« Older Entries

Gambling – Going For Broke

Ever been in that self-destructive cycle of needing that win to make up for, and cover up all the stupid, mindless losses? Ever felt like you have to keep going?

You feel so sure that any minute now, you’ll get that big win you so desperately need and deserve. But it doesn’t happen. So you throw more money after bad. You still don’t win, so you try again and again, and again…

And you so deserve a bit of luck. Just for once, to have some money that you haven’t had to work your balls off for. That the tax man hasn’t already helped himself to. That the bills haven’t already wiped out. Some relief from the endless struggle to keep on top.

But it’s just an illusion. And sooner or later we’re forced back to reality and the consequences of having lost yet again…

When I started gambling, it seemed harmless enough, but I have to admit, over time it’s got more and more out of hand. When I stopped to think how the picture would look in another 10 years time, I felt physically sick. I imagined losing my house, my wife, my children, my job… Friends will have long left the scene…

I’m not making a mountain out of a mole hill. It’s what happens to people who don’t know how to stop online gambling or any sort of gambling, come to that. There was no reason to suppose my future would be any different. I was already out of control. My internet gambling addiction was a reality. I was on my way.

And that’s when I knew I had to do something about it.

Fortunately for me, a friend (yes, I’ve still got them) pointed me towards Sounds Positive’s website. And there I found their self-help Stop Gambling product. Sounds Positive, based in Henley on Thames, says that it uses NLP, EFT and hypnotherapy for gambling addiction and to help people help themselves. Well, I had nothing to lose, did I?

And I couldn’t believe the difference it made. I just don’t gamble any more. I really am a changed man. I shudder to think how much money I wasted. Nor will I take my family for granted again. What would have happened to them if I hadn’t got treatment for gambling? Doesn’t bear thinking about.

Looking at the information on Sounds Positive’s website started me looking at why we like to gamble so much and why for so many of us it becomes a destructive lifestyle we can’t control.

And I came to the conclusion that there was no point in beating myself up about what I’d done and what I couldn’t change. But I also realised that I could decide what happened next and that was a real turn-around for me and something I got from Stop Gambling.

Stop Gambling consists of 2 audio tracks and also written material (all instantly downloadable from the Sounds Positive website) which use hypnotherapy, EFT and NLP to help you create a new, healthy life. Sounds Positive’s technology does all the work for you. All you have to do is relax.

Now I get very angry at betting companies taking advantage of people like you and me. I lost a lot of money. But that’s all I lost, thank God. I’ve still got my family and my job.

You’ve got to look ahead and see what life you’re creating for yourself and those you love. And if you can’t stop on your own, then get Stop Gambling. Maybe, for you too, that’s all you need for a new future.

Is a Lack of Management Confidence Hurting Your Business Performance?

Recently when I was talking to someone about management confidence they asked What difference does confidence make to business performance? Good question. In this article I’m going to answer that question and highlight why management confidence is a critical issue – not just for the business owner or manager, but for the businessLet’s begin with what confident managers actually do. In short, confident managers take actionThey use a planned and structured approach to doing things like;
• Identifying, writing and agreeing performance objectives
• Discussing how the objectives contribute to the business goals
• Monitoring and measuring performance so that they can provide ongoing, regular and specific feedback on performance
• Identifying and acknowledging outstanding performance, and taking action to deal with areas for improvement
• Discussing the employee’s development aspirations and objectives
• Discussing the employee’s job satisfactionBecause confident managers take action, confident managers get resultsSo how does this confidence and action impact business performance? There’s a whole body of research that tells us that employees who are effectively managed are more productive, and teams that are effectively managed are more profitable. Research also shows us that one of the key reasons for lost productivity – and one comprehensive piece of research suggests that in the UK and US at least 18% of time spent at work is unproductive – is because of poor employee supervision. And of course this is not taking into account the negative impact that a lack of effective management has on employee satisfaction and engagement. In short confident managers take action to manage effectively and effective management positively impacts business resultsOf course confidence also impacts the manager themselves
So how does this confidence impact the manager? Let me ask you a question. As a manager, who would you prefer to work with and manage:A) A group of people who are clear on what’s expected of them, who get the feedback they want and need and who are consequently willing and motivated to perform wellOrB) A group of people who don’t know what’s expected of them, who don’t know if they are performing well or not and who consequently just don’t care?I know it’s a stupid question, but I want to illustrate the importance of the management role because effective management of people is both a critical commercial issue – because it’s about the business results – and a satisfaction issue, for both the employee and the manager So, how do managers get to be confident? In any field, in any area, the way we build confidence is by taking action and getting results, reviewing those results and then taking action again. By way of illustration I’d like you to think of something you are confident in. It might be that you’re a confident driver, tap dancer, parent, it may be that you are confident in the technical aspects of your job, for example you might be a confident auditor. Now I would like you to think about how you became confident in that areaI’ll bet my bottom dollar that you built that level of confidence by taking action, by reviewing what you did and then by taking action againAnd of course it’s by taking action that managers sky rocket their management confidence

Tags:

Travel Tips – Kerala

State – KeralaLocation – Tropical region situated in the southernmost tip of IndiaBest Time To Visit Kerala – between November and March and during August and SeptemberHow to Reach KeralaBy Air – Calicut Airport, Kochi (Ernakulum) International Airport and Kerala-Trivandrum International AirportBy Train – Direct trains to from Mumbai, Delhi, Madras, Calcutta, Bangalore and also other major cities in the country.By Road – Karnataka and Tamil Nadu are connected directly by road while other cities through National HighwaysTravel Tips For KeralaThe state of Kerala is situated in the southernmost peninsula of India. Among the many states in the country, it is one of the most favored tourists’ destinations for individuals not just in India but also across the globe. With the enchanting backwaters, many wildlife sanctuaries and national parks, waterfalls, shopping markets, hills, mountains and beaches, the state has lots to offer the roving eye. When travelling in Kerala, vacationers may want to keep certain things in mind.Considering Kerala is a tropical region, the climate is pleasant for most parts of the year. When visiting after September it is best to be prepared for some odd showers and advisable to carry along emergency rainwear. The coastal area is hot and humid and tourists are advised to wear comfortable clothes, preferably in cotton. Sunglasses, hats, and sunscreen lotion could also be carried along to beat the heat.The state has a wide array of temples, but it is important for travelers to remember that not all allow non-Hindus to enter. Also when visiting the temples, it is best to be appropriately dressed while leaving footwear outside. Besides being a highly literate region, Kerala is also among the cleanest states in the country. Travelers are advised to follow the maintained standards of hygiene and refrain from dirtying the place. Also avoid bribing officials, as the state emerged as one of the least corrupted ones in a 2005 survey and could actually land you in trouble.The backwaters spanning the state are known to be an important mode of inland navigation and besides offering a very enjoyable journey, they are also very convenient. Though the state is home to a number of beautiful beaches, those holidaying here must remember that nudity is not welcome. Like many other places in the country, smoking in public places is banned here too. For those not familiar with the national language Malayalam, a translation guide will be of great help. Though basic knowledge of English should also help travelers get around generally.