Duncan Nugget #40: For the Haters and the Doubters

Here are a hater...there a hater...everywhere a hater, hater...

Grrr...

They are everywhere aren't they?!

Yes, they are.

I'm fired up because a good friend of mine on Facebook is all distraught right now. He feels like everybody is hating on him. This is what I explained to him:

For some reason the more successful you become, the more haters you have. I don't know why it works like that, but it does.

Even though you already know that people's opinions shouldn't really matter, when someone is constantly shooting down your dreams and hating on you, that can be painful and challenging but...

Regardless of what anyone—especially haters and doubters—thinks about you, realize that…

A person’s definition of you does not define you.

Million Dollar Question:
If you know that someone is a hater, 
why should you care what he or she has to say?

HINT: You shouldn't!




(Adapted from My Success Journal for Young People)

Best and Worst Cities For Internships

Bundle just released a list of best and worst cities for internships. Did your city make the list?

The best? Atlanta. The worst? Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Check out the entire list on Bundle:

The best and worst cities for unpaid internships

Duncan Nugget #303: Impact

My son, Mekhi, is fascinated with dinosaurs. Recently, he and I were watching a documentary on the possible causes for the extinction of the dinosaurs. The show talked the devastating impact of the meteor that created the Chicxulub (CHEEK-sha-loob) crater. Which is 110mi. (180ki.) in diameter. The impact was 2 million times greater than the most explosive man made device. That's mind boggling.

This made me wonder: Can a human generate that type of impact? Of course not. Nevertheless, your ideas and actions can still have a timeless impact on the world.

The impact you have on the lives of others is the true measuring stick for what you do with your life. It could be positive impact, a negative impact, or no impact.

Million-Dollar Question:

What are you doing to make sure you have a lasting
positive impact on the lives of other people?

14 colleges with the best overall dorms | USA TODAY College

There's an article on the  USA TODAY College website that lists the colleges with the best dorms.

1. Georgia State University

2. University of Missouri-Columbia

3. Winona State University

Go here to see the rest of the list: 14 colleges with the best overall dorms | USA TODAY College

Duncan Nugget #307: Devastated, But Not Defeated

Watch it on Vimeo? Duncan Nugget #307
_____________________________________



I was recently saw someone's status on Facebook: "Feeling a little bit defeated."

I immediately responded with Duncan Nugget #307:

You are too strong to be defeated. Are you experiencing a temporary setback? Maybe. Can you feel the frustration? Sure.

But defeated? Never.

Life may leave you devastated, but you are never defeated.

Million-Dollar Question:

Isn't it time for a comeback?

How to Land a College Scholarship

Video from the Today Show on how to find a scholarships for college. Land a College Scholarship

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

What Kind of Car Would Your Mom or Dad Buy You?

Would your mom or dad buy you a $360,000 car? Diddy did for his son, Justin. How do you say thanks for that?!

The Craziest Purchases By The World’s Five Richest Rappers

Announcing Teen Voices’ 20 Under 20 Short Story Competition! | Teen Voices

A lot of you have been asking me about getting your fiction writing published. Check this out.

Announcing Teen Voices’ 20 Under 20 Short Story Competition! | Teen Voices

Best Online Colleges: The Top Online Universities and Schools

Here's a site that helps you find the best online colleges based on your preferences.

Best Online Colleges: The Top Online Universities and Schools

Duncan Nugget #223: Under Your Control?

After a setback, many people spend too much time agonizing over things they have little or no control over. So, when you are preparing for your next opportunity, do a little inventory.

Identify what is and isn't under your control.

Make a list of everything that must happen in order for your opportunity to be a successful endeavor. Next, label each item on your list as “under your control” or “not under your control.”

Now, take action on what's under your control.

For example, being well prepared for an interview is under your control. Being the most qualified and experienced person for the job isn't under your control. Chances are, you cannot do anything about who else is being interviewed for the position.

WARNING: Be careful of passing the buck or playing the blame game.

Million-Dollar Question:

Are you being completely honest about 

what is and isn't under your control?

Operation HOPE Raises Nearly A Billion Dollars for Underserved Communities

Here's an excerpt from a news release I just read on Operation HOPE. This is a staggering accomplishment.

LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--In continuing its mission to help under-resourced individuals build wealth globally, financial literacy and economic empowerment, nonprofit Operation HOPE, Inc. (HOPE) celebrated its 19th anniversary, announcing that it has cumulatively raised and directed nearly $1 billion in support of low-income communities in the U.S. and worldwide...

You can read the entire news release here.

Duncan Nugget #53: Soft Skills Make All The Difference

Watch it on Vimeo? Duncan Nugget #53
_____________________________________


Hard skills—technical skills—might get you an interview. They could land you a job. They might even get you some business.

But hard skills combined with great soft skills such as: communication skills, leadership skills, teamwork, Emotional Intelligence, self-motivation, customer service, and conflict resolution—will put you in an entirely different league.

Soft skills will get you the job and the promotion. Soft skills will get you the business and a relationship that keeps them coming back.

So, read a book, take a class (like public speaking), or join an organization. Better yet do all three.

Work on your soft skills. They make all the difference.

Million-Dollar Question:

How committed are you 

to improving your soft skills?

Duncan Nugget #221: Never Convict An Innocent Person

[VIDEO]

Setbacks and failure can leave a person wallowing in the mud of past misery. Unless you are a cute, little piggy you have no business splashing around in the mud!

Humans are the only creatures on this planet that willingly live the same misery over and over again.

You imagine it. You experience it. You remember it.

Too many people continuously convict themselves for past mistakes and mishaps. It makes no sense to constantly punish yourself in the present for an honest mistake you made in the past

“I made an honest mistake. Now I know better, so I’ll do better.”

If that statement is true for you, then you need to give yourself a pardon. Otherwise, you’re convicting the new and improved you (an innocent person) for something that the old you did.

Never convict an innocent person.

Million-Dollar Question:

What do you need to pardon (forgive) yourself for?

Americas Promise Alliance - 100 Best Communities for Young People

Trying to figure out where to live? Check this out:

Americas Promise Alliance - 100 Best Communities for Young People

2011 College Scholarships | WyzAnt Tutoring

Here are some more scholarship opportunities.

2011 College Scholarships | WyzAnt Tutoring

Help with My Brother?

Q: I have a personal question to ask about my brother. Your story of your brother kind of taught me, because I am sort of in the same situation. My younger brother is acting up. He used to be this passionate kid. He worked harder than hard working. He would always be in competition with me. If I got an B in a class he had to get an A. He used to cry at the sight of even having less than an A-. Know-a-days as he is in high school I have no idea where his motivation went. He is doing horrible in school. He is basically failing every class and does not care. He is also behaving bad too, from talking back to my mother to stealing the cars at my house for a joy ride. He is only 16 years old. I tried talking to him, but all he does is shake me off. I do not know what to do. Do you have any input?

Wow. That's a tough situation.

I admire your determination to help your brother and as long as you continue to be a great student you will be an outstanding example for him.

But, real talk, you can't change him (or anybody else for that matter.) You can influence a person, but he has to make the change. If you are only a year or two older than your brother then it might be hard to get him to listen to you or respect your advice.

The main thing you should do is help your brother find a mentor.

Read more »

Blame it on the...

Someone recently reminded me about this story. You've probably read it before because it's easy to find. Nevertheless, it's a cool little story about blame.

"This is the story of four people named Everybody, Somebody, Anybody, and Nobody. There was an important job to be done and Everybody was asked to do it. Anybody could have done it, but Nobody did it.

Somebody got angry about that, because it was Everybody's job.
Everybody thought Anybody could do it, but Nobody realized that Everybody wouldn't do it.

Consequently, it wound up that Nobody told Anybody, so Everybody blamed Somebody. And nothing got done."