I survived an F-5 tornado in Oklahoma that destroyed my home while I was inside, but would I survive another disaster?

Factors working against me in surviving a disaster

It is important to know what factors you have working against you in surviving a disaster so you can counteract them as well as possible. Other than the actual physical event itself, a person’s thought processes and reaction to a disaster are probably their biggest enemy to survival.

Here are the factors that are likely going to work against me during a disaster like another monster tornado in Oklahoma:

1. Denial

I like to think it is my optimism that causes me to initially deny a disaster. My brain just seems to refuse to accept that something bad is happening. During the tornado, we watched it approach our home for at least 45 minutes. All the while, I was sure it would turn, but it didn’t.

My delay in taking action caused by my denial put me directly in harm’s way. It could have cost me my life.

2. Groupthink

I tend to be obedient to the chain-of-command. Maybe I am partially programmed this way because of my military background. Trusting in others like flight attendants, firefighters and government officials to decide when to evacuate during an emergency and to provide the proper guidance can work against you. This was made evident after Hurricane Katrina.

Remaining calm and orderly is essential to everyone’s survival, but real survivors take responsibility for their own safety and act in their best interest regardless what the group or leaders think.

3. Limited experience

I’ve only been exposed to certain types of disasters. In those situations for which my brain has no point of reference, I would be less likely to survive. I might freeze or panic. Our brains go into a sort of autopilot mode under extreme duress. Without any previous experience to rely upon, it may fail to act appropriately.

This is why emergency drills at work and at home are so important. These exercises preprogram our brains so they automatically know what to do when disaster strikes.

Factors working in my favor for surviving a disaster

Fortunately, I also have some characteristics and experiences working in my favor should I get caught up in a future disaster. Here’s what will help me:

1. I’ve survived a tornado in Oklahoma

The experience of being a survivor helps our brains to remain calm in future scenarios. It gives us some additional confidence that we can survive. Our minds also have some reference points from which to draw conclusions. In essence, I got an education on disaster survival the hard way.

My experience surviving a tornado would be most valuable in another similar disaster, but it would likely help me to some extent regardless of the situation.

2. I taught others how to respond in emergencies

I served six years in the Air Force as an aircrew member. The last two years I spent training new aircrew members how to respond to emergencies. I was also subjected to simulated aircraft emergencies. In addition, I jumped down an aircraft evacuation slide multiple times while I was in the military.

This experience would certainly benefit me in the event I was involved in an aircraft emergency. I know how to use the equipment and I am well acquainted with many of the reasons people fail to survive these types of disasters. This all would be to my benefit.

3. I don’t usually panic

Panic isn’t as common in disasters as one might think. However, it does occur and when it happens, it often costs people their lives. I’ve been in some fairly scary situations and have come to discover that I don’t seem to be predisposed to panic.

The ability to remain calm and think decisively in a disaster is paramount to survival. This tendency would certainly be to my credit in future situations.

My survival likely depends heavily on the specific situation

As you can see, I have some powerful things in my favor for surviving a disaster. However, I also have some equally negative tendencies working against me. I probably have an above average chance of surviving another tornado or an aircraft emergency. On the other hand, if I am presented with a situation that I’ve never expected, my chances will go down dramatically.

One other advantage I have is that I’m honest with myself about my weaknesses. This might help me recognize my poor responses sooner so I can take corrective action quicker. Hopefully, these things will be enough!

How likely are you to survive a disaster?

If you are interested in learning more about disaster survival, I would recommend reading The Unthinkable: Who Survives When Disaster Strikes - and Why. You can also visit Ready.gov.

Photo by tlindenbaum

I am taking a vacation to Cozumel, Mexico in a couple of weeks and I need high-quality articles to publish while I am gone. Writing a guest article for this blog would be a great help to us both!

Why accept the invitation and write an article as a guest blogger?

There are several benefits to writing an article for this site. Here are just a few of the reasons that you should consider becoming a guest blogger:

• Improves SEO - You can link back to articles on your site from within the content of the guest article which will help your pages rank better.
• Spreads the word - Writing a guest post is a fantastic way to reach a new audience of readers. Your article will be received by all my subscribers and will be seen by thousands of monthly visitors.
• Directs More Traffic - Those that read and like your article will likely visit your site to learn more about what else you write. This is an opportunity to get a boost in traffic.
• Strengthens your brand - A quality guest post can strengthen your brand as an expert in your field. A strong brand is essential to long-term blogging success.

Some guidelines for submitting guest posts

• The article content has to fit with the topics presented in my site and be a value to my readers.
• The article should be original content that has not been previously published on any site.
• The article should be between 600 and 1200 words in length. Less than 1000 words is preferred.
• I’ll add appropriate images, but if you have something it would be appreciated. Please be sure to include copyright information or appropriate credit.
• I reserve the right to edit or reject any articles I feel are inappropriate in anyway.

Contact me today to accept my invitation to write an article!

Please contact me today to reserve your date to write a guest post. I will need your submission no later than Friday, January 16, 2009. This will give me time to prepare the articles for my site. Please let me know if you have any questions or want to discuss potential topics. Thanks!

Photo by Mademoiselle?Ayumi

As I grow older, I want to do what I can to ensure my quality of life doesn’t deteriorate. Therefore, this year, I’m going to concentrate on choosing the best foods to eat.

Keeping it simple by focusing on the eight best foods to eat

There is so much confusing information out there about how to eat healthier. It can all be overwhelming and confusing.

Some people seem to really enjoy researching what to eat and closely monitoring their diet. Not me! Instead, I want to keep it simple. I think this is the best way for me to stick to eating healthier.

So, I’ve done a little research on the best foods to eat and I’ve found the eight foods that are the best to eat everyday. These suggestions come from the publishers of the book Eat This, Not That! Thousands of Simple Food Swaps that Can Save You 10, 20, 30 Pounds–or More!

I’m going to concentrate on these eight super foods to make it easy and simple.

The eight best foods to eat everyday for better health!

1. Spinach

Spinach is a rich source of plant-based omega-3s and folate. It will help me reduce the risk of heart disease, stroke and osteoporosis. The goal is to eat one cup of fresh spinach or a half cup of cooked spinach a day. This isn’t as hard as it seems. You can throw a few fresh spinach leaves on top of a salad or pizza, or add it as an ingredient to your morning omelette (you eat a good breakfast right?).

2. Yogurt

This one is pretty easy for me because I like to eat yogurt. It boosts your immune system by providing tons of beneficial bacteria. Yogurt also helps to protect your system from cancer and cavities. I’d like to keep my own chompers to eat with when I get old. Just make sure that your yogurt includes live, active cultures and avoid brands that include high fructose corn syrup. Mix blueberries and walnuts into your yogurt and you have a powerhouse breakfast or snack.

3. Red Tomatoes

I can add tomatoes to my sandwich or salad, drink low-sodium V-8, or just slice one up and eat it by itself! These powerhouses are packed with lycopene which is a terrific antioxidant. The equivalent of 8 cherry red tomatoes or one glass of tomato juice a day can reduce my risk of several different cancers as well as coronary artery disease!

4. Carrots

Carotenoids are fat-soluble compounds that reduce the risk for a wide-range of cancers. They also help ease inflammatory diseases like asthma and rheumatoid arthritis. A half a cup a day of carrots a day is low in calories and packs all the carotenoids you need. I like to eat raw baby carrots as a snack or add some grated carrots to my salad.

5. Blueberries

As I mentioned above, mixing blueberries into my morning yogurt or blending them into a fresh fruit smoothie for an afternoon treat is easy. These tiny berries pack more antioxidants than any other North American fruit. They help prevent cancer, diabetes and age-related memory loss. They are also rich in fiber, as well as, vitamins A and C. I’ll strive to eat one cup a day.

6. Black Beans

What to boost your brain power? Eat a half of cup of black beans a day! These jewels are loaded with anthocyanin which improves brain function. Black beans are also good for your heart. The half a cup I mentioned contains 8 grams of protein to keep you from feeling so hungry so often and 7.5 grams of fiber for good colon health. Black beans are great in burritos, quesadillas, or tossed in a salad.

7. Walnuts

The walnut is truly a super food and I only need to eat about 1 once per day! They pack more heart-healthy omega 3s than salmon, more anti-inflammatory polyphenols than red wine, and half as much protein as chicken! Only walnuts include all three of these benefits. They are great as a mid-morning snack all by themselves!

8. Oats

Oats, like you find in oatmeal, have soluble fiber which reduces the risk of heart disease. Soluble fiber also helps to lower cholesterol which is something I need to do. I will limit my intake to about a half a cup a day because oats are loaded with carbs which convert to sugar.

Eating healthier is not as hard as it seems

I feel that focusing on these eight foods is a simple way to eat healthier without going crazy. It is amazing to me the amount of benefit I can gain from just these eight simple foods. Heart disease and cancer are obviously two of the biggest things that concern me and this strategy addresses them head on. These foods are also low in calories and when combined with 30 minutes of moderate exercise a day, I might even see a few pounds drop off the old body!

Note: I am not a doctor or healthcare professional. I am simply passing along what I’ve read from credible sources. You should consult your doctor before making any changes to your diet or exercise regimen!

Photo by NatalieMaynor

A useful technique to keep mindful and committed to your resolutions

I ran across this idea on Chris Brogan’s site. He suggests choosing one word that embodies the intention of your goal. If you set three goals or resolutions, then you would have three words, one for each. Here’s how Chris describes it:

If you want to try the process, it works something like this: think of how you want to be successful in 2009. Then, try to think in even broader terms. Extrapolate on the broader terms, and find one word to hang the idea on.
~ Chris Brogan

I really like this technique! As the year progresses, you just focus on your three or so words. I think this will help me remember my resolutions and remain mindful of them.

Also, because the words are broad, they are flexible. As the year progresses, the words can bend and mold to circumstances better than something more specific. This way my original intention doesn’t get lost just because my first idea doesn’t work out.

The three words that embody my goals for 2009

I’m going to stick to using just three words. Three is enough, but not too many. I think I can remember and keep mindful of three. Here are my three words for 2009:

Experiment. Brand. Live.

Let me explain a little what my words mean:

1. Experiment - 2009 is going to be a year of trying new things for me. I like the word experiment because it implies that failure is an option. Experimentation by definition is about testing hypotheses. I want to give myself permission to explore.

I’ve already started experimenting by buying a used MacBook. I intend to continue my experimentation with various uses for video, social media and maybe some programming. Who knows where this word might lead me?!?

2. Brand - I’ve been reading some about establishing a brand. I came up with the idea for starting MySuperChargedLife.com sitting under a tree. It was like a coconut fell and hit me on the head. I didn’t know a thing about blogging, but I was eager to begin.

I’ve learned a lot in the past year, but I still have a ways to go. I don’t think that I’ve done justice to creating and evangelizing the brand I want. Therefore, I’ve chosen this word to help me stay mindful of my brand.

This word also has value with things happening in my full-time employment, so it has implications for me that reach far beyond this site.

3. Live - This word is rich for me in so many ways. It will keep me mindful of my obligation to live out the things I write about. There is nothing worse than a hypocrite!

In addition, I’m going to use it to remind me of my commitment to improve my fitness and health. People live longer nowadays and I want to be sure that my quality of life doesn’t deteriorate as I grow older. I plan to make a real effort in this realm throughout the year.

What are you focusing on in 2009?

I recently posed this question on Twitter, “Do you design your life or do you simply let the chips fall where they may?” What’s your answer? All you have to do is choose three words to define a plan for where you want to be a year from now. Aren’t you worth it?

For more ideas and examples of how to use this technique, please read Chris Brogan’s article that inspired me to write this.

What are your three words?

Photo by vana_gwen

I first thought I wanted to buy one of the new 13-inch aluminum MacBook models, but they retail for $1299 which was just a little too steep for me. I’ve never owned a Mac before so I wanted to get my feet wet without shelling out quite so much money.

Why I decided to buy a MacBook

After reading the input I received when I asked how are MacBooks better than Windows laptops, there were three things that stuck out to me and intrigued me into buying a MacBook. They were:

1. Passion of other Macbook users - All the other Mac users that I’ve talked to or that commented on my previous post seemed to passionately like their Mac. You don’t see many Windows laptop users that feel this way. I wanted to see what this was all about.
2. Lack of spyware and viruses - I have grown so tired of trying to clean up Windows after a spyware or malware infection. Macs aren’t immune, they just aren’t targeted. Let’s hope it stays that way!
3. They are just different - Computers are not just my career, but they’ve also been a hobby of mine for quite some time. I’ve never had much exposure to Macs, so I wanted to know more.

Alas, I could resist no longer! I became determined to buy a MacBook.

The details about the white MacBook that I bought

I had been watching craigslist for awhile to get an idea of what used MacBooks were selling for. I figured that I might even find one of the aluminum models for sale after Christmas. Some people buy Macs and then find they don’t use them, need the cash or prefer to go back to Windows. I thought this might be an opportunity for me.

The ad for the used white MacBook caught my attention because of the upgraded specs, $700 asking price and the proximity of the seller.

My white MacBook has the following specs:

• Intel 2GHz Core Duo processor
• 2 GB of DDR2 RAM
• 250 GB hard drive
• SuperDrive
• OS X Leopard

The seller had upgraded the RAM and hard drive. He also recently installed a new keyboard. It sounded pretty good, so I inquired via e-mail.

The used MacBook I bought is not perfect, but the price was right!

The seller replied to my e-mail with some pictures and some other details. He also let me know that after setting on the shelf for a couple of months, the battery was shot. This worried me some, but I researched the cost of a new battery and decided to make an offer.

I offered to come by the next day to pick-up the MacBook for $500 cash. This was a full $200 less than the original asking price! It was also half of what a new white MacBook sells for with half the RAM and hard drive space. Luckily for me, the seller agreed!

I bought a new Apple battery off e-Bay for $80 with priority shipping. The only other disappointing thing that I’ve noticed is that pictures with the built-in iSight camera are very grainy. I don’t know if this is typical in a 3-year old MacBook or not. Anyone know what I should expect or what I could do to fix this? Is it possible to connect an external video camera to my MacBook?

Still getting used to the differences in OS X compared to Windows

I’ve been a Windows guy for a lot of years. I’ll admit that it is taking some getting used to running OS X. However, the transition has been easier than I thought. The keyboard shortcuts are different, but not too much so. Also, there seems to be a ton of good info on the web. When I can’t figure out how to do something I just Google it. So far, I’ve found the answer in a minute or two.

I plan to use the MacBook for blogging. In fact, this is my first article to compose on it. Previously, I really liked using Microsoft Windows Live Writer to compose my articles on my PC laptop. Of course, Live Writer isn’t available on the Mac so I had to go in search of an alternative.

I am writing this with MarsEdit. It is different than Live Writer, but I’m quickly adapting. At this point, I think it is going to work just fine. The only bad news is that MarsEdit costs $29.95 where Live Writer was free.

In the end, I think the adjustment to using a MacBook as a personal laptop and for blogging will be smooth and pretty painless. I’m definitely not deterred yet, but I still have a lot to learn.

A few things that I liked to get for my MacBook

The MacBook is very complete and usable as is, but there are a couple of things that I’d still like to buy to make my Mac even better. I’d like:

• A wireless Mighty Mouse - The trackpad is fine, but I’m addicted to a mouse. The wireless Mighty Mouse connects via BlueTooth and looks like it would be awesome. I’ve seen them on e-Bay for around $40 to $50.
• An office productivity suite - I’ve read that Microsoft Office is the best productivity suite for the Mac, but even the Home/Student edition sells for $149. Can anyone tell me about similar software for the Mac that costs less? What about NeoOffice?

Again, these aren’t absoluetly necessary, but I think they would be nice to have items. I’d be interested in hearing your thoughts and suggestions on the value of these items and where to get them.

My overall satisfaction with the MacBook and my purchase

I definitely think I made the right choice to buy a used MacBook. My total investment was only $580 which is less than half of what I would have spent on a new aluminum model. The performance and reliability of my MacBook seem excellent so far. I’m very happy with it. Of course, I don’t have a warranty so if something big goes wrong, I’ll be in a pickle.

For me, I think buying my first MacBook off craigslist will be just fine. This approach might not be for everyone, others will still choose a Windows PC or buy new, but I’m confident that a used MacBook was a good choice for me.

I look forward to figuring out more of the cool things about Macs. If you have any tips or suggestions, I’d love to hear them!

Photo by goodrob13

By the way, for my regular readers, I wanted to let you know that I have decided to retire my Links for Super-Charged Living that generally appears every Saturday.  I will still be doing a post on Saturdays highlighting articles from other sites, but it will be centered on a different topic each week instead of the 7 key characteristics of a super-charged life. 

Please stay tuned because this is going to be good!

A collection of the best blog articles of 2008

Okay, here we go!  I love these posts and I’m sure that you will too.  These blog articles offer up some fantastic reading.  Because these bloggers are the very best in the biz so, take some time and read their top posts!

• The Essential Zen Habits of 2008
• The Best of Get Rich Slowly (2008 Edition)
• Best of ProBlogger - 2008
• A Time of Reflection - Greatest Hits of Think Simple Now
• The Best of Art of Manliness 2008
• Daily Blog Tips- Best of 2008
• The Positivity Blog - The 5 Most Popular Posts of 2008
• Tim Ferriss - Things I’ve Learned and Loved in 2008
• One Year Of Frugal Dad, A Look Back
• Best of Million Dollar Journey: 2008 Edition
• 2008: A Look Back at Being Frugal.net
• My Dollar Plan - 2008: A Year in Review

Enjoy the best blog articles of 2008!

I sincerely hope you have a lot of free time this weekend because you have a lot of reading to do!  I follow these blogs regularly and I have reviewed the lists above of their very best articles.  You do not want to miss reading any of them!

Photo by Hot Rod Homepage

I want to be deliberate and thoughtful about the goals and resolutions that I commit to for the coming year.  I already have some resolutions in mind, but before I fully decide, I am reviewing what others are resolving to do.

What others are advising about New Year’s resolutions

Of course, given the time of year, there are a lot of people out there writing their opinions about how we can improve our lives.  Here are the best articles that I found and liked:

1.  Don’t just set and forget resolutions, set goals for real change

Ron at The Wisdom Journal wrote DON’T Set Any Resolutions.  He stresses that resolutions frequently go by the wayside too soon and therefore fail to produce results in our lives.  He reasons that resolutions are too absolute and unrealistic.  They are all or nothing propositions that often focus on negative behaviors.  This all contributes to their failure to produce any real change or improvement.

Ron recommends that we set goals instead of resolutions.  He even suggests some excellent goals to consider in four key areas of our lives.  You should check out his suggestions.  I found some things that are helping me.

2.  Focus your resolutions on the areas that matter most to you

Frugal Dad has spelled out three very specific goals or resolutions for the coming year in his short series of articles:

• New Years Resolution One: Downsizing Our Home
• New Years Resolution Two: Wake Up At 4:30AM
• New Years Resolution Three: Double Blogging Goals

I really like the way that Frugal Dad has set very specific, measurable goals for himself.  If you read these, you will also see that he has thought through his resolutions very carefully.  These aren’t knee-jerk type resolutions.  They are meaningful changes that are realistic and that will have a positive impact on Frugal Dad and his family.

In addition, I like how there are only three goals that Frugal is focusing himself on in the coming year.  He has focused his efforts in the areas that most important to him and that he think will make the biggest difference.  Very interesting!

3.  Be constantly mindful of your resolutions throughout the year

Finally, I like what Chris Brogan wrote in Your 3 Goals for 2009.  He takes a slightly different approach to resolutions.  He picks three keywords that encapsulate what he wants to accomplish.  By having only three words to focus on, it is easier to run everything you do through them as sort of a filter to be sure you are maintaining the big picture of what you want to accomplish over the course of the entire year.

Chris’ approach to resolutions seems to offer a lot of flexibility while adding significantly to the likelihood of success.  After all, life changes.  The specific goal that you set for yourself today could become obsolete tomorrow. 

For example, say you want to increase the number of subscribers to your blog to X by the end of the year.  Well, you might reach that goal in March.  What then?  Well, if one of your words was “build”, then you would simply remain focused on continuing to build your blog.  The word reflects your overall intention.

I don’t know if I’ve adequately described Chris’ approach.  Read his article!  It is very insightful and then you’ll get a better idea of exactly what he does.  I think I will try it!

New Year’s resolutions can be useful if you spend time on them

One thing that all three of the bloggers above agree on is that they like the word “goals” better than resolutions.  I have to agree.  I’ve never been much for having resolutions.  I guess there’s just too much baggage with them.  Of course, I still think that the beginning of the year is a good time to reflect on where we are in our lives and to set some goals for where we want to be a year from now.

“He who fails to plan, plans to fail” ~ Proverb

I’ll be sharing more about my goals or resolutions very soon.  I hope this has helped you to consider ways to improve your life. 

Please let me know your resolutions for the coming year!

Here are more New Year’s resolution articles that you might enjoy:

• 20 Questions for Planning New Year’s Goals
• New Year’s resolutions — PF style
• 10 Ways To Ensure Your New Years Resolutions Outlive January
• 7 Common Reasons People Fail To Achieve New Year Resolutions
• How to Achieve Any Goal; Or, The Art of Anticipating Obstacles

Photo by mugley

Quotes with timeless advice on striving for excellence

Wisdom writers from all over the world and throughout time have expounded on the importance of excellence in life.  Here’s how we can apply their advice to living life the fullest.

1.  Make excellence your habit in all you do

“We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.” ~ Aristotle

Are you in the habit of striving for excellence?  Where have you set the bar for yourself?  We often let ourselves slip into a rut of producing inferior or insignificant outcomes.  This is common, but dangerous. 

In a time when many organization are cutting back on personnel, it is more important than ever to prove you are a difference maker.  If you aren’t putting your best foot forward to push the organization toward its goals, then why should they keep you around?

2.  Make your actions speak louder than your words

“A superior man is modest in his speech, but exceeds in his actions.”
~ Confucius

Exceptional performance is what counts.  Look at your output.  Is what you are producing making a difference?  Are you meeting your goals?  We can talk about high and lofty ideas all day long, but are we making the right effort to get the excellent results desired? 

Less talk and more action is often what it takes to achieve excellence.  No one likes a braggart, especially one that has little to show for what they’ve done.

3.  Make your life count for something

“Life’s like a play; it’s not the length but the excellence of the acting that matters” ~ Seneca

Isn’t it interesting how some people live very short lives, but have an incredible impact on those around them?  Look at someone like Randy Pausch who didn’t even live to be 50 years old, but what an incredible difference he made in the lives of so many! 

That’s because Randy had high standards and lived everyday to its fullest even before he knew his life was going to be cut short.

Are you investing your life in something significant?  It doesn’t need to be something that will make you famous or rich or even  well-liked, but whatever it is it should be something that you can devote your whole heart to and be excellent at.  Make your life count!

4.  Make a commitment and stick to it

“No man ever reached to excellence in any one art or profession without having passed through the slow and painful process of study and preparation”  ~ Horace

Excellence isn’t easy although a few make it look like it is.  These few have spent countless hours practicing and sharpening their skills until they can perform very difficult tasks almost effortlessly.  They devote every waking moment to becoming the very best in their field.  They make incredible sacrifices all in the name of excellence.

We often want to be that Olympic athlete standing on the podium receiving the Gold Medal, but we usually aren’t willing to go through the process necessary to get there.  The Gold Medal athlete worked, studied and endured innumerable bumps and bruises to achieve their moment of glory.  What are you willing to put forth in your quest for excellence?

5.  Make yourself stand out from the crowd

“Excellent things are rare.” ~ Plato

The person that truly devotes themselves to excellence is rare.  That’s why they are so valuable and adored by us.  That’s why they make the big bucks and deserve it.  For whatever reasons, few choose the path of excellence in their life.  For those that do, the life itself is its own reward.

Become that rare person that is dedicated to doing their very best and then push yourself even further.  Believe that excellence is the only standard worth pursuing and you will reap the dividends of a rich and full life!

Striving for excellence will be a sacrifice worth making!

Excellence will never let you down.  You will always be able to hold your head high knowing that you did everything you could.  People will notice.  It will pay off.  Excellence is not a quick fix or get rich quick scheme, although you will likely realize the benefits sooner than you think because most of the world is stuck in mediocrity.  Striving for excellence is a sure way to make yourself stand out!

Photo by little_frank

Check out NeoBudget for yourself for free!

If you haven’t checked out NeoBudget, then now is a great time to do so!  Here are a few of the key features:

• Based on envelope method budget system
• At-a-glance view of balance in all envelopes
• Consumer debt worksheet to help you get out of debt
• Ability to import transactions from banking systems
• Full back-up and protection of budgeting information

You get a complete online budgeting system with NeoBudget for only $2.50 per month!  Of course, if you win the giveaway, then you won’t have to pay anything for 12 months which is even better.

More information about NeoBudget online budgeting system

I wrote an article about NeoBudget a few weeks ago that includes more information including a screen shot.  NeoBudget also offers a free 7-day trial that allows you to take their system for a spin before you commit. 

Good luck in the giveaway!

A snob is a person that adopts the view that they are better than someone else for any variety of reasons including real or perceived intelligence, wealth, fame, ancestry, etc.

I think we all have a bit of snobbery in us.  We all like to think we are better than others in some way.  However, being a snob actually gets in the way of improving your life.

Identifying the common types of snobs

There are a plethora of ways that one might be a snob.  It seems that there is no end to the possible ideas we can invent for which we might think ourselves better than others.  Here are a few types of snobs that are common:

1.  Basic, run-of-the-mill social snob

This is probably the type of snob that most often comes to mind.  Most of us were introduced to this type of snob back in high school.  The snobs were the popular kids that looked down their noses at those of us that weren’t nearly as cool.  They shunned many trying to keep their clique an elite group.  Of course, social snobbery doesn’t stop once high school is over.

2.  Online social media snob

The modern day snob has taken their snootiness online to social media sites like StumbleUpon, Twitter and FaceBook.  They arbitrarily turn up their nose to anyone that, in their not so humble opinion, fails to meet some unspecified criteria.  They often only want to be friends with those that they feel can in some way benefit their blog, cause or social media status.

3.  Hobby enthusiast snob

Hobby enthusiasts have often spent years perfecting their craft.  Therefore, they feel they have the right to look down on newbies.  They have the best equipment, techniques and know the secrets to make it all look easy.  This gives them a feeling of superiority over those just getting started in the hobby or sport.

4.  Career or networking snob

You might find these snobs on LinkedIn or hanging out at a Chamber of Commerce social hour.  They are often at the top of their profession which garners them a lot of attention.  Hordes flock to them only to be turned away because they don’t have time for the little people.  They have forgotten what got them to the place where they are today.

5.  Religious snob

The sad thing is that our churches are not immune from snobs either.  You can often find religious snobs in every flock.  They kid themselves by looking at those outside the church or sitting in the back row and thinking, “Oh, look at those poor souls.”  They think they are being compassionate when in fact they are judging and being snobbish.

Open up to the possibilities: Stop being a snob

The problem with snobbery is that it closes us off from creating relationships with large groups of people.  We therefore stunt our own growth because we close ourselves off from new influences and experiences. 

Does any of the types of snobs above sound familiar?  Have you let snobbery creep into your life?  It happens to most of us so, please don’t be ashamed.  Here are some things to break the rut of being a snob:

1.  Don’t be afraid to open yourself up to new people - diversify!

Why do we close ourselves off from new people?  Are we afraid that our network will grow too large?  That we might somehow accumulate too many contacts? 

It is true that you can’t be everything to everybody.  You have to have a small core group that is your base, but why limit yourself?  Build a big network!  You will always know someone that can get things done no matter what the task.  This is real power!

2.  Teach others what you know to pass on the legacy

There are others that would love to know what you know.  They are just starting out and you can help them.  You can give them a big boost.  Are we afraid that by helping someone else we will make it too easy for them?  They might not have to work as hard as we did to learn all the inside knowledge necessary to be successful?

Put this hogwash behind you and reach out to someone today.  It will make you feel really good about yourself to mentor someone.  Besides you don’t want all that you’ve learned to dry up and blow away do you?  Wouldn’t it be better to pass along the baton and leave a positive legacy?

3.  Explore new territory yourself

Try something new yourself.  Take those guitar lessons that you’ve always wanted to take.  Go get certified to be an open-water scuba diver.  Start your own blog.  Whatever it is that you’ve always wanted to do, just go do it! 

It can be a humbling experience being new at something yourself.  It will also force you to make new relationships and to reach out to others for help.  This should help to break the cycle of snobbery.

Cast off the snob that crept in and start improving your life!

Again, I think over time we all develop a bit of snobbery.  I don’t know exactly what it is about human nature that makes it so, but it seems to happen to the best of us.  However, the best of the best know this and do something to break the snobs in themselves.  They know it will improve their life if they open themselves up to the boundless opportunities that exist in new and diverse relationships.  Go make some new friends today!

Has snobbery crept into your life?  What are you doing about it?

Photo by DearTerisa