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Articles from Steve Gillman | Selfgrowth.com
- Experts - How To Use Them - by Submitted on May 19, 2008 from Steve GillmanWho and what are experts? Here is the dictionary definition: "A person with a high degree of skill in or knowledge of a certain subject." Experts know certain things, or know how to do certain things, but they don't know you. This points out the basic problem with habitually relying on expert ...
Views: 682 - How To Think Outside Of The Box - by Submitted on May 02, 2008 from Steve GillmanPeople talk about the need to think outside of the box as though everyone understands what that means. It is assumed to simply mean being more creative and open minded in your thinking. But shouldn't we ask what the "box" is that we want to get out of? We'll get to an answer for that in a ...
Views: 1093 - Creative Concepts - A How To Guide - by Submitted on May 01, 2008 from Steve GillmanWant to have more creative concepts for your business, job or home life? Practicing can help, especially if it is with others. The first time you brainstorm with a group of creative people, you might feel like you are mentally slow, but soon you'll find that you are coming up with more and more ...
Views: 1168 - Your Creativity Quotient - How To Boost It - by Submitted on Apr 30, 2008 from Steve GillmanWe don't have a precisely-numbered measure of your "creativity quotient," yet, like we have for your intelligence quotient, or "IQ." But tests which do try to measure your creative ability generally look at three criteria. These are the quantity of your ideas, their originality, and the possible ...
Views: 853 - Frugality - Three Quick Lessons - by Submitted on Apr 22, 2008 from Steve GillmanWhat is frugality? The dictionary definition of frugal: "Practicing or marked by economy, as in the expenditure of money or the use of material resources." People think of it as simply being "cheap," in the fashion of Ebeneezer Scrooge. I see it as the practice of getting the most for one's ...
Views: 677 - Brainpower Games Anyone Can Play - by Submitted on Apr 20, 2008 from Steve GillmanBrainpower games are those games which exercise your mental capacity. My personal favorite is Chess, but there are many others, some of which you probably already play or have played. Here is a look at a few of the more common ones and how they may help your mind. Crossword Puzzles For many ...
Views: 703 - Personal Finances - Six Steps To Take Now - by Submitted on Apr 19, 2008 from Steve GillmanYou have probably read enough tips on personal finances, and maybe you are still in debt and without a plan for the future. Well, here is simple six-step plan to get you going in the right direction. Of course, like the other tips you have heard, it will only help if you actually use it. 1. ...
Views: 618 - What Is Evolutionary Economics? - by Submitted on Apr 11, 2008 from Steve GillmanHaven't heard of evolutionary economics? It's not surprising. This is a new area of study that looks into the biological and evolutionary forces that shape our economic decisions. It is related to behavioral economics, another discipline you don't hear much about. The behavioral perspective is ...
Views: 708 - IQ Test Or IA Test? - by Submitted on Apr 10, 2008 from Steve GillmanAn IQ test is supposed to measure one's "intelligence quotient," to provide a basic rating of how smart a person is. When we try to measure people in this way, we hope it will predict how well they will perform in either their profession or academic work. Of course we know that this doesn't work ...
Views: 1140 - Brain Training 101 - by Submitted on Apr 09, 2008 from Steve GillmanA little bit of brain training can go a long ways towards better thinking. There are easy techniques for better or more creative thinking, such as brainstorming or just getting a good night's sleep. The idea here, though, is to train your brain in new habits. It can take some work, but once good ...
Views: 849 - Power - What Good Is It? - by Submitted on Apr 08, 2008 from Steve GillmanWe all want power, although not everyone freely admits it. It is common to think what one would do if he or she was a king or the president. We imagine that we would do good things; better than what is being done now. We think of power in personal terms too, as when we imagine that enough money ...
Views: 595 - Travel Writing - What Works Online - by Submitted on Apr 06, 2008 from Steve GillmanIn some ways travel writing online is similar to that in the print world. Readers still want the facts about a location, maybe an interesting perspective, and some useful advice. However, this doesn't mean you can just write the same article for both a magazine and a website. There are some ...
Views: 666(1 vote) - How To Develop Your Critical Thinking Skills - by Submitted on Feb 23, 2008 from Steve GillmanWhat are critical thinking skills? They are the habits of thought that you cultivate for better decisions on what to believe and what to do. Critical thought is not about being able to argue well. That kind of thinking can be a trap. Unfortunately, some very intelligent people think that way, ...
Views: 1387 - One-Eyed National Health Care - by Submitted on Feb 22, 2008 from Steve GillmanNational health care might be a disaster, due to the cost and the complexity. A government-controlled system also creates agonizing moral dilemmas (read about the eye treatment ruling covered further down). Still, despite my opposition to it, I can see it's a real possibility, and soon. Keeping ...
Views: 734 - America - Love It Or Leave It? - by Submitted on Feb 19, 2008 from Steve GillmanYou have probably seen the bumper stickers that say, "America - Love It Or Leave It." Most polite people won't put it that bluntly, but many share the sentiment. They think that if a person doesn't like the system here, they have no right to be here. What an ignorant and hateful idea! To show ...
Views: 1063 - Getting Lucky - One Way That Works - by Submitted on Feb 17, 2008 from Steve GillmanGetting lucky is about operating in certain ways. You won't get lucky in love if you don't ever talk to someone of the opposite sex. You won't ever succeed in business by just talking about it. These two examples bring us to the first lesson on "luck." Getting Lucky By Consistently Taking ...
Views: 568 - Self Help Books - Do They Help? - by Submitted on Feb 16, 2008 from Steve GillmanI recall seeing a study somewhere that suggested self help books don't really help. I believe it looked at financial self help books. If I remember correctly, three or ten years after reading various "get rich quick" and other money-related books, the readers were generally making more money, ...
Views: 511 - Definition Of Atheism: Not A Belief - by Submitted on Feb 10, 2008 from Steve GillmanContrary to what many people think and many dictionaries suggest, atheism is not a belief. It is simply the lack of belief in "God " or gods. Before starting this article, I checked several dictionaries. In the first one, the definition of atheism given was, "The doctrine or belief that there is ...
Views: 863 - How To Write How-To Articles - by Submitted on Feb 03, 2008 from Steve GillmanLearn how to write "how to" articles and it is easy to promote your website. They are one of the most popular types of articles online. Some people will read articles just for entertainment or to learn general information, but everyone wants to know how to do something. Before you start ...
Views: 588 - How To Think Outside The Box - by Submitted on Feb 02, 2008 from Steve GillmanYou hear that to be more creative you need to think outside the box, but what is the box? It is your normal ways of thinking, and all the hidden assumptions you make. Imagine actually living in a box, and knowing the outside world only through the pictures and descriptions written on those four ...
Views: 967 - Thinking-Games That Boost Brainpower - by Submitted on Jan 26, 2008 from Steve Gillman"Thinking games" are games and exercises that help develop thinking skills and so boost your brainpower. While some brain games exercise memory, or test knowledge (usually trivia), the following require analysis, creativity and imagination. They can all be played alone in theory, but try to get ...
Views: 1042 - In Favor Of Flip-Flopping Politicians - by Submitted on Jan 14, 2008 from Steve GillmanFlip flopping refers to changing ones position on an issue. The public generally dislikes politicians who flip flop on their positions, in part because they assume that it is done dishonestly for political reasons alone, and in part because they simple like to know what a candidate for public ...
Views: 784 - How To Get Smarter Or Look Smarter - by Submitted on Jan 11, 2008 from Steve GillmanWith the right work you can get smarter, but there are also things you can do to appear to be more intelligent, and you can use some of them right now. So if you want to impress your boss or your friends with your intelligence, try a few of the techniques below. Some of them may actually improve ...
Views: 776 - Why An Atheist Can Believe In God - by Submitted on Jan 08, 2008 from Steve GillmanContrary to what many believe, many atheist - if not most - would never say "God doesn't exist." Unfortunately, many dictionaries also have definitions like "Denial of the existence of God," which is a misrepresentation. In fact, if once you understand what atheism really means, you'll see why ...
Views: 708 - A Good Luck Exercise - by Submitted on Dec 29, 2007 from Steve GillmanWant more good luck in your life? Then why not look at what the research shows about lucky people? Better yet, why not do some simple exercises that train your mind in the habits of lucky people? To start with, the research shows (and yes there is a lot of "luck" research) that luckier people ...
Views: 931 - What Is An Open Mind? - by Submitted on Dec 24, 2007 from Steve GillmanAn open mind is like an open well. It is easily contaminated by anything blowing in the wind. At least that is the problem with what many call an open mind. For example, you may have heard someone called open minded because he believes in visitors from space, bending spoons with mind power, and ...
Views: 1224 - Think Twice To Think Better - by Submitted on Dec 16, 2007 from Steve GillmanThe expression "think twice" is simply a reminder to fully consider things before assuming that your first conclusion is the correct one. It reminds me of the carpenter's rule: "measure twice, cut once." Measuring twice is a rule that prevents a lot of mistakes in carpentry. In intellectual ...
Views: 819 - A Memory System You Can Try Today - by Submitted on Dec 15, 2007 from Steve GillmanYou may have heard of the loci mnemonic or memory system. The general idea is to "place" the things that are to be memorized in predetermined locations in your imagination, so you can "find" them there later. The origin of this memory system is generally attributed to a story told by Cicero, an ...
Views: 829 - Creative Inspiration - How To Have It - by Submitted on Dec 12, 2007 from Steve GillmanYou probably like the idea of creative inspiration, that wonderful new idea that pops into you head without warning. The reality is that such bursts of creativity do happen. Einstein claimed he had great ideas come to him while he was shaving in the morning. And then there is the chemist ...
Views: 745 - Six Real Estate Investing Tips - by Submitted on Dec 10, 2007 from Steve GillmanThe following collection of real estate investing tips will probably have a few things that you already know. That's okay. There will be a few you haven't heard before as well, and in any case, we sometimes need to be reminded of what we know. 1. Find an agent with the right experience. When ...
Views: 756 - True Or False? - by Submitted on Nov 13, 2007 from Steve GillmanA myth is a lie - true or false? Actually, the most general definition of myth found in most dictionaries is something like, "A popular belief or story." In other words, it can be true or false. See if you can tell which are which with the following beliefs and myths. True or False - ...
Views: 800 - Six Ways To Be Dumber - by Submitted on Nov 13, 2007 from Steve GillmanWhy do we need ways to be dumber? We don't of course, but there are two basic ways to improve oneself. The first is to actively engage in new thoughts and behaviors that are better, and the other is to avoid those patterns of though and behavior that make matters worse. This is based on the ...
Views: 1156 - Everything Happens For A Reason? - by Submitted on Nov 12, 2007 from Steve GillmanEverything happens for a reason? What nonsense! On the other hand, what a great idea! Whatever your religious or philosophical background, this is a belief that you can use, even if it isn't true. There is no way to prove that everything happens for a reason. In fact, when you think about some ...
Views: 932 - Pondering The Big Questions - by Submitted on Nov 07, 2007 from Steve GillmanDo you ever ponder the big questions, like "What is consciousness?" or "Why do we feel motivated to do good?" Doing so really takes no more brainpower than balancing your checkbook, and although you are more likely to be satisfied and certain with the result of the checkbook balancing, thinking ...
Views: 848 - What Causes Bad Luck? - by Submitted on Nov 02, 2007 from Steve GillmanWhat causes bad luck? To begin with we have to admit that sometimes events are just random, or at least with causes beyond our ability to understand at the moment. Therefore even the luckiest person will have occasional "bad luck." On the other hand, it is unlikely that a person who is normally ...
Views: 2802 - How To Invent New Products - by Submitted on Oct 30, 2007 from Steve GillmanTo invent new products, you need to know how to generate new ideas - lots of them. Then you look them over and pick out the good ones. Here is one of the many simple techniques for coming up with ideas for new products. New Products From Old Start with an existing product and extract some of ...
Views: 1255 - Travel Secret - Why Slow Is Better - by Submitted on Oct 27, 2007 from Steve GillmanOur top travel secret isn't really a secret at all, but it takes a while for some of us to learn and apply it. Here it is: Slow down. Slowing down and spending more time in each location is not only a secret of cheap travel, but in our experience, it means more fun. Slowing Down For Cheap ...
Views: 789(2 votes) - Our Top Cheap Travel Destination: Anaconda, Montana - by Submitted on Oct 24, 2007 from Steve GillmanLooking for cheap travel destinations is a habit we developed during leaner times. Necessary or not, it still means being able to do more for the money. We also continually discover that the cheaper places can be just as much fun. Anaconda, Montana is a great example of this. When we first ...
Views: 855(2 votes) - How To Tell When Someone Is Lying - by Submitted on Oct 21, 2007 from Steve GillmanTo know how to tell when someone is lying, it helps to first look at the three basic types of lies. These are lies of omission, commission, and embellishment. What follows is a short description/definition of each, and some ways to detect each kind of lying. Lying By Omission A lie of omission ...
Views: 8018(1 vote) - Metaphors We Live By - by Submitted on Oct 17, 2007 from Steve GillmanWhat are the metaphors we live by? Is life a journey, a game, a dream, or a movie we are watching? How do these metaphorical perspectives affect our lives? Let's take a look at a few of them. Life Is Purgatory Some people see life as a sort of purgatory to be suffered through. In fact, many ...
Views: 1211 - Problem Solving Strategies - Three Great Ones - by Submitted on Sep 17, 2007 from Steve GillmanYour problem solving strategies determine how effectively you deal with everything from creating new ideas to solving the routine problems of life and business. There are many specific techniques for solving problems, but a good strategy is a more general "plan of attack" that makes it all work. ...
Views: 931 - Probabilitism - Playing The Odds In Life - by Submitted on Sep 17, 2007 from Steve GillmanProbabilitism? I just invented the word to describe an ideology of living life according to the odds, or more specifically, making decisions according to them. Life, after all, is all about making decisions, and we need some guide for making better ones. The most common explicit guide to ...
Views: 1112 - Cheap Real Estate - Ten Reasons Why - by Submitted on Sep 16, 2007 from Steve GillmanWhy is there cheap real estate? Is it just that some sellers don't know what their property is worth? Sometimes this is the case, but only rarely. More often a seller is willing to sell for less because it means selling faster or more easily. In other words, sellers will trade a little equity ...
Views: 721 - The Lie Detector Lies - by Submitted on Sep 14, 2007 from Steve GillmanIs there a "lie detector?" Most people have been lead to believe that this is what the polygraph is. But most scientists think the polygraph is less than scientific. Here's a quick look at the From the website of the American Polygraph Association: "A steady pace of improvements in techniques ...
Views: 1641 - In Other Words? - by Submitted on Sep 14, 2007 from Steve GillmanPeople use the expression "in other words" because sometimes other words are necessary to better understand something. You probably use it yourself, but how often do you actually think about the words you are using, and the effect they may have? How often do you change the words you use in order ...
Views: 805 - The Real Secret Of Attraction - by Submitted on Sep 12, 2007 from Steve GillmanWhat is the secret of attraction? You probably know this has become one of the hottest new ideas in self improvement and spirituality. But it isn't a new idea. It is just the newest way to recycle an old idea. Old or new, the important questions are does it work as claimed, and why? A "Law" Of ...
Views: 886 - Six Little Secrets - by Submitted on Sep 11, 2007 from Steve GillmanThere are always little secrets that you can learn to help you in life. These are the "insider tips" that might improve your health, save you money, or give you more influence over others. Here are six of them you can put to use today. Highway Toll Secret The passes (such as E-ZPass) that ...
Views: 758 - American Inventor TV Show - Try These Inventions - by Submitted on Sep 09, 2007 from Steve GillmanWhen I saw the "American Inventor" program, I immediately loved the show. It's a parade of ingenuity - and sometimes silliness and total ignorance of markets. Watching some of the inventors come onto that stage, I realized I wouldn't want to be a judge on the show for anything. The judges face ...
Views: 1825 - Bad Luck - The Mistakes That Cause It - by Submitted on Sep 03, 2007 from Steve GillmanThere are two ways to improve the good luck / bad luck ratio in your life. One is to take steps to do those things that lead to more good luck. The other is to stop doing the things that cause bad luck. This lesson is about the latter. It is an examination of the actions, habits and thinking of ...
Views: 4757(2 votes) - How To Make Your Own Affirmations - by Submitted on Aug 29, 2007 from Steve GillmanYou may have used affirmations before, writing positive statements on cards and repeating them every day. Hopefully you stuck it out and got the results that you wanted. More often, we find it hard to take the time to read them every day, and without that constant repetition, we don't get the ...
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