Jump to content
Objectivism Online Forum

Alfa

Regulars
 View Profile  See their activity

  • Posts

    676

  • Joined

  • Last visited

  • Days Won

    3

 Content Type 

Posts posted by Alfa

  1. How To Motivate Yourself?

    in Psychology and Self Improvement

    Posted · Edited by Alfa

    Synthlord's concrete advice is very good. I think you may be, at least in part, attaching your motivation to a factor that's not entirely under your control. This is a fabulous way to kill your motivation. Don't ask yourself, "did I sell X amount today?", ask "did I do the best work that I could?" Focus on what you can control, namely the effort you put into your work, and the X amount will take care of itself.

    I have been trying to figure out what I did right back when I started this job, and what i

  3. How To Motivate Yourself?

    in Psychology and Self Improvement

    Posted

    You sound like you have a lot of debt, or family-related financial obligations. Otherwise, there is no reason why you need to keep this singular crappy job. Just find another one.

    If you are planning on leaving your crappy jobs for a future in race car construction (by yourself!), are you sure you can make an adequate profit to suit your future needs and wants, without adding an extra job? If not, you should forget about building race cars as a means to support yourself and think about finding something else you enjoy which will actually make you money.

    For me, sales is about the most miserable drudgery I can put myself through, so I would choose almost any other job over that. To me it sounds like your sentiments may be similar.

    Well, my family has helped me get a loan, so i

  4. How To Motivate Yourself?

    in Psychology and Self Improvement

    Posted

    Something that can help is to get into a hobbie or activity that you really enjoy. This will give you something to look forward to at the end of the day or week. Also, planning a vacation will have a similar effect.

    Another thing to do is just read up on Objectivism more; that can sometimes really motivate and keep you on the right track. Works for me :thumbsup:

    My hobby is basically building a racecar, and thats a big part of the project i

  10. The Psychology Of Metal Music

    in Music

    Posted

    Perhaps a better question would be to ask how the poster defines "heavy metal."

    Yes, that is a very good question. However, it is also very difficult to answer. I only like to note that what Franklin wrote is not true for alot of the music that is generally considered "metal" or "heavy metal".

  11. The Psychology Of Metal Music

    in Music

    Posted

    What is the purpose of heavy metal's lack of clear melody; what is the purpose of the unfocused screaming in heavy metal music; why does heavy metal reject every aspect of musical form and structure? It is not merely to portray anger. Much brilliant classical music is angry; the portrayal of anger is a frequent classical theme, just as it ought to be since righteous anger is a valid and even noble emotion. However, heavy metal's denial of melody, harmony, and every other traditional aspect of musical structure is not a necessity of portraying anger: it is a necesity of portraying blind rage, which is a very different beast. By denying the mind all the ques that orient it within a musical peice---that constitute the very meaning of that peice---the heavy metal musician shows the true target of his anger, not injustice but the mind itself.

    What metal music have you listened to? :confused:

  13. How To Be More Self-assertive

    in Psychology and Self Improvement

    Posted · Edited by Alfa

    I find myself steeped in cowardice when I work with other people who have strong/dominant personalities.

    Often people with dominant personalities are a lot less confident than they appear. I´m talking about the bossy characters, who like to order people around and expects you to obey. Some of them may be pretty confident, but most are easily shaken. Just calmly and firmly tell them "no", and let them know why. The more unexpected your response is, the greater effect it will have.

    In some cases it will end with them barking like dogs at you, and just like with angry dogs you handle them by not being intimidated and keeping your calm. But before you go there, make sure you have a good reason. Creating unecessary conflicts is not very wise.

    On the other hand, people with REAL confidence is a whole different issue. Confronting them takes some serious balls. Some while ago I went around to different car dealers, looking for a sales job. I was full of confidence - sure of myself and what I had to offer. Coming to one place though, it was just gone in an instant. I met the manager, we talked for 5 minutes and when I left I was shaking and sweating. I´m not sure how he did it, but standing in his office it was like being naked and having someone looking straight through me. Now, that is the kind of person you don´t want to confront unless youre comfortable with having every inch of your soul searched.

  15. Favourite Rand Excerpt

    in Aesthetics

    Posted

    The quote that can often bring tears to my eyes because of the sheer beauty in it, is this:

    “In the name of the best within you, do not sacrifice this world to those who are its worst. In the name of the values that keep you alive, do not let your vision of man be distorted by the ugly, the cowardly, the mindless in those who have never achieved his title. Do not lose your knowledge that man's proper estate is an upright posture, an intransigent mind and a step that travels unlimited roads. Do not let your fire go out, spark by irreplaceable spark, in the hopeless swamps of the approximate, the not-quite, the not-yet, the not-at-all. Do not let the hero in your soul perish, in lonely frustration for the life you deserved, but have never been able to reach. Check your road and the nature of your battle. The world you desired can be won, it exists, it is real, it is possible, it's yours.”

    Thank you.

    That quote shows what I love most with Ayn Rand.

  16. The Psychology Of Metal Music

    in Music

    Posted

    Personally I like music that "touches" different aspects of myself. I don´t fully understand how it works, but for example... I love the delicate beauty of Sarah Brightmans voice, and I like Phil Anselmo´s screams in Pantera when i´m in mood for something more agressive. Rush´s 'Bravado' or Yes 'Heart of the sunrise' always lifts my spirits, and Tindersticks always gives me that warm feeling. Prog-rock/metal or fusion often excites me, and I admire the virtuosity. I get different things from different music, and I think that is good as long as I gain something positive from it.

  18. Physical Self Improvement

    in Psychology and Self Improvement

    Posted

    8 months ago I weighed over 200lbs. I abused nicotine and caffeine, and thought "good" food was the same thing as enjoying life. That´s until I figured how fucking wrong I was. So, today it´s more like 150lbs and i´m alot healthier, more confident and I love what I see in the mirror.

    I think that to fully enjoy your life you need to live healthy. Of course, this must be within every individuals context. However, no one can separate 'life' from 'health' and expect to get away with it. That is why a rational man should enjoy keeping his body in shape and living a healthy life(even enjoying the taste of healthy food) - to let the body express ones mind and values.

  20. Thoughts On Salesmanship

    in Work, Careers and Money

    Posted

    That's great stuff people,I'm interested in a part-time sales job but I suck at selling,any good books or resources that are worth investing in.

    Cheers

    Myself, I went for a pretty practical aproach. I searched for some articles on the net, to get an idea of what it´s about. Then I went for job interviews and pretty much told them that don´t know much about sales, but gimme some time and I´ll become the best. Now, after a couple of weeks, i´m on my way to a pretty decent salary.

    I think books may be good, but to make practical use of that knowledge you need atleast some experience first. Just so you try it out first, and start selling instead of reading.

    Also, choose a good place to work. You should want a competitive environment, where you also can get good feedback and support. If you work in a positive and competitive environment you will sell more(and if you sell more you will get a positive "flow", and confidence, and sell even more). And with good feedback you will, of course, improve yourself very fast.

    Guaranteed minimum wages will only make you comfortable having bad days. You should only have provision on what you sell. It makes you better, and it pays better. Trusting yourself that you can always sell enough to put food on the table will also make you a more confident person.

  21. Thoughts On Salesmanship

    in Work, Careers and Money

    Posted

    I´ve just started, two weeks ago, as a phone salesman. The first thing I learned was that it´s a waste of time trying sell seomething the customer really don´t need. Con artists might pull it off, but I prefer to be an honest salesman. So I agree that demonstrating value is the basis of good sales. If I talk to someone who really don´t need my product, I tell them so and instead ask if they have any friends who might be interested.

    However, after demonstrating value and benefits I think you also need to inspire the proper emotional response. Especially in my job, where I need to close the deal pretty quickly, it´s very important to get the customer excitet. You need both heart and mind.

×
×
  • Create New...