周五 (11/6) 1.自我防衛 2.日本飲酒文化

 新埔捷運站1號出口 旁邊7-11巷子進入20公尺 看到夏朵美髮左轉 

板橋區文化路一段421巷11弄1號 (陽光甜味咖啡館)

自我防衛

Self-Defense Moves Every Woman Should Practice
Healthline
 
TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — After a Malaysian woman went missing on Wednesday (Oct. 28), police on Thursday (Oct. 29) apprehended a suspect, who confessed to killing her by strangulation and disposing of her body.
 
A 24-year-old Malaysian surnamed Chung (鍾) who was studying in Tainan went missing on the evening of Oct. 28. An initial police investigation determined that she had been abducted, and the next day, police apprehended a suspect surnamed Liang (梁), who confessed to killing Chung and discarding her body, reported CNA.
----
Walking home alone and feeling uneasy? Getting a weird vibe from a stranger on the bus? Many of us have been there.
 
In a January 2018 survey of 1,000 women nationwide, 81 percent reported experiencing some form of sexual harassment, assault, or both in their lifetime.
 
Verbal harassment was the most common form, but 51 percent of women said they were touched or groped in an unwelcome way, while 27 percent of women survived sexual assault.
 
Even if you’ve personally never felt yourself in a situation that made you feel physically unsafe, having reassurance about your next steps (and what you can do to help yourself should the unfortunate circumstance ever happen) can make all the difference.
 
A study from the University of Oregon found that women who participated in a self-defense class felt they:
 
    had better safety strategies in place
    were more equipped to deal with strangers, and people they know, in the context of potential assault or abuse
    had more positive feelings about their bodies
    had increased self-confidence
 
Below are our top eight self-defense moves for women — complete with instructions — to help you feel empowered to defend yourself in any situation.
 
Focus on your attacker’s vulnerable places: eyes, nose, throat, and groin. Aim all of the moves below at one or several of these areas to have maximum impact.
 
    Avoid the chest and knees
 
    Don’t aim for the chest, as that tends to be ineffective. Aiming for the knees requires a specific kick that can be too risky for the average person.
 
Use all of your force and aggression during execution. Make it known that you’re a powerful lady. Use your voice, too. Be loud to intimidate the attacker and create attention in case somebody is nearby.
1. Hammer strike
 
Using your car keys is one of the easiest ways to defend yourself. Don’t use your fingernails, because you’re more at risk to injure your hands.
 
Instead, if you feel unsafe while walking at night, have your keys stick out from one side of your fist for hammer strikes.
 
Another way to use your keys is to click them onto a lanyard to swing at your attacker.
 
To perform:
 
    Hold your key ring in a tight fist, like holding a hammer, with keys extending from the side of your hand.
    Thrust downward toward your target.
 
2. Groin kick
 
If someone is coming at you from the front, a groin kick may deliver enough force to paralyze your attacker, making your escape possible.
 
To perform:
 
    Stabilize yourself as best you can.
    Lift your dominant leg off the ground and begin to drive your knee upward.
    Extend your dominant leg, drive hips forward, slightly lean back, and kick forcefully, making contact between your lower shin or ball of your foot and the attacker’s groin area.
 
Alternative: If your attacker is too close, thrust your knee toward the groin. Make sure you’re stabilized and not at risk of falling over.
3. Heel palm strike
 
This move can cause damage to the nose or throat. To execute, get in front of your attacker as much as is possible.
 
To perform:
    With your dominant hand, flex your wrist.
    Aim for either the attacker’s nose, jabbing upward from the nostrils, or underneath the attacker’s chin, jabbing upward at the throat.
    Make sure to recoil your strike. Pulling your arm back quickly will help thrust the attacker’s head up and back.
    This will cause your attacker to stagger backward, allowing you to escape their grasp.
 
Alternative: An open palm to the ears can be very disorienting.
4. Elbow strike
If your attacker is in close range and you’re unable to get enough momentum to throw a strong punch or kick, use your elbows.
 
To perform:
 
    If you can, stabilize yourself with a strong core and legs to ensure a powerful blow.
    Bend your arm at the elbow, shift your weight forward, and strike your elbow into your attacker’s neck, jawline, chin, or temple. These are all effective targets.
    This may cause your attacker to loosen their grip, allowing you to run.
 

日本飲酒文化
Japanese drinking culture is as unique as anywhere else. Learn more here.
Lara Neuman gogonihon
 
Japanese drinking culture is just as good as you might hope it is. If you like a tipple then you won’t be disappointed. However, it’s worth having a bit of an overview before you get started so that you can make the most out of it.
Nihonshu
 
The most well-known drink at the heart of Japanese drinking culture is nihonshu (日本酒, Japanese alcohol), a strong rice wine more commonly known as sake. Made by fermenting rice with water, yeast and a mold known as Koji, the resulting drink is around 15% strength/alcohol content. It is likely to be available in every izakaya, bar, and restaurant you visit.
 
A drink of Japan through the ages, legend has it that before the mold and yeast were added to the process in more recent times, the nihonshu was produced by chewing the grains of rice before being spit out into containers to be left to ferment. The notion being that the enzymes in the saliva would start the fermentation process. This particular type of nihonshu was known as kuchikamizake (口噛み酒, alcohol chewed in the mouth). You may recognise this if you’ve seen the Japanese film Kimi no namae wa, (君の名前は) or ‘Your name’ in English.
Beer
 
Certainly one of the most popular drinks in Japan. With big players like Asahi, Kirin, and Sapporo you’ll surely recognise some of the beers available. However, depending on where you’re from, it may not be entirely what you’re used to. Firstly, the portion sizes are a bit different. You can expect a medium (200ml-300ml) or large (500ml-700ml) rather than a pint or a half pint, you can also often get a jug or pitcher to share. Secondly, it’s more focused on the standard lagers rather than ales or other types. However, as they have across the globe, things have been changing in Japanese drinking culture. Craft beer is making big waves, particularly in the cities and if you venture outside of the traditional izakayas.
Shochu
 
Not as well known outside of Japan, but just as regularly drunk in Japan, is shochu (焼酎). Whereas nihonshu is fermented or brewed, Shochu is distilled. The most common form comes from distilling potatoes but it can also be made from rice, barley, buckwheat and many other starchy items. Shochu is a bit stronger than nihonshu although equally as delicious.
Umeshu and Chuhai
 
If you like your drinks a bit fruitier then you have a couple of popular choices. First is a lighter, sweeter spirit Umeshu (梅酒). A relatively weak plum wine, this is generally still drunk in small glasses due to the high sugar content. Alternatively, there’s Chuhai (チューハイ), a Shochu version of the highball. A mix of shochu and a flavoured carbonated water, a slightly lighter taste compared to whiskey highballs. Watch out though, if you buy it in a can from a konbini it can be a lot stronger so check the alcohol percentage before you knock it back.
Whisky
 
A drink normally associated with Scotland and Ireland, Japan has been up and coming in the whiskey world over the last few years with several having won awards. The Japanese drink it in much the same way as anyone else with one exception, Highballs! Highballs are whiskey mixed with carbonated water and are available in most izakayas. You can commonly get a variety of flavours as well so why not try them all.
Drinking rules
 
As with many customs in Japan, there are rules and expectations within Japanese drinking culture as well. As with many things in Japan or indeed when traveling in any country. It’s important to understand these to fit in but most importantly to show respect to the culture you love.
 
    Don’t pour your own drink
 
When out in a party, always pour for others around you and then wait for them to return the favour and pour your drink for you. While there is no hierarchy with friends, when out with coworkers it is expected that you would pour a drink for your boss.
 
    Don’t drink before everyone has been served
 
Similarly to the expectation that you wouldn’t start your meal until everyone has been served, it’s the same with drinks. Make sure everyone has something in their glass before swigging back your highball.
 
    Order the same on the first round
 
Not as common as the others, but it does make the waiters like much easier. People often order the same drink for the first round of orders and it’s more often than not beer. We guarantee you won’t regret this when it’s the height of summer.
 
    Don’t drink from the bottle
 
An important one to remember particularly for those from the UK, US or Australia. As we mentioned before portion sizes are different in Japan, especially for beer, and sharing is very common with both food and drink. Drinking directly from the bottle doesn’t really fit the sharing culture even if it’s just for you. If you are sharing, it’s even worse and not very sanitary.
 
    Kanpai!
 
Everywhere you travel in the world, you are likely to toast before you drink and Japan is no different. Before you take that first refreshing sip, remember to Kanpai! (カンパイ), as you clink your glasses with your friends and colleagues. Don’t be afraid to stand up and reach over to make sure you reach everyone. Sometimes people like to drop in their own local saying for Kanpai or cheers, but be careful, Chin-chin (ちんちん) in Japanese is a childish word for penis! Certainly not something you want to be shouting across the table.
 
Japanese salary man after one too many
Nominication
 
Now you know the ins and outs of what to drink and how, you need to know when to drink! Japanese drinking culture is focused around community. Whether it’s to get to know your classmates, friends from your local club or work colleagues, drinking is the perfect opportunity for this. This pastime is so common in fact that it even has its own term nominication (飲み二ケーション). A somewhat crass combination of the Japanese verb nomu (飲 む, drink) and the English word communication.
 
Particularly for companies, it’s almost considered a necessity to ensure good working practice, that your team and your boss will go out for a drink after work. It’s a chance to break down barriers and drink and laugh without the formal restrictions of work.
 
While it’s generally a great idea for clubs, classmates and friends, be careful when out with your colleagues as not all barriers are truly broken down. Firstly, you have to attend. Refusing to join the nominication can be considered a slight against colleagues and against the company itself. So make sure you go along, even if it’s at the expense of other plans. Secondly, turning down another drink or even not drinking at all is a further slight. Now, these barriers tend to go against each other. You’re expected to drink to help ease the process, breaking down the barriers with your boss but you also don’t want to cause offense to anyone as you relax and speak your mind a bit more. You may be inclined to avoid it or not drink, but you don’t have this option either! While it may seem rather stressful, don’t panic. It’s ultimately meant to be fun and remember everyone will have drunk as much as you.
 
 

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周五 (10/30) 1.情緒與疾病關係 2.開擴人際社交圈

 新埔捷運站1號出口 旁邊7-11巷子進入20公尺 看到夏朵美髮左轉 

板橋區文化路一段421巷11弄1號 (陽光甜味咖啡館)

情緒與疾病關係
Emotions The true cause of your disease
biomodulati
Well, although dis-ease is a physical manifestation, the root causes of most illnesses are not physical. The true root causes of almost every dis-ease lie deep within every person that is ill. In essence, we create every illness that we experience, be it on a subconscious level or an unconscious level. So, how is that possible?
 
How can we possibly cause ourselves these kinds of circumstances? Well, there are distinct emotional and mental patterns associated with every illness. The way you choose to use your mind and the way you respond to your outer world have more to do with disease than your diet and your environment.
 
We have heard in recent years how stress can kill you. Well, it is really not the stress in and of itself that will kill you, it is the way you choose to process the stress that could hurt you or make you very sick. The body in essence is a mirror of our inner thoughts, emotions and beliefs. Every single cell in your body has its own intelligence and is able to listen to what you are thinking and feel what you are expressing emotionally.
 
In reality, your cells and your body respond to every thought you think, every emotion you have and every word you speak. Repetitive modes of thinking and suppressing negative emotions such as anger, resentment, bitterness, and hatred can and will eventually manifest as dis-ease in the body. Literally, your suppressed emotions become like ticking bombs waiting for the perfect conditions to detonate and manifest as dis-ease.
 
There is a philosophy/science called metaphysics. Metaphysics deals with primarily how there are many factors in the universe in which can not be reasoned with the five senses of the human body. In the aspect of disease, metaphysics proposes that there are distinct emotional and mental factors that contribute to the manifestation to each correlating disease. The correlation between patterns of emotions and thought to a specific disease can be so profoundly true.
 
For example, let’s take a person with heart disease. Metaphysically speaking, the heart represents love and our blood represents joy. Our hearts pump this joy throughout our bodies. When someone lacks joy and love for their life, the heart shrinks and becomes cold and thus the blood becomes sluggish. At this point, one is subjecting themselves for heart conditions such as angina, arteriosclerosis, and deposits in the arteries. In fact, if you were to look at most people who have heart disease, you will find a lack of joy and love in their life.
 
Another metaphysical correlation of suppressed emotions and illness would be that of cancer. This disease is typically found in people who carry deep anger for either themselves or resentment for other people and circumstances that occurred in the past. These people were very hurt by the past event and usually carry hatred for a long period of time until it literally starts eating away at the body and manifests as cancer.
 
I hope by now that you can begin to see a deep correlation between a person’s emotional and mental state and the disease they carry. Whenever a person comes down with any disease, they need to look at themselves and see what they have been thinking or what emotions they have been suppressing.
 
Many times though, the triggering emotional and mental factors for a specific disease occurred many months to even years before the manifestation of the illness itself. It is key to discover the true root factors that triggered the manifestation of the illness. Even conditions such as the so-called common cold and the flu may have distinct emotional and mental factors contributing to them.
 
Any time you are sick in general, you need to listen to your body and hear what it is telling you. Instead of always looking for a magic blue pill or a magic supplement, one needs to be more conscious of their bodies. If you are chronically sick then you need to assume full responsibility for your own health. No doctor or drug can cure you of any illness. You have the cure within you to eliminate any disease. God equipped all of us with everything that we will ever need in this world.
 
How dis-ease really gets manifested in the body
 
Symptoms of illness result from only the following 3 factors: 1) Toxic Thoughts 2) Toxic Emotions 3) Toxic Chemicals produced in your body from your negative emotions.
 
Your toxic (negative) thoughts, which really determine your perception of life events, cause you to have negative emotions, which cause the cells of your body to create toxic chemicals and in turn cause your body to create toxic cells that lead to DIS-EASE.
 
Science is now proving that when you are in a state of distress and disharmony, your cells produce toxic chemicals that tend to deteriorate and degenerate the body.
 
Anytime you move into stress and disharmony you express negative emotions that literally create toxic chemicals in your cells. This causes your body to be in a state of degeneration and stagnation. Once you are in this state, you then become susceptible to attract viruses, harmful bacteria, parasites, candida (fungi), and also store toxic chemicals from food and pollution since you will not be detoxifying properly.
 
Also, when you are stressed out or carry any of the negative emotions such as anger, resentment, hatred, impatience, etc., you tense up. This tensing up causes many of your biological processes to be impaired. Nutrient transport, cell respiration, detoxification, elimination, digestion, assimilation, hormone production and brain function become severely disrupted leading to a gradual degeneration in your whole system.
 
Emotional stress has the biggest impact on your immune system above any other factor. If you are in a state of balance and harmony mentally, emotionally, and physically, then illness simply can not set in the body. Most people have not been taught how to deal with stress and live in a balanced fashion. The society of today promotes drama, stress and struggle. The secret then is that the suppressing and storing of emotions are the true root cause of most illnesses.
 
Diet and environment do help to contribute to disease, however, they are not the underlying cause for it. Just look at anyone who is calm and approaches life in a balanced fashion. These people rarely get sick and will almost never get chronically sick. Chronically sick people are ones that are typically very emotional and/or have had serious traumatic experiences in their past. They are also people who tend to hold onto emotions correlating to these past events.
 
The big secret that many health organizations don’t want you knowing is that the body has a divine blueprint for perfect health. Every single cell in your body has its own intelligence and is programmed for optimum functioning. Due to this divine blueprint, the body knows exactly how to heal itself no matter what illness, injury or imbalance that may be present.
 
The key is to know how to use this blueprint to restore your health or improve your current state of health to optimum functioning. Once you know how to tap into this cellular blueprint for perfect health, you can then heal yourself from any illness.
 

開擴人際社交圈
Expanding Your Circle: 10 Ways To Make Friends In A New City Post-College
By Samantha Wilson
 
Making new friends after college is harder than dating. Whether you moved across the country or just need some new people in your life, finding them at this stage can be overwhelming, to say the least.
 
Not only does it takes more energy and creativity to discover your platonic soul mate, but often, you don’t even know where to start. Here are 10 ideas:
Talk to strangers
 
I know what your momma told you, but I trust that you know better than to follow candy into the back of any van. What I mean is that if the opportunity presents itself, don’t be afraid to lead into a conversation with someone you don’t know by following social cues.
 
Try not to accost people in elevators or places where they can’t get away from you. We’re a generation that tends to ignore one another by pretending we’re texting, but most people are much nicer than they let on.
Join meetups
 
In school, it was easy; you could join the chess club or the basketball team to participate in activities with others. This still exists but has transformed into a world where strangers band together to explore mutual interests using, for example, online platforms.
 
There are whole networks on the World Wide Web dedicated to bringing people together under common causes. Whether you like hiking, gaming, dodgeball or anarchist cult gatherings, someone out there has, or is looking to, put together a group to do the things you enjoy.
Wander around your neighborhood
 
Get to know your barista. Wave to a fellow jogger. Say hello to your neighbor. I’m all too familiar with the lure of my Netflix queue, but it's time to get out of the house. Discover what your neighborhood has to offer. It might be a bar, a comedy club or a cool café.
 
If the fear of being by yourself in a social setting is immobilizing, maybe there's a roommate or coworker you can convince to come with you.
Work your work relationships
 
Mixing work and play can be a dangerous cocktail, but sometimes, your coworkers just get you. After all, you work at the same company, so you're privy to the same struggles.
 
Some of my best friends are people I’ve met on the job. We started out eating lunch together and now I can’t get rid of them.
Use your pets
 
This is the same strategy as borrowing your niece or nephew so you have an excuse to go trick-or-treating.
 
A dog makes you instantly more approachable. You can even try going to a dog park to talk with other owners. If you don’t have a puppy, accompany your friend when he or she walks his or her pooch. It’s a fun way to meet others who share a common interest.
Go to events
 
Many cities regularly host events like concerts, festivals and movies in the park. Any activity where people your age surround you is a great opportunity to socialize. Bond over great music, culture and your shared interests.
Try fitness classes
 
Instead of bolting after class, take your time. Talk to the teacher and any lagging students. Maybe you can commiserate over your workout. The same goes for arriving a little early.
 
Instead of standing in awkward silence outside the door, waiting for the instructor to let you in, strike up a conversation.
Take a close look at your acquaintances
 
An acquaintance is a step closer to being a real friend than a stranger. Think about people you’ve talked to in passing, even friends of friends. Were they engaging and cool? Did you have something in common? It’s okay to reach out to hang out again.
 
Honestly, they might want to be friends, too, but are in the same boat of adulthood uncertainty regarding how to make that happen.
 
If you’re really tentative, there is safety in numbers; invite a mutual friend and the three of you can get together.
Go to networking events in your career field
 
The people you'll meet at these events will already have something in common with you, so that’s a great start!
 
I’m terrible at going to networking events to network, but I always manage to find one good friend. We usually bond over a general disinterest in schmoozing, while admiring the people who can.
Volunteer with an organization
 
The people you meet while doing community service will have some of the same values that brought you to that specific association. Sharing those kinds of fundamentals can be the building blocks of a strong friendship.
 
You may be spending long hours together, working hand-in-hand to complete a given task. The teamwork alone is a bonding experience.
 
Ultimately, making new friends may not always be easy. You can’t expect everyone to immediately like you or hold your hand as you skip into the sunset. You can expect to get better at it the more you try.
 
Putting yourself out there may feel like a risk, but it comes with the greatest of rewards. Friends are the family you get to choose. Be your own friend and situate yourself so you can find them.
 

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周五 (10/23) 1.為何 會被某人吸引? 2.食物運送服務

  板橋區文化路一段421巷11弄1號 (陽光甜味咖啡館)

新埔捷運站1號出口 旁邊7-11巷子進入20公尺 看到夏朵美髮左轉

為何 會被某人吸引?

Why you're attracted to certain people, and not others

Cheyenne Lentz insider.com

 When it comes to love, most people have an idea of what they're looking for in a partner.

    Good looks, ambition, and a good sense of humor are common qualities that people seek out.

    But there are other factors you're likely unaware of that play an important part in who you're attracted to.

    Past experiences, proximity, and biology all have a role in determining who catches our attention and who doesn't.

                When we fall for someone, it's tough to stop gushing about our new crush's good looks, sense of humor, and those undeniable love sparks. But why is it that we're just naturally attracted to some people and not others?

 Sure, love is mysterious, but, in some ways, attraction is not. Science actually has an explanation for why we are attracted to certain people and why we don't give others the time of day.

 INSIDER spoke to several experts to find out what it is that draws us towards certain people in terms of our biological makeup. It's worth noting that much of the research about attraction tends to focus on heterosexual relationships, but obviously that's not the limit of attraction or love.

 Have you ever noticed that it's not uncommon to see co-stars from your favorite series or movie dating in real life? Rachel McAdams and Ryan Gosling, for instance, dated on and off for three years off screen after starring together in "The Notebook." Or maybe you remember that Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck started dating the year after the release of "Daredevil" back in 2003. Why does this seem to be a pattern?

 "Mere exposure to someone repeatedly increases the likelihood we will be attracted to them," J. Celeste Walley-Jean, dean of the School of Graduate Studies and associate professor of psychology at Clayton State University, told INSIDER.

 This is backed up by 50 years worth of scientific research that has found that proximity is one of the most powerful indicators of attraction. We simply are drawn to the people we see frequently, which explains why celebrity co-stars end up getting together due to how closely they work with one another on a regular basis.

 People can be attracted to those who look healthy and fertile.

 Whether we realize it or not, we are biologically attracted to people who look healthy and who look like they can reproduce.

 "Heterosexual men are typically attracted to younger women who appear to be of childbearing age and physical appearance," Walley-Jean told INSIDER. This can explain why you see photos of women in the 1800s wearing bustles to overemphasize their healthy, childbearing hips in order to attract men.

 Additionly, research suggests that people are also attracted to those who look healthy. Face symmetry, face structure, and hip-shoulder ratios are all important when it comes to attraction because these physical features indicate good health, according to Live Science.

 Our environment teaches us who we should view as attractive.

 Beyond physical features, Walley-Jean said our families, peers, and media all play a role in helping us learn what to view as attractive.

 For instance, some heterosexual people may seek out partners who share attributes that remind them of their opposite-sex parent because that is what they've always known growing up.

 "Heterosexual women have been socialized to seek primarily 'older' men who tend to be more financially established and can 'take care' of the woman and the subsequent family," Walley-Jean told INSIDER.

 These are just a couple of examples of how we can learn who or what is attractive. There is no single way this learning occurs but everyone is influenced by it, Walley-Jean explained.

 Personality traits might impact who you're attracted to.

 Research has shown that people who are kind are seen as more attractive, Daniel Sher, registered clinical psychologist, and professional consultant for the Between Us Clinic said.

 In a 2007 study, participants were asked to rate photos of strangers for attractiveness. They were then asked to evaluate the same photos, but this time some of the photos had personality descriptions.

 Essentially, the study found that the photos with positive descriptions received the highest ratings for attractiveness, suggesting that certain personality traits do play a factor in judging attractiveness.

 One 2016 study found that men with high levels of testosterone, the primary male sex hormone, may be more attracted to women with more "feminine" faces, which they described as meaning big eyes, high eyebrows, and a smaller jaw.

 But that's not the only way hormones play a role in attraction.

 In a study of 238 college women published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology in 2007, Steve Gangestad, professor of psychology at the University of New Mexico, and his colleagues found that women are attracted to certain men depending on where they are in their cycle.

 In mid-cycle, women tended to prefer flings with "caddish" men and on average, fertile women were more interested in short-term relationships with men who came across as cocky.

 In comparison, at other points in their cycle, they gravitated toward longer-term relationships with kinder, more conscientious, deferential types, those who have stereotypically good father material.

 It's possible that opposites don't attract.

 Despite the fact that 80% of us believe in the idea that opposites attract, it might be the case that we're, instead, attracted to those similar to us.

 To understand how similarity might impact who a person chooses to be in a relationship with, Donn Byrne, a renowned American psychologist, developed a method known as the "phantom stranger technique."

 The procedure begins with participants completing a questionnaire about their attitudes on a variety of topics, such as the use of nuclear weapons. Next, they take part in a "person-perception" phase, where they evaluate a person based on their responses to the same questionnaire.

 By manipulating the degree of similarity between a person and a "phantom stranger," Byrne was able to conclude that participants reported feeling more attracted to people who held similar attitudes. In fact, the greater the degree of similarity, the greater the attraction and liking.

 食物運送服務

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The Ministry of Labor (MOL) is threatening to fine food delivery companies after two drivers perished over Taiwan's National Day holiday.

 While making a delivery in Taoyuan at 11 p.m. on Thursday (Oct. 10), a 29-year-old Foodpanda delivery man surnamed Ma (馬) was killed after his scooter suffered a head-on collision with a flatbed delivery truck driven by a 25-year-old man surnamed Tseng (曾), reported CNA. After being rushed to the hospital, Ma died the next morning, and Tseng was charged with negligent homicide (過失致死罪).

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4 Reasons Why Food Delivery is a Great Choice for Business | Founder's Guide

 Food delivery services are gaining popularity in the market today. Many businesspeople are starting to consider food delivery as an excellent business option because of the revenue. With most millennials who opt to order food online, its demand continues to increase day by day.

 If you’re a new entrepreneur, here are a few reasons why food delivery can be a great choice for business.

What is Food Delivery?

 Food delivery, in its simplest terms, refers to a courier service by which an independent company delivers food to the customers. The items available for delivery may include grocery items, entrées, drinks, desserts, and sides. The driver will usually use a car for transportation, but in metropolitan cities, they can use vehicles such as bikes or scooters.

 To use a food delivery service, the customer will place their order through a restaurant’s site or a food ordering company. Depending on the food delivery company, they can opt to pay online or in person. In most cases, a flat rate delivery fee is charged on top of the customer’s order.

Why Is Food Delivery A Great Business Choice?

 1. It’s Simple And Convenient

 Nowadays, people love food delivery service because it can be a simple and transparent business to invest in. Customers can quickly decide on what they want to order, when to deliver, and how they’re going to make payments.

 Starting up a food delivery business can be a perfect idea because it’s convenient and attractive to a wide variety of customers around the globe. Not only that, but it’s beneficial for people who don’t have enough time to shop, prepare, and cook food every week. It also enables customers to enjoy quality food at their favorite store or restaurant without needing to leave the comfort of their home.

 Because of its added convenience to customers, food delivery is something you can venture into in the world of business.

2. It Has Low Operating Costs

 Unlike other food-related businesses, food delivery can be managed easily. All you need is to hire, train, and manage delivery drivers who will be responsible for the orders of the customers. With drivers in place, you can run your business smoothly and efficiently. There’s no need to recruit more workforce because the delivery process itself involves the work of drivers.

 For example, companies like Postmates offers hundreds of side hustles for drivers who can do deliveries of almost all types of food. Anyone can even work as a Postmates driver so long as they provide all the details like their age, address, places where they can deliver, driver’s license, contact number, and their vehicle details. Like these companies, you can also hire professional delivery drivers for your food delivery business.

 Moreover, most food delivery businesses operate in a way in which drivers can deliver goods using their own car, bicycle, scooter, or other vehicles. Because of this kind of setup, running a food delivery service is less costly and doesn’t really require high operating costs. It’s one of the reasons why it’s a great choice for business.

3. It’s Profitable

 Investing in a food delivery business is profitable. Since food is a basic necessity, people will keep on buying goods for their consumption. The good thing about a food delivery business is its easy access to a variety of food, which means people in your place can order from a vast menu where different types of food are available. They may even select the one they like the most and have them delivered right at their doorstep.

 In addition, having food delivery as a business allows you to generate more profit since people can keep trying out new kinds of food from time to time and have them delivered straight to their homes. Whether it’s cakes, vegetables, and other main dishes, food delivery will remain in-demand. That’s probably because of the wide selection of foods your customers can access through your business.

4. It Can Operate 24/7

 With a variety of restaurants and stores operating round the clock, starting up a food delivery business can be an excellent option. People can order food any time they want, making food delivery service a highly sought-after business venture. Because of this, it’s possible for you to make more money all day and night long.

Final Thoughts

 Along with technological innovations, food delivery service as a business has surged in popularity. It has been instrumental in changing how the food industry works and does business. With this kind of business model in place, restaurants, stores, and other food providers can potentially experience an increase in sales and revenue.

 If you’re living adjacent to the central business district and prefer to work from home, food delivery can be an ideal business option. Keep all these reasons in mind to help convince you to start your own food delivery company.

善心的力量
The power of kindness | Why being nice benefits us all
 
From boosting your mood to lowering stress, the power of kindness is proven. In fact, science shows the benefits of kindness are greater for the giver than the receiver. So, as Calvin Holbrook suggests, help others and help yourself, too.
 
Can you remember the last time a stranger was kind to you? Maybe someone held a door open or offered you help with directions in the street? Or, perhaps you can recall the last time you helped somebody. After recently carrying out a few altruistic acts myself, I wanted to find out more about the power and benefits of kindness. 
 
A 2018 study focused on employees at a Spanish company. Workers were asked to either a) perform acts of kindness for colleagues, or b) count the number of kind acts they received from coworkers. The results showed that those who received acts of kindness became happier, demonstrating the value of benevolence for the receiver.
 
However, those who delivered the acts of kindness benefited even more than the receivers. That’s because not only did they show a similar trend towards increased happiness, but they also had an boost in life and job satisfaction, as well as a decrease in depression.
 
Furthermore, the effects of altruism were contagious. Those colleagues on the receiving end of the acts of kindness ended up spontaneously paying it forward, themselves doing nice things for other colleagues. This study suggests the ripple effect really is one of the benefits of being nice.
Kindness and psychological flourishing
 
Further studies back up the power of kindness. In another, researchers asked members of the public to either perform acts of kindness – such as opening doors for strangers – for one month, or to perform kind acts for themselves, such as treating themselves to a new purchase. 
 
The researchers measured the participants’ level of so-called ‘psychological flourishing’ – their emotional, psychological, and social well-being at the start and end of the experiment. By the end, those who had carried out kind acts for others had higher levels of psychological flourishing compared to those who acted kindly towards themselves. Kindly acts also led to higher levels of positive emotions.
 
Meanwhile, another study incorporated cold hard cash to test the powers of altruism. Researchers gave participants either $5 or $20 which they had to spend either on themselves or others before the end of the day. They measured the participants’ happiness levels before giving them the money and then called them on the phone in the evening. The results? Those who had spent the money were happier than those who used the money for their own needs.
The physical effects of kindness
 
So, science and studies show that being kind and helpful clearly has a positive and uplifting effect on those carrying out the act. But what exactly is happening in the body when you help someone out? Here are four ways keys in which the physical benefits of kindness can be felt.
1. Kindness releases feel-good hormones
 
When you do kinds acts for other people, so-called happiness hormones are released, boosting your serotonin, the neurotransmitter responsible for feelings of well-being and satisfaction. Endorphin levels also rise, leading to a phenomenon known as a 'helper’s high' (just like what I experienced). 
2. Kindness can reduce anxiety
 
Another physical benefit of kindness is that it can help to lower anxiety. Social anxiety is associated with low positive affect (PA), which relates to an individual’s experience of positive moods such as joy, interest, and alertness. A four-week study on happiness from the University of British Columbia found that participants who engaged in kind acts displayed major increases in their PA levels that were maintained during the study duration. 
3. Kindness may help alleviate certain illness
 
Inflammation in the body is linked to numerous health problems including chronic pain, diabetes, obesity and migraines. For older generations at least, volunteering as an act of kindness may be of benefit to reduce inflammation. In fact, according to one study of older adults aged 57-85, “volunteering manifested the strongest association with lower levels of inflammation.” 
 
Additionally, oxytocin, also released with acts of kindness, reduces inflammation, and it can directly affect the chemical balance of your heart. According to Dr. David Hamilton, “oxytocin causes the release of a chemical called nitric oxide in blood vessels, which dilates the blood vessels. This reduces blood pressure and therefore oxytocin is known as a ‘cardioprotective’ hormone because it protects the heart (by lowering blood pressure).”
4. Kindness can reduce your stress levels
 
Helping others takes you out of your own mind and can potentially help to build relationships with other people. Anything that helps you to build bonds with other people is known as 'affiliative behavior'.
 
And, according to one study on the effects of pro-social behavior — action intended to help others  on stress, “affiliative behavior may be an important component of coping with stress and indicate that engaging in pro-social behavior might be an effective strategy for reducing the impact of stress on emotional functioning.”

虛擬健身
What is a virtual workout?
Bka Digital Outfitters, Auckland, New Zealand (www.bka.co.nz)
 
Technology is changing at a rate of knots, and so are the terms we use to explain it. These days the term virtual can mean, well, virtually anything. So what exactly is virtual exercise?
 
For most of us, words like virtual, almost and nearly are interchangeable. So if you almost make it off the couch and nearly do a workout, have you done a virtual workout? Sadly not.
 
Virtual fitness is the fusion of exercise with technology. But if this conjures images of awkwardly powering through sets of star jumps wearing a virtual reality headset – fear not. Virtual workouts are the same workouts you already know and love, or perhaps want to try, designed for ease and convenience to suit your own schedule and needs.
 Virtual classes are often a gateway for live group fitness classes. So, if the thought of joining a throng of confident, seasoned group exercisers in a packed fitness studio daunts you, virtual could be the way to go. Virtual workouts typically attract smaller numbers, and you can go at your own pace, which makes them ideal if you’re a novice looking to learn the moves.
 Not all virtual workouts are created equally. The best are based on proven exercise science. Choose a LES MILLS™ Virtual workout and you’ll be doing the same workouts that are loved by millions worldwide. These workouts are developed by fitness professionals, they feature moves developed by exercise scientists and subjected to a rigorous testing and development process. What’s more, they are led by highly-skilled presenters who have been hand-picked from all over the globe.
 Research shows the camaraderie of group fitness can be very beneficial, and there are also findings indicating that technology-based “virtual” group fitness can be advantageous too. A University of Michigan study looking at group fitness video games found that those who worked out virtually had increased motivation and performed better than when they were alone. It all came down to the fact they were alongside “superior” players. This suggests that when people work out virtually, the fact that they are exercising alongside leading fitness professionals on-screen may help them raise the bar and improve performance.
 There’s also proof that the sensory experience created by modern technology can help. A recent study of immersive cycling class THE TRIP™ showed the audio-visual components encourage participants to work out at harder than they perceive with less discomfort.
 

Typically, virtual workouts are played in gyms on the big screen – some clubs have them prescheduled and some facilities enable you to play the workout whenever you fancy. It’s the round-the-clock accessibility that makes them a hit with everyone from shift workers to moms, and anyone else who’s not keen or able to battle rush hour at the gym.

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(週六) 10/17 1.創造魅力特質 2.了解優缺點

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創造魅力特質

10 Traits of Exceptionally Charming People  huffpost.com

 

Sure, everyone knows blunt, impolite, and even rude people who are somehow extremely successful. (I know a bunch of them.)

 

But since we’re all more likely to do business and build professional and personal relationships with people we like, we’re naturally drawn to people who are polite, modest, agreeable, kind. In short, people who are charming.

 

I know a bunch of them too, and here’s how they do it:

 

1. They always show they’re genuinely glad to meet you. When you feel someone “gets” you, respecting your opinion, your point of view, your experience — whatever you’re communicating — then you naturally feel more important. The other person doesn’t have to agree with you; they just have to show they respect you.

 

How?

 

They maintain eye contact. They smile when you smile. They frown when you frown. They nod your head when you nod. In simple, nonverbal ways, they mimic your behavior — not slavishly, but because they’re focused on what you’re saying.

 

That feedback loop helps two people bond — and the ability to bond is the essence of charm.

 

2. They sometimes show a little vulnerability. Two Masters of the Business Universe meet for the first time. Instantly, they play an unstated but nonetheless obvious game of “Who’s More Successful?” They work hard to one-up the other. After all, life is about winning, right?

 

Charming people don’t try to win any unstated competitions with people they meet. In fact, they actively try to lose. They’re complimentary. They’re impressed. They’re even willing to admit a weakness or a failure.

 

It’s really easy. Say you meet Admiral Trump and he says, “I just closed a fabulous deal to build the world’s best golf course on the most amazing oceanfront property on the planet.” Don’t try to win. Instead say, “That’s awesome. I’m jealous. I’ve wanted to build a small recreation facility for years, but can’t line up the financing. How did you pull off such a huge deal?”

 

Charming people are confident enough to be unafraid to show a little vulnerability. They know that while some people may be, at least temporarily, impressed by what’s artificial, everyone sincerely likes and appreciates the genuine.

 

3. They consistently search for agreement instead of contradiction. We’re trained to discuss, to challenge, to advocate for the devil, because exchanging opinions, especially different opinions, is how we separate the wheat from the idea chaff. Automatic agreement doesn’t help.

 

Unfortunately, going contrary is an easy habit to fall into. It’s easy to automatically look for points of disagreement rather than agreement. It’s easy to automatically take a different side.

 

And it’s easy to end up in what feels like an argument.

 

Charming people don’t actively (or unknowingly) look to disagree; they look for points of agreement. Then, if it’s appropriate, they gently share a different point of view — and in that way, help create an outstanding conversation.

 

4. They (selectively) use the power of touch. Nonsexual touch can be incredibly powerful. (I’m aware that sexual touch can be powerful too, thanks.) Touch can influence behavior, increase the chances of compliance, make the person doing the touching seem more attractive and friendly, and can even help you make a sale.

 

For example, in one experiment the participants tried to convey 12 different emotions by touching another blindfolded participant on the forearm. The rate of accuracy for perceiving emotions like fear, anger, gratitude, sympathy, love, and disgust ranged from 43 percent to 83 percent — without a word being spoken.

 

Say you’re congratulating someone; shaking hands or (possibly better yet, depending on the situation) patting them gently on the shoulder or upper arm can help reinforce the sincerity of your words.

 

5. They often dine out on their foibles. Charming people willingly admit their mistakes. They don’t mind serving as a cautionary tale. They don’t mind being a source of laughter, for others and for themselves.

 

And they’re also not afraid to look a little silly. Skating in a cowboy outfit may be a little extreme, but charming people don’t mind occasionally being in a situation where they aren’t at their best.

 

(And oddly enough, people tend to respect them more for that — not less.)

 

When you own your foibles, people don’t laugh at you. They laugh with you. And they realize it’s OK to let down their own guards and meet you at a genuine level.

 

6. They’re masters of social jiu-jitsu. Some people have a knack for getting you to talk openly yourself. They ask open-ended questions. They sincerely want to know what you think, and that makes you open up to a surprising degree. You feel like the most interesting man (or woman) in the world.

 

And you like them for making you feel that way.

 

As soon as you learn something about someone, ask why they do it. Or how. Or what they like about it, or what they’ve learned from it. Charming people ask sincere questions that make it easy to answer in a thoughtful, introspective way. They make you think, in a good way, about yourself, and in the process make you feel charming too.

 

7. They always pass the waiter test. Some people put on a great show in certain situations, but they don’t try nearly as hard when they think a person is beneath them. I like to call it the waiter test: If you really want to know how an individual treats people, take him to lunch. How he interacts with the waiter is a much better indication of his interpersonal skills than how he interacts with you.

 

Charming people treat everyone the same way: as deserving of respect and kindness.

 

8. They’re great with names. If there’s anything worse than that sinking feeling you get when you forget someone’s name, especially someone’s name you really should remember, it’s realizing that another person has forgotten your name—and maybe doesn’t even remember who you are.

 

Charming people remember names and even small details, often to a surprising degree. The fact they remember instantly makes us feel a little prouder and a little better about ourselves. And that makes us feel better about them.

 

Charming people remember names, but ...

 

9. They never name drop. I have a friend who somehow manages to squeeze the fact he once met Jeff Gordon into every conversation.

 

“I’m planning to weather treat my deck this weekend,” I’ll say.

 

“You know, I was sitting on my deck last weekend listening to the race ... Jeff Gordon was leading for a while but he had engine trouble. If I know Jeff Gordon — and I do — I bet he was really disappointed.”

 

Charming people may know cool people, but they don’t talk about it. And that only adds to their charm.

了解優缺點

How to Identify Your Strengths and Weaknesses

Jonathan Michael

 

What are you good at?

 

That’s a question we all want to know about ourselves, as well as the question that occasionally comes after it: What aren’t you good at?

 

If you don’t know how to answer those questions about yourself, keep reading—I’ll help you come to a better knowledge of yourself.

 

1. First, create two lists

 

Before you use any outside sources to help identify your strengths and weaknesses, I’d recommend that you spend about 30 minutes alone creating two lists.

 

Your first list is going to be centered on your business or entrepreneurship goals. Call it something like, “Skills Needed to Succeed.”

 

Don’t worry about whether you’ve thought of every possible skill required for your business to succeed. This is meant to be an overview, and is fairly general. Depending on your business, it might list things like, “an understanding of the market,” “business development,” “website development,” or “product expertise.” Once you’ve completed your list, highlight the skills that you already have, and put a star next to the ones you think you’ll need to develop. Then, set this list aside—you’ll come back to it later.

 

The next list you’re going to create requires you to be completely honest about yourself. You can create two columns, one called “Strengths” and the other called “Weaknesses.”

 

Depending on your personality, you’ll find one of these columns a lot easier to fill out. I can only encourage you by suggesting that you do your best to be objective. Don’t beat yourself up over what you think are major flaws, and don’t overestimate how great your strengths are. Just write them down, and move on.

 

You also don’t need to have a comprehensive list of 100 strengths and weaknesses. If you’ve included more than 10-15 items in each column, then you’re probably starting to focus too much on strengths and weaknesses that aren’t that significant.

 

Examples of what you might add to this list range from aspects of your character, like “calm under pressure” or “achievement-driven,” to technical skills you may have, like “HTML expertise” or “project management experience.”

 

The purpose of this list will be to start off with some general ideas that you have about yourself, and then get input from other sources to help you refine your list.

 

To help you think about what to include in your strengths and weaknesses, try asking yourself questions like:

 

    What am I good at?

    What have others complimented me about?

    What have others had to help me with on more than one occasion?

    Which projects and tasks seem to drain my energy?

    Which projects have I spent hours on without getting tired?

    What are my hobbies, and why do I like doing them?

 

After you’ve spent some time honestly assessing your strengths and weaknesses, it’s time to get input from those closest to you: a significant other, your mentor, close friends, or family members.

 

2. Talk to people you trust

 

The problem with using a list of strengths and weaknesses that only you’ve completed is that you have a biased opinion of yourself. Most people think too highly of themselves, or too little of themselves.

 

If you’re like me, then you somehow manage to do both at the same time. We all need some kind of “sounding board” to help us gain clarity and get closer to the truth about ourselves. That’s where other people come in handy.

 

Try thinking of three to five people whose opinions you trust, and who have had the chance to live or work with you for an extended period of time. You want people who have observed your behavior and character in a number of different situations. For most people, that group will include a significant other, perhaps a mentor or advisor, a best friend, one or more siblings, or your parent(s).

 

The length of your relationships isn’t the only thing to consider. The most important thing is whether or not you value or trust their opinion of you. Some friends and family members will be too biased—they either think everything you do is amazing, or their opinions have been hurtful and destructive in the past. Carefully select people who have a good track record of being balanced and helpful, even when they’ve needed to tell you something that you didn’t want to hear.

 

Once you’ve got a group of people selected, reach out to them. You can go out to coffee with each of them, or simply send an email with some questions and ask for their honest feedback.

 

When you reach out to them, make sure you give some context as to why you’re asking for their opinion. Tell them that you want to start a business, and that in order to be successful, you’re trying to take stock of your strengths and weaknesses. Ask them what it is about you that they think will contribute to your success. Then, ask them to tell you the weaknesses you have that may cause you to fail.

 

As you receive feedback, start adding more details to your two lists. You’ll start to see that some of the strengths and weaknesses you listed are confirmed by those you trust, while others that you listed aren’t as significant to the people who have spent time with you.

 

3. Take a personality test

 

In addition to the time you’ve spent thinking about yourself and the opinions you’ve gathered from others, personality tests are another useful resource to help you identify strengths and weaknesses. Here are some of my favorites:

Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI):

 

The MBTI test is the gold standard for corporate-level personality tests. Several years ago, my previous employer paid for an instructor to administer the tests and coach us through our results (I’m an ENFP, in case you were wondering).

 

The test measures you within a framework of four areas: energy (introvert versus extrovert), decision-making, taking in information, and approaching the outside world.

 

You can take the official test for $49.95, but if you’d like to start with a free version of a similar kind of test, try the Jung Personality Test.

DISC Personality Testing

 

Another highly favored, corporate-level personality test. At another job, I went on a two-day work retreat with my coworkers. Amidst the full schedule of ice-breakers, ropes course excursions, and games, we also discussed which DISC type we were, and how we could best relate to each other (I’m a D/SI, by the way).

 

Again, there’s a full assessment that you can purchase for $29, or you can try their free assessment.

StrengthsFinder 2.0

 

When I was in college, I was on the executive team of our student government. We were required to read two books that were developed by the Gallup Organization: “First, Break All the Rules” and “Now, Discover Your Strengths” (which has since been republished as StrengthsFinder 2.0).

 

Included in the books was a code to take the Strengths Finder test, which determines your top five “talent themes” (mine were Achiever, Ideation, Harmony, Learner, and Woo). You’ll need to buy the book—the Kindle ebook is only $10.99—in order to get an access code for the test.

 

However, out of all these personality tests, the StrengthsFinder test is most geared toward helping you understanding the unique talents you have to offer the world.

How to Fascinate

 

Most recently, I helped the team at Palo Alto Software complete a new personal assessment test created by Sally Hogshead for her book, “How the World Sees You.” After answering 28 questions, this test will place you in one of 49 possible “Archetypes.”

 

What makes this test unique is that it approaches the results from an aspect of branding: What makes you unique, and how should you use that to communicate your strengths to others? The results also give you your “dormant” advantage, which is another way of discussing a possible weakness.

 

Again, if you buy the book, you’ll get an access code for a full report, but you can also take the test for free.

Are You Entrepreneur Material?

 

This one’s more for fun. It’s our new Bplans Quiz, and when you answer seven questions, we’ll tell you whether or not you’re ready to start your own business.

 

This one’s meant to be light-hearted, but don’t be surprised if it ends up being fairly accurate, and gives you some ideas about how to grow and develop new skills.

 

Disclaimer: Personality tests are a bit like horoscopes—they’re just general enough that they can apply to as many people as possible. More often than not, your result will be mostly accurate to how you see yourself, while missing the unique details that really make you who you are.

 

If you can combine the broad strokes of a personality test with the fine details provided by your own self-assessment and input from others, you’ll start to get a pretty good picture of your strengths and your weaknesses. Personality tests are also really useful for giving you some common language and terms to express your strengths and weaknesses.

 

4. Try new things

 

One problem with identifying strengths and weaknesses comes when you have a lack of experience. In some cases, you might look at your list of weaknesses and notice that it mostly boils down to “I don’t know, I’ve never tried.” For instance, how do you know if you have an athletic or artistic ability if you’ve never tried to do something athletic or artistic?

 

I’m a big believer in pushing yourself to grow by doing things you’ve never done before. To be honest, if you’re reluctant to try new things, then here’s your instant personality test result: don’t be an entrepreneur.

 

However, if you’re interested in trying new things to identify your strengths and weaknesses, here are some groups of experiences that won’t require a lot of time or money:

Creative experiences:

 

    Painting/Drawing: Grab a brush, some cheap paints, and some paper (or a canvas), and follow along as you watch a YouTube tutorial video.

    Singing: Maybe you’ve avoided a karaoke bar so far, but push past your fear of embarrassment, and sing some of your favorite songs.

    Dancing: YouTube will come in handy again, as there are thousands of dance tutorial videos. In the privacy of your own home, you can practice again and again until you think you’ve got a dance down.

    Video: We live in an incredibly exciting time where many of us have the basic equipment required to make a video with movie-level quality, right in our pocket. Challenge yourself to create a 15 or 30 second video with one primary objective: get your viewers to have an emotional response.

   

 

10 Traits of Exceptionally Charming People  huffpost.com

 

Sure, everyone knows blunt, impolite, and even rude people who are somehow extremely successful. (I know a bunch of them.)

 

But since we’re all more likely to do business and build professional and personal relationships with people we like, we’re naturally drawn to people who are polite, modest, agreeable, kind. In short, people who are charming.

 

I know a bunch of them too, and here’s how they do it:

 

1. They always show they’re genuinely glad to meet you. When you feel someone “gets” you, respecting your opinion, your point of view, your experience — whatever you’re communicating — then you naturally feel more important. The other person doesn’t have to agree with you; they just have to show they respect you.

 

How?

 

They maintain eye contact. They smile when you smile. They frown when you frown. They nod your head when you nod. In simple, nonverbal ways, they mimic your behavior — not slavishly, but because they’re focused on what you’re saying.

 

That feedback loop helps two people bond — and the ability to bond is the essence of charm.

 

2. They sometimes show a little vulnerability. Two Masters of the Business Universe meet for the first time. Instantly, they play an unstated but nonetheless obvious game of “Who’s More Successful?” They work hard to one-up the other. After all, life is about winning, right?

 

Charming people don’t try to win any unstated competitions with people they meet. In fact, they actively try to lose. They’re complimentary. They’re impressed. They’re even willing to admit a weakness or a failure.

 

It’s really easy. Say you meet Admiral Trump and he says, “I just closed a fabulous deal to build the world’s best golf course on the most amazing oceanfront property on the planet.” Don’t try to win. Instead say, “That’s awesome. I’m jealous. I’ve wanted to build a small recreation facility for years, but can’t line up the financing. How did you pull off such a huge deal?”

 

Charming people are confident enough to be unafraid to show a little vulnerability. They know that while some people may be, at least temporarily, impressed by what’s artificial, everyone sincerely likes and appreciates the genuine.

 

3. They consistently search for agreement instead of contradiction. We’re trained to discuss, to challenge, to advocate for the devil, because exchanging opinions, especially different opinions, is how we separate the wheat from the idea chaff. Automatic agreement doesn’t help.

 

Unfortunately, going contrary is an easy habit to fall into. It’s easy to automatically look for points of disagreement rather than agreement. It’s easy to automatically take a different side.

 

And it’s easy to end up in what feels like an argument.

 

Charming people don’t actively (or unknowingly) look to disagree; they look for points of agreement. Then, if it’s appropriate, they gently share a different point of view — and in that way, help create an outstanding conversation.

 

4. They (selectively) use the power of touch. Nonsexual touch can be incredibly powerful. (I’m aware that sexual touch can be powerful too, thanks.) Touch can influence behavior, increase the chances of compliance, make the person doing the touching seem more attractive and friendly, and can even help you make a sale.

 

For example, in one experiment the participants tried to convey 12 different emotions by touching another blindfolded participant on the forearm. The rate of accuracy for perceiving emotions like fear, anger, gratitude, sympathy, love, and disgust ranged from 43 percent to 83 percent — without a word being spoken.

 

Say you’re congratulating someone; shaking hands or (possibly better yet, depending on the situation) patting them gently on the shoulder or upper arm can help reinforce the sincerity of your words.

 

5. They often dine out on their foibles. Charming people willingly admit their mistakes. They don’t mind serving as a cautionary tale. They don’t mind being a source of laughter, for others and for themselves.

 

And they’re also not afraid to look a little silly. Skating in a cowboy outfit may be a little extreme, but charming people don’t mind occasionally being in a situation where they aren’t at their best.

 

(And oddly enough, people tend to respect them more for that — not less.)

 

When you own your foibles, people don’t laugh at you. They laugh with you. And they realize it’s OK to let down their own guards and meet you at a genuine level.

 

6. They’re masters of social jiu-jitsu. Some people have a knack for getting you to talk openly yourself. They ask open-ended questions. They sincerely want to know what you think, and that makes you open up to a surprising degree. You feel like the most interesting man (or woman) in the world.

 

And you like them for making you feel that way.

 

As soon as you learn something about someone, ask why they do it. Or how. Or what they like about it, or what they’ve learned from it. Charming people ask sincere questions that make it easy to answer in a thoughtful, introspective way. They make you think, in a good way, about yourself, and in the process make you feel charming too.

 

7. They always pass the waiter test. Some people put on a great show in certain situations, but they don’t try nearly as hard when they think a person is beneath them. I like to call it the waiter test: If you really want to know how an individual treats people, take him to lunch. How he interacts with the waiter is a much better indication of his interpersonal skills than how he interacts with you.

 

Charming people treat everyone the same way: as deserving of respect and kindness.

 

8. They’re great with names. If there’s anything worse than that sinking feeling you get when you forget someone’s name, especially someone’s name you really should remember, it’s realizing that another person has forgotten your name—and maybe doesn’t even remember who you are.

 

Charming people remember names and even small details, often to a surprising degree. The fact they remember instantly makes us feel a little prouder and a little better about ourselves. And that makes us feel better about them.

 

Charming people remember names, but ...

 

9. They never name drop. I have a friend who somehow manages to squeeze the fact he once met Jeff Gordon into every conversation.

 

“I’m planning to weather treat my deck this weekend,” I’ll say.

 

“You know, I was sitting on my deck last weekend listening to the race ... Jeff Gordon was leading for a while but he had engine trouble. If I know Jeff Gordon — and I do — I bet he was really disappointed.”

 

Charming people may know cool people, but they don’t talk about it. And that only adds to their charm.

了解優缺點

How to Identify Your Strengths and Weaknesses

Jonathan Michael

 

What are you good at?

 

That’s a question we all want to know about ourselves, as well as the question that occasionally comes after it: What aren’t you good at?

 

If you don’t know how to answer those questions about yourself, keep reading—I’ll help you come to a better knowledge of yourself.

 

1. First, create two lists

 

Before you use any outside sources to help identify your strengths and weaknesses, I’d recommend that you spend about 30 minutes alone creating two lists.

 

Your first list is going to be centered on your business or entrepreneurship goals. Call it something like, “Skills Needed to Succeed.”

 

Don’t worry about whether you’ve thought of every possible skill required for your business to succeed. This is meant to be an overview, and is fairly general. Depending on your business, it might list things like, “an understanding of the market,” “business development,” “website development,” or “product expertise.” Once you’ve completed your list, highlight the skills that you already have, and put a star next to the ones you think you’ll need to develop. Then, set this list aside—you’ll come back to it later.

 

The next list you’re going to create requires you to be completely honest about yourself. You can create two columns, one called “Strengths” and the other called “Weaknesses.”

 

Depending on your personality, you’ll find one of these columns a lot easier to fill out. I can only encourage you by suggesting that you do your best to be objective. Don’t beat yourself up over what you think are major flaws, and don’t overestimate how great your strengths are. Just write them down, and move on.

 

You also don’t need to have a comprehensive list of 100 strengths and weaknesses. If you’ve included more than 10-15 items in each column, then you’re probably starting to focus too much on strengths and weaknesses that aren’t that significant.

 

Examples of what you might add to this list range from aspects of your character, like “calm under pressure” or “achievement-driven,” to technical skills you may have, like “HTML expertise” or “project management experience.”

 

The purpose of this list will be to start off with some general ideas that you have about yourself, and then get input from other sources to help you refine your list.

 

To help you think about what to include in your strengths and weaknesses, try asking yourself questions like:

 

    What am I good at?

    What have others complimented me about?

    What have others had to help me with on more than one occasion?

    Which projects and tasks seem to drain my energy?

    Which projects have I spent hours on without getting tired?

    What are my hobbies, and why do I like doing them?

 

After you’ve spent some time honestly assessing your strengths and weaknesses, it’s time to get input from those closest to you: a significant other, your mentor, close friends, or family members.

 

2. Talk to people you trust

 

The problem with using a list of strengths and weaknesses that only you’ve completed is that you have a biased opinion of yourself. Most people think too highly of themselves, or too little of themselves.

 

If you’re like me, then you somehow manage to do both at the same time. We all need some kind of “sounding board” to help us gain clarity and get closer to the truth about ourselves. That’s where other people come in handy.

 

Try thinking of three to five people whose opinions you trust, and who have had the chance to live or work with you for an extended period of time. You want people who have observed your behavior and character in a number of different situations. For most people, that group will include a significant other, perhaps a mentor or advisor, a best friend, one or more siblings, or your parent(s).

 

The length of your relationships isn’t the only thing to consider. The most important thing is whether or not you value or trust their opinion of you. Some friends and family members will be too biased—they either think everything you do is amazing, or their opinions have been hurtful and destructive in the past. Carefully select people who have a good track record of being balanced and helpful, even when they’ve needed to tell you something that you didn’t want to hear.

 

Once you’ve got a group of people selected, reach out to them. You can go out to coffee with each of them, or simply send an email with some questions and ask for their honest feedback.

 

When you reach out to them, make sure you give some context as to why you’re asking for their opinion. Tell them that you want to start a business, and that in order to be successful, you’re trying to take stock of your strengths and weaknesses. Ask them what it is about you that they think will contribute to your success. Then, ask them to tell you the weaknesses you have that may cause you to fail.

 

As you receive feedback, start adding more details to your two lists. You’ll start to see that some of the strengths and weaknesses you listed are confirmed by those you trust, while others that you listed aren’t as significant to the people who have spent time with you.

 

3. Take a personality test

 

In addition to the time you’ve spent thinking about yourself and the opinions you’ve gathered from others, personality tests are another useful resource to help you identify strengths and weaknesses. Here are some of my favorites:

Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI):

 

The MBTI test is the gold standard for corporate-level personality tests. Several years ago, my previous employer paid for an instructor to administer the tests and coach us through our results (I’m an ENFP, in case you were wondering).

 

The test measures you within a framework of four areas: energy (introvert versus extrovert), decision-making, taking in information, and approaching the outside world.

 

You can take the official test for $49.95, but if you’d like to start with a free version of a similar kind of test, try the Jung Personality Test.

DISC Personality Testing

 

Another highly favored, corporate-level personality test. At another job, I went on a two-day work retreat with my coworkers. Amidst the full schedule of ice-breakers, ropes course excursions, and games, we also discussed which DISC type we were, and how we could best relate to each other (I’m a D/SI, by the way).

 

Again, there’s a full assessment that you can purchase for $29, or you can try their free assessment.

StrengthsFinder 2.0

 

When I was in college, I was on the executive team of our student government. We were required to read two books that were developed by the Gallup Organization: “First, Break All the Rules” and “Now, Discover Your Strengths” (which has since been republished as StrengthsFinder 2.0).

 

Included in the books was a code to take the Strengths Finder test, which determines your top five “talent themes” (mine were Achiever, Ideation, Harmony, Learner, and Woo). You’ll need to buy the book—the Kindle ebook is only $10.99—in order to get an access code for the test.

 

However, out of all these personality tests, the StrengthsFinder test is most geared toward helping you understanding the unique talents you have to offer the world.

How to Fascinate

 

Most recently, I helped the team at Palo Alto Software complete a new personal assessment test created by Sally Hogshead for her book, “How the World Sees You.” After answering 28 questions, this test will place you in one of 49 possible “Archetypes.”

 

What makes this test unique is that it approaches the results from an aspect of branding: What makes you unique, and how should you use that to communicate your strengths to others? The results also give you your “dormant” advantage, which is another way of discussing a possible weakness.

 

Again, if you buy the book, you’ll get an access code for a full report, but you can also take the test for free.

Are You Entrepreneur Material?

 

This one’s more for fun. It’s our new Bplans Quiz, and when you answer seven questions, we’ll tell you whether or not you’re ready to start your own business.

 

This one’s meant to be light-hearted, but don’t be surprised if it ends up being fairly accurate, and gives you some ideas about how to grow and develop new skills.

 

Disclaimer: Personality tests are a bit like horoscopes—they’re just general enough that they can apply to as many people as possible. More often than not, your result will be mostly accurate to how you see yourself, while missing the unique details that really make you who you are.

 

If you can combine the broad strokes of a personality test with the fine details provided by your own self-assessment and input from others, you’ll start to get a pretty good picture of your strengths and your weaknesses. Personality tests are also really useful for giving you some common language and terms to express your strengths and weaknesses.

 

4. Try new things

 

One problem with identifying strengths and weaknesses comes when you have a lack of experience. In some cases, you might look at your list of weaknesses and notice that it mostly boils down to “I don’t know, I’ve never tried.” For instance, how do you know if you have an athletic or artistic ability if you’ve never tried to do something athletic or artistic?

 

I’m a big believer in pushing yourself to grow by doing things you’ve never done before. To be honest, if you’re reluctant to try new things, then here’s your instant personality test result: don’t be an entrepreneur.

 

However, if you’re interested in trying new things to identify your strengths and weaknesses, here are some groups of experiences that won’t require a lot of time or money:

Creative experiences:

 

    Painting/Drawing: Grab a brush, some cheap paints, and some paper (or a canvas), and follow along as you watch a YouTube tutorial video.

    Singing: Maybe you’ve avoided a karaoke bar so far, but push past your fear of embarrassment, and sing some of your favorite songs.

    Dancing: YouTube will come in handy again, as there are thousands of dance tutorial videos. In the privacy of your own home, you can practice again and again until you think you’ve got a dance down.

    Video: We live in an incredibly exciting time where many of us have the basic equipment required to make a video with movie-level quality, right in our pocket. Challenge yourself to create a 15 or 30 second video with one primary objective: get your viewers to have an emotional response.

   

斷食有益健康

10 Benefits of Fasting That Will Surprise You

Nathan Hewitt

 

Is it a good thing to ‘starve’ yourself each day, or a few days of the week? Well, a tonne of evidence indicates that timed periods of fasting are a good thing.[1]

 

    Starvation literally means starvation. It doesn’t mean skipping a meal or not eating for 24 hours. Or not eating for three days even. The belief that meal skipping or short-term fasting causes “starvation mode” is so completely ridiculous and absurd that it makes me want to jump out the window. – Martin Berkhan

 

Fasting has become increasingly popular over the years, especially among the health community. Whilst most health practitioners are afraid to recommend eating less due to the stigma involved, it still doesn’t alleviate the incredible benefits of fasting when used sensibly.

 

In this article, we’ll explore 10 benefits of fasting that will surprise you, and how you can incorporate them into your own life.

1. Fasting Helps Weight Loss

 

Photo credit: Source

 

Fasting can be a safe way to lose weight as many studies have shown that intermittent fasting – fasting that is controlled within a set number of hours – allows the body to burn through fat cells more effectively than just regular dieting.

 

Intermittent fasting allows the body to use fat as it’s primary source of energy instead of sugar. Many athletes now use fasting as means to hitting low body fat percentages for competitions.[2]

2. Fasting Improves Insulin Sensitivity

 

Fasting has shown to have a positive effect on insulin sensitivity,[3] allowing you to tolerate carbohydrates (sugar) better than if you didn’t fast. A study showed that after periods of fasting, insulin becomes more effective in telling cells to take up glucose from blood.[4]

3. Fasting Speeds Up The Metabolism

 

Intermittent fasting gives your digestive system a rest, and this can energise your metabolism to burn through calories more efficiently. If your digestion is poor, this can effect your ability to metabolise food and burn fat. Intermittent fasts can regulate your digestion and promote healthy bowel function, thus improving your metabolic function.

 

4. Fasting Promotes Longevity

 

Believe it or not, the less you eat the longer you will live. Studies have shown how the lifespan of people in certain cultures increased due to their diets[5]

 

However, we don’t need to live amongst a foreign community to reap the benefits of fasting. One of the primary effects of ageing is a slower metabolism, the younger your body is, the faster and more efficient your metabolism. The less you eat, the less toll it takes on your digestive system.

 

5. Fasting Improves Hunger

 

Just think about this, can you actually experience real hunger if you eat a meal every 3-4 hours? Of course you can’t. In fact, to experience the true nature of hunger, this would take anything from 12 to even 24 hours.

 

Fasting helps to regulate the hormones in your body so that you experience what true hunger is. We know that obese individuals do not receive the correct signals to let them know they are full due excessive eating patterns.[6]

 

Think of fasting as a reset button: the longer you fast, the more your body can regulate itself to release the correct hormones, so that you can experience what real hunger is. Not to mention, when your hormones are working correctly, you get full quicker.[7]

6. Fasting Improves Your Eating Patterns

 

Fasting can be a helpful practice for those who suffer with binge eating disorders, and for those who find it difficult to establish a correct eating pattern due to work and other priorities.

 

With intermittent fasting going all afternoon without a meal is okay and it can allow you to eat at a set time that fits your lifestyle. Also, for anyone who wants to prevent binge eating, you can establish a set time in where you allow yourself to eat your daily amount of calories in one sitting, and then not eat till the following day.

7. Fasting Improves Your Brain Function

 

Fasting has shown to improve brain function because it boosts the production of a protein called brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF.)[8]

 

BDNF activates brain stem cells to convert into new neurons, and triggers numerous other chemicals that promote neural health. This protein also protects your brain cells from changes associated with Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease.

8. Fasting Improves Your Immune System

 

Intermittent fasting improves the immune system because it reduces free radical damage, regulates inflammatory conditions in the body and starves off cancer cell formation.[9]

 

In nature, when animals get sick they stop eating and instead focus on resting. This is a primal instinct to reduce stress on their internal system so their body can fight off infection. We humans are the only species who look for food when we are ill, even when we do not need it.

9. Fasting Contributes To Self-Enlightenment

 

Fasting has helped many people feel more connected to life during the practices reading, meditation, yoga and martial arts etc. With no food in the digestive system, this makes room for more energy in the body – the digestive is one of the most energy absorbing systems in the body.

 

Fasting for self-enlightenment allows us to feel better both consciously and physically. With a lighter body and a clearer mind we become more aware and grateful for the things around us.

10. Fasting Helps Clear The Skin And Prevent Acne

 

Fasting can help clear the skin because with the body temporarily freed from digestion, it’s able to focus its regenerative energies on other systems.[10]

 

Not eating anything for just one day has shown to help the body clean up the toxins and regulate the functioning of other organs of the body like liver, kidneys and other parts.

一拍即合

How to Get Along With Everyone

Co-authored by Paul Chernyak, LPC Last Updated

 

In our day-to-day lives, we must interact with a wide variety of people. Some of them are easy to get along with, but others can be more challenging. It's impossible to like everyone, but sometimes we have to get along with people whether we like them or not. With the right attitude and good social skills, you really can get along with just about everyone (at least in small doses). Be positive and polite and you never know who might end up being a future friend.

Developing a Good Attitude

 

    Cultivate a positive outlook. People with a genuinely positive attitude are seen as more attractive and charming by others. The more you can cultivate this outlook in your own life, the more most people will like you.

        Don't worry if this doesn't come naturally to you — it is something you can learn through practice. Be conscious about smiling more. Accept compliments with gratitude and humility.

        When you find yourself thinking negative thoughts about situations or people, stop and try to think of a bright side or positive characteristic that can help you feel better about it.

 

    Respect differences between people. Accepting the fact that people are different from you, and that doesn't make them wrong, is part of having a positive attitude.[2] Whether the difference is in terms of behavior, culture, or opinion, remember that these differences are not only okay, they make life more interesting.

        It's easy to think "Other people would be happier if they were more like me," but remember that most people are happy being who they are, and that all people aren't made happy by the same exact things. Spending time with friends might make you happy, while spending time alone might make a different person just as happy.

 

    Seek to understand other people's perspectives. Make a habit of trying to put yourself in other people's shoes, even (or especially) those who you find difficult to understand or relate to.[4]

        Remember that there's at least two sides to every story. Make a genuine effort to see how other people have valid perspectives, even if they conflict with your own. Having an open mind will make nasty conflicts less likely.

 

    Know your own triggers. We all have "pet peeves," things that really bother us when other people do them. Think what yours are. Recognize that not everyone feels the same about these things.[5]

        Further, make plans to deal with these things when they come up. Does it drive you crazy when people whistle or drum their fingers? Having a practiced, polite response to these behaviors that lets others know you find it frustrating without being critical or combative can help you get along better with others.

        For example, you could say: "Excuse me, would it be okay if I asked you to stop whistling? No offense, but it really drives me crazy after a while!"

 

Having Positive Interactions with Others

 

    Be cheerful. Entering conversations with a good attitude will lead to more positive interactions with others and make it easier to get along. Smile and talk about positive things to the extent that you are able.[6]

        You don't need to fake happiness if your best friend has just died, but generally, try not to burden others with your problems, especially minor gripes.

        For example, if someone asks how you are, and you've just gotten in from a long, difficult commute, try to think of something good that happened that day that you can tell him or her about rather than immediately expressing your frustration with rush hour traffic.

 

    Take an interest in other people. Don't just talk about yourself when interacting with others. Find something genuinely interesting about what they have to say, and ask questions about them.

        This will make other people feel more important and valued by you.[7]

        Be a good listener. People want to feel that what they have to say is heard by others. This will make people enjoy talking to you more and reduce conflict in your day-to-day conversations.[8]

 

    Be kind and considerate. Be careful of other people's feelings when talking to them. Avoid unnecessary criticisms or mean-spirited jokes that might make others feel bad.[9]

        Compliment others, especially at the start of a conversation. Starting a conversation off with some sincere flattery will get things off on the right foot.[10]

 

    Match the pace of others. Each person walks, talks, and generally moves through life at a different pace than others. It's easy to feel like your own pace is the "natural" one, but try to match the pace of other people. [11]

        If someone talks slowly and quietly, avoid talking to him loudly and at a rapid pace. This will make it more enjoyable and comfortable for the other person to talk to you.

 

    Focus on your similarities. It's important to respect people's differences, but it's also good to focus on what you have in common with others.[12] This will make conversation smoother and easier for both of you.

        This works at both the individual and cultural level. Whether someone comes form a completely different culture or just has a very different personality from yours, looking for similarities is a good way to bridge the gap.

        If, for example, you meet someone with conflicting political or religious beliefs, but find you both like baseball or dogs, focus the conversation on baseball and dogs, at least until you get to know the other person better.

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