4 Life Lessons From Tesla’s Elon Musk

Elon Musk became a household name in the contemporary years due to establishing both PayPal and Tesla Motors. It all began in 1971 when he was born in South Africa. After obtaining a Canadian passport in 1988, he left South Africa in search of greater economic opportunities available in the United States. He founded X.com in 1999. This website was later known as PayPal.

He also became the brainchild of both SpaceX (2002) and Tesla Motors (2003). He reaped the fruits of his labor as he became a multi-millionaire in his late 20s when he sold his start-up company – Zip2. With all these achievements on his belt, here are some life lessons that he shared during his past interviews.

#1: PERSISTENCE PAYS OFF

Persistence is very important to success. When he was asked what he was willing to give up towards realizing his dreams, he said: “I am willing to give up everything that others hold dear.” Elon Musk was in the journey for the long haul.

It is difficult for us to measure the limits of what we are capable of. For instance, he experienced serious challenges in 2008 when both SpaceX and Tesla were running out of money. He saw the circumstance as short-term set backs and focused on reducing the costs of launches in SpaceX. At a time when most people had given up in American automotive and aerospace industries, he showed foresight to stay on these industries. He looked to the future with hope and was overly optimistic in most cases.

#2: FOCUS ON THE IMPACT OF YOUR DREAMS

Zip2 was the first company he founded. When he sold it to Compaq, he poured his soul into PayPal. He had enough money to retire into wilderness when eBay bought PayPal. However, he had bigger dreams. He is not here for the quick route, he is here for the long haul. He put about $100 million in Tesla and $70 million in SpaceX. Other found him crazy at that time. He did not care! His vision was clear.

He wanted to prolong the lifespan of humanity by colonizing Mars. He aims to have weekly flights to space when he is in his 50’s. This propels all his enterprises to chase excellence and history. Our dreams may not be as grand as his, but having an end goal you strive for can help motivate you to work towards it.

#3: BECOME YOUR OWN CRITIQUE

“It’s very important to have a feedback loop, where you’re constantly thinking about what you’ve done and how you could be doing it better. I think that’s the single best piece of advice: constantly think about how you could be doing things better and questioning yourself,” he once said.

Despite accomplishing various things in different industries, he does not stop to reach excellence. He constantly strives to improve himself. This is something we can apply in our daily lives. Whether it be personal or professional life, improving your skills and knowledge can help you become the best version of yourself. Identify certain parts of yourself that you want to improve on and look for resources that can help you with that.

#4: TALENT BEATS NUMBERS

When it comes to hiring employees, talent beats numbers. Entrepreneurs may experience problems when they throw a lot of employees to one building. Not Musk.

Image Credits: pixabay.com

According to him: “It is a mistake to hire huge numbers of people to get a complicated job done. Numbers will never compensate for talent in getting the right answer.” Hiring two people who do not know anything about the job will slow down the progress and cost you more. Instead, hire a person best suited for the job. Do not forget about the person’s character too. It must go hand-in-hand with the talent.

Sources: 1, 2, & 3

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How To Lose Weight Gained During Pandemic

Change in eating habits is one of the evident changes that 2020 brought us. In fact, almost one-third of Singaporeans gained weight during the pandemic. The average increase in weight of 500 Singaporean respondents was 5 kilograms.

It is not difficult to realize why someone gained weight during the pandemic. For starters, we spent most of our time at home. From cooking our comfort food to having easy access to food delivery apps, COVID-19 created a perfect storm for people who struggle with weight.

Our lives have been disrupted in a massive way. Fitness studio closures have upended exercise routines and stress elevated for parents who suddenly had to work from home while teaching their kids. Some people had to postpone medical check-ups too. The stress brought by this challenging time influenced how we consume food. To change your eating habits for the better, you must start small. You do not need to break the bank for that!

TAKE SMALL STEPS

We are all stressed right now. Trying to overhaul your lifestyle completely will add more to the plate. Instead, ask yourself what small step you can take to change your eating habits. You may start by eliminating processed or junk food from your daily menu.

CREATE A DAILY ROUTINE

Eat on a schedule. Work from home means you have access to food 24/7. Your days are probably less structured too. Hence, you must plan for your lunch and breaks. Stick to this schedule and be aware of what you take in. If you wear loose-fitting clothes every day, it is easier to ignore the weight gain.

CONTROL YOUR PORTIONS

Trick your brain to eating less by using a smaller plate. You can also drink a big glass of water before you eat. You can eat proteins first, because they will make you feel fuller. Controlling your portions can help you lose weight.

Image Credits: pixabay.com

SCHEDULE TIME FOR EXERCISE

As you are mainly working from home, you may try other forms of physical activity such as online Yoga classes. Exercise is not the primary factor for weight loss, but it plays a role in keeping weight off once you lose it. It helps you maintain your current weight, boost your mood, and strengthen your body.

GET QUALITY SLEEP

Focus on healthy eating, regular exercises, and getting a good night’s sleep to foster weight loss. This means enjoying seven to eight hours of sleep a night. According to experts, “there is a lot of evidence that people who do not get enough sleep are more likely to be overweight or obese.” Sleep, to some extent, affects our physical and mental well-being.

Sources: 1, 2, & 3

 

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Daiso Just Opened An Online Store – All For S$2

Before the likes of Miniso graced Singapore, Daiso was known as the one-stop shop when it comes to ridiculously affordable deals for anything. It sold gadgets, utensils, bathroom supplies, stationary, and more. You name it, they have it for as low as S$2!

Daiso’s roots date back in 1972 when Hirotake Yano established a shop called Yano Shoten. It mostly sold household items for 100 Yen or S$1.28. It was not until December 1977 when the Daiso we recognize today was first discovered. Ten years later, it opened its first Taiwan store and the Korea store followed a month after. New stores opened almost every year since then.

Daiso has locations in 25 countries and regions worldwide including Japan, Vietnam, Mexico, Myanmar, New Zealand, Oman, Philippines, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, United Arab Emirates, and United States of America.

Interestingly, Daiso Japan is the king of batteries with over 147,500,000 batteries sold each year. Moreover, a fake eyelash pack is sold every 1.3 seconds. What’s more? It just opened its Singapore online shop last January 18, 2021. Many of the products they sell are imported from Japan, China, and Korea.

Daiso Singapore’s online shop has a range of over 400 products across 25 categories including cleaning supplies, kitchen tools, cosmetics, stationery, storage solutions, and more. This is a far cry from the 100,000 products offered by the store. However, we can expect to see more products popping in their online store in the future.

For instance, the only missing category is food. While, the most well-stocked category is cleaning supplies. This is understandable given our current situation. If you cannot find what you need or want online, you can go to one of its brick-and-mortar stores in Singapore including their branches in Marina Square and Canberra Plaza.

Image Credits: facebook.com/DAISO-Singapore

Just like the physical stores, the online shop sells all items at S$2 each. Do note that the delivery fee of about S$5 applies. This is just the basic fee. The delivery fee may differ depending on the weight of the items purchased. Moreover, customers are required to make a minimum purchase of five items. So, make the most out of your delivery fee by purchasing five or more items in one receipt!

Sources: 1, 2, & 3

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7 Life Lessons From Alibaba’s Jack Ma

YOUR HUMBLE BEGINNINGS WILL SHAPE YOU

On September 10, 1964, Ma Yun or Jack Ma was born. He originated from Hangzhou, southeastern China. He had two other siblings and was not born into a wealthy family. In fact, they did not have much money growing up. Things began to change when President Nixon visited Hangzhou in 1972. Ma’s hometown became a tourist destination. He took advantage of that. As a teenager, Ma offered tours of the city in exchange for English lessons. The nickname “Jack” was given to him by a foreigner that he befriended.

DO NOT QUIT

We all have a “quit switch”. The question is: how soon will you turn it on? For Jack Ma, he saw failures as opportunities to improve himself. After failing the university entrance exam twice, he finally got in on the third try. He attended the Hangzhou Teachers Institute and graduated in 1988.

As soon as he graduated, he started applying to as many jobs as he could. He experienced a dozen rejections before getting hired as an English teacher. Ma was a natural with his students. Despite having a relatively low paycheck, he loved his job. He did not quit!

STEP OUT OF YOUR COMFORT ZONE

Ma had zero experience with computers and coding, but he was captivated by the Internet. He used it for the first time during a trip to America in 1995. During this time, he started a translation business. His first online search was “beer”. He was surprised that there were no Chinese beers in the results. It was at that moment that he decided to open an Internet company for China.

He was stepping out of his comfort zone and exhausting his resources to his new ventures. He gathered 17 of his friends and convinced them to invest in his vision for an online marketplace he called “Alibaba.” This website allowed exporters to post product listings that customers could buy directly. Soon, Alibaba started to attract members from all over the globe. The rest is history.

MONEY IS A RESPONSIBILITY

Jack Ma is China’s fourth richest person and the 25th richest person in the world. He is worth billions! With this massive amount of wealth, one can simply think that he is happy and content. However, he highlighted that money comes with responsibility.

He once said:

“When I graduated, I earned $20 a month, which was fantastic. When you have one million dollars, you’re a lucky person. When you have 10 million dollars, you’ve got trouble, a lot of headaches. When you have more than one billion dollars, or a hundred million dollars, that’s a responsibility you have—it’s the trust of people on you, because people believe you can spend money better than the others.”

HAVING CONNECTIONS IS NOT THE ONLY WAY TO SUCCESS

Jack Ma did not have a powerful family growing up. He started Alibaba in his apartment with his friends. However, he created opportunities for himself and the people around him. He created a service that is needed by the people and believed that the customers supported their business. Having connections is not the only way to achieve success.

INVEST IN THE YOUTH

Your people is not only your manpower, they play an important part in making your dreams come true. Invest in the youth to make your business happen. Ma said that the “secret here is helping those who want to be successful”. Find people who never give up due to their fierce motivation.

“Help young people. Help small guys. Because small guys will be big. Young people will have the seeds you bury in their minds and when they grow up they will change the world.”

FOCUS ON SOLVING A PROBLEM

It is not always about making profits. Focus on solving a problem that many people face. You build a business to make money. However, money should not be your sole reason to provide service. Alibaba was born with the idea of empowering people online, which allowed it to grow.

Image credits: unsplash.com

Sources: 1 & 2

 

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Get Quality Sleep With These 5 Products

Everything is set. You got to bed suited up in your softest pajamas, your silk sheets were tucked, and your pillows were fluffed. However, you still cannot sleep! Instead you kept yourself busy by playing with your phone or watching the latest series on Netflix. You found yourself counting down the few hours left until the next day begins. Like you, most people sleep less than recommended.

A good night’s sleep is not just about the quantity of hours, but also the quality. Older people above 65 were found to have a poorer quality of sleep and even experience insomnia. Sleep deprivation results to worse cognitive performance including diminished focus, attention, alertness, and memory. To improve your sleeping cycle, consider using these products. May these help you gain some peaceful snoozing.

#1: LAVENDER PILLOW MISTS

Research has found that lavender increased slow-wave sleep, which plays a role in slowing one’s heartbeat and relaxing one’s muscles. Using pillow mists and sprays that contain lavender can be beneficial for adults and children. Find a mist that has a blend of floral waters, herbal ingredients, and essential oils. Then, spritz it over your bed linen before sleeping.

The Body Shop Spa Of The World French Lavender Pillow Mist is infused with lavender essential oil from France, which aims to release soothing fragrance for a good night’s sleep. It retails for about S$26.

#2: SCENTED CANDLES

Aromatherapy may ease your mind as you go to sleep. To set yourself up for a relaxing night ahead, simple burn an aromatherapy candle. Light the candle as you prepare for bed. You may either fulfill your skincare routine or read your favorite book before blowing the candle. Scents like Earl Grey Cucumber are great for mornings, but go with the Sage Sea Salt for restful nights. Scented candles made from different ingredients such as soy wax are available on Shopee for about S$15.

#3: BODY LOTIONS

For some people, asking their partners to massage their body can help them have a restful sleep. You can complete your night-time skincare regime by using Lush’s Sleepy Body Lotion. It is formulated with a blend of lavender oil and cocoa butter to keep your skin moisturized and comfortable all night long. Moreover, it creates a calming ambiance with its lavender scent. It costs about S$54.

#4: WEARABLE TECHNOLOGY

Wearable technology is hardly new for the public. It has gained popularity in the recent years. In fact, you can wear a Fitbit to help you monitor your breathing, sleep duration, and heart rate. It records the period when you go into deep sleep and gives you data about your sleeping pattern. Awareness will help you modify and improve your sleeping habits. It is available at Lazada Singapore for over S$200.

#5: WEIGHTED BLANKETS

Weighted blankets are usually filled with small objects such as pellets and polypropylene plastic. Lying underneath evenly distributed pressure (i.e., brought by the weighted blanket), is believed to increase the release of the hormone serotonin. This helps with relaxation.

Image credits: unsplash.com

In fact, many children with ADHD have used it to help them calm down. Occupational therapists have long used these blankets to help kids with sensory issues and anxiety, including kids with ADHD. These blankets are not only limited for the use of Occupational Therapists. If you think it will work for you, you may purchase weighted blankets on Shopee.

Sources: 1 & 2

 

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