"Lead from the back - and let others believe they are in front."

- Nelson Mandela

Memory Loss: 7 Tips to Improve Your Memory

Memory loss - this is a biggie for me. I'm constantly forgetting people, places, things; sometimes even my own birthday! So when I ran across this article at the Mayo Clinic website, I just had to have it in my notebook...

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1. Stay Mentally Active
   • Mentally stimulating activities help keep your brain in shape.
2. Socialize Regularly
   • It helps ward off depression and stress - both of which can contribute to memory loss.
3. Get Organized
   • Jot down tasks, appointments, etc., and repeat each entry out loud to help "cement" it in your memory.
   • Set aside certain places for your wallet, keys, etc.
4. Sleep Well
   • It plays an important role in memory consolidation for later recall.
5. Eat a Healthy Diet
   • Fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and low-fat protein sources like fish, lean meats, and skinless poultry.
6. Include Physical Activity in Your Routine
   • It increases blood flow to the brain.
7. Manage Chronic Conditions
   • Follow your doctor's recommendations.
   • The better you care for yourself, the better your memory is likely to be.

Landmark!

On January 7th, 2013 I was given a Moleskine notebook by my then supervisor, Rodney. He told me to write within it things which would help me learn and grow. Inside the front cover he beautifully drew:

And thus I have tried to abide by that idea. During the course of 2013 and 2014 I filled the notebook at a rate of one page per week, with content which has helped me grow immensely. At the end of 2014 I finished filling up 104 pages and began a new notebook.

Today is the day I officially retire the original notebook. As of today, I have written 141 posts and exhausted its content. A day of celebration! Next week I will begin my posts from the new notebook.

This final post is a quote, and I think it is perfect to close out the book (which is why I chose it), as it defines exactly what I have had to do throughout the course of keeping this notebook.

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"First, have a definite, clear, practical ideal; a goal, an objective. Second, have the necessary means to achieve your ends; wisdom, money, materials, and methods. Third, adjust all your means to that end."

- Aristotle

"Good or Bad: I've Learned From All of My Bosses" by Dr. Marla Gottschalk

Time for managers and executives to take notice: want to be well respected by your minions? Here are a few points of advice from Dr. Marla Gottschalk's article "Good or Bad: I've Learned From All of My Bosses."

1. Great bosses are transparent.
   • They don't hesitate to share what you've done right, and the situations you may need to improve.
   • There is no hidden agenda - they simply want you to develop and succeed.
2. They don't hover.
   • They guide, not micromanage.
3. They never leave anyone high-and-dry.
   • Instead, they sit down with their employees to discuss strategy, prepare them, and offer best-practice advice.
4. They see you - but, beyond today.
   • They see what you have to offer, even if you may not.
   • They help drive you forward, even when you stumble or fall.

"Remember that not getting what you want is sometimes a wonderful stroke of luck."

- The 14^th Dali Lama