For those that do not travel a lot may not have some of the 'built-in sensors' as someone that travels quite a lot. Myself, most of the traveling has always employed various ways of making sure I'm safe. There is always the possibility of something happening, whether it be in your own country or when traveling abroad.
A recent article in Executive Travel Magazine, psychologist Terry Riley provides twelve travel tips. The tips talk about 'traveling overseas', yet I've always felt regardless of where you travel, it is always a good idea to be careful in unfamiliar locations.
So here are Mr. Riley's twelve tips. For more, find and read his books 'Travel Can Be Murder', 'C.H.A.R.M. School' and 'The Complete Travel Diet'.
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12. Don’t go.
Granted, this is really a ‘don’t travel’ tip, but it bears mentioning. If you genuinely feel that you could be in danger by traveling to your destination, don’t go. Applying some creativity may lead you to find another way to accomplish your business goal without having to make an in-person visit. It’s not worth risking your life to advance your career.
11. Know where to go and how to get there.
Before you leave home, contact a friend, colleague or government official who is familiar with your destination and can give you the skinny on how to get around. Study a map of the area to plot out your routes ahead of time, and take the map with you. (Important corollary to this tip: Know what places to avoid and how to circumvent them.)
10. Pack a “survival” kit.
My kit includes a small flashlight (in case of power failure), duct tape (to prevent smoke from entering a hotel room where I might have to await rescue from a fire) and, of course, a cell phone (that will work at my destination).
9. Get your rest, and avoid alcohol and other drugs.
Travelers who are confused, tired, drunk or doped up are easy prey. Combine any of these vulnerabilities and your chances of being victimized increase substantially.
8. Keep a low profile.
Affluent Americans and employees of American corporations are prime targets when traveling internationally. Don’t advertise your wealth, citizenship or company affiliation. Leave expensive jewelry at home, cover your identification and remove your company’s logos from your clothing and luggage.
7. Travel light, and keep moving.
Criminals prefer stationary and slow-moving targets—the expression is “sitting ducks”—so you want to be able to move smartly along your way. Carry only what you need in transit. If you have excess luggage or cumbersome items to transport, ship them in advance.
6. Make eye contact.
Develop a habit of looking around and making eye contact with others—especially those behind you. A strong deterrent to crime is the possibility of being caught. A criminal is way more likely to be caught if he knows he can be identified.
5. Stay with others.
Criminals prefer lone targets. There is safety in numbers, even if those numbers include strangers.
4. Protect your identity.
When you make reservations, use only your first initial and last name. Even if you’re a cautious traveler, few things will disarm you more than a stranger calling your name. While you are trying to figure out how you know the guy who called out to you, he may be figuring out how to snatch your goodies. And, if you are a woman, using only your first initial means advance notice of your gender is denied to anyone who may be lying in wait.
3. Trust your instincts.
Listen to your internal danger alert system, and act on its warnings. In most cases, it won’t let you down.
2. Never trust others to manage your safety.
You are ultimately responsible for your personal safety while traveling.
1. Never trust others to manage your safety.
This tip is so important it bears repeating: Only you are responsible for your safety -- no one else.
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“When you travel, remember that a foreign country is not designed to make you comfortable. It is designed to make its own people comfortable.” Clifton Fadiman
Friday, March 16, 2007
Monday, March 12, 2007
What Secret
Recent articles have started to surface regarding the 'power of positive thinking' life style and beliefs of people. Most of these have come about due to a book and subsequent new movie called "The Secret". It is a movie that some have described as "a movie so powerful that it can change the course of your life." There are those with an opinion of differing belief about living a more positive life.
The book itself teaches that the "principle explains that we create our own circumstances by the choices we make in life. And the choices we make are fueled by our thoughts—which means our thoughts are the most powerful things we have here on earth." The argument against the book is that it is simply a form of 'new-age' hucksterism.
I have a tend to agree with some of the arguments regarding the material. There seems to be a bit of 'over-commercialism' and 'marketing hype' going on. Heck, I myself tend to become a bit 'flowery' in my own writings but I try not to let it overshadow the basic message. I also don't agree completely with all of the teachings but I would allow you the time to read and judge for yourself. I believe there is a place to find common ground in its message.
This means striking a balance between both ends of the opinion scale. To take advice on the merits of common sense and reality. There are many things that I say in my own writings that are wrapped into the ideas contained in Rhonda Byrne's book (The Secret). She has a much bigger stage to speak from at this point but my own stage is available to those seeking something more as well. It is up to you, the reader, to choose the source which best speaks to you.
When you are searching for a change in life, being positive about your life is not a bad thing. It comes in all different shapes and forms. The basic principle for me is if you are a more positive and happier person regardless of present circumstance; others will be more apt to come into your world. A simple human truth is that we much prefer to be around happy people as opposed to cranky ones.
And in the bigger world, cranky people come in many different levels of success. The same way happy people do...successful or not we can learn from those we chose to be around. Opportunity will seem to gravitate towards happier people. The only reason I can surmise is that a happy person is more apt to see the opportunity as possibility. While the cranky person will find reason not to involve themselves.
As for 'The Secret' itself, is it really a secret? Not really but it is a pretty good title to capture the attention of millions of people. It is a good book that I do think you can learn lessons from for a better life. It can help you bring balance to the six spokes of your life. Learn from many different sources, for it is in the search of betterment of your life that reveal to you that which truly makes you happy.
The book itself teaches that the "principle explains that we create our own circumstances by the choices we make in life. And the choices we make are fueled by our thoughts—which means our thoughts are the most powerful things we have here on earth." The argument against the book is that it is simply a form of 'new-age' hucksterism.
I have a tend to agree with some of the arguments regarding the material. There seems to be a bit of 'over-commercialism' and 'marketing hype' going on. Heck, I myself tend to become a bit 'flowery' in my own writings but I try not to let it overshadow the basic message. I also don't agree completely with all of the teachings but I would allow you the time to read and judge for yourself. I believe there is a place to find common ground in its message.
This means striking a balance between both ends of the opinion scale. To take advice on the merits of common sense and reality. There are many things that I say in my own writings that are wrapped into the ideas contained in Rhonda Byrne's book (The Secret). She has a much bigger stage to speak from at this point but my own stage is available to those seeking something more as well. It is up to you, the reader, to choose the source which best speaks to you.
When you are searching for a change in life, being positive about your life is not a bad thing. It comes in all different shapes and forms. The basic principle for me is if you are a more positive and happier person regardless of present circumstance; others will be more apt to come into your world. A simple human truth is that we much prefer to be around happy people as opposed to cranky ones.
And in the bigger world, cranky people come in many different levels of success. The same way happy people do...successful or not we can learn from those we chose to be around. Opportunity will seem to gravitate towards happier people. The only reason I can surmise is that a happy person is more apt to see the opportunity as possibility. While the cranky person will find reason not to involve themselves.
As for 'The Secret' itself, is it really a secret? Not really but it is a pretty good title to capture the attention of millions of people. It is a good book that I do think you can learn lessons from for a better life. It can help you bring balance to the six spokes of your life. Learn from many different sources, for it is in the search of betterment of your life that reveal to you that which truly makes you happy.
Monday, March 05, 2007
Power Of Belief
"Never underestimate the power of dreams and the influence of the human spirit. We are all the same in this notion: The potential for greatness lives within each of us." - Wilma Rudolph
There is an underlying thought among many people that our dreams have no relevance to daily life. Without the power of dreams, withouth the influence of our own spirit we will never move forward or gain more in life.
Our ability to motivate ourselves and others is a tremendous thing that you must take hold of. Be willing to believe in your dream, to hold onto it and reach for that which awaits you. Others will catch the spirit of your belief and begin to believe in themselves.
There is an underlying thought among many people that our dreams have no relevance to daily life. Without the power of dreams, withouth the influence of our own spirit we will never move forward or gain more in life.
Our ability to motivate ourselves and others is a tremendous thing that you must take hold of. Be willing to believe in your dream, to hold onto it and reach for that which awaits you. Others will catch the spirit of your belief and begin to believe in themselves.
Saturday, March 03, 2007
Faith Begins With One Step
Martin Luther King, Jr. once said, "Take the first step in faith. You don't have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step." This faith is one that you have to define. Mine is in a God and the fullness of what I believe he has to offer. Your faith may be defined in other ways, but to succeed in life, you do need to have something that will sustain and motivate you.
A friend of mine just recently found a new job after being out of work for many months. There were many things that life threw at his family over the course of this time. Health, money and home all were attacked by the troubles that plagued him. Many job interviews and coming so close yet being informed by the potential employer they had chosen a different direction.
Yet my friend maintained faith, perseverance, honor and his sense of humor. I'm sure during the quiet hours of night that depression would attempt to take hold. Yet he has weathered the deep canyon of life. When its walls seemed much too high to scale, he kept on and kept that faith. Today life is beginning to become more clear and the climb out of this deep area is becoming easier.
I'm sure he still feels that he has a long way to go. But from my viewpoint, he has come a very long distance already. I have great respect and admiration for this man as an example of carrying his faith the entire distance. To paraphrase from the quote above, "...the end doesn't have to be in site, just the beginning of the path." Begin your journey and if needed, pave your own path.
A friend of mine just recently found a new job after being out of work for many months. There were many things that life threw at his family over the course of this time. Health, money and home all were attacked by the troubles that plagued him. Many job interviews and coming so close yet being informed by the potential employer they had chosen a different direction.
Yet my friend maintained faith, perseverance, honor and his sense of humor. I'm sure during the quiet hours of night that depression would attempt to take hold. Yet he has weathered the deep canyon of life. When its walls seemed much too high to scale, he kept on and kept that faith. Today life is beginning to become more clear and the climb out of this deep area is becoming easier.
I'm sure he still feels that he has a long way to go. But from my viewpoint, he has come a very long distance already. I have great respect and admiration for this man as an example of carrying his faith the entire distance. To paraphrase from the quote above, "...the end doesn't have to be in site, just the beginning of the path." Begin your journey and if needed, pave your own path.
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