"THE SECRET" WEEKLY DEVOTIONAL 26-01-2015.

     There are times it feels like our life is in a mess and we just don't know if we can carry on. Times we strive to do somethings or achieve a particular goal, but everything just seems not working out. Times we labour so hard but get little or no result. Times everything just decides to work against us. Times we ask God for one thing or the other but it seems like the answer will never come. Times we just feel like quitting etc. However, despite all these times, our God never changes. Thanks to Him, who has promised us abundant grace throughout all these times, as THE SECRET reveals to us in 2 Corinthians 12:9a - "But he said to me, my grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in thy weakness...."

      Sometimes God places some things in our lives for a purpose. We see them as troubles but he plans to use them to bring glory to Himself. He doesn't want us to take pride in our own strength (physical strength, spiritual strength, qualifications, certificates,  financial capabilities and so on), but only in His abundant grace.

     Troubles will come but they won't last forever. No matter what we are going through, don't be weary, never give up, never breakdown, never succumb, keep moving, keep pushing, keep going, cause His grace is always sufficient for us.

     Or is it that you are scared or weak to start that project, or you don't know how to confront that person you think can help you, or you are in a dilemma and don't know what to do or what option to go for, or everything just seems cloudy and you don't know what the future has in stock for you, THE SECRET this week is telling us to take charge and make the move, cause the grace of God which is sufficient for us and  its at work.

     Give God the chance to run your life, and let the grace take charge for you. Our ordinary human power can't take us anywhere, but with the grace, we'll definitely make exploits. 

    Know THE SECRET, believe/have faith in IT and work towards IT whole heartedly and IT will surely work for you this week and forever. 

    Have a great week.

#KipSmiln'

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"THE SECRET" WEEKLY DEVOTIONAL 19-01-2015

     Sir Walter Raleigh once asked a favour from Queen Elizabeth. She answered him, "Raleigh, when will you leave off begging and asking of favours?" He answered, "When your Majesty leaves off giving and answering our pleas!"

       If this can be said about Queen Elizabeth, how much more our God, who Himself has told us to call on Him always as THE SECRET for this week reveals to us in Jeremiah 33:3 - "Call unto me, and I'll answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not."

     Our God is always ready to listen to our pleas, if and only if we invite Him into every situation of our life. He doesn't interfere into what He's not invited to. He's the one who has formed us, and He alone can fix us. He's the best option for us to relate with. He is our friend, companion, comforter, father, mentor, guardian, etc.

     And as we call unto Him, His love, wisdom and power which are ever active will show us great and mighty things which might have been hidden to us, give solutions to all puzzle of life we might be facing and serve as mentor for us.

     This is not the time to complain or give up. It is not the time to be ignorant or confused because the greatest teacher and helper is by your side. Why not call and communicate with your maker today and let Him take charge of everything about you. But remember, as you communicate with HIM, "your praises should be more than your requests."

    Know THE SECRET, believe/have faith in IT and work towards IT whole heartedly and IT will surely work for you this week and forever.

#KipSmiln'

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THINGS A MOTHER TEACHES HER DAUGHTER BEFORE MARRIAGE.

My daughter, don’t cause a separation between your man and his siblings; it could be dangerous for you when they finally speak with one voice.

• My daughter, I know that some of you girls don’t wish to marry a man whose mother is still alive, don’t ever think like that, if you do, well, I think your son’s wife-to-be should start wishing you're dead now.

• My daughter, listen to me, when I married your father, he was as tiny as his salary but I chose to grow with him and today, those cars out there are some of the results of what we started so little, together, and we’re proud looking at them.

• My daughter, there is this thing i see happening in your time, some of you girls now get pregnant before the wedding day, well, it never happened in our time because no matter what, we never opened our laps before the wedding.

• My daughter, well, yes, I once locked up the cloth of your father because I got to my limit of patience and that was the only thing I could do, but one thing I haven’t said was that we settled the issue that same day and that was the last time I tried that.

• My daughter, look up there. That’s the wedding picture of your father and I, look at him smiling, I know you've seen it many times but what you did not know is that your father was angry before taking this picture, I hope you find a man whose anger doesn't last till the next day.

• My daughter, when your Father was riding a bicycle, I was always happy to hop on it and ride with him, not because I didn't see those men in their little cars but because my eyes also saw those men trekking to their farms.

My daughter, if you and your husband eat a little food with love, you both would be satisfied. Times are not always the same; support him in every phase he’s passing through.

• My daughter, don’t ever close your laps to your husband in bed , the day he paid your dowry was the day you lost your will to do so, don’t be stiff and try to satisfy him even if you were angry with him.

• My daughter, a man would respect you and be more proud of you if you’re learned and not totally dependent on him. Strive to make your own money and while you're at it, be humble.

• My daughter, under the cocoa tree that I did meet with your Father was open and good enough for our discussions, yes; it was open and good enough if you understand what I mean.

• My daughter, in our time, we had sexy legs and firm bosoms to show our men , in fact, we had the finest ones, yet, when we dress, we cover those parts of our body, not because we were not civilized as you people would call it, but because we know that the eyes of men are hungry, many of them would only come, touch and go their way.

• My daughter, there is this thing you girls now practice, they say it’s feminism. Well, you can prove to be equal to a man in the society but please, not in your marriage because at my old age, I don’t want to start counting your husbands.

• My daughter, marriage is not a Rehabilitation Centre, if he’s not good enough for you before marriage, nothing he does would be good enough after marriage.

• My daughter, you can see I still wear my night gown , yes, because to my husband; your father, I still want to look sexy. So, take good care of your body, look good for your man and don’t look like a grandma after giving birth.

• My daughter, I’m your mother and still, I'm not interested in you coming to me always if anything goes wrong with your husband. Though nowadays I see some mothers controlling the homes of their sons and daughters, I would only say; shame on them!

• My daughter, for you to have a peaceful home and well-trained children, have one voice with your husband, join him to say NO when he’s saying NO before the kids but later when you both are alone, you can plead with him for a YES, if not, the children will see a loophole to misbehave, either to you or their father.

• My daughter, your generation does not see any pride in been a virgin before marriage, it’s a shame! Your father met me a virgin and he brought more yams to my parents and up till today, he’s still proud of me when we discuss in that direction.

• My daughter, I know that no man out there is complete, but when you are looking for your tall, slim, fair and handsome, if he’s a woman- beater, please, go for the short, fat, dark and ugly that will give you the respect you deserve as a woman.

• My daughter, know, learn and respect the culture and lifestyle of whoever you chose to marry. In some part of Africa, you knee down to greet your man’s parents while in some part outside Africa; you can even call them by their first name and ask for a handshake. Whatever they believe in, if you've chosen him, believe it with him also.

• My daughter, don’t ever try to date a married man, whether his excuse was that he doesn't find happiness with his wife or he would have married you if he had met you first, if you ever try it, I curse you already.

• My daughter, say over 52 years of marriage , it wasn't that I did not see any reason to leave your father, I saw a lot of them but I bear his faults, i forgave him to stay married.

• My daughter, these are part of the wisdom i have gathered over the years. and If I had taken my time to tell you all these, and your marriage doesn't last like that of your father and I, then I had wished i never gave birth to you..

In all my daughter, always be close to JESUS CHRIST, he alone can keep give u a good home and keep it so.

I HOPE THIS HELPS OUR SISTERS. PLEASE SHARE SO EVERYONE CAN GET THIS. AND DON'T JUST READ, BUT ACT. THANKS

www.kipsmiln.blogspot.com

YOUR TALENT OR THAT COPERATE JOB?

My Regrets As A 46 Year Old, And My Advise to Youngsters

1/6/2015 1:49:49 AM  

I need to get my life off my chest. About me. I'm a 46 year old banker and I have been living my whole life the opposite of how I wanted. All my dreams, my passion, gone. In a steady 9-7 job. 6 days a week. For 26 years. I repeatedly chose the safe path for everything, which eventually changed who I was.

Today I found out my wife has been cheating on me for the last 10 years. My son feels nothing for me. I realised I missed my father's funeral FOR NOTHING. I didn't complete my novel, travelling the world, helping the homeless. All these things I thought I knew to be a certainty about myself when i was in my late teens and early twenties. If my younger self had met me today, I would have punched myself in the face. I'll get to how those dreams were crushed soon.

Let's start with a description of me when I was 20. It seemed only yesterday when I was sure I was going to change the world. People loved me, and I loved people. I was innovative, creative, spontaneous, risk-taking and great with people. I had two dreams. The first, was writing a utopic/dystopic book. The second, was travelling the world and helping the poor and homeless. I had been dating my wife for four years by then. Young love. She loved my spontaneity, my energy, my ability to make people laugh and feel loved. I knew my book was going to change the world. I would show the perspective of the 'bad' and the 'twisted', showing my viewers that everybody thinks differently, that people never think what the do is wrong. I was 70 pages through when i was 20. I am still 70 pages in, at 46. By 20, I had backpacking around New Zealand and the Philippines. I planned to do all of Asia, then Europe, then America (I live in Australia by the way). To date, I have only been to New Zealand and the Philippines.

Now, we get to where it all went wrong. My biggest regrets. I was 20. I was the only child. I needed to be stable. I needed to take that graduate job, which would dictate my whole life. To devote my entire life in a 9-7 job. What was I thinking? How could I live, when the job was my life? After coming home, I would eat dinner, prepare my work for the following day, and sleep at 10pm, to wake up at 6am the following day. God, I can't remember the last time I've made love to my wife.

Yesterday, my wife admitted to cheating on me for the last 10 years. 10 years. That seems like a long time, but i can't comprehend it. It doesn't even hurt. She says it's because I've changed. I'm not the person I was. What have I been doing in the last 10 years? Outside of work, I really can't say anything. Not being a proper husband. Not being ME. Who am I? What happened to me? I didn't even ask for a divorce, or yell at her, or cry. I felt NOTHING. Now I can feel a tear as I write this. But not because my wife has been cheating on me, but because I am now realising I have been dying inside. What happened to that fun-loving, risk-taking, energetic person that was me, hungering to change the world? I remember being asked on a date by the most popular girl in the school, but declining her for my now-wife. God, I was really popular with the girls in high school. In university/college too. But i stayed loyal. I didn't explore. I studied everyday.

Remember all that backpacking and book-writing I told you about? That was all in the first few years of college. I worked part-time and splurged all that I had earned. Now, I save every penny. I don't remember a time I spend anything on anything fun. On anything for myself. What do I even want now?

My father passed ten years ago. I remember getting calls from mom, telling me he was getting sicker and sicker. I was getting busier and busier, on the verge of a big promotion. I kept putting my visit off, hoping in my mind he would hold on. He died, and I got my promotion. I haven't seen him in 15 years. When he died, I told myself it didn't matter what I didn't see him. Being an atheist, I rationalised that being dead, it wouldn't matter anyway. WHAT WAS I THINKING? Rationalizing everything, making excuses to put things off. Excuses. Procrastination. It all leads to one thing, nothing. I rationalised that financial security was the most important thing. I now know, that it definitely is not. I regret doing nothing with my energy, when I had it. My passions. My youth. I regret letting my job take over my life. I regret being an awful husband, a money-making machine. I regret not finishing my novel, not travelling the world. Not being emotionally there for my son. Being a damn emotionless wallet.

If you're reading this, and you have a whole life ahead of you, please. Don't procrastinate. Don't leave your dreams for later. Relish in your energy, your passions. Don't stay on the internet with all your spare time (unless your passion needs it). Please, do something with your life while your young. DO NOT settle down at 20. DO NOT forget your friends, your family. Yourself. Do NOT waste your life. Your ambitions. Like I did mine. Do not be like me.

Sorry for the long post, just had to get it out there. I realised I let procrastination and money stop me from pursuing my passions when I was younger, and now I am dead inside, old and tired

"THE SECRET" WEEKLY DEVOTIONAL 12-01-2015.

 

     Last week, THE SECRET revealed to us that we have to forget the things of the past, cause God is set to do great things for us this year. This week, HE gives us the assurance that HE will always be there for us, as we are made to understand from THE SECRET this week in Deuteronomy 31:8: "And the Lord, HE it is that doth go before thee; HE will be with thee, HE will not fail thee, neither forsake thee: fear not, neither be dismayed."

     This is a fully loaded promise for us - promise of safety, companionship, help, etc.

- HE goes before you:- He will always be at the fore front, clearing your ways of all obstacles and making sure the coast is clear for you.

- HE will be with thee:- to guide and direct, to assist and strengthen, to protect and defend, to give you all-round success and victory over your enemies:

- HE will not fail thee, neither forsake thee:- whenever you need HIM, HE will always be there for you. HE will not fail to give you counsel and direction, to afford you strength, and to fill you with courage.

- Fear not, neither be dismayed:- at the end, HE strengthens us by telling us never to be afraid of any difficulties that might lie  in our way.

     All these serves as an assurance of God's support for us this year. He promises to be with us and run the race of this year with us side by side. So there's no cause for alarm. The journey this year will be a smooth one as long as we hand the keys over to him.

    Know THE SECRET, believe/have faith in IT and work towards IT whole heartedly and IT will surely work for you this week and forever. 

     Have a fulfilling 2015. Happy New Year.

#KipSmiln'

www.kipsmiln.blogspot.com

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Twitter: @kipsmiln

Why Ladies Fall For Funny Guys More

Why is it that when girls are asked what qualities they look for in a guy, most say; intelligent, focused, attentiveness, generous, honest, sense of humour etc? There's just something about a guy who makes you giggle like a little schoolgirl.

If you are a boring guy, sorry, your woman might end up in the arms of that composed (or even silly), funny dude...just because he is funny.
Funny guys have a charm and electricity about them that is hard to deny. Below are the real reasons why the funny man will always have you hooked:

* He never fails to entertain you
Dating a guy with a good sense of humour never gets boring. He is spontaneous and will pull almost any stunt for a laugh. It makes things exciting because you have to be quick to keep up with him. To be funny, a guy must be witty and creative: plus and plus! If you ask any writer what the most difficult genre to write for is, he or she will most likely say comedy. Sure, anyone can tell a good old fashion fart joke, but it takes a certain type of a genius to nail a punchline that will make you laugh until your belly hurts. To be on his game, he must be quick on his feet and original. If your guy is truly funny, he probably has a vast knowledge of peculiar facts and an arsenal of voices to share them in.




 
* He knows how to handle social situations
Nothing eases up an awkward moment better than a good-hearted joke. He has made enough inappropriate wisecracks to know when the time is right to tease and when it is better to keep his mouth shut. You no longer have to cringe about leaving your guy in a room alone with others. Part of being funny is knowing where everyone else is coming from. Building off others, he can find something in common that they can all chat or even chuckle about.

* He is naturally very observant
How is he going to poke fun at your “Hunger Games” poster unless he’s taken a moment to observe your room? The reason comedians are so good at what they do is attributed to their keen sense of what’s going on around them and ability to find the absurdness in it. A good way to one- up his witty remarks is to thank him for noticing.

* He makes you a better person
You stressed out too much before he entered the picture; now he teaches you to laugh at life and yourself. Your safety wall melts away when he is around, and when he makes a fool out of himself, you feel more comfortable to do the same. What is a sweeter love when you can both truly be yourself around each other?

* He gets along with your friends
He goes out of his way to impress your friends and show them a good time. He feels the need to perform and does not mind taking the stage. Your friends like him because he is the life of the party. Whether it’s wacky impressions or dry sarcasm, they find him a riot and like seeing you so smitten.

* He doesn’t feed into drama
Goofy guys usually do not let their temper get the best of them. He tends not to take life too seriously or any dramatic person for that matter. If there is another funny friend in the group, he sees it as a faceoff. They are more likely to exchange punchlines instead of punches, making it even more fun for everyone else.

* He radiates confidence
It takes a secure guy to poke fun at himself for your amusement. Even if he does not act super confident in front of everyone, it is obvious when you two are together. Maybe it is something about having you on his arm, but anytime you are together, there is a chip on his shoulder that you find charming, yet playfully challenging. Just keep it light and avoid a low blow because underneath every funny guy is an emotional one.

* Pranksters are secretly sensitive
Let’s face it: The class clown was never the smartest guy in class or the biggest jock in high school. He made others laugh to get by and was easily able to hide his emotions behind his jokes. Unlike so many guys who seem one-dimensional, funny guys have a beautiful complex to them. When they are comfortable enough to reveal their sensitive side to us, it is a special and intimate feeling.

* Most importantly, he never fails to bring a smile to your face
It is impossible to stay upset for long with his cute little smirk in front of you. He knows exactly how to make you laugh through tears, and it’s both a blessing and a curse. If you laugh at all his funny antics, you probably have a crush. If you also laugh at his failed one-liners, you, my friend, are already in love.

15 Items That ''Can'' Save Your Family’s Life

Nowadays, we have a huge number of devices and gadgets around us that are supposed to make our daily lives easier. It’s what we’re most focused on, our normal day-to day life – but what if something serious happens, one of the things we’d rather not think about? A fire, a burglary, a child disappears? Some items that can save you in these situations you might own already, some you maybe don’t know yet exist.

 

 

1) FLASHLIGHT

Most of us have a flashlight at home. Somewhere. It can be of great help when there’s a power outage, for example. The problem is that most of us don’t know where it’s hiding, and if we find it, the batteries are probably empty. See that you store one or several flashlights in a place you remember, and store batteries next to it.  

 





2) RADIO

In case of a natural disaster, a radio can be your line of communication when for example telephone nets break down. It might be your only way of receiving important information and updates. Store a battery-driven radio together with bottled water, non-perishable foods, clothes and other necessities you keep to be prepared.

 

 

 

3) BURGLER ALARM
A burglar alarm is an excellent device that makes your home more secure and lets you feel safe. With one little code before you leave and after you come back, your entire home will be secured. The entire neighbourhood will know if it’s breached, not to mention the security firm who will call or come over on the spot. Nowadays there are a plethora of different systems available, many are less complicated to install and less expensive than you think.
 

 



 

 

 

 4) SMOKE DETECTOR

A smoke detector should be matter of course in every home. It’s easily set up and doesn’t need any maintenance, except for occasional battery changes. Smoke detectors have saved countless lives – you think you’d wake up in case of a fire, but chances are you won’t. Install a detector on every level of your home and don’t forget to test them regularly.

 

 

5) TIMERS

There are several different kinds of timers on the market. With the most common ones, you simply enter the start and stop time and plug it into an outlet. The device connected to it will then only be active between those times. More advanced versions can be installed for example into your stove. After a certain time, these timers will turn off the stove automatically. These devices can be live savers if you forget to turn the stove off, and are frequently used when elderly persons live on their own.

 



6) SAFETY PLUGS

These have been around for a long time, and they work today as well as they did before. Houses tend to have more and more electrical outlets, and even though no one seems to know why, babies and toddlers seem to be drawn to them like a moth to the light. Buy and place a gang of these and save your kids from serious injury.

 

 

 



7) PHONE

This might seem really old fashioned to you, since so many people nowadays only use cell phones. With those, you can carry your home phone with you, so what’s not to like? What people tend to forget is that mobile networks are much more vulnerable than landlines in for example extreme weather. If you don’t have a landline, you may be without a line of communication to the outside world, and you won’t be able to make emergency calls.







8) GPS TRACKING DEVICES

GPS tracking is the newest thing in child safety. Since they’re not as expensive anymore, they are used by many parents. They want to be sure were their child is and that it is safe at all times. Simply fasten the small tracker on your child’s jacket or backpack, and whenever you want to you can tune in and check that your child is not skipping school, or something more sinister is happening.

 

 

9) HOME SURVEILLANCE EQUIPMENT

With today’s technical advances, home surveillance is not only for mansions anymore. Cameras have become much cheaper, and installation is not difficult. Even us people with “normal” homes can afford a high security standard. This is a great way of knowing everything that’s going on in and around your home, whether anything sinister is going on or not. And criminals are sure to be intimidated by visible cameras!
 

10) VIDEO INTERCOM SYSTEM

Do you live alone or you simply don’t want you or your children to open the door to anyone unknown? Then a video intercom system is for you. You’ll be able to identify anyone who rings at your door at a glance! There are so many scammers and burglars around who trick people by ringing at their door and trying to get them to open their homes. This can happen to everyone, so a video intercom system will put one more layer of security between you and the scammers.

 

11) CHILD LOCATOR

Child locators are the newest trend to keep track of your kids, most of all in crowded places. Have you ever been on vacation in Disneyland and tried to keep track of one of more excited little ones? It’s almost impossible without either kids or parents getting seriously frustrated. This little gadget has two parts – one that you fasten for example to your kid’s shoe, and another one you keep. When you activate yours, the one your child is wearing will produce a sound that you’re able to hear even at some distance.

 

 









 

12) MAGNETIC DOOR ALARM

Magnetic door alarms can be ideal for someone who doesn’t want to install an entire alarm system, or for someone who wants to go the extra mile. They are extremely easy to install, one half on the door jamb and the other half on the door itself. When it’s activated and someone opens the door, it produces a sound that is so loud that you want to crawl under the next table. It’s guaranteed to deter anyone from coming in who’s not supposed to!

 





13) BABY MONITOR WITH WIRELESS NIGHT VISION CAMERA

All parents are used to the kind of nagging worry you feel when you and your baby aren’t in the same place. Of course there are baby monitors to tell you when your little one is crying and needs your attention. This new kind of monitor lets you see your baby as well, even with the lights off. You can make sure that everything is as it should be, or simply watch it sleep.

 

14) TEASERS

Teasers can save your life. They will incapacitate any assailant without actually harming them in the long run. You and your family will feel safe and secure even if you’re out after dark. In most states, you’re able to carry a teaser without needing permission. They can be a great alternative if you don’t want to have firearms in the house.

 

15) PARENTAL CONTROLS

Parental controls seem like such an easy thing. Parents use it most of the time so that their child won’t stumble upon inappropriate content on the net, or to limit their computer time. What many don’t think about is that through blocking these sites and forums, you can also protect your children from internet predators who pose as children and try to lure your child in.

 

 

How to Find Out if Any of Your Ancestors Were Famous – or Infamous

 

The Internet is an amazing modern tool, creating new ways to shop, entertain, and communicate.  But one of the most profound things the Internet is doing right now is helping people to discover their family histories.

While it may be a cliché to say “We can’t know who we are until we know where we came from,” don’t tell that to the millions of people who have taken to the new online craze for family research. While some Americans are lucky enough to know their family tree going back hundreds of years, most people only know of a few generations before things get murky. However, new online services are changing that for many people.

Why should we care about our family history? For starters, most people who set out to research their roots find the experience interesting, exciting, and hugely rewarding. Chances are, there are many remarkable characters—both heroes and villains—in your family line. And you may even have relatives living close by that you didn't know about.
 
But, best of all, building and maintaining a family tree and understanding our ancestors' experiences can provide meaning and continuity to our lives, while providing something priceless to pass on to the next generation.

So, what’s facilitated this new craze? Billions of historical documents from city, county, state, federal, and military archives have been placed on the Internet where they can be easily searched and downloaded by anyone. And now there are new services that provide ordinary Americans an easy way to research and organize their family histories, as well as share them with their family and friends.

The largest and most comprehensive of these services is called Ancestry.com.

Ancestry.com gives you access to all of the data you need on one, comprehensive site. With more than one billion searchable digital records—and thousands of new ones added daily—it’s a key resource for your family history search.  It shows you where to start your search, how to construct your family tree, and how to get past seemingly dead-ends in your hunt for information.

The service also provides an easy family-tree module so you can build and share your family tree with others. You can also access copies of many original records, such as birth and death certificates, newspaper clippings, and other fascinating public records about your family. These can be downloaded and printed for scrapbooks, or even as replacements of original documents that you may have lost.

Another fun thing you can do using Ancestry.com is look up old newspaper clippings from 50, 100, or even 150 years ago that mention your family members. It gives you access to expert genealogists who can help you if needed, and contains a wealth of articles on special topics such as researching African-American histories, military research, and more.

Ancestry.com offers subscription plans that are considerably lower than other online services offering this type of service—and none of those companies have the same kind of reach. Best of all, Ancestry.com is currently offering new customers a free, 14-day trial. You can begin researching your family tree right away and see the amazing amount of information available through the service—all for free.

Discover your family story. Start your free trial today!

LADIES: 7 Exercises That Will Transform Your Body

Looking for some effective ways to transform your body? There are a few great exercises that will help you to reach your fitness goal. These exercises are easy but effective in strengthening your body along with burning unwanted calories. However, sticking to these exercises is not enough to transform your body, you should also eat healthy and get enough sleep regularly. Don’t waste your precious time doing other workouts, here are seven exercises that will help you transform your body in no time.

1. Jumping rope

When was the last time you jumped rope? Perhaps in your childhood. Jumping rope is a cheap and easily portable exercise that you can do almost anywhere. This workout burns more calories per minute than any other workout. Get jumping for a perfect exercise and plenty of fun. One of the best things about jumping rope is that you can do it with your kids. Moreover, jumping rope is a fantastic way to fit in a highly effective cardio session when you are on the go. Simply toss your jumping rope in your carry-on and you don’t need to look for the nearest gym. So, who said jumping rope is only for kids?

2. Squats

The squat is a compound, full-body exercise that works more than one muscle group. This powerful exercise helps tone your glutes, strengthen your body and burn a lot of calories. To boost your calorie expenditure and raise your heart rate, you can try to do jump squats. Or stay in a squat hold with dumbbells in the hands to increase the resistance as well as feel the burn. Doing squats regularly is one of the best ways to transform your body as well as improve your physical health. If you sit all day at work or at home, you are at higher risk of serious disease. Why not do several squats whilst waiting for your dinner to cook, the kettle to boil, or your PC to boot up? Sometimes multitasking is a great thing!

3. Pushups

Unfortunately, many people avoid doing pushups since this exercise is a bit harder to perform, but it can do wonders for your body. There are plenty of different pushups that work the different muscles in the shoulders and arms. Try to vary your pushup style to lower your risk of becoming bored with exercise. Not only do pushups work the upper body, but also work the core. Do pushups a few days a week to help sculpt the arms and overall transform the body. Plus, pushups are good for your heart and cardiovascular health and this exercise helps to improve your posture. Just make sure you do them correctly – learn to do pushups with your back straight to reduce back pain and avoid straining your back.

4. Lunges

To tone the muscles in your legs try doing lunges. Lunges give you such amazing results because they isolate every leg individually, helping transform your body. To add some cardio and boost the intensity, do some jump lunges. I suggest you to do 3 sets of 10 lunges a day for the best results. Since lunges are a very effective workout for strengthening, sculpting and building a few muscle groups, why not do them every day? Even if you have a super busy schedule, you can still find time to do several lunges. Stop making excuses and start exercising to transform your body today.

5. Swimming

The great news for all lovers of swimming and for those who are trying to transform their bodies – swimming is a super effective workout that will bring you astonishing results. Swimming helps strengthen your core and work different muscle groups. Swimming boasts numerous health benefits. It helps to reduce your blood pressure, strengthen your heart and improve your aerobic capacity. Plus, swimming is a wonderful way for your family to get moving and have plenty of fun together. Though, this exercise is not as portable as jumping rope.

6. Running

There are many benefits of running. It helps to relieve stress, improve your heart health, reduce the risk of depression, burn mega calories and improve your overall health. Running can actually transform the body like nothing else. It builds strong, toned legs and makes them look thinner. I enjoy running, especially early in the morning, and I think it’s one of the best exercises to do every day. I always feel a great sense of accomplishment after my run. If you don’t feel like running, try jogging. Not only does jogging help to burn calories, it also helps to improve your overall health.

7. Cycling

A cycling workout is a foolproof way to get a great sweat and work your legs. Cycling is a wonderful exercise since you can push yourself at a higher intensity. It strengthens your legs, arms and back, encourages your heart to work more efficiently and aids in weight loss. Cycling is also one of the easiest ways to fit exercise into your everyday routine since it’s a great means of transportation. It gets you fit, saves you money, and is good for your health. Bring along your significant other or friend, or cycle solo, and ensure you get the most out of your workout.

 

You can also read–

10 Wise Ways to Redefine Yourself

7 Effective Ways to Drop 10 Pounds Running

7 Tricks and Tips for a Successful Workout

10 Foods to Eat to Burn More Calories

7 Ways to Lose Belly Fat and Sculpt Your Abs

Buying Guide: Mobile Phones (Smart Phones)

 

These days, the power and functionality in a palm-sized smartphone would have taken up an entire storage room in the 1960's. Today, your cell phone is a constant companion, a pocket-sized link to the news, entertainment and social circles that colour your world. It's your office assistant, your bank, your game, your book, your radio, your music player, your source of entertainment, your bible, your qu'ran, your weight loss monitor and so much more. That's why it's so important to find the right mobile phone that best fits your needs. These are some things To Consider:

1. What Do You Want To Use It For?

Do you want to use your phone just to make calls and receive calls? Or do you need your phone to send text messages only? Alternatively, do you want to use your cell phone to take pictures? Browse the internet?

The thing with smartphone technology these days is that there are so many phones in the market and they are all the 'best' at one thing or the other. Some phones have the best cameras, the best internet browsers etc. In choosing your mobile phone, focus on what you want to use it for. If you understand exactly what skills and capabilities you'd like to see in your new phone, it'll help you avoid paying too much for features you don't want or need.

For a good balance, we like the Samsung Galaxy Note 4, Samsung Galaxy S5, HTC One M8, Huawei Ascend Mate 2, Nokia Lumia 1520. For iPhone loyalists, consider the iPhone 6 Plus. For monetary considerations try the Tecno Phantom Z and the Blackberry Z3.

2. What's The Battery Life?

With many smartphones having dual-core, quad-core (hardcore any time soon?) processors and big screens, smartphones have never been more powerful–or more power hungry. Yes, specs and apps matter, but what good are they if you’re looking for a charger by midday?

One way to tell how much battery life your smartphone will provide on a charge is to take a look at the battery capacity. Typical phone batteries start in the neighborhood of 1,700mAh and go all the way up to 3,500mAh. Generally, the closer you get to 3,000 mAh (milliamp hours) — or above the better. In The Laptop Mag battery test, the Huawei Ascend Mate 2 topped the list and lasted for 14 hours and 43 minutes. Other phones that put up a good showing in the test include the Sony Xperia Z3 (12 hours , 9 minutes), Nokia Lumia 1520 (11hours, 28 minutes), Samsung Galaxy S5 (10 hours, 50 minutes), HTC One M8 (10 hours, 50 minutes), and Apple iPhone 6 Plus (10 hours).

3. Does Size Matter?

All pun intended. Big-screen phones are growing on shoppers. In fact, phablets (phones with displays 5 inches or larger) now account for about 20% of all smartphones sold in the Nigerian market. Bigger phone screens give you a lot more real estate for watching movies, playing games and enjoying photos. The trade-off is that the phone isn’t easy to operate with one hand, tends to be heavier and can be a tight fit for front pockets.

Large (Over 5.1-inches): So-called "phablets" (phone + tablets) have bigger screens, which provide a generous viewing area and easier on-screen typing. But they can be bulky. 

Standard Size (4.5 to 5.1 inches): The mainstream size for flagship phones like the Galaxy S5, Nokia Lumia and HTC One. 

Compact Size (Below 4.5 inches): Many phones, including the 4-inch iPhone and the 4.3-inch HTC One Mini provide smaller, more pocket-friendly form factors.

4.What Operating System Should You Use?

If you're buying a smartphone, the operating system can make a big difference in how you use your device. At the moment there are four major operating systems vying for your attention. Here's a brief overview of what each one has to offer.

Android

• Open source platform that allows third-party developers to create apps and tools
• Designed as a consumer- and social network-centric platform
• Easy to customize to match your needs and tastes
• Over a million apps available via the Google Play store 

Apple iOS

• Integrates iTunes app and Safari mobile Web browser
• The same technology powers all Apple devices for seamless communication between Apple devices
• Thousands of officially approved apps available via the App Store 

BlackBerry

• Created for business users for easy access to e-mail and text messaging
• Updated BlackBerry 10 operating system creates a more interactive, user-friendly experience
• Ideal for international use 

Windows Phone

• Personalized, user-friendly experience that communicates seamlessly with Microsoft computers and other devices
• Easily customizable touch-screen interface
• SkyDrive app allows easy management of documents, photos and videos

Camera

A phone's camera depends on a whole host of variables. Though you might think that more megapixels is better, that's not always the case. You can get sharper images from a 5-megapixel camera than from an 8-megapixel shooter, so it's better to concentrate on other specs such as the quality of the lens as well as the camera sensor.

Storage & Expansion

Given that you’ll store everything from photos and music to videos and apps on your smartphone, opt for as much internal memory and upgradable memory as you can. We recommend you choose a device that has a microSD card slot.

10 Most Beautiful Beaches That Will Make You Want to Retire Early





Beach-restaurant-Praslin Seychelles

If you’re sitting there daydreaming about where you’d like to travel to next, we’ve rounded up a few beaches from around the world that will make you truly reconsider quitting your job, or at least make you want to move somewhere with a warmer climate.

 



Calabria Italy

Imagine the sultry scent of coconut and sweet fruits dancing off of your balmy sun-kissed skin beneath an azure sky. Overhead the palm trees sway in the breeze and the salty ocean air brushes up against your face. With your eyes closed, you think to yourself, “This is the life!”

 

Crane-Beach-Barbados

You may have surfed the pristine barrels of Santa Catarina, Brazil, or strolled along the white sand beaches off the Kohala Coast in Hawai’i, but in this moment, the glimmer of the silent golden sands, crystalline waters and warm sunshine are so intoxicating that you begin to wonder if you ever want to be reunited with the civilized world.

Maldives

Whether you’re interested in finding a place to simply prop up your umbrella, feel the warmth of the sand between your toes, or embark on tropical adventure where you’re free to float around on the bluest waters with an ice-cold drink in your hand, these are the ultimate destinations by the shore.

Hidden Beach Marieta Islands Mexico

 

Menorca Beach Spain

From popular white sand beaches in Australia to secret, hidden coves in Seychelles, that require a little patience and effort to reach, watching as the magnificent waves lay themselves gently upon the sand in the soul-warming sun will be enough to encourage you to embrace traveling for a living.

 

Navagio Beach, Zakynthos Ionian Islands

While beauty is in the eye of the beholder, there’s only one word to describe these 10 most beautiful beaches: paradise.

Taino Beach Bahamas

 

Phi-Phi Island, Thailand

Idyllic places like these have the tendency to transform mind, body and soul. Ladies, now would probably be the perfect time to shop for that eye-catching bathing suit, adorable shades, and sunscreen. And guys, you may want to slip yourself into some new board shorts, too!

 

Childhood Guilt, Adult Depression?

Research shows differences in the brains of kids who show excessive guilty behaviour, which may put them at risk for a host of mood disorders later in life.

 

Nicholas Thomas remembers a coat rack. "We were at a family gathering," Thomas said. "I think it was Christmas or something, and we were playing hide-and-go-seek. I knocked over a coat rack and I felt like I had done something terribly wrong." That was when he was 12. Thomas, who was diagnosed with depression at 22 years old, said that he finds himself continually reminding himself of everything that he thought he'd done wrong over the years. "I'd hear a little voice in my head berating me," Thomas said.

 

Some scientists now believe that extreme feelings of guilt in children, such as the ones Thomas felt, can be a strong warning sign for mental disorders such as depression, anxiety, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), and bipolar disorder later on in life. Research has long linked excessive feelings of guilt to mental disorders in adults—the DSM-V lists feelings of excessive guilt as a symptom for depression. But researchers at Washington University in St. Louis have found that excessive guilt in children might be linked to a part of the brain that is connected to controls for several different mental disorders.

 

As a part of a 12-year study, the researchers looked at a part of the brain called the anterior insula, which regulates perception, self-awareness, and emotion. Smaller anterior insulas have been linked to anxiety disorders, depression, schizophrenia, and other mood disorders.

"I'd hear a little voice in my head berating me."

 

The researchers took brain scans of 145 school-aged children. They also asked the caregivers to identify whether their kids had exhibited any symptoms of excessive guilt, such as apologizing constantly for minor misbehavior or feeling guilty about things that had happened a long time ago. The researchers found that feelings of extreme guilt correlated highly with smaller anterior insulas.

"In the kids who had high levels of guilt, even the kids who weren't necessarily depressed, they had smaller anterior insula volume, and that smaller anterior insula volume is predictive of later occurrence of depression," said Joan Luby, one of the study authors. "This research suggests that early childhood experiences impact the way the brain develops."

 

Luby says that findings, which were published in JAMA Psychiatry in November, are significant because it is one of the first studies that links feelings of excessive guilt in children to physical differences in the brain. "There have been a lot of behavioral studies done with children," Luby said. "In terms of brain changes in children ... there's very little data on that."

 

Michelle New, a psychologist and associate professor at the George Washington University Medical School in Washington, D.C., said that this research could help pinpoint specific brain anatomy to identify children who are at high risk for later-life mental disorders. "This research is really new and exciting because you can look at changes in the brain, and it shows that early intervention is really important. Dismissing early symptomatology is dangerous," she said. New explained that mental disorders are often latent between the ages of four and 12, and so being able to identify children at high risk for mood disorders helps parents and mental-health professionals engage in preventative measures earlier in life.

"Early intervention is really important. Dismissing early symptoms is dangerous."

In addition, this research provides neurological evidence for what researchers have been starting to suspect: Guilt in early childhood has negative effects on children and may cause later life depression and anxiety. In a study published in 2013 by scientists at the University of Jyväskylä, Finland, researchers found that parenting tactics that created feelings of guilt in children caused children to feel an increase in distress and anger for many days afterward. In another study published in 2003, scientists found that children whose parents used guilt-inducing tactics were far more likely to internalize their problems. Depression and anxiety are classic examples of internalizing disorders.

The question is whether guilt causes later life mental disorders or if a biological predisposition to mental disorders causes early symptoms of excessive guilt. But New says that doesn't matter in the clinical setting. "It's not like that symptom is going to go away," she said. "What's important is that we practice early intervention and prevention."

 

The researchers at Washington University are also looking at effective ways to help children manage guilt, in case that could mitigate later life mental disorders. Luby says that they are in the early stages of looking at how psychotherapy affects child behaviour and how it affects brain function. "We are still in the first year, but my clinical impression is that these kids are getting a lot better," Luby said.

2014 Quotes From Africa’s Leading Economic Drivers

2014 was fraught with economic challenges for several  countries in Africa, especially with the oil escapade, naira devaluation, Ebola and other socio-economic challenges. Regardless of these, 2014 was a great year for businesses.

 

The year witnessed big mergers and acquisitions across the continent, multiple oil finds in East Africa, global franchises expanding in Africa and new ones joining the African business train. The continent’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, continued his industrialization plan of sub-Saharan Africa, and fellow countryman Tony Elumelu pursuing an entrepreneurial Africa; the Africapitalism proponent set up a $100,000,000 entrepreneurship fund. These business leaders and Africa’s growing entrepreneurs were at the forefront of the continent’s success in 2014.

 

Ventures Africa takes a look at the year, culling out some of the top quotes from business leaders that epitomizes the success and growth recorded in 2014.

 

“I enjoy myself a lot but I derive more joy in working. I believe in hard work and one of my business success secrets is hard work. It’s hard to see a youth that will go to bed by 2am and wake up by 5am. I don’t rest until I achieve something.” – Aliko Dangote

 

“I built a conglomerate and emerged the richest black man in the world in 2008 but it didn’t happen overnight. It took me thirty years to get to where I am today. Youths of today aspire to be like me but they want to achieve it overnight. It’s not going to work. To build a successful business, you must start small and dream big. In the journey of entrepreneurship, tenacity of purpose is supreme.” – Aliko Dangote

 

“If you don’t have ambition, you shouldn’t be alive”. – Aliko Dangote

 

“Mobile phone technology can help to bring financial services to the 80 percent of African women who do not have a bank account and bolster the growth of the world’s poorest continent. It’s not just about empowering women, it’s about economic growth. Unless we can make access to finance easier for women in their businesses, we will be missing out on a significant portion of growth within our economies”. – Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala

 

“We are growing, but not creating enough jobs. That is a very big challenge.” – NgoziOkonjoIweala

 

“Sometimes, when people think of Nigeria, they think of oil. But we have far more than oil. The non-oil sector is even growing far more”. –Nwanze Okidegbe

 

“Let us focus like a laser beam on the quality of growth and that growth needs to create the jobs for our rural people and our urban people.” -NgoziOkonjo-Iweala

 

“As you already know, to succeed as a woman in a world largely dominated by men which we live in today requires extra effort, dedication and perseverance to attain. – Jennifer Obayuwana

 

“I am confident that Egypt is positioned to achieve exceptional economic growth in the years to come, attracting direct investments in key sectors which continue to offer substantial investment opportunities.” – NaseefSawiris

 

“The Nigerian market is huge. If you can get it right in Nigeria, you don’t even need to go anywhere […] Just in Africa there is a huge market without us now even going out to Europe, specifically England, UK, Paris, those fashion capitals.” – DeolaSagoe

 

“There is so much beauty in Africa and it’s definitely a one sided story what you see on your television screens especially in the west.” – AkosuaAfriyie-Kumi of AAKS

 

“Africa is regarded by many developed economies as one of the final remaining frontier markets with significant opportunities … and the GCC countries are very aware of this.” – RassemZok, CEO, Standard Bank Plc

 

“Political instability is something you have to work around; it is better if it is not there, but it does not rule out opportunities. You have to study a country, see how you can mitigate risk.” – RassemZok

 

“Leadership style is what differentiates between a business thriving, sinking, or soaring.” – OnyecheTifase, MD/CEO Siemens Nigeriabusinesses

The Top Five Reasons You Should Have An MBA Degree

 

When you have a particular target in mind, you will also have a working idea of how to achieve it. You pick up the relevant skills to get to your goal, along the way, and eventually get to your goal. When doing an MBA degree however, this old adage needs to be seriously reconsidered, and here’s why an MBA degree is more than just a way to get ahead in life and only a few people seriously have what it takes to succeed. If you think you have what it takes then the following five reasons are meant for you, do read on…

 

Knowledge: While this is the primary consideration of any course, it is especially true for the MBA degree. This particular field of education goes beyond bookish knowledge and really opens a participant’s eyes to practical possibilities all around him. While knowledge is wisdom applied, nowhere is it more true than in an MBA degree, as the precepts that are taught to students are actual insights from real world scenarios that have multiple, potent real world applications. Knowledge is power and an MBA degree makes a student aware of the power he/she possesses, in making decisions that will influence the course of a company’s destiny.

 

Brand Equity: Much like corporate or product brands, professionals also have a brand equity. This brand equity is expressed through the company one keeps and more pertinently from the institute you graduate from. Another top reason to do an MBA degree from a top institute is to further your brand equity in the eyes of peers, colleagues and employers alike. The value of an MBA is through the institution you complete it from, and it makes a world of difference to your employers as the institution’s brand equity gets transferred to the individual, making it an important reason to consider.

 

Career Advancement: The simple fact of the matter is that, capability aside, one of the greatest factors in the advancement of ones career is the presence of a valid MBA degree. Whether it is a preconceived notion or fact, perception plays a huge role in career advancement and as such is one of the prime considerations when doing an MBA degree.

 

Networking: In the modern world, business decisions, career growth and all other positive things happen through networking. An MBA school is the perfect place to make contacts and expand your circle. This simply becomes more poignant in the face of this stat: Among entrepreneurs nearly 6 out of 10 startups received funding through their B-school contacts at angel investors, hedge funds and banks.

 

Geographical Change: If you’re looking at migrating to a foreign country, a globally recognised MBA is the one degree that will enable you to apply for jobs and be assured that you will be making a better package, anywhere in the world.

 

An MBA degree is your passport to a new and exciting world. It is therefore a subject for close contemplation and thought. If indeed you do have what it takes to succeed, an MBA degree will open up new avenues for you.