Dress for Success!

Dear Friends,

Every person in the Corporate world as well as those who run their own business need to dress well. If you dress like a successful person then people will want to do business with you. But if you dress like a person who does care about his dressing then people will treat you that way as well. They will not care about you. So, pay some attention to your dressing!

If you want to feel good, one way to do that is to dress well. Your dressing can more often than not reflect how you feel. Your focus is on dressing well which can then change your mood for the better.

I am not asking anyone to be shallow and superficial. That's the way the world works. People do treat those who dress well better than those who do not dress well. I feel that we should treat everyone well regardless of their dressing. But it is only human to have a first impression  and that will affect the way you treat the person. If you are guy looking to find a girlfriend, one of the first things to do is to dress well. You don't have to look like Brad Pitt or George Clooney. If you look and dress decent and if you have good mannerism and character you will attract the right girl. Likewise, for girls who are looking for boyfriend. Don't be shallow...don't just go for looks or the person's wallet. Good character is more important for long and lasting relationship and this goes beyond looks.

I like to dress for the occasion. I feel good when I dress well. If I dress like I just got out of bed, I will feel lousy. You should try to wear clothes that fit you well. If have put on a few pounds than choose clothes that can cover some of these flaws. A better option is for you to eat healthy food, get lots of rest and exercise at least 3 x a week. That way, you can maintain your ideal weight for your age and look younger because when look after yourself well you will feel younger, more energetic and look youthful.

If you need ideas on how to be fashionable, you need not go far. You have the YouTube, Google, fashion magazines such GQ, Esquire, Cosmopolitan, Vogue, Elle, etc. Another way, is to mirror your friend or your favorite star whose style and fashion you admire. Of course, you should choose someone who about the same built. That way, you are more likely to look better when you make a style switch. My rule: Dress according to the occasion. You do not want to stand out like a fashion victim.

Dress for Success! But sure you have substance as well otherwise you will be like a mannequin on a window display.

Cheers,
Mark

p.s. tell me your success stories about how you Dressing for Success has benefited you !

Be An Awesome Person!

Dear Friends,

I recently watched a YouTube Video by a 9 year old boy who is on a mission to make this world a better place. He is so adorable and has a really infectious laughter. I was touched by his message of spreading goodwill. Meet "Kid President"- Robert Novak. I also like the fact that he likes to dance. So do I. When you dance you are in a happy state so keep dancing.

What makes his mission so special is because he has a brittle bone syndrome and he has broken his bones more than 60 times. It would have dampened the spirit of an adult. But this boy just keeps going on and on and on.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IcZVGjG6LWM

There are more videos you can watch on YouTube by the Kid President.

Be Awesome to Someone Today:

1) Smile at someone or make someone smile by telling a joke.

2) Buy someone a simple but meaningful present like a cupcake or a pen with their name engraved.

3) Help you mother or father with the housework.

4) Send a card to someone (not an email). The personal touch makes the difference.

5) Cook for your wife/husband/girlfriend/boyfriend.

6) Visit someone you has been important in your life like your parents or grandparents or teacher, etc.

7) Remember somebody's birthday.

8) Visit a sick person in the hospital or old folks home.

9) Read a book to a child.

10) Buy groceries for a dis-advantaged family.

You can add on the to the list above or create your own list and make someone's day awesome. I wish all kids will watch this boy's video and see his enthusiastic spirit and positive attitude. And hopefully, they can follow his example.A lot of adults also need to learn from this kid. If we all tried to do what this kid is doing this world will be a much better place.

I am a big fan of the Kid President. I will vote for him.

Have an Awesome Day!

Cheers,
Mark

New Year Resolutions-2013

Hi Friends,

Happy New Year! 2013 here we 

I love writing down New Year Resolutions. Do you want to start 2013 on the right note? If "Yes",  here is a suggestion: write down your New Year Resolutions and set some "Targets/Goals" for yourself to achieve for the year. You are the Captain of "YOUR SHIP". You need to have a "Map" so that you can pilot your ship as you sail along the passage called "Life".

Do not listen to "nay-Sayers". Just because they could not achieve their goals does not mean you can't achieve yours. Prove them wrong. You can achieve your goals if you stay focused and you are disciplined. I have achieved a lot of my goals and I have book in which I have written down the goals so I can keep track of it.

For example, in 2009 I wanted to run the half marathon. It had been 21 years since I ran the 21.5km. Now, I have done 3 x Half Marathons. If you have a problem with achieving your New Year Resolutions than just focus on one or two resolutions. "Success breeds Success". Before you know it you will have achieved more than one goal for 2012. It is good to be goal oriented and if you have the right attitude and you are disciplined, you will achieve your goals.

Your resolutions have to be specific and also have a deadline by which you hope to achieve it. It does not have to be specific to 2013. You can have a 5 Year Plan that starts from 2013.

Here are some suggestions:

1) Weight Management -Lose 5 kg by March  2013. Remember you need to expand more that you consume to reduce weight. It helps if you exercise regularly.

2) Save and Invest- Save S$10,000 by cutting off unnecessary expenses and invest the money in high dividend paying stocks. Do your research before you invest.

3)Long Term Retirement Plan- e.g. Retire by 2015 with enough money in the bank. Retirement Fund. Set a target that will enable you to retire comfortably e.g. if want S$5,000 a month lifestyle and you expect to live for another 30 years then you need to save about S$1.8 million when you retire. Please add inflation rate to this amount in order ensure your spending power is maintained to achieve the lifestyle you desire.

4) Health Management- Exercise regularly- at least 3x a week.Run the Marathon (42 KM) by 2013.

5) Be a Better Person- Kind, Loving, Caring, Understanding, Manage your Anger, be a better father/husband/wife/son/daughter/ teacher/student /boss/employee/etc. Be kind and compassionate to others especially to the less fortunate. There is no need to be rude to anyone as you would want others to be rude to you.

6) Do more Charity Work. Help World Vision (http://www.worldvision.org.sg/st_sponsorchild.php ) or Habitat for Humanity (http://www.habitat.org/asiapacific/)

7) Reduce/STOP Drinking and Smoking- to improve health.and save money

8) Eat Healthy Food and Cook at Home more often. Eat to Live, NOT Live to Eat!

9) Be a Happy Person and Smile and Laugh more often even when things are not going the way you want them to- this will reduces stress and improves your health.

10) Start a business. This is an option if you are not happy with your work. But you must have game plan....I mean Business Plan to ensure you are on the right track.

11) Save the Environment by being less wasteful. Each one of us has to do our part.

12) Be Positive- You have a better chance of achieving what you want if you are positive. Remember- "a negative person is the most handicapped person in the world" because they don't have faith in themselves and hence they will not be able look at the right solutions and options. They will most likely give up.

How to make sure you succeed with your "New Resolution Goals"?

1) Write your New Year Resolutions down. You will remember better. Have notebook so that you can compare your resolutions from year to the next. Some resolutions are "work-in-progress".

2) Paste it in places you will see regularly. Keep a copy in your wallet.

3) Look at everyday before you go to bed. At least for 7 days continuously. Constantly review it on a monthly basis to monitor you progress.

4) Tell your friends some of things you would like to share and get them to help you reach your goals.

5) Stay focused on your goals and you will achieve it. Stay focused, be disciplined and have the right attitude. If you really want it, you will get it.

Remember - Thoughts leads to Feeling leads to Actions leads to Results.You need to take Massive Action by which I mean a paradigm shift in your thinking and "JUST DO IT!" as NIKE tag line states.

Stay positive and stay focused! Good Luck! 

Cheers,

Mark Fernandez

The Beautiful Life!

Stay away from Anger.

It hurts only You and nobody else.

If you are right, then there is no need to get angry,

and if you are wrong then you don't have any right to get angry.

Patience with family is love,

Patience with others is respect,

Patience with self is confidence and

Patience with GOD is faith.

Never think hard about the past, it brings tears.

Don't think more about the future, it brings fear.

Live this moment with a Smile, it brings cheer.

Every test in our life makes us bitter or better,

every problem comes to make us or break us,

The choice is ours whether we become victims or victorious. 

Search for a beautiful heart not a beautiful face.

Beautiful things are not always good, but good things are always beautiful.

Do you know why God created gaps between fingers?

So that someone who is special to you comes

and fills those gaps by holding your hand forever.

Never forget this advice!

Happiness keeps You Sweet, Trials keep You Strong,  

Success keeps You Glowing, 

and But Only God keeps You Going! 

Love All, Serve All!

Cheers,

Mark

Buy The Music! Do not Steal!

Dear Friends,

I got this from Facebook where someone posted it. I share the same sentiments. People are willing to pay $5 for a cup of coffee but the same time they are not willing to pay $1 for a song that will make them happy or smile. I would pay $5 to buy the music because Music makes me happy and lifts my mood. 

Please do not steal just buy the music. Just imagine if you were an up and coming Artists or Author, you put a album out or a book out and people just decide that they would rather download it for free from the illegal website. Will you be OK with it? Instead of making money as a Musician or Author, you may have to find a day job. So think before you decide to "borrow" or 'steal".

Love All, Serve All!

Cheers,

Mark

Success Breeds Success

This is a story that promotes the motto of this blog...Help yourself to become successful and help others achieve the same or better success in their lives. You will benefit from the good karma.

Simple but Extremely True……………………..

There was a farmer who grew superior quality, award-winning corn in his farm. Each year, he entered his corn in the state fair where it won honors and prizes

One year a reporter interviewed him and learned something interesting about how he grew his corn. The reporter discovered that the farmer shared his corn seed with his neighbors

The reporter asked, "How can you afford to share your best corn seed with your neighbors when they are entering corn in the competition with yours each year?"

The farmer replied, "Didn't you know? The wind picks up pollen grains from the ripening corn and swirls it from field to field. If my neighbors grow inferior, sub-standard and poor quality corn, cross-pollination will steadily degrade the quality of my corn. If I have to grow good corn, I must help my neighbors to grow good corn too"

The farmer gave a superb insight into the connectedness of life. His corn cannot improve unless his neighbors' corn also improves. More so in other dimensions and areas of life!

If you choose to be in harmony, help neighbors; colleagues be at peace. If you choose to live well, help others live well too. The value of a life is measured by the lives it touches...

Success does not happen in isolation; but by a participatory and collective process that comes with sharing good practices, ideas; knowledge with family, friends, team members and neighbors

"Love All, Serve All".

Have a Great Day!

Cheers,

Mark

Men's Rules vs Women's Rules

Time for a Commercial Break! Time to Laugh!

A schoolmate sent this. Funny!

"At last a guy has taken the time to write this all down  

 Finally, the guys' side of the story. ( I must admit, it's pretty good.)

We always hear 'the rules' From the female side ...Now here are the rules from the male side.  

These are our rules!
Please note.. these are all numbered '1 ' 
ON PURPOSE!

1.   Men are NOT mind readers.

1. Learn to work the toilet seat. You're a big girl. If it's up, put it down. We need it up, you need it down.
You don't hear us complaining about you leaving it down.

1. Sunday sports: It's like the full moon or the changing of the tides. Let it be.

1... Crying is blackmail.

1. Ask for what you want. Let us be clear on this one:
Subtle hints do not work!
Strong hints do not work!
Obvious hints do not work!
Just say it!

1. Yes and No are perfectly acceptable answers to almost every question.

1. Come to us with a problem only if you want help solving it. That's what we do. Sympathy is what your girlfriends are for.

1. Anything we said 6 months ago is inadmissible in an argument. In fact, all comments become Null and void after 7 Days.

1. If you think you're fat, you probably are.
Don't ask us.

1. If something we said can be interpreted two ways and one of the ways makes you sad or angry, we meant the  other one 

1. You can either ask us to do something Or tell us how you want it done.  Not both. If you already know best how to do it, just do it yourself.

1. Whenever possible, Please say whatever you have to say during commercials..

1. Christopher Columbus did NOT need directions and neither do we.

1. ALL men see in only 16 colors, like Windows default settings. Peach, for example, is a fruit, not A color. Pumpkin is also a fruit. We have no idea what mauve is.

1. If it itches, it will be scratched..
We do that.

1. If we ask what is wrong and you say 'nothing,' We will act like nothing's wrong. We know you are lying, but it is just not worth the hassle.

1. If you ask a question you don't want an answer to, Expect an answer you don't want to hear.

1. When we have to go somewhere, absolutely anything you wear is fine...Really.

1. Don't ask us what we're thinking about unless you are prepared to discuss such topics as baseball or motor sports

1. You have enough clothes.

1. You have too many shoes.

1. I am in shape. Round IS a shape!

1. Thank you for reading this.

Yes, I know, I have to sleep on the couch tonight;
But did you know men really don't mind that? It's like camping.

Pass this to as many men as you can - to give them a laugh.

Pass this to as many women as you can -  to give them a bigger laugh"

Have a Great Day!