Extract from Rich Dad Network Article Written by: Robert Kiyosaki
How to overcome fear of failure and build a mindset for wealth.
Over the years, I've done a lot of research on the brain. The reason why I became so interested in the brain was because I often observed that people generally say one thing but do another. I was curious as to why this was the case.
For instance, I might ask a person, "Do you want to be rich?" His response would be, "Yes," but instead of doing what is required to become rich, he will often do things that instead make him poorer, not richer.
An example of this would be a man who has a great investment opportunity with a great potential for return and instead saves his money and passes on the investment. Another example would be a woman who has a growing business that requires her to quit her job to go to the next level but instead closes her business and stays as an employee.
These are decisions ruled by fear, which is what often rules our brains. In my studies, I discovered that there are three basic parts to our brain.
The left brain
This part of your brain is generally accessed for reading, writing, speaking, and logic. It’s the kids who do well in school that are left-brained. And left-brained people excel at such professions as writer, scientist, lawyer, accountant, and schoolteacher.
The right brain
This part of your brain is generally accessed for pictures, art, music, and other things associated with creativity and imagination. Right-brained people don’t always excel in school because they don’t thrive in rigid environments. Designers, architects, musicians, and other creative are generally dominated by right-brain thinking.
The subconscious brain
The subconscious brain includes the “old brain,” often called the primitive brain and is most like an animal’s brain. Because of this, it’s the most powerful part of our brain.
The subconscious brain doesn’t think. It reacts. It fights, flees, or freezes. The subconscious brain also involves our intrapersonal intelligence, how we relate to others in a given situation. Because of this, intrapersonal intelligence is the biggest factor in whether or not you will be successful or a failure in life, love, health, and money.
Can you control the subconscious?
The short answer is yes.
Those with a high, intrapersonal intelligence have the ability to control their subconscious brain’s desire to fight, flee or freeze. They have the intelligence required to choose the appropriate subconscious response to a given situation. This means that if they’re angry, they can remain calm. If they’re afraid, they can confront and overcome their fear.
Most people don’t have the ability to control their subconscious, and most people are ruled by the fear that lives in their subconscious.
If you want to be rich, learning to control your subconscious mind before thinking and making decisions is vital.
Choosing to be rich
For most people, fear of failure holds them back. Teachers use this fear of failure to motivate people in school. “If you don’t study hard, you won’t get a good job.” Bosses use it to motivate you to work hard. “If you don’t work long hours, you’ll be fired.” For many, fear is a prison that holds them back from their potential.
For example, I have an attorney friend who earned straight A’s at Harvard. He’s one of the smartest men I know. He wants to change, but he can’t. He wants to do something new, but he’s afraid of failing and not making enough money. He told me, “I’ve been an attorney for so long that I don’t know what else to do. Who will pay me what I’m making now?” He’s left-brained and controlled by his subconscious brain.
The problem for my friend, and for many people, is that he primarily spends his time with people who think, act and talk like him. He can’t stop thinking, acting and talking like an employee because every person and environment he engages reinforces the mindset of an employee in his subconscious.
In order for my friend to change his mindset, he must change his environment. The same is true for anyone who wishes to become rich.
If you want to be an entrepreneur, start hanging out with entrepreneurs. If you want to be an investor, start hanging out with investors. As you change your environment, you’ll see your mind begin to change as well.
This is a choice, and it’s not an easy one. The easy choice is to continue doing what you’re already doing. The hard choice is to beginning the process of changing your mindset—the process of choosing to be rich.
Are You a Mosquito Magnet?
By Elizabeth Heubeck (WebMD Feature)
You’re trying your best to enjoy an evening cookout, but a constant swarm of mosquitoes follows you from grill to poolside. The threat? A pierce to your skin, leaving behind an itchy red welt and possibly even a serious illness. As you swat madly at the pests, you notice that others seem completely unfazed. Could it be that mosquitoes prefer to bite some people over others?
The short answer is yes. Mosquitoes do exhibit blood-sucking preferences, say the experts. "One in 10 people are highly attractive to mosquitoes," reports Jerry Butler, PhD, professor emeritus at the University of Florida. But it's not dinner they're sucking out of you. Female mosquitoes -- males do not bite people -- need human blood to develop fertile eggs. And apparently, not just anyone's will do.
Who Mosquitoes Like Best
Although researchers have yet to pinpoint what mosquitoes consider an ideal hunk of human flesh, the hunt is on. "There's a tremendous amount of research being conducted on what compounds and odors people exude that might be attractive to mosquitoes," says Joe Conlon, PhD, technical advisor to the American Mosquito Control Association. With 400 different compounds to examine, it's an extremely laborious process. "Researchers are just beginning to scratch the surface," he says.
Scientists do know that genetics account for a whopping 85% of our susceptibility to mosquito bites. They've also identified certain elements of our body chemistry that, when found in excess on the skin's surface, make mosquitoes swarm closer.
"People with high concentrations of steroids or cholesterol on their skin surface attract mosquitoes," Butler tells WebMD. That doesn't necessarily mean that mosquitoes prey on people with higher overall levels of cholesterol, Butler explains. These people simply may be more efficient at processing cholesterol, the byproducts of which remain on the skin's surface.
Mosquitoes also target people who produce excess amounts of certain acids, such as uric acid, explains entomologist John Edman, PhD, spokesman for the Entomological Society of America. These substances can trigger mosquitoes' sense of smell, luring them to land on unsuspecting victims.
But the process of attraction begins long before the landing. Mosquitoes can smell their dinner from an impressive distance of up to 50 meters, explains Edman. This doesn't bode well for people who emit large quantities of carbon dioxide.
"Any type of carbon dioxide is attractive, even over a long distance," Conlon says. Larger people tend to give off more carbon dioxide, which is why mosquitoes typically prefer munching on adults to small children. Pregnant women are also at increased risk, as they produce a greater-than-normal amount of exhaled carbon dioxide. Movement and heat also attract mosquitoes.
So if you want to avoid an onslaught of mosquito bites at your next outdoor gathering, stake out a chaise lounge rather than a spot on the volleyball team. Here's why. As you run around the volleyball court, the mosquitoes sense your movement and head toward you. When you pant from exertion, the smell of carbon dioxide from your heavy breathing draws them closer. So does the lactic acid from your sweat glands. And then -- gotcha.
With a long track record -- mosquitoes have been around for 170 million years -- and more than 175 known species in the U.S., these shrewd summertime pests clearly aren't going to disappear any time soon. But you can minimize their impact.
Keeping the Bite at Bay: Chemical-Based Mosquito Repellents
Plenty of mosquito repellents line the shelves of drugstores and supermarkets each summer, but they're not all created equally.The majority of available mosquito repellents derive their effectiveness from chemicals. Protecting the public from mosquitoes since 1957, DEET continues to be the chemical of choice used in repellents. In repeated studies, it's been proven the most effective chemical repellent on the market.
Repellents with 23.8% DEET (most formulas contain between 10% and 30%) protect wearers for about five hours, according to a study led by Mark Fradin, PhD, a researcher with Chapel Hill Dermatology.
Just how safe is it to coat yourself in DEET to keep from getting bitten by mosquitoes? "[DEET] has been in use for over 40 years and has a remarkable safety record. Only few hospitalizations have been reported, mainly due to gross overuse," Conlon tells WebMD. The American Academy of Pediatrics states that low concentrations of DEET (10% or less) are safe to use on infants over 2 months old.
DEET, though the most well-known, isn’t the only chemical used in mosquito repellents.
In 2005, the CDC began recommending alternatives to DEET for repelling mosquitoes. Picaridin, fairly new to the U.S., has been used worldwide since 1998. Marketed as Cutter Advanced, picaridin has proven to be as effective as DEET but is said to be more pleasant to use because it is odorless and contains a light, clean feel. Picaridin is safe for children older than 2 months.
The chemical IR3535, better known as Avon's Skin-So-Soft, also has been marketed as a mosquito repellent in the U.S. in recent years. To date, research shows it's much less effective than DEET.
Then there’s metofluthrin. This new chemical, approved by the EPA in 2006 as a mosquito repellent, “is selling like hotcakes,” Conlon tells WebMD. Sold as DeckMate Mosquito Repellent, it’s available in two forms. As a paper strip, you place it in outdoor areas like patios and decks. You can also wear it. As a personal repellent product, it comes in a small container with a replaceable cartridge. Clipped onto a belt or clothing, it relies on a battery-powered fan to release the mosquito repellent into the area, surrounding and protecting the wearer. It is not applied to the skin.
Alternatives to Chemical-based Mosquito Repellents
If you want to avoid chemical-based repellents altogether, a few promising alternatives do exist.
"Of the products we tested, the soybean oil-based repellent was able to protect from mosquito bites for about 1.5 hours," Fradin reports. He and fellow researchers found other oils -- citronella, cedar, peppermint, lemongrass, and geranium -- provide short-lived protection at best.
Oil of eucalyptus products, however, may offer longer-lasting protection, preliminary studies show. Endorsed by the CDC, oil of lemon eucalyptus is available under the Repel brand name and offers protection similar to low concentrations of DEET. Lemon eucalyptus is safe for children older than 3 years.
In the last few years, nonchemical repellents worn as skin patches and containing thiamine (vitamin B1) have arrived in some big-box stores under the name Don’t Bite Me! The science behind this repellent comes from a study done in the 1960s. It showed that thiamine (B1) produces a skin odor female mosquitoes don't like. But no other studies have confirmed thiamine's effectiveness as a mosquito repellent when worn on the skin. Chari Kauffmann, president of the company that sells skin patch called Don’t Bite Me!, says studies on the product are ongoing, though the company has no conclusions to report.
Driving Mosquitoes Away
Hate to spray or slather yourself with any product, either chemical- or plant-based, but want to prevent mosquitoes from landing on you?
Mosquito traps, a relatively new product, may be the answer. They work by emitting substances that biting mosquitoes find attractive -- such as carbon dioxide, heat, moisture, and other mosquito-friendly byproducts. They attract, then trap or kill female mosquitoes. When placed strategically near breeding spots, "they have knocked [mosquito] populations down," Conlon tells WebMD.
One new fad in mosquito protection doubles as a fashion statement. It’s insect shield repellent apparel -- clothing infused with the chemical insecticide permethrin. Marketed as a must-have for outdoor enthusiasts, Conlon says the military has used this method for several years. “I wore them in the jungles of South Africa; I would recommend them to anyone going out into the woods,” he tells WebMD.
Take time to look at the big picture — in your yard, that is. It’s part of a process that Greg Baumann, senior scientist with the National Pest Management Association Inc., calls integrated pest management, and it involves identifying invasive pests in your surroundings and taking corrective actions against them. This means finding and eliminating standing water, which serves as an ideal breeding ground for mosquitoes. Clogged gutters, the crevices of plastic toys, garbage cans, rain barrels without screened covers, and bird baths are some of the biggest neighborhood breeding grounds, Baumann says.
How Risky Are Mosquito Bites?
A mosquito bite can mean much more than a few days of itching. For some people, they can cause severe allergic reactions. Plus, there are mosquito-transmitted illnesses. The West Nile virus made its first appearance in the U.S. in 1999. That year, New York confirmed 62 cases and seven deaths. By 2008, the number of cases had escalated substantially. In 2008 alone, the CDC reported 1,356 cases of West Nile throughout the U.S. and 44 deaths. In 2009 and 2010, outbreaks of dengue fever were reported in the U.S. Then there’s malaria, an oft-forgotten mosquito-transmitted disease. “We don’t think about it, but a million people worldwide die of malaria every year,” Baumann says.
Although malaria outbreaks in the U.S. are few and far between, the same can’t be said for West Nile, which Conlon says "is probably here to stay." And with it, the age-old, ever-adaptable mosquito.
Exercise Motivation: How to Get It, How to Keep It
Hate to exercise? These 10 tips can help you find the motivation for working out.
Reviewed By Brunilda Nazario, MD
Debbe Geiger admits it: Her motivation to exercise was zero and had been for years. She could summarize her feelings about exercise in two words. “It stinks,” says Geiger, of Cary, N.C.
Her thinking changed when she finally found her exercise motivation: commitment to a team.
Geiger joined a volleyball team -- after much urging from friends who wanted her to play with them -- and now she doesn’t want to let her teammates down. She’s at the gym with a convert’s fervor on game nights.
“There have been lots of reasons I could have missed, and I haven’t,” Geiger says proudly.
Geiger’s experience illustrates what exercise experts have learned through research and practice over the years: To succeed in sticking to an exercise routine, people need a reason to carry on when that little voice inside says, "Sit on the couch. Have a doughnut."
There are plenty of reasons we should be exercising. Not only does exercise help us reach and maintain a healthy body weight, it also can help lower blood pressure, "bad" cholesterol and trigycerides; strengthen bones; lower the risk for cancer; help us battle depression; and decrease stress. Many experts say it even improves our sex lives.
So we all know exercise is good for us. Why do so many of us hate it?
“We may have had a bad experience in school, or maybe we’re afraid we’ll hurt ourselves,” says Carla Sottovia, assistant director of fitness at the highly esteemed Cooper Fitness Institute in Dallas. “Maybe they’re even afraid to sweat.”
Intimidation is a factor also, experts say. When you're out of shape, it takes courage to don workout duds and head for the gym.
If any of this sounds familiar, don't give up hope. Experts who spoke to WebMD, as well as fitness buffs who say they once hated to work out, offered some tips to help even exercise-haters learn to love it.
Tip No. 1: Be Realistic
One of the biggest reasons for failure is that first-time exercisers often set unrealistic goals.
“They want to go for maximal goals, but they tend to get overwhelmed,” says Gerald Endress, fitness director of the Duke Diet and Fitness Center in Durham, N.C.
Don’t start off trying to work out an hour every day. Instead, begin with 20-30 minutes of your chosen exercise two to three times a week.
Tip No. 2: Keep Track of Your Progress
Don't forget to chart your progress, whether it's with a high-tech online tracker or an old-fashioned fitness journal. Seeing incremental improvements, whether it's in improved time, increased reps, or greater frequency of workouts, can boost your exercise motivation.
“I need to see the value,” says Jay Aronson, a professor of management information systems at the University of Georgia who cycles every day for at least an hour. For his part, Aronson has seen the value of exercise -- he lost 75 pounds over two years.
Tip No. 3: Don't Expect Perfection
Another pitfall is all-or-nothing thinking, a perfectionist way of looking at life that leads to giving up when you miss a day or two or your workout doesn’t go well. If you accept going in that there will be some sidesteps on your fitness journey, you’ll be better mentally prepared to deal with setbacks, Endress says.
Expect that you'll get sick from time to time, and be psychologically prepared to miss a few days of exercise when that happens. Don’t let it be an excuse for giving up. "From then on, people say ‘I can’t exercise,'" say Endress. "But there’s always a way to exercise."
To keep injuries from sidelining you, do your best to prevent them by warming up, cooling down, stretching properly -- and not doing too much too soon.
Tip No. 4: Don't Compare Yourself to Others
We’ve all seen them, those toned, fatless specimens who strut through the gym in their Barbie-sized shorts and sports bras.
Don’t compare yourself to them, Endress says. Forget about them. Forgive them. But do not let them deter you from your goal.
Tip No. 5: Get Athletic Support
This isn’t about garments but about spouses, girlfriends, boyfriends, buddies -- anyone who will encourage you. And if their encouragement goes beyond the “atta-boy” or “atta-girl” approach, gently remind them that you don’t need nagging.
"The person should be in support, but not say, 'Oh, why not?' or 'Why can’t you? It’s so easy,'" says Sottovia.
If you need additional help, hire a trainer, she advises.
Tip No. 6: Find the Fun In It
It’s essential to find an activity you like, say both Sottovia and Endress, and no, they don’t mean sitting on the couch. With an explosion in the number and types of fitness classes at most gyms, it has become easier to find something to appeal to you, from aerobics to Zumba.
If you're not the gym type, walk around your neighborhood or try activities around the house, such as walking up and down stairs or dancing with the stars in your living room. If you're motivated by being social, follow Geiger's lead and join a team.
Tip No. 7: Break It Up
You can make it easier on yourself by splitting your exercise session into two or three sessions, says Endress. Research supports the idea that this can be as beneficial as one long workout, he says.
So if you don’t feel like exercising for an hour on any given day, do three sessions of 20 minutes each, for example.
Tip No. 8: Make It Convenient
Do whatever you can to remove obstacles to exercise, and make it as convenient as possible, says Sottovia.
So if you are time-pressed, for example, don't spend time driving to a gym; try exercising at home to fitness DVDs instead. If you're too tired to work out at the end of the day, set your alarm a little earlier and exercise in the morning.
Tip No. 9: Forget the Past
Don't let previous bad experiences with exercise hinder you, Sottovia says.
So maybe you weren’t the most athletic kid in high school, and were the last chosen for class games. That was years ago. Your goal now is not to win a letter jacket or make the cheerleading squad -- you want to exercise to stay healthy and enjoy your life.
Tip No. 10: Reward Yourself
Endress recommends rewarding yourself for making the effort to exercise -- not with a piece of chocolate cake, but with something that you enjoy, like a movie or flowers.
Try to think of treats that will reinforce a mind-body connection so you can savor the rewards of your hard work. Plan a short trip, or just an hour in a botanical garden. Go to a ballgame. And remind yourself with each precious moment that you are enjoying this time because of all the great things you have been doing for yourself.
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