Franklin's 13 Secrets for Success and Happiness

Franklin's 13 Secrets for Success and Happiness

1. Temperance – Eat not to dullness; drink not to elevation.
2. Silence – Speak not but what may benefit others or yourself; avoid trifling conversation.
3. Order – Let all your things have their places, let each part of your business have its time.
4. Resolution – Resolve to perform what you ought; perform without fail what you resolve.
5. Frugality – Make no expense but to do good to others or yourself; i.e., waste nothing.
6. Industry – Lose no time; be always employed in something useful; cut off all unnecessary actions.
7. Sincerity – Use no hurtful deceit; think innocently and justly, and, if you speak, speak accordingly.
8. Justice – Wrong none by doing injuries, or omitting the benefits that are your duty.
9. Moderation – Avoid extremes; forbear resenting injuries so much as you think they deserve.
10. Cleanliness – Tolerate no uncleanliness in body, cloths, or habitation.
11. Tranquility – Be not disturbed at trifles, or at accidents common or unavoidable.
12. Chastity – Rarely use venery but for health or offspring, never to dullness, weakness, or the injury of your own or another’s peace or reputation.
13. Humility – Imitate Jesus and Socrates.

From the book of " How I Raised Myself From Failure to Success in Selling" by Frank Bettger.

Kill your competition : The kaizen way

Kill your competition : The kaizen way

Don't go for big change. Don't fight with nature. Don't fight with resistant. Instead of fighting; just bypass the resistant in kaizen way.

Kaizen which means change for better. It also means one small change at a time. It is the evolution process; not revolution. Just take a baby step. One small step at a time.

Breakdown any big project into lots of bit size pieces. Then one bit at a time. Just a baby step. Don't try to run when you can not walk. First we will creep, then we will walk then only we can run.

To eat an entire elephant we have to start from one part only. We can not eat an entire elephant at a time.

The same way to complete a big size project we have note down all the required actions one by one on priority basis. The we just complete one action at time. Just one action at time. No multitasking. Don't try to complete to many things at time. One task at time! But do it consistently, do it everyday without fail. Then after few days you will see that you had completed a huge project so easily.

Are you living your life?

Are you living your life?

Are you living your life? Did you ask this question any time to yourself? "Am I living my life or somebody else life?" Confusing! OK let us see how you can find that if you living your life or not.

Now prepare list of 10 things which excites you:

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10.

Don't skip this exercise; you have to complete this task before reading the next part. Just take a blank sheet and start writing. Completed the list. Great!

Now you just came to know that you have only one year time to live; after that you are going to die. Now again write down what are 10 things you want to complete and experience in this just one year time frame.

Just write down your list:

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10.

Don't skip the writing part. This post is  not just for reading, this is for exercise. If you skip the exercise you won't get the benefits from your reading. Completed the list. Great!

Now if you have only one month time live; what are the things you want to do:

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2.

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Now you find what excites you. Are you living by them. Or are just doing the task only for your family, your boss or for somebody else? I am not telling that working for your family and your company is bad but, as an individual should live your life. You must make time and space to live your life. You should not compromise with your life. You should not regret at your deathbed for not living your life.  

Now you had explored about your excitements. Now live them just now. Just live them everyday. Don't wait for tomorrow or someday.

How you can improve your life by taking feedback

The power of feedback system

We are doing same thing again and again and we are expecting different result. We don't know where we are doing wrong. We don't know which area of our life needs immediate attention. Which area require urgent improvement. We don't know. Because we are not asking any feedback. Your boss, your sub-ordinate, your spouse, your colleague, your children, your relatives may be don't like something about you; but until you are asking them to provide a honest feedback about you, they don't open up their mind.

This is the right time to take a 360 degree feedback about you. 

Just use this simple script like:

" Hi Name

We are just near to complete a whole year and I was just reviewing my past glory and failure. And now I want to set up new resolutions for 2015. In this regard I want your help. I know this might sound weird, but I would love your honest feedback on (1) one thing you think I do really well_________, and (2) one thing I could improve__________.

Thanks!

Your Name"

Send this simple mail to all the people you deal daily basis and see how many feedback you get.

But your real task will start from here only. After getting the feedback you have to start working on them daily basis and then only magic will start happening.

Please share your views.

THE ABC’S OF SUFFERING

THE ABC’S OF SUFFERING

“The mechanism of such an emotional disturbance is not difficult to grasp. It looks, at first blush, as though it’s just a matter of “stimulus” and “response”—as if something unfortunate happens to people (the stimulus), and that, by itself, causes them to get upset (the response). But it looks that way only because, when something unfortunate happens, the key element of emotional arousal—their irrational thinking—leaps into action almost instantaneously and, of course, largely out of sight.
The actual mechanism of an emotional disturbance is a stimulus-belief-response, or as we say in REBT: “Action-Belief-Consequence.” These are the terms behind REBT’s well-known ABC model of emotional arousal. Bottom line: it’s not our life events (Actions) that, themselves, directly disturb us (produce unpleasant emotional Consequences). It’s our irrational demandingness, our shoulds, oughts, and musts (Beliefs), that largely do the job.”

A Guide to Rational Living
BY ALBERT ELLIS & ROBERT A. HARPER

WHERE TO INVEST Rs.1-LAKH FOR TAX SAVING

WHERE TO INVEST Rs.1-LAKH FOR TAX SAVING

It's that time of the year again when people start planning their taxes. Most delay tax planning till the last moment and then invest without giving serious thought to the tax-saving instruments. That's why i thought i should warm you up well in advance so that you can make the best use of all the options, take informed decision & invest with knowledge.You can claim a deduction of up to Rs 1 lakh under Sections 80C, 80CCC and 80CCD. If you are in the 30% tax bracket,you can save up to Rs 30,900 by investing in the following approved tax-saving instruments.

·         Employee Provident Fund (EPF):

You must contribute at least 12% of your salary-basic pay, dearness allowance (including cash value of any food concession) and retention allowance-towards EPF. This is deductible under Section 80C.

Premature withdrawal is allowed only under conditions specified by the government. If the amount is withdrawn before five years of subscription to the scheme, the tax benefits that have been availed on it are cancelled.

·         Public Provident Fund (PPF):

Any resident Indian can invest in PPF and claim income tax deduction. An individual can also contribute on behalf of a Hindu Undivided Family. One can also invest in the name of spouse and children. However, tax deduction is available only on contributions up to Rs 1 lakh. At present, PPF is offering 8.7% annual interest. The interest earned is tax-free.

·         Senior Citizen Savings Scheme (SCSS):

People above 60 years (or those above 55 years who have taken voluntary retirement) can invest in SCSS. The maturity period is five years, though it can be extended by another three years.

One can deposit only once any amount in multiples of Rs 1,000 but not more than Rs 15 lakh. At present, SCSS is offering 9.2% annual interest, which is paid quarterly. The interest earned is taxable.

·         National Savings Certificate (NSC):

You can invest in five- and 10-year NSCs. Five-year NSCs are offering 8.5% a year while 10-year NSCs are paying 8.8%. The interest earned is taxed. There is no restriction on the amount that can be invested, though tax deduction can be claimed only up to Rs 1 lakh.

·         Bank, post-office deposits:

Investment in five-year bank and post-office fixed deposits is eligible for tax deduction. The interest earned is taxable.

·         National Pension System (NPS):

Employee contribution towards NPS Tier-I account (where no withdrawal is allowed) up to 10% of basic plus dearness allowance is tax deductible.

·         Life insurance schemes:

Investment in a life insurance scheme (unit-linked, traditional endowment or term plan) with sum assured at least 10 times the annual premium is eligible for tax deduction within the Rs 1 lakh limit. Returns from these schemes are not taxed. The minimum policy term is five years. Premiums paid for annuity plans of life insurers are also tax deductible.

·         Tax-saving mutual funds:

These are equity mutual fund schemes with a lock-in of three years. Investment in these funds is tax deductible up to Rs 1 lakh. One can continue to remain invested even after the lock-in period. Capital gains and dividends are not taxed.

·         Home loan principal repayment:

The principal component of a home loan repayment is tax deductible up to Rs 1 lakh. However, if the property is sold before five years of the purchase, the amount claimed as deduction is taxed in the year the house is sold.

·         Children's tuition fee:

Tuition fee for educational institutes in India for full-time education of two persons is also eligible for deduction.

OTHER TAX SAVING OVER  Rs. 1-LAKH LIMIT

·         Rajiv Gandhi Equity Savings Scheme:

Under this, first-time equity investors can invest up to Rs 50,000 in approved stocks and mutual funds and claim tax deduction on 50% of the amount, or Rs 25,000, under Section 80 CCG of the Income Tax Act. But to claim this exemption, their income should not be more than Rs 12 lakh a year. They should also have a demat account. They can avail of the tax benefit under the scheme for three years.

·         Employer's NPS contribution:

If you have subscribed to corporate NPS, under which both you and your employer contribute 10% of basic salary and dearness allowance towards your NPS account, the employer's contribution is deductible under Section 80CCE. This is over and above the Rs 1 lakh limit (employee contribution to NPS falls within this limit).

·         Health insurance premium:

One can claim deduction for health insurance premium paid for self, spouse, children and parents under Section 80D. The limit is Rs 20,000 for senior citizens and Rs 15,000 for others. If you are paying health insurance premium for your parents, you can additionally claim up to Rs 20,000 in case of senior citizens and up to Rs 15,000 in other cases. Expenses incurred up to Rs 5,000 on preventive health checks are also deductible within this limit.

·         Expenses for treatment of handicapped dependent:

If any of your dependent relative (spouse, children, parents or siblings) is handicapped, expenses incurred towards his or her treatment and maintenance are deductible up to Rs 1 lakh if the disability is severe or Rs 50,000 otherwise.

·         Deduction in case of disabled persons:

An individual suffering from physical disability can claim up to Rs 1 lakh deduction in case of severe disability or Rs 50,000 otherwise.

·         Medical expenditure on self or dependent relative:

Up to Rs 40,000 spent on treatment of specified diseases suffered by self or a dependent relative is tax deductible. Some specified diseases include malignant cancer, AIDS, chronic renal failure and Thalassaemia. You need to furnish a certificate by a registered doctor to claim these deductions.

·         Interest paid on education loan:

Interest paid on education loan to finance higher education of self, spouse, children or a person of which the individual is a legal guardian is deductible under Section 80E. Loans taken to fund any regular or vocational course are also eligible under this Section. The deduction is available for eight years or till the interest is paid in full, whichever is lower.

·         Interest repayment on home loan:

The interest paid on a loan taken to buy a house for living is deductible up to Rs 1.50 lakh a year. If the loan is for a property where the person does not live, the total interest paid is tax deductible.

However, no tax deduction is available on under-construction properties. Tax benefits can be claimed for five years after the completion of the project.

An additional Rs 1 lakh deduction is allowed on interest payment if the loan amount is less than Rs 25 lakh and the value of the property is less than Rs 40 lakh. This is only for those who are buying their first home in 2013-14.

·         Deduction on house rent:

Your salary has a component called Housing Rent Allowance (HRA). This is exempt from tax if you live in a rented house.

The exemption is least of the following:
1) actual HRA received from your employer,
2) actual house rent paid by you minus 10% of basic salary, or
3) 50% of basic salary if you live in a metro city or 40% of basic salary if you live in a non-metro city.

If the HRA is not part of your salary, you can still claim deduction on the rent paid. The deduction is the least of the following: (a) rent paid less 10% of taxable income, (b) 25% of the taxable income or, (c) Rs 2,000 a month.

·         Donations, royalty and patents:

Royalty earned on patents and books (other than text books) is exempt from tax up to Rs 3 lakh in each case. Donations to political parties and for scientific research, rural development and government relief works are also deductible. The deduction can be 100% or 50% depending upon the beneficiary.

Though in many cases there is no limit on the donation amount, in some cases, if the donation exceeds 10% of the gross salary, no deduction is allowed on the excess amount.

" Limitations live only in our minds. But if we use our imaginations, our possibilities become limitless. "  - Jamie Paolinetti

Finding the Purpose of Life

These 10 questions created by Mr. Brian Johnson, hope these 10 question will help you to find your purpose in the life.

1. How can you use your strengths in greatest service to yourself, your family, your community and the world?

2. How can you get paid to do what you love?

3. What 5 things are you most proud of? What 5 things will you be most proud of?

4. If you had all the time and all the money in the world, what would you do?

5. What’s your ideal day look like? When do you get up? What do you do? With whom? For whom? Imagine it in vivid detail!

6. Who are your heroes? Why? How are you like them?

7. What would you do if you weren’t afraid?

8. If you were guaranteed to succeed, what’s the #1 thing you would do? What else?

9. What is it that you and only you can do for the world?

10. How can you live in more integrity with your ideals? What’s the #1 thing you could start doing that would have the most positive impact in your life? What’s the #1 thing you could *stop* doing that would have the most positive impact in your life?! Sweet. Now rock it.