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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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 Blitman Anthology: A Review and Interview

By: S.C. Ali

Founder/Author

When I found out during my senior year in college that my comrade, Andrew Blitman, published his debut book, I was ecstatic. Andrew was always the philosophical thinker, someone who can take everyday matters and look at them from a creative and unique perspective. After two years, Andrew decided to publish an anthology of his works this past October. I knew it would be special, because it would be the first time where all of his literary pieces were carefully assembled in one book. As I expected, he did not disappoint.

The Blitman Anthology gives us an insight into Mr. Blitman’s view of important principles such as integrity and love, and poems that use metaphors of nature in order to make sweeping statements about life. In addition, he explores more controversial subjects like religion and politics, but he executes them in a manner that allows him to make general observations for the greater good. As a personal friend of Andrew’s, it does give me a deeper understanding into his particular inspiration for certain pieces. However, even if you don’t know him, this book tactfully covers a lot of ground that many individuals can benefit from.

The lexicon and syntax of the book are impressive. It can be easily detected that Andrew is erudite, and his manner of writing is much more mature than a typical graduate school alum. It is evident that this book required many years of contemplation and observation, and the results are fruitful.

My overall impression of the book was excellent. I am still overwhelmed at how Andrew is able to use such a wide variety of sources to make significant points. I would highly encourage either current college students or recent college graduates to pick up a copy for themselves. It has great potential to empower others to make a positive change in the world. It is a book that I recommend all to read despite its Millenial focus.

I had the pleasure of sitting down with Andrew for a one-on-one interview about his piece.

SC: What was your inspiration for writing in general? How old were you when you started writing? Did you ever intend your work to be read by the masses?

AB: My inspiration for writing sprung from an intense desire to be acknowledged and respected. I was fortunate to have developed an affinity for the written word at an early age. As a result of my heavy introspection, it was relatively easy to translate my emotions into writing. Through self-expression, I managed to transcend negativity and reinforce positivity that permeated my internal and external circumstances.

I remember teaching myself how to write cursive in the first or second grade (at around the age of 6 or 7). As far as real content is concerned, I did not create any substantial literature until my senior year of high school, when I won a haiku contest. However, I did not intend to share my work until my senior year of college because I wanted to ensure that the content was palpable for a broad audience.

SC: Why did you feel it necessary to pen The Blitman Anthology in particular?

AB: The Blitman Anthology represents my personal ascendance to the world of the living. It is the culmination of some struggles that happened early on in life. It contains the truths I learned from introspection and the observation of others. It addresses my insight into some hypocrisies that plagued my personal life and my college experience, as well as many of those that continuously threaten our society as a whole. I also call out the flaws in human nature that must be corrected before these problems can be fixed. Then, I suggest certain principles that can be used to move forward.

SC: What was the creative process in going from an idea to publication? Why did you decide to independently publish?

AB: The creative process was really simple for me. I have written a lot of content since high school, so the next logical step was to compile it into a comprehensive work. However, I got the push to publish from a roommate during my senior year of college.

I decided to publish independently because I could not afford an agent; I also wanted control over my copyright and the content under my name.

SC: Was there any specific focus in mind when writing The Blitman Anthology?

AB: I wrote The Blitman Anthology as my gift to humanity. I hope my insights will provoke necessary dialogue about the double-standards that undermine human existence.

SC: Most writers are a ‘specialist’ in one field or topic. However, I’ve noticed that you have a unique ability to extrapolate from multiple sources to make one salient point. What is your strategy, and how do you go about writing all-encompassing material?

AB: While I do not really have a strategy, I do have a philosophy about writing that applies to education and writing in general – we live in a cosmopolitan world that requires interdisciplinary thinking. Everything in life is multifactorial – that is, has many sources, causes, and relationships with other things – and must be treated as part of a more complicated whole. Once I understood this truth, I gained the ability to identify, explain, and simplify complex concepts in logical terms. That is the secret to being a good person and an even better writer.

SC: Was there a particular intended audience?

AB: While I wrote this book largely for myself (to prove that I could do it), I also wrote this for Millennials like me, who could relate to the overall message of the anthology.

SC: Are you considering a sequel?

AB: Yes; I just need to write it first.

SC: Will you continue writing in this genre, or are you considering something a little different?

AB: Well, I do want to write a novel someday. I just need to find the time and motivation to make it come sooner rather than later.

SC: What are your goals for this book?

AB: I want The Blitman Anthology to become a bestseller. I also want it to get picked up by a major publisher so that its message can be shared around the world.

Thanks again to Mr. Andrew Blitman for the opportunity. Feel free to check out his book here: www.amazon.com/Blitman-Anthology-21st-Century-College-Student/dp/1502760495/

Overall Rating: 5/5

Some Thoughts Regarding the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator

Courtesy of Jake Beech, Wikipedia

By: S.C. Ali

Founder/Author

The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) is one of the most commonly used personality assessments nationwide. Many industries ranging from schools to employers to government agencies utilize this questionnaire in order to determine the perception and decision-making processes of individuals. However, great care must be taken in the results of these tests. Many people in the scientific and psychological community have dismissed these tests because they are based purely on observation rather than a cause/effect relationship. I do think that a balance can be obtained with MBTI. In fact, MBTI can be a fantastic self-help tool because it shows our strengths and weaknesses depending on one’s personality type.

The main objectives of this article are:

• To give a historical overview of MBTI, and its original intended usage
• The classifications of the four categories and how one’s personality type fits into one of the sixteen predetermined personality types
• Some prerequisites that should be observed when taking the MBTI exam and analyzing the results
• A brief overview of the thoughts on MBTI in the current psychology community
• How to use those results to help improve oneself

MBTI was developed by two women, Katharine Cook Briggs and her daughter, Isabel Briggs Myers. Briggs was a researcher in personality, and became highly interested in Carl Jung’s works. Carl Jung was a pioneer in psychology, and a pupil of Sigmund Freud before Jung founded his own school of thought influenced by Freud. Briggs’s goal was to come up with a system that was a pragmatic version of Jung’s theories. Myers was originally uninterested in personality research, but found Jung’s observation of certain personality types fitting certain careers fascinating. According to the official Myers-Briggs website, “they began two decades of type watching” in order to classify their data. The exam itself, known as the MBTI Instrument, was developed “over a 30 year span based on research data from thousands of people.” The original goal of the exam/assessment was, “to enable individuals to grow through an understanding and appreciation of individual differences in healthy personalities, and to enhance harmony and productivity in diverse groups.”

There are four categories that form the 16 MBTI types. For the purposes of clarity, I will try to keep the explanations as simple as possible. Assessments can be administered in order to determine what category you are classified under. This will be provided a little later.

1. Extraversion (E) and Introversion (I): According to psychology, a basic explanation for extraverts (the original spelling used in MBTI) is, “a person who is predominantly concerned with external things or objective considerations.” On the other hand, an introvert is, “a person predominantly concerned with their own thoughts and feelings rather than external things.”

2. Sensing (S) and Intuition (N): According to Jung, these are considered to be the “perceiving functions.” Sensing types tend to trust information that is in the present, tangible, and concrete. In other words, they tend to take things at face value. Intuition types tend to trust information that is seeking a wider pattern than the present and tangible. These people tend to add their own interpretation into a scenario.

3. Thinking (T) and Feeling (F): Jung called these the “judging functions.” The thinking types tend to keep their emotions away from decision making. These individuals look for what is logical and reasonable. Conversely, those who are of the feeling type tend to empathize with the situation, and looking at the needs of other people in making their decisions. It is important to note that both types are viewed in making sound decisions; it’s just simply the approach that is different.

4. Judging (J) and Perception (P): This final criterion did not originate from Jung, but was conceived by Myers and Briggs themselves. It is commonly known as lifestyle criteria, because judging types like to have things decided and set while perceptive types are more spontaneous and like to be open to what options may come along.

Once a questionnaire is filled out, (a free one can be found here), then an individual can determine their personality type. For example, ENTJ indicates extrovert, intuition, thinking, judging.

Both Myers and Briggs knew that some people may misinterpret the exam for different reasons. Therefore, they decided that there should be a set of prerequisites established for ethical purposes. The most important ones for the purposes of modern-day interpretation are: type not trait, own best judge, no right or wrong, voluntary, and not for selection. Type not trait basically states that the test itself only identifies type, not the actual “strength of ability”. Own best judge means that you as an individual know your personality the best, and should be the only one to determine your personality. No right or wrong means that none of the MBTI types are superior to another. Voluntary indicates that no one should be forced to take the MBTI exam. Finally, not for selection means that the MBTI assessment should not be used to label people or select employees. Instead, it indicates “preferences rather than aptitude.”

MBTI has been criticized by the mainstream psychological community. In 1989, McCrae and Costa pointed out that MBTI limitations are, “the original Jungian concepts are distorted and even contradicted; there is no bi-modal distribution of preference scores; studies using the MBTI have frequently not confirmed either the theory or the measure.” Approximately six months ago, an article in the American News website Vox (see here) stated that the modern usage of MBTI in the fields of business and for HR departments is “totally meaningless.” It states that Adam Grant, a psychologist from the University of Pennsylvania,  states that the MBTI exam cannot be used to predict careers, friendships, or romantic relationships. It is evident that the root cause in this case is not following Myers-Briggs’ ethical standard of “not for selection.” In response to design a more accurate, results-oriented personality assessment, the Five Factor Model came to the forefront. It looks at different sets of criteria, and there has been empirical research published about its correlation to personality disorders.

My interpretation of MBTI from the beginning was that it was to be used as a personal assessment tool. Should be it used to label others or to determine one’s career? Absolutely not. There are times (myself included) where my results would overlap with another personality type, so it can be difficult to zero in on one type. However, it can be used for self-help purposes. Think about a situation where MBTI classifies our personality. Then, that personality was analyzed and strengths/weaknesses were identified. Assuming it applies to us for the most part, we could improve on our weaknesses by avoiding them or molding ourselves to be better people. For example, one of the weaknesses of NT personality types is that they are highly analytical and disregard emotion. Therefore, if someone is in a leadership position, their ruthlessness in rationality and reason could lead to scorn of other people’s emotional expressions. It is important for NT’s to be empathetic enough in leading others to appease others’ psychosocial troubles, but retain their analytical ways. If implemented, then NT’s will see great results because they do not give up their strengths. Rather, they address their weaknesses and improve their overall leadership skills as a result. Moreover, the NT’s can continue this method or find another one if proven ineffective. Thus, instead of fitting the mold of their particular personality, they are becoming better-rounded individuals.

Since the excitement of the beginning of 2015 is still fresh on our minds, now is a great time to start. First, take the exam in the link provided above in order to determine your four letter MBTI type. Next, click on the correlating personality type here: http://www.16personalities.com/personality-types and read the introduction and the strengths/weaknesses page. I can’t begin to tell you how many colleagues tell me how true the observations are.

In conclusion, the key word to best describe my approach to Myers-Briggs is tendency. It shows us tendencies that we as people have. It is not meant to be definitive and absolute, or orient ourselves with certain careers. There is room in every industry for each personality type. It is quite common to be classified as a personality type and find that some of the traits listed do not exactly fit in line with you as an individual. However, that’s the not the point. The point is to gain an insight into general observations, and most importantly, improve the self. After all, if Myers-Briggs presents us with one of many opportunities to reflect and improve, then isn’t it worthwhile?

My Year with Pokémon: My Top Three Life Lessons Learned in 2014

By: Andrew Blitman

Contributing Writer

Happy New Years, everyone! My name is Andrew Blitman, and I am an author, teacher, and video game enthusiast. As a writer, I am drawn to convincing stories. As a teacher, I need to experience narratives that tell truths about the real world. As a video game enthusiast, I tend to get lost in fiction. But where do we fit video games in the realms of storytelling? According to Forbes Magazine, “The Future of Video Games Is Also the Future of Storytelling”. Technological improvements have transformed video games from mindless entertainment into interactive novels with ideological purpose and underappreciated moral relevance.

Where does my digital narrative begin? Like many “90s Children”, I was introduced to video games in 1998, when Pocket Monsters (or Pokémon) went international. Pokémon Red, Pokémon Blue, and Pokémon Green (Japan Only) were the first role-playing games (RPGs) of their kind. These RPGs whisked players into a vast new frontier called Kanto. The young explorers – or “trainers” – must befriend wild creatures with supernatural abilities – Pokémon – to advance through the game. The original games had three overarching goals, made even more unique by the fact that characters do not die during gameplay:

1. To challenge and defeat the 13 greatest trainers in the region (8 Gym Leaders, an Elite Four, and a Champion)
2. To stop the megalomaniacal plans of Team Rocket, which abuses and exploits Pokémon to control the Kanto Region
3. To identify and catch all 151 Pokémon in the Kanto Region. This could only be done by trading files between versions.

To this day, Pokémon is still my favorite video game series. It is also the most popular RPG of all time. The Nintendo franchise, which invented the “social” video game experience, has sold more than 250 million copies since 1996. As the number of “Pocket Monsters” (now 721) grows larger than my list of resolutions for 2015, allow me to share my top three Poké-epiphanies of 2014. A Poké-epiphany is, of course, an intellectual revelation that occurs from playing too many consecutive hours of Pokémon. I hope that they will inspire you to believe in yourself and your resolutions for 2015!

1. Parental Bonds Rule
In the 18 years since Pokémon’s Japanese release, there have been 5 generations of sequels. More than twenty games and spin-offs later, the Pocket Monster formula is still as fresh as ever. Notable additions to the franchise include:

• Pokémon Gold and Silver (1999)
• Pokémon Ruby and Sapphire (2002)
• Pokémon Diamond and Pearl (2006)
• Pokémon Black and White (2010)
• Pokémon X and Y (2013)

With each new generation came improvements to the graphics, to the gameplay, and to the storytelling.

For those of you that played the games and remember the “Original 151”, Kangaskhan is a Pokémon that has been largely outclassed and forgotten since 1996. However, Pokémon X and Y gave the Parent Pokémon “new life” through a game mechanic called Mega Evolution. Through this temporary transformation and the “Parental Bond” ability that comes with it, the mother Kangaskhan and its child work together to become a super-powered double Pokémon. All of these factors put together have made it an unstoppable force on the competitive Pokémon Video Game Championship Circuit.

Mega-Kangaskhan

Thus, Mega Kangaskhan’s competitive success shows us that parental bonds rule – both in theory and in practice. Because positive family relationships are essential to mental, physical, and social well-being, we must do our part to make sure our relatives feel genuinely appreciated. We must be like the Kangaskhan and fight for our families!

2. Find a Team That Enhances Your Strengths and Offsets Your Weaknesses
Every person, like a Pokémon, has their own unique personality type. We are diverse, social creatures that rely on others to survive. Our genetics, our environments, and our social interactions strongly affect our compatibility with others. Based on personal experience, certain personalities mesh better than others. Everybody has strengths and weaknesses (see my article, “The Gray Area”) that must be considered when building relationships. Most important, however, is one’s ability to cope with limitations. In the search for friends, we must always try to be positive and look for people that bring out the best in us while offsetting our faults. These same factors must also be considered when building a balanced Pokémon team (see the Pokémon Type Chart below).

Pokemon Type Chart (Courtesy of Coro-Coro Magazine)

3. Never Give Up on Old Ideas, as Hard Work and Friendship Can Make Dreams Real
Pokémon creator Satoshi Tajiri celebrates his 50th birthday in 2015, just as his brainchild celebrated the 25th anniversary of its inception in 2014. The Pokémon concept started simply enough as Tajiri’s hobby, who as a child had a fondness for catching insects and tadpoles near his home in suburban Tokyo. Over time, Tajiri decided to put his idea of catching creatures into practice, to give children the same thrills he had as a child.

However, the process of turning this dream into reality was far from easy for Tajiri. Nintendo had all but rejected Tajiri’s numerous Pokémon proposals in 1989. After several failed pitches to the corporation, Tajiri’s new friend Shigeru Miyamoto grew attached to the idea. He was the one who managed to get Nintendo’s approval by the end of that year. This highlights the most crucial life lesson – persistence is necessary for success.

Satoshi Tajiri: “When you get your first bike, you want to go somewhere you’ve never been before. That’s like Pokémon.” Shuzo Ogushi for TIME

The next phase involves life’s most important skill – the strong work ethic. After receiving Nintendo’s endorsement and funding in 1989, Tajiri spent the next six years designing what would become Pokémon Red and Pokémon Green. In the process, he nearly drove his company “Game Freak” into bankruptcy. Five employees even quit due to the financial conditions, leaving Tajiri to work many unpaid hours.

However, he was not entirely alone on the project. The final life lesson emphasized by the Pokémon creation story is teamwork. The original artwork for the games was drawn by Tajiri’s friend, artist Ken Sugimori, while the music and sound effects were composed by Junichi Masuda. Their combined efforts (as well as their persistence and faith in the project) made Pokémon a reality – and ultimately the cultural empire that it is today.

Tips to Improve New Year’s Resolutions

By: S.C. Ali

Founder/Author

Happy Holidays everyone! As we approach 2015, people around the world will be making resolutions, which I like to think of as goals and aspirations for the New Year. These goals can cover a wide variety of issues, which include but are definitely not limited to: health, nutrition, habits, traits/characteristics, education, and travel. The idea behind setting these goals is to improve oneself. It is conducive to the main idea behind this blog, which is to attain a happy, healthy, and balanced lifestyle.

One of the most common issues people face when making goals is keeping them. Oftentimes, by the end of January, our goals for the entire year have gone on the back burner and are not accomplished. Therefore, here are some tips that will hopefully improve the quality and longevity of any New Year’s Resolutions we may make, regardless of their nature.

1. Detail your steps to achieving your goals. It is wonderful to have grand aspirations, but if you don’t list the steps you need to take in order to achieve that goal, then the goal has no value. It is vital that these steps are pragmatic and within your reach. For example, if you desire to read one book a week, do you have a detailed plan as to how you are going to achieve this goal? Do you have motivation to read? Do you have time in your weekly schedule to sit down and read? Do you have access to a public library? Are you planning on ordering the books? The questions can go on and on, but if the answer is no to all of these basic ones, then you really can’t expect to achieve the goal.

2. Blending optimism and realism. Optimism and realism are often viewed as two ends of a spectrum. However, they can balance each other out, and the best way to achieve your goals is to strike this balance. Optimism, in essence, is the idea that you are, “hopeful and confident about the future”. If this positive attitude is not implemented, you will not achieve your goals. Imagine if you were pessimistic, and never saw the good in anything. What incentive is there for the future? How could you improve with this kind of mindset? Having too much optimism can lead to idealism, i.e. pursuing goals that are not achievable at the moment. On the other hand, realism is defined as, “accepting a situation as it is and being prepared to deal with it accordingly.” As mentioned in the first point, there must be a sense of realism in order to achieve your goals. Someone who is grounded in realism understands the present situation, and does not ignore the facts. However, having too much realism can obstruct someone from achieving their goals, as they will underestimate themselves. The best way to balance these ideas is to implement point #1 because writing positive self-improvement goals is optimistic while maintaining control over the details is realistic.

3. Persistency and consistency are paramount. There must be persistency and consistency in achieving one’s goals in order to implement resolutions to the highest degree. These two ideas are similar, but different. Persistency is having, “firm continuance in a course of action regardless of difficulty or opposition”. Consistency is the, “achievement of a level of performance that does not vary greatly in quality over time.” In achieving your goals, there will be obstacles, regardless of your goal. However, you must stay on track if you want to achieve greatness. One of the greatest deterrents for achieving goals is losing that motivation and high quality performance implemented at the beginning of the year. We’ve all heard the term in vernacular, “you’ve lost your touch.” This stems from failure in consistency. As long as the two are implemented, you will be able to achieve your resolutions.

4. Do a self-analysis of your progress frequently. I call this the “quality control” step. This is the most important, which is why I saved it for last. It inculcates all of the prior suggestions. Every week or everyday (my personal preference), look at your detailed goals and ask yourself if you are closer to achieving them. If the answer is no, then you may need to tweak the details section. Perhaps you’ll have to rewrite the goal altogether. The fact is, it should change in order to get back on track. This should not be done monthly, as reanalyzing every month is too large of a time interval. Most importantly, if you are on track, then give yourself a pat on the back, but keep moving forward.

In essence, these are only a few of many tips that you can implement from now in order to ensure that your 2015 Resolutions are accomplished. These tips were self-generated based on personal experience. Do not waste time worrying about what you did not achieve this year, as time is irreversible. Instead, focus on what you achieved this year, and most importantly, what you can do for a better and more promising future.

I wish you all a happy, healthy, and prosperous 2015!

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