What do the world's most successful people all have in common?

By examining the work habits of over 150 greatest writers and artists and scientists, the researchers including Stanford professor Jeffrey Pfeiffer found that high achievers like Robert Moses turned out to be all alike: 

Busy! Busy!

    {#blank#}1{#/blank#} In a study of general managers in industry, John Kotter reports that many of them work 60 to 65 hours per week—which translates into at least six 10-hour days. The ability and willingness to work difficult and tiring hours has characterized many powerful figures. Energy and strength provide many advantages to those seeking to build power.

Just Say No!

    The difference between successful people and very successful people is that very successful people say “no” to almost everything. And that's what gives them the time to accomplish so much.{#blank#}2{#/blank#} And focus means saying “no” to a lot of distractions (分神).

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    Ignore your weaknesses and keep improving your strengths. Don't waste time exploring skill areas where you have little competence. Instead, focus on—and build on—your strengths. This means knowing who you are, what you are and what you are good at.

Create Good Luck！

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#} There's a science to it. Richard Wiseman studies lucky people for his book Luck Factor, and breaks down what they do right. Certain personality types are luckier because they behave in a way that offers the chance for good opportunities. By being more outgoing, open to new ideas, following the feeling that something is true, and being optimistic, lucky people create possibilities.

    Does applying these principles to your life actually work? Wiseman created a “luck school” to test the ideas—and it was a success. In total, 80 percent of the people who attended Luck School said that their luck had increased.{#blank#}5{#/blank#}

A. Spend enough time to improve your weakness.

B. Achievement requires focus.

C. On average, these people reported that their luck had increased by more than 40 percent.

D. They never stop working and they never lose a minute.

E. Busy people are more likely to be lucky.

F. Know What You Are!

G. Luck isn't magical.

    Traveling to all corners of the world gets easier and easier. We live in a global village, but this doesn't mean that we all behave in the same way.

    How should you behave when you meet someone for the first time?{#blank#}1{#/blank#}In Japan, you should bow, and the more respect you want to show, the deeper you should bow. In Thailand, people greet each other by pressing both hands together at the chest.{#blank#}2{#/blank#}

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#} In Muslim countries, you shouldn't expose your body, especially women, who should wear long blouses and skirts. In Korea, you should take off your shoes when entering a house. Remember to place them neatly together where you come in.

    In Spain, lunch is often the biggest meal of the day, and can last two or three hours.{#blank#}4{#/blank#} In Mexico, lunch is the time to relax, and many people prefer not to discuss business as they eat. In Britain, it's not unusual to have a business meeting over breakfast.

    In most countries, an exchange of business cards is necessary for all introductions. It should include your company name and your position. If you are going to a country where your language is not widely spoken, you can get the back side of your card printed in the local language.{#blank#}5{#/blank#}

A. For this reason, many people eat a light breakfast and a late dinner.

B. As the saying goes, "when in Rome, do as the Romans do."

C. In both countries, eye contact is avoided as a sign of respect.

D. In China, you may present your card with the writing side up.

E. An American shakes your hand while looking into your eyes.

F. Many countries have rules about what you should and shouldn't wear.

G. Don't make any noise when you eat or drink soup.

    Summer is the perfect time to gather with friends and share good food. You may want to set a pretty table and create a welcoming atmosphere, but without spending weeks preparing for the big night. Follow these steps for a stylish summer party.

    Choose a color plan

    The season itself can inspire the color plan, such as nature-inspired hues like ocean blues and grassy greens. One item may also inspire the rest of the party, such as these napkins{#blank#}1{#/blank#}

    Use cotton for table cloth

    Instead of searching for just the right table cloth, head to your local cotton store where the options are endless{#blank#}2{#/blank#} No problem! Use pinking shears(花齿剪)to cut your table cloth and napkins to size.

    Bring the inside out

    Summer design tips often include the saying, “Bring the Outside In.” Well, for outdoor summer entertaining, bring the inside out! Get outside for your summer gathering{#blank#}3{#/blank#}Create a welcoming environment by brining décor items inside your home out to your event.

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    No summer party is complete without greenery. Choosing an all-green for your centerpieces provides the casual feel of summer. Grocery store Eucalyptus sprigs create the perfect summer centerpiece, but something form your yrd works just as well!

    Create simple and stylish place cards

    Place cards make you guests feel welcome, but you do not want to spend all day making complex name labels! Instead, choose a thick paper that fits your color plan. Cut a 4-inch square and fold it in half{#blank#}5{#/blank#} .

Now the table is set, the lounge is ready, and all that's left for you to do is enjoy your guests!

A. Does it look beautiful after designing

B. Use green plants instead of flowers

C. Don't have time or know how to sew

D. Write each person's name in gold paint pen

E. Go to a nearby store to buy some green plants

F. Once you make a decision, begin gathering your items

G. There is something magical about entertaining out in nature

    We all know that a hot, milky drink and a warm bath are supposed to relax you before bed, but many of us still can't slip into sleep. Here are some tips to help you go to sleep.

    Breathe in through your left nostril(鼻孔)

    {#blank#}1{#/blank#} Sleep specialist Peter Smith says, “Lie on your left side, resting a finger on your right nostril to close it. Start slow, deep breathing in the left nostril.” Peter, author of Sleep Better With Natural Therapies, says this technique is particularly good when overhearting is preventing sleep.

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    Relaxing all your muscles can prepare your body for sleep. Anxiety expert Charles Linden says: “Lying on your back, take a deep, slow breath in through your nose and, the same time, squeeze your toes tightly as if you are trying to curl them under your foot, then loosen them slowly. Breathe again, contract your leg muscles, then your thigh, belly, chest, arms, and so on until you hat all the way up your body{#blank#}3{#/blank#}

    Try to stay awake

Challenge yourself to stay awake— your mind will fight against it! “It's called the sleep paradox(悖论).” Says psychotherapist Julie Hirst. She explains: “Keep your eyes wide open, repeat to yourself 'I will not sleep'{#blank#}4{#/blank#}but instead view this as an instruction to sleep and eye muscles tire quickly as sleep turns up.”

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    Use at least three senses imagining yourself in a situation where you feel content—a paradise(乐园), sailing on calm waters, walking in flower fields.

A. Just imagine.

B. Enjoy a paradise.

C. Squeeze and relax

D The brain doesn't process negatives well

E. You must repeat what you have done

F. This yoga method is thought to reduce blood pressure and calm you

G. When you have gone from head to toe, you should feel ready for sleep

    Did you know that money is not worth the paper it is printed on? Money is really just a symbol.{#blank#}1{#/blank#}

    Long ago, people did not use money. They made or grew food, clothes, and other things they needed. Later, people started trading. They would trade what they made to someone else in order to get different foods and goods. To trade like this is to barter（物物交换）.

    The barter system was a good system. Bakers could trade bread for wheat. Weavers could trade cloth for meat. Trading not just let people work at certain jobs.{#blank#}2{#/blank#}

    But one problem with bartering was that not everyone agreed on prices. People had to work out a price each time they wanted to trade. Another problem was that the goods might be too heavy to carry. What if the cow farmer wanted to trade a cow for a horse with the horse farmer? They would have to carry their animals with them.{#blank#}3{#/blank#} What if the cow farmer wanted to trade a cow for a chicken? A cow is worth more than a chicken. The farmer should get “change.” But how can you make change from a cow?

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#} People used to use all kinds of small things for money. They used shells, beads, feathers, seeds, and even salt. A group of people would decide the worth of a kind of shell. Other kinds of shells would be worth more or less. Then people had money that was worth a certain amount. It was easy to carry. It was easy to make change.

    With time going by, we finally have the money that we use today.{#blank#}5{#/blank#}

A. This is where money comes in.

B. That means it stands for something else.

C. They made clothes from wool from their sheep.

D. Bartering did not have a way to make change, either.

E. It also gave people a way to buy things they needed.

F. With money, we don't have to travel with chickens, cows, or clay pots!

G. When people traded, they no longer had to make everything they needed.

Do we have a movement signature?

As humans, we have several qualities that separate us from one another, such as our fingerprints. {#blank#}1{#/blank#}

According to a recent study, each person has a unique movement signature (鲜明特征). Depending on the person, these differences can be subtle or pronounced.

{#blank#}2{#/blank#} For the study, scientists attached electrodes (电极) to muscles in the legs of volunteers. The volunteer were then asked to perform activities such as walking on walking machines and riding stationary bikes (健身车), which were adjusted according to each person's physical appearance in order to make sure everyone was judged using the same standards.

Scientists fed the information to a computer along with the volunteer's name. {#blank#}3{#/blank#}Next, the computer was fed information without the user's name and it could identity the person correctly 99% of the time. The outcomes of the study showed that each of us does have something unique about our general movements.

{#blank#}4{#/blank#} Since this is just a pilot study, scientists will do more tests to see if the signature changes with age and weight changes. But with a deeper understanding of the science of movement, doctors could possibly develop more intricate prosthetics (复杂精细的假肢). {#blank#}5{#/blank#}Whether that's cool or frightening is up to you to decide.

A. How could this study be of use to scientists?

B. What do you think of the findings of the study?

C. Volunteers are expected to write a report on the activities.

D. Is it possible that we also have unique qualities in our movement.

E. Scientists could also program robots to copy humans' movements more exactly.

F. In this way, the computer could learn the unique movement quality of each person.

G. The study was conducted by inviting people to take part in a couple of physical activities.