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Many of us enjoy listening to music while working. We get our headphones and play the songs we like the most, regardless of the style. Some even say it improves professional performance and motivates people to work… It was published on the Super Interessante magazine website that according to psychologists of University of Wales, United Kingdom, this practice at the workplace may have its days numbered.

Researchers have tested volunteers in different environments and have verified that music doesn’t boost productivity at all. Volunteers were placed in an acoustically treated room (silent) to carry out their tasks, while others worked to the sound of artists such as Rihanna, The Stranglers and Arcade Fire, in addition to the track “Thrashers” by  the Death Angel group, which nobody liked.

Do you know what the result was? Those working in silence had a much better performance than that of their other colleagues. Experts say this is because during working hours, acoustic variations confuse us and make us less efficient. They also suggested that the ideal solution would be listening to music before starting work as a way of preparing the mind for daily tasks.

Well, this topic raises lots of discussion and opinions vary. But what I want to know is what you think…

Oh, and you don’t have to get mad at me over this post. After all, your boss doesn’t have to know this research exists, does he? =)

I love the TED videos! Various different themes, long speeches, short speeches; whatever your taste, there is something there for you.

The other day, as suggested by a friend, I watched the video “Try something new for 30 days” by Matt Cutts and I felt that a whole new world was opening up before my eyes.

Here is the idea: Do something new (or stop doing something) for 30 days. I have never liked New Year’s resolutions. At least for me, who tends to not be a very dedicated person, doing something new for a whole year can turn out to be rather difficult. I usually give up and end up feeling weak. But by following this concept, it would only be for 30 days. Not too long, but long enough to create a habit. If it works, great! I can add a new habit to my daily routine. If it doesn’t, at least I completed my goal. I can move on and try something else.

And like Cutts suggested, we can do this with simple as well as complex stuff. Some ideas I had include exercising daily (you have no idea how difficult this is for me), cut out sugar, try new things, and read about different subjects. To start up the process, I am going to watch a different TED video every day; each day a different topic.

In 30 days I will be back to tell you all about this first experience. By the end of the year I hope to have plenty of new activities to share with you!

Care to join me?

Do you want to win? So do I! But we know that in order to do so, it is not enough to want to, we also have to have knowledge, willingness, attitude and persistency to achieve results. We have to have motivation, an inner impulse that leads us to action.

That is right; motivation is a process that happens from inside out. It depends on what each one wants, what motivates you to buy, work better, sell, and so forth. Motivating is a way of changing a person’s attitude through stimulus. In order for such change to happen, you need to know your ideals, life plans, and strategies.

This is a very serious and controversial topic, full of theories, which requires a lot of observation, thought and courage. People usually confuse motivation with benefits and compensation. These aspects represent an important portion of the equation, but they are not the only ones.

Executive Carlos Ghosn, global CEO of Renault, said the following: “The only thing that makes a difference is motivation. If you lose motivation, you gradually lose everything.” Martin Luther King, on the other hand, said that “even the starless nights can herald the dawn of a great achievement.”

Therefore, when you place important reasons into several contexts of your life, only then will the opportunities to create motivation become greater. Many human behavior experts have emphasized that an external stimulus will have an effect on mood and well-being, but it doesn’t mean it will motivate someone.

As described by Ian McDermott and Joseph O’Connor in the book Practical NLP for Managers, extrinsic motivation can buy behavior, but not motivation. Motivation is an inner process lasting much longer than a simple state of mind.

How many people do you know who get support, stimuli, rewards, but do not move? There are people who have many needs and desires such as a better salary, better education, a better life, and so forth, but they spend a great deal of their time without doing anything to get what they want. They expect satisfaction to come from the external world and do not realize that the quest for satisfaction is what generates motivation. Being motivated is never giving up to get what you want.

Don’t wait for external conditions to become favorable to start acting and become more successful in your personal and professional life.

With the start of every new year, almost everyone makes a list of things they would like to do, things they want to buy and actions that they want to take during the New Year.

I’m going to give you some tips on how to improve your personality, which you should also add to your list of resolutions.

1. Develop an interest in people

Try to find out what people need. Learn about their likes and dislikes, interests and beliefs. By doing that, you’ll be known as someone with an attractive and likable personality.

2. Admit your weaknesses.

Do not consider yourself to be perfect. Just as people have their strong points, they also have their weaknesses. In order to improve your personality, you must admit your flaws.

3. Admire your friends.

Pay them compliments. Let them know how important they are to you.

4. Try to stay close to successful and happy people.

Seek the company of people who can reveal new perspectives, renewed hopes and a purpose for life.

5. Don’t be ashamed to demand or ask.

Ask for advice and direction. Your friends can provide you with valuable information about life experience. You can learn from their knowledge and apply it to improve your personality.

What’s more, you can also develop new abilities, such as public speaking, negotiating and understanding people’s attitudes and beliefs.

Improving your personality involves hard work and dedication. Even though it demands great effort, it can be interesting and fun because you are focusing your attention in order to  have a better rapport with others and make yourself a better person.

Happy New Year!!!

As I was born and raised in Rio de Janeiro, today’s post is about the greatest touristic attraction that begins a New Year in my beloved city: the Copacabana New Year’s Eve Celebration.

Thousands of people gather together every year on December 31 on Copacabana Beach – most of them dressed up in white – waiting to greet the New Year. The highlight of the party is an intense and memorable firework display set at midnight sharp that lasts around 20 minutes! A unique spectacle!

Along with the New Year’s celebrations, mystical and religious aspects take place since  lots of Brazilians worship Iemanjá, and this celebration also happens on the turn-of-the-year. Loads of candlelight offerings are delivered into the waves in honor of the “Queen of the Sea.” Whenever you come to spend New Year’s in Rio, don’t be scared if you come across tons of candles spread all over the sand and the beach quite dirty. =)

Every hotel gets ready for the big party by preparing sophisticated meals and providing the tourist with the best in hospitality. The local people go out to celebrate and enjoy the fireworks by the Copacabana Sea.

The party goes through the night and the same festive atmosphere that started at midnight is over only on the morning of January 1.

Let the New Year begin!