salad should not be a problem now-a-days. Usually it is said that breakfast should be largest meal of the day. I have always had problems with eating too heavily in the morning. So I topped of my lunch and then took it easy during dinner.

Some pieces of bacon, boiled egg, boiled chicken and lentils can be your weapon of choice for protein requirements. Boiled vegetables might be unavailable in the office cafeteria so you can consider boiling some vegetables in the morning and take it to work with you. Add a dash of pepper and salt to the vegetables for taste.

3) Evening Snack: It is probably the most dangerous meal in terms of weight loss. It is difficult to consider something eat during those hours in the evening and likely you will only get unhealthy snacks for consumption in the office. One unhealthy meal in the evening can offset 2 - 3 days worth of hard-work.

The solution I opted was an all fruits snack for evenings. Apples, bananas and something like lime or oranges. Banana is considered a super fruit which can fill you up very quickly without adding much calories. Take those fruits with you when you leave for work or college. Eat just the amount required to take the edge off your hunger. Over indulging on the snacks can disrupt your dinner which is very important.

4) Dinner: A light dinner is advised if you are in the weight loss mode. The main reason being that after the consumption of dinner, you will spend 7 - 8 hours sleeping. You will not lose any energy or calorie during this time so whatever extra calories you take in dinner will likely stay in your body. My choice of dinner was small and equal portions of meat, vegetables and juice.

Trying to get calories off fruits, meat and vegetables is always better. Avoid rice and wheat as long as possible. This diet was pretty healthy for me too. I was able to get the proteins and vitamins from the meat, milk, eggs, fruits and vegetables. A combination of meat and vegetable gave me all the essential Amino acids. I avoided fried and oily foods like sin during this period.

Notes:

1) Fresh fruit juices are a must. Packed juices do not offer any real nutrition to our bodies.

2) Since you are breaking your normal intake of high carbs and high fat, your body will rebel this change. You must fight the urge to overeat.

3) I used to have milk and eggs at the same time without any problems. But some people might feel acidity after taking this high-protein combination. If this happens, remove one of the two from your diet list or take milk in the evening.

4) Drink lots of water to prevent dehydration resulting from exercises.

This diet chart was made by me and for me. It worked pretty well as far as I can tell. I never felt any loss of energy during this regime. There were a number of time when I felt the urge to overeat or fall back to my old routine but it was willpower that kept going. When you feel those urges, and you will for sure, just picture in your mind the type of body you want to have. That will keep you on the track.

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My Strategies To Drive Safely While Drunk

First things first, I do not support or condone drunk driving. It is dangerous. Period. I have seen a friend lose his eye and another, his life while driving under influence. It is not worth it and should be avoided at all costs. We all know the basic routines when it comes to strategies to prevent drunk driving. Crash at your friend's place, keep a designated driver, gather at a bar close to your home, call a cab etc.

But let's face it, we have always faced the situation when we visit a bar with friends for just a couple of beers. But soon the situation takes over and before you know anything, its 11 PM in the night. You are considerable drunk, drove to the place in your car or bike alone and there is no place around where you can spend the night. So the only choice you have is hobble inside your car and hope for the best. But there are a few tricks that I use when I am stuck in such a situation. Hopefully they will help you too.

General tricks:

1) Drink lots of water along with your drinks. This will help you in two ways. First, you will not be able to drink as much as you would probably have. Second, you will be soberer than you should. It will make you visit the loo more often but that is definitely better than risking your life.

2) Ask for a glass of lemon water before leaving. No lemonade, no sweeteners or flavors, just plain lemon water. Drink the glass as fast as you can. Lemon is effective against hangovers and from my experience, this lemon water will clear up your head to some extent. Driving is a complex reflex action and you may not need your brain functioning at a 100%. Just enough to see you through to home.

3) Washing your face is a well-known solution. But you know what you got to do? Have you ever seen those face wash and beauty cream ads and how those girls splash water on their faces? yes that's what you need to do. And aim the water for your open eyes. A few cold splashes of water in your eyes should take the edge off the liquor.

4) If you have done everything else and still feel quite inebriated, vomit! Just put your fingers in your throat and vomit it out. It will prevent the situation from going worse as time progresses and the effort it takes to vomit should wake you up considerably.

If You are driving a car:

1) Turn off the AC. Keep the windows barely open so that it does not get sweaty and stuffy inside the car but the air does not hit our right in the face. Cold breeze after drinking will make you fall asleep faster than the Chronicles of Narnia lullaby.

2) Keep the radio turned off. I have seen that while drunk, mind tends to focus on unimportant things too much like a music coming from a distance or the song on a radio. You want to be fully focused on the road and nothing else.

3) Munch on something. It could be a chocolate bar or a pack of chips. The idea is to have some action going as sitting behind a wheel can be pretty boring.

4) If you feel losing control, pull over at the side of the road. Get out of the car, walk around it, shake your head and do what ever it takes to drive away the dizziness. Walking will also increase blood supply to your brain and help it function better.

If you are riding a bike:

1) It's a lot worse then a car but you have no choice I presume. So wear a helmet. It can save your life and also it will stop the air from hitting you on the face. best thing to do is pull down the visor of the helmet for added safety.

2) Try singing or whistling a song while bobbing your head in rhythm. This is the best action you can get while riding a bike drunk.

3) Drive slow so that you can stop at any time you want.

4) If you feel losing control, pull over at the side of the road. Park the bike, walk around it, shake your head and do what ever it takes to drive away the dizziness. Walking will also increase blood supply to your brain and help it function better.

These are the tips I follow and so far they have worked like a charm for me. But again, I do not promote or condone drinking and driving. If you know you are going to drink in the evening, make plans beforehand for your safe return. Take to driving and riding only if all else fails. Apply my techniques mentioned above and you should live to see the next sunrise.

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Best Weight Loss Tips For Busy People

Weight loss is a condition bugging billions of people worldwide. Even after knowing the best exercises to keep the extra pounds way, many people just cannot fit an exercise routine within their daily work schedule. The direct result of this phenomenon is more and more executives with fat belly and tires around their waists. I had previously discussed about the 6 exercises for guaranteed weight loss, but this list here is directed towards the people working 8 AM to 8 PM on a regular basis.

People on tight schedules have multiple problems. They do not get to eat healthy or eat timely and they do not get much exercise. All these abuses of the body can lead to stress, elevated levels of diabetes sugar in blood and heart issues. But the most common problem is weight gain. The solution here needs to be a set of workouts that work fast, work well and can be done almost anywhere. These six workouts can be done at your home or at your office whenever you can make time. If you feel the need for gym then you can hit it over the weekends. There are some misconceptions that the workouts for weight loss need to be time-consuming or difficult to perform. Such is actually not the case.

Ok so without wasting any more screen space, here is my weight loss guide for busy people:

1) Stair Climbing

I am putting this at the top because I find it to be the single most effective workout solution that can be performed anytime anywhere that has some stairs. Thanks to the modernization of society, most working people now-a-days stay in multi-story apartments. The situation is more or less same with their workplaces too. So if you stay inside a 4th floor apartment and your office is in the 3rd floor, you can easily climb seven flights of stairs each day. You don't have to do it all day. Just climb those stairs 4 - 5 times each day. Of course, the more the better.

If any of you are thinking well this is not too effective, I can tell you from personal experience that it is. Do you remember those first months when you went from average to fat? The first problem you would have faced apart from your old clothes not fitting anymore should have been your difficulty to climb stairs. When I got fat recently, I did not even feel anything for a month of two until I could not climb three flights of stairs without gasping for your. My friend lost 8 KGs in two months and got back in reasonable shape before marriage by just climbing the office stairs everyday and eating healthy. Try it, the results will be resounding.

2) Skipping Or Jumping Rope

It is a great workout to move that involves your whole body and does not take up much space to perform. You can do it at your home, in your office or anywhere you can get some time and privacy. It can be a great fat burner if coupled together with spot running or jogging. Skipping is also great for strengthening your leg muscles which help you to climb those stairs

Many people use skipping as a war up exercise before they delve into the meaty part of the work out. You can follow the same pattern. Use the skipping to warm yourself up before doing the exercises listed below. There are two variations of the skipping. One is slow with big jumps about one per 1.5 seconds. and the other is small jumps on your toes really fast. The first one will tire you out easily but if you have never done it before, go with that.

3) Aerobics

Aerobics are great for burning calories. At least to knock off the extra pounds or to keep you in reasonable shape. You must have seen those skinny girls doing exercises to music beats on TV. Well a figure like may not be the agenda here but there is no denying that aerobics can help you lose weight. The best part is that you do not even have to join an aerobics class to enjoy its goodness.

There are tons of aerobics training videos out there. You can download a few from YouTube as well. Go over the videos and learn the steps. You can also change, shuffle or omit the steps as you see fit. Like i told before, exercising regularly and properly is what matters. After you have an idea about aerobics step, start practicing them on your own. Five minutes may be at first but soon you will be doing round lasting up to half an hour easily.

Playing good dance music helps aerobics as it is a lot like dancing. Except you will be doing steps that concentrate on losing weight. Aerobics work because it works on your whole body at the same time. Unless you have bad knees or breathing troubles then aerobics should be great. Whenever you have some time, hit the music and start the routine.

4) Spot Running

Another all-time great exercise to lose weight. It is like running on the street but on the same spot. Standing on the same spot run like there is no tomorrow. Initially full blooded spot running might be too tiring for you and you will be out of breath within a few minutes. So start off slow with spot jogging. Take as much as time you want to build your speed and stamina. Doing exercise regularly and properly is what loses weight.

You can do the spot running any place any time. You just need enough space where you can stand upright. It can be afternoon in the office, morning when you get up or evening when you get back home. I personal prefer the evening time as a working person. Working out in the morning was depriving me of sleep. But putting in 1 hour in the evening was easy for me.

5) Get A Static Cycle

Cycling is a great exercise but to fit in a cycling session inside your busy schedule can be tricky. The solution for this is the static cycle. Keep one at home or office and hit it anytime of the day. the best thing about these cycles is you can enjoy your coffee, take phone calls or enjoy your TV show while using it. This will save you the time to fit that exercise in your tight schedule.

When we gain weight, most of the fat tends to accumulate in our abdomen, waist and thighs. Cycling can take care of that lower body fat effectively. There are some cycles that allow you work your arms at the same time so you have got full body workout wight there. Some people keep static cycles both in their offices and their homes so that they can ride it whenever time permits them.

Nothing beats regular workouts in the gym but weight loss workouts can be done at your home and office too. If you think these workout will take too much of your time then you can alternate between them. As I have already established, climbing the stairs and riding the bicycle can be done any day. Mix and match the rest. If aerobics is too hectic for you then you can do a basic warm out routine like squats or jumping jacks.

Let me know if these exercises help you cut the flab. Drink tons of water and eat healthy. I would love to hear back on your progresses. All the best!

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How To Save And Invest Your Money To Become Rich

Financial crisis is not unknown to the men of the modern society. Financial crisis can strike anyone at any moment due to misfortune or bad career decisions. But what amazes me more than anything is that even people with steady income or sizable salaries often complain about monetary problems.

When I started working, I almost never felt that I was not in control of my money. The scenario was completely opposite with most of my colleagues and friends. By the 20th day of every month, they would start looking forward to the next payroll. By observing their habits, lifestyles and financial decisions, I have identified some basic dos and don'ts that can make or break your bank balance.

1) Set Aside At Least 20% Of Your Salary For Savings

Some great philosophers like Confucius and Socrates had instructed people to save at least 10% of their salary if they wanted to be rich. But gone are those days. It is the modern world with skyrocketing inflation rates. Unless you can save at least 20% of your earnings then even after a few years of job you will stay penniless.

Putting aside the money is the first thing you should do once you get your payments. You can open a different bank account for this money. Do not touch this money under any circumstances unless it is something serious. One strategy I followed was to open an account without an ATM card. So my savings are kept there and I cannot take the money out in a moment of temptation using an ATM.

2) Identify The Areas Where You Spend Too Much

If you have a decent salary and still cannot save money then you definitely have the habit of spending too much. It can be in the form of clothes, shoes, drinks or anything else under the sun. But the bottom-line states that you will need to cut back on unnecessary expenses. Now it is something much more easily said than done. I follow a method that helps me cut back on my expenses

a)  Maintain an expenses sheet. It can be on paper or an Excel file. Starting from the 1st day of next month, at the end of each day write down the amount of money you spent and where you spent them. Of course since this is your first time keeping a journal, you will forget to update it sometimes. But still at the end of the month, you will have a more than decent idea about the areas where you spend too much money.

b) Cut down on the expenses by planning. If you spend too much at bars, try buying your own liquor and drink at home at least 2 days per week. You will be amazed by the savings. Do not eat too much junk food or restaurant food. You will stay healthy and home cooked food will always cost less than outside food.

c) When you go to a super market, make a list of the things you want to buy. Focus on only buying the items on the list. It is quite easy for the mind to get distracted in these places and we end up buying hundreds of items we do not need. Take action to stop that now.

3) Manage Your Credit Cards Carefully

Credit card is one of the best and worst inventions of the last century. On one hand, it makes necessary but costly items affordable for us and on the other hand, it entices us into buying things that we should not buy unless our incomes increase. In fact, a single month of credit card abuse can lead a whole year of careful savings astray. So before you whip out your credit card, remember the following:

a)  Sooner or later you have to pay for whatever you buy. Credit cards create the illusion of cashless purchase but always keep in mind that you will have to pay the money after a month.

b) The credit card bill should not be more than 10 to 20% of your monthly income. If it is more than that then try to convert payments into monthly installments.

c) If you pay just the minimum amount then credit card companies charge interest on the remaining. This way after a few months of minimum amount payments, you will find that your credit card bills are increasing instead of decreasing.

d) Delayed payments incur huge amounts of penalty charges.

4) Invest your savings into government savings schemes. These yield low interest rates but very offer good safety. If you start saving at a young age then by the time you break your savings, there will be plenty of money accumulated. Never underestimate the power of compound interest. Just keep saving and keep adding more money to your investment portfolio.

5) If you decide to venture into the stock market, research thoroughly. The stock market has rid money people of their hard earned money. Read this article to understand the risks associated with stock market investments.

6) Do not count your chickens before they hatch. If you are supposed to get a payment, let it reach your bank account before you spend any money. Often people spend heavily as they are waiting for a large payment and if the payment gets cancelled then their finances get completely messed up. Do not fall prey to this common mistake. Remember what I say, "Money that is not in your hands is never your money." So plan accordingly.

I hope this article helps you in saving up for future and invest in profitable financial vehicles. If you have some tips to share or want more information about any of these ideas, reply to this page. I will be more than happy to discuss with you. It is not difficult to save money if you plan your expenses properly. Follow the steps in this article and start a journey towards financial freedom.