“To avoid criticism, do nothing, say nothing, and be nothing.”
Elbert Hubbard

Yes, there’s only one way to avoid being criticised and that’s to stop doing meaningful work!

But that’s not what we want, is it?

So we need to decide just how much criticism we can handle, and from whom. And to remember that even experts can be wrong.

Let’s not let the fear of criticism kill our dreams.

So what are you going to do, to say and to be?

Best-selling author and international speaker Andy Bounds often talks about adding a Call To Action to all communications.

So instead of ending our emails with “I look forward to hearing from you”, he recommends that we are more specific and finish with something like “Please can you do XYZ?”

Take a look at some of your last emails. Did you ask people to do something? Were you specific?

Here’s another super short video from Professor Richard Wiseman—with tips I think you might like to try out if you find it difficult to fall asleep:

10 Amazing Tips to Improve Your Sleep

Can faking a yawn, eating a banana before going to bed, trying to fall asleep on your right hand side, trying to stay awake, and wearing socks in bed all help?

The only way to know is to try these ideas out.

I’d love to hear if you do—and if you’ve been successful! (I’ve tried out several of these tips and they work for me!)

Do you want to listen to some soul music from London or a talk from Scotland?

Then you’ll love the free app, Radio Garden, which allows you to listen to thousands of live radio stations around the world.

Choose a region on the globe,  click on a green dot and listen to the radio station of your choice. 

It’s easy to use, and I find the sound quality amazing.

I’d love to hear what you think about the app, and whether you have a favourite radio station.

How would you translate ‘übernächste Woche’ into English?

1. over next week
2. the week after next
3. the week after next week

If you chose 2. “the week after next”, you’re right. 

Here’s an example:

“Aren’t you going on holiday next week?”
“No. We’ve decided to go the week after next.”

Do you have any plans for the week after next? If so, I’d love you to share them with me.

“Most people do not listen with the intent to understand, they listen with the intent to reply.”
Stephen Covey

Aren’t we afraid when our turn comes in a conversation that we’ve forgotten what we wanted to say? That’s why we often don’t wait for the other person to stop speaking.

But listening is worth practising.

There may be silences. And we might not get to say much. But the task is to try to listen intently.

Give it a try and see what happens. I’d love to hear from you if you do.