There are certain qualities we value in people, so much so that they inspire us to be more like these individuals. Here are the attributes that I most revere in people I truly respect and admire: Intelligence : People who can not only debate me on a substantive topic, but teach me something new along the way. They're intellectually curious, articulate, and well-read.  Hard work : I respect someone who's willing to give it their all in order to achieve a goal. Perseverance:  They get knocked down, but they get up again. They don't allow challenges or problems, however big or small, to derail their dreams. Passion:  They eat, drink, and sleep music, writing, business, cooking, or whatever it is they love. They're constantly trying to learn more, whether by reading books, watching YouTube videos, or asking others.  Unyielding : No matter how many times their friends or relatives might advise them to invest their energies in something that will be...

I've noticed over the years that men and women tend to be completely different creatures in the morning. While men tend to be a bit quieter and slower to get in the swing of things, women are already chatting it up as soon as they get to the office. When I arrive, I usually stop by the restroom on my way to my cubicle. It's rare for me to hear the voice of a man in the lobby or hallways prior to 10 a.m. Rather, the chatter of women -- sometimes groups of three or more -- fills the air. I know you can't put all men and women in these two separate buckets. It's just a general observation I've made at the offices I've worked in, not to mention at home: My wife is always more disposed to conversing in the morning than I am. Not until I eat breakfast and have some time to stretch my limbs do I feel ready to face the day. For some reason, women seem to be perkier and more energetic in the morning than their male counterparts. You'll find my boss and anot...

How do you know an actor or actress is phenomenal? That's easy. His or her performances should elicit intense emotions in you. You know the person has put in a sensational performance when you find yourself rooting for him or her all throughout. And, if they're playing the role of villain, you know they've done a brilliant job when you hate their living guts and can't wait for the character to pay for what they've done. However, a couple of actors and actresses take this a step further. Some play the role of villain so well that you still admire the character despite his or her evil deeds. Here are two examples: Robert De Niro : There's a reason I call this guy my favorite actor of all time. His uncanny ability to play a mobster or thief in serious action thrillers (e.g. Goodfellas, Casino, The Score, Heat) and play a mobster, cop or agent in comedic flicks (e.g. Analyze This, Meet the Fockers, Showtime) shows how remarkably versatile he is. He is suc...

I've observed that many people are too lazy to do two things that are greatly beneficial to our health: read and exercise . Their usual excuse tends to be that they're too tired to read or exercise when they get home from work. But the myriad benefits of these activities can't be overstated. Exercise helps you lose or maintain your weight, provided you also watch what you eat. It not only reduces the risk of heart disease, but it helps lower your cholesterol and blood pressure. Most people (including me) report feeling so much better when they exercise regularly. That's because exercise had been proven to reduce stress and anxiety and put people in a better mood. Then there's reading. It's obvious how beneficial reading can be for one's mental health. It keeps the mind busy. You learn new facts, new concepts, new vocabulary words. If you're reading non-fiction, the author's perspective can lead you to reassess your personal beliefs or opi...

In case you're new to Facebook or you don't really use it for anything other than to look at others' profiles, it has a feature called "checking in." When you check in, Facebook tracks down your location via your phone or computer's GPS and lets you indicate what venue you're currently at -- whether it's a restaurant, store, or concert. Your Facebook friends will receive an alert to that end on their News Feed. I hardly ever check in; I only do so when I know it'll likely lead to a compelling conversation of some sort. For example, many of my friends are movie buffs like me. If I check in saying I'm watching a popular movie at the local theater, chances are they'll reply with their opinion of the movie, assuming they've already seen it. When I check in at the ballpark, my baseball buddies will chime in saying they're watching the game at home, and we'll go back and forth as the game wears on. Unfortunately, I've notice...

The notion that there's a perfect job out there for everyone is, in a word, absurd. Sure, there are jobs that would suit us far better than others, but that in no way means they're perfect in every way. There's always at least one thing about every job that we wish we could change. Many employees can't stand their boss or at least one fellow coworker. Others are paid poorly, work ridiculous hours, have a nightmare of a commute to contend with each day, or just don't feel inspired or challenged anymore. If work were perfect, we really wouldn't be able to call it work, would we? It'd be more like a hobby. Like everything else in life, work is a definite trade-off: we give an employer our time in exchange for money with which we support ourselves and our families. As part of the deal, we consent to adhering to the employer's policies and working with other employees to advance the company's mission and meet or exceed its goals. However, at...

If you were a collector of any item -- be it coins, paintings, or china -- how much would you be willing to fork over for one at auction? What about if you were a very wealthy collector? Dozens of rare documents from periods spanning 200 years of American history just went up for auction, with historical artifacts and original manuscripts fetching millions of dollars each. Among them were original copies of the Emancipation Proclamation and the 13th Amendment -- marking the first time the pair have been sold at the same time. The Emancipation Proclamation sold for a whopping $2.17 million and the 13th Amendment sold for a massive  $2.41 million . They are each among a handful of original copies that still exist and are being held in private hands. What's more, they each bear the original signatures of Abraham Lincoln, Secretary of State William Seward, and other prominent men of the day. Lincoln originally issued the order abolishing slavery in 1863, but the copy just...

It can be so tempting to give up on our goals and dreams. We become frustrated when we're slow to make progress. Well-meaning friends and family try to pull us in a different direction. We hit forks in the road that paralyze us into a state of inaction. We lose complete hope. Setting goals starts with the realization that you will face various challenges -- that's a given. Second, and this goes without saying, having a defeatist attitude -- whether right out of the gate or when you're closer to achieving said goal -- will make it all but impossible to attain success. A defeatist attitude yields defeatist results. If you were to ask people what the most essential factor in achieving one's goals is, what do you think they'd say? While hard work and passion play an important role, even more pivotal is perseverance.  You can have all the drive in the world, but if you fall apart at the first sign of a challenge, you will not succeed. Don't give up!  Don...

If you had a choice between stealing or cheating, which one would you do? And, no, "neither" isn't an option. Also, assume that you won't get caught or go to jail if you pick the former, and your partner will never find out you cheated if you choose the latter -- unless, of course, you spill the beans yourself. Tough choice, isn't it? Cheating and stealing both feel very wrong. This would be a very difficult position for anyone to be in. Here's what I'd do: I would steal, but then find a way to return the items. The way I see it, stealing is something you can "undo" simply by getting the stolen goods back into the hands of their rightful owners. It's just a matter of hanging on to them until you can track down the victims and give them back their belongings. Cheating, on the other hand, can't be taken back. Once you sleep with someone other than your partner, it'll haunt you forever, the guilt likely driving you to come clea...