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 Pfeffer 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, JohnKotter 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 workdifficult and tiring hours has characterized many powerful figures. Energy andstrength provide many advantages to those seeking to build power.

Just Say No!

      The difference between successful peopleand 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 ofdistractions (分神).

Know What You Are!

      Ignore your weakness and keep improvingyour strengths. Don't waste time exploring skill areas where you have littlecompetence. Instead, focus on—and build on—your strengths.{#blank#}3{#/blank#}

Create Good Luck!

      Luck is not magical—there is a scienceto it. Richard Wiseman studied lucky people for his book Luck Factor, and brokedown 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 peoplecreate possibilities.

    Does applying these principles to yourlife actually work? Wiseman created a “luck school” to test the ideas—and itwas 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 yourweakness.

B. Achievement requires focus.

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

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

E. Busy people are more likely to belucky.

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

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

Questions you should ask yourself when you fail

    The more new things we try the more failure we are likely to have.{#blank#}1{#/blank#}. Experiencing failure can be a learning experience and an opportunity for a fresh start. A good way to begin this process is by asking yourself some tough questions.

⑴What can I learn from this?

    Take responsibility for what went wrong. OK, so it was not all your fault—but some of it was. Successful people don't make excuses or blame others. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} So you should look at the experience objectively(客观地).

⑵Do I need to acquire or improve some skills?

    Did the problem reveal some lack of skill on your part? How could you learn or improve those skills? Perhaps there are books or courses or people you could turn to. {#blank#}3{#/blank#}

⑶Who can I learn from?

    Is there someone to whom you can turn for advice? Did a boss, colleague or friend see what happened? {#blank#}4{#/blank#}. Most people do not ask for help because they believe it to be a sign of weakness rather than strength. It's not. It shows that you are ready to learn and change.

⑷What will I do next?

    Now draw up an action plan. Will you try something similar or something different? Revisit your goals. Failure doesn't mean you have to give up; maybe you just need to change it in another way. {#blank#}5{#/blank#}

How to Be Interesting

    Everybody tries hard to be interesting and well-liked in his or her life. If you feel like you are boring or dull, don't fret (苦恼)! {#blank#}1{#/blank#}Read this article to learn how.

    {#blank#}2{#/blank#} The more you know about what is going on in the world, the more you can contribute to conversations. Interesting people are the ones who can bring something new to a conversation and share fun facts rather than just sitting there nodding. The more you learn, the better conversationalist you will become. So keep yourself educated by reading books and staying up-to-date with current events in the news and pop culture.

    Create more stories to share. Interesting people always seem to have a lot going on in their lives. {#blank#}3{#/blank#}. The best way to accumulate interesting stories is by travelling, constantly meeting new people, and putting yourself in new and interesting situations.

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#}. Expand（扩展） your social circle by starting conversations with anyone and everyone. You never know when a stranger can turn into one of your new best friends! Give everybody you meet a chance to show you who they are, and welcome them into your life.

    Be yourself. Remember that even though you may feel uninteresting, you are one-of-a-kind. Don't try to get attention by pretending to be somebody you are not, because eventually the truth will come out and you will seem like a dishonest person. {#blank#}5{#/blank#}.Instead, learn to highlight (强调)your positive qualities and downplay（轻视）your negative ones.

A. The more you do，the more stories you will have to share with others.

B. Everyone has the potential to be interesting, regardless of how unexciting your life may seem.

C. Get to know new people.

D. Be busy with what you do.

E. Be educated.

F. Accept yourself.

G. Don't hide who you are.

Making Peace with Your Parents

    As a teen, you're going through big changes physically and mentally. Your interests are increasing.{#blank#}1{#/blank#}Here is the challenge: Kids need to explore the world in new ways, and parents need to protect them from the dangers that are all out in that world. These conflicts can easily set off fireworks in otherwise calm houses. Sometimes conflicts can't be avoided. But by paying attention to the building blocks of successful relationships, you can work towards making home a happy and healthy place for you and your parents.

    For example, try to find a time to talk when your parents are not angry, tired, distracted or hungry. A good time to talk is when you're all relaxed. Timing is everything if the conversation begins to turn into an argument, you'd better calmly and coolly ask to stop the conversation for now.{#blank#}2{#/blank#} Listen to what your parents are saying, and repeat it back to them. This shows them that you're listening. {#blank#}3{#/blank#} Respect is the building block of good communication. People who respect each other and care about each others' feelings can disagree without getting things ugly.{#blank#}4{#/blank#} How do you build trust? Trust comes by actually doing what you say you're going to do. Some teens find that doing fun activities with their parents can improve their relationships. Sometimes we forget that parents are more than rule-maker—they're interesting people who like to watch movies and go shopping—just like their teenagers!

    What do you do if you are trying your best, but your relationship with your parents continues to be rocky?{#blank#}5{#/blank#}You can find supportive adults, such as a teacher or a coach, who can lend an ear. Remember you can only change your own behavior. Your parents are the only ones who can change theirs.

A. You may consider seeking outside help.

B. And then you'll be able to accept what your parents say.

C. You can pick it up again when everyone's more relaxed.

D. Faced with the challenge, children don't know what to do.

E. And your desire to take control of your own life is growing.

F. It also gives them a chance to clear things up if you're not on the same page.

G. You are more likely to get along with your parents and have more independence if your parents believe in you.

    Stress occurs when you feel that demands placed on you — such as work, school or relationships — are beyond your ability. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} However, untreated long-term stress can result in serious health conditions including anxiety, insomnia, muscle pain, high blood pressure and a weakened immune system. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} Everyone is different, and so are the ways they choose to manage their stress. Some people prefer pursuing hobbies such as gardening, playing music and creating art, while others find relief in more solitary (独自的) activities: meditation, yoga and walking. {#blank#}3{#/blank#}

    Do some exercise. The research keeps growing — exercise benefits your mind just as well as your body. We keep hearing about the long-term benefits of a regular exercise routine. But even a 20-minute walk, run, swim or dance session in the midst of a stressful time can give an immediate effect that can last for several hours.

    {#blank#}4{#/blank#} It may seem difficult to get away from a big work project, a crying baby or a growing credit card bill. But when you give yourself permission to step away from it, you let yourself have time to do something else, which can help you have a new perspective or practice techniques to feel less overwhelmed. It's important not to avoid your stress (those bills have to be paid sometime), but even just 20 minutes to take care of yourself is helpful.

    Smile and laugh. Our brains are interconnected with our emotions and facial expressions. When people are stressed, they often hold a lot of the stress in their face. So laughs or smiles can help relieve some of that tension and improve the situation.

    Try meditation. Meditation and mindful prayer help the mind and body to relax and focus. Mindfulness can help people see new perspectives, develop self-compassion and forgiveness. {#blank#}5{#/blank#} Much like exercise, research has shown that even meditating briefly can bring immediate benefits.

A. Take a break from the stressor.

B. Get some social support from whatever sources you can access.

C. Too much stress can affect body systems and cause mental problems.

D. Here are four healthy techniques that may help reduce stress in the short- and long-term.

E. But by finding positive, healthy ways, many of these negative health consequences can be reduced.

F. When practicing mindfulness, people can release emotions contributing to the body physical stress.

G. Some stress can be beneficial at times, producing a boost that helps people get through tough situations.

    Studying longer does not necessarily mean studying better. {#blank#}1{#/blank#} Below are some great ways of learning as much as you can without getting too stressed.

    Find the right place to study.

    The first thing you need to do is avoid distractions (分散注意力的事物) while studying. {#blank#}2{#/blank#} You should keep away from television sets and phone calls. Get all of your study materials together, so you will not be interrupted in the middle of your session.

    Break down the tasks into smaller parts.

    When you have gotten everything ready, list the items you need to study, and arrange them across several hours or days, depending on how big your load is. As a general rule, assign (分配) at least one hour to each subject. {#blank#}3{#/blank#} By doing this, you will be able to know more easily how long you need for each topic.

    Schedule study breaks.

    When you have listed all of your tasks and made a schedule, you should arrange study breaks. {#blank#}4{#/blank#} This will give your eyes some time to rest, and yourself a chance to go to the bathroom or have some coffee. Scheduled breaks will reduce the need for you to interrupt yourself to the lowest level during the study session.

    Put your tasks in order of importance.

    {#blank#}5{#/blank#} Just in case you run out of time to study, or if you think you do not have enough time to cover all topics, you should study in an order.

A．Each break may take about 15 minutes every two hours.

B．Learn to arrange the subjects in order of importance.

C．This means going to one place that will give you peace and quiet.

D．The key to efficient studying is following the schedule strictly.

E．You can find a way to test your knowledge by having a study partner.

F．If you have a broad subject, you will need to break it down into smaller parts.

G．To make the best use of your time, you need to learn how to study efficiently(高效地).