Iklan TV Cosmopoint KK yang menjadi tarikan ramai, luarbiasa hebat!

Cosmopoint KK adalah kolej swasta yang bertapak di Kota Kinabalu sejak 2001. Sekarang ia ada 2 cawangan.

Iklan TV Cosmopoint KK

Link 1 Youtube Video

Link 2 Versi Bahasa Melayu

Link 3 Versi Bahasa English

Key highlights:

• Ekuinas acquires a 90% stake in Bumiputera-owned Cosmopoint Sdn Bhd (Cosmopoint Group), which owns and operates KL Metropolitan University College (KLMUC) and Cosmopoint International College of Technology (CICT).
• The acquisition sees Ekuinas investing in a fast growing education group with high potential within the dynamic and expanding Malaysian Private Education Industry to preserve and enhance Bumiputera participation within the sector.
• The investment also provides a platform for Ekuinas to further expand its education portfolio to five complementary institutions with a combined student population of almost 20,000 and uniquely positions Ekuinas to establish a leading Malaysian education conglomerate of the future.

KUALA LUMPUR, 2 April 2012: Ekuiti Nasional Berhad (Ekuinas), the government-linked private equity fund management company, is pleased to announce it has completed an acquisition of a 90% stake in Bumiputera-owned Cosmopoint Sdn Bhd (Cosmopoint Group), for a total investment of RM246 million. Cosmopoint Group currently owns and operates KL Metropolitan University College (KLMUC) and Cosmopoint International College of Technology (CICT), a fast growing education group within the Malaysian private education sector with more than 11,000 students across seven faculties.

Founded by Dato’ Idrus Mohd Satha in 1991, Cosmopoint Group has displayed a strong track record of delivering revenue and earnings growth. Over the years, the Group’s revenue and earnings have grown strongly with audited revenue and earnings for the financial year ended 31 December 2010 reaching RM107 million and RM33 million respectively.

From the first Cosmopoint IT training and education centre in Kuala Lumpur, the business has grown into one of the largest Bumiputera private education groups which owns and operates KLMUC, a highly popular university college in Kuala Lumpur, and CICT which has more than 13 centres nationwide, offering up to 40 different diploma and degree courses in various disciplines including business management, art and design, tourism and hospitality, engineering and IT. Post Ekuinas’ investment, Dato’ Idrus will remain as a minority shareholder and continue to provide leadership over the business as it enters the next level of growth.

Ekuinas Chairman, Raja Tan Sri Dato’ Seri Arshad Raja Tun Uda said, “We are pleased to undertake the investment in Cosmopoint Group as this provides Ekuinas with a unique opportunity to further expand our education portfolio with the eventual aim of establishing one of Malaysia’s leading education groups with a diversified multi-institution portfolio of investments. This is in line with Ekuinas’ aspiration to transform high potential Malaysian companies into future market leaders as well as to help enhance equitable Bumiputera participation within the sizeable and rapidly expanding Malaysian private education sector.”

Based on analysts’ valuation, the Malaysian private education industry is currently estimated to be RM7.2 billion and expected to grow by 9% annually to reach more than RM14 billion by 2015, driven by higher demand as a result of favourable demographics, rising income and increasing number of foreign students. This is consistent with the Government’s aspiration of turning Malaysia into an international education hub.

Dato’ Abdul Rahman Ahmad, Ekuinas’ Chief Executive Officer, added, “KLMUC and CICT are two strong education brands that have well established track records for delivering growth. Backed by an experienced management team, these institutions have created a strong niche and reputation for providing affordable tertiary education across various disciplines.”

“These two institutions will complement the existing education institutions under Ekuinas and expand our education portfolio to five institutions with more than 20,000 students and combined revenue of more than RM200 million. This uniquely positions Ekuinas to tap into further opportunities within the private education industry and establish in the future one of Malaysia’s largest education groups that serves education needs across all segments,” he further added.

Currently, Ekuinas’ investment portfolio includes education institutions under APIIT Education Group, namely Asia Pacific Institute of Information Technology (APIIT), Asia Pacific University College of Technology & Innovation (UCTI), and Sapura Smart School. The investment in the APIIT Education Group was undertaken in 2010 when Ekuinas acquired 51% from Sapura Resources Berhad for a total investment of RM102 million.

With this acquisition that was agreed in principle in late 2011 but completed on 31 March 2012, the total committed investments by Ekuinas to date amount to RM903.4 million. Together with private co-investments, Ekuinas has facilitated a total economic capital deployment of more than RM1.0 billion into the Malaysian economy.

- ends

About Ekuinas

Ekuinas (Ekuiti Nasional Berhad) is a government-linked private equity fund management company established on 1 September 2009. With the government endowment of RM5 billion under the 9th Malaysia Plan and 10th Malaysia Plan, Ekuinas aims to create Malaysia’s next generation of leading companies whilst promoting equitable, effective and sustainable Bumiputera economic participation. To date, Ekuinas has undertaken investments in high potential Malaysian companies involved in the business of fast moving consumer goods, oil and gas, logistics, education and retail.

About Cosmopoint Group

The Cosmopoint Group of Companies was established in the early 1990s when the field of ICT was beginning to experience unprecedented growth and required investment not only in financial terms but also through talented, qualified and intelligent human resources. Today, the Group has successfully carved a niche in the education, training and ICT development industry. For more details, please visit www.cosmopoint.com.my

It’s not that I am a fantastic writer. In fact, sometimes, I think I am far from it and can’t help feeling humbled whenever a good writeup is stumbled-upon. But if people asked me what keeps my blogging going, I would say one thing. Talking to people. And reading.

That’s two things but they are related. A writer who stops reading or talking to people will eventually end up with a dry well. How many things in your everyday life can you find to spark something off in your head? One? Three? And if you are lucky enough to find them, it is prudent to write them down. In most instances, it is hard to find topics to write about.

Just ask any regular blogger or writer – is it easy? Nope. Is it fun? Sometimes, yes, sometimes……

Get into new topics

Over time, bloggers change, their lifestyle changes or there is an upheaval at home (the blogger is, I assume, HUMAN) so, things change and they will find it difficult to continue writing in the same tone or about the same topics. It is POSSIBLE, but rarely easy.

When there is communication with others, new ideas hit you. A neighbor gets a new dog and you get a new topic – why you will NEVER get a dog. Your sister tells you about her boyfriend’s job loss – why you should never assume your job is going to last your forever.

Polishing up your skills in the writing terrain

I have written countless times before about how a easy it is to lose that spark. You write and write and write…and you end up having been writing for the past decade. To say that the writing or blogging might become lifeless at the end of the decade is an understatement. Some people who used to blog or write regularly, end up not writing anything anymore or produce sub-par write-ups.

Bookmark your favorite sites up

Based on my experience, writers should bookmark their favorite blogs or websites up on their favorite browser and then visit them once a day. Not all of them in one day, just pick one. Or place the RSS feed up on Google Reader.

Different writers with different writing styles will give you new words to use. It is not uncommon for people to KNOW a word and have not used those particular words at all in their writing. We turn into writers who write with a limited number of words. Not that it will make a world of difference to the article if there wasn’t any meat in it but it gives your fans a new interest.

So, grow. Don’t stop reading if you want to continue writing.

Marsha Maung is a Malaysian-based [http://www.marshamaung.me]freelance writer with two kids. She spends her time ferrying her kids around, watering her plants, writing web content, SEO stuff, ghostwriting books and also indulges in the occasional Facebook-ing. Visit her [http://www.marshamaung.blogspot.com]blog for more dirty details on the life and times of a mother, writer, designer, housekeeper, coffee-maker, poop-wiper, chef…and just about everything else under the sun

Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?If-You-Want-To-Continue-Writing,-Dont-Stop-Reading&id=6432250] If You Want To Continue Writing, Don’t Stop Reading

The job market is vast and rapidly changing. The important thing to remember is that job opportunities always exist, whatever the state of the economy. The key is finding out where they are.

In this article we describe the five routes into the job market: the “visible” routes of advertisements, recruitment consultants and the Internet and the “hidden” routes of personal contacts and direct approaches.

Why are many jobs never advertised?

There are several possible reasons:

• the decision to recruit might not have yet been made

• the need to recruit has not yet been identified

• the cost of advertising is too high

• recruitment can be carried out more quickly via the hidden market.

Examine every option

Whatever your experience or expertise, it is important to mount a balanced campaign using all approaches to the job market: advertisements, agencies and Internet as well as personal contacts and direct approaches. The amount of time and effort you devote to each route will vary according to your industry, job function, the level of competition and your own situation.

Advertised vacancies

In the visible job market, advertisements attract a large number of applicants who then have to be reduced to a small number of interviewees. This makes the visible market highly competitive. When they have large numbers of job applicants, employers or their recruitment agents, will scrutinise applications closely, looking for reasons to ‘weed’ people out.

This is another reason why your job applications (whatever form they may take) should be well written, free of spelling mistakes, relevant to the role and explicit about what you can bring to the role (whilst we do not suggest embellishment of any kind, there is no room for modesty in a job search!)

Recruitment consultants

Broadly speaking, recruitment consultants are paid by employers to find the right person to fit a particular job, which means that they will not generally be interested in canvassing employers on your behalf. Having said that, they do develop close relationships with some clients and may be aware of an imminent job opportunity.

Using the internet

The Internet can be used to access many types of material including advertisements, corporate and general company information. By reading trade and general publications you will be presented with Internet website addresses for agencies, recruitment consultants, publications, job servers, trade associations and much more.

Personal contacts

Working in the ‘hidden’ employment market allows you to remain in control and to make things happen. If you have made a direct approach or been introduced by a contact, you may be the only “real” candidate, even if the position is subsequently advertised.

Taking a balanced approach into searching for a new job is the best way to find work. Explore all of the possibilities available for you. If you are concerned about finding work or would like more information and [http://www.careeranalysts.co.uk/]career advice, contact Career Analysts.

Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Where-Should-I-Search-for-a-Job?&id=6202116] Where Should I Search for a Job?

Effective college study skills are critical for college success. There is no one size fits all method of studying, but one thing that is likely true: the study habits you had in high school will probably be inadequate at the college level. Developing good study skills from the beginning will start you off on the path toward success in your college years.

Study the material before you go to class. This may not have been necessary in high school. But with the amount and depth of material covered in each class at the college level, you will be behind before class even starts if you do not take time to become acquainted with the material before you step into the classroom. You will be relieved, if not pleasantly surprised, at how much easier you will absorb the lecture in class when you have made the effort to familiarize yourself with the subject beforehand.

Study every day. Studies show that students who take time to study every day fare better than students with more sporadic study habits, and much better than those who cram. How much time should you study? A rule of thumb for effective college study skills is to devote three hours a week for homework and studying for each credit hour. If your biology class is three credit hours, then you should spend approximately 15 hours a week on homework and studying outside the classroom. If you are taking a total of 15 credit hours, then you should be spending upwards of 45 hours per week on homework and studying. When you think about it, committing to a daily study schedule is really the only option you have for getting in all the hours needed for studying and homework each week.

Take an active role with your studying. College study skills require more than just reading. Highlight the material, take notes, make outlines, even quiz yourself or have a friend quiz you. Take a cue from grade school and use flashcards. These are good strategies to apply whether you are studying new material to prepare for class, studying after class for reinforcement, or preparing for an exam. Actively studying on a daily basis will help you comprehend and retain the material.

Adjust your study habits as needed. In the beginning you may go through trial and error as you figure out a system that works. You may find that some classes do not require as much studying as you originally thought but others require more of your time than you anticipated. Keep making the necessary changes until you have developed a system that meets your needs.

Plan, plan, plan. Effective time management is your best ally. Good college study skills require managing your time, and this takes planning. Take the time to plan and organize your days and weeks to allocate sufficient time for homework, studying, and other critical tasks. This is essential. If you are taking a full course load, then the amount of time you must devote to homework and studying each week is the equivalent of a full time job, and that is in addition to the time you spend in class. If you do not have a schedule to manage all of this then you will suffer for it.

Plan the first week and see how things go. Make any necessary adjustments for the following week, and continue adjusting until you have devised a plan that works. Include 15 minutes before the end of each day to review the next day’s schedule. You will be surprised at how helpful a step this can be. Doing this before the end of the day will come in handy in case you overlooked something you need for tomorrow that must be taken care of today. At the very least you will minimize surprises, even save yourself some grief, and at best, you will be totally prepared for tomorrow’s undertakings. A word of caution: do not schedule your days so tightly that you have no flexibility to deal with the unexpected. Leave a little wiggle room to accommodate those unanticipated situations that inevitably crop up.

With some up-front investment in time and effort, you can acquire effective college study skills that will pay off with good grades.

Developing good college study skills requires more than what can be explained in a short article. Visit http://www.college-success-strategies.com to learn about street-smart strategies for college success.

Article Source: College Study Skills – 5 Strategies For Improvement

Mungkin banyak persoalan yang anda ingin tahu mengenai pinjaman PTPTN ini. Dan kebanyakan persoalan itu, ada jawapannya daripada PTPTN. Berikut adalah  antara lain persoalan lazim mengenai PTPTN yang dipetik daripada laman web PTPTN sendiri:-

• Saya tidak lulus Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) tetapi diterima masuk ke IPT berdasarkan kelayakan masuk lain seperti sijil. Bolehkah saya memohon pinjaman?

• Saya lulus SPM tetapi tidak mempunyai 3 kepujian dan telah diterima masuk ke IPT. Bolehkah saya memohon pinjaman?

• Saya telah berumur 46 tahun semasa permohonan dibuat. Adakah saya layak untuk memohon pinjaman?

• Saya belum membuka akaun Skim Simpanan Pendidikan Nasional (SSPN). Adakah saya layak memohon pinjaman PTPTN?

• Saya telah berkahwin. Adakah saya perlu mempunyai penjaga?

• Adakah saya perlu mempunyai penjamin semasa membuat pemohonan pinjaman dan siapakah yang layak menjadi penjamin?

• Saya ditawarkan mengikuti pengajian peringkat “bridging” di Politeknik. Adakah saya layak memohon pinjaman PTPTN?

• Saya telah menamatkan pengajian peringkat Ijazah Pertama dengan mendapat pinjaman PTPTN. Sekiranya saya ingin mengikuti pengajian dalam bidang lain di peringkat diploma, bolehkah saya memohon pinjaman PTPTN?

• Saya ingin mengikuti pengajian pada peringkat Sarjana (Master) atau Doktor Falsafah (PhD) atau Kursus Profesional di IPTS, bolehkah saya memohon pinjaman PTPTN?

• Saya mengikuti pengajian secara separuh masa di IPT tempatan. Adakah saya layak mendapat pinjaman?

• Saya ingin mengikuti Pengajian Jarak Jauh (PJJ) di IPT tempatan. Bolehkah saya memohon pinjaman?

• Saya telah mendapat tawaran untuk melanjutkan pengajian ke luar negara. Bolehkah saya memohon pinjaman PTPTN?

• Bolehkah saya memohon pinjaman bagi program 2+1 yang dijalankan secara usahasama dengan IPT luar negara. Program pengajian ini dijalankan selama 2 tahun di dalam negara dan 1 tahun di luar negara?

• Saya sedang belajar di semester kedua dan ingin memohon pinjaman PTPTN. Bolehkah saya mendapat pinjaman bermula semester satu?

• Saya mempunyai lebih dari satu (1) keputusan SPM, adakah saya boleh menggabungkan kesemua keputusan ini untuk memohon pinjaman PTPTN?

• Saya telah kehilangan sijil SPM. Bolehkah saya menggunakan salinan transkrip (slip) SPM untuk memohon pinjaman?

Jawapan-jawapan  Soalan-Soalan Lazim PTPTN di atas boleh didapati di laman web mereka di http://www.ptptn.gov.my

Mungkin banyak lagi persoalan anda mengenai PTPTN yang tidak tercatat di sini. Jangan risau kerana pihak PTPTN telah memudahkan carian anda dengan menyediakan persoalan-persoalan yang biasa ditanya oleh para pemohon PTPTN dengan jawapannya sekali. Dengan itu proses permohonan PTPTN anda akan berjalan dengan lebih lancar lagi.

Step 1. Terminate programs running automatically on laptop computer startup. This can speed up your laptop boost up speed effectively. If you download and install programs frequently, there should be many programs running automatically when you start it. That is why your laptop takes too long to let you enter the whole system every time. Try the first step to speed up your laptop performance.

Step 2. Run a disk defrag for your system. How long haven’t you detected and cleaned up system fragment? Obviously, fragment in system will slow down the laptop speed and bring more sluggishness to your laptop computer. I highly recommend you run disk defrag once a month to avoid system errors caused by the fragment. You will see that the laptop performance would be speeded up when you clean up fragment regularly.

Step 3.  Eliminate registry problems to enhance your laptop speed. This is the most important step you should take to speed your laptop up. Because few of people would realize that registry problems can slow system down. In fact, nearly 80% slow laptop computer issue are related to registry errors. Cleaning up corrupted, invalid and malicious registry entries will not only speed up your laptop but also help you prevent laptop freezes, blue screen of death and system crashes in the future.

Now, are you clear about how to speed up laptop? If you still feel hard or have no time to fix your laptop problems, I strongly suggest you visit the best laptop repair tool in 2010 and it is also my personal choice to help you speed up slow laptop perfectly.

Article Source: Speed Up My Laptop – How to Speed Up Your Laptop in Minutes

What you eat makes a spectacular difference in the way your brain functions. It is critical that you always remember this:

Your brain is part of your body.

What you put in your body you put in your brain.

If you eat junk you feed your brain junk. Have you noticed that all around the country schools are rising up? They fight the junk in the school cafeterias and are getting rid of junk fast food and sodas. Instead they feed the children whole foods, vegetables, whole grains etc.

You know what happens to the children as a result?
Test scores go up,
School kids can sit still and…
Pay attention.

Who knew that children can sit still in school and concentrate.

I say again:

What you put into your body you put into your brain.

You have to understand that this is great news. It means that you can greatly influence your brain simply by choosing the right food.

So what is the best food for your brain?

First of all stop feeding your brain junk.

No more sugar or highly refined starches, in particular high fructose corn syrup. High fructose corn syrup is everywhere. It is a form of sugar that enters your blood stream quickly, but your brain does not register it as food. So you stay hungry while your blood sugar is going up.

Also, get rid of all food that contain transfatty acids. These artificial fats replace healthy fats in your brain. Your brain needs healthy fats, primarily omega-3 fatty acids. Transfats invade your brain and are dangerous for your brain health.

Why are these: hfcs and trans fatty acids in your food?

In two words: shelf life!

Without these food will perish, as it should. Put a slice of bread on the counter, and in a few days, mold will grow. Do the same with crackers and mold won’t grow. Molds consider whole bread as food, but not crackers. And as it is not food to molds, nor is it food to you.

What is good food for your brain?

First, eat whole foods, concentrate on vegetables and have whole grains, brown rice, quinoa, etc. Colorful fruit berries are high in anti- oxidants. Finally, you cannot eat enough omega-3 fatty acids. There is no need to eat salmon everyday. Let’s not overfish the salmon. Also, no farm raised fish, which contains far less of healthy fats. Very good and cheap sources are sardines and anchovies, and if you take a supplement, take a look at krill oil. Krill is the most abundant food source in the world.

Vegetarians need to eat flax and hemp, and other nuts and seeds. You should grind the flax, and eat at least one tablespoon per day. Walnuts are great as well. Make sure you take sufficient vitamin b and zinc. You can find these in grass-fed beef dairy and eggs. Vegetarian options are terrific and include nuts, seeds, bean, green vegetables. Vitamin b12 is key for vegetarians, but you knew that.

Always remember, what you put in your body you put in your brain. [http://brainafter50.com]Niels Teunis, Ph.D..

If you want to grow old with dignity, continue to live independently in your own home, and keep driving your own car… Without relying on prescription drugs or boring brain exercises… Then you will be ecstatic to hear that the science is in.

Modern day science is very clear. Dementia is not your fate. Your brain is making new braincells all the time.

To read more, visit: [http://brainafter50.com]http://brainafter50.com.

Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?What-Is-the-Best-Brain-Food?&id=5079457] What Is the Best Brain Food?

It’s Monday morning. In any office, in any given city, you can find an ample amount of people who are suffering from that dreaded condition called “Monday Morning Blues.”

The exact origin of this condition is unclear. Does is it start the moment we open our eyes on Monday morning? Or does it slowly rise up as night falls on Sunday? More importantly, how do we cure it? This article will offer some solutions and tips on how to cure your Monday Morning Blues so that you can become a more productive and happier worker.

1. CHANGE YOUR MINDSET

Professor Charles Areni conducted research lead by a team of psychologists from the University of Sydney who collected mood information from hundreds of people, asking them for their worst and best morning and evening of the week and had this to say about the Monday Morning Blues:

“The Monday morning blues and ‘Thank God it’s Friday attitude’ are largely inaccurate theories of how moods vary when they actually don’t,” he reported in News.com.au. “Mondays are not actually blue at all, but we persist in the belief that they are.” Areni added.

In offices all around America, people approach Monday with the mindset of “getting through” the week. In that scenario, Monday becomes the first stepping stone in an uphill battle. If you hold that perspective, then you inevitably begin your week feeling down. Sure there is work that is awaiting you – some of which you may not be looking forward to; projects that need to be completed; assignments that you dread; and co-workers that you don’t like. By focusing on what you want to accomplish in the upcoming week instead of merely getting through it, your mindset will inevitably change.

2. ADDRESS YOUR BASIC NEEDS

Professor Areni’s research indicates that the real low point of the week was Wednesday (“aka” hump day), not Monday, and that mood change and attitude was only slight for other days. He said the day-of-the-week stereotypes stemmed from a cultural belief that people were generally happier when they were free to choose their activities compared to when they were sitting at a desk.

My research indicates that those who are less susceptible to the Monday Morning Blues are those who have jobs which fulfill their most basic work needs which are: autonomy, the need for competency, and the need for relatedness. Seeking more freedom in your job and being empowered with the ability to make choices regarding how your work is done, is a major component to job satisfaction. Feeling good about doing your job to the best of your ability is also key. Finally, finding people who can relate to you and your work challenges is crucial and underestimated. If there is no one within your organization who fits this description, befriend someone similar at a neighboring company who does.

3. GET OVER HUMP DAY – LITERALLY

“Monday morning is remembered and predicted to be the worst part of the week because it is the first work day after two days of free time, and because four work days follow before the next period of free time,” he said. “Likewise, Friday evening is the best part of the week because it marks the beginning of an extended period of free time, he added.

It sounds obvious, but on a subconscious level, this thinking undermines and disrupts our focus and ability to be “in the now”. It would make sense that Wednesday is referred to as “hump day” since most workers, as previously stated, are merely trying to get through the week or climb some long, steep, imaginary hill that they long to “get over”. Hump day symbolizes the peak at which point the climb gets easier because in theory, it’s all downhill from there. When you effectively focus on reaching goals for the week, you will find that hump day all but disappears when you are humping your butt off while trying to accomplish your goals.

4. MAXIMIZE YOUR WEEKEND DURING THE WEEK

Most people dread Sundays because they know that Monday is just around the corner. This leaves Saturday as the only true weekend day. Recent surveys confirm this. A whopping 72 per cent of those polled spend up to four hours doing chores on a Sunday, which includes 31 per cent attempting to get through the laundry, 24 per cent cleaning the kitchen and 14 per cent changing the bed.

Not only is this counterproductive in terms of preventing the Monday Morning Blues, but it also decreases weekend enjoyment. By executing mundane household chores during the week, you free up valuable weekend time which can be spent in a more productive or leisurely fashion – right up until Sunday night.

4. SLEEP LESS, PLAY MORE

A new study has found that lazy Saturday and Sunday lie-ins can disturb your body clock, leaving you fatigued at the start of the week. Flinders University sleep expert Leon Lack said people often used the weekend to catch up on sleep lost during the week. He notes: “We’ve discovered that these sleep-ins are actually putting your body out of whack enough to change your Sunday night bedtime and set you up for Monday blues,” Professor Lack told AAP.

His research team tested the theory by tracking 16 people over a weekend, asking them to go to bed a little later than they would on a weeknight but sleeping-in an extra two hours. By comparing saliva samples and hormone tests he found participants’ body clocks had been delayed by 45 minutes.

“That might not sound like a lot but it means that you’re not quite as sleepy on Sunday night at the normal bedtime and you’ll be much sleepier the next day,” Prof Lack said. Questionnaires completed on Monday and Tuesday showed much higher levels of self-reported fatigue and tiredness compared with pre-sleep in days. This was because the subjects’ circadian rhythms – which determine patterns of alertness and tiredness – had been disturbed, creating an effect similar to jet lag. By mid-week (hump day) most people manage to get back on track but then they start staying up later, getting into “debt” once again and perpetuating the cycle.

If the weekend is a time to play, get up early and do it. You will keep your body’s clock attuned to your “normal” wake-up time, and get the maximum use of your minimal free time.

5. BALANCE OUT YOUR MONDAYS

If you ride public transportation you know that it’s a much less gregarious atmosphere on your train, bus, or carpool on Mondays. People don’t engage in conversation as readily as they do on Fridays. It’s no surprise that people smile less on Mondays than they do on Fridays. We all know that smiles invite friendliness or at least friendly interactions.

Put an activity on your Monday schedule (yes, regardless of how hectic your Mondays are) that will afford you the opportunity for some friendly interaction. Whether it’s having lunch with a friend, making a donation of some kind, or sending a personal email to say hello to someone – do something that balances your work demands against your personal needs to give you something to look forward to at the beginning of the week.

Using these tips should make your Mondays a little brighter, and a little more enjoyable.

Gian Fiero is a seasoned educator, speaker and consultant with a focus on business development and music/entertainment industry operations. He is affiliated with San Francisco State University as an adjunct professor and the United States Small Business Administration (SBA) where he conducts monthly workshops on topics such as career planning, public relations, and personal growth.

Article Source: How to Cure the Monday Morning Blues

It was motivational speaker Zig Ziglar who said, “Your attitude, not your aptitude, will determine your altitude.” Does the same still hold true today? More employers are reporting that college graduates are entering the workforce with an “attitude” of entitlement. They want the six figure salary, 4 weeks of vacation, and a corner office before they prove or accomplish anything.

While it may seem like a preposterous notion to those who are descendants of a different culture, generation, or mindset, there are many people who have attitudes (not exclusively of entitlement) which do not engender good will. In fact, many of these, what I will call “counterproductive” attitudes, are based on a false sense of self-esteem.

Self-esteem is defined as a confidence and satisfaction in oneself. The self-esteem is false when one confuses potential with credentials. If there are no credentials, we can not properly gage aptitude. But many college grads believe or subscribe to the philosophy that it’s best to “fake it till you make it” and they project a demeanor that’s consistent with, or reflective of, those who have actually achieved what they hope or have the potential achieve.

Or do they?

A random sampling of companies that offer internships/apprentice positions reveals that they prefer neophytes to be long on inquisitiveness, and short on haughtiness. A counterproductive attitude gets in the way of learning, and building relationships.

Employers may become easily enamored with potential and credentials, but a positive “can-do” attitude is often listed at the top of employee characteristics that employers value. So much so, that employers state that they will take a less qualified (i.e. less experienced) candidate with a great attitude who shows promise to be a good fit, over a candidate who is more qualified (i.e. has greater credentials on paper). They get a bargain. You get an opportunity to expand and fulfill your potential.

A bad attitude is like a wet towel; it’s heavier to carry and harder to handle. Even though it has the same appearance as a dry towel, your experience with it is cumbersome and generally unpleasant. People don’t like handling wet towels – not even at pools. If you find that people tend to keep their distance, or that they bypass opportunities to work with you, you may be the aforementioned wet towel.

Many wet towels are not aware of the fact that they are wet. Some are, and are perfectly fine with their condition. They tend to compensate with their aptitude. They will contend that those who lack credentials tend to compensate with their (positive) attitude. Whatever the case, employers don’t consider attitude and aptitude an either/or proposition. Much like beauty and brains, people want both – when possible.

No where in our society is attitude and aptitude more on display, and at a premium, than in professional sports. In a culture where “winning is everything,” attitude takes a backseat to aptitude, or does it?

The heralded team player is a person who is willing to put his needs and personal glory second to that of the team he plays for. He’s valuable. He’s rare. He seldom has the greatest athletic aptitude of any player on the team, but usually has the greatest attitude. His presence is felt by all, his absence impacts many. He does what he’s required do, and happily does more than the job requires because he knows the difference it makes in winning.

This combination of aptitude and attitude can determine the altitude of your success. Zig Ziglar is still on point. And so are those who understand this.

Gian Fiero is an educator, speaker and consultant who specializes in business development, career planning, and personal growth issues.

Article Source: Attitude & Aptitude – Keys to Your Success