I find it very interesting because honestly, I’m not so strong in social qualities and much of what this audiobook discusses is new to me. I grew up as an only child, and though I did spend time with my childhood friends most of my adolescent years were spent reading books, studying, and playing computer games.

I’ve been listening to Brian Tracy’s 21 Ways to Double Your Productivity Audiobook and have found one of the lessons there to be very applicable and effective. To double your productivity, make a list of everything you have to do tomorrow. Make sure to write this list before you go to sleep.

On your next day, identify the tasks that are the most important or urgent, then do them. As you finish those tasks, crush them out.

I found this quite rewarding. Seeing how many tasks I’ve crushed out makes me feel good, since I know I’ve accomplished something useful for the day. It even spurs me to do just one more, and suddenly I’ve got the energy to extend beyond my normal working hours.

Here are the ways to double your time and increase your productivity, according to Brian Tracy:

• Make a DecisionDevelop Clear Goals and Objectives

  Plan Every Day in Advance

  Use the ABCDE Method (Mark A for your most important tasks, and E for your least. Resolve to do A tasks first before other less important tasks)

  Separate the Urgent from the Important

  Practice the Law of Forced Efficiency

  Apply the 80-20 Rule (20% of your tasks contribute to 80% of your results)

  Work at your Energy Peaks

  Practice Single Handling with Key Tasks

  Eat That Frog

  Organize Your Work Space

  Use Travel Time Productively

  Get Better at Your Key Tasks

  Work in Real Time

  Re-engineer Your Work

  Reinvent Yourself Annually

  Practice Zero-Based Thinking

  Set Clear Posteriorities

  Keep Your Life in Balance

  Plan Every Project Carefully

  Be Intensely Action Oriented

I ate lunch with my cousins and parents. After that, we spent some time at the office. And then watched The Day the Earth Stood Still, which I found quite interesting. Before I went home with my parents, I decided to take a walk a few blocks around in the city.

When I got home, I found myself laughing to what one person did to “advertise” me to someone. Another friend drew a chibi portrait of myself. I was touched, and it meant much to me for that person to do that.

Thank you for the chibi portrait of myself! hahaha. Thanks for the one who did some ‘advertising’ of me… It really made me laugh. Thanks! I really appreciate all those people who greeted me today, and who did stuff that really made my day.

Two days later, Malene, Raisa, Kuya So, Aizee, and me spent our time together over dinner. I was glad that Malene and I were able to meet in the Mall despite the fact that the messages on our phone were delayed, and despite the fact that my phone turned off because the battery ran out of power.

After that, we went to MaryLand, a small carnival beside NCCC Mall. We tried the “Roller Coaster”, which wasn’t really a real roller coaster, more like a much smaller version. Despite the fact that it was smaller and wasn’t as high as a real roller coaster (though I’ve never ridden an actual roller coaster before), it was still scary! I felt relieved when it was over.

I thought I lost my cell phone that time, it turned out that it got dislodged on the cart of the roller coaster. I was thankful that the carnival staff who found it was honest.

Enthusiasm is a really powerful thing to use in business, social, and personal matters. With it, one can work for hours on end without rest,and at the end of it still not feel tired at all. If one does feel tired, it is a tiredness that comes with a smile and with a satisfied feeling in your heart.

This was how I felt with this day. I felt enthusiastic about a thing that I’m preparing for. It’s actually for an event of some sort. Since I’m so enthusiastic about this, then I guess I should be an event planner in the future huh? Haha. Maybe so.

When a person is enthusiastic about something, no matter how difficult a thing is, it doesn’t feel stressful. Of course, it’s not easy to force enthusiasm. There are ways to conjure some enthusiasm, but in many cases, it will just come naturally when you do the things that you love, or, for my case, when you do things for the people you love.

Define enthusiasm?

The word enthusiasm comes from the greek enthousiasmos, meaning, inspiration or possession by a divine afflatus or a god. This definition is interesting because one becomes as if a different person when enthusiastic. Enthusiasm is credited for being one of the important factors for the success of influential people in life, as discussed in Napoleon Hill’s the Laws of Success.

How to be Enthusiastic

Honestly, I’m not so enthusiastic myself. For most areas in life, I feel bored or lethargic. But there are some cases that suddenly make me leap into life. I feel as though I’m a totally different individual, as though my previous limits are null, as though I an indeed possessed by a god–or maybe just a good, powerful spirit.

Body. A sound body is an important factor in ones enthusiasm. Eat well, drink water, get enough sleep and rest. Avoid stressful situations, if you can’t avoid them, then deal with them. Exercise! Walk a few blocks instead of riding the bus.

Mind. The mind is so powerful that even with a frail body, someone with a strong mind can still be enthusiastic, giving them power to affect change in their life. Influence your mind with the right thoughts. Listen to motivational speakers, read inspirational books, think positive! If you think you can do something, then you can do it, but if you think you can’t do it, then that’s also what you will get. The mind is one of the keys to success in life. Not IQ, academic grades, certificates and diploma, but ones mindset! Remember the three words from The Secret, by Rhonda Byrne: Thoughts become things! There is great wisdom in that statement.

Exercise your enthusiasm. Exercise your enthusiasm, and it will grow stronger. The more you practice enthusiasm, the easier it will come to you. It’s like a muscle, if you stop utilizing it, it will atrophy. But if you frequently practice enthusiasm in everything that you do, it will come more easily and naturally to you.

Do the things you love. Do the things you love! If you can’t, for reasons such as work that you need for a living but you’re not really interested in, then do your best to be enthusiastic about that work. There’s a thing called The Law of Increasing Returns. If you show that you are enthusiastic about your work, even if it’s not really what you love to do, then someone is bound to notice it. You’ll be surprised that you’ll get promotions, or find a better job.

Don’t force it. If you really feel down, then feel free to feel down. Don’t force it. Take a break. Release all the tension and stress. That done, it will be easier to be enthusiastic again the next couple of days. If you’re doing something that disturbs you or goes against your core persona, then stop. You don’t have to do it. Find something that you are in harmony with.

A book with a great influence. Prominent speakers, and authors of other motivational books of today based a lot of their principles from the teachings of Napoleon Hill. While this was written generations ago, its philosophies are still being taught today and it still holds a lot of influence. Indeed, I can see parallel teachings in books by Stephen Covey, Norman Peale, and other motivational masters.

Right now, whenever I’m doing something on the internet, or doing chores at home, I would just play the audiobook. I also take time to read the book, so I can really internalize the lessons.

A book for all audiences who wish to succeed. This book is for anyone who wants to succeed in life, be it in your job, business, or in your relationships with friends, loved ones, and acquaintances.

I would highly recommend this book, and the audiobook version as well.

Buy: The Law of Success In Sixteen Lessons by Napoleon Hill (Complete, Unabridged)