Success is an Iceberg: My Thoughts

By: S.C. Ali

Founder/Author

A few weeks ago, a friend posted the above picture on social media. Typically, when I see shared posts I bypass them relatively quickly. However, this particular picture caught my eye.

In physical science, an iceberg floats in water because ice is less dense than water. Water is most dense at 4ºC in its liquid state, an anomaly in the science world. Because of the density difference, approximately one tenth of the ice floats above the water, and the other nine-tenths is submerged below the water.

The basic analogy drawn in the picture is simple. The road to success is long and hard, and when you reach the top (the apex of the iceberg), society recognizes it. However, unfortunately, many people do not understand and appreciate the road it takes in order to be successful. As a result, feelings of jealousy and envy may arise. However, these harbored feelings are weak and immature. If people valued more the determination and persistence that it takes in order to reach the top, there wouldn’t be jealousy, only admiration.

One example I am most familiar with is the road to becoming a physician. I am fortunate to have over 100 colleagues who are undergraduate students interested in medicine, medical students, or medical residents. Some individuals who are not healthcare professionals tend to glorify doctors. One of the first things I have heard time and time again from people is, “Oh, doctors make a lot of money.” Although doctors tend to be in the higher income strata, in the United States, they need to go through at least 11 years of school/training after high school before they reach the tip of their iceberg. Medical students who would like to pursue a residency in a more specialized field have to go through even more years of residency training before they achieve their goal. Residency is a tough road, as physicians are frequently overworked and underpaid during these years of training.

Some examples of current successful and prominent figures outside the medical realm include: Bill and Melinda Gates, Warren Buffet, Angela Merkel, and Janet Yellen. Although all of these individuals are reaping the rewards from their many years of hard work and determination at present, they all had their own trials and tribulations to go through before reaching there.

In essence, the qualities shown in the picture above are essential to success. The higher and more ambitious your goal, the steeper the hill will be to climb. However, the steeper the hill, the more rewarding the accomplishment when you reach the top. I implore you to set the example for society. Strive only for the best in whatever you pursue. Know that if you sincerely want the best, the road will be difficult and full of obstacles. However, the reward will be great. If you are serious about succeeding, it is imperative to master the qualities in the picture carefully. In doing so, you will acquire the capability to pave your own road to success. If there is someone who is highly successful among your cohort of family or friends, use them as an example. Ask them what they did or what they had to go through in order to reach where they are. Don’t just focus on the finished product, acknowledge and appreciate the process that it takes in order to reach that result.

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Quick Update!

Hi everyone,

I hope everyone has been doing well, and you are enjoying the high quality content we strive to output.

In case you all haven’t already noticed, we are limiting our posts to once a week in order to ensure consistency and fluidity. In addition, it makes it easier for you, the readers, to keep up to date with everything.

All of the writers are going to be pursuing graduate education starting this Fall. As a result, we won’t be able to write as frequently as before. However, Bronze Lifestyle will stay active for you to spread the word to your family, friends, and followers. The site is always up 24/7 for your perusal. We hope you all enjoy the wide variety of topics we have to offer.

Thank you for your readership!

S.C. Ali

Editor-in-Chief

The Optimist Creed

Hey everyone,

In lieu of an article this week, I thought I’d share The Optimist Creed. This creed is from the organization Optimist International. I take no credit in writing this. I thought it would be useful for everyone (including myself) to start implementing, so I decided to share. Here it is:

Promise Yourself

To be so strong that nothing can disturb your peace of mind.

To talk health, happiness and prosperity to every person you meet.

To make all your friends feel that there is something special about them.

To look at the sunny side of everything and make your optimism come true.

To think only of the best, to work only for the best, and to expect only the best.

To be just as enthusiastic about the success of others as you are about your own.

To forget the mistakes of the past and press on to the greater achievements of the future.

To wear a cheerful countenance at all times and give every living creature you meet a smile.

To give so much time to the improvement of yourself that you have no time to criticize others.

To be too large for worry, too noble for anger, too strong for fear, and too happy to permit the presence of trouble.

Next week, we’ll feature a health related article. Stay tuned!

S.C. Ali

Editor-in-Chief

Stubbornness: Can it be a Good Thing?

By: S.C. Ali

Founder/Author

When we use the term stubbornness, we often use it in a negative context. According to Webster’s dictionary, the definition is, “unreasonably or perversely unyielding” or “justifiably unyielding.” I was speaking to a family member recently, and they told me that stubbornness doesn’t necessarily have to be a bad quality. I pondered on this matter for a while, and realized something quite profound.

Based on the definition provided, it could be used in a positive way. Some of the most successful people in history have had a channeled stubbornness about them that drove them to achieve their goals. As a matter of fact, there are modern day examples of people (such as Warren Buffet) who are fixed in their ways and are successful. For example, it is well known that Mr. Buffet refuses to invest in technology, which is explained in more detail here.

We use stubbornness in a negative context primarily because it describes someone who has a dogged determination even though they are presented with a valid argument. This does hold true in many contexts, but not when it comes to innovation. One of my favorite examples of success in history is Thomas A. Edison. His teacher from primary school often implied that he was challenged, but that was only because Edison’s mind kept wandering. The teacher used his experience to indicate that Edison couldn’t succeed due to this tendency. Moreover, once he started to work as a telegrapher, he became so engrossed in reading/experimenting that an accident involving a lead-acid battery cost him his job. However, despite this situation (not to mention that he was impoverished) he had a “stubborn” determination to innovate by thinking outside the box. His first of many patents was in 1869, the electric vote recorder. In addition, he used his skills in entrepreneurship to form one of the largest publicly traded companies worldwide, General Electric.

In essence, we can use stubbornness to our advantage. Although it is typically associated with someone who is unyielding in a negative fashion, controlled stubbornness is a great quality that can drive you to success. One of the hardest parts of goal making is keeping the goal. If you are “stubborn” in up keeping your goals, it means you will do whatever it takes to achieve them. Sometimes, there will be individuals who tell you that it’s not possible, or deter you. It is in these cases where the fiery passion in stubbornness truly shines for the best. The key is to surround yourselves with people who will encourage rather than discourage you. Therefore, use stubbornness to your advantage to plow through difficulties and dream big. As Will Smith famously quipped in the 2006 film The Pursuit of Happyness, “Don’t ever let somebody tell you that you can’t do something.”

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Quick Update

Hi everyone,

I hope everyone has been doing well, and you are enjoying the high quality content we strive to output each week.

In case you all haven’t already noticed, we are limiting our posts to once a week in order to ensure consistency and fluidity. In addition, it makes it easier for you, the readers, to keep up to date with everything.

As a result, we will be publishing new content every Wednesday of each week.

Nevertheless, please spread the word to your family, friends, and followers about this site. The site is always up 24/7 for your perusal. We hope you all enjoy the wide variety of topics we have to offer.

Thank you for your readership!

Until next week,

S.C. Ali

Editor-in-Chief

Persistence in the Pursuit of Success

By: S.C. Ali

Founder/Author

“Never, never, never give up.” These simple yet powerful words by the great Winston Churchill resonate with us all. They are also the embodiment of persistence. Persistence is a distinct personality trait, which is defined by Merriam Webster as, “the quality that allows someone to continue doing something or trying to do something even though it is difficult or opposed by other people”.

Persistence is an extremely important factor in success. The concept of success is highly subjective in nature, and can be applied to different circumstances. Whether the success is professional, personal, social, academic, spiritual, or anything in between, persistence is paramount. Regardless, history has proven time and time again that a common thread in pursuing success is: persistence.

Thomas Edison, one of the most prolific inventors of the last 150 years, was subjected to humor as a child in school because his mind often wandered. However, his mother was instrumental in educating him to become one of the greatest inventors. In fact, many of the electronic devices that we use today are in large part due to evolution of Edison’s inventions. He famously quipped, “Genius is one percent inspiration, and ninety-nine percent perspiration.” In other words, the determination and will to move forward regardless of hardship is what will drive you to success.

Aviation pioneer Amelia Earhart is another quintessential example of persistence. When she discovered her passion for flying after being flown in a plane by aviator Frank Hawks, she stayed affixed on her goal to become a great pilot. Because flying lessons were expensive, she worked multiple jobs. According to aviationhistory.org, she worked as a, “photographer, truck driver, and stenographer at the local telephone company” in order to afford the lessons. Because airplanes were a novel means of transportation in the 1920s, it involved intense training. However, Earhart persisted and eventually became the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean.

How can persistence be implemented in your life? The first step involves proper goal setting. This is done through careful planning. Please see my New Year’s Resolution article for more details. After composing a specific list of goals and the steps to reach them, it is important to evaluate yourself frequently to monitor your progress. Persistence will play a part in the execution of your goals. In addition, you must expect difficulties in order to succeed. Steve Harvey has said, “The road to success is always under construction.” This is very true, because part of the journey is to struggle. Here are some tips to persist:

1. Have a good support system. This is essential to pursue success via persistence. Whether it is a group of people or one loved one, nobody does it alone. Looking at the aforementioned examples, Thomas Edison had his mother, and Amelia Earhart had her parents. When the difficulties arise, discuss them with your confidants.

2. Do not sidestep the issue. One of the most common reactions when facing a difficulty in pursuit of one’s goal is to ignore the difficulty and find alternatives. Ignoring the issue at hand will only make things worse. Have the courage to face the difficulty head on.

3. Never give up. Again, we come back to the fundamental concept implemented by Winston Churchill. When the going gets tough, remember the big goal. Personally, I find writing the major goals on a piece of paper helpful. When facing a difficulty, I refer back to that paper. Seeing it written on paper rather than just thinking about it does make a difference.

In essence, persistence is critical for success. No matter what goal you aspire to, there will always be challenges. However, what will make you different and allow you to be successful is how you deal with the challenges and move forward. In fact, the most successful people of the past and present have probably faced the greatest challenges at some point. Now is the time to implement my suggestions for yourself. In addition, read about successful figures in history, see how they pursued success, and implement the techniques. By doing so, you will live a happy and fulfilling life.

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How to Respond Efficiently to Emails/Texts

By: S.C. Ali

Founder/Author

Have you ever sent an email or a text message only to not have the person respond? What does that say about the individual? Why is responding promptly so important? How can I become more efficient at this task? Hopefully, I will be able to shed some light on these questions (and others), and provide some insight as to how I respond efficiently.

First of all, we must be grateful for our current instantaneous methods of communications. Imagine during the mid to late 1800s when telegrams were used, and how difficult it was to communicate. Nowadays we have smartphones that can sync all of our email accounts and text messages into one handheld device. Yet, some still don’t respond promptly! This can actually create a negative impression, and may be viewed by some as unprofessional. Failing to reply promptly is not a problem of technology, but one of time management skills. Time management is so important, regardless of what sphere you work and live in. It is important that we develop some skills to reverse this trend to move forward in a positive direction. When one does respond to messages promptly, it shows that you are organized, diligent, and effective.

Here are a few methods to improve this important skill:

1. Buy a smartphone that syncs all emails and messages. The majority of us in the workforce or school have phones of this nature. However, if you don’t, then investigate your upgrade options. For those of you who are not the most tech savvy, check for instructional classes in your area to learn how to utilize a smartphone to the fullest. This simple upgrade will allow you to assimilate all important information to respond efficiently.

2. Set some time aside everyday to respond to all messages. The amount of time varies greatly on how many messages you receive daily. I strongly recommend a 24 hour interval. In other words, if you decide to respond to all messages at 8pm, you should respond to all messages that were sent from 8pm the night before until present. That way, the other parties will receive replies promptly, and most importantly, your emails/texts/messages will not aggregate.
3. Prioritize your emails. Most people have more than one email account, whereby one is for professional purposes while the other is for personal reasons. Do not neglect any particular emails/texts. Sometimes, you will find that a simple, “Thank you for your email” may make a difference on the other side’s part because it acknowledges that you received and saw the email. Prioritization can be quite beneficial in not mixing your personal and professional correspondence, and responding accordingly.
4. Respond on an hourly basis. This depends on your profession, but there are some jobs that heavily involve electronic correspondence. In these cases, you can actually respond more promptly than the 24 hour rule. Remember, the more promptly you reply, the less messages build in your inbox so it’s a win-win. If your profession does not allow this, then see Skill #2.
5. If you are going away, leave an away message. If you are traveling for business or personal reasons, and you will not have access to your messaging accounts, then leave an away message. Most messaging services have this feature. That way, the other party won’t feel disrespected or not attended to. It will also give you some extra time to catch up upon your return.

6. Social media can wait. Unless you use social media (Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, etc.) for business purposes, it should be a last priority. If you use social media for professional purposes, then it should have equal priority to emails and follow suit.

The most common question people may ask is, “I have over *insert large number here* emails, how can I implement these skills?” In this case, you will have to put some extra time aside on the weekend (or when you are not working) in order to catch up. Although the initial time will be large, the pros outweigh the cons significantly. If you clean up your email accounts/text messages, then from the following day you will be starting afresh. Therefore, it will be easier to respond to emails and texts as they come since you have caught up on your correspondences.

In conclusion, this is a very important skill that people often neglect. It can make a significant difference. People will have a more positive impression of you, and it will build professional relationships. It is essential that we cultivate good habits in our electronic communications. Now is the time for everyone to take note and act. Try these skills for yourself and see what a difference it makes!

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How Love Became the Theme of Valentine’s Day

By: S.C. Ali

Founder/Author

Valentine’s Day is a day that is associated with love, beautiful flower bouquets, and many delectable chocolates and candies. However, what is the origination? How did Valentine’s Day evolve into what it is today? What lessons can we learn from Valentine’s Day? This article will attempt to shed some light on these questions in order to discuss the most important theme of Valentine’s Day: love.

The history of Valentine’s Day is quite convoluted. Although the namesake of Valentine’s Day is Saint Valentine, the story of the saint is ambiguous. There are few details we actually know. The only thing we do know is that, “he was martyred in 269 at Rome and was buried on the Flaminian Way.”

The association of Valentine’s Day with romantic love actually does not appear in history until 1382 where Geoffrey Chaucer writes in Parlement of Foules:

“For this was on seynt Volantynys day
Whan euery bryd comyth there to chese his make.”

Modern English Translation: “For this was on St. Valentine’s Day, when every bird cometh there to choose his mate.”

As time went on, traces of the origin of an actual Valentine’s note lead to Charles, Duke of Orléans in France when he wrote a poem to his wife in the 15^th century. However, the tradition of associating Valentine’s Day with love was perpetuated by British authors such as Shakespeare, John Donne, and Edmund Spenser. In the early 19^th century, paper valentines became very popular in England and eventually made their way to America. During and after this time period, the popularity of the holiday continued until present.

Despite the mysterious and complicated history of Valentine’s Day, the one principle that we can all implement is love. Love in itself is a fundamental emotion, and can be expressed in many different ways. Artists have interpreted love through various mediums (such as painting, writing, and music), and this trend continues up until today. Although Valentine’s Day is historically and traditionally associated with love between couples, we can extrapolate this idea and show love for others. The implementation of love doesn’t have to be carnal in nature; rather, it can be expressed through empathy and sincerity towards one another.

There are many health and psychosocial benefits to interpersonal affection. Oxytocin plays a major role in marital/intimate relations, and there could be a positive correlation. However, more research needs to be conducted. There is some literature on the health benefits of marriage, but it refers to long, stable, marriages. It does not refer to passionate love. Some health benefits may include: less doctor visits, less depression/substance abuse, less anxiety, and lower blood pressure. Certain marriages can cause stress, so it’s important to consider your personal relationship before making sweeping conclusions based on the evidence presented. Please see the following studies for more details here and here.

If we go beyond the marital or long-term relationships, there are many benefits to friendships as well. Whether you are a social butterfly with many friends, or more quiet and reserved with a few high quality friends, having friends can make a difference. According to James Till, women who had a support group while fighting or recovering from breast cancer had a much better prognosis and quality of life. According to Dr. Sheldon Cohen from Carnegie Mellon University, “Friends can help you face adverse events. They provide material aid, emotional support, and information that helps you deal with the stressors.” In addition, according to the Mayo Clinic, some of the health benefits of friendships include: boosting happiness, reducing stress, and improving your self-confidence.

Overall, love is a universal emotion that can be expressed in different ways depending on the person and cultural context. Regardless, the saying from The Beatles, “I get by with a little help from my friends” holds very true in many settings. Many of the problems that the world faces today can be solved with love and respect. Everyone has some sort of love within, even if they may seem insensitive on the exterior. It is why when someone dies, we all share the pain. When someone is happy, we all feel joy. Let us all implement this powerful emotion. Don’t make Valentine’s Day the only day of love. Instead, let the Valentine’s Day spirit of love apply everyday to whoever you meet/interact with.

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Why You Should Keep Smiling

By: S.C. Ali

Founder/Author

Smiling is one of the earliest and most basic facial expressions. It normally develops around six to eight weeks of age and indicates many emotions, the main one being happiness. Every day we hear or read in the news about so many depressing stories. Perhaps we have a bad day at work/school. Maybe our loved ones are causing us great social and emotional pain. However, it’s important to not give up on humanity and have a positive approach. Positivity will solve problems. It will bring people together towards peace and harmony. It has the power to mend relationships.

The key to smiling more often is to think of reasons to smile. First and foremost, being grateful for what you have can trigger a smile. Every morning and/or evening, take some time to think about the skills, talents, and possessions you have. Think of those who are not so fortunate, and be thankful. My article on Thanksgiving (see here) goes into a lot more detail about being grateful, so I highly suggest referring to it before continuing.

There are many health benefits in smiling. First, it releases endorphins. Endorphins are colloquially known as “happy hormones” that are released when you are engaged in an activity (for example working out) because they tend to reduce the perception of pain/stress, resulting in a euphoric state. Second, smiling can have an effect on oxytocin, a hormone that plays an important role in intimacy. Although the smile doesn’t have a direct effect, a study by Ellingsen et al. shows that smiling can lead to human touch, which has a direct correlation to oxytocin levels. The study demonstrated that subjects who were shown smiling faces were seen as, “more friendly and attractive” compared to frowning ones. Therefore, smiling can have an amplifying effect on human touch. Third, smiling can be helpful in coping with stress. A study by Kraft and Pressman showed that people who smiled had, “lower heart rates during stress recovery” than those who kept a neutral facial expression.

Many of us have heard the saying, “smiling is contagious.” A neuroimaging study by Wild et al. proves this to be true. The scientists in this study combined a functional MRI, which measures brain activity, with comprehension and implementation of facial expressions. They found a higher correlation of congruence when the subjects viewed a happy face compared to a neutral or sad one. In other words, when the subjects saw a happy face, there was a shorter time interval to mimic that facial expression compared to a frown or neutral facial expression.

Last but not least, it is very important for a smile to emanate from the heart. These kinds of smiles are the most sincere, and therefore can expand the health benefits of smiling. There are two types of smiling: smiling and Duchenne smiling. Duchenne smiling is more consistent with sincere smiling while smiling can be seen by some as “fake”. Duchenne smiling anatomically involves the zygomatic major muscle (raises the corners of the mouth) and orbicularis orbis muscle (squinting of the eyes), while smiling involves the former but not the latter. An authentic smile can help develop charisma and have other social benefits.

Overall, smiling is a powerful tool of social expression that can be used all of the time. The health benefits are many, the social outcome is favorable, and it doesn’t cost anything. We need people to smile more in the world. Everyone has their own hardships and burdens, but that doesn’t give us a reason to not smile. Be grateful for the good things you have in life (especially compared to others), and live, love, laugh. The next time you see a loved one or co-worker, smile upon first glance, and see for yourself what a difference it makes!

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“Smile” lyrics by Uncle Kracker:

The Glory of Wisdom

An excellent article by contributing writer Andrew Blitman on his blog, The Written Blit. Check it out!!