The Most Famous Cat in Japan

His name is Maru, check this out:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=urizHysauG0

School of Health (part 1.)

My friend sent me this, please read, really good.

國際會議上定出了6種保健品!
耐心仔細看! Healthy 2011 to you all!

聯合國提出個口號非常好﹕'千萬不要死於無知'。
死於無知很冤枉!

國際會議上定出了6種保健品
v 第一綠茶；
v 第二紅葡萄酒；
v 第三豆漿；
v 第四酸奶(YOGURT)；人家不提牛奶，您注意啦；
v 第五骨頭湯；
v 第六蘑菇湯。
一定要耐心看完，並傳給您的朋友 !
**最近北京市普查工作剛結束，得了兩個冠軍
一是高血壓冠軍；一是高血脂冠軍 **

日本的先進經驗是以社區為單位，每一個月講一次保健課，如果沒有來聽就必
須補課。我國沒這制度，誰愛聽就聽A不聽拉倒。

在醫院工作40年，絕大部分人病死是很痛苦的。
聯合國提出個口號﹕'千萬不要死於無知'。
死於無知很冤枉!

為什麼提蘑菇湯？
因為蘑菇能提高免疫功能。
一個辦公室有人老感冒，有人老不得病，什麼原因？就是免疫功能不一樣。喝
蘑菇湯能提高免疫力。

那為什麼提骨頭湯呢？
骨頭湯裏含琬膠，琬膠是延年益壽的， 所以現在世界各國都有 骨頭湯街，而
中國沒有。 不要小看骨頭湯，它能延年益壽，因為有琬膠。

為什麼提酸奶(YOGURT)？
因為酸奶是維持細菌平衡的。
所謂維持細菌平衡是指有益的細菌生長，有害的細菌消滅，所以吃酸奶可以少
得病的。 牛奶本身我們不否定它的作用，但跟酸奶比起來差得很遠。

現在很多人喝茶，但年輕人不喝 。很多人喝紅茶。
紅茶加麵包在歐洲流行過，但現在不喝了。
大家知道，紅茶加麵包沒有一點保健作用。

綠茶為什麼有保健作用呢？

原來綠茶裏面含有茶坨酚，而茶坨酚是抗癌的。
還有人喝茉莉花茶，我問他為什麼喝茉莉花茶？
他的答復很簡單﹕'它很香'。
我說你要是為了香，我建議你喝香油。
我們不是為了香，而是怕得癌症。
日本普查40歲以上的人沒有一個體內沒有癌細胞的。
為什麼有人得癌症，有人不得，就是跟喝綠茶有關系。
如果你每天喝4杯綠茶，癌細胞就不分裂，
而且即使分裂也要推遲9年以上。
所以在日本小學生每天一上學就喝一杯綠茶。
綠茶裏含茶坨酚，它是抗癌的，在所有的飲料裏綠茶是第一的。
茉莉花茶沒有一點保健作用，只是香而已。

第二請注意，綠茶裏含有氟。
古代曹雪芹寫紅樓夢時說賈府的人吃完飯拿茶漱口，
而蘇東坡也有記載，他每次吃完飯拿中下等茶漱口，
目的是堅固牙齒。
他不知道是氟的作用，日本人現在搞清楚了，
它不僅能堅固牙齒，還能消滅蟲牙，消滅菌斑。
飯後3分鐘，牙齒的菌斑就要出現。
現在我們很多人牙齒不好，不但不拿茶水漱口，
連白水都不漱，問題在哪里不知道。
現在有人30歲就開始掉牙，50歲牙就全掉了。
如果牙齒好，你當然長壽啦。
你拿茶水漱口就把菌斑消滅了，
而且堅固牙齒。到了老年，你牙齒堅固，不得蟲牙。

第三個，綠茶本身含茶甘甯，茶甘寧是提高血管韌性的，使血管不容易破裂。
醫院每死4 個人就有1個是腦出血。腦出血沒法治，就怕生氣!
綠茶第一抗癌，第二能堅固牙齒，第三腦血管不易破裂。

歐洲他們天天都喝一點紅葡萄
紅葡萄的皮上有種東西，叫'逆轉醇'。
它整個是 抗衰老的，還是抗氧化劑，常喝紅葡萄酒的人不得心臟病。
第二它可以幫助防止心臟的突然停搏，我們叫猝停。

什麼情況下心臟可以停搏!?
第一原來有心臟病的，第二有高血壓的，第三跟食物有關系。
過大、過硬、過粘、過熱的食物可以使心臟停搏。

有一個20歲的小夥子，他抽出來的血是泥狀的，非常危險。
我們問他，他說吃得太好了。不是你吃得太好，而是吃得太不合理了 。
我們有個病例，一個人在街上買了個大年糕，又硬、又粘、又熱，跑回家一進
門就讓老太太快點吃，別涼了，老太太剛吃幾口就咽氣了。他背著老太太往醫院跑，
到醫院我們問他怎麼回事，他說剛給老太太年糕吃的。這不屬於無知是什麼！沒搶救過
來。老太太在家呆得好好的，沒事吃什麼年糕呀!? 吃完年糕心臟停搏了。

現在國際上一再強調，過大、過硬、過粘、過熱就會使心臟停搏。

紅葡萄酒還有個作用是能降血壓、降血脂。 世界衛生組織說的是'戒煙限酒'，
沒說不讓喝酒，而且酒的限量也說了﹕
葡萄酒每天不超過50～100毫升，白酒每天不超過5 ～10毫升，
啤酒每天不超過300毫升。
如果你超過這個量是錯誤的。
白葡萄沒有逆轉醇，你是白吃了。
所以有錢的喝紅葡萄酒，沒錢的'吃葡萄不吐葡萄皮'一樣保健。

全世界的長壽地區都在無錢地區，
v 第一是巴基斯坦的埃爾汗，
v 第二是蘇聯的阿塞拜疆，
v 還有厄瓜多爾的卡拉汗，這些都是無錢地區。

有錢的天天泡在宴席裏，雞鴨魚肉，上下一般粗，將軍肚。我調查了，這樣的
人極少活過65歲的。

早上鍛煉很危險
早上起來，人的生物鐘規律是體溫高、血壓高，而且腎上腺素比晚上高出 4
倍，如果你激烈運動，就很容易出事，容易出現心臟停搏。我們不反對早上散步、做體
操、打太極拳、練氣功。 但是如果中老年人早上激烈運動，搞長跑，爬香山，有百害
無一利，而且死亡率是很高的。

人體需要弱鹼。什麼是弱鹼？
蔬菜、水果。凡是 發達國家，凡是健康國家都是蔬菜、水果消耗最大。
清朝，有13個皇帝，同治19歲死的，順治23歲，咸豐31，光緒38，但有個乾隆
活了 89歲，他特別會保健，皇帝裏他是冠軍 。我們查了他的檔案，第一，他特別好運
動，第二他吃蒸發糕，粗細糧搭配，第三這人好旅遊，最有名的就是三下江南，所以他
活了89歲。
我們調查了818個和尚，30%以上的和尚有90歲以上，最小的一個65歲。

亞洲金字塔最好。什麼叫金字塔？
穀類、豆類、菜類。
我很佩服麥當勞，人家一年拿走我們20多個億，為什麼叫它垃圾食品，就是因
為它是一種偏激食品，不符合我們的飲食習慣。

'穀'，人家在國際會議上從來不提大米、白麵，也不提麥當勞。
穀類裏第一提的是老玉米，說是' 黃金作物'。
老玉米的來歷，美國醫學會作了個普查 發現原始的美國人、印第安人沒一個
高血壓，沒一個動脈硬化。原來是吃老玉米吃的。 後來發現老玉米裏含有大量的卵磷
脂、亞油酸、穀物醇、VE，所以不發生高血壓和動脈硬化。從此以後，美國就改了，
美洲、非洲、歐洲、日本、香港、中國的廣州，早上都吃玉米羹了。

現在許多人吃卵磷脂幹嘛？
就是希望不得動脈硬化。但是他不知道 老玉米裏含得最多，不用多花錢。
我今年70多歲了，體力充沛、精神飽滿，嗓音洪亮、底氣十足，而且臉上沒有
皺紋。什麼原因？喝玉米粥喝的。

'穀'的第二是蕎麥。為什麼提蕎麥？
現在人都 '三高'，即高血壓、高血脂、高血糖。
蕎麥是'三降 '，它降血壓、降血脂、降血糖。
蕎麥裏含有18%的縴維素，吃蕎麥的人不得胃腸道癌症，直腸癌、結腸癌都不
得。我們坐辦公室的人，得病有20%是直腸癌、結腸癌。

'穀'的第三是薯類，白薯、紅薯、山藥、土豆。
這類東西是在國際會議上提出來的。為什麼？
原來它'三吸收' ﹕
吸收水份，吸收脂肪、糖類，吸收毒素。
吸收水份，潤滑腸道，不得直腸癌、結腸癌。
吸收脂肪、糖類，不得糖尿病。
吸收毒素，不發生胃腸道炎症。

Beautiful Chinese Traditional Dress

Love this Chinese traditional dress.

Cutie Pie

What a cutie pie! :)

Take your passion, and make it happen

What a feeling

First, when there's nothing but a slow glowing dream
That your fear seems to hide deep inside your mind
All alone I have cried silent tears full of pride
In a world made of steel, made of stone

Well I hear the music, close my eyes, feel the rhythm
Wrap around, take a hold of my heart

[Chorus:]
What a feeling, bein's believin'
I can't have it all, now I'm dancin' for my life
Take your passion, and make it happen
Pictures come alive, you can dance right through your life

[Solo]

Now I hear the music, close my eyes, I am rhythm
In a flash it takes hold of my heart

[chorus (with ... "now I'm dancing through my life")]

What a feeling

What a feeling (I am music now), bein's believin' (I am rhythm now)
Pictures come alive, you can dance right through your life
What a feeling (I can really have it all)
What a feeling (Pictures come alive when I call)
I can have it all (I can really have it all)
Have it all (Pictures come alive when I call)
(call, call, call, call, what a feeling) I can have it all
(Bein's believin') bein's believin'
(Take your passion, make it happen) make it happen
(What a feeling) what a feeling... [to fade]

Bruce Lee's Philosophy

Love Bruce Lee's philosophy:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j3BKnmtlMco&NR=1

Exclusive Interview With Tony Hsieh

Exclusive Interview With Tony Hsieh:

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/g/a/2010/10/18/businessinsider-henry-blodget-tony-hsieh-zappos-2010-10.DTL

Desiderata

Desiderata

Go placidly amid the noise and haste,
and remember what peace there may be in silence.

As far as possible without surrender
be on good terms with all persons.
Speak your truth quietly and clearly;
and listen to others,
even the dull and the ignorant;
they too have their story.
Avoid loud and aggressive persons,
they are vexations to the spirit.

If you compare yourself with others,
you may become vain and bitter;
for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.

Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.
Keep interested in your own career, however humble;
it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.
Exercise caution in your business affairs;
for the world is full of trickery.
But let this not blind you to what virtue there is;
many persons strive for high ideals;
and everywhere life is full of heroism.

Be yourself.
Especially, do not feign affection.
Neither be cynical about love;
for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment
it is as perennial as the grass.

Take kindly the counsel of the years,
gracefully surrendering the things of youth.
Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.
But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings.
Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.

Beyond a wholesome discipline,
be gentle with yourself.
You are a child of the universe,
no less than the trees and the stars;
you have a right to be here.
And whether or not it is clear to you,
no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.

Therefore be at peace with God,
whatever you conceive Him to be,
and whatever your labors and aspirations,
in the noisy confusion of life keep peace with your soul.

With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams,
it is still a beautiful world.
Be cheerful.
Strive to be happy.

Vows: Cynthia & Warren

I love this, please take a look:

http://video.nytimes.com/video/2007/09/14/style/1194817121661/vows-cynthia-warren.html

Outliers: The Story of Success

Per my dear friend's suggestion, I bought this wonderful audio book today: Outliers: The Story of Success

I can't wait to receive it.

Beautiful Chinese Traditional Dress

Numéro #119 December 2010 / January 2011 Cover | Monika "Jac" Jagaciak by Greg Kadel

Monika "Jac" Jagaciak has a secret for Numero #119

Vogue Paris - Speechless!

Abbey Lee Kershaw, Crystal Renn & Eniko Mihalik by Terry Richardson for Vogue Paris.

Terry Richardson goes west with Abbey, Crystal & Eniko for Vogue Paris.

Terry Richardson delivers his own brand of western drama for the most recent issue of Vogue Paris. Starring Abbey Lee Kershaw, Crystal Renn and Eniko Mihalik, the sexy trio commits crime as outlaws of the wild west. Outfitted by Julia von Boehm, the bad girls sport lace, sequins and fringe in Pussy West.

By Joanna.

Hindi Movie "New York"

I liked this movie so much that I watched it twice.

My Kind of Designs (Part 2.)

Love this gown. Love the color and the design. Wondering who's the designer?

Elegant Red Dress

Elegant Red Dress – Let it Do the Magic For You!

Red becomes the color of the sky after the dawn spreads its magic! It is also the color of the precious stone called ruby! A typical Asian bride is also dressed up with red from head to toe; to put it in a nutshell, it is the color of joy and happiness. Red is a favorite color of most of the women around the globe. This is probably because it is a bright color which enhances women’s looks and beauty. A sexy red dress would therefore be all that a woman can ever dream of. There can hardly ever be any fashionable woman who does not have a red dress in her wardrobe. Whether it is summer or winter, the fashion of red dress is never considered out of trend. Red dresses look stylish and offer a sexy look to girls and women of all ages.

You can find these dresses in various styles, designs and patterns. Some of them are as long as running down your ankles while others are as short as just an inch above your knees. Every length dress has its own beauty and charisma. Some are suitable for formal occasions while others may look more perfect for casual affairs.

Dress No. 1 - Jason Wu

Some of the best events where you can decide to wear your favorite red dress could be:
Wedding functions
Engagement parties
Prom nights
Disco Parties
Christmas Nights with your family
Your own wedding anniversaries
Birthday parties
The list goes on and on, since there are a number of occasions where women would choose to look sexier than they actually do, so let these dresses do the magic for you.

Dress No. 2 - Notte by Marchesa

Available in fabrics such as silk, satin, net, lace, chiffon, and georgette, these dresses are best styled with high pencil and platform heels. Never forget to buy your pair of red sandals (preferable heel size is 4 inches but you can always pick the size that you are most comfortable to walk and move around in) to complement with your red dresses. Glossy or matte type red lipstick is what makes you look more exotic and sensual with the dress of this type.

By Cleo D. Pless

7 Ways To Tell Him What You...

Read this on a fashion magazine (Glamour) tonight. It's funny but quite smart...

7 Ways To Tell Him What You Want In Bed:

* When the sexy part of the movie comes on, lean in and whisper, "Let's put that on our to-do list."
* Ask him what he wants. Then say "My turn!"
* Claim you had a dream about it.
* Google. Send him links.
* What do you have to do, draw him a picture? Hmm, maybe!
* Tell him you heard Tom Brady does it to Gisele.
* Forgo ahead and just trust him to catch up.

...And 3 Things NOT to say:

* "Actually, let me tell you a little bit about the way my ex used to do it..."
* "Your mom and I were talking and..."
* "Can't you please just read my mind?"

My Kind of Designs (Part 1.)

Love these designs!

My Video

My time is so precious. Work take most of my time and I rarely go to a club nowadays. But in early September my friends and I went to a club in San Francisco and we had a good time. You will not believe this, my friend then placed my video on YouTube! OMG!

Here is the link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uyrcfRiIkdk

Inc. 5000 List

Inc. 5000 List:

http://www.inc.com/inc5000/list

The Top 10 Secrets A French Woman Knows For Beautiful Skin

1. Hydration is THE key to good skin,
which is a living, breathing organ that constantly needs water – it's also the secret to healthy hair. Hydration comes from within, and no amount of cream or magic potion in a bottle can replace the benefits of good old H2O. Drink one glass of water first thing in the morning and one before going to bed and at least six to eight more throughout the day (preferably outside meals) and additional ones if you exercise or travel. Believe me, you can learn to handle six glasses a day … it builds muscle control, too.

2. Good circulation makes one's skin glow
Don't be afraid of using cold water in the shower to get your circulation going. It's certainly part of my routine. Start by opening your pores with hot water (avoid the face – you'll see why in the next tip), then use a blast of cold water to close your pores. It works because it "shocks" the nervous system and sends a wake-up call to the brain, bringing blood and color to the skin.

3. Don't use hot water on your face
Hot water dilates blood vessels, which over time will stretch and loosen your skin. Hot water also dries skin out. Use lukewarm to cold water to wash your face and neck. My morning ritual? I put an ice cube in a small piece of cloth (to avoid breaking capillaries) and gently stroke my face, especially around the eyes. I do this right after I've had my day's first glass of water, almost immediately after I wake up.

4. Learn to navigate the health benefits and risks of the sun
Moderation is the key to everything, and that includes sunlight. Shade, sunscreen and beauty emollients with SPF are a must. You've heard that before but do you practice it? The benefits of the sun are best outside the 11 AM to 3 PM window in the summer, and wear those sunglasses, bien sûr! Spend time outdoors as part of your weekly routine.

5. Who says you need to pay for fancy facials and expensive OTC masques?
My mother – who had a beautiful peach skin – had two masques that I still use to make my skin glow: strawberry – mash a few strawberries and mix together with ½ teaspoon of honey and ½ teaspoon of Vaseline moisturizer (okay, my mom in France did not use Vaseline but a European antecedent). Apply to your whole face. After 15 minutes, rinse off. And cucumber – mix a few cucumber slices with two tablespoons of yogurt and apply to your face and eyes. Cover with a wet cloth; after 15 minutes, rinse off. Also, once or twice a week gently use a slice of lemon and apply over face. After a couple of minutes rinse with cold water.

6. Never go to bed without washing your face – never
You've heard it before but it bears repeating. Not only do you allow dirt, makeup and oils to sink into your skin all night, but they also transfer to your pillow, which builds up a residue and transfers it back to your face the next night! It's a big no!

7. Be gentle on your face
Especially around the eyes and neck, where the skin is thin. You don't want to loosen already delicate skin. After washing, lightly pat dry with a tissue or two. Do not wipe vigorously or scrub roughly. I also suggest using an oil-based eye-makeup remover; the makeup literally slides off the skin, which eliminates the need to rub it off with force. Mother's nightly beauty cream was a drop or two of olive oil (or argan oil) smoothed gently over face and neck. Works magic for the skin and the wallet.

8. Don't smoke
I don't care what perception you have about French women and cigarettes. Many incorrect generalizations exist about us – but trust me, we don't all smoke. And those who do – French or not – see the effects: premature aging, wrinkling and sallow skin.

9. Create a ritual
In America, most skincare seems to be aimed at older women looking to recapture youthful skin, once wrinkles appear. In France, skincare is a ritual that begins at a very young age, passed down, as I noted earlier, to us by our mothers. It's less about tackling wrinkles and more about caring for the skin. (Some of you might recall a scene about this in a recent episode of "Mad Men," when an advertising executive, conducting market research, asked a group of women to describe their skincare routine. Most did not have one – except for a girl whose French mother had taught her a skincare ritual: Standing each night in front of the sink until she got the perfect temperature – not too hot, not too cold – she'd slowly and delicately wash her face and pat it dry. She used nothing on her face except water.)

10. Finally, do what the French do best: Keep it simple
It's my motto for almost everything – food, fashion and skincare, too. You don't need a zillion creams, potions or procedures. I've used the same moisturizer since I was a girl. Find one cleanser and one moisturizer (with SPF) that you like, and stick with it. No need to slather your skin with too many creams or expensive cleansers. One is more than enough just make sure you are using what is right for YOU.

http://shine.yahoo.com/channel/beauty/the-top-10-secrets-every-french-woman-knows-for-beautiful-skin-2393391/#photoViewer=10

Actions Speak Louder Than Words

As I grow older I pay less attention to what people say. I just watch what they do...

Young Female Entrepreneur

Love this article.

http://www.mbablogs.businessweek.com/YoungFemaleEntrepreneur/archive/2009/04/04/20-tips--how-to-launch-a-company-as-a-young-female-entrepreneur.htm

What Poker Taught Tony Hsieh About Business

I noticed so many similarities between poker and business that I started making a list of the lessons I learned from playing poker that could also be applied to business:

Evaluating Market Opportunities

- Table selection is the most important decision you can make.
- It’s okay to switch tables if you discover it’s too hard to win at your table.
- If there are too many competitors (some irrational or inexperienced), even if you’re the best it’s a lot harder to win.

Marketing and Branding

- Act weak when strong, act strong when weak. Know when to bluff.
- Your “brand” is important.
- Help shape the stories that people are telling about you.

Financials

- Always be prepared for the worst possible scenario.
- The guy who wins the most hands is not the guy who makes the most money in the long run.
- The guy who never loses a hand is not the guy who makes the most money in the long run.
- Go for positive expected value, not what’s least risky.
- Make sure your bankroll is large enough for the game you’re playing and the risks you’re taking.
- Play only with what you can afford to lose.
- Remember that it’s a long-term game. You will win or lose individual hands or sessions, but it’s what happens in the long term that matters.

Strategy

- Don’t play games that you don’t understand, even if you see lots of other people making money from them.
- Figure out the game when the stakes aren’t high.
- Don’t cheat. Cheaters never win in the long run.
- Stick to your principles.
- You need to adjust your style of play throughout the night as the dynamics of the game change. Be flexible.
- Be patient and think long-term.
- The players with the most stamina and focus usually win.
- Differentiate yourself. Do the opposite of what the rest of the table is doing.
- Hope is not a good plan.
- Don’t let yourself go “on tilt.” It’s much more cost-effective to take a break, walk around, or leave the game for the night.

Continual Learning

- Educate yourself. Read books and learn from others who have done it before.
- Learn by doing. Theory is nice, but nothing replaces actual experience.
- Learn by surrounding yourself with talented players.
- Just because you win a hand doesn’t mean you’re good and you don’t have more learning to do. You might have just gotten lucky.
- Don’t be afraid to ask for advice.

Culture

- You’ve gotta love the game. To become really good, you need to live it and sleep it.
- Don’t be cocky. Don’t be flashy. There’s always someone better than you.
- Be nice and make friends. It’s a small community.
- Share what you’ve learned with others.
- Look for opportunities beyond just the game you sat down to play. You never know who you’re going to meet, including new friends for life or new business contacts.
- Have fun. The game is a lot more enjoyable when you’re trying to do more than just make money.

Aside from remembering to focus on what’s best for the long term, I think the biggest business lesson I learned from poker concerned the most important decision you can make in the game. Although it seems obvious in retrospect, it took me six months before I finally figured it out.

Through reading poker books and practicing by playing, I spent a lot of time learning about the best strategy to play once I was actually sitting down at a table. My big “ah-ha!” moment came when I finally learned that the game started even before I sat down in a seat.

In a poker room at a casino, there are usually many different choices of tables. Each table has different stakes, different players, and different dynamics that change as the players come and go, and as players get excited, upset, or tired.

I learned that the most important decision I could make was which table to sit at. This included knowing when to change tables. I learned from a book that an experienced player can make ten times as much money sitting at a table with nine mediocre players who are tired and have a lot of chips compared with sitting at a table with nine really good players who are focused and don’t have that many chips in front of them.

In business, one of the most important decisions for an entrepreneur or a CEO to make is what business to be in. It doesn’t matter how flawlessly a business is executed if it’s the wrong business or if it’s in too small a market.

Imagine if you were the most efficient manufacturer of seven-fingered gloves. You offer the best selection, the best service, and the best prices for seven-fingered gloves–but if there isn’t a big enough market for what you sell, you won’t get very far.

Or, if you decide to start a business that competes directly against really experienced competitors such as Wal-Mart by playing the same game they play (for example, trying to sell the same goods at lower prices), then chances are that you will go out of business.

In a poker room, I could only choose which table I wanted to sit at. But in business, I realized that I didn’t have to sit at an existing table. I could define my own, or make the one that I was already at even bigger. (Or, just like in a poker room, I could always choose to change tables.)

I realized that, whatever the vision was for any business, there was always a bigger vision that could make the table bigger.

5 Secrets of Self-Made Millionaires

They’re just like you. But with lots of money.

When you think “millionaire,” what image comes to mind? For many of us, it’s a flashy Wall Street banker type who flies a private jet, collects cars and lives the kind of decadent lifestyle that would make Donald Trump proud.

But many modern millionaires live in middle-class neighborhoods, work full-time and shop in discount stores like the rest of us. What motivates them isn’t material possessions but the choices that money can bring: “For the rich, it’s not about getting more stuff. It’s about having the freedom to make almost any decision you want,” says T. Harv Eker, author of Secrets of the Millionaire Mind. Wealth means you can send your child to any school or quit a job you don’t like.

According to the Spectrem Wealth Study, an annual survey of America’s wealthy, there are more people living the good life than ever before—the number of millionaires nearly doubled in the last decade. And the rich are getting richer. To make it onto the Forbes 400 list of the richest Americans, a mere billionaire no longer makes the cut. This year you needed a net worth of at least $1.3 billion.

If more people are getting richer than ever, why shouldn’t you be one of them? Here, five people who have at least a million dollars in liquid assets share the secrets that helped them get there.

1. Set your sights on where you’re going

Twenty years ago, Jeff Harris hardly seemed on the road to wealth. He was a college dropout who struggled to support his wife, DeAnn, and three kids, working as a grocery store clerk and at a junkyard where he melted scrap metal alongside convicts. “At times we were so broke that we washed our clothes in the bathtub because we couldn’t afford the Laundromat.” Now he’s a 49-year-old investment advisor and multimillionaire in York, South Carolina.

There was one big reason Jeff pulled ahead of the pack: He always knew he’d be rich. The reality is that 80 percent of Americans worth at least $5 million grew up in middle-class or lesser households, just like Jeff.

Wanting to be wealthy is a crucial first step. Says Eker, “The biggest obstacle to wealth is fear. People are afraid to think big, but if you think small, you’ll only achieve small things.”

It all started for Jeff when he met a stockbroker at a Christmas party. “Talking to him, it felt like discovering fire,” he says. “I started reading books about investing during my breaks at the grocery store, and I began putting $25 a month in a mutual fund.” Next he taught a class at a local community college on investing. His students became his first clients, which led to his investment practice. “There were lots of struggles,” says Jeff, “but what got me through it was believing with all my heart that I would succeed.”

2. Educate yourself

When Steve Maxwell graduated from college, he had an engineering degree and a high-tech job—but he couldn’t balance his checkbook. “I took one finance class in college but dropped it to go on a ski trip,” says the 45-year-old father of three, who lives in Windsor, Colorado. “I actually had to go to my bank and ask them to teach me how to read my statement.”

One of the biggest obstacles to making money is not understanding it: Thousands of us avoid investing because we just don’t get it. But to make money, you must be financially literate. “It bothered me that I didn’t understand this stuff,” says Steve, “so I read books and magazines about money management and investing, and I asked every financial whiz I knew to explain things to me.”

He and his wife started applying the lessons: They made a point to live below their means. They never bought on impulse, always negotiated better deals (on their cars, cable bills, furniture) and stayed in their home long after they could afford a more expensive one. They also put 20 percent of their annual salary into investments.

Within ten years, they were millionaires, and people were coming to Steve for advice. “Someone would say, ‘I need to refinance my house—what should I do?’ A lot of times, I wouldn’t know the answer, but I’d go find it and learn something in the process,” he says.

In 2003, Steve quit his job to become part owner of a company that holds personal finance seminars for employees of corporations like Wal-Mart. He also started going to real estate investment seminars, and it’s paid off: He now owns $30 million worth of investment properties, including apartment complexes, a shopping mall and a quarry.

“I was an engineer who never thought this life was possible, but all it truly takes is a little self-education,” says Steve. “You can do anything once you understand the basics.”

3. Passion pays off

In 1995, Jill Blashack Strahan and her husband were barely making ends meet. Like so many of us, Jill was eager to discover her purpose, so she splurged on a session with a life coach. “When I told her my goal was to make $30,000 a year, she said I was setting the bar too low. I needed to focus on my passion, not on the paycheck.”

Jill, who lives with her son in Alexandria, Minnesota, owned a gift basket company and earned just $15,000 a year. She noticed when she let potential buyers taste the food items, the baskets sold like crazy. Jill thought, Why not sell the food directly to customers in a fun setting?

With $6,000 in savings, a bank loan and a friend’s investment, Jill started packaging gourmet foods in a backyard shed and selling them at taste-testing parties. It wasn’t easy. “I remember sitting outside one day, thinking we were three months behind on our house payment, I had two employees I couldn’t pay, and I ought to get a real job. But then I thought, No, this is your dream. Recommit and get to work.”

She stuck with it, even after her husband died three years later. “I live by the law of abundance, meaning that even when there are challenges in life, I look for the win-win,” she says.

The positive attitude worked: Jill’s backyard company, Tastefully Simple, is now a direct-sales business, with $120 million in sales last year. And Jill was named one of the top 25 female business owners in North America by Fast Company magazine.

According to research by Thomas J. Stanley, author of The Millionaire Mind, over 80 percent of millionaires say they never would have been successful if their vocation wasn’t something they cared about.

4. Grow your money

Most of us know the never-ending cycle of living paycheck to paycheck. “The fastest way to get out of that pattern is to make extra money for the specific purpose of reinvesting in yourself,” says Loral Langemeier, author of The Millionaire Maker. In other words, earmark some money for the sole purpose of investing it in a place where it will grow dramatically—like a business or real estate.

There are endless ways to make extra money for investing—you just have to be willing to do the work. “Everyone has a marketable skill,” says Langemeier. “When I started out, I had a tutoring business, seeing clients in the morning before work and on my lunch break.”

A little moonlighting cash really can grow into a million. Twenty-five years ago, Rick Sikorski dreamed of owning a personal training business. “I rented a tiny studio where I charged $15 an hour,” he says. When money started trickling in, he squirreled it away instead of spending it, putting it all back into the business. Rick’s 400-square-foot studio is now Fitness Together, a franchise based in Highlands Ranch, Colorado, with more than 360 locations worldwide. And he’s worth over $40 million.


When extra money rolls in, it’s easy to think, Now I can buy that new TV. But if you want to get rich, you need to pay yourself first, by putting money where it will work hard for you—whether that’s in your retirement fund, a side business or investments like real estate.

5. No guts, no glory

Last summer, Dave Lindahl footed the bill for 18 relatives at a fancy mansion in the Adirondacks. One night, his dad looked out at the scenery and joked, “I can’t believe we used to call you the black sheep!”

At 29, Dave was broke, living in a small apartment near Boston and wondering what to do after ten years in a local rock band. “I looked around and thought, If I don’t do something, I’ll be stuck here forever.”

He started a landscape company, buying his equipment on credit. When business literally froze over that winter, a banker friend asked if he’d like to renovate a foreclosed home. “I’m a terrible carpenter, but I needed the money, so I went to some free seminars at Home Depot and figured it out as I went,” he says.


After a few more renovations, it occurred to him: Why not buy the homes and sell them for profit? He took a risk and bought his first property. Using the proceeds, he bought another, and another. Twelve years later, he owns apartment buildings, worth $143 million, in eight states.

The Biggest Secret? Stop spending.

Every millionaire we spoke to has one thing in common: Not a single one spends needlessly. Real estate investor Dave Lindahl drives a Ford Explorer and says his middle-class neighbors would be shocked to learn how much he’s worth. Fitness mogul Rick Sikorski can’t fathom why anyone would buy bottled water. Steve Maxwell, the finance teacher, looked at a $1.5 million home but decided to buy one for half the price because “a house with double the cost wouldn’t give me double the enjoyment.”

I Miss My Loving Father...

Saw a great movie last night called "The Last Song". That movie reminds me of my loving father and his wisdom and kindness. I cried when I saw the movie. Any one who has a father is a beautiful thing and a simple happiness. My father means so much to me, I miss my loving father every single day. And I'm sure my father misses his only child every day from above.

Dad, I love you. I miss you so much. Can you feel my heart?

Life is hard and love is so fragile in the U.S.

Here is the story of the movie: Seventeen-year-old Veronica 'Ronnie' Miller's life was turned upside-down when her parents divorced and her father moved from New York City to Tybee Island, Georgia. Three years later, she remains angry and alienated from her parents, especially her father ...until her mother decides it would be in everyone's best interest if she spent the summer on Tybee Island with him. Ronnie's father, a former concert pianist and teacher, is living a quiet life in the beach town, immersed in creating a work of art that will become the centerpiece of a local church. The tale that unfolds is an unforgettable story about love in its myriad forms - first love, the love between parents and children - that demonstrates, as only a Nicholas Sparks novel can, the many ways that deeply felt relationships can break our hearts ...and heal them.

American Business Philosopher Jim Rohn

Change: We generally change ourselves for one of two reasons: inspiration or desperation.

Skills: Don’t wish it were easier; wish you were better. Don’t wish for less problems; wish for more skills. Don’t wish for less challenges; wish for more wisdom.

"Don't just read the easy stuff. You may be entertained by it, but you will never grow from it."

"Formal education will make you a living, self-education will make you a fortune"

- Jim Rohn (America's foremost business philosopher)

Zappos CEO Tony - Part 2.

I like Tony, he is such a SMART man! Here are some of the funny and wise things he said:

1. Amazing sunset on Manhattan Beach, saw 2 dolphins swimming together. Asked for an encore but I don't think they could hear me.

2. Turned to give goodbye hug to a friend and almost accidentally hugged the hotel valet guy instead.

3. On plane, old man in seat next to me raised up the armrest between us. I guess he wanted to get rid of the generation gap.

4. Tried to resist but the force was strong. Accidentally walked past a Snuggie display at Walmart, had no choice but to buy one.

5. Enjoyed dinner w/ @livestrongceo. It's always inspiring talking w/ people that are trying to change the world.

6. Kind of weird to think I lost 8 pounds over the past month from diet & exercise. That's the weight of a healthy newborn baby.

7. Study finds sugar helps with making big decisions - http://bit.ly/daGSwN

8. "Many of life's failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up." -Thomas Edison

9. "A goal is a dream with a deadline." -Napoleon Hill (via @workhappynow)

10. http://twitpic.com/107eeo - After 10 years, we changed the Zappos.com home page. We just held a funeral. It will be missed. It led a happy life.

I Believe...

I believe... behind every successful man there is a great woman and behind every successful woman there is a great man.

What puts a smile on your face?

Question: Angel, what puts a smile on your face?

Answer: A lot of things can put a smile on my face. And a lot of times, it is the small things that he does for me will make me happy.

1) In big, when I see my parents (especially my loving mom who have been sacrificing her life for me) and spend my time with them, will make me truly happy.
2) If my future boyfriend care about my parents.
3) If my future boyfriend take me to vacation. I love travel especially tropical countries! :)

4) If he buy me a gift (it does not have to be expensive), the heart that counts.
5) If he open car door for me, every time. Yes, every time. I like a man who is a gentleman.
6) If he pour the tea in my tea cup in a Chinese restaurant.

7) If he buy me roses on our first date, and on every holiday (such as Valentine's day).
8) If he hug me and kiss my tears when I cry.
9) If he say "I am truly sorry" after he hurt me both intentionally and unintentionally.

10) If he write me love letters. I am a very romantic girl.
11) If he support my business. If I get married, if he allow me to have my own business, I want to be in the fashion (fine evening dress, those that you see in the upscale department stores such as Neiman Marcus) or jewelry (fine jewelry) or Skin Care / Cosmetics business.
12) If he email me or text me or call me at least once a day :)

13) If he reply to my email / text message / phone call as soon as possible.
14) If he have a romantic date with me at least once a week.
15) If he is marriage-minded and want to be a husband and father.

16) To be continued...

With a dream of love,
An angel

I Miss You, Dad

This song almost made me cry
I miss you, dad...
I love you more than words can say
Can you feel my heart, dad?

Hurt (lyrics)

Seems like it was yesterday when I saw your face
You told me how proud you were, but I walked away
If only I knew what I know today, ooh, ooh

I would hold you in my arms, I would take the pain away
Thank you for all you've done, forgive all your mistakes
There's nothing I wouldn't do to hear your voice again
Sometimes I wanna call you but I know you won't be there

Oh, I'm sorry for blaming you
For everything I just couldn't do
And I've hurt myself by hurting you

Some days I feel broke inside but I won't admit
Sometimes I just wanna hide 'cause it's you I miss
And it's so hard to say goodbye when it comes to this, ooh

Would you tell me I was wrong? Would you help me understand?
Are you looking down upon me? Are you proud of who I am?
There's nothing I wouldn't do to have just one more chance
To look into your eyes and see you looking back

Oh, I'm sorry for blaming you
For everything I just couldn't do
And I've hurt myself, oh

If I had just one more day
I would tell you how much that I've missed you
Since you've been away

Oh, it's dangerous
It's so out of line
To try and turn back time

I'm sorry for blaming you
For everything I just couldn't do
And I've hurt myself
By hurting you

People don't always appreciate...

Someone sent me this note today that I'd like to share it with you...

It's true Angel, sometimes life is sad and people don't always appreciate other people and what they do. That is just the way it is and you can't let it stop you or bring you down. Having lived a couple more decades than you, believe I have had my share of hardships and have seen the ugly and painful side of life. But here is what I know. What matters is the true love and connection that you make with other people. Everything else just fades away over time. The golden rule to me is be kind and love each other, everything else will take care of itself.

Very kindly,
Your friend

My Current Favorite Actress is...

My current favorite actress is Fan Bing Bing.

Zappos CEO Tony - Part 1.

Funny and wise things read from Zappos.com CEO Tony:

1. Honorable Mention at "Technically Correct, But Not So Helpful" Awards

2. I don't like it when restaurants asking if I want my water still or sparkling. I'd rather they ask "dead or alive?"

3. I think my Christmas tree might be feeling lonely.

4. "When you judge another, you do not define them, you define yourself." -Wayne Dyer

5. Glad we are putting radios in our office restrooms to make things less awkward. I was uncomfortable w/ hiring bathroom DJs.

6. Late night dinner with my family. My mom just announced to the table that she was 80% vegetarian.

7. Did u know if u put a raisin in a glass of champagne, it will go up&down continuously? This has been our entertainment tonight.

8. Sushi at @kerrysimon restaurant w/ family. My mom brought her own chopsticks w/ carrying case. At least she didn't bring fish.

9. Checked in. Hotel manager said "We've been expecting you Tony!" Felt special, then realized that's also known as a reservation.

10. "Every artist was first an amateur." -Ralph Waldo Emerson

French Maid

I bought a sexy set of French Maid lingerie yesterday at Victoria's Secret, and am feeling beautiful and sexy :)

Man's Love VS Woman's Love

Man’s love is of his life a thing apart;
‘Tis woman’s whole existence.

- Puccini, Madama Butterfly

I Love You

I Love You

I love you
say we're together baby
you and me

I can only give my life
and show you all I am
in the breath I breathe

I will promise you my heart
and give you all you need
if it takes some time

If you tell me you don't need me anymore
that our love won't last forever
I will ask you for a chance to try again
to make our love a little better

I love you
say we're together baby
say we're together
Oh, I need you
I need you forever baby
you and me

say you hardly know
exactly who I am
so hard to understand

I know right from the start
the way I felt inside
if you read my mind

If you tell me you don't need me anymore
that our love won't last forever
I will ask you for a chance to try again
to make our love a little better

remember when you used to hold me
remember when you made me cry
you said you loved me
Oh, you did
Yes you do

Irresistible, Sexy and Beautiful High Heels!

I love my classy, elegant and sexy new high heels! Just bought yesterday at Neiman Marcus San Francisco. They are so expensive ($761.03) but I can't help!

A Mother's Love

A Mother's Love

I have a pair of socks

a very plain pair of socks

Every time I wear this pair of socks

I feel my mother's love...

At one time, there was a hole in the toe of each sock
I almost threw them away
But my mom said, "No. I can sew them for you and you can wear them again."

My mom was born in a poor family and she has been frugal all her life

Mom added a piece of cloth to the toe of each of the torn socks and sewed them

I am now gazing at the sock and thinking about my mother and her love

A mother's love is instinctual, unconditional, and forever

To a child's ear, "Mama" is magic in any language

My mother, my best friend so dear
Throughout my life she has always been near

A tender smile to guide my way

She's the sunshine to light my day

Best friends forever, my mom and me
picking flowers and cleaning homes
a shoulder to cry on, secrets to share
Warm hearts and hands that really care

My mother's love for me

is the greatest love of my life

I love you, my dear loving mom...

Let's Start From Here

Let's Start From Here

giving up
why should i
have come too far to forget
beautiful
just got lost
somewhere along the way
so much was missing when you went away

let's start from here
lose the past
change our minds
we don't need a finish line
let's take this chance
don't think too deep
all those promises we couldn't seem to keep
I don't care where we go
let's start from here

standing here
face to face
a finger on your lips
don't say a word
don't make a sound
silence around us now
even when you were gone I felt you everywhere

let's start from here
lose the past
change our minds
we don't need a finish line
let's take this chance don't think too deep
all those promises we couldn't seem to keep
I don't care where we go
let's start from here

I've never been the one to open up
but you've always been the voice within
the only one for my heart

let's start from here
lose the past
change our minds
we don't need a finish line
let's take this chance
don't think too deep
and all those promises
let's start from here
lose the past
change our minds
we don't need a finish line
let's take this chance don't think too deep
all those promises we couldn't seem to keep
I don't care where we go
let's start from here

Respect

If you respect me, I will respect you more.
If you do not respect me, I will NOT respect you.

Very Good-looking EurAsian - Part 1.

1. (Picture 1-4) He’s name is Dennis Joseph O’neil. Just look at him…enough said! Haha. This hottie is a popular Korean-American model and actor who is called by Dennis O in Korea. Dennis has the best genes from both worlds and he’s the hottest eurasian man I’ve ever seen.

His Full Name: Dennis Joseph O’neil
Date of Birth: August 29, 1981
Height: 6′2″
Weight: 190 lbs
Parents: Korean mom, American dad

2. Mix and perfect match...model Michelle Lee, whose Eurasian features are of the type rated attractive by Westerners and Asians.

3. Devon Aoki is an American model and actress.

Aoki was born in New York City, New York, and grew up in California and London, attending high school at The American School in London. Her Japanese American father, Rocky Aoki, a former Olympic wrestler, was the founder and owner of the Benihana restaurant chain until his death on July 10, 2008. Her mother, Pamela Hilburger, is a jewelry designer of German and English heritage.

Aoki was discovered in New York at a Rancid concert she had gatecrashed. She started modeling when she was 13, the same year Aoki was introduced by her godmother to Kate Moss, who would later take the young Devon under her wing. She was signed onto Storm Model Management at age 14.

In 1998, at the age of 16, Devon replaced Naomi Campbell as the face of Versace. An A-grade student at school, Devon chose not to go on to college, believing that working and traveling offered her a "broader and deeper education" than a degree.

Win First, Then Fight

Military leaders, politicians and businessmen are all trying to gain an advantage over their competition and many turn to Sun Tzu’s ancient work, The Art of War. Now, for the first time ever, international renowned business speaker and bestselling author Chin-Ning Chu demonstrates how you can apply this Taoist wisdom to succeed in modern workplace.

Sun Tzu states, “Ancient warriors first place themselves in an invincible position, then wait for the opportunity to defeat their enemies.” This statement is one of the most mysterious in the entire book. Everyone has attempted to make sense of it, but few have.

By following the Master Sun’s essential elements of strategies—righteousness, timing, know thyself and others, leadership, management, the utilization of the paradoxical force of strengths versus weaknesses, assets verses liabilities, real verses unreal, innovation verses tradition—.can help you and your company transforming weaknesses into strength, raise corporate sales dollars, expand domestic and international marketing territories and guide leaders in the making of tough decision and advance in your career.

In order to achieve “Win First, Then Fight” you need to incorporate Sun Tzu’s proven winning strategic elements and a winner’s attitude that able you to effectively respond to friction during battle and everyday business challenges.

Today, you are going to discover how Master Sun’s Win First, Then Fight will alter the course of your career.

Timeless Asian Wisdom

Chin-Ning Chu—The Strategist Chin-Ning is the foremost American authority on Sun Tzu’s The Art of War and author of the international best-selling books: Do Less, Achieve More; Thick Face, Black Heart; The Asian Mind Game and The Art of War for Women with translations in seventeen languages. She has readers and clients in over sixty countries, counting among them presidents and prime ministers, chairmen and CEOs of the international Fortune 500. Chin-Ning presents the warrior philosophy as a premier vehicle for mastering strategic thinking in the corporate world as well as daily life.

She weaves the diverse elements of strength, strategy, pragmatic enterprise and personal growth into every topic she addresses. She fuses timeless Eastern wisdom with Western practicality into dynamic tools which produce tangible results for solving life’s ever-shifting challenges. Chin-Ning crisscrosses five continents as she delivers her custom-tailored speeches that raise corporate sales dollars, expand domestic and international marketing territories, and guide leaders in the making of tough decisions. She achieves a commonality among diverse cultural groups and she assists women to excel in the workplace. As an Asian-born American and a woman, Chin-Ning has learned to compete by going beyond the obvious while examining the different hues of the rainbow—turning liabilities into assets and creating strategies at will.

Her speaking style is energetic, truthful and humorous; her message—profound and thought-provoking. Chin-Ning’s work is frequently praised by diverse global media from CNN, The London Financial Times, Business Week and USA Today to the international editions of People Magazine and Vogue. Her name, "Chin-Ning" means "Journey to Peace" in Chinese. She was born in China, educated through college in Taiwan, and became a naturalized American after immigrating in 1969. She is president of Asian Marketing Consultants and Strategic Learning Institute, and the founder of Women WorldWide International.