How to make SMART New Year's Resolutions

With the Christmas season fading away, 2016 is becoming a memory; good for some, too bad to mention for others. Now it's time to move on to the next stage...2017. For every new year, it is common to set goals which we will complete during the year however its is rare that we actually complete these "resolutions". WHY IS THAT?!

Maybe our approach isn't SMART;

1. Specific

In order to complete a goal we need to know what is, therefore, it has to be well-detailed. E.g. I want to lose weight. How much? By what date.

Making our goals specific is easy, we just need to know:

WHAT is our goal?

WHY do we want to achieve this goal?

WHO is involved in this goal?

WHEN do we start/finish?

WHERE do we begin?

HOW do we achieve this goal? 

If we know exactly what we want, it is easier to get it.

2. Measurable

If we can't measure our progress, then we won't be able to tell if we have reached the goal. E.g. Daniel wants to be more fluent in Spanish? How does he measure that?

1. Time how long he can hold a conversation with a Spanish speaker.

2. Do an oral exam every month and compare the results.

There needs to be some way for us to assess ourselves so we know if we are on track or not.

 3. Attainable

This is where a lot of us stumble when making our resolutions, sometimes we set the bar so high that it looks like it was meant for someone else. 

E.g. Goal: I will stop eating chicken. 

Problem: I eat chicken daily.  

If we  make the goal too demanding, we give up in no time. A very important part of goal setting is understanding yourself (strengths and weaknesses) and set goals that are reasonable enough to achieve.

E.g. Problem: I eat chicken daily.

       New Goal: I will eat chicken only four days a week.

4. Relevant

Sometimes we make goals that seem as irrelevant as some formulae we see in math. E.g. Jill wants to lose weight when she is already underweight. Sam want to save enough money to fix his PS3 rather than use that money to buy a PS4. When you make a goal, make sure it isn't redundant and has a genuine benefit to you.

5. Time-Based

For 2017, my friend wants to complete goals that he thought of in 2014, failed to do in 2015 and forgot about in 2016. Time management can be hard but it's necessary for keeping us on track to getting stuff done. We have to have deadlines and work to complete our ambitions by that time. E.g. I want to be able to run the 100m in under 12s by March 31, 2017.

That's it guys! Wish you all a prosperous New Year and remember to set SMART goals for yourselves.

Online Source Link: http://alifeofproductivity.com/resolutions/chapter4/

Hey I'm Back!!!

Hey guys, sorry for not posting on Friday, despite exams being over some school work carried over to the vacation. Never the less the post start up again.


   Since it's the Christmas season, this post  will be about a famous Christmas Song "The Twelve Days Of Christmas". I found out recently that there is a deep history to this song.
   It originated from England, where from 1558 until 1829, Roman Catholics were not permitted to practice their faith openly. Someone during that era wrote this carol as a catechism song for young Catholics.



The encoded meaning is:

-The partridge in the tree represents Jesus.

-The two turtle doves were the Old and New Testaments

-The three French hens stood for faith, hope, and love.

-The four calling birds were the four gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.

-The five golden rings represented the first five books of the Old Testament, which describe man's fall into sin and the great love of God in sending a Savior.

-The six geese a-laying stood for the six days of creation.

-Seven swans a-swimming represented the sevenfold gifts of the Holy Spirit-----Prophesy, Serving, Teaching, Exhortation, Contribution, Leadership, and Mercy.

-The eight maids a-milking were the eight beatitudes.

-Nine ladies dancing were the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit-----Charity, Joy, Peace, Patience [Forbearance], Goodness [Kindness], Mildness, Fidelity, Modesty, Continency [Chastity].

-The ten lords a-leaping were the Ten Commandments.

-The eleven pipers piping stood for the eleven faithful Apostles.

-The twelve drummers drumming symbolized the twelve points of belief in The Apostles' Creed.


Skeptical, check out the link below

http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/resources/advent/customs-and-traditions/the-history-of-the-twelve-days-of-christmas/

Happy Holidays!!!

Exams Approaching...

 

 Hey guys, sorry for not posting on Tuesday, things have been busy for me with exams coming up so... I will be taking a break from blogging for studying. I will be back on December 16th with Debate Friday. Later!!

Debate Friday

Is there too much Pressure on the Youth?

   Nowadays, the world has realized that young people are an extremely important resource. Due to our creativity and unorthodox methods of solving problems, businesses see potential profits in us, artists see raw talent and politicians see the future leaders of the world. However with such high expectations of the younger generation, is there too much pressure on the youth?

     I believe so, not all the time, but many times unnecessary pressure is put on the youth to succeed. We see this in schools, where many students are being forced to study subjects they aren't interested in by the parents as well as having to attend extra lessons afterwards. These parents tend to have a pre-determined route they want their child to take with no consideration on the child's opinion, because 'they know best'. Due to this never ending bombardment of "education" , many students take longer to realize their true selves (talents, weakness, etc.) which puts them at a disadvantage later in their lives. Many also tend to give up because of the stress and slowly fall through the cracks.

    It is also seemingly noticeably that adults tend to shove present day problems on the youth to solve. "This issue is for the youth to handle", "This is an opportunity for the youth to step up", and we hear similar comments made by adults. The youth have our own problems to deal with (finding out who we really are) and that can be challenging enough but coupled with cumbersome issues that adults failed to address themselves (ironically because of their own immature behaviour) can be overwhelming.

   Furthermore, many adults are hypocritical. They are quick to criticize and persecute the youth for their actions but they as well have been committing deeds just as bad. Youth learn from their elders, but if the elders are portraying negative traits, it unfair to point a finger at the youth for replicating what they see daily.

The point I am trying to bring across is that, it's okay to have expectations of the youth, but don't throw all the world's problems on us and leave us there to drown. We, young people, can only be productive when we find our passion and are supported in it. Although the youth are the future, there is still the present to deal with, so the adults of today need to step up, in order to be a leading example for the future which is young people.

Agree? 

  

6 Myths about Video Games

Video games have become such a huge part of our cyber life, however digital immigrants (people born before the tech era) still have some prejudices to this aspect of technology. So...

Q. What are some myths about video games?

A. 1) Video games are for Kids

It is true that kids love video games, but it is clear that video games have become an industry that affects and is used by all age groups. Adolescents are earning large salaries because of the skills in video games e.g. The South Korean team for the 2016 world championships of the League of Legends won $2 M in prize money.

  Even celebrities are involved with video games because the trend now is that designers use celebrities as voice actors for video game characters. Video games are also being integrated into the work place in order to teach concepts to workers. Not bad for something "just for kids".

2) The First Video Game was Pong

When you think of the grandfather of all video games, many people think of Pong. However it has been proven that there were several games before Pong e.g Tennis For Two (1958), Spacewar (1962) and other digital fossils that we probably never heard of.

3) Girls Don't Play Video Games

This myth, has been proven so wrong that, I won't even go in depth. Guys just beware; when you invite a girl to play Call of Duty with you and she already knows the controls, you better show no mercy or you might get dominated.

4) Violent video games  are the cause of real-world violence

Call of Duty, Mortal Kombat and GTA are just a few games that some people condemn for instilling violent tendencies in gamers. This is not true. The content within the video game doesn't lead to violence, but the competition and frustration that comes with playing video games can lead to aggression. We all had that one time we wanted to break our phone because we lost in Flappy Birds, Colour Switch, MMM Fingers or we were ready to fight with someone because they beat our high score. Gamers just have to have some self control. These are one of the few times you blame the player not the game.

5) Gaming Leads to Isolated Behaviour

This anti-social stigma has been associated with video games since the beginning, however at

present, it is very false. Thanks to the Internet, the world is a global village and many video games are taking advantage of this. Online gaming is becoming increasingly popular with people from different cultural backgrounds meeting each other and interacting online. Also a lot of the games being design improve cooperation skills and stress teamwork which do benefit the social development of gamers.

6) They're making us smarter

At least since Steven Johnson’s “Everything Bad Is Good for You” was published in 2005, video-game players have proudly declared that their hobby may look childish and brutish, but it’s actually changing their brains for the better.

They aren't completely wrong. Action games such as first person shooter games, have shown in studies, to improve hand-eye coordination and spatial thinking. Other benefits include increased attention span, improve vision and mental task-switching. However this isn't for all games

Angry Birds, Candy Crush Saga have none of these benefits. 

Debate Friday

Is Physician Assisted Suicide Justified?

For those who don't know what Physician Assisted Suicide (PAS) is, please watch the following video before reading the rest of the post.
    

     Ok guys as you would have seen, Physician Assisted Suicide is basically when a terminally ill patient gives their physician the permission to give them a drug to end their life. But is this right?
   I consider PAS to be wrong. From a Christian perspective, life is something to be treasured and for one to just decide to die on their terms, is against God's plan (He made us to live life to the fullest).
     Now many of you might say that my opinion is biased by religion so let's tackle this from another point of view. Many times person that opt for PAS, they have families. Imagine that you were terminally ill and you had children, grandchildren and maybe even great grandchildren. Would you just kill yourself so abruptly and leave them behind. For a moment look beyond the financial burden the family may bear to keep you alive, these people who you have had so many happy moments with and even in your condition still love you abundantly, isn't it inconsiderate to take the life that your family is working so hard to preserve.
     
   Some people consider PAS as "dying with dignity", but what is dignity? Dignity can be defined as "a sense of pride in oneself". But what does dying with dignity do for you? Dignity does not grant you some rank/accomplishment in the afterlife. Be humble and appreciate the time you have left, the things you can still experience and let things happen naturally, because rushing things based on your pride is pointless.

Again this is my opinion, I have no clue of the pain terminally ill patients go through...so I can 't talk from experience. However, life is not something you should end on your own but that doesn't mean I condemn people that do it; I just advise against it. What do you think?

Your Cyber Life and Your Employment

Q. Can your cyber life affect your job life?

A. IT DEFINITELY CAN!! According to Monster.com "It's not just what you say that can be held against you when you're looking for a job. It's also what you post on MySpace, write in your blog and broadcast on YouTube."

   Just take a moment and search your full name on google. Besides getting your Facebook profile as a result, you will also likely get you Google+ Account, your YouTube Channel, your blog, etc. (assuming you are on these different social media).This is an important thing to note because when we research a company we want to work for, they also research us! 

   For example, a person got a job as a teacher and one day she posted on her Facebook account "Got a new job. I can't stand children though". The following day when she came in for work, she was given a pink slip and bye-bye Blabbermouth.

Guys, we have to be so careful how we portray ourselves online because our cyber personalities are being critiqued  in real life. Your language, the post you publish, the pictures you upload, these are all available  to employers and can be a defining factor in whether we get the job or not.

So here are some tips, to spruce up your online reputation:

1. Take the initiative- Ask your friend to google you and tell you if there is anything you should be aware of (inappropriate blog post, embarrassing picture, etc.)

2. Clean up your social media profiles- Make sure that your statuses and posts can't be interpreted as derogatory or vulgar (basically edit/remove anything that gives a bad impression of you).

3. Build a strong cyber persona- share uplifting and positive content, write a blog expressing your opinions on rising issues, upload pictures of you doing volunteer work. These are ways you can create an impressive online image and employers will be more inclined to put you on the payroll.

We live a huge part of our lives online, so it is natural for us to post personal stuff at times. It may also seem indiscreet of employers to be prying into our social media life but it is now a reality. 

So be safe, think twice of what you post and make sure the image you portray online is a good one.

Debate Friday

In this day and age, where almost everything we can think of has been done/achieved, is it worth it to try to be original? Yes or No?

We all have copied someone else's work and presented it as our own at least once in our lives. "Copy and Paste" has been one of the many habits we have adopted thanks to the technological era and booming increase of people becoming content creators. It's so apparent, that just imagine when you think of a quote, 80% of time someone else, from maybe the other side of the world, has already thought of that quote, posted it and claims the rights on it.

   There are also times when you create something and in the next hour, someone has already copied your work and used it as their own, which is ethically wrong but is slowly becoming the norm. Many people may say that it's too hard/ expensive to be original, but I believe because of the ever expanding pool of innovation we have in the world, now more than ever has originality become the key to success.

Now being original doesn't mean you have to start from scratch, no sense in reinventing the wheel.

In the field of business, originality is seen as something called a unique selling point. Basically whatever your business is about, there has to be something that distinguishes your business from every other business (something positive). Customers recognize this uniqueness and will be more attracted to your business aka more profit for you.

 The same rule can be applied in life, once you have this uniqueness about you, people recognize it, you may even become a trend setter.


HOPE YOU GUYS AGREE. HAVE A BLESS WEEKEND!!

High Paying I.T. Jobs

Now with the evolution of technology, almost every job has some I.T. aspect to it. So here's today's question:

Q. What are the highest paying jobs in the field of I.T. (Information Technology)?

A. Here are some of the most rewarding I.T jobs.

1. Software Development Manager

Median Annual Salary: $132,000

Job Description: These managers envision product development and manage projects through completion; analyzing, designing and developing software enhancements and new modules.

2. Software Architect

Median Annual Salary:  $128,250

Job Description: Software architects create customized software solutions such as web services, user interfaces, coding programs, and databases, and they are employed primarily by large corporations and agencies which create software for other companies. They are often responsible for creating standard coding practices and programs for other software designers within their companies.

3. Integrate Circuit Designer Engineer

Median Annual Salary: $127,500

Job description: These designers use bot the knowledge of circuitry and computers, to build new frameworks for the layout of circuitry that allow the devices to work more efficient (e.g. deigning the circuitry of a Samsung phone so it doesn't blow up :D)

4. I.T Manager

Median Annual Salary: $120,000

Job Description: They are responsible for the smooth running of a company's computer systems within the limits of requirements, specifications, costs and timelines. They supervise the implementation and maintenance of the company’s computing needs.

5. Data Scientist

Median Annual Salary: $115,000

Job Description: The data scientist drives initiatives to improve website monetization and user experience, while delivering analytics to better understand user engagement.

Debate Friday

For Caribbean persons, is Christianity just a brainwashing from slavery? YES or NO?

This topic was debated by my friends and I all during this week. First off, before I pick let's do a little history. When the Europeans created the slave trade and the Africans were captured and brought from Africa to the Caribbean to work as slaves. Once here, they were completely stripped of their identity and one of the methods used, especially by the Spaniards, was to force the Christian faith on the African slaves.

Furthermore, Christianity was used as a means to justify slavery and convince the slaves that the harsh conditions they were put in were righteous. Now, many years later, the majority of us Caribbean people have accepted Christianity as our belief but, is it really our choice or a predetermined choice because of our enslaved ancestry?

For me, I know it is my choice, and I believe that Christianity is more than just a brainwashing. I don't deny the history of it but it was the malice and hypocrisy of the whites at that time, which corrupted the reputation of the religion. I will also not deny the fact that many of us Caribbean people are just walking around with the title "Christian" because of the teachings of our parents and grandparents and not actually living the Christian life.

My conclusion, Christianity is a choice, it only remains a form of brainwashing if you follow it  with no meaningful resolve or reason for doing so.