Shadow Footprints

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The Definitive Guide to Sticking to Your New Year’s Resolutions

Let’s face it: most of us fail when it comes to sticking to resolutions — so much so that many people swear never to make resolutions again.

And yet the rest of us are eternally hopeful when the New Year comes around, believing without any credible evidence that we can improve our lives, that change is possible, that we’re not going to be stuck in the same old rut again this year.

I’m here to tell you that you can do it. It’s possible. I’ll show you how.

The Problem with Most Resolutions
While I love the optimism of New Year’s Resolutions, unfortunately, the enthusiasm and hope often fades within weeks, and our efforts at self improvement come to a whimpering end.

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"What I love about the time between Christmas and New Year is sometimes I can't work out what day it is." -- SamNZed on Twitter

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7 Tips for Taking Travel Photos Like a Pro

Travel photography seems so simple. What could be easier than traveling to an exotic location in a beautiful country with a camera and a handful of memory cards and taking some amazing photos? But, when you arrive at your location, you find that it's a lot harder to take a decent travel photo than it looks.

1. Use bright colors
2. Use late afternoon light
3. Look for a different take on local landmarks
4. Search for detail
5. Get off the beaten track
6. Use a polarizing filter
7. Take photos at night

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The Cougar

1. Article/Post

Coaching Is Not Training, Mentoring or Counselling

Coaching is not Training

While training and coaching both promote learning, they do so in different ways

Coaching is not Mentoring

There are some superficial similarities between coaching and mentoring, as they are both typically one-to-one conversations aimed at facilitating professional development, but there are also significant differences

Coaching is not Counselling

Again, there may be a superficial similarity in that both of these activites are one-to-one conversations, but their tone and purpose are very different

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"Failure to spend the [presentation] time wisely and well, failure to educate, entertain, elucidate, enlighten, and most important of all, failure to maintain attention and interest should be punishable by stoning. There is no excuse for tedium." -- Jay H. Lehr

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How to . . . build a winning team in business

It takes more than simple hard work to turn colleagues into a high achieving unit - here we examine the dynamics

1. Do you need a team?
2. Set conditions for success
3. Who is in the team?
4. Small is beautiful
5. Do great minds think alike?
6. Bring in a deviant
7. The launch is everything
8. Be a decisive leader
9. Team dynamics take time
10. Communicate properly

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Cell Phone Karma

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Common Networking Mistakes

Do Your Homework

Don't arrive at a networking event without a plan of attack.

First, find out which person or organization is sponsoring the event. Next, see if there will be speakers, presenters or any special guests in attendance. Last, make a list of people you expect to be there and want to meet.

Do a little research on each of them. A little knowledge goes a long way. If you know something about the people you approach, it's much easier to start a conversation -- and keep it going.

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"If you feel tempted to use a picture of two hands shaking in front of a globe, put the pencil down, step away from the desk, and think about taking a vacation or investigating aromatherapy." -- Nancy Duarte

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Article
Five Ways to Boost Your Work Performance - Outside the Office

[...] chances are, you want to do well in your job. [...] You’re doing all the right things during the workday. But, are there actions you could be taking outside work in order to boost your performance?

1. Take a Public Speaking Course
2. Attend Meetings of a Professional Organization
3. Spend Time Improving Your Skills
4. Spend Time Improving Your Skills
5. Take a Look at Your Appearance

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This folding plug is such a cool design.