THE SPARK SAGE: EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH BEN AKABUEZE | SHARES SUCCESS TIPS FOR EVERY YOUNG ENTREPRENUER

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <a href="http://thesparkng.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/Ben-Spark.jpg" style="border: 0px; cursor: pointer; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="pibfi_pinterest " style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); border: 0px; display: inline-block; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: black;"><img alt="Ben-Spark" class="alignnone wp-image-3045" height="540" scale="2" src="http://i0.wp.com/thesparkng.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/Ben-Spark.jpg?zoom=2&resize=600%2C540" src-orig="http://i0.wp.com/thesparkng.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/Ben-Spark.jpg?resize=600%2C540" style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; height: auto; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; vertical-align: middle;" width="600" /></span></span></a></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><strong style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Ben Akabueze</strong> gives an exclusive interview with The Spark team.The distinguished Lagos Commissioner and Pastor shares the secret behind his success and gives must-read tips for youths on how to become a successful entrepreneur.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><strong style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">You have achieved quite a lot in your life; could you give us a rundown of your biggest achievements?</strong>I consider my achievements in life this far to be modest; nevertheless a few of those that stand out for me include: graduating top of my class at GCE ‘O’ Level and ‘A’ Level; graduating from university with a First Class (Honours) degree; setting up a successful Consumer Banking division at UBA Plc (including negotiating the Moneygram (money transfer) franchise); leading NAL Bank Plc through three major transitions; leading amour reform in Lagos State’s planning & Budgeting framework.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><strong style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">What were the pivotal moments or circumstances in your life?</strong><br />My becoming a born-again Christian in 1988.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><strong style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">How much of a role did a mentor play in your rise to success?</strong>I have admired and learnt from a number of successful persons but have never really been in a formal mentorship.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><strong style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">How old were you when you got your first job?</strong><br />I was twenty-three when I started working after my national youth service.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><strong style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">You are an Igbo commissioner in Lagos State; how has that worked, especially given the subtle (and not-so subtle) ethnic sentiments in our country?</strong>I don’t have a strong consciousness of ethnicity and so it hasn’t really impeded me in the discharge of my duties as Commissioner in Lagos State. In my opinion I think my appointment as Commissioner in Lags has worked well.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><strong style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">What does a young entrepreneur need to know in order to be successful in Lagos?</strong><br />A young entrepreneur needs to understand the environment (especially the opportunities and threats), know the rules of engagement in his chosen area of endeavour as well as know the competition he faces.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><strong style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">How does the Lagos State budget focus on youth development?</strong><br />Education, healthcare, recreation, social protection and job opportunities are among the greatest concerns of the youth; these are among the key areas of focus of the Lagos State Budget.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <a href="http://thesparkng.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/AKABUEZE-Kings-court.jpg" style="-webkit-transition: color 0.3s ease; border: 0px; cursor: pointer; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; transition: color 0.3s ease; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="pibfi_pinterest " style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); border: 0px; display: inline-block; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="color: black;"><img alt="AKABUEZE-Kings-court" class="alignnone wp-image-3046" height="481" scale="2" src="http://i2.wp.com/thesparkng.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/AKABUEZE-Kings-court.jpg?zoom=2&resize=600%2C481" src-orig="http://i2.wp.com/thesparkng.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/AKABUEZE-Kings-court.jpg?resize=600%2C481" style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; height: auto; margin: 0px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; vertical-align: middle;" width="600" /></span></span></a></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><strong style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Does your climb to the top leave room for family time? If so how do you manage that balance and still stay successful?</strong><br />Absolutely, after God my next priority is my family. I therefore make time for the family. For instance in the last twenty years we have never missed our annual family vacation. Nevertheless, I will admit that sometimes it is difficult to balance the required attention to family and work and I am thankful to have a very understanding and supportive family.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><strong style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">What is your guiding philosophy in life; that belief that has kept you holding on and focused?</strong><br />I have absolute faith in God and believe in the virtues of hard work and love towards my fellow human beings.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><strong style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">How do you give back to the community?</strong><br />I give back through financial contributions to the needy but more importantly through personal service. My role as a Pastor also provides a platform for service to humanity.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><strong style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Apart from the Bible, is there any book you’ve read that has completely changed your thinking? </strong><br />‘An Enemy called Average’ by <strong style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">John Mason</strong> and ‘When the going gets tough the tough get going’ by <strong style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Robert Schuyler</strong> are some of the books that have significantly influenced my thinking.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Culled from The Spark/Vanguard Newspaper</span></div> <div> <br /></div> </div>

THE SPARK SAGE: EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH BEN AKABUEZE | SHARES SUCCESS TIPS FOR EVERY YOUNG ENTREPRENUER

Ben Akabueze  gives an exclusive interview with The Spark team.The distinguished Lagos Commissioner and Pastor shares the secret behind ...

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Washington summit, major boost to US-Africa relations

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">By Omoh Gabriel, Vanguard Newspaper</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></div> <div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The just concluded gathering of business leaders and policy makers from the United States and Africa is being described by as a huge success. According to a report compiled by the Africa Development Bank, after nearly a week of wheeling and dealing in Washington D.C., business leaders and policy makers are calling the first ever U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit an enormous success.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="color: black;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><a href="http://dvsl3w2q45hb8.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/Africa.jpg" style="-webkit-transition: background-color 0.2s linear, border-top-color; border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; transition: background-color 0.2s linear, border-top-color; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="Africa" class="alignright wp-image-434679 " height="447" src="http://dvsl3w2q45hb8.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/Africa.jpg" style="-webkit-transition: margin 0.2s linear, box-shadow; border: none; display: inline; float: right; margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; transition: margin 0.2s linear, box-shadow;" width="356" /></a>AfDB report said that the President of the United States Barack Obama was highly impressed by the turn out at the US Africa business meeting.</span></span></div> <div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The report said “Recognising African Development Bank President Donald Kaberuka by name for his role in helping to boost business ties between the U.S. and Africa, Obama said, “We have joined with African governments, the African Development Bank, and the private sector — and I will tell you, the response has exceeded our projections.”</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Obama went on to say that “projects and negotiations are underway that when completed, will put us nearly 80 per cent of the way toward our goal. On top of the significant resources we have already committed, I’m announcing that the United States will increase our pledge to $300 million a year for this effort.”</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">It was all part of a gathering of American and African entrepreneurs, business leaders and remarkably, more than 40 Heads of State interested in harnessing the economic power of Africa, which is home to six of the world’s 10 fastest-growing economies.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">“I’ve been to many summits where Africa has been discussed but I found this summit to be a discussion of mutual understanding,” said AfDB President Donald Kaberuka of the economic and development interests forged at the three-day meeting. “I want to commend President Obama for convening this summit, which is business oriented and seeks to look at Africa as a land of opportunity, with residual challenges of course, but a land of opportunity.”</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The summit highlighted trans-Atlantic dedication to improving Africa’s security, along with human and democratic development through a series of public and private partnerships. The main events of the summit’s final day hit on regional peace and stability, governing for the next generation of Africans and investing in the continent’s future.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">When it comes to Africa’s future, Kaberuka said going forward it is important that all sides work hard to ensure the agreements made at the summit are realised. One of the key projects Kaberuka said he has his eye on is the “Power Africa” program.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">“The African Development Bank plays a big role,” Kaberuka said. “Inside the Power Africa program we have committed close to $3 billion to bring more electricity to African homes and businesses.” With fresh pledges made at the summit to the program, Kaberuka said the bank “will be working with the U.S. institutions to accelerate the programs related to trade and facilitation, logistics, moving goods and nationalise across the boarders inside the African continent because, as the president [Obama] put it very well, trade with the world begins with your neighbour.”</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Other outcomes include The African Union Commission pledge to redoubling its efforts to advance educational opportunities through the Pan-African University. Benin has set up two business-type incubators and committed to recruiting 15,000 youths in 2015 to fill civil servant positions. Burkina Faso announced a youth investment project involving 46,800 young men and women who will be offered an opportunity to find sustainable jobs in the labor market.</span></div> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">- See more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2014/08/washington-summit-major-boost-us-africa-relations/#sthash.dIFg1o7c.dpuf</span></div>

Washington summit, major boost to US-Africa relations

By Omoh Gabriel, Vanguard Newspaper The just concluded gathering of business leaders and policy makers from the United States and Afri...

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3 Risks Every Leader Should Take

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Good leaders are reliable, hard-working, and always </span><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/traits-all-successful-leaders-share-2014-6" sl-processed="1" style="text-decoration: none;">have a plan</a><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">.</span></span><br /> <div style="margin-bottom: 10px;"> </div> <div class="p2" style="margin-bottom: 10px;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-size: large;">The very best ones, however, also take risks.  </span></span></div> <div class="p2" style="margin-bottom: 10px;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-size: large;">In a recent post on <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/today/post/article/20140722182320-36841489-three-risks-every-leader-should-take?trk=tod-posts-post1-psum" sl-processed="1" style="text-decoration: none;">LinkedIn</a>, Doug Dickerson, executive director at Management Moment Leadership Services, explains, "If you want to make your mark as a leader, then you will have to step out of your comfort zone and walk unfamiliar paths."</span></span></div> <div class="p2" style="margin-bottom: 10px;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-size: large;">Otherwise, it's easy to fall into a trap of complacency and never distinguish yourself from the crowd.</span></span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><img alt="rock climber" border="0" src="http://static5.businessinsider.com/image/53d2854c6bb3f7142817ada8-480-/rock-climber-10.png" style="border: 0px; height: auto; margin-bottom: 5px; max-width: 100%; overflow: hidden; vertical-align: middle; width: 372px;" width="480" /></span><br /> <div class="image" style="margin-bottom: 30px;"> <div class="source" style="font-style: italic; text-align: left;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">REUTERS/ Anton Ferreira</span></div> </div> <div class="related-links-container minimal ks-see-also" data-bi-heatmap="53d2841e6bb3f78a2117ada8"> </div> </div> <div class="p2" style="margin-bottom: 10px;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-size: large;">Here are three risks Dickerson advises every leader take to elevate themselves from good to great:</span></span></div> <span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><b>Be alone.</b></span></span><br /> <div class="p2" style="margin-bottom: 10px;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-size: large;">Making tough calls and taking on extra responsibilities is most often a solo venture, and can get lonely, Dickerson says. But to become a great leader you have to go the extra mile, even if it means working by yourself to pursue your dream. "The risk of being alone will be measured against the comfort of the crowd, the accolades of admirers, and the security of your company," Dickerson warns. Ultimately, the benefits of realizing your dream should outweigh the risk of doing it alone.</span></span></div> <h3 class="p2" style="margin: 10px 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-size: large;">Be misunderstood.</span></span></h3> <div class="p2" style="margin-bottom: 10px;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-size: large;">Being creative and following your vision will inevitably cause people to question, judge, or mistrust you. But many respected leaders thrive on challenges and build successful businesses by thinking outside the box, Dickerson says. Don't let the fear of being misunderstood keep you from pursuing an idea or taking an unconventional approach on a project. Dickerson believes that if you're willing to be misread and take criticism with a grain of salt, you'll open yourself up to a whole new arena of personal growth. </span></span></div> <h3 class="p2" style="margin: 10px 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-size: large;">Don't be like everyone else. </span></span></h3> <div class="p2" style="margin-bottom: 10px;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><span style="font-size: large;">What works for you isn't going to be the right fit for someone else, and vice versa, so don't force it. "Your aim is not about conforming to everyone around you, but rather discovering what is true about yourself and chasing after it," Dickerson says. Instead of following the same path as the leaders that came before you, take a risk on forging your own. </span></span></div> <div class="p2" style="margin-bottom: 10px;"> </div> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></div>

3 Risks Every Leader Should Take

Good leaders are reliable, hard-working, and always  have a plan . The very best ones, however, also take risks.   In a recent post o...

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7 Amazing Benefits of Being Optimistic about Life

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <h1 style="font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 5px;"> <img alt="Amazing Benefits of Being Optimistic about Life" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-1685" height="332" src="http://womanitely.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/Amazing-Benefits-of-Being-Optimistic-about-Life.jpg?62d6e5" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" width="500" /></h1> <div style="margin-bottom: 1.5em; margin-top: 1.5em; padding: 0px;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Nowadays we live in a harsh world full of troubles, grief and negative news. If to treat everything seriously, you may realize that everything is falling apart. People are surrounded by hatred, fear and greed. But there are many opposite and wonderful things that keep balance in this world. If you want to be on the positive wave, you should try to spread love, inspiration and joy in life. Moreover, optimistic people tend to experience more pleasant emotions and moments than pessimists, because optimism makes your reality colorful. Even when you go through tough times and feel downhearted, you should find the reasons to be optimistic about life.</span></div> <div style="margin-bottom: 1.5em; margin-top: 1.5em; padding: 0px;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Troubles and life challenges are just an experience that teaches you to be more reasonable and versed in the same situations in future. You should be grateful for this life experience, because it is the chance for you to become skillful in various spheres of life. Check out a few amazing benefits of being optimistic about life.</span></div> <h2 style="font-weight: normal; margin: 0px; padding: 10px 0px 15px;"> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">1. Optimism provides improvement</span></span></h2> <div style="margin-bottom: 1.5em; margin-top: 1.5em; padding: 0px;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Optimism has always been the basic element of financial and professional success and improvement. I’m sure that optimists always have more room and chances for improvement than pessimists. Optimists usually don’t mull over their problems and they try to handle the situation faster, because they have a large circle of friends and acquaintances. Furthermore, it is extremely important to believe that the situation will get better by all means. All you need is to be confident and make an effort to change the situation for better.</span></div> <h2 style="font-weight: normal; margin: 0px; padding: 10px 0px 15px;"> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">2. Many things to enjoy</span></span></h2> <div style="margin-bottom: 1.5em; margin-top: 1.5em; padding: 0px;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Have you ever tried to notice something simple but beautiful around you? Unfortunately, people have already got used to see only negative things since they can easily attract people’s attention. Open your eyes and look around you. You’ll find a great number of wondrous things to enjoy. It’s not necessary to be a millionaire to reach this joy. Many simple pleasures are priceless, because you cannot buy a magnificent smile of your child or the moments of happiness spent together with your best friend. Life is a wonderful thing!</span></div> <br /> <h2 style="font-weight: normal; margin: 0px; padding: 10px 0px 15px;"> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">3. Positive moments in your life</span></span></h2> <h2 style="font-weight: normal; margin: 0px; padding: 10px 0px 15px;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">I think that almost every person has something wonderful and pleasant in their life. When you have to overcome serious barriers, you should try to develop a positive outlook. You need to be proud of your family, friends, hobbies, interesting job and other majestic moments that you find insignificant in your life. Grab some paper and write down all your positive traits and life achievements. You will understand that things aren’t as bad as you think.</span></h2> <h2 style="font-weight: normal; margin: 0px; padding: 10px 0px 15px;"> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">4. It’s a good medicine for tough times</span></span></h2> <h2 style="font-weight: normal; margin: 0px; padding: 10px 0px 15px;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Every optimist knows that both tough and great times won’t last forever. They are ready to deal with various challenges. Many optimists live by the one-day principle that helps them to protect themselves from anxiety and worries about the past and future. It’s desirable to be patient and soon you’ll notice that being optimistic will pay off. For typical optimist, a small obstacle on the path to the aim is a kind of opportunity, but not a burden.</span></h2> <h2 style="font-weight: normal; margin: 0px; padding: 10px 0px 15px;"> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">5. Longer life</span></span></h2> <div style="margin-bottom: 1.5em; margin-top: 1.5em; padding: 0px;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">According to numerous science researches, optimists succeed in maintaining health and youth. Positive thinking and attitude increase the body’s defense level and make it stronger. The harmony of the soul is the best defense against negative things and diseases. Optimism is the best is the best way to deal with stress. Constant anxiety and stress are so dangerous for your body and your mind. It will help you live longer and enjoy every moment of your life. If you want to improve the quality and increase the duration of life, then replace your pessimism with optimism.</span></div> <h2 style="font-weight: normal; margin: 0px; padding: 10px 0px 15px;"> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">6. The power of positive thinking</span></span></h2> <div style="margin-bottom: 1.5em; margin-top: 1.5em; padding: 0px;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Many optimistic people find positive thinking extremely effective in achieving their goals. It also helps you remain in a good mood. Positive thinking also affects your senses and helps you focus on the main aspects of life. Consequently, you will make it a habit to look for the positive side of everything. You will learn how to notice all possible benefits around you. If you convince yourself that you can get or do what you want, you will certainly succeed in everything.</span></div> <div> <br /></div> <br /> <h2 style="font-weight: normal; margin: 0px; padding: 10px 0px 15px;"> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">7. It’s the key to your success</span></span></h2> <h2 style="font-weight: normal; margin: 0px; padding: 10px 0px 15px;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Optimists are people who always act instead of waiting for the miracle to happen. Those people who take small steps have more opportunities to reach their goals. You should realize that crying from negative realities of life doesn’t bring results. Constant motion and optimistic state of mind will open the door to your success. An optimist often sees a challenge as an experience. This strategy focuses their attention on a positive outcome.</span></h2> <br /> <div class="ssba" style="background-image: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> </div> <br /> <div style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.235294); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.301961); -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 17px; margin: 1.5em 0px; orphans: auto; padding: 0px; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"> It’s a great miracle to be a “glass half full” person in this difficult world. It doesn’t mean that you should always be happy, because life isn’t a bed of roses. Stephen King once said a true thing, “There’s no harm in hoping for the best as long as you are prepared for the worst.” Are you an optimist? Does positive attitude help you cope with life challenges?</div> </div>

7 Amazing Benefits of Being Optimistic about Life

Nowadays we live in a harsh world full of troubles, grief and negative news. If to treat everything seriously, you may realize that ever...

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5 Things Wealthy People Don't Do

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div style="border: 0px; list-style: none; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">You don't have to be a millionaire to steal these ideas about work, retirement and even getting up in the morning.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; list-style: none; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><strong style="border: 0px; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">1. They Don't Retire When Everyone Else Does </strong><br style="border: 0px; display: block; list-style: none; margin: 0px 0px 4px; padding: 0px;" />The average age for Americans to stop working is now 61, <a href="http://www.gallup.com/poll/162560/average-retirement-age.aspx" style="border: 0px; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">according to a recent Gallup poll</a>, up from 59 ten years ago and 57 in the early 1990s. But America's highest earners -- i.e., those with the biggest savings -- don't plan on retiring until they're at least 70, <a href="http://www.cnbc.com/id/100935310" style="border: 0px; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">another new survey shows</a>. Almost half of those people, who make $75,000 or more a year, say they plan to keep working because they want to. Granted, this group holds white-collar jobs that aren't physically taxing -- but the "never quit" concept is one that almost anyone can embrace. Stepping down to a less stressful position, or shifting to part-time work can put you farther ahead, savings-wise, when you <em style="border: 0px; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">do</em> decide to retire. Because although you can start collecting Social Security anytime from ages 62 to 70, the later you start, the bigger your benefit. <a href="http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-35213_162-57603246/a-rich-retirement-how-to-get-the-biggest-social-security-check/" style="border: 0px; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">This article gives some useful guidelines for deciding when to begin.</a></span></div> <div style="border: 0px; list-style: none; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><strong style="border: 0px; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">2. They Don't Wake Up At 6 a.m. And Answer Emails</strong><br style="border: 0px; display: block; list-style: none; margin: 0px 0px 4px; padding: 0px;" />You're no doubt aware that the highest achievers are up earlier than most people: The National Sleep Foundation says most 30- to 45-year-olds get out of bed at 6 a.m. on a typical weekday morning, <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/money/2013/apr/01/what-time-ceos-start-day" style="border: 0px; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">while this <em style="border: 0px; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Guardian</em> article</a> shows that many CEOs of major companies wake closer to 5. You may not know, though, what those leaders are doing with the extra hour. Laura Vanderkam's new book <em style="border: 0px; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Successful-People-Before-Breakfast-Mornings-ebook/dp/B007K3E2YK" style="border: 0px; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_hplink">What the Most Successful People Do Before Breakfast</a></em> gives plenty of concrete examples (and none of them involves catching up on Facebook). For instance: A businesswoman knows she could spend her early-morning hour cleaning out her in-box, but since that's a job she can do in 5-minute breaks during the day, she devotes the alone time to making real, uninterrupted headway on a project that she's decided is a top priority for her -- and that will have clear career benefits, teeing her up for a promotion or other advancement.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; list-style: none; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><strong style="border: 0px; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">3. They Don't Ignore Job Offers For Lateral Moves</strong><br style="border: 0px; display: block; list-style: none; margin: 0px 0px 4px; padding: 0px;" />While many top earners keep an eye out for their next career move, they're not always looking to move up. They're often looking to make lateral moves, says Amanda Augustine, job-search expert at <a href="http://www.theladders.com/" style="border: 0px; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">TheLadders.com</a>, which originally began as a job-search site for people earning $100,000 and more (they've since expanded to all salaries). This group is willing to move horizontally, or even to take a step down, Augustine says, if there is a future opportunity to move up and take on an even better role. Employees at every level can learn from this behavior, she says. Making a sideways career change (either within your company or to a new one with a similar title, pay and responsibility) can also be worth it if your industry is contracting and the new job is in a field that's growing, or if you'll be saving money with a shorter commute or cheaper parking, or getting better benefits, whether insurance- or retirement-related.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; list-style: none; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><strong style="border: 0px; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">4. They Don't Buy When They Can Rent</strong><br style="border: 0px; display: block; list-style: none; margin: 0px 0px 4px; padding: 0px;" />It's the American dream to own a home, but don't assume that everyone who can purchase a home does. The five-year rule (if you're not going to live in a home for five years, don't buy it) is back, says <a href="http://www.trulia.com/" style="border: 0px; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Trulia</a>'s real-estate and lifestyle expert, Michael Corbett, who is also the host of <a href="http://www.extratv.com/category/mansions-and-millionaires/" style="border: 0px; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Extra's <em style="border: 0px; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Mansions and Millionaires</em></a>. Renting is more popular than ever, he says, even among the wealthy. While it once made sense for people who could afford it to buy a home and flip it after two years, and the market has improved moderately this year, we're hardly in a boom. <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/28/business/housing-markets-future-has-many-variables.html" style="border: 0px; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">This article by economist Robert J. Shiller</a> explains that attitudes toward renting are starting to change; 61 percent of Americans in a recent MacArthur Foundation survey agreed that, "for the most part, renters can be just as successful as owners at achieving the American dream."</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; list-style: none; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><strong style="border: 0px; list-style: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">5. They Don't Buy Without First Comparison Shopping</strong><br style="border: 0px; display: block; list-style: none; margin: 0px 0px 4px; padding: 0px;" />Chances are, if you're reading this here, you're likely also shopping online <a href="http://www.cpcstrategy.com/blog/2013/08/ecommerce-infographic/" style="border: 0px; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_hplink">(80 percent of people who use the Internet have bought something by clicking)</a>. But wealthy shoppers are getting more shipping confirmation emails than others: <a href="http://www.marketingprofs.com/charts/2013/11057/the-rich-are-different-how-affluent-shoppers-behave-online" style="border: 0px; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">According to a recent report by Martini Media and comScore</a>, in the first quarter of this year, affluent shoppers were 47 percent more likely than buyers earning less than $100,000 annually to purchase something online. Just as interestingly, wealthy online shoppers aren't visiting luxury destinations as much as they're visiting sites with mid-level pricing (think Macy's). We know shopping online greatly lowers the likelihood of an impulse buy, but another major money-saving reason to buy from home is that you can easily do price comparisons. Plus, new apps such as <a href="https://www.slice.com/shopping_intro#iphone" style="border: 0px; list-style: none; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Slice</a> will even send you alerts when the price on an item you've purchased online drops so you can get a refund.</span></div> <div> <br /></div> <br /></div>

5 Things Wealthy People Don't Do

You don't have to be a millionaire to steal these ideas about work, retirement and even getting up in the morning. 1. They Don't...

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Wisdom From Women At Commencement 2014: 1-14

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <br /> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><img src="http://i.huffpost.com/gadgets/slideshows/350341/slide_350341_3759788_free.jpg" style="border: 1px solid rgb(60, 60, 60); box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; height: auto; margin: 0px auto; max-height: 400px; max-width: 96%; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle; width: auto !important;" /></span><br /> <br /> <div class="hp-right-pane-caption-container" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.235294); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.301961); -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: #222222; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #999999; direction: ltr; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; orphans: auto; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: auto; padding: 0px; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"> </div> <br /> <div class="hp-right-pane-title" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.235294); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.301961); -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: #222222; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: rgb(255, 255, 255) !important; direction: ltr; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px !important; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal !important; height: auto; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 20px !important; margin: 0px !important; orphans: auto; padding: 0px 0px 10px !important; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: auto; width: 315px; word-spacing: 0px;"> Jill Abramson: You're more resilient than you realize.</div> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">"Graduating from Wake Forest means you have experienced success already. And some of you -- and now I’m talking to anyone who has been dumped -- have not gotten the job you really wanted or have received those horrible rejection letters from grad school. You know the disappointment of losing or not getting something you badly want. When that happens, show what you are made of... We human beings are a lot more resilient than we often realize." (<a href="http://commencement.news.wfu.edu/c2014/2014-speaker-jill-abramson/" sl-processed="1" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">Wake Forest University</a>)</span><br /> <br /> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><img src="http://i.huffpost.com/gadgets/slideshows/350341/slide_350341_3759819_free.jpg" style="border: 1px solid rgb(60, 60, 60); box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; height: auto; margin: 0px auto; max-height: 400px; max-width: 96%; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle; width: auto !important;" /></span><br /> <br /> <div class="hp-right-pane-caption-container" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.235294); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.301961); -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: #222222; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #999999; direction: ltr; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; orphans: auto; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: auto; padding: 0px; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"> </div> <br /> <div class="hp-right-pane-title" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.235294); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.301961); -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: #222222; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: rgb(255, 255, 255) !important; direction: ltr; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px !important; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal !important; height: auto; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 20px !important; margin: 0px !important; orphans: auto; padding: 0px 0px 10px !important; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: auto; width: 315px; word-spacing: 0px;"> Cecile Richards: Risks make the best opportunities -- so take them often.</div> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">"If you hold out for an invitation, chances are good you’ll miss the party. And by the party I mean life. Growing up, Mom always told me: The answer to life is yes. This is the only life you have so make the most of it. Take every opportunity and risk you can. You’ll only regret the things you didn’t do because you were afraid to try." (<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/05/18/cecile-richards-barnard-commencement_n_5348807.html?utm_hp_ref=college" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">Barnard College</a>)</span><br /> <br /> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><img src="http://i.huffpost.com/gadgets/slideshows/350341/slide_350341_3759824_free.jpg" style="border: 1px solid rgb(60, 60, 60); box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; height: auto; margin: 0px auto; max-height: 400px; max-width: 96%; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle; width: auto !important;" /></span><br /> <br /> <div class="hp-right-pane-caption-container" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.235294); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.301961); -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: #222222; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #999999; direction: ltr; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; orphans: auto; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: auto; padding: 0px; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"> </div> <br /> <div class="hp-right-pane-title" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.235294); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.301961); -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: #222222; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: rgb(255, 255, 255) !important; direction: ltr; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px !important; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal !important; height: auto; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 20px !important; margin: 0px !important; orphans: auto; padding: 0px 0px 10px !important; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: auto; width: 315px; word-spacing: 0px;"> Katie Couric: You can't be criticized for hard work.</div> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">“When I became the anchor of the CBS Evening News, the first woman to do so alone, the critics were harsh and unrelenting. They complained about my hair, my makeup, my clothes, my delivery, even the way I held my hands. Some claimed I lacked gravitas, which I’ve decided is Latin for ‘testicles.’ It wasn't easy. But I kept my head down and I stayed focused because I loved the work ... The best antidote to the naysayers you'll surely encounter along the way is to stay strong, work hard, and put in the time. " (American University and <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AFzPYFmRE-Q" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">Trinity College</a>)</span><br /> <br /> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><img src="http://i.huffpost.com/gadgets/slideshows/350341/slide_350341_3759817_free.jpg" style="border: 1px solid rgb(60, 60, 60); box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; height: auto; margin: 0px auto; max-height: 400px; max-width: 96%; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle; width: auto !important;" /></span><br /> <br /> <div class="hp-right-pane-caption-container" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.235294); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.301961); -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: #222222; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #999999; direction: ltr; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; orphans: auto; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: auto; padding: 0px; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"> </div> <br /> <div class="hp-right-pane-title" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.235294); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.301961); -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: #222222; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: rgb(255, 255, 255) !important; direction: ltr; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px !important; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal !important; height: auto; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 20px !important; margin: 0px !important; orphans: auto; padding: 0px 0px 10px !important; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: auto; width: 315px; word-spacing: 0px;"> Sandra Bullock: It's the joy that stays with you.</div> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">"Raise the bar higher. It is noisy out there and for some reason, people want to see you fail. That's not your problem, that is their problem. I only remember the moments where I tried beyond what I thought I could do and I do not remember the failures because I didn't ... Go find your joy. It's what you're going to remember in the end. It's not the worry, it's not the what-ifs. It's the joy that stays with you." (<a href="http://time.com/105827/sandra-bullock-commencement-new-orleans/" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">Warren Easton Charter High School</a>)</span><br /> <br /> <div class="hp-main-slider-content" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; direction: ltr; display: table; height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline; width: 550px;"> <div class="hp-slideshow-img-container" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; direction: ltr; height: 430px; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); border: 1px solid rgb(60, 60, 60); display: inline-block; height: auto; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; max-height: 400px; max-width: 96%; vertical-align: middle; width: auto !important;"><img src="http://i.huffpost.com/gadgets/slideshows/350341/slide_350341_3759821_free.jpg" style="border: 1px solid rgb(60, 60, 60); box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; height: auto; margin: 0px auto; max-height: 400px; max-width: 96%; padding: 0px; vertical-align: middle; width: auto !important;" /></span><div class="hp-slide-credits" style="border: 0px; bottom: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; direction: ltr; height: 15px; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; position: absolute; text-align: right; vertical-align: baseline; width: 540px;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Jeff Vespa/VF14 via Getty Images</span></div> </div> </div> <br /> <br /> <div class="hp-right-pane-caption-container" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.235294); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.301961); -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: #222222; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #999999; direction: ltr; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; orphans: auto; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: auto; padding: 0px; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"> </div> <br /> <div class="hp-right-pane-title" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.235294); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.301961); -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: #222222; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: rgb(255, 255, 255) !important; direction: ltr; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px !important; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal !important; height: auto; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 20px !important; margin: 0px !important; orphans: auto; padding: 0px 0px 10px !important; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: auto; width: 315px; word-spacing: 0px;"> Jennifer Lee, director of "Frozen": Ban self-doubt.</div> <br /> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">"While I am someone who stands before you so far from perfect -- there isn't a subway line to perfect from where I live -- I am enough. If I've learned one thing, it's that self doubt is one of the most destructive forces. It makes you defensive instead of open, reactive instead of active. Self doubt is consuming and cruel. And my hope today is that we can all collectively agree to ban it ... Think about all the crazy ways you feel different from everyone else. And now take the judgement out of that. And what you are left with is such a wholly dynamic, inspiring character who could lead an epic story." (<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/05/18/frozen-director-commencement-video_n_5347700.html?utm_hp_ref=college" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">University of New Hampshire</a>)</span><br /> <br /> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><img src="http://i.huffpost.com/gadgets/slideshows/350341/slide_350341_3759823_free.jpg" style="border: 1px solid rgb(60, 60, 60); box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; height: auto; margin: 0px auto; max-height: 400px; max-width: 96%; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle; width: auto !important;" /></span><br /> <br /> <div class="hp-right-pane-caption-container" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.235294); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.301961); -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: #222222; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #999999; direction: ltr; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; orphans: auto; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: auto; padding: 0px; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"> </div> <br /> <div class="hp-right-pane-title" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.235294); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.301961); -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: #222222; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: rgb(255, 255, 255) !important; direction: ltr; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px !important; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal !important; height: auto; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 20px !important; margin: 0px !important; orphans: auto; padding: 0px 0px 10px !important; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: auto; width: 315px; word-spacing: 0px;"> Billie Jean King: It's our time.</div> <br /> <div class="hp-right-pane-caption-container" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; direction: ltr; margin: 0px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: auto; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </div> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">This is the century of women. And don't you forget it." (<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wKw3isR6gyM" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">Simmon's College</a>)</span><br /> <br /> <div class="hp-main-slider-content" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; direction: ltr; display: table; height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline; width: 550px;"> <div class="hp-slideshow-img-container" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; direction: ltr; height: 430px; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); border: 1px solid rgb(60, 60, 60); display: inline-block; height: auto; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; max-height: 400px; max-width: 96%; vertical-align: middle; width: auto !important;"><img src="http://i.huffpost.com/gadgets/slideshows/350341/slide_350341_3759827_free.jpg" style="border: 1px solid rgb(60, 60, 60); box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; height: auto; margin: 0px auto; max-height: 400px; max-width: 96%; padding: 0px; vertical-align: middle; width: auto !important;" /></span><div class="hp-slide-credits" style="border: 0px; bottom: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; direction: ltr; height: 15px; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; position: absolute; text-align: right; vertical-align: baseline; width: 540px;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">AP</span></div> </div> </div> <br /> <div class="hp-right-pane-caption-container" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.235294); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.301961); -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: #222222; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #999999; direction: ltr; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; orphans: auto; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: auto; padding: 0px; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"> </div> <br /> <div class="hp-right-pane-title" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.235294); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.301961); -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: #222222; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: rgb(255, 255, 255) !important; direction: ltr; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px !important; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal !important; height: auto; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 20px !important; margin: 0px !important; orphans: auto; padding: 0px 0px 10px !important; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: auto; width: 315px; word-spacing: 0px;"> Michelle Obama: Always be happy; never be satisfied.</div> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">"You should be so proud, and so happy, and so excited about your futures. But what you shouldn't be is satisfied... See, because we're the lucky ones, and we can never forget that we didn't get where we are today all on our own. We got here today because of so many people who toiled and sweat and bled and died for us -- people like our parents and grandparents and all those who came before them, people who never dreamed of getting a college education themselves but who worked, and saved, and sacrificed so that we could be here today. We owe them." (<a href="http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2014/05/10/remarks-first-lady-commencement-address-dillard-university" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">Dillard University</a>)</span><br /> <br /> <div class="hp-main-slider-content" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; direction: ltr; display: table; height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline; width: 550px;"> <div class="hp-slideshow-img-container" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; direction: ltr; height: 430px; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); border: 1px solid rgb(60, 60, 60); display: inline-block; height: auto; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; max-height: 400px; max-width: 96%; vertical-align: middle; width: auto !important;"><img src="http://i.huffpost.com/gadgets/slideshows/350341/slide_350341_3785692_free.jpg" style="border: 1px solid rgb(60, 60, 60); box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; height: auto; margin: 0px auto; max-height: 400px; max-width: 96%; padding: 0px; vertical-align: middle; width: auto !important;" /></span><div class="hp-slide-credits" style="border: 0px; bottom: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; direction: ltr; height: 15px; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; position: absolute; text-align: right; vertical-align: baseline; width: 540px;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Facebook/The New School</span></div> </div> </div> <br /> <br /> <div class="hp-right-pane-caption-container" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.235294); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.301961); -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: #222222; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #999999; direction: ltr; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; orphans: auto; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: auto; padding: 0px; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"> </div> <br /> <div class="hp-right-pane-title" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.235294); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.301961); -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: #222222; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: rgb(255, 255, 255) !important; direction: ltr; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px !important; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal !important; height: auto; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 20px !important; margin: 0px !important; orphans: auto; padding: 0px 0px 10px !important; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: auto; width: 315px; word-spacing: 0px;"> Zadie Smith: Stay open -- exclusivity is overrated.</div> <br /> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">“Walk down these crowded streets with a smile on your face. Be thankful you get to walk so close to other humans. It’s a privilege. Don’t let your fellow humans be alien to you, and as you get older and perhaps a little less open than you are now, don’t assume that exclusive always and everywhere means better. It may only mean lonelier. There will always be folks hard selling you the life of the few: the private schools, private plans, private islands, private life. They are trying to convince you that hell is other people.Don’t believe it." (<a href="http://www.newschool.edu/pressroom/pressreleases/2014/CommencementPost.htm" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">The New School</a>)</span><br /> <br /> <div class="hp-main-slider-content" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; direction: ltr; display: table; height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline; width: 550px;"> <div class="hp-slideshow-img-container" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; direction: ltr; height: 430px; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); border: 1px solid rgb(60, 60, 60); display: inline-block; height: auto; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; max-height: 400px; max-width: 96%; vertical-align: middle; width: auto !important;"><img src="http://i.huffpost.com/gadgets/slideshows/350341/slide_350341_3759828_free.jpg" style="border: 1px solid rgb(60, 60, 60); box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; height: auto; margin: 0px auto; max-height: 400px; max-width: 96%; padding: 0px; vertical-align: middle; width: auto !important;" /></span><div class="hp-slide-credits" style="border: 0px; bottom: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; direction: ltr; height: 15px; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; position: absolute; text-align: right; vertical-align: baseline; width: 540px;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Win McNamee via Getty Images</span></div> </div> </div> <br /> <br /> <div class="hp-right-pane-caption-container" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.235294); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.301961); -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: #222222; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #999999; direction: ltr; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; orphans: auto; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: auto; padding: 0px; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"> </div> <br /> <div class="hp-right-pane-title" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.235294); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.301961); -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: #222222; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: rgb(255, 255, 255) !important; direction: ltr; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px !important; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal !important; height: auto; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 20px !important; margin: 0px !important; orphans: auto; padding: 0px 0px 10px !important; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: auto; width: 315px; word-spacing: 0px;"> Nancy Pelosi: Know your power.</div> <br /> <div class="hp-right-pane-caption-container" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; direction: ltr; margin: 0px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: auto; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <div class="hp-right-pane-caption" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; direction: ltr; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 20px 0px 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 325px;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">“Remember this: with the knowledge gained here, you can do anything. You may not be aware of the opportunities that await you, but when those opportunities present themselves, be ready. Be idealistic, be pragmatic, be ready. That’s a lesson I’ve taken to heart in my own experience. Although with my generation, I was inspired by John F. Kennedy, I had no idea I’d go from the kitchen to Congress, from homemaker to House Speaker... My wish is that you know your power to light the future with your ideals and your optimism." (<a href="http://pelosi.house.gov/news/press-releases/pelosi-commencement-address-at-uc-berkeley" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">University of California at Berkeley</a>)</span></div> </div> <br /> <br /> <div class="hp-main-slider-content" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; direction: ltr; display: table; height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline; width: 550px;"> <div class="hp-slideshow-img-container" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; direction: ltr; height: 430px; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); border: 1px solid rgb(60, 60, 60); display: inline-block; height: auto; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; max-height: 400px; max-width: 96%; vertical-align: middle; width: auto !important;"><img src="http://i.huffpost.com/gadgets/slideshows/350341/slide_350341_3759829_free.jpg" style="border: 1px solid rgb(60, 60, 60); box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; height: auto; margin: 0px auto; max-height: 400px; max-width: 96%; padding: 0px; vertical-align: middle; width: auto !important;" /></span><div class="hp-slide-credits" style="border: 0px; bottom: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; direction: ltr; height: 15px; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; position: absolute; text-align: right; vertical-align: baseline; width: 540px;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Alonso Nichols/Tufts University</span></div> </div> </div> <br /> <br /> <div class="hp-right-pane-caption-container" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.235294); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.301961); -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: #222222; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #999999; direction: ltr; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 16px; margin: 0px; orphans: auto; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: auto; padding: 0px; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px;"> </div> <br /> <div class="hp-right-pane-title" style="-webkit-composition-fill-color: rgba(175, 192, 227, 0.235294); -webkit-tap-highlight-color: rgba(26, 26, 26, 0.301961); -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: #222222; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: rgb(255, 255, 255) !important; direction: ltr; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px !important; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal !important; height: auto; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 20px !important; margin: 0px !important; orphans: auto; padding: 0px 0px 10px !important; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: normal; widows: auto; width: 315px; word-spacing: 0px;"> Anne-Marie Slaughter: Stand up for your right to balance.</div> <br /> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">"When your co-workers, and later your employees, compete as to who can put in the most hours to the day, suggest to them that they must be <em style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">very</em> inefficient workers. Pity them for not having enough depth and breadth to get a life... Stand up for play -- for the leisure that will renew and recharge you. Stand up for love. Stand up for each other, and equally importantly for those who do not have the privilege that you do. Stand up for their right to have a life of meaningful work that earns them a living and the time and resources to enjoy their lives." (<a href="http://now.tufts.edu/anne-marie-slaughters-commencement-address" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">Tufts University</a>)</span><br />   <br /> <div class="hp-right-pane-content" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; direction: ltr; height: 190px; margin: 10px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: auto; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <div class="hp-right-pane-title" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; direction: ltr; height: auto; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px 0px 10px !important; vertical-align: baseline; width: 315px;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><b>Madeleine Albright: </b></span></div> <div class="hp-right-pane-title" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; direction: ltr; height: auto; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px 0px 10px !important; vertical-align: baseline; width: 315px;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><b><span style="font-size: large;">Shine bright like a diamond.</span></b></span></div> <div class="hp-right-pane-title" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; direction: ltr; height: auto; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px 0px 10px !important; vertical-align: baseline; width: 315px;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">"I hope that you will go forward with confidence, despite the burdens handed down to you by others; that you will employ your talents to keep pace with technology -- while remembering that there is no technological answer to the questions that matter most; that you will take pride in who you are, but leave room for the pride of others; and that by your actions, you will each add luster to Dickinson’s name -- and to your own." (<a href="http://www.dickinson.edu/info/20309/commencement/2607/2014_commencement_address" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">Dickinson College</a>)</span>                                                                                                     </div> </div> <br /> <br /> <div class="hp-main-slider-content" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; direction: ltr; display: table; height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline; width: 550px;"> <div class="hp-slideshow-img-container" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; direction: ltr; height: 430px; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); border: 1px solid rgb(60, 60, 60); display: inline-block; height: auto; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; max-height: 400px; max-width: 96%; vertical-align: middle; width: auto !important;"><img src="http://i.huffpost.com/gadgets/slideshows/350341/slide_350341_3759831_free.jpg" style="border: 1px solid rgb(60, 60, 60); box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; height: auto; margin: 0px auto; max-height: 400px; max-width: 96%; padding: 0px; vertical-align: middle; width: auto !important;" /></span><div class="hp-slide-credits" style="border: 0px; bottom: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; direction: ltr; height: 15px; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; position: absolute; text-align: right; vertical-align: baseline; width: 540px;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">MANDEL NGAN via Getty Images</span></div> </div> </div> <br /> <div class="hp-right-pane-title" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; direction: ltr; height: auto; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px 0px 10px !important; vertical-align: baseline; width: 315px;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><b>Valerie Jarrett: </b></span></div> <div class="hp-right-pane-title" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; direction: ltr; height: auto; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px 0px 10px !important; vertical-align: baseline; width: 315px;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><i>You have the power to reflect your values in your world.</i></span></b></span></div> <div class="hp-right-pane-caption-container" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; direction: ltr; margin: 0px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: auto; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <div class="hp-right-pane-caption" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; direction: ltr; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 20px 0px 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 325px;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">"I do believe that the 21st century workplace must reflect the values and priorities of the 21st century workforce... You all have to have the courage to speak out. You have to advocate for yourself over and over and over again and fight for that balanced life." (<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2sGcWjEHnRs" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">Pomona College</a>)</span></div> </div> <br /> <div class="hp-main-slider-content" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; direction: ltr; display: table; height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: baseline; width: 550px;"> <div class="hp-slideshow-img-container" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; direction: ltr; height: 430px; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); border: 1px solid rgb(60, 60, 60); display: inline-block; height: auto; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; max-height: 400px; max-width: 96%; vertical-align: middle; width: auto !important;"><img src="http://i.huffpost.com/gadgets/slideshows/350341/slide_350341_3785739_free.jpg" style="border: 1px solid rgb(60, 60, 60); box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; height: auto; margin: 0px auto; max-height: 400px; max-width: 96%; padding: 0px; vertical-align: middle; width: auto !important;" /></span><div class="hp-slide-credits" style="border: 0px; bottom: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; direction: ltr; height: 15px; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; position: absolute; text-align: right; vertical-align: baseline; width: 540px;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Facebook/Johns Hopkins University</span></div> </div> </div> <div class="hp-right-pane-title" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; direction: ltr; height: auto; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px 0px 10px !important; vertical-align: baseline; width: 315px;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><b>Susan Wojcicki, YouTube CEO: </b></span></div> <div class="hp-right-pane-title" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; direction: ltr; height: auto; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px 0px 10px !important; vertical-align: baseline; width: 315px;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><b><i><span style="font-size: large;">The "right" choice doesn't always exist.</span></i></b></span></div> <div class="hp-right-pane-caption-container" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; direction: ltr; margin: 0px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: auto; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <div class="hp-right-pane-caption" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; direction: ltr; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 20px 0px 0px; vertical-align: baseline; width: 325px;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">"Life doesn't offer you the perfect opportunity at the perfect time. Opportunities come when you least expect them ... Rarely are opportunities presented to you in a perfect way. In a nice little box with a yellow bow on top. 'Here, open it, it's perfect. You'll love it.' Opportunities -- the good ones -- are messy, confusing and hard to recognize. They're risky. They challenge you. But things happen so fast because our world is changing so much, you have to make decisions without perfect information. You have to make decisions based on the fact that the world is going to continue to change -- on the belief that the status quo will be supplanted by something better. " (<a href="http://hub.jhu.edu/2014/05/22/commencement-2014-wojcicki" style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">Johns Hopkins University</a>)</span></div> </div> </div>

Wisdom From Women At Commencement 2014: 1-14

Jill Abramson: You're more resilient than you realize. "Graduating from Wake Forest means you have experienced success alr...

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These 5 Character Traits Inspire Happiness and Success Even in Tragic Times

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div> <div class="article-page-deck inc_editable_area" data-editable-area-class="EditableArea" id="deck" style="border: 0px; margin: 10px 0px 2px; min-width: 20px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline; width: 640px;"> <div class="article-page-deck inc_editable" data-content-id="59719" data-content-type="article" data-editor-class="InlineTextEditor" data-editor-label="Deck" data-editor-variant="singleline" data-fieldname="inc_deck" id="deck-editable" style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; margin: 0px; min-width: 20px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: top; width: 640px;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><b><span style="font-size: large;">-</span></b></span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit;">BY </span><a href="http://www.inc.com/author/larry-kim" rel="author" style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">LARRY KIM</a></div> <div class="article-page-deck inc_editable" data-content-id="59719" data-content-type="article" data-editor-class="InlineTextEditor" data-editor-label="Deck" data-editor-variant="singleline" data-fieldname="inc_deck" id="deck-editable" style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; margin: 0px; min-width: 20px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: top; width: 640px;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><b><span style="font-size: large;">How 5 inspirational people found their silver linings and experienced unlikely successes.</span></b></span></div> </div> <div class="PageShareContainer" id="PageShareContainerUpper" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 15px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <div class="ShareBox PageShareBox" id="ShareBox-579" style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;"> </div> </div> </div> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><img src="http://www.inc.com/uploaded_files/image/1940x900/too-much-optimism-bad-glass-half-full_31116.jpg" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline; width: 668px;" /></span><br /><div> <br /></div> <div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.9em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">When life gets you down, how do you not only recover, but come out better than before?</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.9em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Five inspirational people turned tragedy into a springboard to greater business success and personal happiness, thanks to these character traits:</span></div> <h2 style="border: 0px; font-weight: inherit; margin: 8px 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">1. Unstoppable Drive</span></span></h2> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.9em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Raised in poverty by a single mother, Jane Miller was driven from a young age. She graduated second in her class, attended college, and went on to earn her MBA at SMU.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.9em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Jane's corporate life was successful and lucrative. At 24, she started out in an entry-level position with Frito-Lay. Jane was surrounded by Ivy League-graduate co-workers with pedigrees and far more work experience. Even so, Jane was promoted her first year.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.9em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Over the next 20 years, she would hold positions of great power, managing $1 billion business divisions and leading her peers.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.9em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">When her husband left her, citing her commitment to her work more than to her marriage, Jane struggled. When he became ill with cancer, she faltered. Her priorities changed forever when he tragically lost his fight in 2002.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.9em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">She created JaneKnows.com to help other women navigate the tricky world of big business. Jane was ready for a career move of her own, too--she became CEO of Rudi's Organic Bakery.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.9em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">"I run a company with products that I believe in, I live in a location that nourishes my soul, and I have time for a personal life," she says. "I have worked for many companies where I did not care about the products; I have lived in many locations that I hated; I know what it is like to not have time for a personal life."</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.9em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Jane's drive led her to great professional success, but today it's helping her find personal happiness as well.</span></div> <h2 style="border: 0px; font-weight: inherit; margin: 8px 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">2. Empathy</span></span></h2> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.9em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Irina Jordan's 22-year old brother was killed in a home invasion and burglary. Years later, she unexpectedly lost a close friend, resurfacing the devastation of the death of her brother.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.9em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Once afraid to let go of the stable corporate environment, Irina was inspired to take a giant leap of faith.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.9em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">"My brother lived his life to the fullest, and to honor it, I've been on a quest to face my fears, and pursue my passions," she says. An artisan at heart, Irina left her job and launched Artisurn.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.9em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Now, she spends her days crafting items people can display in their homes or wear close to their hearts to honor their lost friends, relatives, and pets.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.9em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">"I was able to start talking to people outside of my immediate family and finding joy in my everyday life. That was when I knew I am healing, and I said to myself that my life is a gift that I should not take for granted," she said.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.9em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Irina found happiness and success in business through her empathetic nature and a desire to help others.</span></div> <h2 style="border: 0px; font-weight: inherit; margin: 8px 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">3. Resourcefulness</span></span></h2> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.9em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">William Dockery escaped the poverty of his upbringing only to return home, years later, a widower and single father. This time, though, he built a successful business that brings in over $9 million in annual revenue.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.9em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Raised in poverty in rural Appalachia just after World War II, he spent eight years in the Air Force, and eventually earned his electrical engineering degree on the GI bill. Eager to make something of himself, William became a businessman and engineer, in Boulder, Colorado and in Silicon Valley.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.9em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">These were happy times for William, his wife and two young children. Work was good. Home was good. Life was good.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.9em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The death of his wife in 1992 to a staph infection that started as a simple cut on her finger was a stunning loss.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.9em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">William needed his family's support in raising his two small, now motherless children--but they were back in North Carolina.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.9em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">In order to survive and thrive back home, William knew he needed to be resourceful.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.9em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">"When I finished my small business presentation to the Vicor Board of Directors in 1995 and received the first start-up funding check, I knew things were going to change for the better," he says.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.9em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Did it ever. Aegis Power Systems Inc. is certainly atypical for the region.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.9em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">"As part of the agreement with Vicor, I was able to access their marketing group and have access to existing accounts. Having a good financial partner allowed me to concentrate on organizing and growing the business," he explains.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.9em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">William's resourcefulness drove his success in a situation where it was highly unlikely.</span></div> <h2 style="border: 0px; font-weight: inherit; margin: 8px 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">4. Tenacity</span></span></h2> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.9em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Joan Frances Moran lost the love of her life and her screenwriting partner in her later years, but it wasn't her curtain call. At 60, Joan began teaching yoga.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.9em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">"Losing my significant other was deep and profound," Joan tells me. "He had given me so many tools for living, mental and emotional survival skills."</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.9em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Her decision to take the yoga training her partner had pushed her to do changed Joan's life. After all, how many people switch careers and decide to push their bodies even harder well into their sixties?</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.9em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">She had no idea what her journey would look like, she says, but was determined to complete her training. And she did.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.9em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">In fact, Joan went on to teach, create a corporate wellness program, become a motivational keynote speaker, and author her book, <em style="border: 0px; font-variant: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">60, Sex & Tango: Confessions of a Beatnik Boomer</em>.</span></div> <h2 style="border: 0px; font-weight: inherit; margin: 8px 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">5. Ingenuity</span></span></h2> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.9em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The global fitness trend Sarina Jain had started stemmed from the sudden loss of her father to cardiac arrest when she was just a teen.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.9em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Masala Bhangra is the dance workout Sarina created to honor her father and to promote a healthy lifestyle. Her unique blend of Indian folkdance <em style="border: 0px; font-variant: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">bhangra</em> with exotic Bollywood moves and modern dance became an international sensation.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.9em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Teaching classes and creating videos of her dance workout set to the beat of Indian music helped Sarina keep her father's cultural influence alive.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.9em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">She landed a spot hosting the first Indian dance program on Discovery Channel's FitTV. Eventually, she would sign a sponsorship deal with Nestle that saw her creation featured on millions of breakfast products.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.9em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">"Staying focused on creating Masala Bhangra helped me to keep my Dad's spirit alive and allowed me to create something productive out of my grief," she says.</span></div> <h2 style="border: 0px; font-weight: inherit; margin: 8px 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Where Does Your Happiness and Success Come From?</span></span></h2> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.9em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">These 5 people inspire us to find our own silver linings and to build something awesome from the ashes of personal tragedy.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.9em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> <span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">What has inspired you to focus on finding happiness or led you to greater success? Share your story in the comments!</span></div> </div> </div>

These 5 Character Traits Inspire Happiness and Success Even in Tragic Times

- BY  LARRY KIM How 5 inspirational people found their silver linings and experienced unlikely successes. When life gets yo...

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