Relationship

10 Dream Features We Want From Amazon’s Tablet

Eager thinkers dream of so many features that an Amazon tablet would have to have to make it a worthy competitor against Apple’s iPad and Samsung’s Galaxy Tab, which are some of the most beloved tablet PCs of the decade. Here are 10 dream features we hope the new device will possess:

1. The tablet must be light. It would be impossible to invent a featherweight tablet, at least in this century. A very light Amazon tablet would be very easy to carry.

2. Apps should load fast. Some tablets may not be able to load heavy apps. Hopefully, Amazon’s new product will be fast and will be able to support many running applications.

3. It would be great if Android runs Amazon’s tablet. Android has proven to be one of the best operating systems out there, probably even surpassing the most expensive system out there. Having Amazon’s tablet running Android’s honeycomb operating system would be a great feature.

4. Affordability is always a serious consideration, especially among the budget conscious. An affordable tablet from Amazon would surely attract a lot of people’s attention. Affordability coupled with a high performance system will make this tablet a sure winner.

5. An Amazon tablet with a glare-proof screen will be another powerful feature. Some tablets, when exposed to light, reflect so much light that it is difficult for the reader to see and read what is on the screen. A glare-proof screen would definitely improve and optimize the user’s reading experience.

6. Besides a glare-proof screen, a wide and smooth screen is another dream feature. Ideally, the screen should be at least seven inches. It would be difficult to browse the web and play games if the screen is smaller than 7 inches.

7. A great Amazon app store that offers free apps will be a good giveaway for users. Hopefully this will be easily accessible. Still, it would be much better if easy access to Android Market was also provided as Android Market also offers a wide range of applications.

8. Portability is indeed an important factor. There should be no unnecessary attachments such as a keyboard, mouse, or heavy battery. Tablet PCs are all about elegant simplicity on the outside, with plenty to offer on the inside.

9. Simplicity must be controlled for the sake of security. Extreme customization of features will only attract unwanted malware, making any information you share vulnerable to security threats. Basic Android software programs that have email, web browsing, and calendar features are good enough.

10. Knowing that the Kindle is an Amazon original, it would be great to incorporate some of the Kindle’s key features into Amazon’s new tablet. This fantastic feature will be one of the main reasons why people would prefer Amazon over any other brand.

If all of this is to be incorporated into the new Amazon tablet, it will most likely be a huge hit! With all these amazing features in one portable power device, Amazon could give both Apple and Samsung

Health Fitness

Weight Loss Tips Using Whey Protein Shakes

If you’re trying to lose weight, it helps to stick to the best diet that will make sure you get all the nutrients your body needs without adding extra fat. Whey protein shakes have become very popular due to their effectiveness. For years, shakes have been associated with bodybuilders, but studies have shown that adding whey to the diet can help people lose weight. People who take these supplements lose more fat while maintaining leaner muscle mass.

Low in calories

One of the reasons why smoothies are effective for weight loss is because they are low in calories. If, like many people, you are wary of shakes because of their association with gaining muscle, you should know that they are actually very low in calories. A regular tablespoon can contain around 100 calories. This means you can have two shakes in one day without worrying about increasing your daily calorie intake too much.

Before meals

A good way to reduce calorie intake is to drink a protein shake before meals. This will help fill you up and you won’t have to worry about overeating. This is particularly useful when you’re dining at a restaurant where you may be tempted to indulge. Protein is very filling and will help you avoid overeating calorie-laden foods.

meal replacement

Replacing one meal a day with a shake can help you lose weight. A shake will give you the nutrients you need without the extra calories. If you skip a meal that is high in carbohydrates and calories, it can make a big difference in your weight. With shakes, you can ensure you’re getting the protein you need without worrying about gaining weight.

more protein

There are many good reasons to consume whey protein isolate. Buttermilk is an ingredient found in many different types of foods, including dairy products, meats, and beverages. The clean, smooth flavor of the isolate makes it easy to consume. Most of the non-protein elements are removed from pasteurized whey during production, making isolate different from concentrated whey protein.

There are many benefits to protein isolate, including the fact that it has all the essential amino acids needed for your daily diet. They also contain a lot of leucine, which aids in muscle growth, and cysteine, which helps boost the immune system. Whey protein can also help people with diabetes by controlling blood glucose levels.

Lifestyle Fashion

Decorating tips to make your front door stand out

A drab entryway probably isn’t doing its job as people’s first impression of your home. Instead of displaying dull, lifeless décor, transform this area into an attractive and artistic representation of your residence. Get helpful front door decorating tips to start this transformation.

Painting techniques

Paint can be an effective way to add attractive curb appeal to front doors. You have a variety of styling options when choosing colors and painting techniques. A classic hue can add a traditional feel to a home, while a bright color will draw all eyes to the entryway. Deep red is a popular choice due to its bold and inviting feel. When you want to create a cabin feeling, consider bright yellow. A stone house with a deep blue door could be the perfect color combination. A variety of green hues can add a natural touch to virtually any home. Try something a little different and opt for a copper squash entree instead of red. Purples are an imaginative option for both modern and traditional residences.

unusual crowns

Wreaths are a common focal point on doors. Crowns date back to ancient times and originated as a diadem worn by Olympic champions. At some point, the crowns moved from the hats to the walls and then to the entrances. While Advent and Christmas wreaths are popular decorations, many people enjoy decorating with other types of wreaths throughout the seasons. You can even choose unusual and unconventional variations of the typical crown. Use an umbrella as a vase for colorful silk flowers. Fill a flat basket with silk flowers for a seasonal touch. An empty picture frame makes an innovative square wreath, especially if you decorate it with dried flowers and ribbons. Wood cutouts, painted to match the motif, can add a whimsical style to doors.

other accessories

Many entrances feature the house number in some way. Basically, you have endless options for displaying your address. A silver serving platter painted with chalkboard paint would serve this purpose effectively. Frame the house number and hang it with a wide ribbon. Add a monogram of your last name for an elegant touch. You could stencil it or paint it on the surface. Other options include hanging a large letter on a ribbon or twine.

Consider knockers and a kick plate to fix the front doors. The skirting board is located at the bottom of the door and serves as protection and as a bright spot to attract attention. A metal knocker can be traditional brass, or it can even feature unusual objects, such as a butterfly or woodpecker. Complementing your entryway with these bright options will help make it stand out attractively.

While you are working in this area, you can also accessorize around the door. Add potted plants on the steps and around the landing. Hang baskets of flowers on either side of the entryway to flank it with color. Hang wind chimes to add another element to the overall arrangement. A welcome mat on the front step adds another distinctive touch.

A little imagination and determination should help you transform the front of your house from boring to stylish.

Shopping Product Reviews

Entering the Gate of Hell

So I’m on a bike and there’s an annoying looking buffalo not far away. This is Hell’s Gate National Park, famous in Kenya for its largely predator-free environment (seemingly aggressive buffaloes don’t count) and therefore providing the unique opportunity to cycle or walk amongst the wildlife. Often on safari you find yourself on a game drive or driving to the next park; Either way, you tend to spend a lot of time in a vehicle. Hell’s Gate gives you the opportunity to stretch your legs and in this article you will find everything you need to plan your experience.

Hell’s Gate National Park is located in the Southern Rift Region, near the city of Naivasha, 90 km from Nairobi. Nicknamed “A walk on the wild side” by the Kenya Wildlife Service, the park has 68 km² of savannah where you can bike and walk among the animals.

experiencing the park
This week Francis and I took two of his children for a bike ride in the park. We saw zebra, antelope, gazelle (both Thomson’s and Grant’s), baboon, buffalo, warthog and giraffe. It was super exciting for the kids – even though their father was a safari guide, they hadn’t had many opportunities to go on safari themselves. Matthew has inherited his father’s piercing eyes, and with the energy of an eight-year-old boy, he stepped forward to report on the buffalo and wild boar we were about to see. Leopards and hyenas also live in the park, but are rarely seen.

The most common trail is eight kilometers from Elsa’s Gate to the Ol Njorowa Gorge. At Elsa’s Gate, the main entry point to Hell’s Gate, you can rent bikes. There are other places to rent bikes with local guides, which is perfect if you also want to bring a guide to the park. Don’t expect top-notch bikes, but the brakes worked, the wheels spun, and for the most part we were able to shift gears (but the park is pretty flat, so you can get by without too many gears).

About a kilometer from the gate is the Fischer Tower, where the rock climbing equipment is set up. Hell’s Gate is more famous for its geological formations than its animals, and Fischer’s Tower is a rocky pinnacle jutting out of the ground in the middle of otherwise flat terrain. The tower is only 25m high, making it quite manageable to climb.

The Ol Njorowa Gorge is the highlight of the park. Guides are stationed at the entrance gate to the gorge where there is also a picnic area and parking lot. There are two walks to choose from: the shorter walk takes 45 minutes to an hour, and the longer walk takes two to three hours. On the longest walk you will see where tomb Raider with Angelina Jolie was filmed.

Another 5.5 km (and only 500 m from the Ol Karia gate) is the Geo Spa. Hell’s Gate was named for the steam rising from the rocks creating a resemblance to what the gateway to Hell might look like. The entire Rift Valley was created through volcanic activity and many mountains along the valley are extinct volcanoes. There is still a lot of geothermal activity in the area, with Hell’s Gate being the most active (Mount Suswa also has steam coming from the ground, which the local Maasai have harnessed to collect water). The Kenyan government is working with foreign experts to create a massive geothermal plant that will ultimately provide 40% of Kenya’s electricity. The Spa is where you can get up close to the geothermal activity and take a bath in the hot springs.

If you feel like you need more than one day to enjoy all these activities, there are two campsites in the park. The facilities are basic, but when you’re camping inside a national park in Kenya, that’s enough of a thrill to overcome not having a hot shower. Ol Dubai Camp sits on a ledge overlooking grazing animals and the Fischer Tower.

Sports

Movie review – "The Challenger" – Fight for who you are

“The Challenger” opens with Jaden Miller (Kent Moran, “Listen to Your Heat”) making his morning run through the gritty streets of the Bronx. He then moves on to his job as a car mechanic, where a female customer belittles his abilities as a mechanic. That night, dejected, he arrives at his house to find an eviction notice on the door and spends the night sleeping in one of the cars in the garage where he works. Things aren’t working out for 24-year-old Jaden. Until he pays the rent, his mother Jada (S. Epatha Merkerson, “Law & Order”) stays at Aunt Regina’s (Natalie Carter) house and endures constant interruptions from her. This is a hilarious scene, much to the delight of the audience.

While cleaning his work coat, Jaden meets Duane (Michael Clarke Duncan – “The Green Mile”) and learns that he was once a legendary boxing trainer. Later, Duane confesses that one of his fighters threw a match and Duane had to back out and then opened a laundromat and a small boxing gym. Jaden finds out that one of his coworkers at the garage makes money boxing in club fights and looks for this way to get him and his mother back to his apartment. He approaches Duane to train him. Initially, Duane refuses, but upon learning Jaden’s last name, he agrees to work with him.

Most intriguing about the training regiment is the focus on boxing-specific techniques, things like foot placement, hip rotation, and how you unwind a punch for maximum power. While fascinating, this focus on preparing for a fight takes the audience away from the internal struggles and conflicts that Jaden faces. Namely, finding a way to support his mother, finding a way to win back his respect after being kicked out of a private school for fighting. There is also the fear of failure and of not being good enough. While these are presented in dialogue, the emotional fallout is left hanging and doesn’t fully play out. Jaden’s stoic expressions don’t give us those vulnerable moments that build a deep emotional attachment to his dilemma. We care about the result, but not so much about the person.

The fight scenes are spectacular and if the Mayweather-Pacquiao match had been that good, people would be demanding a rematch. The championship match, in particular, was brilliantly crafted and choreographed. There’s suspense, compelling character arcs, and riveting reversals that drive your seat of excitement. The initial rounds were almost complete and the subsequent rounds were compressed into highlights of damaging hits. This segment of the film was shot in four hours, the time allotted by arena officials. Therefore, the exhaustion and fatigue exhibited are probably real.

There are some amazing twists to this story, making it both moving and engaging. These are very well set up and advertised without being too obvious. The acting is top notch across the board, including the supporting actors. Michael Clarke Duncan’s performance in particular was rock solid and brought energy and direction to this crucial role. He had a backstory to tell and he delivered it with great sensitivity and empathy. This was Michael’s last role, as he died at the age of 54 and never saw his final work.

The relationship between mother and son required a delicate balance between protective love and determined purpose. S. Epatha Merkerson and Kent Moran beautifully express this aspect and each express their opposing views. Also, Kent Moran is to be commended for taking on such a physically demanding role while he served as director and lead actor. Kent trained for six months at Manny Pacquiao’s gym in Venice, California, preparing for the role of him.

Another actor who made this a worthy movie is Justin Hartley, Jaden’s opponent in the championship match. His overconfidence and his inflated ego nicely set up the challenge in dramatic terms and polarize our loyalties. The fact that he fights dirty adds to the dangers Jaden faces.

The production values ​​portray the Bronx location as a gritty underdog and it’s Jaden’s dedication that gives hope to its downtrodden residents. Giacomo Belletti’s camerawork keeps us in the mix, deftly moving to provide questions and answers about what will happen next. Composer Pinar Toprak’s score clearly provides the dramatic energy that guides us through this emotional journey. The edition by Anthony Muzzatti and Kent Moran articulates the struggles very well, the way out of poverty to support her mother.

This film goes further and shows that if we fight for who we are, we can become winners. Film reviewed at Dances with Film Festival, Hollywood.

CREDITS: “The Challenger” stars Kent Moran, Michael Clarke Duncan, S. Epatha Merkerson, Justin Hartly, Frank Watson, Stan Carp, and Ernie Sabella. Production design by Kay Lee and Rebecca Slick; Art Direction by Amy E. Bishop; Costume Design by William Eng; Guy Guido makeup; Cast of Tiandra Gayle; Music by Pinar Toprak; Edited by Kent Moran and Anthony Muzzatti; Photography by Giacomo Belletti; the Director of the Second Unit, John-Michael Damato; executive producer Michael Clarke Duncan; Produced by Ellyette Eleni, Adam Hawkey and Kent Moran; Written and directed by Kent Moran; Production Company – Wishing Well Pictures, Inc.; HD, Unrated, 95 minutes.

Technology

How to keep your Facebook poker chips safe from hackers and phishers

With the rise in popularity of Facebook texas holdem poker games for social networks such as Facebook, MySpace, Bebo, Tagged and Hi5, there has also been an unfortunate increase in reports of hacking into player accounts and theft of player accounts. your Facebook poker chips. The forums of these social networking gaming sites are read with hundreds, if not thousands, of such reports. As Facebook poker chips become more and more valuable, these reports will continue to increase. However, there are some steps you can take to prevent these hackers and phishers from getting your hands on your hard-earned poker chips.

Never give out your password: This seems like common sense, but you’d be surprised how many people lose their chips because they gave their passwords to a friend, family member, or girlfriend/boyfriend. Are you 100% sure that you will never fight with this person in the future and that in order to get revenge he will not log into your account and empty every last poker chip from Facebook? Or maybe one day they ask you for some free chips as a loan and you turn them down, and they decide they are going to log into your account and help themselves. Just make it a habit to never give your login information to anyone, your way, if something happens and your account gets hacked, you won’t have to suspect that any of your friends or family is doing it and cause resentment. .

Don’t fall for phishing scams: Recently, a popular method of stealing players’ Facebook poker chips has been to send them a seemingly official message to their Facebook inboxes, posing as Facebook security or an “official” Facebook representative, or even the Game creators themselves. These fake messages typically accuse the player of violating the games’ terms of service or Facebook’s own rules, and then instruct them to click a link and log in to avoid having their accounts removed or suspended. In reality, these links open websites designed to resemble Facebook or MySpace login pages to trick users into entering their emails and passwords. Then, while the fake website redirects or distracts them, the hackers are busy logging into their Texas Holdem poker account and transferring their Facebook poker chips to other accounts.

The official representatives of these games or social networking sites will never contact you through your inbox. These messages should be removed and reported to the appropriate people so they can be closed immediately.

You did not win any lottery or special chip promotion: Another method hackers use to steal your poker chips is the old “lottery” method where they claim you have won a million Facebook poker chips or some other special gift and to claim it you need to log in at the link they provide. Like the phishing scam mentioned above, these sites only steal your passwords and login information. There is no lottery.

Don’t Download Facebook Poker Cheat Trainers or Software: Many of these so-called Facebook poker cheats are nothing more than Trojan virus programs with keyloggers built into them. Hackers display them on sites like YouTube or advertise them on Facebook forums with the promise of double or triple your Facebook poker chips in a matter of minutes. But as soon as you download and run the program and log in to your account, a copy of your password is already sent to the hacker who is patiently waiting on the Internet to use it to get into your account.

Keeping your Facebook chips safe is mostly a matter of common sense, but phishers and hackers are constantly changing their method and coming up with new tricks to confuse and trick players. It’s important to educate yourself about safety so you know what kinds of things to expect and how to avoid them. Above all, never log into any website other than the main URL, eg “http://www.Facebook.com” and if something sounds too good to be true or looks suspicious, it probably is.

Business

Digital marketing trend to become more human

Digital marketing trends change frequently, though not often for better and more appropriate results. Marketers use different ways to get their business into search engine results, ethical and unethical; but in the years to come, finding their way using unethical techniques will lead them down difficult paths. It will be harder for those who have abandoned marketing ethics, while customers rejoice in better user experience and informative content.

Once upon a time, meta tags, keywords, and optimized images defined responsive web design. Good content along with keywords, hashtags and links were part of Search Engine Optimization (SEO) or Social Media Marketing (SMM) strategies. But now, SEO and SMM are no longer restricted to those elements, since Google is changing its search algorithm and Facebook uses different strategies in the forms to obtain what is most useful for the user.

It’s time for ethical and user-friendly ways

Brands that use unethical ways to get more likes for their promotional posts can lose their sites to black holes. You are in a safer zone if you use ethical ways to promote content that provides a better user experience. But if you are using suspicious ways, then it’s time to consider some of the tips mentioned in this article.

Social media to redefine organic search

Facebook has recently planned to include a dislike button to help users express their dissatisfaction with news or promotional content. This may give different messages to many, but the Social Media Giant is clear on its way of getting quality content in search and removing spam posts. Ditching harsh promotional posts and promoting useful posts with great content improves the user experience and gives your business a much-needed breather.

In case you are repurposing promotional content on Facebook, it is better to use unique content for each post. It is because in the future such posts may not appear in the News and Feeds section.

Structured tweets to the trend

Google isn’t interested in heavy SEO results, as they want to see a more human experience in search results. You may lean more towards Facebook and Twitter social media results optimized with images, links, hashtags and great content that offers value. With so much exciting stuff happening on social media, interactive digital media marketing creates another milestone with brands embracing meaningful and human ways of reaching users.

google is coming

Regularly working on your Google+ posts to link to Facebook and Twitter posts through keywords, images, and hashtags would help you stay in search. Following the social media basics in every promo post keeps you firmly grounded in the digital media battle!

Home Kitchen

ceramic tiles

Historically, ceramic tiles have been made by man for nearly 4,000 years. Whether it is the decorative tile work of Persia, the mosaics of Spain, the majolica tiles of Renaissance Italy, the earthenware of Antwerp or the tile iconography of the Netherlands, all remain milestones in the history of ceramic tiles. . Although the ceramic tiles of the modern world had humble beginnings as simple white or beige squares for bathrooms and kitchens, today they come in all sorts of shapes, sizes, colors and patterns and have made their way into the rest of the world. home.

In addition, ceramic tiles have a true “green” pedigree, as they are made entirely of natural, recyclable and biodegradable materials. Being naturally waterproof and mold resistant, ceramic tile improves indoor air quality, and because it doesn’t require polishing, it installs faster.

There are various types of ceramic tile products available on the market that can be used as floor, wall or ceiling tiles with literally thousands of styles and grades to choose from. However, based on the material and properties of ceramic tiles, they fall into a few broad categories:

Vitrified tiles: These tiles are compact, resistant to scratches and acids and have better mechanical resistance. They are virtually replacing stone and marble as flooring due to their stone-like qualities, such as seamless joints and consistent color and texture.

Porcelain Tiles: These versatile tiles come in a smooth, rough, or polished finish and can be used indoors and are a great choice for outdoor conditions as they don’t wear down easily with heavy traffic.

Mosaic Tiles: These are small tiles, about 0.75 inches to 1 inch in size mounted on sheets of paper or latex mesh for easy installation. These tiles can be ceramic, porcelain or glass and are best suited for walls, curved surfaces such as murals, pools of water and low-traffic floors. They do not chip easily, and due to the many grout joints, they are also slip-resistant.

Glazed Tiles: These smooth-surfaced, non-porous tiles are stain-proof, best suited for low-traffic areas, walls, and countertops. Large format glazed tiles with a satin finish are very popular these days.

Quarry Tiles – These thick, dense tiles are used primarily in heavy commercial establishments. Their natural color and rough surface texture give them naturally stain-resistant and slip-resistant qualities.

Terracotta Tiles: These handmade or machine-made tiles are often used as roof tiles, have a rustic look and stay cool in the summer and warm in the winter, although unglazed terracotta tiles need a coat of sealer every year.

design trends

Tiles are the most versatile medium and the design possibilities are limited only by the imagination. The latest tile design trends range from bold colors to black and white schemes and from large sizes to tiny tile patterns. While black and white is the expression of minimalist design in staggered patterns, diagonal layouts, and blending of patterns and textures, the vibrant color palette brightens spaces and works well in homes. Tiles in bold colors can also accentuate the black and white design. Another recent trend is roof tiles with a metallic finish in steel, copper, bronze, gold or silver, looking both fresh and rusty and classic. Ceramic tile with steel inlays and stainless steel finished edges can provide the most contemporary look. The rusty and weathered steel look are the other designer finishes in demand. In terms of size, large format tiles are the most attractive aspect that gives a grand look to the space.

With their flawless joints and striking finishes, they almost look like stone. Furthermore, since the focus is now on natural materials, they are also emulated in tiles such as stone, wood and textiles, even natural elements such as bamboo and pebbles are reproduced in the tile finishes. As the natural design does not repeat itself in a similar way, tiles based on emerging concepts, which are designs made with a combination of tiles, also break the monotonous pattern and are therefore popular among designers. Similarly there is also an inclination towards history and heritage; manufacturers borrow more and more from the past to capture the essence of the old world and reproduce it in mosaics. Retro is one of those hard-to-miss old-school styles making a resurgence today with colors of lime green, orange, and a checkerboard pattern. For luxury spaces, there are now high-end tiles with gold and silver textures and Swarovski inlays. As well as the exclusive digitally printed ceramic tiles that are made to measure with total image permanence.

Today, ceramic tiles have become an important lifestyle product and designer tiles have captured the attention of Indian customers. With technological innovations and designs, the options are endless in terms of finishes and aesthetics, as well as their application for various uses. Today, tiles are used everywhere for interiors, residential and commercial spaces and are indeed considered a new fashion statement.

Digital Marketing

Employee motivation and productivity: how to motivate others to do as little as possible

Employee motivation and productivity can be tricky. Have you ever managed people you would describe as capable and talented, but they just “go through the motions” of showing up and doing the bare minimum? You might ask yourself, “Where is your motivation?”

What may be happening in the above scenario is that these talented and capable people are motivated to show up at work and do as little as possible without getting fired!

The definition of motivation is: an internal drive that drives behavior. Therefore, to say that someone “just isn’t motivated” is simply not possible. Employee motivation begins with the understanding that within every human being there is an internal drive that drives behavior. In other words, everyone has motivation. Criminals are just as motivated as you and I… just in a different direction to achieve different results. Each of us behaves as he does, due to an internal impulse called “motivation”.

One question that might arise from the definition above is: “If motivation comes from within, does that mean that employee motivation and productivity is not possible with some people?” That’s a great question. Let’s take a closer look at employee motivation and productivity and how we can get more out of people.

The first step is to understand that each of us has “desires” in key areas of life, such as finances, health, relationships, business/career, spiritual, and recreational. Our vision in those areas and our journey towards their fulfillment is what determines our motivation and productivity. When there is a “gap” between where we are and where we want to be, the inner drive “kicks in” to bridge the gap in some way.

Given the above, every interaction you have with people motivates or demotivates them. Each interaction “holds up a mirror” where they see themselves in relation to where they want to be. Your words and actions have immediate meaning for people: their relationship with you brings them closer to or further away from their desired destination. If people see it as a barrier to having more of what they want, it may “hold back” their productivity. For them, more effort is not worth enough; therefore, they may appear to have no motivation.

Now we know better. They’re motivated… just in a different direction than you are. Sometimes it doesn’t take much to affect someone’s motivation and productivity.

A friend of mine is the number one salesperson for a company. He once told me that he had no motivation to win a sales contest that included a fully paid trip to Cancun for 10 days with his wife. Because?

Their children were not included in the trip. If he and his wife went on vacation, he wanted his children with them. Since that wasn’t the case, he got very creative with the order schedules, so he was able to place second in the contest without losing long-term commissions. Granted, the company’s quarterly bottom line would be lower, but this way my friend could get what he wanted: a family vacation on his terms.

Like my friend, we all have motivation towards what we want and away from what we don’t want.

If my friend’s manager had asked, “What would give you the most motivation to win this contest?”…I would have heard my friend say, “Just give me four days at Disney World with my wife and kids, and then get out.” “. Get out of my way and watch me win this.” A simple question would have made all the difference in my friend’s motivation to win, but his manager didn’t ask.

When you show interest in what people want and help them get more of it, you ignite employee motivation and productivity in the direction you want.

Do you struggle with business productivity and employee motivation? Are you desperately trying to find a way to increase productivity and motivate some employees? Are you about to throw in the towel because you think that motivation is not possible with some people? If so, consider that they may not be getting enough of what they want, and thus seem to have little motivation.

How do you know what employees want? You must ask them. If your productivity and motivation are low because important things aren’t getting done, you may be able to increase productivity and turn things around by finding a way to make your job a vehicle for getting more of what they want.