Are you wasting time commuting to and from work? Listening to music can be an escape but nowadays time is at a premium, so many people are choosing to use that valuable time for listening to audio books. Long commutes are definitely an ideal time to listen to downloadable audio books particularly for busy people that don’t have the time to read books. Here is a list of some the other great times to listen to audio books:

*Commuting
*Biking
*Jogging
*Working Out at the Gym
*Traveling for Business or Pleasure
*Gardening
*Knitting
*Cooking
*Doing Housework

You can easily add to this list based on all the dead time you find in your day to day routines.

Why Listen to an Audio Book versus music?

Audio books and books in general expand your universe. Many times we don’t have the time to get additional training at work or find the latest and greatest advice and tips on aging or parenting but you generally can find the time to listen. By listening you can grow, learn, and discover passions that you never dreamed of. With downloadable audio books you can learn a language, hear the latest biographies or the latest best selling thrillers. As a music lover I can tell you that there is room for both but learning to me has always been more important since I know we are in an increasingly competitive world where knowledge is not a luxury but a must.

Aren’t Audio Books Expensive?

If you have not been exposed to audio books you may think that audio books are expensive. In some cases that may be true but they are available in a variety of different ways. Believe it or not some still come on cassette tape. Typically the ones you see sold in the stores are on CD. But the new trend is toward MP3 audio books. These are downloadable from the internet. Our audio book store specializes in downloadable audio books. Downloadable audio books tend to be less expensive than CDs since you decide whether you want to burn it on CD or whether you want to transfer it from your computer to your portable media player. Downloadable audio books are usually available in MP3 and WMA formats.

Searching audio books online can be confusing at first but once your find the store you like and are comfortable with the formats they offer you just then need to make sure they have the titles you want. Many sites have users sign up for a monthly fee similar to Netflix where they rent audio books. This works for some people if they are renting enough titles to make it worth the fees. Some stores like ours offer great deals and a wide selection without the commitment of paying a monthly fee.

Audio books are available across all interests. They are just not business or training types of books. Fiction typically is the most popular with the like of Dean Koontz and Stephen King. Many women like to listen to romances as they do their house work. A luxury that they can feel less guilty about since an audio book allows you to multitask.

In conclusion the convenience of listening an audio book can’t be beat. Whether you prefer to have your audio books on a compact disc, on your computer, your pda or other portable media player, you are sure to find something to suit your needs online. You no longer need to trek down to your local library or bookstore you can buy an audio book and download it right your computer. The internet has truly transformed our lives. By allowing us to download an audio book that you can listen to instantly it opens the floodgates to a new path of productivity and multitasking.

Many years ago, while on a training course, a lecturer burst into the room in a bad mood.

I sat on a table of six and we all thought it was because of something we’d done the night before – largely because we’d all had a bit too much to drink and had got up to some boyish antics. But that wasn’t it.

The bad mood actually had nothing to do with us at all. It had been staged to make a point.

The point being communicated to us on that day was how a first impression counts and how it effects other people.

Why am I telling you this?

A few years ago I discovered that some days I found it easy to get. While on other days I didn’t want to get up at all. I then found that the days I wanted to get up were the days when I was doing something I enjoyed or was looking forward to.

Then I found that when I was getting up to do something entertaining I enjoyed the process of getting up. In fact when I had set it up before going to be, I even woke up with a smile – in the same way I do when it’s my birthday!

So I made a list of the ten things I love doing first thing in the morning and made sure that the first part of my day involved being with as many of these things as possible.

I love ‘sunshine’ music like Bill Withers Lovely day, Katrina and the Waves, Walking on Sunshine, Louis Armstrong’s What a Wonderful World, the less-known Boo Radleys, Wake up it’s a Beautiful Morning and I’m too Sexy for My Shirt, by Right Said Fred. I often play these.

I love running or walking in the cool of the morning just as the sun rises over the Mendip hills and the heat immediately begins to penetrate my skin.

Other things that can set me up for the day are taking a meditative walk in the garden with a hot drink in my hands and taking a slow shower and letting the water tingle over my shoulders.

I also like things that make me laugh in the mornings U tube has become a real plus in this way.

The scene in Anger Management when Jack Nicholson screeches Adam Sandler to a halt and then forces him to ‘De-fluster’ by singing ‘I feel pretty’, is a favorite. As the rush hour drivers zipped by shouting insults this clip made me laugh harder than almost any movie scene I can remember. Have a look here

Recently a friend tipped us off on the Laughing yoga, since then he’s become a regular at the beginning of my working day. My daughter also loves Guinea pigs fighting over cucumber and this has sent her off to school skipping down the road and laughing.

If I’m feeling political or have a feeling that the world is not all it could be I enjoy a little Endless Love between two political leaders. Click here

So why am I saying all this?

I believe making the right impression is important, but especially important when you make it on yourself. Lots of people want to know how to manifest their hearts desire.

They see these things as a house or a car or a holiday, but when it’s all stripped down all any of us want is happiness and love.

We find happiness and love much more readily when we put a smile on our face, feel at peace and can see beauty in other people.

I don’t know about you, but I haven’t yet been approached by someone offering me my dreams when I’m scowling, but I have been offered some wonderful opportunities when I’m laughing and smiling. Perhaps a laugh is attractive – or attracting.

1. Make a list of at least six things that help you to feel good first thing in the morning.

2. On any day you don’t want to get up, allow yourself a few extra minutes to do something you’ll really enjoy.

3. Send me your list. I’d love to know what helps you create a good first impression on yourself first thing in the morning!

With Love and good wishes

Neil

There are times in a person’s life when they may feel stuck. They may be in a situation that is making them unhappy, however they are lacking the motivation or extra push they need to help them create positive change in their life. Sometimes they are not even sure what it is that they want.

If a person is unclear as to what their goal is, they can take a look at each area of their life. Those areas may include: Family, friends, health, career, finances, physical location, hobbies, and also their love life. They can begin by determining on a scale of one to ten (ten being best) how they feel about each of those areas of their life. After they determine which area has the lowest number, they can then think about what they can do to make that area a “ten”.

Once a person has determined what their goal (or dream) is, they can then begin to focus on it by determining what steps they need to take in order to get there. One thing to consider is that even though a person may not be happy with their current situation, it was that situation that launched their dream. So it is important to appreciate where a person is in their life, which helps to create a positive mental attitude. This attitude can help to move a person in the right direction more quickly.

Also, it is a good idea for a person to surround themselves with other people who have similar goals. This support system can add more motivation, and can provide even more ideas which will help them to reach their goal. Determination is very important, because the person who did not reach their goal is usually the one who gave up before they reached the “finish line”. (Consider that Thomas Edison tried 700 times before inventing the light bulb.) Sometimes, a person simply needs to keep trying and not give up.

For someone who could use some extra motivation, a personal life coach can help them to find out what they want, and can help inspire them to get there. Also, a hypnotherapist can provide positive visualization, which helps people to reach their goal more quickly by using the power of the subconscious mind. Combining the two techniques can really help a person to create positive change in their life.