Ricky Ahuja, Author at Ricky Ahuja

January 10, 2018

Post-Affiliate Summit Conference Adrenaline Rush?

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[/fusion_text][fusion_text]”WTF do I do with all these business cards?” The common question many attendees ask after a long few days at a conference (this is assuming you are still hung-over). Word of advice: Don’t worry about the business cards until you get back to the office! There is no one that is expecting a call from, well perhaps your wife but other than that, literally no one. However, it is super important to reflect on your experience for personal growth and share that reflection with your peers to show that you are proactive and actually attended the conference to GSD (if you do not know what GSD, be sure to hit me up for some enlightenment)! Weigh out the pros, cons, successes and windows of opportunity and 5..4..3..2..1 – ACT upon them NOW.

Personal Reflection: Write in your planner, journal, smartphone notepad, your daughters scratch and sniff notebook – but just write. For your own personal growth and accountability, be sure to measure your performance at the conference. Learn from mistakes and glorify the major WINS then plan ahead for the next event. Ask yourself: “What could I do better for next time? What should I have done differently? Why do some people refuse to eat fish tacos?” But I digress.

Public Reflection: Blog about it on the company website, Facebook page, Linkedin, Twitter, Instagram, etc. Post on social media. Every business should have a website with fresh content (I know, I know, I need to look in the mirror before saying it here!) From a company perspective, you want to show your audience the strong points of the conference. Try to use more visuals (photos/video) instead of text. Too much text can lead to losing the readers attention (a problem in content marketing!) Reflect on speakers, team member speeches, favorite quotes, prominent photo ops, etc. It is time to dominate.

Follow up, Follow up, Follow up: Take the five most promising people you met, and follow up with them. Send them an email that starts by reminding them of the details of where you met and what you discussed, and ends with a next step to move forward. Do NOT leave it open-ended.

Connect on Linkedin/Facebook: This is one of my favorite strategies. I look the people up on Facebook or Linkedin (or Instagram if they are cute) using their business cards and add them to my network. Now, I know their birthdays, their occupation, and their day to day status (literally!). Best Rolodex in the world.

Introduce two people to each other: One of my colleagues, Steve Lowry, is a master at this. He finds one person at each event and introduces them to someone else he thinks they should know. Now, where those two people take the relationship is up to them, but he is always remembered as the guy who made the introduction!

Thank the host: A quick note thanking them will go a long way. Do not look at these events as a chance to make money or attain clients. Think of it as a personal growth exercise where you not only get to hone your networking skills but maybe even help/enlighten someone else on something they may not have known or thought of. This is a small community and as I like to say sometimes, “It is not about making a buck but about making a difference.”[/fusion_text]

January 3, 2018

How to Get the Most out of Attending a Trade Show

By Ricky Ahuja Business, Social Issues

If you want to rub shoulders with the movers and shakers in your industry, then attending a trade show is just the thing for you. At a typical trade show, you will have an opportunity to come across people you normally wouldn’t, since everyone involved in the industry will be there. Such shows normally last for 2 or 3 days (unless it’s Vegas then it’s a “crap” shoot). 😉

However, if you decide to attend a trade show which is out of town let alone a different country, you will have to spend a couple of days there, so it may seem like an expensive little adventure. That doesn’t mean that you should change your plans, you just need a good guide on how to get the most out of the show, so I will make sure to provide you with some useful tips!

1. Make a good choice

First of all, you need to be certain that you have chosen the right trade show to suit your needs. The most important thing to do before choosing is to check the show’s website in order to find out which companies will attend, check their Facebook page or newsletters to gauge the relevancy of the show.

2. Register ahead

Different shows offer different pricing and policies. If you do your research right, you can possibly save some money by registering in advance. There are some shows which exclusively cater to experts and qualified buyers, while there are some that will only require your online registration.

Moreover, if you register ahead, not only that you will save money, but you might also get an opportunity to schedule appointments with some companies and yes parties you can benefit from. Shows such as the Affiliate Summit and AWA and AWE tend to sell out so be sure to register well in advance.

3. Choose the right accommodation

It is advisable to stay at the hotel that is associated with the show you are attending, even though the prices may be higher than in other accommodations, because you will get a chance to run into many of the attendees there and you never know when you may run into your next big affiliate or advertiser. This is a great chance to make some acquaintances and potential business deals.

4. Stick to your plan

Attending any kind of show without having a precise plan is a bad idea because you will miss out on so many things. You need to determine what your goals are and stick to them. Since these shows are usually huge, the first thing you need to do as soon as you arrive is to get a map and familiarize yourself with the attendee list and their location.
You should mark the booths that are your priority and visit them first. Afterwards, if you have any time left that is, you can freely explore whoever else is there.

5. Carry your business cards with you

When it comes to such events, you never know when you are going to run into someone important. That is why you should always carry your business cards wherever you go. Moreover, it would be a good idea to make copies of your sell sheets and bring them as well. This is one of my biggest peeves – people who run out of cards on the first day, when in actuality they probably just forgot them.

6. Approach booths at the right time

At trade shows, timing is everything. If you pay a visit to a booth that is overcrowded, you won’t get a chance to interact with the right people. To avoid wasting your time and waiting in lines, it is recommended to visit booths on the second day. However, never wait for the last day because the majority of the companies may be already gone by then.

To sum up, attending trade shows can give you a lot of lucrative business opportunities, so make sure you follow my guidelines and stick to your plan to get the most out of them!

December 28, 2017

Internet Marketing Trends to Watch in 2018

By Ricky Ahuja Business, Life Lessons

[fullwidth background_color=”” background_image=”” background_parallax=”none” enable_mobile=”no” parallax_speed=”0.3″ background_repeat=”no-repeat” background_position=”left top” video_url=”” video_aspect_ratio=”16:9″ video_webm=”” video_mp4=”” video_ogv=”” video_preview_image=”” overlay_color=”” overlay_opacity=”0.5″ video_mute=”yes” video_loop=”yes” fade=”no” border_size=”0px” border_color=”” border_style=”” padding_top=”20″ padding_bottom=”20″ padding_left=”” padding_right=”” hundred_percent=”no” equal_height_columns=”no” hide_on_mobile=”no” menu_anchor=”” class=”” id=””][one_full last=”yes” spacing=”yes” center_content=”no” hide_on_mobile=”no” background_color=”” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” background_position=”left top” hover_type=”none” link=”” border_position=”all” border_size=”0px” border_color=”” border_style=”” padding=”” margin_top=”” margin_bottom=”” animation_type=”” animation_direction=”” animation_speed=”0.1″ animation_offset=”” class=”” id=””][fusion_text]We welcome the beginning of the New Year with high digital expectations. Although we’ve seen a lot of innovations this year, the focus remains on quality user experience and reduction of their efforts. But what does this have to do with marketing trends? Everything.

In 2018, the technological evolution will make a big impact on internet marketing. In fact, it will shape new approaches to digital advertising that will define the customer engagement and loyalty to a brand. Therefore, here are a couple of upcoming marketing trends to look for in the coming year.

The Growth of Artificial Intelligence (AI)

AI has already arrived in marketing, though not many marketers realize this yet. Beyond the simple chatbots, you can encounter AI in marketing on a regular basis every time you see ads in search results and on social media.
However, 72% of business leaders believe AI will bring fundamental changes in the future. So far, 75% of developers include artificial intelligence in one or more application or service. And in 2018, it will take over websites as a live-chat tool for providing a better service to visitors and consumers.

Mobile Experience Includes Videos

A website optimization for mobiles is already highly recommended, but it will be a must in the year to come. Otherwise, you won’t rank high among search pages and the business will suffer due to a lack of customers. But there is one more reason you should consider a mobile application.

“In 2018, mobile video ad spending is expected to grow 49 percent to nearly $18 billion, while fixed online video ad spending is expected to decline 1.5 percent to $15 billion.”

According to Recode, mobile online consumption will increase to the point that people will watch about 36 minutes of videos on their smartphones and tablets. And you will need to catch up with online video ad investments if you want your organization to stay relevant on the market.

Customer Satisfaction is the Key

Customer satisfaction is expected to become the key brand differentiator. Hence, making sure the customers had a positive experience could help to develop a brand.

Due to this change in marketplace focus, 64% of marketing frontrunners stated that they are on the mission of securing a consistent experience across every channel. The consistency and interactive personalized marketing experience is precisely what you can work on in 2018.

Going Live and Social

In order to take personalization to another level, consider going live on Facebook. Though live videos are not something new, they are rapidly growing in popularity. Actually, 80% of users agree that they would rather watch a live video than read a blog post.

Moreover, Instagram will rule the market next year. Thanks to Instagram stories, this social platform became more popular than Snapchat. Meaning that Instagram is the go-to channel for 2018 internet marketing.

Conclusion

Marketers have to constantly be on the lookout for new marketing trends that customers prefer. And these four are just the beginning of many promising 2018 changes. So be sure to optimize your digital marketing according to new standards as soon as possible, because now is the perfect time to build the best marketing strategy.[/fusion_text][/one_full][/fullwidth]

October 29, 2017

The Future of VR – It’s Not Just about Gaming, Is It?

By Ricky Ahuja Business

Maybe you will be surprised to find out that Virtual Reality technology isn’t reserved only for the gaming industry. Even now, it is used for multiple purposes. This is simply because the VR technology is limitless. With the right hardware and software, a person can be transferred to whatever alternate reality plane to have fun, study, practice, create, analyze, etc. Knowing this, it doesn’t strike us as a surprise to see big names entering the VR industry in the last couple of years. Some of them are Facebook, Google and Samsung.

Virtual reality and augmented reality have a bright future in front of them. They both have revolutionized the current industry standards and this process is not over yet. With this in mind, we are looking forward to see how VR will continue to change the world as we know it. Here are just some of the examples of VR implementation in the future to keep you on your toes.

Virtual Traveling
There are many travel agencies and companies that are trying to use the advantages of VR technology to attract more travelers to the destinations they are offering. These virtual tours are enabled by VR technology. The idea of using VR for this purpose was born back in 2009 when a New York based bootstrap company, YouVisit was founded.

They came to an idea to create a library of virtual tours for VR users. By doing this, their primary intention was to create a VR sensation that will completely immerse the user into the location, and they have covered many destinations so far. They have videos ranging from Harvard University to Machu Picchu available for a complete VR tour. To provide real feel to VR travelers, YouVisit uses camera rigs (4, 7, 14 cams) that record 4K videos at 60fps.

As you can see, VR can be used not just for games or virtual spaces, but for reproductions of real ones too. In the future, we can expect to see many traveling agencies offering virtual tours for their customers in order to give them a firsthand experience of the destination before they decide to visit it. But what’s more important is that YouVisit is one of the pioneers in this field, showing us that VR can be used for some truly creative purposes.

VR in Marketing
It seems that the marketing industry was ready for some new form of marketing. And this is exactly what VR has brought to the table. It has proven to be a very efficient way to attract more customers to products. With a VR marketing strategy, companies can get better results in terms of generating leads and increasing conversion rates, without having to invest large sums of money.

Do you remember what Volvo did when they advertised their XC90 SUV? They introduced the virtual reality test drive that took the driver through the countryside, while in the driver’s seat of a luxury vehicle at full throttle. Is there a better way to help the customer decide if the product is really worth the dollar value?

There is one more case of using VR for marketing purposes worth mentioning. Back in 2014, the London Fashion Week offered interested parties an opportunity to immerse themselves in the full raw experience of being in the front rows, something otherwise reserved for a limited number of people. London Fashion Week organizers were the first ones to use the VR Oculus Rift headset for such an event and they have shown others what VR is truly capable of.

VR in Architecture and Design
From what we can now see on the market, VR is slowly becoming the central tool used not only for presenting the projects, but in determining how they will be designed. This is really important because the decision making process involves many stakeholders who want to make sure that their time and money was invested in something worthwhile. VR is the only technology on the market that can allow them to immerse themselves in a virtual presentation of a building they are planning to invest in.

With 3D and VR technology, it is much easier for architects and designers to convey an idea and show why they have gone for particular solutions instead of other available options. The easier it is to communicate ideas with the clients, the easier it is to strike a deal.

Besides, rapid development of VR hardware and software made it possible to get an entire set for a reasonable price, allowing architectural and design firms to get that competitive edge, powered by the latest technologies.

VR in Medicine and Healthcare
It doesn’t surprise us to find out that VR found its purpose in medicine and healthcare too. Besides, the uses of this technology continually developing as the VR hardware and software develop. Currently, VR has found use in treatment, diagnosing and training. Let’s see how medical professionals use VR.

Kids with autism do not develop social skills very well. Professors at the University of Texas, Dallas have created an application to help these kids to improve their social skills. Kids are exposed to social situations such as blind dates and job interviews.

While in VR kids have to focus on reading social cues and on expressing socially acceptable behavior. While they are in VR, doctors use brain imaging and brain wave monitoring to see the effects of the training on the area of the brain tied to social understanding. VR is also used for anxiety treatment, brain damage assessment, and rehabilitation, phantom limb syndrome, etc.

Beside this, 3D modeling is used for surgical training. Experts working at Stanford University have designed surgical simulator which uses 3D models for real-time training. This stands as valuable groundwork that can bring VR and surgery closer.

As you can see, VR has amazing potential. It can be used in countless scenarios and for various purposes. Keep in mind that the ones mentioned in this article are just some of the available options. If you have found this topic interesting, you can expand your knowledge by reading news about VR technology and by following authoritative names in the VR industry on social media.

July 2, 2017

7 Kick Ass Brain Hacks to Improve Focus and Retention

By Ricky Ahuja Health

Considering how a great number of people has smartphones, and is constantly online, it is easy to understand why concentration and focus problems have started to appear more commonly lately. There are so many distractions that you can find either on your phone, online, or simply in your surroundings, so this focus struggle is becoming more ubiquitous with each passing day.

If we are not focused, we can’t get work done, or we manage, but it takes up so much more of our time than it is supposed to. Luckily, focus and concentration are like a muscle and, with right training and discipline, they can grow and improve. So, here, we are going to introduce you to some easy to pull off brain hacks to help you focus and to retain information better.

Learn how to overcome distractions

The first thing you need to do is learn how to overcome distractions, which is much easier said than done unfortunately. Perhaps the best technique to do this is to simply challenge yourself. The challenge is pretty easy actually; you set an alarm clock for one hour and, within that hour, you must be fully focused on what you are reading, studying, or writing.

Once the alarm goes off, you can treat yourself, by watching a video, going online to check your social networks, and browsing the web, for 15-20 minutes. Once that time expiries, set the alarm again and repeat the challenge.

Another way to overcome distractions, is to simply write them down on a piece of paper. If you want to check something, you will remember to do it afterwards, and they won’t have that much power over you any longer.

Do not rely on multitasking

Multi-tasking is usually the equivalent of efficiency, but under closer scrutiny, we discover that it is not the case. Sure, there are activities that allow for multi-tasking to be useful, but these are not things that require your undivided attention. Trying to multitask while doing something complex will only hinder your progress, and affect the quality of your work.

People tend to think multitasking is a good focus exercise, but in reality, your brain simply toggles back and forth between two different tasks. In other words, just because you can talk and walk at the same time does not mean that you can naturally handle any two tasks at the same time.

Eat the right food

If you want to stimulate your brain to be more focused, you should increase the intake of antioxidants, vitamins, and phytonutrients, which are commonly found in fruits and vegetables. Since our brain cells do not store energy, they are in need of glucose, and the intake of sugar and refined carbs can interfere with that, so it is advised to avoid them. Artificial sweeteners, MSG, and others also need to be avoided as they are known as neurotoxins and they are also addictive; as such, they can also provide hindrance in terms of concentrations. Omega-3 supplements found in fish are also good for the brain, and the intake of healthy high-fat food like avocados and nuts is also advised.

Mediate

Mediation can help you become more composed and it can boost your attention span. Also, it will only take up 20 minutes of your time on a daily basis, so there is no good reason not to use it. You should also be patient before the true perks of meditation become noticeable, so do not think of it as a hoax if you are not immediately productive after the first 20 minutes of meditation.

Remember to breathe in and breathe out, by inhaling long breaths and by exhaling slowly. Listen to the calm and soothing music or melody as you meditate and imagine you are at your happy place.

Stimulate your brain with audio inputs

If you are having a hard time focusing on reading a text, you can always see if there is an audio format available online. By using audio books, you can follow the text more easily, and you are less likely to wander off, or to keep reading the same line five times in a row.

Create flash cards

If you want to boost your retention, you can create flashcards for studying. As you create them, you are going to remember more facts from the lesson, simply because you are writing them down into meaningful chunks of information. You can use these flash cards later on, for quick drilling sessions, and this is the best way to remember difficult things.

There are more effective ways to learn something, but when you are trying to learn things like history dates or definitions, and you have nothing in your memory to draw from, flash cards are your best tactic.

Turn the paragraphs you read into questions

Finally, the best way to remember a really copious lesson, is by dividing it into numerous, meaningful wholes. So, as you read, make sure to pause and see if you can come up with a question that would be answered by the paragraph or the sentence you are reading. Once you have these questions, you can easily check how much you have remembered, and you will efficiently boost retention and focus in the process, as you are actively thinking on the same subject.

It is important not to scan through the text though, just because it is too long. If the subject you are struggling with is hard, then read slowly and try to pinpoint what is the exact part which confuses you. If you try to speed things up, it will only be counter-productive.

So, there you have it. A few useful techniques that can be used on their own, or combined to have even greater benefits. Basically, all you need to do is change a few daily learning habits, and you are going to have a different approach to the problem. You should really try using all of these tips combined, and measure just how more effective you have become.

Just remember, you are not in competition with anybody except yourself; plan to outdo your past not other people.

June 1, 2017

7 Quirky Traits of Highly Successful People

By Ricky Ahuja Life Lessons

[fullwidth background_color=”#ffffff” background_image=”” background_parallax=”none” enable_mobile=”no” parallax_speed=”0.3″ background_repeat=”no-repeat” background_position=”left top” video_url=”” video_aspect_ratio=”16:9″ video_webm=”” video_mp4=”” video_ogv=”” video_preview_image=”” overlay_color=”” overlay_opacity=”0.5″ video_mute=”yes” video_loop=”yes” fade=”no” border_size=”0px” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” padding_top=”0″ padding_bottom=”0″ padding_left=”” padding_right=”” hundred_percent=”no” equal_height_columns=”no” hide_on_mobile=”no” menu_anchor=”” class=”” id=””][fusion_text]There is a reason why highly successful people stand out from the crowd. They don’t see the world the way all of us see it. They look at it from a different perspective and take various approaches that many of us are afraid to take or do not even think are possible. They are not afraid to try out different things in order to achieve their goals, and that is what makes them unique.

Are you a successful person? If not, do you wish to be? There are quite a lot of steps leading towards success and there are certainly not any shortcuts or a magical formula to help you reach it. However, there are some traits that highly successful people seem to have in common, so you should definitely try and adopt their habits if you want to follow in their footsteps. Take a look at what some of their quirky traits are.[/fusion_text][one_full last=”yes” spacing=”yes” center_content=”no” hide_on_mobile=”no” background_color=”” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” background_position=”left top” hover_type=”none” link=”” border_position=”all” border_size=”0px” border_color=”” border_style=”” padding=”” margin_top=”” margin_bottom=”” animation_type=”” animation_direction=”” animation_speed=”0.1″ animation_offset=”” class=”” id=””][fusion_text]

They Find Motivation in Challenging Themselves

Highly successful people are willing to work hard, because they know that their hard work will eventually benefit them for the long haul. They are not motivated by a reward, but instead they find motivation in taking on challenges and, thus, improving their knowledge and skills.

A lot of people simply don’t want to work harder until they receive a reward for their efforts, while truly successful people see the rewards as the acknowledgements for everything they have accomplished, and it is precisely that trait that drives them to push forward and show exactly what they are made of.

They Are Having Fun While Working

“All work and no play…” – you know the rest. When have you really had fun while doing your job? If your workday consists of only the serious stuff, you will burn out eventually. What’s more, you will come to resent your job and, needless to say, it will demotivate you and certainly not help you succeed.

Successful people know that, which is why they try and enjoy their work. They don’t slack off, but they know that having fun is important if they are to work effectively and achieve their goals. Having fun makes them love what they do, and you know how fruitful loving your job can be.

They Keep Their Focus Razor Sharp

Many people need to step down a bit and clear their mind when working on a complex project so that they are able to see their end goal and take the right steps towards achieving it. Highly successful people see that as a waste of time. They know exactly what they should do to reach their goal and they don’t let anything distract them from their path.

They know that focus is the key, and they keep it razor sharp. They know what the most important thing they should do is and they are focused on it until they actually succeed, without anything or anyone getting in their way.

They Are Not Afraid to Get Out of Their Comfort Zone

One of the most important traits that highly successful people share is pushing themselves to the limits. They don’t stay inside their comfort zone, but feel the need to push through and achieve greatness. They are not afraid, nor have they any doubts, which is precisely what drives them towards success.

They take on risks and follow their intuition, because trusting their guts feels like the right thing to do. It pushes them and helps them go above and beyond in order to overcome any roadblock and reach their goals.

They Think Outside the Box

Successful people think outside the box and have a level of creativity that enables them to constantly come up with new ideas. If something doesn’t seem to be working, they take on a different approach that will light up their way to success.

They are not afraid to experiment and, being driven by challenges, their motivation is easily sparked, which helps them see a whole new world of possibilities right before their eyes. If you wish to succeed in anything, try and ignite your creativity and you will certainly see the world from a whole other perspective, illuminating the road towards your ultimate goals.

They Don’t Let Failure Stop Them

You can never achieve true success overnight. It takes a lot of work and a lot of patience, but one thing is certain – you will experience failure along the way. Mistakes happen, but how you deal with them is exactly what will determine your success.

People who are highly successful don’t let failure get in their way. They see failure as an opportunity to improve and do things differently – do everything better. They use it as a stepping stone and they persevere. They learn from their mistakes and they unrelentingly push forward. They don’t fear failure, which is exactly why they don’t let it hold them back.

They Provide Unique Value to Others

You cannot become truly successful if you don’t have anything of value to offer. When you have an idea and you start working on it, do you think about how that idea’s realization will affect the lives of others? Will it truly benefit them and solve their problems? Will it provide them with real value?

That is what successful people do – they don’t think about solving their problems, but rather shift their focus onto the people who are their target audience and do everything in their power to provide them with something valuable. It is exactly what ultimately makes them successful.

If you want to enter the world of highly successful people and you have the ambition to get to the top, adopt these traits and turn them into your habits. Believe in yourself, commit to your goals and, most of all, enjoy and love what you do. Face your fears, let go of any doubts, and you will set yourself on the path to success.[/fusion_text][/one_full][/fullwidth][fullwidth background_color=”” background_image=”” background_parallax=”none” enable_mobile=”no” parallax_speed=”0.3″ background_repeat=”no-repeat” background_position=”left top” video_url=”” video_aspect_ratio=”16:9″ video_webm=”” video_mp4=”” video_ogv=”” video_preview_image=”” overlay_color=”” overlay_opacity=”0.5″ video_mute=”yes” video_loop=”yes” fade=”no” border_size=”0px” border_color=”” border_style=”” padding_top=”20″ padding_bottom=”20″ padding_left=”” padding_right=”” hundred_percent=”no” equal_height_columns=”no” hide_on_mobile=”no” menu_anchor=”” class=”” id=””][one_full last=”yes” spacing=”yes” center_content=”no” hide_on_mobile=”no” background_color=”” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” background_position=”left top” hover_type=”none” link=”” border_position=”all” border_size=”0px” border_color=”” border_style=”” padding=”” margin_top=”” margin_bottom=”” animation_type=”” animation_direction=”” animation_speed=”0.1″ animation_offset=”” class=”” id=””][fusion_tabs design=”classic” layout=”horizontal” justified=”yes” backgroundcolor=”” inactivecolor=”” bordercolor=”” class=”posto-tabo” id=””][fusion_tab title=”BIO” icon=””]

Ricky Ahuja

Founder at rickyahuja.com

A serial entrepreneur, Ricky Ahuja has been known and well respected for his strong acumen as an online marketer and social media expert since 1998.
His affiliate networks have been ranked in the Top 10 from 2012 – 2016 by the mThink Blue Book Survey and Perform Insider.
He is easily one of the most accessible and approachable individuals in the industry. Be sure to catch him at the next industry event or trade show.

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May 24, 2017

7 Quirky but Effective ways to Boost your Productivity

By Ricky Ahuja Life Lessons

[fullwidth background_color=”#ffffff” background_image=”” background_parallax=”none” enable_mobile=”no” parallax_speed=”0.3″ background_repeat=”no-repeat” background_position=”left top” video_url=”” video_aspect_ratio=”16:9″ video_webm=”” video_mp4=”” video_ogv=”” video_preview_image=”” overlay_color=”” overlay_opacity=”0.5″ video_mute=”yes” video_loop=”yes” fade=”no” border_size=”0px” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” padding_top=”0″ padding_bottom=”0″ padding_left=”” padding_right=”” hundred_percent=”no” equal_height_columns=”no” hide_on_mobile=”no” menu_anchor=”” class=”” id=””][fusion_text]According to science, there are numerous reasons why we lack efficiency on a daily basis. From rainy weather and wrong foods to the direct impact of the person sitting next to us, these are all little imposters trying to put us off our game. Although there is some truth in that external factors affect our mood, there are no excuses for not practicing how to concentrate and focus more on boosting your positive mindset.

Do you feel like you could be more productive, but can’t find the time nor an interesting method to work on your skills? Welcome to the quick course of interesting, yet easy ways to boost your productivity.

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Trick Your Mind

Throughout the day, we face dreadful tasks for which the first thought that comes to mind is usually: “I don’t want to do this.” Yet again, if you listen to what science has to say, one can hear the whispers repeatedly – just do it.

Nevertheless, there is a productive approach to solving this dilemma. Have you heard of structured procrastination? Basically, the trick is that everyone has the right to put an important job on hold while starting a different, more appealing task from the to-do list.

Use flexible deadlines to redecorate the space or finish easier duties. Once it comes to dull tasks, reverse the point of view. By convincing the brain that these simple requirements are priorities, then slightly repelling chores will seem tempting soon enough.

Also, before going to a workplace or getting lost in the internet pages over your phone, check your emails and other profiles first thing in the morning. Then leave it until the work is done. Removing online distractions will drastically improve productivity.

Motivational Content

There is nothing wrong with finding a bit of inspiration in idols or adorable puppy pictures. A Hiroshima University study even recommends it! Looking at cute images or positive posters that trigger good emotions improves the overall performance, especially with stressful tasks or tasks that require extra attention.

The study participants completed the task with great accuracy, especially those inspired by kittens and puppies. So, securing a furry friend may be just the boost you were searching for.

Listen to Music Vibes

Want to find comfort in repetitive tasks? Listen to music and let it put the active in pro. Their favorite music puts people in an encouraging mood which immediately affects their performance. Though if you find it off-putting, try finding a calming playlist that won’t affect your attention.

This applies to noisy spaces and offices as well. Disconnecting yourself from the crowd and background debates is simple since music offers the key to the perfect escape. The tiring routine can always be broken by letting the creative juices flow into positive and soothing sounds.

Use More Senses

Scented candles and mixed oils are not useless “feminine” products. These fragrances can help to boost focus and increase energy, apart from making the space smell delightful. Scents such as lemon, jasmine, peppermint, lavender, or cinnamon calm the nerves, relieve the built-up tension, stimulate the thinking process, and straighten the immune system. The sense of smell is our strongest attribute, as it stimulates the brain in so many beneficial ways. Use it wisely by practicing aromatherapy to notice positive results and evolve in a more efficient individual.

Sleep and Rest More Often

Sleep and rest more to improve productivity? One might think that this really sounds quirky and useless. However, research show that naps affect our brain functions. It is already familiar that eight hours of sleep helps our body and mind heal, so there is no difference with short naps.

Try scheduling short naps between brakes and any time the chance presents itself. Taking the time to rest is the best choice for improving memory and enhancing energy levels, as afterwards, we can approach tasks with a fresh and rejuvenated focus. The same applies for taking breaks and letting your mind unwind in order to regain its mental capacities.

Find Green Spots & Laugh

Life is simple until we make it complicated. Every time you feel the pressure rising and your motivation decreasing, go outside for a break. Go on nature expeditions and use the benefits of a bright day. Find a nearby park and breathe, take it all in, and then slowly release the tension out in the open.

The main benefits of nature lies in trees and natural lighting. Trees can ease mental fatigue and improve concentration, while light exposure is directly linked to sleep and vitality. Artificial lighting sources and working in shadows or closed spaces disturb attentiveness and energy. That is why it is crucial to maintain Cortisone levels in check and decrease stress by soaking in energizing sun rays.

Likewise, don’t forget to increase the blood flow to the brain by laughing. Feeling happier means being productive, so find something to look forward to and schedule picnic pauses with a bunch of friends and coworkers.

Chew a Gum

Chewing gum is also a suitable method for a quick productivity boost. Apparently, positive cognitive brain functions are related to the simple use of gum. The first 12 to 15 minutes, before starting with your duties, chew some gum to activate the voice of reason and increase performance. However, don’t forget to spit it out and only then start with work, as successful results are solely limited to pre-activity chewing.

There are various approaches for exhausted productivity lacking individuals who can’t focus and are being dragged down by day-to-day distractions. Although the World Wide Web regularly continues to tempt us with interesting content, nothing can make the mind at ease more than lovely imagery that invites smiles. Therefore smile often, and smile with friends. And, of course, always have a piece of gum in your pocket, as a little boost of cognitive thinking always comes in handy.

[/fusion_text][/one_full][/fullwidth][fullwidth background_color=”” background_image=”” background_parallax=”none” enable_mobile=”no” parallax_speed=”0.3″ background_repeat=”no-repeat” background_position=”left top” video_url=”” video_aspect_ratio=”16:9″ video_webm=”” video_mp4=”” video_ogv=”” video_preview_image=”” overlay_color=”” overlay_opacity=”0.5″ video_mute=”yes” video_loop=”yes” fade=”no” border_size=”0px” border_color=”” border_style=”” padding_top=”20″ padding_bottom=”20″ padding_left=”” padding_right=”” hundred_percent=”no” equal_height_columns=”no” hide_on_mobile=”no” menu_anchor=”” class=”” id=””][one_full last=”yes” spacing=”yes” center_content=”no” hide_on_mobile=”no” background_color=”” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” background_position=”left top” hover_type=”none” link=”” border_position=”all” border_size=”0px” border_color=”” border_style=”” padding=”” margin_top=”” margin_bottom=”” animation_type=”” animation_direction=”” animation_speed=”0.1″ animation_offset=”” class=”” id=””][fusion_tabs design=”classic” layout=”horizontal” justified=”yes” backgroundcolor=”” inactivecolor=”” bordercolor=”” class=”posto-tabo” id=””][fusion_tab title=”BIO” icon=””]

Ricky Ahuja

Founder at rickyahuja.com

May 3, 2017

THE LIFE OF SIKHS: LIVING IN A MISUNDERSTOOD WORLD

By Ricky Ahuja Life Lessons

The truth is that this could be changed if people would simply approach Sikhism with an open mind and understand that just because someone wears a turban, it doesn’t mean that they’re a terrorist.

LET’S TAKE A LOOK AT THE CURRENT STATE OF SIKHS BEING TARGETED.

Sikhism is the 5^th largest religion in the world, and it is the most misunderstood one. Here are just a few of the recent events in which Sikhs were targeted.

FRESNO SIKHS ARE ON HIGH ALERT AFTER 2 ATTACKS AGAINST 2 ELDERLY SIKHS

A recent attack was a beating on December 26, 2015 by 2 men involving Amrik Singh Bal who is 68 years old. He was wearing a turban at the time, and had just finished up his shift on the farm. The beating occurred while he was waiting to be picked up.

Shortly after that, on New Year’s Day, Gurcharan Singh Gill was attacked while working his shift at a liquor store. The attack turned into a stabbing that killed him.

AMERICAN AIRLINES ISN’T IMMUNE FROM TARGETING A SIKH

After enjoying birthday celebrations in New York City, 2 Muslims and a Sikh were the target of a misunderstanding by American Airlines employees. Their plane was grounded until they were removed from the plane. The claimed reasoning for this is that crew members and others “felt uneasy and uncomfortable” with their presence.

DRIVING HIS ROUTE, THIS SIKH BUS DRIVER WAS ATTACKED

A Sikh bus driver that was driving his route was attacked, being called a “suicide bomber” and “terrorist.” This all occurred while driving down the road which forced him to fight to keep control. Local authorities were failing to treat this as a hate crime, which has made the Sikh community of Los Angeles uneasy.

UNDERSTANDING THE BELIEFS OF SIKHS

Sikhs believe that unless you live a life full of good deeds, you will repeat the cycle of life and death. It’s a faith where everyone is equal.

The goal of Sikhism is to build a close loving relationship with God. Sikhs live in the world without being materialistic. One thing that you’ll also see is that they show compassion for everyone. They help those that need help, and that have no line of defense.

There are about 500,000-700,000 Sikhs in the United States alone, which gives them a huge presence. While there’s no set day of worship, a lot of those residing in the United States will go to services on Sunday. In a typical service, they conclude with prayer for the well being of the world.

SIKHISM IS A FAITH OF ONENESS AND LOVE

These are the core values of the Sikh faith, and it enables Sikhs to embrace divine interactions with everyone that they come across. This also allows them to seek out unity in the world that surrounds them. In terms of justice, Sikhs stand for it and are known for standing up to defend those who can’t defend themselves.

WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT SIKHS?

The Sikh Coalition is dedicated to educating the world about Sikhs and protecting the Sikh population. It was started in the aftermath of a “reprisal attack” in the aftermath of September 11, 2001 that involved an elderly Sikh accompanied by two teenagers. You can see what they’re about as well as recent happenings in the Sikh community by visiting their website.

RESOURCES:

http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2012/08/05/sikhs-tout-equality-service-to-others/

http://www.npr.org/2016/01/17/463213788/sikhs-in-fresno-worried-after-recent-attacks

http://www.standard.co.uk/news/world/american-airlines-sued-for-11-million-after-muslims-and-sikh-were-ejected-from-plane-because-of-a3163286.html

http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-attack-on-metro-driver-sparks-fear-in-sikh-community-20160114-story.html[/fusion_text][/fullwidth][fullwidth background_color=”” background_image=”” background_parallax=”none” enable_mobile=”no” parallax_speed=”0.3″ background_repeat=”no-repeat” background_position=”left top” video_url=”” video_aspect_ratio=”16:9″ video_webm=”” video_mp4=”” video_ogv=”” video_preview_image=”” overlay_color=”” overlay_opacity=”0.5″ video_mute=”yes” video_loop=”yes” fade=”no” border_size=”0px” border_color=”” border_style=”” padding_top=”20″ padding_bottom=”20″ padding_left=”” padding_right=”” hundred_percent=”no” equal_height_columns=”no” hide_on_mobile=”no” menu_anchor=”” class=”” id=””][one_full last=”yes” spacing=”yes” center_content=”no” hide_on_mobile=”no” background_color=”” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” background_position=”left top” hover_type=”none” link=”” border_position=”all” border_size=”0px” border_color=”” border_style=”” padding=”” margin_top=”” margin_bottom=”” animation_type=”” animation_direction=”” animation_speed=”0.1″ animation_offset=”” class=”” id=””][fusion_tabs design=”classic” layout=”horizontal” justified=”yes” backgroundcolor=”” inactivecolor=”#ffffff” bordercolor=”” class=”posto-tabo” id=””][fusion_tab title=”BIO” icon=”fa-user”]

Ricky Ahuja

Founder at rickyahuja.com

[/fusion_tab][fusion_tab title=”LATEST POST” icon=”fa-file-o”][fusion_widget_area name=”avada-custom-sidebar-pagewidget1″ background_color=”” padding=”” class=”” id=””][/fusion_widget_area][/fusion_tab][/fusion_tabs][/one_full][/fullwidth]

May 3, 2017

THE REASON WHY SUCCESSFUL PEOPLE LOVE FAILURE

By Ricky Ahuja Life Lessons

Let’s take a look at some of the ways you can use failure to your advantage.

FAILURE COULD LIGHT THE PATH AHEAD OF YOU

Just because you fail doesn’t mean it’s time to stop. Instead, it shows that it’s time to do something differently. This is the mindset that many of the world’s most successful people have embraced prior to coming up with their big break.

Instead of looking at failure as something negative, look at it as something that’s helping you get closer to your next big success. You just might be surprised at how much of a difference this can make and how a simple modification could lead you to bigger and better things.

FAILURE CAN BE USED AS A FORM OF EDUCATION

Take time to dissect what went wrong. By doing this you can embrace a priceless learning opportunity. After all, behind every failure is a reason that things went the way that they did.

If you take the time to find these reasons out, your tactics will become sharper. Many successful people have looked deep into their failures for answers, and later came upon some of their biggest breakthroughs.

FAILURE TESTS ONE’S STRENGTH

The weak will get stopped right out of the gate. However, the stronger ones are the ones that you see barreling through the obstacles that attempt to slow them down. Only the strong ones are able to end up living their success story, while those who are easy to give up get left in the dust.

FAILURE IS A DISTINGUISHING ACCOMPLISHMENT

This is why you often see successful people glorifying failure during their journey. It’s almost like a merit badge one earns after proving they have what it takes to survive the wrath of failure. This is because they knew that in order to succeed, they had to fail. And the failure they had to go through was simple a sign of progress in their lives.

You can either use your failures as parts of your story to make it have more of an impact or as something that’s only going to keep you down to where you’re not able to get the success that you crave.

What’s it going to be?

[/fusion_text][/fullwidth][fullwidth background_color=”” background_image=”” background_parallax=”none” enable_mobile=”no” parallax_speed=”0.3″ background_repeat=”no-repeat” background_position=”left top” video_url=”” video_aspect_ratio=”16:9″ video_webm=”” video_mp4=”” video_ogv=”” video_preview_image=”” overlay_color=”” overlay_opacity=”0.5″ video_mute=”yes” video_loop=”yes” fade=”no” border_size=”0px” border_color=”” border_style=”” padding_top=”20″ padding_bottom=”20″ padding_left=”” padding_right=”” hundred_percent=”no” equal_height_columns=”no” hide_on_mobile=”no” menu_anchor=”” class=”” id=””][one_full last=”yes” spacing=”yes” center_content=”no” hide_on_mobile=”no” background_color=”” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” background_position=”left top” hover_type=”none” link=”” border_position=”all” border_size=”0px” border_color=”” border_style=”” padding=”” margin_top=”” margin_bottom=”” animation_type=”” animation_direction=”” animation_speed=”0.1″ animation_offset=”” class=”” id=””][fusion_tabs design=”classic” layout=”horizontal” justified=”yes” backgroundcolor=”” inactivecolor=”#ffffff” bordercolor=”” class=”posto-tabo” id=””][fusion_tab title=”BIO” icon=”fa-user”]

Ricky Ahuja

Founder at rickyahuja.com

May 3, 2017

TOP 5 OBSTACLES TO OVERCOME WITH SOCIAL MEDIA

By Ricky Ahuja Social Media

PLAN FOR SUCCESS, YOU WON’T REGRET IT

Take the time to understand what your goals are with social media marketing. Learn how to create a social media marketing strategy and how to engage with your network. By doing this, you’ll be able to have a solid plan to follow while ensuring that your intentions are to create the best presence possible on social media for your brand/company.

DON’T JUST COUNT ON AN ORGANIC REACH

It would be great if we could immediately get our desired results on organic efforts alone. Unfortunately, this isn’t the case. There comes a time when you have to seek out paid social media marketing efforts to see the results that you crave.

All of the major social media networks have embraced paid advertising, which opens up quite the avenue when it comes to promotion. Take some time (and money) to explore the options available on your preferred social network(s). You never know, it may help the size of your audience grow tremendously.

SOCIAL MEDIA POSTING DOESN’T HAVE TO BE TIME-CONSUMING

Buffer, Hootsuite, Sprout Social, and other social media tools allow you to stop wasting time on crafting/posting just the right posts. Not only do they provide you with a deeper understanding of your audience and your presence, but they allow you to schedule your posts ahead of time.

This is where you want to sit down and craft several posts to schedule. By doing this, you’ll be able to fill your time with other actions needed to enhance the growth of your business.

CONTENT ANALYSIS WORKS WONDERS

The content that you publish on social media is what’s going to determine whether or not you see the right results. From using the information provided with your social media tool of choice to seeing which content has received the highest level of attention, analyzing the content you publish on social media will help paint the roadmap to social media success.

NETWORKING IS THE KEY TO SUCCESS

In order to be successful at social media, you have to understand it. In order to understand it, you need to use it regularly. Make sure that your social network is one that provides you with value. This means following industry leaders and cutting-edge brands. Don’t be afraid to share their content either as this could grab their attention and produce even more results from your social media efforts.

What is the biggest social media obstacle you’ve had to overcome?[/fusion_text][/fullwidth][fullwidth background_color=”” background_image=”” background_parallax=”none” enable_mobile=”no” parallax_speed=”0.3″ background_repeat=”no-repeat” background_position=”left top” video_url=”” video_aspect_ratio=”16:9″ video_webm=”” video_mp4=”” video_ogv=”” video_preview_image=”” overlay_color=”” overlay_opacity=”0.5″ video_mute=”yes” video_loop=”yes” fade=”no” border_size=”0px” border_color=”” border_style=”” padding_top=”20″ padding_bottom=”20″ padding_left=”” padding_right=”” hundred_percent=”no” equal_height_columns=”no” hide_on_mobile=”no” menu_anchor=”” class=”” id=””][one_full last=”yes” spacing=”yes” center_content=”no” hide_on_mobile=”no” background_color=”” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” background_position=”left top” hover_type=”none” link=”” border_position=”all” border_size=”0px” border_color=”” border_style=”” padding=”” margin_top=”” margin_bottom=”” animation_type=”” animation_direction=”” animation_speed=”0.1″ animation_offset=”” class=”” id=””][fusion_tabs design=”classic” layout=”horizontal” justified=”yes” backgroundcolor=”” inactivecolor=”#ffffff” bordercolor=”” class=”posto-tabo” id=””][fusion_tab title=”BIO” icon=”fa-user”]

Ricky Ahuja

Founder at rickyahuja.com

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Author Archives: Ricky Ahuja

1. Make a good choice

2. Register ahead

3. Choose the right accommodation

4. Stick to your plan

5. Carry your business cards with you

6. Approach booths at the right time

The Growth of Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Mobile Experience Includes Videos

Customer Satisfaction is the Key

Going Live and Social

Conclusion

They Find Motivation in Challenging Themselves

They Are Having Fun While Working

They Keep Their Focus Razor Sharp

They Are Not Afraid to Get Out of Their Comfort Zone

They Think Outside the Box

They Don’t Let Failure Stop Them

They Provide Unique Value to Others

Trick Your Mind

Motivational Content

Listen to Music Vibes

Use More Senses

Sleep and Rest More Often

Find Green Spots & Laugh

Chew a Gum

LET’S TAKE A LOOK AT THE CURRENT STATE OF SIKHS BEING TARGETED.

UNDERSTANDING THE BELIEFS OF SIKHS

SIKHISM IS A FAITH OF ONENESS AND LOVE

WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT SIKHS?

RESOURCES:

FAILURE COULD LIGHT THE PATH AHEAD OF YOU

FAILURE CAN BE USED AS A FORM OF EDUCATION

FAILURE TESTS ONE’S STRENGTH

FAILURE IS A DISTINGUISHING ACCOMPLISHMENT

PLAN FOR SUCCESS, YOU WON’T REGRET IT

DON’T JUST COUNT ON AN ORGANIC REACH

SOCIAL MEDIA POSTING DOESN’T HAVE TO BE TIME-CONSUMING

CONTENT ANALYSIS WORKS WONDERS

NETWORKING IS THE KEY TO SUCCESS