Q3 Technologies review: Releiving 103

I was surprised to see a few threads on the matter of releiving from Q3 Technologies...I was associated with them for about 2 years in their Java team and had to leave because of my marriage, otherwise i would have continued. Though it took 10 to 15 days more than the specified time. I really had no issues working there. I would recommend prospective employees not to get carried away by the messages displayed in this forum.

Hi All,
I had worked in Q3 technologies. It was my second company when i had joined to Q3 technologies. I was not so lucky to see the complaint about this company on Internet before joining it. As per my experience i would say this is the worst company to work in. There are no professional atmosphere and working culture in this company. When i joined i was happy to see it's HR policy and talking to HR persons about company culture but soon i realized all those rules are bull ### and even working 12-14 hours a day, managers will not only try to suck you more but give some example to work more like an ###. Some management people like Anuj, his wife, Ramanna all will try to show themselves as employee friendly but during my tenure so many colleague have left organization because of ill behaviors of these people. The biggest strange about this company is its not a trust able company at all. Q3 has fired people during my tenure because they didn't get project as they were sure about that and for that they have hired some people in advance.I would say if someone is wishing to join Q3 then please esquire about the project and project strength clearly. Working in Q3 is like working in departmental store where all the time you have to serve to customer, think about customer and nothing else. Please don't spoil your career to join Q3 technologies.

Regards,
A well wisher for new comers

Hi ALL
HAVE A NICE DAY

I recently got selected in Q3 technologies on dot net tech, I want to inquired about the environment of the company. Just then i was searching the net that i found this article posted on complaints board.

Please advice what should i do, should i join or not because I want to switch in a good company for long term.

regards
JJ

Hi

I totally agree to all the above blogs, i recently resigned from this firm and cant tell you what a horrible place it is to work.

There CEO anuj is a spineless impotent scoundrel and his wife who is a co-CEO is a desperate ###. she takes out her needy frustrations on the employees. Regarding the rest of the team, Ramana is a andhra mother###er who does not know anything about software industry. bloody southie ### is a good for nothing ###.go stuff some idlis in your stinking ### you scoundrel.reg. HR manager, he can only lick ### and for a change sucks anujs pencil ### aswell. he wears huggies dipers and pees in his pants all the time.he was thrown out of keane for peing on the office floor.he pees here also but anuj soes not mind coz whole Q3 office is a big ### dwelling.

Crunch of the story, if you do not like yourself, want to torture yourself, experience what hell really feels like, want to destroy your business, work with weird looking creatures, smell how ### smells ... JOIN Q3 TECHNOLOGIES, else if you are normal DONT EVEN THINK ABOUT IT.

Q3 sucks

### them all

Offshoring may once have been a simple technique for trimming back costs, but recent global economic and social developments have brought about subtle changes in contemporary offshore development. Rising wages in countries like India, one of the traditional offshoring locations, have meant that while great savings can still be made, other factors have to be considered.

Many companies are now using offshoring as a way of establishing a presence in a new country. Rather than simply being a cost-cutting measure, it gives companies access to a new market – their workforce also becomes a consumer base. Developing regions, such as China and Latin America, are being increasingly chosen for these reasons. As TPI sourcing advisor Paul Schmidt comments: “It's all about getting a toehold in emerging markets."

He also claims that the countries targeted for offshoring increasingly demand more direct benefits to their economies: "Part of [the product's or services'] delivery has to be in that country. Companies are realizing that part of their delivery has to be within the country of origin.”

Ten Things To Always Remember….
And One Thing To Never Forget.

Your Presence is a Present to the World.
You’re truly one of a Kind.
Your Life can be what you want it to be.
Take the days one at a time.
Count the Blessings, Not your troubles.
You’ll make it through, whatever comes along.
Within you are so many answers.
Have courage.
Be Strong.
Wish for a Star.

And don’t ever forget how very Special You are.

Common business courtesies:

 Be on time. Respect other people’s time. Do not keep people waiting or take more than your allotted time.
 Keep promises and commitments, and your word.
 Return calls within 24 hours.
 Compliment publicly for a good job done, but not for personal, intimate issues, like a lovely hair-do, unless you know for certain that it will be acceptable.
 Reprimand in private.
 Thank all – even those who are paid for the service – for a favour or a courtesy offered.
 Do not use bad language.
 Do not take family to official functions if they are not invited.
 Do not run down anyone, in particular, an in-house colleague or a business competitor.
 Do not bypass the line of command.
 Do not brag, but do be proud of what you have achieved.
 Do not gossip, or involve yourself in office politics or personal gossip.
 Demonstrate respect in an appropriate manner, both verbally and non-verbally.

Copy - paste stopped working?
Some time while working on Remote Desktop, you may discover that your clipboard has stopped working. You try to copy something to the clipboard, and it's not there. You try to paste something from the clipboard, and nothing comes out. What's going on?
If you find yourself in this situation, and you want your clipboard back, you'll have to either restart your remote session/machine or just follow below mentioned steps on your computer:
Click Start menu -> Select Run -> and Type “services.msc” (without quotes). System services window opens. Now look for “ClipBook”, “Network DDE” and “Network DDE DSDM” services and restart these services.
Now try copy and paste again, it must be working now.

Q3 technologies is a workplace with an open environment and a healthy work culture where work is fun and not a job. It has been a wonderful experience for me to be associated with the company for such a long period.

Q3tech is one of the finest software development organizations of the country. Environment in Q3 is very conducive for working and seeing your efforts fructify into meaningful entity. The guidance and support that I receive from my superiors from time to time has been enriching my experience I have gained tremendously in terms of continual learning and professional satisfaction at Q3 technologies.

Sharing local resources on Remote desktop
Most of the people are using remote computers from client site or within the company. Do you know that you can access local drives and printer from remote machine? Below is the information to access your printer and disk drives.
Open Remote Desktop Connection, click Start, point to Programs or All Programs, point to Accessories, point to Communications, and then click Remote Desktop Connection.
To make your local dives and printer available in a session
1. In the Remote Desktop Connection window, click Options.
2. On the Local Resources tab, under Local devices, click Printers for printer and Disk drives for local drives
3. Click Connect.
Now you can copy or paste data from remote machine to local drive, just open my computer on remote machine you will see local drives and printer in printers section.

The highly flexible open door culture of the organization and ample career growth and learning opportunities culminate into a motivated, collaborative team of people who always do the right things in the right manner to deliver excellent results for your projects. Q3 teams have demonstrated perfect synergy surpassing customer expectations every single time.

My association with Q3 has been very special. Working at Q3 technologies has been very satisfying. It has offered me tremendous opportunities for my personal learning and growth.

Q3 is like a second home for me. The atmosphere prevalent in the organization adds to the spirit of its employees, to be more motivated and result-oriented. The way the Q3 management conducts itself gives enormous confidence-boost to all its employees. Flexibility, Friendly work-culture, Emphasis on individual growth and opportunity to work on latest technology makes it a great place to work. Enablement, Exposure and Empowerment practice has ensured proper grooming and balanced development of resources.
To conclude, my experience with Q3 has been great.

Product Engineering- The Key Ingredients for a Successful Recipe
Software product engineering involves a host of activities such as analyzing system requirements, estimating development requirements, preparing the architecture of the product, designing the software, implementing the code, incorporating the components, and finally testing the software to make sure that it satisfies client requirements. There are several contributing factors besides skilled programming and project management that lead to successful product engineering. Some of these factors are:

a. High level of commitment from the people involved in the product engineering process is a pre-requisite
Commitment and dedication of the people involved is a key ingredient in the product engineering process. It requires uninterrupted attention. Only dedicated resources should be involved in product engineering services.

b. The engineers must get clear and concise requirements from the client
The engineers must demand clarity of the requirements in order to bring client’s ideas to life. Whoever has a stake in the product must have a clear idea of which stage the product is in. This will ensure that the engineers head towards a definite direction. Developing a meaningful product should be more important than meeting deadlines.

c. Superior team work and communication is a must for top-quality product engineering services
Product engineering requires excellent team work. The team members should communicate freely with one another in order make sure everyone is on the same page. Asking questions and the right questions at that is a must in order to get a clear picture on how to engineer the product. Regular team meetings and updates also help.

d. Advance Feedback on the Software Helps
It is a good idea to get feedback from real users of the software. Amendments are easier and cheaper to make if the requirements come in at an early stage of product engineering. Feedbacks from different quarters provide a scope for reality check of the product before it is released.

e. Step by Step Approach
A step by step approach should be followed in the product engineering services. Trying to do things simultaneously affects the product engineering process adversely. Changes in the requirement is a given in product engineering services, however, planning ahead for the changes rarely helps. It is better to take care of the changes once the client requests for them instead of planning ahead.

The recent economic slowdown was so swift and dramatic that many companies had to find ways to trim their outsourced product development costs in a hurry. While the big companies could move to scale up their lower cost offshore design centers rather quickly, the smaller companies were without that option. Unable to find a quick and economical way to implement their dream projects, many startups were forced to shut down. Still others signed contracts with limited third party product developers in low-cost geographies only to realize that outsourced product development is easier said than done.

Occasionally, customers discuss their experience in outsourced product development with companies, almost always noting failures by both parties. Like everything else, there’s a process for successful outsourced product development, and lack of enforcement will lead to expensive mistakes. Any outsourced product development project has several stakeholders, starting with the management of both the product and service companies. But the key stakeholders are the VP and Director of Engineering in a product company and the Technical Lead and Project Manager in a services company; their experience and skills can make or break the engagement.

It’s important to know the business model of your partner for outsourcing product development. While many companies make available qualified engineers, tools, and infrastructure, they sometimes do not take delivery responsibility for the product. The product development almost always involves hardware and software. While it’s much easier to have everything done by the same vendor, one must also consider their capabilities in both areas separately. In any case understand the business model and their fit to your requirements.

Outsourcing product development requires extensive documentation, much more than when doing it internally. Since it is a contractual arrangement, it requires very detailed documentation. Lack of adequate documentation is one sure way to end up in failure. Full documents are the requirements before the actual work starts and all the way through completion of the outsourced product development project.

Success in outsourcing product development is not obtained through black magic. It is the ultimate fruit that is harvested after the long process of careful and planned implementation of the various components that go into the execution of a project of outsourced product development.

My experience with Q3 technologies has been an extremely positive one. I am fortunate to work for a company like Q3 technologies that I can be proud of. Q3 technologies is a company where you can be creative and suggestions are always welcome. I can boast of a long association with Q3 and not even once did I feel otherwise. The confidence that the management instills in its employees furthers the morale of its workforce tremendously.

The company is headquartered in Boston and has offices in Dallas, New York, UK and Germany with development centers in Massachusetts, Michigan and India. The company was established in 1996 and is one of the leading global IT/ software service providers. Q3 Technologies is a Microsoft certified partner. It’s offshore software product development and software engineering processes have been awarded the prestigious CMMi level 3 and ISO-9001:2000 certifications.

A brief long distance call on your phone can cost as much as 5 dollars depending on where, and when, you are calling. The same call from TruPhone can cost as little as 5 cents.With the additions of free calls to MSN and Skype users coming soon to the application TruPhone is rapidly becoming an adequate alternative to the expensive calls made on your cell-phone.

Instant Messaging On Your IPod Touch
The other aspect of TruPhone that becomes appealing is the instant messaging service. Users can log on to a number of instant messaging accounts from the five major messaging services; Skype, MSN, Google Talk, Yahoo and AIM, and load all contacts from each individual service onto a master page that shows all available friends in one large list. This is much more convenient than opening multiple services, apps or pages on the internet.

Checklist For Turning An IPod Touch Into A Cellphone
All a user needs to get started is two free applications from the app store, Text Plus and TruPhone for iPod, and a $20 headset with a microphone. With these apps an iPod can text, call and instant message from the palm of one's hand without running up a large phone bill. The headsets can easily be found online or at many electronic accessory stores.

Text Plus, Available On Apple's App Store
Text Plus is a handy little app that allows direct texting to cell-phones or to other IPods that are assigned as ‘friends’ under the program. It’s free to text other iPods and for texts to other cellphones, standard message rates apply. This app doesn’t solve everything but all users with an iPod touch or iPhone can text back and forth free of charge. This should offset some of the costs accrued by texting or at least ensure overage fees aren't accrued.

Truphone, Available Through ITunes
TruPhone is a little more complicated but twice as useful. Once downloaded and registered on TruPhone the application gives a few different choices of how to communicate. The main function it replaces, of course, is phone calls. Calls from TruPhone are free to other TruPhone users and Google Talk users and makes any phone number in the world a cheap call. It even has a little money banked upon downloading to let users test out the call function to land lines or cellphones. What expenses are built up can be billed to the credit card connected to an iTunes account.

Mobile Phone Viruses Spread Through Two Ways
A mobile phone virus can spread by two mechanisms, said Barabasi in the study. Viruses affecting a phone with Bluetooth technology can infect all Bluetooth-activated phones in a 10-30 meter radius. Multimedia messaging system virus spreads using an address book of the device. Hybrid viruses would harm both types of technology, he said.

This study continued previous research on cell phones that used data to create a predictive model of human mobility patterns. The current work used this model to simulate Bluetooth virus infection scenarios, finding that viruses will infect all susceptible handsets, but the rate is slow, being limited by human behavioral patterns.

This characteristic suggests there should be sufficient time to deploy countermeasures, such as antiviral software to prevent major Bluetooth outbreaks. In contrast, spread of multimedia messaging system viruses is not restricted by human behavioral patterns. However, the spread of these types of viruses are constrained because the number of susceptible devices is currently smaller.

Women Traveling Alone: Fighting Homesickness

Traveling alone as a woman doesn’t bother me - especially in Germany, where everyone’s just going about their business and not giving me any undue attention. But, what does bother me is the fact that my husband went back to Canada a couple days ago. He had a business conference in Frankfurt, and I went along for the week. I couldn’t tear myself away from Germany and decided to stay an extra week in Munich. Boy, am I missing my husband!

That said, I’m very glad I’m here in Munich and don’t regret my decision to stay on alone. So, to help me feel less lonely, I decided to make a list of what works to fight homesickness while traveling alone.

1. Go on tours with other people. Today I joined a walking tour - a free one! - and met another Canadian, two Indians, an American, a Peruvian, and two Germans. The walking tour of Munich was informative and entertaining, and I liked chatting with my fellow tourists. Some of them were women traveling alone, too - which made me feel not so alone!

2. Check your email. I’m a writer so my laptop is with me here in my hotel room in Munich. In fact, I spend a good portion of my day working in my room, and the rest of the time I’m wandering the streets of Munich. I check my email regularly throughout the day, which helps fight homesickness. It definitely helps that hubby Bruce emails me often to keep in touch. If you’re not married, keep in close contact with a friend, partner, or family member (even if you are married, keeping in touch with several people definitely helps to fight homesickness when you’re a woman traveling alone).

3. Don’t compare yourself to couples or groups. I once enjoyed traveling alone as a woman….but the truth is that getting married ruined it for me. Before I got married, I would’ve been happy just walking the streets. Now, I walk the streets of Munich and remember how great it was to have Bruce along! To fight homesickness while traveling alone, it definitely helps not to notice those couples and groups of people - and not to compare yourself as a solo traveler to them.

4. Remember that people don’t think less of you. Sometimes it’s hard to travel alone as a woman because you feel self-conscious. You may think that people feel sorry for you, or think less of you because you’re a solo tourist. Stop that! People don’t care that you’re a woman traveling alone. They probably don’t even notice you.

5. Seize the opportunities as a solo traveler. More people talk to me and invite me to join them as a woman traveling alone. When I’m with my husband or in a group, I don’t get to know my fellow tourists or the locals in the same way. To fight homesickness when you’re traveling alone, say “yes” to invitations to people’s homes and to join fellow travelers for dinner or tours around the city.

6. People watch. One of my favorite things to do in airports, cities, in hotel lobbies - anywhere, really (except for trains and buses, because new people don’t pass by as often) is people watch. You can’t do that in the same way when you’re with others, because you’re too busy talking or pointing things out. To stay positive and fight homesickness, focus on the things you love about traveling alone.

7. Record your visit with a tape recorder. What’s the modern equivalent of a “tape recorder”? The first time I was a woman traveling alone was when I hitchhiked through Europe in 1998. I took along a tape recorder and a handful of blank tapes, and talked to my sister throughout my trip. It was a great way to fight homesickness while traveling alone - even though she never did listen to any of the tapes when I got home.

8. Remember how fast time flies. Here, as I travel alone in Munich, I keep reminding myself that I’ll be home in less than a week, and I’ll be back in my old routine, and I’ll wish I was back in Europe! To fight homesickness, it helps to remind yourself that time passes so fast and before you know it you’ll be flying home again…and being a woman traveling alone will be a fond memory.

So, savor the moment…for it only comes this way once.

Psychology Studies Reveal:
A positive attitude and optimistic thinking early in life predict health and well being in later years. Analysis of 99 Harvard graduates found a strong correlation between their optimistic thinking as college students and good health at age 40 and above.

In his ground-breaking book, A Primer in Positive Psychology, Christopher Petersen, PhD, says, "...optimism has demonstrable benefits, and pessimism has drawbacks." He goes on to say, "...optimism...has been linked to positive mood and good morale; to perseverance and effective problem solving; to academic, athletic, military, occupational, and political success; to popularity; to good health; and even to long life and freedom from trauma."

Even if you have been a pessimistic, negative thinker for many years, it's not too late to change your way of thinking and reap the benefits of a positive attitude.

Top 10 Things to Pack for a Hiking Trip or Mountain Vacation

1. Sunscreen, lip balm, sunglasses: Higher altitudes can produce severe sunburns, even with cloud cover and temperatures in the 50s. Sunscreen, balm, and sunglasses are some of the most important things to pack for a hiking trip or mountain vacation!

2. Moisturizer: Higher altitudes, especially in the western United States and Canada, bring very dry air. Bring along a favorite moisturizer and use it liberally. Protecting your skin will keep you feeling and looking young.

3. Layers of clothes: Temperatures can drop 40-50 degrees from day to night at higher elevations. Even during the day, weather can change dramatically in a matter of minutes. Bring a sweater, jacket, and clothes made of wicking materials. Be prepared to take layers on and off to stay comfortable and dry.

4. Rain jacket: Afternoon thunderstorms are a daily occurrence in many mountain areas. When I was on vacation in Costa Rica, I had to buy an expensive rain jacket at a tourist shop. That holiday was different than packing for a vacation in the mountains - read Packing Tips for an All-Inclusive Vacation!

5. Water bottle: When you’re active and at altitude, it’s easy to become dehydrated and not know it. Fill your bottle with water on your way to the hills - in the car, train, bus, or plane - and keep drinking throughout your trip. Plenty of water also helps to prevent headaches often associated with visits to high altitude.

6. Toys, books, and games: If you’re traveling with the family, be sure to bring something to entertain the kids. Don’t forget books or games for the adults. Even the most energetic may have some “quiet” time. For the opposite perspective, read Women Traveling Alone - Fighting Homesickness.

7. Swimsuits: For you and the kids, because most lodging properties have hot tubs and indoor/outdoor pools. Some even have lakes and ponds to swim in! Other swimming gear, such as goggles or noseplugs, are also good things to pack for a hiking trip or mountain vacation.

8. Good walking shoes: You’ll want to be comfortable walking around town, the hotel, and to restaurants. Going hiking? Bring sturdy boots, and make sure to break them in at home to avoid a trip full of blisters. Ladies, leave the heels at home when you’re packing for a hiking trip. Unless you’re attending a formal event, they will be out of place and unnecessary for a mountain vacation.

9. Thin socks: Hikers often make the mistake of wearing thick socks. In reality, thinner socks made of a wicking material will keep your toes and feet dry and comfortable. This isn’t only an important thing to pack for a hiking trip or mountain vacation - it works if you’re traveling to Africa, too!

10. Groceries: Whether you’re driving or flying, try to keep some healthy snacks on hand (nuts, raisons, seeds, protein bars). Eating small, frequent meals throughout the day can put extra energy into active days, especially at higher altitudes.

10 Tips for Setting and Achieving Your Life Goals

What goals would you like to complete this year? Most people start out with New Year’s resolutions but few see them through successfully. Before you commit yourself to this year’s task, review the mistakes you have made in the past. How have you gotten off track in previous attempts?

1. Take action immediately with SMART goals. Once you postpone the startup date, you are beginning the process of procrastination and avoidance. These goal killers must be conquered. You must also step forward with courage. It is usually frightening to some measure when you set goals. You risk embarrassment and the possibility of failure. Courage means doing it anyway. When you’re setting and achieving your life goals, remember that action soothes anxiety and builds confidence.

2. Think through your goals. What is the outcome you want to achieve? What are reasonable objectives for one month, three months, six months and beyond? Don’t overdo the first week. Instead, think about the long haul. Determine a steady and progressive pace. If you are out of shape, do not start by running three miles the first few days. When you’re setting and achieving your life goals, remember to slowly build up to the desired distance. This prevents injury and frustration that can lead to quitting.

3. Spend time visualizing your goal as accomplished. These images build a sense of belief that your goals are attainable. Visualization develops a faith that pushes you to keep going.

4. Find inspiration. Establish various methods of getting information and encouragement. This can come in the form of self-improvement tapes, books, therapy, attending lectures, taking courses online, going back to college or sitting in a church pew. We live in a world that has so many negative influences. You are going to have to find ways to stay positive and inspired. Feed your mind positive thoughts that will help you achieve your life goals.

6. Develop habits that support your life goals. You must be willing to do the things that most people are not willing to do. You must push beyond your limits. When you’re setting and achieving your life goals, you must go beyond your comfort zone.

6. Create good habits. Your habits form the routine that make you get up early or stay up late. Your habits help you skip that candy bar or miss that unnecessary two hours of television. When you’re setting and achieving your life goals will require consistency on your part. Be accountable to yourself and reach your goals!

7. Make up your mind that you are going to overcome obstacles to your goals. This is where being hardheaded can be a blessing. Tap into that side of you that hunkers down when someone says, “You’re not smart enough.” Persevere until you achieve your goals!

8. Get excited about your life goals. You will attain them faster and easier with every ounce of enthusiasm you can muster. Surround yourself with a passion so strong that no negative influence can discourage you. When you’re setting and achieving your life goals, develop a burning desire and you will notice that even the toughest task will be more enjoyable.

9. Remember that success is a process. It rarely occurs overnight. Many people do not set goals because they are afraid they will be considered foolish. Do not initially aim for perfection; instead, strive to just get started. Then place your focus on sticking with your goals and over time, reach for fame. Someone once told me, “You won’t like anything you produce, so produce it anyway.” When you’re setting and achieving your life goals, remember that you don’t have to get it right; you just have to get it going!

10. Give your goals a full, all-out effort. Most people start with a bang and soon after, end with a fizzle. Give your resolutions everything you have and you will succeed. Be willing to put in the time and energy to reach all of your goals. Allow no room for excuses. Make a commitment. Decide in your head and in your heart that, “I will do whatever it takes.”

Tips on Setting SMART Goals

Write your goals or New Year’s Resolutions down. You can write them in your journal, in your Palm Pilot, or on a cocktail napkin. The physical act of writing anything down commands that “Google search engine” that is your subconscious mind to attract resources, information, anything you need to attain that goal. Further, as soon as you attain one goal, create another. Keep a constant “Things to Do List” for your life — and read 7 Personal Goal Setting Tips for Success for other ways to achieve your goals.

Specific and simple goals. The subconscious, which is where all behavior comes from, needs clarity and precision. Broad goals or New Year’s Resolutions such as “I will be happier in 2006″ are too vague. As yourself what specifically would make you happier? A new career? Make that your goal. The subconscious is a doer, not a thinker, and it must receive the bottom line, crystal clear bulleted targets: “I’m enrolling in law school.” Or I’m being promoted to vice president.” Or “I’m becoming a non-smoker.” Don’t flood the engine of the subconscious with TMI (too much information) such as complex business plans and financial projections from the data processing department.

Measurable and meaningful goals. How will you know when you’ve gotten your goal? To make New Year’s Resolutions that you can keep, make it easy for your subconscious to help you attain your goal. “I’m making $250, 000 this year.” “I’m doubling my sales quotas.” These are “idiot proof” measures that anyone (including your subconscious) can recognize and applaud.

Your goals or New Year’s Resolutions should be meaningful to you. Make sure your goals are in line with YOUR dreams, because it will show up in your work, in your health, in your heart, in your face, and in your life.

Achievable goals. There is no point in chasing after a goal that is unachievable (although with quantum physics, the unachievable is beginning to be a thing of the past). It’s an unachievable goal for President George w. Bush to hold a third term. There are certain professional standards and limitations that we must honor, and allow them to guide us setting our goals - and making New Year’s Resolutions we can keep.

Realistic and responsible goals. Our goals or New Year’s Resolutions must be realistic. I can hardly expect to become an attorney if I have not completed law school and passed the Bar Exam. Our goals must be in line with our training, experience, as well as our desires.

Timed and “toward” goals. Give your goal a deadline (first quarter of the next year by March, in 5 years, etc). If you miss the deadline, no need to beat yourself up. Simply reset it and re-commit. Quantifying and qualifying goals keep us in action and fosters a fun, sportsmanlike spirit about it. When we simply say: “I’m becoming a better golfer, ” then losing just one stroke has technically made you a better golfer. Setting a specific goal (”I’m consistently scoring within 3 points of par by the end of this year”) gives you a healthy sense of urgency in attaining your goal or New Year’s Resolutions.

8 Tips for Breaking Bad Habits

1. Determine what you want to change. To achieve your goals, you need to know where you’re going. “Start fresh by getting clear about what you want, ” says Dr Herman. “What is your heart’s desire? What do you want to accomplish or attain? If nothing was holding you back from realizing your dreams, what would make you happy?”

2. Examine your current approach. What are you presently doing, and is it taking you closer to or away from your goals? “Don’t stay with what has been safe and comfortable, ” says Dr Herman. Be ruthless when you look at your current approach, and work on overcoming the obstacles to achieving your goals.

3. Make a specific plan. To break bad habits, be clear and specific. If you want to quit smoking, for instance, figure out the exact steps that will get you there - whether that’s seeing a doctor, researching the nicotine patch, or taking up jogging (I took up jogging, and after a year my cravings passed! It was a tough row to hoe…).

4. Seek practical solutions. “If you’re afraid of swimming or lack the skill to play tennis, take lessons, ” says Dr Herman. “Don’t find fault with yourself. Find out what you have to do to achieve your goal and do it.” To break bad habits, find practical ways to deal with your behaviors and cravings.

5. Implement healthy substitutions. My bad habit is binging on unhealthy foods. I’ve learned not to force myself to stop what I’m compelled to do. Instead, ride the horse in the direction it’s going! For me, this means I give in to my nervous eating habit - but instead of munching on potato chips and cookies, I delve into apples, raisons, grapes, and canned peas (don’t ask. It works for me, and that’s what counts!). My substitutions satisfy my emotional needs, which keeps me motivated to achieve my goals.

6. Try different ways to get what you want. “If we continue doing the same things, we will get the same results, ” says Dr Herman. When you’re working to achieve your goals, you need to try different ways to break your bad habits. He says, “If what you try does not work out - then try again! There is no such thing as a failure. Failed attempts are simply practicing to get things right.”

7. Find your tribe. Here’s a tip from a life coach: “Get supportive folks in your camp, ” says life coach Laura Berman Fortgang, author of Take Yourself to the Top. “Join a group of like-minded folks, team up with a good friend, hire a coach or otherwise include people who want the best for you and will keep you on track.” If you know someone who wants to break their bad habits, invite him or her to be an accountability buddy. Check in with each other regularly to make sure you’re on track. For more tips on goals, read How to Achieve Your Personal Goals in 7 Steps.

8. Reward yourself. This is the most pleasant tip for breaking bad habits: celebrate your successes! Rewarding yourself regularly keeps you energized and motivated. My favorite rewards are weekend getaways or overseas vacations…but I also love full-body massages and sushi dinners. To stay motivated, reward yourself in big and little ways :-)

Action Steps to Overcoming Fear and Anxiety

1. Assess your life - Look at what’s really important to you. Be clear about what money means to you and how important it is in YOUR life.

2. Quarantine Fear - Literally see yourself clearing fear from your thoughts. If you notice fear and anxiety entering your thoughts, write them down on a piece of paper and systematically tear that paper up and throw it in the garbage. One of my clients created a “fear jar.” She took a large 5-gallon plastic water container and, every time she felt fear entering her mind, she wrote it down, crumpled it up and put it in the container. She was amazed how quickly it grew! It was confirmation of how much she had been living in fear in her life.

3. Go on the Offensive - Educate yourself; find your values; change the way you handle money; formulate a positive plan of action; get creative; and re-evaluate your priorities. Finally, be aggressive about gratitude. Being grateful is the quickest mood-changer there is and it doesn’t cost a dime.

4. Spend Your Money Differently - Make thoughtful, considerate decisions, purchases and investments. Make sure you feel good about where your money is going. Going to a restaurant? Spend your money at a place you love. In essence, you’re saying you want them to stay in business. If you’re anxious about money, read 4 Tips for Facing Financial Fears.

Realizing that you are making a choice about how to think is actually empowering. It reaffirms that you are in charge of your decisions, your attitude, and your life! If you struggle with perfectionism — which leads to fear and anxiety.

How to Overcome Fear and Anxiety

Fear is a powerful emotion that shuts us down, and cuts us off from opportunity and possibility. When we feel fear, we rarely see things clearly or notice the good in our lives.

First, let’s define fear:

F.E.A.R. = FALSE EVIDENCE APPEARING REAL

Fear and anxiety cause a series of reactions. Our bodies constrict, tighten up, look down or inward, huddle in, and try to suppress the fear. We aren’t looking forward, we’re looking inward. We can’t see the bigger picture. Then, we start blaming/shaming in an attempt to feel less responsible for what is occurring. We blame other people. Chemical reactions occur in the body, with adrenaline and stress hormones flowing and circulating throughout our bodies. Under these circumstances, rash decisions are often made and we may start to “awfulize” our situation - making it worse than it actually is.

Goal Setting Tip #4 - Plan

Write down all your resolutions or goals. Then look into each goal in more detail and determine what you actually need to do in order to be successful. You may realise at this point that you have bitten off more than you can chew - so prioritise! Better to focus on one or two more important goals and actually achieve success, than to spread yourself too thinly and not achieve anything.

Goal Setting Tip #5 - Visualise

Writing down your goals is the first step to making them real. Posting these goals up somewhere you can see them on a regular basis further increases your chances of success, as you are constantly reminded of what you want to achieve, especially if you have included a behavioural element to the goals.

Goal Setting Tip #6 - Take Consistent Action

No matter what, make sure you take regular action every day toward your goal. Now you have your plan, this is much easier - you are no longer ‘winging it’ but you have a clear strategy. This should mean you don’t feel overwhelmed and means that you know exactly what you need to do. And that really is the key - it is what you actually do, the action that you take, that makes the difference.

Goal Setting Tip #7 - Remember: Simple But Not Easy

It is important to understand that setting and achieving goals may be simple but it’s not necessarily easy, and that you are bound to face obstacles and challenges. Some of these you will navigate easily, others will be harder to overcome. Being prepared and ready for some hard work is really important.

7 Goal Setting Tips for Fitness, Work, and Life

Goal Setting Tip #1 - Believe

If we truly believe in our goals they will be far easier to achieve. Our goals need to have meaning and we need to be emotionally connected to them. Our habits are deeply ingrained and if we don’t truly believe that we want or need to change them, it won’t be long before we slip back into old routines. The ‘why’ is so important when you face struggles, so make sure it is strong enough to see you through to successful realisation of your goals.

Goal Setting Tip #2 - Break it Down

Rather than focussing on the entire year, break your goals down into manageable chunks of time. A 6-week exercise and nutrition plan will give you great results without being too daunting. When the 6 weeks are up, you can then re-set your goals and start another 6-8 week chunk or phase. This will keep you focussed and motivated, and allow for the occasional indulgence or slip-up, while ensuring you get results.

Goal Setting Tip #3 - Dare to Dream

While you need to truly believe in your reason for working towards a goal, sometimes it is important to suspend disbelief and allow yourself to dream big! We are told to keep our goals realistic, and while there is some merit in this on a purely practical level, it can often leave us selling ourselves short.

Overcoming Obstacles to Your Goals

1. Be 100% responsible for yourself. That means no excuses. Ever. At first you’ll hate this, because life is so much easier when we are the victims of our fate (”I was late because traffic was bad/I would go back to school but I have no money/My marriage fell apart because he was a jerk!”). Being 100% responsible for yourself can seem overwhelming, but when you accept responsibility for achieving your personal goals, you’ll experience an incredible sense of empowerment. If you truly believe that everything in your life is your creation (the good, the bad, the ugly), then how could anything stop you from reaching your goals?

2. Live from your vision, not your circumstances. Creating a vision is difficult, but once you know what you want for your life, it sets a framework for everything you do. Your circumstances will never get you closer to your goal. Only your vision can guide you to get what you want. If your goal is to lose weight and be healthy, then act like someone who is already fit (and put down that second piece of cake!). If your goal is to make money, act like someone who is already financially successful and responsible (and don’t run amok with your credit card). This tip for overcoming obstacles to reaching your goals requires you to focus on what you want — not where you are.

3. Hold people, including yourself, in the highest possibility. If you react to someone as though they are incompetent or negative or unloving, they will be so. If, instead, you see them as entirely capable and hold them to that, they will often live into your belief of who they are. Hold them (and yourself) there and accept no less. Start with yourself. Make yourself the example, and always ask yourself “What is my highest possibility in this situation?” This tip for overcoming obstacles to reaching your goals will release you to do and be the best you can.

How to Achieve Your Personal Goals in 7 Steps

When it comes to setting new goals, it’s important to remember that “one size does not fit all.” A personalized body-mind approach will help you set and achieve goals that are aligned with who you are. Most goals are chosen with the best of intentions, but in hindsight exclude some important elements that impact your daily life. If you don’t allow yourself the time and space to take a closer look at these items, you can lose momentum, become frustrated and abandon what you want to achieve.

1. Listen to your body. Give your body a chance to voice its opinion as you set and achieve personal goals. Pay attention to your physical energy every time you set a goal. Do you feel calm or excited or lethargic? These are important cues to consider when you’re setting and achieving your personal goals.

2. Consider your personality. In contemplating new goals, factor in your personality traits. Are you someone who likes doing things on your own or do you thrive in a group? Do you operate best in the morning, afternoon or evening? Perhaps, in order to achieve a goal, you will have do something that goes against your natural style, like attending school at night when you are a morning person or fitting a workout in the morning when you are more energized in the evening. What do you need to do mentally and physically to support your personality if these challenges arise? To set and achieve your personal goals, make a list of these factors.

3. Be realistic. Be realistic when creating your goals by observing your current life situation. What do you need to pay attention to right now in your life? Are there certain things that are new and or perhaps not changing for a while? Is your family expanding? Are you relocating, changing jobs, going back to school or handling a health issue? Be sure to include room for these important factors as you shape your goals. Life can surprise us and we sometimes have to adjust for the unexpected. However, you can set and achieve personal goals by being realistic about your health, state of mind, family and career.

4. Know why your goals matter. There are times when your goals will bring you immediate gratification and times when you have to wait for the prize. Taking an action to finish a work project provides immediate satisfaction while getting your doctorate has delayed gratification. Either way, it’s important to remind yourself along the way that you are worth the effort. Connect to the self-care and self-respect that is involved in taking on a goal and accomplishing it. Write down why achieving this goal matters to you personally or professionally.

5. Acknowledge your effort in tangible ways - this is key to feeling like you are making strides. I have many of my clients do “acknowledgment” homework so that they can stay in touch with their journey. This means they have to come in with a written list of the accomplishments they have completed during the week, no matter how small. Writing down your accomplishments and sharing them with others will inspire you to continue forward.

6. Evaluate what is working. If you gauge your progress along the way, you won’t give up when you reach an impasse. Sometimes, we give up rather than fine tune some aspect of our goal-setting-and-achieving plan that is not working. However, we may just need to take smaller steps, resolve some fears, get information or bring in emotional support in order to continue.

7. Adjust what doesn’t work. When you’re setting and achieving your personal goals, it’s important not to view the need for an adjustment as “starting over.” Instead, you are simply picking your goal back up after reviewing it. All the experience and effort you have already put in still counts…and you’re one step closer to achieving your goals!

Characteristics of a Positive Attitude and Optimism:
Optimists believe they are accountable for good things and that good things will generally come their way. If something bad comes instead, optimists tend to write it off as an isolated incident, an anomaly, or something out of their control; optimists believe things will be better in the future.

Positive Thinking Takes Practice:
If you're a person whose first thoughts about the meaning of something that's happened are negative thoughts, be encouraged by the knowledge that the first step toward a positive attitude and positive thinking is to simply think another thought. Thoughts are under your control. Your pessimistic way of thinking is habit; habits can be changed.

When you catch yourself thinking a pessimistic thought about an event in your life, first evaluate the evidence. What are the facts--not the fears--but the facts?
Next, think of alternate explanations and future outcomes. When your old car suddenly makes a strange noise you may jump to the pessimistic conclusion that repair will be costly, but maybe a minor repair will solve the problem.
Remind yourself to follow this approach with a daily affirmation such as this: When I have a negative thought I immediately evaluate the facts and think of positive alternatives that also fit the facts.
Practice the positive thinking approach outlined above and you'll find it soon comes naturally. You may be amazed to realize that you simply feel better with a positive attitude.

Positive thinking--being optimistic and hopeful--is a habit anyone can adopt with some practice. Why might you want to do so? A positive attitude and optimistic thinking are healthy. The power of positive thinking is that hopeful, optimistic people are healthier, live longer, and report greater satisfaction with life than those who might be labeled pessimistic.

Positive Thinking and Reality
Positive thinking is not ignoring reality. Bad things happen to positive and negative people alike (though Law of Attraction advocates may disagree). The difference is that positive thinkers tend to look for the best in a situation. That doesn't mean they ignore the negative event, just that they accept it and look for ways to make things more positive.

Positive thinkers believe that good things abound, that opportunities exist aplenty, and that the majority of people are positive and well-meaning.

Breaking the Bad Habit
If your habit until now has been to think negatively, to expect the worst in situations, and to be cynical about life in general, ask yourself if this way of thinking is bringing you happiness. If not, perhaps it's time to explore a new way of thinking--positive thinking.

As with any life change, it's critical that you are committed and ready to make the change. Changing an habitual life process is no small feat. It will take your full commitment along with the support and help of others.

What Is a Positive Attitude?
A positive attitude is simply an inclination or leaning toward the positive aspects of any situation. Thinking positively is not putting one's head in the sand, nor is it being unrealistic. A positive attitude recognizes the negative aspects of a situation, but chooses to focus instead on the hope and opportunity available within every situation.

Positive Affirmations Can Help You Change
What are you to do if you seem inclined to focus on the negative? Even though you may be pre-disposed to negative thinking due to genetics or your childhood environment, you can learn to move your thinking to the positive side. Learning to use positive affirmations will help, as will sharpening your awareness to nip negative thinking in the bud before it escalates. Learning to question and re-structure your thinking when it turns negative will help you think positively more often and stay that way.

If avoiding saying no to kids’ requests is a way to avoid feelings of disappointment, rejection, and power struggles, the probable result is that yes is being used more than is desirable. Although this may make kids happy they are getting their way, it is also causing more problems for parents and kids in the long run.

First, kids may not be getting enough opportunity to learn how to cope with disappointment. Life throws kids a lot of limits outside the home. However, children who hear yes a lot may develop unrealistic expectations of their world and not know how to deal well with disappointments that arise. This may result in crying and tantrums where they are hearing no more frequently. Also, if kids often hear yes at home, it will make it more likely they will rebel even more fiercely whenever they do hear a no at home or elsewhere.

Children need to be told no in order to understand boundaries and develop reasonable expectations of themselves, parents, teachers, and peers. In reality, no serves the very positive function of equipping kids to handle life’s limits and disappointments.

Parents often struggle with saying no to their kids. What makes this word so hard to say or carry through lies in the emotions this tiny word has the power to evoke.

Avoiding No to Avoid Negative Feelings
The word no can create feelings of disappointment. After all, the child who hears a no is not getting something they want. Also, it may be psychologically difficult to separate a no from a general feeling of rejection. The parent who intuitively understands this connection between a no and disappointment or rejection may find it very hard to say it to their kids. As a result, the word no may be all too easy to avoid.

Although hearing no will likely create feelings of disappointment, it is possible to help yourself and your child separate the no from feelings of rejection. Explaining that it means the child cannot have their way, it does NOT mean they are not loved. Taking repeated opportunities to claim how the no is separate from love or acceptance may help remove feelings of rejection from the word or the limits it creates.

Avoiding No to Avoid Unpleasant Reactions
Another reason saying no can be challenging is parents’ desire to avoid power struggles, tantrums, or the child’s wrath. Handling disappointment requires the development of coping skills. Since pre-school and elementary school aged kids typically do not have these coping skills, they are not yet able to deal well with disappointment. So, the word no is likely to trigger behavior aimed at both expressing frustration and getting what is desired. A child’s negative reaction to a no means they are angry, frustrated, disappointed, or all of the above. All of these are feelings they need to experience in order to learn how to manage them.

As many parents can attest, children’s unreasonable demands and consequent fights often occur at the most inopportune moments. It is often around transitions from one fun activity to another, like between television and bedtime or home and leaving for school, that unreasonable child demands surface. Choices include fight and become late or say yes and move on to bed or work or wherever peace lies. If saying no can wreak such havoc and delays, it may not be the preferred choice.

Phobias, anxiety attacks, and anxious behavior are increasing in children and adolescents – but the good news is that there are quick, effective therapy treatments.

Childhood Phobias Lead to Anxious Behavior in Adulthood
“Children who are not cured of their phobias run a great risk of developing other areas of anxiety later on, ” says Lena Reuterskiöld, of The Swedish Research Council.

“It’s therefore important to find effective forms of treatment that can reduce this risk.” She explains that certain one-session therapy treatment sessions are effective for various types of phobias.

The Research on Treating Phobias in Children
Reuterskiöld’s research involved children and adolescents with various specific phobias in Stockholm, Sweden, and in Virginia in the United States. The treatment studied was a “one-session treatment” that was three hours long.

This phobia research showed that 55% of children who voluntarily signed up for this phobia treatment successfully overcame their anxiety attacks.

If your favorite dog breed is a Retriever or Spaniel (Labradors, Goldens, Labradoodles, American Cocker Spaniels, English Springer Spaniels, etc) then your personality traits are:

Family-focused
Fun-loving and social
Easygoing
Active lifestyle
Positive perspective, with an “open door” policy at home

If your favorite dog breed is a Pointer or Setter (English Pointers, Weimaraners, Wirehaired Pointing Griffons, Irish Setters, English Setters, etc), then your personality traits are:

Passionate and determined
Energetic and motivated
Lover of luxuries
Rugged (you’ll hike all day!)

If your favorite dog breed is a Scent Hound (Beagle, Basset, Bloodhound, Foxhound, etc), then your personality traits are:

Determined and focused
Intense, even relentless
Funny
Lover of food

If your favorite dog breed is a Sight Hound (Greyhound, Whippet, Borzoi, Irish Wolfhound, etc), then your personality traits are:

Relaxed and introverted
Quiet
Lover of small groups and close friends
Organized

If your favorite dog breed is a Terrier, then your personality traits are:

Fun-loving and funny
Determined and focused
Energetic
Talkative and versatile
Rough- and-tumble

Your Big Five Personality Traits affect your health, relationships, goals, achievements, professional success, and even your spiritual life. Your whole life is affected both positively and negatively by your Big Five Personality Traits!

In fact, some people believe there is such thing as a "cancer personality." If someone has a cancer personality, it's believed that their characteristics actually create toxins that work against their immune system, leaving them defenseless against certain diseases. Or, they repress negative emotions that create toxins, which can lead to terminal illnesses.

Your Big Five Personality Traits don't include the "cancer personality" (if such a thing exists). The fundamental five personality characteristics - called the "Big Five Personality Traits" among psychologists - were once thought to remain the same since childhood. Now, experts believe the Big Five Personality Traits change over time.

The Big Five Personality Traits
1. Conscientiousness. You're organized and disciplined, dedicated and loyal – especially at work. Excellent performances and strong commitments are standard. Of all the Big Five Personality Traits, this one will take you far in your career.

2. Agreeableness. You're friendly, pleasant and easy to be around; your relationships are mostly strong. You're a social creature, and get your energy from being around other people. This Big Five Personality Trait opens many doors!

3. Neuroticism. You feel anxiety, and you worry often. Your anxiety can make you emotionally unstable, and you're more likely to struggle with depression and sadness. This Big Five Personality Trait can lead to physical ill health.

4. Openness. You love adventures and trying new things; you're insightful and imaginative. Creativity adds spice to your life, and you're not afraid to take risks. People with this Big Five Personality Trait are often risk takers.

5. Extroversion. You're assertive, talkative, and don't mind being the centre of attention (in fact, you prefer it!). Being alone isn't your favorite activity; in fact, the more the merrier. This Big Five Personality Trait is found in extroverts all over the world!

Are your Big Five Personality Traits working for or against you? If your personality traits hold you back, damage your relationships, interfere with your work, or cause pain, then you may be ripe for a to make some personality changes!

The Big Five factors and their constituent traits can be summarized as follows:

Openness - appreciation for art, emotion, adventure, unusual ideas, curiosity, and variety of experience.
Conscientiousness - a tendency to show self-discipline, act dutifully, and aim for achievement; planned rather than spontaneous behavior.
Extraversion - energy, positive emotions, surgency, and the tendency to seek stimulation and the company of others.
Agreeableness - a tendency to be compassionate and cooperative rather than suspicious and antagonistic towards others.
Neuroticism - a tendency to experience unpleasant emotions easily, such as anger, anxiety, depression, or vulnerability; sometimes called emotional instability.
When scored for individual feedback, these traits are frequently presented as percentile scores. For example, a Conscientiousness rating in the 80th percentile indicates a relatively strong sense of responsibility and orderliness, whereas an Extraversion rating in the 5th percentile indicates an exceptional need for solitude and quiet.

Although these trait clusters are statistical aggregates, exceptions may exist on individual personality profiles. On average, people who register high in Openness are intellectually curious, open to emotion, interested in art, and willing to try new things. A particular individual, however, may have a high overall Openness score and be interested in learning and exploring new cultures. Yet he or she might have no great interest in art or poetry. Situational influences also exist, as even extraverts may occasionally need time away from people.

Learning healthier ways to manage stress
If your methods of coping with stress aren’t contributing to your greater emotional and physical health, it’s time to find healthier ones. There are many healthy ways to manage and cope with stress, but they all require change. You can either change the situation or change your reaction. When deciding which option to choose, it’s helpful to think of the four As: avoid, alter, adapt, or accept.

Since everyone has a unique response to stress, there is no “one size fits all” solution to managing it. No single method works for everyone or in every situation, so experiment with different techniques and strategies. Focus on what makes you feel calm and in control.

Dealing with Stressful Situations: The Four A’s
Change the situation:

Avoid the stressor.
Alter the stressor.
Change your reaction:

Adapt to the stressor.
Accept the stressor.