SET YOURSELF UP FOR WINDFALL SUCCESS

Windfall (n): An unexpected, unearned, or sudden gain or advantage

How We Think Life Works

Basic cause and effect says that when X happens, Y follows. Most causes have an immediate and obvious effect. Touch a hot stove, and your skin burns. Throw a rock in the air, and it falls back down. Sing too loudly in the shower, and everyone else will leave the house with their hands over their ears.

There are, however, exceptions to this rule. The effect can be delayed and unevenly distributed, and that can really throw us off.

The natural assumption: work, result, work, result, work, result

How it often happens: work, work, work, work, work, work, windfall result

Here are a few personal examples.

In middle school, I had excessive acne and loved it. It was embarrassing. I developed social anxiety as a result, which varied in intensity in the following years. Fast forward to just four years ago: I had the biggest breakdown of my life, which led to crippling general anxiety (feeling nervous for no reason even when alone), and that worsened my social anxiety. 

Over these last four years, I've worked hard to increase my comfort level in general and in social situations. To be specific, I've developed better habits, have been more active, and put myself in more social situations (there's no replacement for practice). But the really odd thing is how and when I saw results.

Fairly recently, it felt like a switch was flipped in my brain, and since then, I've felt completely comfortable and relaxed in social situations. Some of my progress over the last four years was gradual, but this was a huge leap that seemingly happened overnight. It was a true windfall after years of effort. I think it's super strange to happen like this, but I've been enjoying it!

I also had a windfall with this blog. After 2.5 years, I only had 440 subscribers. Over the next six months, it exploded with 4,000 more subscribers. Today, there are almost 12,000 Deep Existence subscribers.

Mini Habits has been extremely successful by any metric, and the idea came as a windfall. I had been analyzing personal growth for 10 years with various ideas; one day I bumped my shin on this new strategy that's been a game changer. It wouldn't have happened if I hadn't been focused on personal growth for a decade!

When I look back on the good things in my life, many of them were windfall gains after sustained hard work with minimal gains. 

Potential Windfall Areas

Businesses: A new product takes off, an older product takes off, you have a new idea or creative breakthrough that changes everything. It will only happen if you have a business (you're in the game).

Fitness: After not seeing much of a difference in the mirror, you notice a pretty big difference one day. Or after plateauing on the bench press for some time, you're suddenly able to do more. It will only happen if you're exercising (you're in the game).

Weight loss: I'm not talking about unhealthy rapid weight loss strategies. If you do it the right way, you might not notice a difference immediately or gradually. You might notice waves of improvement. It will only happen if you're actively pursuing a healthier lifestyle (you're in the game).

Skill development: Have you ever tried learning a new song on guitar or piano, and after seemingly making little progress try after try, suddenly it clicks? It will only happen if you practice (you're in the game).

Investing: You could invest in a stock that returns an outsized gain. If you had invested just a little bit of money in Microsoft in the 90s, you would have gotten a ridiculous return. I bought an Apple option about 8 years ago that returned 1000%. In order for this to be possible, of course, you must invest (you're in the game).

Why This Matters

First, I find it very exciting. Windfall results are a so much fun when they happen. It's a pleasant surprise.

Second, it can be encouraging to know about the potential of windfall gains when you're putting in the work and not getting satisfactory results right away. If you're not aware of the windfall effect and you don't see early results, you're going to be very tempted to quit. It seems logical to quit if you believe results always come in an orderly manner and you aren't getting any early results, as that suggests that the results will never come.

One More Story of a Windfall Gain

The formula for windfall gains is consistency, persistence, and focusing your energy on fewer pursuits. Here's a story of a struggling artist whose work culminated in a windfall event.

"John Dolan had been living on the streets 20 years when he met the London gallery owner and art-tour organizer who would change his fortune. Dolan's life had spiraled into poverty and crime when he traded a can of beer for George, a Staffordshire bull terrier.

Sketching pictures of his beloved pet brought him comfort.

Soon, he was sketching scenes from around town, capturing London cityscapes and selling his works for whatever he could get for them on the street.

That is, until he met Richard Howard-Griffin.

The gallery owner arranged the first showing of Dolan's work, and the rest, as they say, is history. Dolan has since been featured on Ellen's blog and is now selling his sketches for $5,000 or more apiece. He's also written a book and had more shows in London and Los Angeles."

~ Larry Kim via inc.com

This concept is not to be confused with "go big or go home" or always aiming for the home run hit. There are times to try for the big win, but in my experience, those times will present themselves after you've practiced getting small wins.

John Dolan didn't do anything besides dabble in artwork and show up to see if he could sell it. He wasn't trying to get on Ellen's blog. He certainly wasn't initially selling his art for $5,000 per sketch. John was fortunate to get a windfall opportunity, but those who consider these windfalls to be sheer luck are missing the point—in order to get a "lucky" windfall, you must be in the game. It's not "the lucky people" who get windfalls, it's the persistent people who get lucky. 

I hope this raises your awareness to the very real possibility of windfall successes. Windfalls aren't guaranteed to come, but they're practically guaranteed not to come if you remain passive. Let's continue to show up every day and make ourselves available to receive them if we are so fortunate. 

Merry Christmas and happy holidays to you and yours! 

Cheers,

Stephen Guise

CONSISTENCY IS THE KEY FOR EMOTIONAL HEALTH (mini habits)

A human life is filled with highs and lows, triumphs and tragedies, and unpredictable swings from one to the next. One moment, you feel on top of the world, the next moment, you feel like a sewer rat. (Sewer rats probably feel bad, but I can't confirm this.)

Anyone can perform in ideal circumstances. Our performance in emotional extremes is what counts.

Why The Extremes Challenge Us Most

When things are really good, it's tempting to press pause on what got you there and celebrate.

When things are really bad, it's tempting to console and pamper yourself or even give up.

The ultimate challenge in life isn't how much you can do in a given day, it's whether or not you can keep going in emotional extremes. Consistency is the gold standard of good living because it means you're unstoppable: regardless of what's going on and how you feel, you're going to show up.

Anyone can have a single great day in any area, but what's the point of one good day surrounded by dozens of bad or mediocre days?

Where Most People Get It Wrong

If you truly, deeply believe that consistency matters more than anything else in the world, then when you're emotionally devastated, a part of you is going to say, "Yes, I feel like a sewer rat right now, but this is an opportunity to prove that I can still make progress in my life despite what I'm going through. This is my chance to prove I'm consistent." 

The typical person doesn't value consistency like this. They see life as a fluid and varying journey, which is true, but they willingly match their behavior to the extreme emotions they feel. Varying progress is normal, but it's not a good reason to give up even for a day. Many people will allow zero progress days if they feel a certain way.

In a very scientific experiment in college, I found that 2 hours of sleep is MUCH better than zero hours of sleep. In the same way, a small progress day is MUCH better than a zero progress day for your habits and your mental health.

When life seems perfect, it will get worse, because perfection is a ceiling. When life seems like a nightmare, it will get better, because real life nightmares are a floor. When life shifts from great to worse or vice versa, consistency shines! Here's why.

When Good Turns Bad

Imagine that you're having the best day(s) of your life. You're in a loving relationship. You're making money. You're in great physical condition. Everything is as it should be. Nice.

Since life is so peachy, you decide skip some days at the gym to celebrate. You drink and eat like a king. Your income and job situation are phenomenal, so you figure you can relax a bit at your work and skill-building. You decide to "coast" with your significant other rather than pursue because your relationship is strong.

This continues for some time, but then the hammer drops. You lose your job, your relationship falls apart, and you haven't touched a weight in months. Now, on top of your fall from grace, you've lost the very things that put you in that great position. This is how a temporary fall becomes a prolonged descent. You've got nothing!

Here's an alternative possibility.

What if instead, you had continued your core tasks through the good times? In this case, maybe you've lost your love and your job, but your exercise habit remains and your skillset is stronger than ever. This prevents the meteoric drop from the first scenario. You know you're still growing as a person, and that you're likely to rebound swiftly. Your skills, emotional stability, and good habits make you quite employable and datable. 

When things go poorly, our habits are our safety net. This is not just something I'm saying, it's our biological response. Studies show that the natural human behavioral response to stress is to rely on habitual behaviors over cognitive behaviors. 

I understand that habits aren't sexy. But unlike the exciting things like romance, power, prestige, reputation, and money, your habits are reliable enough to be a foundation, an emotional foundation to pick you back up when life slams you to the ground.

When Bad Turns Good

In the flip scenario, imagine that you're having the worst day(s) of your life. You're all alone. You're broke. You're out of shape. You feel like a sewer rat. This is a common excuse to get out the ice cream and watch TV... for a week straight. 

Self loathing cycles with self-destructive behaviors. People don't choose to do this as a "solution." They do it to cope. They do it to ease emotional pain.

The alternative to destructive coping is constructive coping. Like ice cream, good daily habits can pull your focus away from the pain in your life. Unlike unhealthy coping (which brings further guilt), good habits will remind you of your potential and they won't let you admit complete defeat. Habits are deservedly touted for their ability to drive success, but their impact doesn't end there.

Much of the power in consistency is psychological. It's difficult to get into too deep of a rut when you KNOW you're making progress every day in high-value areas. This consistent forward march is the healthy fallback you need when times are tough. 

When life is bleak, your habits will sink you lower or lead your turnaround.

The Unmatched Power of Mini Habits

Now, many of you already know about mini habits, having read the book or taken the video course. But even if you are familiar, this discussion shows a different angle of why mini habits are so powerful. In my book and course, I showed a chart demonstrating the mini habits difference in regards to willpower and motivation. See it below.

Caption: No motivation? No willpower? No problem if you've got mini habits.

That shows the doability of mini habits, in that a person struggling with low motivation and willpower in any moment can still get the job done.

In a human life of ups and downs, we also need a strategy that constantly generates positive emotions. As tough as many of us pretend to be on the outside, let's be real. We are emotionally fragile and volatile creatures. (This isn't an anti-emotion speech as our emotions are amazing gifts when they are positive.)

A mini habit is unlike any other strategy on earth in that it practically starts you in a position of success and gives you upward flexibility. Almost every other growth strategy you'll see starts you at failure and asks you to struggle your way to your success target (exactly what you can't do when emotionally devastated). Mini habits have a threshold for success too, but it's so low that it isn't a ceiling like most goals, it's actually a floor. Mini habits offer an unlimited bonus area (no ceiling) and varying levels of success. 

The chart below shows the emotional power of mini habits to create positivity in your life and keep it that way with consistency (the previous willpower chart above shows how you can be consistent with mini habits). 

Caption: For a specific example, imagine that the numbers on the left represent push-ups. When you make winning easier, you will win much more often. When you win consistently, you'll feel and act like a winner. This "success cycling" effect explains why mini habit progression is often exponential. If this picture is too small to see, there's a bigger version on the blog.

Mini habits are a constant positive force, keeping you out of the gutter or sparking you to higher highs. It's common sense that only positive actions can consistently make us feel positive, because everything else is just talk, potential, or hope. 

The best way to get over life struggles is to move forward.

The best way to continue a great life is to move forward.

Consistent forward movement improves your life while minimizing the likelihood and impact of going backward. The way to do it is equally simple: choose the most important areas in your life and minify them into small actions you can definitely do every day, with the option and hunger for more.

For the comprehensive explanation of how to do this (and what not to do), read Mini Habits or take thevideo course. Their industry-leading ratings are not a coincidence and they're not due to my eloquence as a writer or speaker. It's just a solution the world needs. 

If you're already familiar with mini habits, integrate this information into your understanding. Previously, I haven't talked much about the emotional support power of mini habits. As you can do them even on your worst day, mini habits are powerful enough to be the core of your emotional health and stability.

How My Habits Have Saved Me

Despite my chronically happy disposition, I probably would have spiralled into depression this year without my habits. I've moved three times in the last year. It has been brutal to start over in three new places where I haven't known anyone. It's been a lonely time trying to find a place on earth where I feel like I belong and that feels like home. And yet, somehow, I'm not (fully) insane and I'm not depressed. 

It's like I've been walking in a storm. Debris is airborne, swarming all around me. Dust saturates the air, and pelts my eyes when I dare to open them. I see massive tornado funnels wreaking havoc, threatening to uproot me. The wind is fierce, its sound deafening. Chaos! I don't know from one moment to the next what's going to happen. I'm constantly unsure of my direction, because I can't clearly see what's ahead. Every move I make feels like a guess. If I go this way, will a stray refrigerator crash into me? Nobody knows. Does the fridge have Chipotle leftovers inside of it? I can only hope.

The most perplexing part in of all of this scene? I'm smiling. It's not because I enjoy breathing in dust (I admit it is fun), it's because I somehow feel like a juggernaut in this harsh land. Despite being blind and vulnerable in this storm of confusion (which I think accurately describes a human life in many ways), I haven't stopped moving forward. I haven't stopped making progress. If I can move forward here, what can stop me?

I've forgotten about the dust. I've ignored the debris hitting my face. I can't control those, so I'm focused on moving forward, knowing each step brings me closer to a new destination. I don't know what the next destination holds, but I know that whatever it is, it will not stop me from making progress either. If my eyes are blinded, I'll feel my way through. If a wall is in front of me, I'll climb it. If my legs are broken, I'll crawl. I may not pick the best path forward, but that's okay.

In life, circumstances and results vary, and relying on them at all will result in pain and disappointment. Money, relationships, success, power, and pleasure can be taken from you in an instant. Instead, rely on your habits, which you control. Your habits can power you through life's worst storms and constantly move you toward the life you desire. If times are good, they can send you higher and catch you if you happen to fall. If times are bad, they'll be your rocket ship to a better place. 

This message will catch you all in different places. Some will be struggling. Some will be thriving. Some will be in the middle. Wherever you are, this is equally relevant and important for your future and I hope you never forget it.

You can do nothing better than to be consistent in areas that matter to you. 

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Consistently yours,

Stephen Guise

PS. Mini Habits and How to Be an Imperfectionist are now available for purchase on Google Play.

RUSSIA 2018: 1000 days to go

milestone of 1,000 Days to Go to the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia™ was celebrated in style in Moscow, and FIFA – along with our Commercial Affiliates – ensured everyone could be part of the fun in Red Square and Manezhanya Square.

One very special guest at the fan experience in Red Square was the 2018 FIFA World Cup Winner’s Trophy, which was on display so everyone could have their photo with the most sought-after prize in football. The Winner’s Trophy, which should not be confused with the original solid gold FIFA World Cup Trophy, will be given to the winning team of the 2018 FIFA World Cup and will be theirs to keep forever as a reminder of their hard-fought victory.

Igor Kamyshev (30), one of the thousands of fans who came to Red Square for the celebration said, “I really can’t describe the feeling when you see the Trophy with your own eyes, the one you saw on TV so many times. But I know I will remember it for my whole life.” Sharing the excitement, 24-year-old Elena Makarova said: “The World Cup Trophy looks so grand and I can really understand now why there is so much passion about it. I have a feeling I took part in something iconic and that’s the moment I will be happy to remember."

Fans also had a variety of activities to try out in the Red Square Football Park with highlights including the chance to test the latest adidas football boots and get photos in the adidas locker-room, as well as a football-themed games area from Coca-Cola and a chance to create personalised Coke bottles for friends and family. adidas and Coca-Cola also participated in the Youth Programme activities ahead of the U-16 tournament organised for the day on Red Square, with both FIFA Partners providing uniforms and refreshments to volunteers, performers and special guests.

Meanwhile Hyundai offered fans face painting and a 'Goodwill Ball' for them to sign personal messages, while Kia gave everyone onsite the chance to be part of 2018 FIFA World Cup history by adding their name to the Kia 'wall' and entertained the crowd with Kia cheerleaders. FIFA Partners Gazprom and Visa also had plenty of visibility with signage around both locations.

48-year-old Victor Chuvashin expressed his joy from the day: “Great interactives here; I haven’t missed a single one. The Trophy of course made it all look so special and I think you only can see a football game in Red Square once in a lifetime.”

FIFA World Cup Sponsor McDonald’s set up an inflatable football field where football fans of all ages could play against each other and also provided player escorts to the teams as part of the Youth Programme, and Budweiser had their famous Clydesdales at Manezhanya Square alongside a BUD Alcohol Free Area for guests to relax and hangout.

Source: http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/news/y=2015/m=9/news=1-000-days-to-russia-2018-celebrated-in-style-2695756.html

Why Should You Hire An Event Management Company To Organize Your Events?

In most situations, when you have in-house staff to organize an event, employees also take care of other tasks. With this in mind, the dedication  towards the event planning will be lower. The event management companies will make money by organizing events for you. This means that there is no other thing of interest to them except the success of the event. You can easily take advantage of something like this by simply hiring professionals

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1. An event management company is experienced at planning events in the most cost effective manner, saving you both time and money.
2. Their knowledge of the event planning and prior experience enables them to incorporate special details and strive for the best possible event for you.
3. Event planners are never short of suppliers of paper goods, food or decorations. The relationship between the event management company and their suppliers entitles them to a discounted price which is to your financial gain
4. The knowledge and experience an event management company brings with them is invaluable when it comes to planning events. Their past experience has them prepared to tackle any type of emergency situation with ease.
5. The ideal location for your event can be recommended by an event management company. They can easily access avenues that might not be readily available to you. All these connections and tips mean you save money on everything you require. Being on trend is their job. For the best event, trust an experienced event management company to guide and assist you.
6. Stress reduction is the primary benefit of hiring an event management company. All of the anxiety is absorbed by them, leaving you worry-free. Preparation and management of every event detail will be as per your requirement so you can relax.
7. Event Management Companies have connections, which is a big reason why you should seriously consider such a company. The connections that these firms have guarantee that the event will be of a higher quality

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How to select the right Event Management Company

Event planners should be able to communicate, for companies this means being able to communicate with their employees.

1. A company that understands marketing and target audience
2. They should have the experience in putting together different events in the past, so they bring along that experience for your event.
3. A good company will be able to lay out a detailed plan, which will include from the beginning stages, through the day of the event.
4. The company you choose should be open to all plans during every stage of event planning.

The event management company that you choose is a major factor in having an event that is enjoyed by all participants and attendees.

MAKE SURE YOU CHOOSE THE RIGHT ONE FOR YOUR NEXT EVENT!!

source: https://eqsolutionsmedia.wordpress.com/2015/08/14/why-should-you-hire-an-event-management-company-to-organize-your-events/

WHEN TO IGNORE YOUR PROBLEMS

When to Ignore Your Problems

What matters in life? The present moment above all else, for it is all that we will ever have and it shapes our future.

Choosing what to do in the present moment is like being handed raw ingredients to cook. Why worry about tomorrow's meals or yesterday's bad stir-fry? You're hungry now, and the present moment has your ingredients.

Problems & Opportunities

The present moment holds two ingredients for action: problems and opportunities. Every single personalways has both of these. If you want to take action, you're either solving a problem or pursuing an opportunity. Think about it.

• Ouch! You just stubbed your toe (problem)
• Hey, you could practice piano now (opportunity)
• Or go to the gym (opportunity)
• You feel angry about an earlier conversation though (problem)
• Cat videos on Youtube! (proble...tunity?)
• There's plenty of beer in the fridge (opportunity... and maybe a problem)

Anything you can think of doing is solving a problem or pursuing an opportunity. Both are important, but how do you know which one to focus on? What's the ideal protocol? 

If life were perfect, there would be no problems, and only opportunities. Since life isn't perfect, we have problems, but that doesn't change the goal. We're still better off to prioritize opportunities. Why see life as a never ending chore of problem solving when you can pursue exciting opportunities? We don't live to solve problems, we solve problems in order to live better. Therefore...

The ideal way to approach the present moment is to first pursue opportunities, and if necessary, solve the problems that prevent you from doing so.

This has a few implications.

1. Solving problems is secondary unless urgent or necessary.

Imagine you're on a platform beneath a cliff and above a deep chasm, and you have a cute little scratch on your arm (that's right, it's small enough to be called a "boo boo"). Just above you, a hundred diamonds have just been thrown over the edge. The diamonds are within your reach if you'd just reach out your hand. Do you tend to your boo boo, or do you reach out and grab some diamonds?

*Ahem*

GRAB THEM DIAMONDS! Your small cut can wait, but the diamonds will be lost forever in the chasm if you don't get them now.

Your problems will always be around, but opportunities are often time-sensitive. People say to travel while you're young because your physical capabilities will decrease over time. Those people are smart. At 97 years old, you're not going to be scaling too many mountains. Opportunities fade away and new ones appear, so if you see one now that means something to you, jump on it!

Personal example: I have a time-sensitive opportunity to continue to build my book business. Mini Habitsand How to Be an Imperfectionist have done very well, but if I don't write another book in the next five years, people will mostly forget about me and my books. It's the cruel nature of the business. Therefore, I have an opportunity to finish this next book I'm working on, and while I've got plenty of problems (if you need any extra ones, let me know...), I can't and won't let them ruin this opportunity.

2. Not all problems need active solving.

It's been a lonely year for me. Why? Largely because I've moved three times in about a year to new places where I've known nobody. Loneliness has been a problem, then, but it's not something I've needed to focus on solving directly. I've actually been less lonely lately because I've been pursuing more opportunities. Pursuing opportunities like traveling has helped me meet more people, some of whom I've connected with. 

The magic of opportunities: they can solve problems unexpectedly! 

3. Not all problems can be solved.

When an athlete is injured, (s)he will immediately grab the affected area. It's human nature to focus on problems, but like an athlete who tears an ACL, trying to fix the problem in the moment isn't always possible. Only time and surgery can fix such injuries. 

Focusing on unfixable problems is one of the worst time-wasting and emotionally-draininghabits of humanity. 

This is a thin line as some seemingly unfixable problems have been fixed, and labeling something as unfixable is the surest way to keep it that way. Artificial limbs come to mind. The artificial leg was invented in 1846, so prior to that time, you'd be stuck with the ol' peg leg solution. But if you thought peg legs were the only possible solution, you'd miss the opportunity for something better, which brings me to the next point.

Problems and Opportunities May Intersect

Problems can point us to the best opportunities. Inventions throughout time are marvellous examples of opportunities pursued, but also problems solved. Planes solved the problem of slow intercontinental travel. The internet solved the problem of limited communication and the sloth-like spread of ideas. Video games and TV solved the problem of boredom and made it possible to never go outside. That created a different problem, but I digress. :-)

The takeaway from this insight? Opportunities to solve problems are some of the finest opportunities around. These are different than isolated petty problems, though. I'm not talking about curing a case of athlete's foot, I'm talking about changing the world with new ideas, helping others with their problems, and creating more efficient solutions.

Personal example: With this blog and my books, I try to come up with more effective solutions, perspectives, and strategies for optimal living and growth. It's problem solving, but it's not just for my own benefit.  

The Final Word

The big takeaway here is not to let petty problems stop you from pursuing exciting opportunities. I'm guilty of this, which is why I'm writing about it. 

Some problems are petty, and are best ignored to pursue opportunities.

• Travel despite your sore elbow.
• Write despite being sick.
• Practice piano despite feeling sad.
• Go to the gym despite being down to your last gym shirt, which is embarrassing and lame and not suitable for public viewing
• Cold call for the job despite feeling inadequate

The wrong way to go about these is to focus on the problems. Focusing on your sore elbow delays your trip. Waiting until you're no longer sick delays progress on your book. Trying to get happy again before you play piano means you won't practice as much. Refusing to wear the shirt to the gym means you'll miss a workout. Trying to feel adequate before calling for a job might not happen quickly, and even if it does, you might not get the job anyway. Sometimes it's best to act despite your problems. But not always...

Some problems are best solved in order to pursue opportunities.

• Not enough money to travel: Financial responsibility is important, and there are a number of ways to travel without destroying your finances, so it's usually best to solve this problem before you travel. First, you can travel like a budget pro! Use travel hacking to go places for cheap or free, try couch surfing for free lodging, stay in hostels for cheap and fun lodging. Second, find a way to make some spare cash. Third, set up a travel fund in which you set aside a small amount of money from your paycheck for a future trip. The solutions are numerous!
• Injured knee prevents exercise: Get surgery and/or rehabilitate the knee. Rest if necessary. Find ways to exercise without the knee.
• Not enough time to pursue side business idea: Make time for it. Shift your schedule around. Hire a virtual assistant to help. Collaborate or invest with another person who has the time to make your idea happen. 
• Relationship issues prevents enthusiasm toward life/goals: Mend or end the relationship. Then you can move on. If it's not that simple, it may be something you need to ignore as you pursue opportunities.
• Want job you aren't qualified for: Get the proper training and education. Practice your skills. 

The point of life is to pursue opportunities. Problems will get in our way sometimes, but not all of them are worth our attention. There are many problems that we put in our way that we can ignore. Being sick doesn't prevent me from writing words unless I arbitrarily decide to wait until I'm better to write. Having an injured arm doesn't mean you can't go out and have fun with friends. 

The most successful people learn to pursue exciting opportunities despite having problems. If you don't learn to do that, you'll be the person plugging leaks your entire life, waiting for the rare moment you can leave the leaky bucket to pursue an opportunity. Unfortunately, the bucket of life will always be leaking, so let's manage it as needed as we pursue more meaningful endeavors.

If I may now put on my salesman hat, the Mini Habit Mastery sale is a great opportunity. I haven't run a sale on it in 5 months, and for the next 3 days, it's only $29 with the coupon "save120". That's a steal for Udemy's best personal development course (as rated by students)!

If you wonder why I rarely cancel the weekly message for vacation or the holidays, it's because my mini habits keep me writing in all circumstances. And I hope you can tell how much effort I put into every message—these aren't rushed out to you thoughtlessly. Before mini habits, I wasn't consistent at all. Take the Mini Habit Mastery course and you will learn how to be remarkably consistent like this in the areas that matter most to you. It's easier than you think with the proper strategy!

I'll talk to you next week! In the meantime, let's all look out for opportunities and be ready to grab them.

Cheers,

Stephen Guise

CHOOSE YOUR PICK: FIVE-A-SIDE

Eden Hazard's five-a-side dream team
Zinédine Zidane
Juan Román Riquelme
Robinho
Ronaldinho
Thierry Henry

Andrea Pirlo's five-a-side dream team
Gigi Buffon
Maldini
Nesta
Pirlo
Ronaldo

Andrea Pirlo's five-a-side dream team
Busquet
Iniesta
Xavi
Messi
Valdes

Javier Zanetti's five-a-side dream teamLionel Messi
Diego Milito
Ronaldo
Diego Simeone
Javier Zanetti

source: http://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/newsid=2311093.html?autoplay=true

Generous Jovetić pays stranger's medical bills

Stevan Jovetić in action for Inter this season©AFP/Getty Images

When Milivoje Raičević tore his cruciate ligaments in August he was at a loss

.The injury was bad enough, the stuff of nightmares for any sportsperson. But then there was the question of how exactly the 22-year-old would get the medical care he needed: his club, Budućnost Podgorica, could not afford it.

Then the phone rang … it was another Montenegrin forward, Internazionale's Stevan Jovetić.

"When he heard what had happened and discovered that my club doesn't have enough money to send me to Augsburg following a misdiagnosis in Montenegro, Jovetić called me and offered his help," explains Raičević.

"He arranged for me to meet a doctor who helped him when he had the same injury [in 2010]. Jovetić covered all examination costs and also paid for surgery, which I had a few days ago in Serbia."

It is a heart-warming story, all the more so because until that initial phone call, Jovetić had never spoken to Raičević in his life. No links. Raičević plays for Budućnost; Jovetić, currently on loan from Manchester City, started out at arch-rivals Mladost.

"All I can do is say many, many thanks and promise to Stevan that I will be back next season, scoring goals for him," says Raičević.

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HIP HOP FESTIVAL- YCT

December 18
Yaba college of technology sport centre
8am-12pm
Attractions:
Cypher
Disk jockey
Rap Battle
Graffiti
Futsal (street soccer)
Dance competition
And1 (street ball)
Don't miss it

FIFA FIFPro World XI: THE CANDIDATES ARE

In 2009, FIFA and FIFPro joined forces to honour the best 11 players of the year with the FIFA FIFPro World XI award, which was presented for the first time at the 2009 FIFA World Player Gala.

The FIFA FIFPro World XI is chosen by professional football players from all over the world, who have voted for the best player in each position. From 2005 to 2008, FIFPro organised its own World XI player award, with the same selection system. The FIFA FIFPro World XI for 2015 will be announced at the FIFA Ballon d’Or award ceremony in Zurich on 11 January 2016.

The 55 candidates shortlisted for the FIFA FIFPro World XI were announced on 26 November. The candidates are:

Goalkeepers (5): Gianluigi Buffon (Italy/Juventus), Iker Casillas (Spain/FC Porto), David De Gea (Spain/Manchester United), Keylor Navas (Costa Rica/Real Madrid) and Manuel Neuer (Germany/FC Bayern Munich).

Defenders (20): David Alaba (Austria/FC Bayern Munich), Jordi Alba (Spain/FC Barcelona), Jérôme Boateng (Germany/FC Bayern Munich), Daniel Carvajal (Spain/Real Madrid), Giorgio Chiellini (Italy/Juventus), Dani Alves (Brazil/FC Barcelona), David Luiz (Brazil/Paris Saint-Germain), Diego Godín (Uruguay/Atletico Madrid), Mats Hummels (Germany/Borussia Dortmund), Branislav Ivanović (Serbia/Chelsea), Vincent Kompany (Belgium/Manchester City), Philipp Lahm (Germany/FC Bayern Munich), Marcelo (Brazil/Real Madrid), Javier Mascherano (Argentina/FC Barcelona), Pepe (Portugal/Real Madrid), Gerard Piqué (Spain/FC Barcelona), Sergio Ramos (Spain/Real Madrid), John Terry (England/Chelsea), Thiago Silva (Brazil/Paris Saint-Germain) and Raphaël Varane (France/Real Madrid).

Midfielders (15): Thiago Alcântara (Spain/FC Bayern Munich), Xabi Alonso (Spain/FC Bayern Munich), Sergio Busquets (Spain/FC Barcelona), Eden Hazard (Belgium/Chelsea), Andrés Iniesta (Spain/FC Barcelona), Toni Kroos (Germany/Real Madrid), Luka Modrić (Croatia/Real Madrid), Andrea Pirlo (Italy/New York City FC), Paul Pogba (France/Juventus), Ivan Rakitić (Croatia/FC Barcelona), James Rodríguez (Colombia/Real Madrid), David Silva (Spain/Manchester City), Yaya Touré (Ivory Coast/Manchester City), Marco Verratti (Italy/Paris Saint-Germain) and Arturo Vidal (Chile/FC Bayern Munich).

Strikers (15): Sergio Agüero (Argentina/Manchester City), Gareth Bale (Wales/Real Madrid), Karim Benzema (France/Real Madrid), Douglas Costa (Brazil/FC Bayern Munich), Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal/Real Madrid), Zlatan Ibrahimović (Sweden/Paris Saint-Germain), Robert Lewandowski (Poland/FC Bayern Munich), Lionel Messi (Argentina/FC Barcelona), Thomas Müller (Germany/FC Bayern Munich), Neymar (Brazil/FC Barcelona), Arjen Robben (Netherlands/FC Bayern Munich), Wayne Rooney (England/Manchester United), Alexis Sánchez (Chile/Arsenal), Luis Suárez (Uruguay/FC Barcelona) and Carlos Tevez (Argentina/Boca Juniors).

FIFA GOAL OF THE YEAR (PUSKA AWARD): THE FINALIST

• • 

    Italy
  

• Wendell Lira

  • 

    Brazil
• 

  Lionel Messi

  • 

    Argentina