5 Steps to Systematic Thinking

January 26, 2012

Systematic thinking is a way of life for those who excel in their lives and professions. Regardless of their independent professions with subtle differences, they all think very much alike.

Although a discussion about systematic thinking is very much relevant to our discussion, we will focus on how everyone can cultivate the habit of thinking systematically. But first, a brief synopsis on the steps of systematic thinking is in order.

Steps In Systematic Thinking

Very briefly, here are the steps in systematic thinking:

1. Identify and analyze the problem before jumping into action

2. Formulate multiple options

3. Define and establish a selection criteria

4. Be bold and make a final decision

Since the objective of this article is to help develop systematic thinking, the following 5 steps are focused on it.

5 Steps To Systematic Thinking

Thinking systematically is a never-ending process and it can begin at any age. But starting early is all the more better for obvious reasons.

1. Set The Bar High: With each hurdle crossed you can begin to think in small steps in order to pave the way to your bigger goal.

2. Give Thought Its Due Time: Short thoughts may generate wonderful solutions, but not always. With business and life problems getting more and more complex as you move further down the road, looking for the quick way out can be a grave mistake. Hard, long thinking about problems can open avenues to helpful information.

3. Defy The Myths: Complex problems sometimes call for radical thinking. Dare to defy the myths. Galileo uprooted the natural belief that earth was not round. Going around the earth wouldn’t have revealed to Galileo that the earth is round. Instead, he chose to think in radical ways. Throughout history, those who have failed to challenge the status quo have often been proven wrong.

4. Channelize Your Thoughts: Documenting and recording your thoughts helps to put things in perspective and saves them for future examination. Many ideas and thoughts cross everyone’s mind every day. Even the impractical thoughts deserve to be examined before discarding them. Thomas Edison took several years to develop that light bulb, trying out various options – but he never forgot to record each one of his steps, including failures, which ultimately prevented him from duplicating his efforts.

5. Work Within A Time Frame: Give yourself a specific timeframe within to solve a specific problem. Otherwise, you may never come to the end.

Systematic thinking allows you to solve problems by coming to practical, workable solutions, whether in business or in life. Following the above steps will give you the tools you need for your thinking and problem solving to be more efficient and effective.

Ingersoll Rand Air Tools Relationship Management Software Industrial Designer

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Exactly How Many Times Did Edison Fail?

January 21, 2012
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Statistics are great fun, especially when they seem to support an argument that you’re trying to make.

Countless motivational speakers and success coaches have pointed to one of the greatest of America’s failures, Thomas Edison, for inspiration.

To prove the value of persistence, they have retold the story about how this luminary, the guy responsible for the modern light bulb, for the electric utility company, and for innumerable inventions, actually failed lots and lots of times before perfecting his innovations.

Just this evening, I was watching the movie, “National Treasure,” when Nicholas Cage’s character started lecturing about how Edison failed to perfect the incandescent light bulb “2,000 times.”

Something in me snapped.

Perhaps I’ve heard and even recited this legend too many times because my B.S. alarm went off. Maybe, I think Cage is one of the least intelligent actors around and I doubt him completely when he tries to play a smart character.

“How many times did Cage say?” I found myself asking. “2,000?”

That’s not how I heard it. Anyway, I decided to Google the question, and you can too.

It’s fun, because you’ll find lots of variations.

Within five minutes, I discovered that Edison failed exactly:

“Thousands of times.”

“1,000 times.”

“3,000 times”

“5,000 times”

“2,998 times”

“6,000 times” and

“6,635 times.”

And I stopped right there, knowing I was going to find, in all probability 100 more permutations.

One smart source, who was discussing writing and rejection, simply said Edison failed a lot and urged her readers to “Look it up for yourself!”

Maybe, she discovered what I did, that there are a zillion misleading stats out there.

And this brings me to my point.

Don’t believe people when they throw one of these supposed “facts” at you. Put their feet to the fire, and make them back up these blustery assertions.

By the way, the next stat I’m going to track down is the one that says “It costs five times more to get a new customer than to keep an existing one happy and on the books.”

Already, I’ve heard two or three versions of this whopper, so stay tuned for more!

Global Knife Set

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How to Make a Solar Oven – Making a Homemade Solar Oven

January 9, 2012
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Solar power has a wide array of uses, like using it in to power cars, small boats, and homes. You can also use solar power to cook food through the use of a homemade solar oven. You do not have to be a professional to take advantage of the sun’s energy since it is simple to do with the right guide, and you can do this at home. All you need are a few simple materials and a little ingenuity, and you will then know on how to make a solar oven.

How do Solar Ovens Work?

Because the sun is a great producer of heat for our planet, what you have to do is to harness it to build simple devices. These devices will amplify the sun’s heat exactly where you want it, and this is the principle behind making a solar oven. The solar oven or cooker will then cook a variety of foods at a temperature of around 200 degrees Fahrenheit depending on your location. It is far less expensive and perfect for outdoor meals.

What are the materials in building a solar cooker or oven?

The materials you need are:

1. pizza box

2. plastic wrap

3. black construction paper

4. aluminum foil

5. tape or glue.

A knife to cut a hole in the box is also needed, and a stick to prop open the door on your solar cooker/oven.

Here are the steps :

Cutting the Lid

First thing when building your solar oven or cooker is to cut a hole into the lid of your pizza box. So that the lid can flap open, cut around three edges, leaving about 1 inch of space on each edge. Do not completely remove the lid. If you make a mistake, just tape it on with a heavy duty tape.

Building the Solar Reflector

Fold the flap out so that it can stand up on its own. Use the stick to secure it on a desirable position. Completely cover the inside of the lid with aluminum foil, and use the tape or glue. This foil will reflect the sun’s rays to the pizza box.

Making the Window

Get your plastic wrap and create a window over the hole on the pizza box. Open the box and flip it over so you will be able to look through the hole. Put the plastic wrap over the hole and tape it.

Heating things up

Take the aluminum foil and line the inside of the box with it. Cover the aluminum with the black construction paper. This will absorb the heat that is produced in your pizza box. The heat absorbent construction paper and the heat reflective aluminum foil will create an oven atmosphere in your solar oven.

Now that you have made your solar oven or cooker, it’s time to use it. Bring it to a sunny spot and open the lid. Also adjust the opening so that sunlight is reflected off the lid and into the plastic window. You now know on how to make a solar oven or cooker.

Classic Car Insurance Quote

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A Crystal Chandelier Light To A Unique And Classy Style

April 29, 2011

Crystal chandeliers are one of the best ornaments you can add in a home.  Crystal Chandelier light is very class and sophisticated. To capture the attention and interests of your guests use an appropriate chandelier. If you want to make your crystal chandeliers attractive enough, make sure to choose designs that complement your home. Choosing the best crystal chandeliers based on their light and shade to make sure they look perfect in your homes is highly recommended.
Shade and light are the very essentials of chandeliers. The lighting fixture has to emit enough light to give the room the exact illumination it needs. A small chandelier may provide insufficient amount if chosen to be installed a very big room. Huge crystal chandelier light added in a small may result to overexposed room. As much as you want to have the largest and grandest lighting fixtures, not all room types can look good in this type of crystal chandelier. You have to balance the light and shade that a room needs against the lighting fixture you wishing for.
Here are some few basics you should learn when getting the right crystal chandelier lighting; Crystal chandeliers emit light directly into a person’s face. Therefore, getting lighting fixtures which are too big for your homes can create such nuisance on the person by creating disturbing shadows.  Large lights add heat to the room. Bulbs which have higher wattage can add up heat in a specific area. If you do not have air condition systems or good ventilation in your home, make sure to use lights which can contribute lesser heat in a room. You need to choose a good crystal chandelier light that can look nice in your homes aside from lighting and shading alone. You can hang the crystal chandelier light a little bit lower just make sure that it is not low enough to cause visual disturbance on your guests. Hanging them low enough should not cause any disturbance to your guests.
Aside from light and shade, you might prefer chandeliers which can provide uniqueness in your homes. There are chandeliers which make use of semi-precious crystal stones. There are also black crystals which provide a good and striking appeal. There are those with simple adornment but provide the best designs in a room. To make the lighting fixture even more unique, you can find them in several finishes and in many configurations. You can choose specific designs and customize which are not in the brochures and have them manufactured by crystal chandelier shop owners. When you buy for a lighting fixture, consider the costs. Make sure that you purchase something which you can afford. There are a handful of attractive designs around that do not cost more than what you can afford. You may not spend too much on these lighting fixtures but if you plan to really invest in beautifying your home, then you need to prepare your budget for this.

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U2 – Ultraviolet (Light My Way)

April 28, 2011

Live from Washington DC

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OV2T6JgdmI4&hl=en

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