How to Remember Everything

You know those clickbait headlines like “How to [do something incredible] with this 1 weird trick”, or “This insanely easy [something] will change your life forever”, well many would suggest that the Method of Loci (aka “The Memory Palace”, aka The Mind Palace technique”) is one of those ‘crazy’ life-hacks, sort of.

The Ancient Greeks didn’t have cloud tools, smartphones, USB’s capable of housing small libraries or even endless reams of papyrus at their disposal. As such, they had to rely on their memories an awful lot more than we do today.

According to legend (passed on by Cicero, 106 – 43 BCE), the Greek poet and wise man Simonides (556 - 468 BCE) had just presented a lyric poem during a banquet in Thessaly. He was called outside just after his performance when the roof of the banquet hall caved in, crushing all of the diners and mangling their corpses beyond recognition. Simonides, well versed in the art of memory, was able to identify the remains of the guests (important for proper burial) based on knowing the order in which they sat.

While this legend, like most legends, is probably strongly rooted in hyperbole, we do know that many of the Ancient Greeks were very accomplished at remembering stuff.

In a very basic sense, the Method of Loci (loci = place) is a technique used to enhance memory. The central ideas of the technique are that you use visualization (storing/encoding information as pictures) and spatial memory (you mentally place the pictures in a familiar mental environment). This allows for efficient recall, by simply mentally traveling around the environment and decoding what you see into interpretable information.

This might sound like flakey astral-travelling communing-with-nature pseudo-crap, but bear with me.

A few years ago I saw this guy on TV memorise the order of a deck of playing cards. It took him just over a minute. At the time I quickly dismissed it as a setup; a silly TV trick. Last year a friend of mine showed me a youtube clip of this guy doing a similar thing, and then explaining how to do it. This was pretty cool so I started reading bit about it.

The World Memory Championships has been running for 25 years now. Each year participants from all around the world come together to try and remember more names, faces, numbers or words than anyone else. What’s interesting about the competitors is that, despite consistently performing absolutely astounding feats of memory, if you ever see an interview with any of them (or any kind of memory expert that performs impressive feats of recall) they will almost invariably tell you that they have average (or below average) memories, and so do all of the other competitors. Their perceived skill, they will say, comes from having enhanced their memory through training, and of course knowing HOW to ‘train’. The specific techniques they use vary, but all are based on the very simple idea of visualization.

I’ll give you an example of how this works.

I imagine the following story, as vividly as possible.

 I’m standing at the front door of my house when a big giant apple with razor-sharp teeth comes running at me. I can see the apple juice dripping down his chin but just as he reaches me I bite into him (he tastes delicious) and he stops dead in his tracks. Next I walk in my front door and see Johnny Depp (dressed as Willy Wonka) standing on my kitchen table throwing chocolate balls at me. I feel confused. I dodge the chocolate balls (ducking and weaving like I’m in The Matrix) and shield myself with an abnormally large piece of bread, which I steal from Cookie Monster. He just happens to be sitting nearby clasping a hamper full of Cookies and bread. I can really feel the texture of his blue fur. The butter on the bread makes the chocolate stick to it like glue, making a very weird looking piece of bread. While I am shielding myself I hear the sound of a harmonica nearby. A big fish is standing up in a pan in the sink play his harmonica and trying to tune it at the same time. It sounds horrible but distracts me from Johnny. In order to silence the fish I try and strangle him with a long rope-like piece of spaghetti. I have to wrap it around him about 50 times but he eventually stops playing the harmonica. I figure it’s time for a snack so I go to the fridge and open it with a violent tug but a huge wave of mayonnaise comes pouring out. As it washes over me I can taste the creamy egg, and I realize it’s stained my blue shirt so I take it off and go to the laundry. We have a weird system in our house whereby instead of washing clothes we give them to Popeye and he punches the clothes clean. While I’m trying to hand my shirt to Popeye I accidentally step on my cat’s tail. She hisses at me and bites my leg. She must really be hungry, so I decide to give her some mince I happen to have in my pocket.

Finish

This story probably sounds quite stupid, and it is. That’s the point. Have you ever gone shopping and had a list of items to remember? Everyone has. We just ‘made’ a list of 14:

1. Apples             (big giant man-eating ones)
2. Razors             (with razor-sharp teeth)
3. Chocolate        (thrown by Willy Wonka)
4. Cookies           (being held tightly by Cookie Monster
5. Bread              (used to shield against the chocolate attack)
6. Glue                (the chocolate sticks to the bread-shield)
7. Tuna                (the fish playing and tuning the harmonica)
8. Rope                (spaghetti wrapping around the fish)
9. Spaghetti         (spaghetti wrapping around the fish)
10. Mayonnaise     (pouring out of the fridge)
11. Eggs                (part of the mayonnaise)
12. Spinach           (Popeye…)
13. Cat food          (the cat is hungry enough to bite me)
14. Mince              (for the cat)

Read the story again slowly, and mentally see everything that is described.

Admittedly, this story took me a few minutes to create, and probably a few minutes to read. However, I’m fairly confident that most people, after reviewing this story a few times (and visualizing it) will be able list the items with near perfect recall.

Theoretically our short-term memories are only capable of holding 7 (+/- 2) items, remembering 14 is clearly impressive. But a really important part of this technique is that your visualizations must be vivid. The more stupid, wacky, bizarre, funny or ‘memorable’ you can make the images, the better. The more sensory information you can incorporate, the better. I try and imagine the smells, how something feels, sounds or tastes, and even how it makes me feel emotionally.

This might all seem like way too much effort. It did take me a while to write this story, but that’s largely because I’m a fairly slow typist. To come up with the story (and make the associations, visual images etc.) doesn’t take long at all. You can probably see that this generic visualization technique can be applied to remembering names, faces, strings of numbers/dates, words, poems – you are really only bound by your imagination.

Memory experts really proficient at visualization techniques can create their story almost instantly. Once you have done this a few times you should be able to review your story (mentally walk through the scene you have created in your mind) in next to no time. Not only is this technique efficient, it’s really really convenient.

I’ve only scratched the surface here, but this is an incredibly powerful technique.

Source: http://perk.fm/4utg4

FOR ALL CANDLE-LOVERS!!! EARN POINTS FOR REWARDS EACH TIME YOU SHOP! http://tiny.cc/LuxuryCandles

*********************************************************
Get 20+ benefits compared to AAA, You'll LOVE it! http://tiny.cc/TheGoodLife

Amazing and EASY work at home job! http://goo.gl/ikWy84 

Get 5-7 100% FREE full-sized products at your door every month! Try before you buy! http://tiny.cc/FreebieFun

Advertising that WORKS! http://tiny.cc/AdsThatWork 

To all Kawaii lovers! Everything super CUTE for you! http://tiny.cc/EverythingKawaii

Love candles? Love jewelry? Need a last minute gift to buy? http://tiny.cc/LuxuryCandles

Get paid to view ads through text messages! http://tiny.cc/CellphoneCash 

 Guaranteed work from home job for college students, stay at home moms and more! http://tiny.cc/EmailJobs

Fashion Bloggers get paid to share fashion! http://tiny.cc/Fashion4Cash

Share videos, make money! http://tiny.cc/VideoShareCash

Clarity is the BEST person to give you advice & guidance! http://www.clarityfix.com 

******************************************************

8 Science-Backed Ways to Flirt Better (Ladies Only)

Knowing how to flirt is both an art and a science. Here is what works and what doesn’t according to science:

1. Ask interesting questions, but don’t interrogate.Most people’s favorite topic of conversation? Themselves. A recent study conducted by the Harvard University Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience Lab found that levels of dopamine (a.k.a. the happy hormone) increase when subjects talk about themselves, versus when they talk about the same subject but in relation to other people. Bottom line: Waxing on about yourself is inherently pleasurable. So when you’re on a date, inquire about topics that genuinely interest you, but find common ground. Build on what he says. Avoid firing out checklists or predictable questions like,  “Where are you from?” and “What do you do?” Ask open-ended questions instead.

2. Uncross Your Arms. Non-verbal cues speak volumes, and the right body language projects confidence and warmth. Make eye contact, smile, laugh, lean in.

3. Wear natural-looking makeup. Studies show that men prefer a lighter makeup look on women—more natural than what most women think. Resist the urge to wear a dark, smoky eye or daring red lip, especially if that’s not in your comfort zone.

4. Actively listen. Truly listening involves hearing what the person is saying and also paying attention to their non-verbal communication. Respond by paraphrasing and reflecting on the conversation to move it forward—it shows you genuinely care about what they have to say. Resist the temptation to interrupt immediately and hijack the conversation: “Oh you like skiing? Me too! I just came back from heli-skiing in British Columbia.”

5. Avoid your favorite topic. It’s counterintuitive but makes sense—otherwise you’ll probably end up talking too much.

6. Accentuate the positive. Highlighting the good stuff going on in your life enables the other person to see you in the best possible light. But don’t over do it—check yourself, and assess whether you are dominating the conversation.

7. Ladies, be direct. Research suggests men appreciate a direct statement of intention, “Let’s get together next Monday,” more than a subtle request or sexual innuendo. Studies show that oftentimes, women don’t immediately provide cues that express interest, thereby leaving the potential date in the dark.

8. Exit gracefully. Don’t let the conversation drag. If you feel an awkward silence coming on, politely excuse yourself. Leave them wanting more.

Source: http://perk.fm/4sc6f

FOR ALL CANDLE-LOVERS!!! EARN POINTS FOR REWARDS EACH TIME YOU SHOP! www.luxurycandles4u.com

*********************************************************

Get 5-7 100% FREE full-sized products at your door every month! Try before you buy! http://tiny.cc/FreebieFun 

Advertising that WORKS! http://tiny.cc/AdsThatWork

To all Kawaii lovers! Everything super CUTE for you! http://tiny.cc/EverythingKawaii

Get paid to post mini comments under topics of your interest! Fun site! http://tiny.cc/Post4Cash

Get paid to chat with friends from your phone! http://tiny.cc/Paid2Chat

The ONLY social media site that pays you 90% of their

revenue! http://tiny.cc/SocialMediaThatPays

Love candles? Love jewelry? Need a last minute gift to buy? http://tiny.cc/LuxuryCandles

Get paid to view ads through text messages! http://tiny.cc/CellphoneCash

Guaranteed work from home job for college students, stay at home moms and more! http://tiny.cc/EmailJobs

Fashion Bloggers get paid to share fashion! http://tiny.cc/Fashion4Cash

Share videos, make money! http://tiny.cc/VideoShareCash

Clarity is the BEST person to give you advice & guidance! http://www.clarityfix.me

******************************************************

9 Characteristics Of Highly Desirable Women

The dictionaries define “Desirable” as “worth having or wanting; pleasant, excellent or fine.”

Any man or woman who has dreamed of a future has probably created an image of what he or she would desire most in their partner. And most women have probably wished to be more desirable at some point. While the world keeps hankering over what exactly are the characteristics of highly desirable women, the truth is that we can only speculate. The definition will keep evolving.

However, we can safely say that highly desirable women will likely have the following nine characteristics.

1. They don’t chase people

Highly desirable women would rather chase their own awesomeness, because they know running after people is just a waste of time. They also know that it is a much better idea to become better versions of their own selves. The world will take notice when they progress in their own lives.

They don’t have time for such chases because they are just too busy creating a better life for themselves. That’s what makes a woman more desirable — that carefree, confident attitude. They are complete in themselves.

2. They are in control of their emotions

You won’t find desirable women moping about every bad relationship or failure in their lives. Instead, they are always in control of their emotions. They don’t waste their time and energy in harboring useless emotions that won’t bring them progress.

Simply put, desirable women would much rather be a shoulder when needed than be a constant cry baby.

3. They avoid gossip

Desirable women would rather use their time productively than for indulging in petty gossip. Gossip and too much talking creates drama. Desirable women know this. Petty gossip, useless talking, and drama is for school girls — not the desirable women that we look up to.

4. They are not attention seekers

You will not see desirable women posting selfies constantly or changing their relationship statuses on social media with every crush. They don’t like to spam people with such trivialities. They would much rather be known and talked about for their real and meaningful achievements.

They believe in earning attention from like-minded people, not snatching it with constant updates on the happenings in their lives. They earn respect instead of asking for it. They believe in maintaining a mystery about their lives which only selected people can have access to.

5. They don’t lose themselves in their relationships

It’s not that they hold back. Desirable women don’t lose themselves to create happiness for someone else. They have a life of their own that goes beyond the relationship. They don’t cling to their boyfriends or girlfriends constantly.

They don’t lose sight of their goals and dreams for love. They don’t lose their identity. Desirable women make smart decisions about how much time they are willing to devote to their relationships and to their goals. They set their priorities. They let their relationships add to their lives — not become their whole lives.

6. They have hobbies and passions

Desirable women make massive efforts to become better at their hobbies and passions. You won’t find these women constantly procrastinating. They find out what they love doing and do it with finesse.

Desirable women don’t waste their lives with mindless addictions, like staring at their mobile phones all day. They use their time to take up hobbies and work on improving. Some of the most desirable women are the ones who care deeply about their hobbies. It defines them and makes them more interesting people.

7. They are fiercely intelligent

Intelligence does not always refer to IQ. Desirable women are fiercely intelligent in terms of their understanding of the world and its people. They have a certain kind of wisdom that comes from experience, from a plethora of mistakes and a life full of lessons.

They have impeccable understanding of life and themselves — something that really adds to their desirability. They are no strangers to deep conversation.

8. They are always graceful

Women who understand and take pride in their womenhood are the ones that know that grace and elegance are not qualities you compromise with. It’s not about their appearance but their aura. What makes them highly desirable is that they don’t worry about their physical shortcomings. They fix what they can and carry themselves with elegance and charm that only a lady can possess.

They dress well and know how to exude confidence. What makes this all the more easier is that desirable women know that grace does not come with expensive fashion choices. It comes with self confidence.

9. They are brilliant communicators

They have clarity of thought and it shows in the words they choose, no matter which language those words are in. The confidence that they exude can easily win over hearts. They are logical with the right mix of rationality and emotion. Desirable women don’t overdo it.

They will let you talk, make you feel wanted, hear you with compassion, and show genuineness in their interactions. They know how important it is to be a good communicator and they also know what it takes to be one.

These are some of the characteristics of highly desirable women. Of course, there are many other traits that can be deemed “desirable.” Nevertheless, these are a few characteristics that will always draw us in.

Source: http://cc.cc/95cy

Each time you make a purchase, you get reward points to redeem for more candles or even other surprises! Happy shopping! www.luxurycandles4u.com

****************************************************
To all Kawaii lovers! Everything super CUTE for you! http://tiny.cc/EverythingKawaii
Get paid to post mini comments under topics of your interest! Fun site! http://tiny.cc/Post4Cash
Get paid to chat with friends from your phone! http://tiny.cc/Paid2Chat
The ONLY social media site that pays you 90% of their
revenue! http://tiny.cc/SocialMediaThatPays
Love candles? Love jewelry? Need a last minute gift to buy? http://tiny.cc/LuxuryCandles
Get paid to view ads through text messages! http://tiny.cc/CellphoneCash
Awesome Ebooks for the lover of reading! http://tiny.cc/Ebooks4U
Guaranteed work from home job for college students, stay at home moms and more! http://tiny.cc/EmailJobs
Fashion Bloggers get paid to share fashion! http://tiny.cc/Fashion4Cash
Share videos, make money! http://tiny.cc/VideoShareCash
Clarity is the BEST person to give you advice & guidance! http://www.clarityfix.me

****************************************************

Candles, Candles, CANDLES!!!

Candle on Clearance:

This Mother's Day, spoil mom! Show her that your love for her is as endless as the sea with this heavenly fragrance inspired from Bath & Body Works' Morocco Orchid & Pink Amber. Rich top notes of coconut and pineapple blend perfectly with violet, jasmine and orchid to transport mom to the warm Mediterranean beaches. Finished with base notes of amber and sensual musk, she will feel as relaxed as if she were basking in Morocco's hot summer heat.

Discover Bonus Prizes!  100% Of Products 

In addition to your choice of jewelry, discover an additional piece of jewelry, free product or other bonus prizes. We cherish our moms and hope you enjoy the Lots of Love we have to share with you! 

Bonus prizes may include:

• Bonus piece of jewelry or a piece matching your selection/size
• Bouquet of fresh flowers delivered
• Delivery of chocolates
• High value coupon code
• Free candles & tarts
• JIC Party Candles & Party Tarts
• $50 & $100 JIC Gift Cards

Take a look HERE

New Candle Releases:

Aloha - Hello or Goodbye

Status: Limited Edition Grand Prize Candle * This is a Pre-Sale. Products in the same order as this one will be delayed until this ships. We expect Pre-sale & backorders to ship before the official release on 7/28. * We're sorry but Monthly coupons can't be used.

Mango Papaya or Hawaiian Sunset, which scent will you find on top? Savor the exotic fusion of sun-kissed mangoes, succulent papaya, fresh orchids, vanilla and sandalwood. We combined two invigorating fragrances in this new limited edition double-layered candle to give you a uniquely inviting tropical experience. Reveal your choice of jewelry and a surprise bonus prize in every candle!

Mango Papaya  Take a bite out of this juicy, tropical delight! Let the fruity blend of sun-kissed mangoes and succulent papaya tantalize your taste buds. An uplifting and refreshing citrus blend you will have fun lighting every time! Mahalo (Hawaiian Sunset) There's no place on earth like Hawaii. Imagine swinging gently on a hammock while the balmy, fresh ocean breeze caresses your hair. A tropical blend of orchid, tuberose and awapuhi with a hint of vanilla, sandalwood and a light musk. Escape with Hawaiian Sunset.

Reveal & Repeat to discover what prizes find you!

100% of candles will include an additional bonus prize,
in addition to your choice of jewelry.

Hello! Stay home and enjoy the surprising scents of Mango Papaya and Mahalo while discovering your jewelry and one of these prizes!

• 42" & 32" LED TVs
• Xbox One & PS4 gaming systems
• Netflix Gift Cards
• Redbox Gift Cards
• Best Buy Gift Cards
• Flowers Delivered
• Chocolates Delivered
• JIC Candles and Tarts

Goodbye  Discover some getaway prizes with your jewelry! We love our loyal customers, hope you enjoy!

• Grand Prize - A tropical vacation 7 night cruise trip for 2 (winners choice of select cruises) 
• Jewelry valued at hundreds to thousands of dollars
• Movietickets.com Gift Cards
• Ticket Master Gift Cards
• Bass Pro Shop Gift Cards
• Dick's Sporting Goods Gift Cards
• Sears Gift Cards

Or Discover JIC Bonus Prizes! 

• Party Candles & Party Tarts
• Bonus piece of jewelry matching your selection/size
• Bonus reward points
• High value % discount coupons
• JIC Gift Cards

(All bonus prizes, rewards and codes must be claimed by 10/30)

Take a look HERE

Kiwi Lemongrass Candle

Enjoy a relaxing blend of nature's most uplifting scents. Fresh lemongrass, orange, and kiwi balanced with a green tea, bamboo, cassis and eucalyptus center make this a unique, rejuvenating experience. Finished with soft notes of cedarwood and vanilla.

Infused with natural essential oils.

Take a look HERE

Bamboo Candle

Cool and calming, this complex fragrance is as refreshing as the plant that inspires it. Top notes of tangerine and bergamot are followed by soothing notes of honeysuckle, lily, jasmine and fresh rose. Finished with soft sandalwood and cedar, this intriguing scent will transform your home into a place of zen.

Infused with natural essential oils.

Take a look HERE

Strawberry Kiwi Candle

Savor every note of this refreshing scent! Ripe, juicy strawberries and fuzzy kiwi with hints of tangy tangerine balanced with peach blossom, jasmine, orchid and finished with light lavender and musk. A fruity and fun floral fragrance.

Infused with natural essential oils.

Take a look HERE

Fiore Di Oro "Flowers of Gold"

A luxurious blend of the most fragrant flowers. Unlock the unique combination of freesia, jasmine and lily of the valley balanced with fruity base notes of honeysuckle, plum and raspberry. A candle fragrance so enticing, you won’t want to blow it out.

Take a look HERE

***LIMITED EDITION PINK FLAME CANDLE***

Monthly coupon cannot be used on limited editions

****************************************************
To all Kawaii lovers! Everything super CUTE for you! http://tiny.cc/EverythingKawaii
Love Candles? Love Jewelry? http://tiny.cc/LuxuryCandles
The ONLY social media site that pays you 90% of their
revenue! http://tiny.cc/SocialMediaThatPays
Get paid to view ads through text messages! http://tiny.cc/CellphoneCashMachine

Awesome Ebooks for the lover of reading! http://tiny.cc/Ebooks4U

Guaranteed work from home job for college students, stay at home moms and more! http://tiny.cc/EmailJobs 

Build your own picture business free! http://tiny.cc/PictureBiz 

Fashion Bloggers get paid to share fashion! http://tiny.cc/Fashion4Cash 

Share videos, make money! http://tiny.cc/VideoShareCash 

Clarity is the BEST person to give you advice & guidance! http://www.clarityfix.me  

Get paid to post, share and tag pictures! http://tiny.cc/Pics4Cash 

Get paid when your friends & neighbors watch tv! http://tiny.cc/TVCash

****************************************************

5 Tips on How to Up Your Game Plan for Summer Love!

It has been a long and dreary winter, and now that summer is here, I know, like me, you are all ready to shed those heavy winter clothes and ready yourself for the long awaited Season of Love-Summer!

Almost everyone goes through some form of hibernation mode during winter and fall into a dating rut, hiding themselves away with promises to ‘snap out of it when it gets warm’. Well, guess what? It is definitely warmer now and it’s time to put your money where your mouth is. To break that dating rut, you have to shake things up and also put a plan of action together.

I believe that in life, having a plan with goal specific short term and long term action points are highly effective in actually attaining those goals. This is applicable and also highly effective when it comes to dating.
Here are my 5 tips to getting you back into the game:

1. Set a Goal

Goal setting is the #1 way to accomplish anything. This is the starting point because this will drive your actions. Without clear direction of what you want from your dating life, is like getting behind the wheel without knowing where you want to go. You might eventually get there, but with many detours, rerouting and backtracking, and a lot of wasted time and energy (Love Example: I will go to 10 new places each month to meet eligible men).

2. Make an Intention List

You would be surprised to learn that setting your intentions on something, like for example, I want to lose 10 pounds by a specific date, will get you there faster than just having a ‘pie in the sky’ attitude about it. Intentions drive actions. The best approach is: clearly state your intention about a specific goal and giving yourself a deadline. (Love Example: I will meet 5 desirable dates by June 1st by being more approachable and smiling more).

3. Write a Commitment Letter

Writing things down has been proven to be a powerful tool in accomplishing anything in life and this holds true for your love life also. It has been proven that when you write a Commitment Letter to yourself and sign it, it becomes more concrete and tangible as opposed to just a promise you make to yourself. Post your signed and dated commitment letter on your fridge or somewhere you will see it every day. It will serve as a daily reminder of what your goal is and keep you on track in fulfilling that promise and keeping the commitment to yourself. (Love Example: Write down your 3 top dating goals with a due date in your commitment letter, sign, date and post it)

4. Progress Report

Keeping a progress report that charts your efforts will give you a visual of how far you’ve come and how far you have to go to meet your goal. This is an incredibly powerful motivational technique that has shown to be invaluable for success and this includes dating. Make a daily progress report with the following: a) Goal for the day, b) Was it done, c) Course of action if you did not meet your daily goal and a new due date, d) Initial the new due date and move forward. This will allow you to have off days but not to allow yourself to wallow in your misstep. Beating up on yourself when things don’t go as planned, will not accomplish anything. It’s best to assess where you went wrong, acknowledge it, make a new plan and move FORWARD.

5. Reward

It’s been shown that having a payoff/reward, whether it’s that pair of killer shoes you’ve been eyeing, or splurging on a massage, will keep you most motivated, especially on those days when your energy is sapped and you begin to lapse on your commitments. It doesn’t have to be anything big or expensive, but something tangible andsomething you really want that makes you feel special. Ultimately, it is whatever that will keep you motivated to stay on track in your search for NEW LOVE!

Source: http://cc.cc/6lqt

****************************************************

Start your own jewelry business without any investment! http://tiny.cc/SellJewelry

Awesome Ebooks for the lover of reading! http://tiny.cc/Ebooks4U

Love Candles? Love Jewelry? http://tiny.cc/BlissfulCandles

Guaranteed work from home job for college students, stay at home moms and more! http://tiny.cc/EmailJobs 

Build your own picture business free! http://tiny.cc/PictureBiz 

60% off unique jewelry every week! http://tiny.cc/DazzlinJewels 

Fashion Bloggers get paid to share fashion! http://tiny.cc/Fashion4Cash 

Share videos, make money! http://tiny.cc/VideoShareCash 

Clarity is the BEST person to give you advice & guidance! http://www.clarityfix.me 

Awesome products for everyone & every Holiday! http://tiny.cc/BeautyBliss 

Get paid to post, share and tag pictures! http://tiny.cc/Pics4Cash 

Get paid when your friends & neighbors watch tv! http://tiny.cc/TVCash

****************************************************

9 Ways to Increase Your Charisma

When Prince finished a showcase performance in a small Minneapolis movie theater on January 7, 1979, the Warner Records representatives walked out shaking their heads. Prince couldn’t believe it. Not ready for a tour? How was he supposed to sell any records?

But the label believed its new artist wasn’t a good enough performer to make a tour profitable. Prince was an excellent musician, they knew, but he lacked charisma. He needed to develop the ability to get people excited about his music by getting excited about him. Instead of signing off on a concert schedule, they sent him back to the studio to record a second album.

Prince made the album and, propelled by the success of its first single, “I Wanna Be Your Lover,” it entered the Billboard charts. Finally, Warner saw enough momentum to risk sending the still-awkward performer on the road. A lucky break came when singer Rick James, of “Super Freak” fame, invited Prince to open for him on his 1980 Fire It Up Tour.

“I felt sorry for him,” James later recalled. At first, anyway.

Prince began the tour with no knowledge of how to engage the crowd. But he was determined to improve, and he did. He schooled himself on how to be more charismatic on stage. He adopted the tactics of performers he admired, including James himself.

Prince believed that charisma could be practiced and perfected—and he was right.

By the end of that tour Prince commanded audiences, leading call-and-response chants, wowing them with dance moves, even flipping the microphone. Fans were so riled up by Prince’s performances, James felt overshadowed.

How did Prince get that good? By decoding—and mastering—the communication strategies that constitute a charismatic rock performance.

A team of management scholars headed by John Antonakis of the University of Lausanne Business School decided to do the samewith workplace charisma. They broke it down to a few concrete, learnable strategies, which they then taught to a group of randomly-selected middle managers through a five-hour group workshop and one-hour individual coaching session. Three months later, 360-degree evaluations revealed that the managers who had received the training were perceived as more charismatic, more competent, and more trustworthy on the job than before the intervention.(link is external with workplace charisma. They broke it down to a few concrete, learnable strategies, which they then taught to a group of randomly-selected middle managers through a five-hour group workshop and one-hour individual coaching session. Three months later, 360-degree evaluations revealed that the managers who had received the training were perceived as more charismatic, more competent, and more trustworthy on the job than before the intervention.Most advice for improving charisma consists of vague prescriptions like, "Show confidence.” But while it’s true that confidence increases perceptions of charisma, it's hard to fake. So is warmth, another common denominator of charismatic people. But the following tactics identified by Antonakis and colleagues are relatively easy to learn, adopt, and implement:

• Use metaphors. You use metaphors whenever you compare your group to an army on the march or a sports team. Lady Gaga uses metaphor when she refers to her fans as “Little Monsters.” Prince invoked a powerful metaphor when he appeared on television with the word “slave” written across his cheek. Metaphors are charismatic because they simplify and stir people’s emotions and imagination.
• Use stories and anecdotes. Personal stories can be used to great effect, especially stories of early struggles and challenges and how you overcame them. Rock stars use stories to make a stronger connection between their audience and their music. Paul McCartney, for example, introduces many live songs with an anecdote about the person the song is about. Others tell stories about things that happened to them in the town hosting the show.
• Show moral conviction. Moral significance makes your message more meaningful. By appealing to the “right thing to do,” you reinforce core shared values and stir others to action. Rock stars display moral conviction to strengthen their bond with their audience. U2 had fans march around the stage with pictures of then-imprisoned Aung San Suu Kyi on their 360-degree Tour. Madonna printed “Pussy Riot” on her back during her MDNA tour in support of the imprisoned Russian group. And late Beastie Boy Adam "MCA" Yauch organized the Tibetan Freedom concerts, rallying fans and fellow musicians for Tibetan independence.
• Express shared feelings as others. By revealing that you feel the same way as others do, you increase their identification with you. Statements such as, “I am just as overwhelmed as you are," or, "I am elated at this opportunity,” strengthen your emotional connection. Musicians also use shared feelings. Neil Young, though he's 68 years old, still acts like an “angry young man,” sharing feelings of disillusionment with his audiences.
• Set high expectations and communicate confidence. By expecting much from others and yourself, you inspire those around you to be more than they are now. But it’s not enough to set high expectations: You have to let others know that you believe in them. When Prince signed and produced the band The Time for Warner Brothers, he insisted that they improve their stage show. According to then-keyboard player Jimmy Jam, Prince insisted that all band members sing harmony and dance while they played. “That’s what Prince did, time and again,” Jam said. “He taught us we could do things we’d never believed we could.”
• Use contrasts to frame and focus messages. Contrasts are powerful rhetorical devices because they emphasize. Contrasting statements such as “Rather than counting how many hours you’ve put in, we care about how much value you create," or, "Most companies are letting people go but we’re hiring,” send a strong message. Rock stars do this, too: Madonna contrasts herself with Lady Gaga, singing “She’s not me!” on her MDNA tour. And Lady Gaga contrasts herself with performers who lip sync.
• Use lists. Lists boost charisma because they give the impression of completeness. They send a message that you have a coherent understanding of an issue. For example, when you say “The new rules will affect us in three major ways,” you position yourself as an expert on an unknown topic.
• Use rhetorical questions. Rhetorical questions draw other people in: “Is everyone having a good time tonight?” They also create anticipation. When you ask, “Where do we go from here?” you’ve got others hanging on every word.
• Use nonverbal strategies to animate your words. By animating your body language, you engage others. Body gestures, facial expressions, and a vocal tone that demonstrate passion leave more memorable impressions, whether on a stage or around a meeting table.

Prince is now one of pop’s greatest performers. He believed that charisma could be learned—and he proved it. And like him, you can learn to have a more powerful effect on others.

Source: http://cc.cc/6jrs

 ****************************************************

Start your own jewelry business without any investment! http://tiny.cc/SellJewelry

Awesome Ebooks for the lover of reading! http://tiny.cc/Ebooks4U

Love Candles? Love Jewelry? http://tiny.cc/BlissfulCandles

Guaranteed work from home job for college students, stay at home moms and more! http://tiny.cc/EmailJobs 

Build your own picture business free! http://tiny.cc/PictureBiz 

60% off unique jewelry every week! http://tiny.cc/DazzlinJewels 

Fashion Bloggers get paid to share fashion! http://tiny.cc/Fashion4Cash 

Share videos, make money! http://tiny.cc/VideoShareCash 

Clarity is the BEST person to give you advice & guidance! http://www.clarityfix.me 

Awesome products for everyone & every Holiday! http://tiny.cc/BeautyBliss 

Get paid to post, share and tag pictures! http://tiny.cc/Pics4Cash 

Get paid when your friends & neighbors watch tv! http://tiny.cc/TVCash

****************************************************