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 Standford Professor Jeffrey Preffer found that high achievers like Robert Moses turn out to be all alike:

Busy ! Busy!

    {#blank#}1{#/blank#} In a study of general managers in industry, John Kotter reported that many of them worked 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).

Know What You Are!

    Ignore your weakness 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.{#blank#}3{#/blank#}.

Create Good Luck!

    Luck is not magical—there is a science to it. Richard Wiseman studied lucky people for his book Luck Factor, and broke down what they do right. {#blank#}4{#/blank#} By being more outgoing, open to new ideas, following the feeling that something is true, 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 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. High achievers never stop working and they never lose a minute.

E. Busy people are more likely to be lucky.

F. This means knowing who you are, what you are and what you are good at.

G. Certain personality types are luckier because they behave in a way that offers the chance for good opportunities.

Writing A Letter To Your Future Self

    Just imagine writing a letter to your future self 5 years from now, then opening it at that exact moment to see how much of it has come true.{#blank#}1{#/blank#}

    As you read the letter in the future, you can assess how many things agree with your expectations in the past.{#blank#}2{#/blank#} Often times, the goals we set and our goal achievement process are affected by a lot of changes along the way. The letter lets you recognize how your current idea differs from the past.

    In addition to that, at the very moment you are writing the letter, your thoughts are stored right there in those words. When you open the letter in the future, you as your future self gets to compare how you used to be in the past with how you are now.{#blank#}3{#/blank#} It's very interesting to do so.

    Take out a pen and paper right now and start writing your letter to your future self. Set a time period to write to. {#blank#}4{#/blank#} Then start writing. Think about the type of person you will be, your place in life, what you will have realized then, and so on.

    {#blank#}5{#/blank#} Put it in a safe space where no one can find it. When you open this sometime in the near future, you might gain additional insights(了解) about yourself and your journey in the past few years.

A. And you can think about why that's the case.

B. It is a useful tool to be used in goal achievement.

C. Imagine how you will be like during that time period.

D. If you haven't, join me in writing a letter to yourself.

E. This lets you see how much things have changed since then.

F. At the end of the letter, write the date to open it on the cover.

G. It wasn't until we moved into our new house that I found it again.

    No personal success, achievement, or goal, can be realized without self-discipline.{#blank#}1{#/blank#} It is the ability to control one's impulses, emotions, desires and behavior. To possess it is to make the decisions, take the actions, and carry out your plan regardless of the obstacles, discomfort, or difficulties, that may come your way.

    How to develop self-discipline? We'll explore it together.

    Start with baby steps. No process takes place overnight.{#blank#}2{#/blank#}So, begin by making the decision to go forward and learning what it takes to get there.

     Learn what motivates you and what your bad triggers are.{#blank#}3{#/blank#} Sometimes it is very difficult to fight off urges, so know the areas where your resistance is low and how to avoid those situations. Remove the temptations and surround yourself with encouraging items such as motivating slogans and pictures of what you want to achieve.

    Make certain behaviors a routine. Once you have decided what's important to you and which goals to strive for, establish a daily routine that will help you achieve them.{#blank#}4{#/blank#}They can put you in a negative frame of mind and hinder（阻碍）your self-discipline. A poor attitude can also be a bad habit.

    {#blank#}5{#/blank#} Michael Jordan has always maintained that his greatness as a basketball player came as much from his willingness to work hard at this craft, as it did his craft, as it did his talent. It was his desire through discipline and focus that made him one of the best basketball players ever. If it worked for him, it could certainly work for the rest of us.

A. What is self-discipline?

B. Engage in sports activities.

C. Get inspiration from those you admire.

D. You can begin by learning about yourself?

E. If you try to do too much at once, you could injure yourself and have a seatback.

F. Meanwhile, get rid of some of your bad, self-defeating habits, whatever they may be.

G. It does mean learning how to focus your mind and energies on your goals until they are accomplished.

    With the development of technology and economy, social media is becoming one of the fastest-growing industries in today's world. A study conducted by the US Pew Research Center showed that 92 percent of teenagers go online daily. {#blank#}1{#/blank#}

    Changing relationships

    High school student Elly Cooper from Illinois said social media often reduces face-to-face communication. "It makes face-to-face relationships harder because of people s attention given to their phones instead of their friends," Cooper said.

    {#blank#}2{#/blank#} Beth Kaplan from Illinois met her long-distance friend through social media. He currently lives in Scotland, but they're still able to frequently communicate with each other. "I can feel close to someone that I'm talking to via FaceTime,'' Kaplan said.

    Wanting to be "liked"

    {#blank#}3{#/blank#} The 19-year-old Essena O'Neill announced on the social networking service Instagram that she was emitting social media because it made her unable to stop thinking about appearing perfect online. {#blank#}4{#/blank#} Teenagers who get negative comments can't help but feel hurt.

    {#blank#}5{#/blank#}

    However, Armin Korsos, a student from Illinois, takes advantage of the comments he receives over social media to improve his videos on the social networking site YouTube. "Social media can help people show themselves and their talents to the world in a way that has never been possible before," Korsos said.

A. Opening new doors.

B. Teenagers' attitude toward social media

C. However, the social media is beneficial to long-distance friends.

D. The rise of social media has changed the way teenagers see themselves.

E. Negative comments can also do great damage to a teenager's self-respect.

F. The wide spread of social media has changed nearly all parts of teenagers' lives.

G. Yet, some think with social media, it's easier to start relationships with anyone from anywhere.

    A simple life means getting rid of many of the things you do so that you can spend more time with people you love and do the things you love.{#blank#}1{#/blank#}It's often a journey of two steps forward and one backward.

    Evaluate your time.{#blank#}2{#/blank#}What things do you do from the time you wake up to the time you go to sleep? Make a list, and evaluate whether they're in line with your priorities. If not, remove them and focus on what's important. Redesign your day.

    Limit your communications. Our lives these days are filled with a vast flow of communications: email, cell phones, paper mail, Twitter, forums, and more.{#blank#}3{#/blank#} Instead, set a limit on your communications: only deal with emails at certain times of the day. Limit phone calls to certain times too. It is the same with other communications. Set a schedule and stick to it.

    Try living without a car. OK, this isn't something I've done, but many others have.{#blank#}4{#/blank#} Walk, bike, or take public transportation. It reduces expenses and gives you time to think. A car is also very complicated, needing not only car payments, but insurance, maintenance, repairs, gas and more.

    {#blank#}5{#/blank#}If you rid your home of stuff, you might find you don't need so much space. I'm not saying you should live on a boat (although I know some people who happily do so), but if you can be comfortable in a smaller home, it will not only be less expensive, but easier to maintain, and greatly simplify your life.

A. Have a place for everything.

B. How do you spend your day?

C. It's something I would do if I didn't have kids.

D. They can take up your whole day if you let them be.

E. However, getting to simplicity isn't always a simple process.

F. Most people don't know what “enough” is, and thus they keep buying more.

G. Consider a smaller home.

How to Plan a Holiday Trip

    {#blank#}1{#/blank#} Whether it's to grandma's house, a family reunion or simply a holiday getaway, these yearly road trips can often be the source of dread and stress. The thought of being trapped in the car with restless children or the possibility of car trouble along the way is enough to make anyone consider staying home. {#blank#}2{#/blank#}

    Plan out the route for your car trip. If you're planning on driving to your holiday destination, a little planning can help make your trip easy and uneventful. {#blank#}3{#/blank#} Remember, it's likely that you won't be the only person on the road during the holidays, and traffic is always a factor. Alternate routes or shortcuts can help reduce time spent in traffic jams and get you to your destination sooner. This information can also come in handy in case of road construction or other situations that might block your primary route.

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#} Although traveling by air can be quick and convenient, it can also be much more expensive. Start planning your trip early to take advantage of advance purchase discounts and avoid sold out flights. Many airlines become extremely busy during the holidays so booking in advance can also help ensure that you get the flights that you want. High traffic destinations such as New York, Los Angeles or Atlanta can be extremely crowded during the holidays. If you have the option, consider booking your flight to a nearby airport and renting a car for the short drive to your destination.

    Consider your luggage needs. If you're traveling by car, the issue of luggage is only important with regards to the amount of room needed. Before you begin packing, think about how many people will be in your vehicle and how much room they will need to travel comfortably. This could affect the number of bags that you can take along. {#blank#}5{#/blank#} Not only is the possibility of lost luggage an issue, but most airlines now charge extra for checked baggage.

    For a family of four, carrying a few bags each could result in several hundred dollars worth of baggage fees during your trip. Try to pack as lightly as possible.

A. As an alternative to driving or flying, check into the possibility of traveling by train.

B. Plan your trip to avoid peak travel times.

C. Luckily, with a little planning, these situations can be avoided.

D. Book airline tickets.

E. Each year, millions of people load up the family car and set out on a holiday trip,

F. For traveling by air, the number of bags that you take is a much bigger concern.

G. Consider your starting point and desired destination, and investigate several possible routes.