We all want money, and one thing for sure is this – we can do a lot more with money than without it! However, in order to get the money so that we can do the things we want, we’ve got to have the knowledge or “know how” to get it and more important, how to keep it! Here is a short parable that illustrates the money priority…

And the spiritual master replied, “There are two Goddesses that reside in the heart of every human being. Everybody is deeply in love with these supreme beings. But there is a certain secret that you need to know, and I will tell you what it is. Although you love both Goddesses, you must pay more Goddess of Wealth.

I’m always amazed that we seem to know more about our gadgets, computers and VCRs than we do our own brains. In order to utilize and get the most from the precious gift you carry around, you might want to learn a little more about it. And who would be the foremost authority? Carl Sagan for one.

Okay, maybe Jesse didn’t beat Dennis physically, but he shut him down verbally. Last season’s Celebrity Apprentice featured Joan Rivers, Herschel Walker, Clint Black, Jesse James and the unique, flamboyant and unmistakable Dennis Rodman. Dennis really cut up and showed his most ridiculous self and there was much drama. The Donald kept giving him a break and he would skate each week.

You can’t really teach people anything unless they are willing to learn. What I like most is working with willing and eager learners – people who are hungry and are excited about learning new things. These people are GHB’s (growing human beings) and are usually optimistic, open-minded and curious.

The thing I like about President Obama is that he is straight to the point with no hype. In a recent speech to address this nation’s schools, he said that everyone has a responsibility. Well, that’s a fact that I can’t argue with. He charged teachers, parents, students and governments to help turn around schools that aren’t working. The job belongs to us and he is right when he said that none of it will matter unless we each do our part.

I had the privlege of sharing LIGMO and bits of the HeartMath program with 100 teachers and staff at Lincoln Tech in Melrose Park, Illinois last week. Teachers are powerful people and have the opportunity to share their knowledge and shape our future generations.

I’ve got a gig this afternoon at Lincoln College of Technology in Melrose Park, Illinois, outside of Chicago. It is a two hour staff development workshop on LIGMO. the coordinator shared many of the challenges that the staff face, as well as the students and they are looking to be uplifted and presented with some solutions.

I’ve heard it said that a closed book can’t be read, a closed mouth can’t be fed and for sure, a closed mind is as good as dead. What’s the point of having a brain if we don’t delight in developing it to the max?

There are two kinds of people – Owls and Larks. Owls like to stay up late and do their best work when all of the fanfare dies down. The drag butt in the mornings and don’t get activated until mid morning or afternoon. On the other hand, Larks are morning people. They rise with the sun, sun shinny and smiles and they irk the daylights out of owls. Knowing which type you are will make a big difference with your study habits and results.

Did you know that the most important skill for learning is reading? Think about it – you have to read in every subject, including math! The whole of our existence is about communication – and words are king in that they convey lots of detail, ideas, information and valuable genius insights. You must read in order to prepare for tests and even write your papers.

Violinist Ken Ford awes me with his high level of passion and energy, the way he moves he audience with his interactive presence and style. What does all of this have to do with learning? Everything. Ken Ford embodied a commitment and love for learning in everything he did. He spoke to the audience at the end and answered some of his most frequently answered questions…

When you study, you can’t afford to entertain distractions. To get the most of your study time, turn off the TV, PlayStation, Xbox, Gameboy, and whatever else! Now, the only exception is music. The key to effective learning is to be in the right state and the right kind of music can facilitate learning in an incredible way.

Researchers at the Institute of HeartMath have discoverd that your emotional state affects your brain’s ability to learn.

Can you really concentrate, study and learn well if it’s too hot, too cold, or if you’re hungry?

No one rushes through a gourmet meal. You savor the flavor of each bite, appreciating the creativity and thoughtfulness of the chef. What if we transformed our approach to reading and learned to savor the reading experience in a similar way?

Great halls of learning shouldn’t be places to sleep! When I notice people sleeping in libraries, I often wonder, “Are our libraries becoming giant public bedrooms?” I know what the problem is – people are passive in their reading, which bores the brain to death. The goal is to learn to be active in the reading process.

Knowing something about Accelerated Learning helps students improve their study skills. Simply stated, Accelerated Learning or ‘whole brain’ learning methods are designed to relax students, and open them up to learning using a holistic approach. Yes, it’s a little different from traditional classroom learning, but it works.

For four years in a row, Accelerated Learning expert Millicent St. Claire has been teaching at Spelman College’s Summer Prep Institute in Atlanta, GA. All of the sessions of the two week residential program were power packed and the closest thing ever to what Millicent calls “A LEARNING PARTY!” Take a video peek…

Use your body/brain with this Brain Gym exercise to amp up the power of your learning tasks! One really great suggestion is to study for short intervals with a power break in between. Millicent St. Claire demonstrates THE FAN in this short video.

Doubts, Disruptions and Distractions – These three Ds will choke off your learning so deal with them up front and get the job done. No more late assignments. No more less than stellar test scores. No more “the devil made you do it!” as an excuse.