My kids have achieved some pretty amazing things.........

My kids have achieved some pretty amazing things. For example, my younger daughter was the youngest girl to have ever got an A* in her IGCSE (16+) Maths, when she was 9, and she can speak 6 languages.

My 3 kids are hard-working and motivated. Here’s some tips:-

• Empathise with them and they’ll listen to you more. So I’ve told them I agree studying is boring. C’mon, it is!
• …and then tell them why they should do it. They need to buy the vision.
• Always listen. If they’re not working hard, or they’re being rebellious, talk to them and understand why. No need to get angry, whatever they feel, they feel they’re right.
• Like adults, kids need a goal to get them motivated. So, for my kids the goal is typically an exam. They know the exam date and the grade I want, and are reminded of it every few days. Your kids’ goals could be to get As in half the subjects in the report card.
• With every major goal achieved there should be a huge reward. My kids will be spending an extra 4 weeks in London if they all get the top grade in June 2018.
• Every major goal needs to be broken down into sub-goals. Sub-goals should be tracked, ideally in a spreadsheet.
• Every sub-goal achieved needs a celebration. Typically it’s a film with pizza at home, or we go out for an ice-cream.
• Take an interest. I ask my kids every day what they’ve done and get excited with them when they’ve done well. High fives and all.

• Get involved. You need to induce hard work. I take my kids to cafes as they can’t really do much apart from study there. And they love it as they eat what they want. Once bored of one cafe, we go to the next. BTW I don’t teach - I do my own work.
• Make sure your kids understand that their brains are like muscles, which get stronger by going to the gym. When they study and don’t understand things they’re getting smarter. Studies show that kids that believe intelligence is fixed do worse than those that believe it can change.

That’s all I can think of for now…

-Asim Qureshi

It’s important not to completely ignore what others think of you.

But it’s just as important not to live your life trying to please everyone.

Society isn’t a single voice—it’s made up of countless people, each with their own opinions. No matter what you do or believe in, someone will always disagree or be upset.

There’s a powerful quote: “You have enemies? Good. That means you've stood up for something, sometime in your life.” I completely agree with this. But I’d also like to add another thought: “You have friends? Good. That means you've stood up for something, sometime in your life.”

Real relationships—friendship, love, or respect—come only when you stand for something. If you always try to fit in or avoid conflict, you may never connect with people on a deeper level.

In truth, love and hate often come from the same place. The people who are most admired are often the ones who are also criticized the most.

Trying to please everyone is not only impossible—it can cost you your peace and sense of self.

What matters more is knowing how much to please other and how much to stand up for yourself. Make your choices with that in mind.

The key is to find a balance between staying true to yourself and being considerate of others. That balance is what leads to a meaningful and fulfilling life.

Here are some things to consider every time you worry about what others might think:

I believe in what I'm going to call the disappointment imperative. I am completely ready and willing to disappoint anyone who wants something for me that I don't want for myself.

People think about you less than you think. They have the audacity to be too preoccupied with themselves to be concerned about you. (I mean, sheesh.)

Why do people talk about others? Because tearing someone else down is evidence that you are unhappy with a part of your own life. The happier you are, the less you will criticize someone else, and the more empathy you will feel for what they are going through.

What someone says about you when they are unhappy with themselves is more about them than it is about you. As such, it's not ever a good guide for how to live your life. Don't make decisions based on what others might think or say. It will steer you wrong every time.

The busier you are working on you, your life and your happiness, the less time you will have to talk about others. And even better, the less time you will have to show any concern for what others say about you.

Most of all, I am a deeply flawed person. I have a lot of work to do and as such I have no time to waste.

-Dushka Zapata

If a cab driver makes more money than an IT professional, why should I study?

Let me talk about kids and young people and what can damage them the most

1. Long term emotional neglect. If you are neglected by caregivers — not touched, not treasured, not seen and barely noticed, your heart will die a little every day. You will either decide you have no value or you will do whatever it takes to get the attention you crave. Both will lead to disaster.
2. Long term emotional abuse. It sounds crazy, but this may be less damaging than complete neglect. It’s bad, but at least you are real and alive and seen. Still, like the neglected child, you may grow up to be hateful, abusive yourself, or you may seek out abusive relationships because that’s all you know.
3. Substance abuse in children and teens. This is much worse than for adults, because kids are wired to develop psychologically at a fairly rapid pace. Being stoned or drunk or high interrupts the course of development. We don’t get a second chance at childhood or adolescence, even if some of the damage can be repaired later.
4. Traumatizing experiences without adequate support. Long, serious illnesses, major accidents, and big losses like a nasty divorce, can interrupt healthy development. High conflict divorce is a double whammy because kids are hurt by parental conflict, and parents may disappear into their own issues, making matters worse.
5. Being different. Kids who feel different because they are too fat, or too slow, or too clumsy, or sexually different can really suffer. Often they get only generic pep talks that minimize their pain and sense of exclusion. In our evolution, being a member of the tribe meant survival, so kids long for it. Exclusion for long periods can be seriously damaging.

-David McPhee

Are you ready to make more money than your teachers and your parents… combined?

Not so fast…

First you need to overcome the hundreds of EXCUSES you have in your brain.

I don't have enough money

My business plan isn't perfect

The timing just isn't right

There's too much competition

I don't have the skills needed

It’s too difficult

My parents won’t support me

I don’t have time… waaa waaa waaa…

Come on! You’re a teenager, you don’t sleep at night anyway… so don’t tell me you don’t have time!

Okay, once you overcome all the negativity in your brain, dress nicely and get out of your house! Don’t forget to take your best friend with you…

… No, not that lazy friend you’think I’m thinking of… I’m talking about your smartphone!

Next, go to a shopping mall and visit EVERY single business… You’re searching for these kind of people:

Yes… your target market is un-up-to-date people!

Next, use this sales pitch, “Excuse me, Sir, how much business are you currently attracting from social media?”

“Huuuhhh,” the business dude will most likely say — that’s when you will see $$$$$ pass through your eyes!

“Seems like you’re still using traditional media for your marketing. Am I correct?”

“Huuuuhhh?” Now you got him!

“Sir, what’s your current marketing budget? How effective do you find it? Are you happy with the results? How effectively are you reaching your target audience?”

“Huuuuhhh? Well, hmmm, let me think. Last month we spent $3,000 dollars on marketing,” he may say.

“Ka-Ching!”

Okay… NO, don’t say that in front of him. You just think it and DO NOT show your excitement. Keep it cool!

“How many customers did that budget bring you last month? How are you measuring results?”

“Huuuuhhh? It’s not easy to say…”

“Sir, I know I’m a teenager, but I was born with this.” You show him your smartphone. “So, naturally, I’m an expert in social media. Are you aware that the trends are increasingly clear — attention is on these devices?”

You show this graph in your smartphone and say, “This trend won’t stop anytime soon. Would you like to start growing the social media presence of your business?”

“Huuuuhhh? But, but, I don’t even know what a hashtag is… what should I do?”

“Sir, that’s what I do. I can start proving you results with a fraction of your current marketing budget. You pay only for results. No results, you owe me nothing!”

“Huuuuhhh? For real?”

Now you got him!

Okay, now get to work… you’ve got the idea!

No money needed, no special hours, office or location to work, no degrees or fancy MBAs — JUST A PROBLEM TO SOLVE!

Manage their social media marketing campaigns and day-to-day activities.

Get creative! Help them develop relevant content to reach the company's target customers.

Create, curate, and manage all digital content (images, video and written).

Monitor, listen and respond to the business customers in a way that cultivates leads for the company and ultimately lead to sales.

Your goal is to show results and build a long-term relationship and trust with your new clients.

Once you deliver results to one customer, repeat this process — the sky is the limit!

- Hector Quintanilla 

Energy Management

I am really depressed whether to continue my MSc or start preparing for a government job as my family starts pressuring me for marriage and a job. What should I do?

Don't let your parents push you around because you are a girl. If you do that, next it will be your husband pushing you around. Tell them you want to finish your studies and then get a job of your choice. Marriage should be ruled out till you are financially independent. And you choose your own life partner - don't accept any parental bullying and don't let them force you to marry someone of their choice.

Learn to assert yourself if you want to come out of your perceived depression.

-D D Rishi Ex-IRS, PhD-Law