[SECURITY ALERT] Cognitive Hacking Is IN BUSINESS

[SECURITY ALERT] Cognitive Hacking Is IN BUSINESS

Our thread today is NOT a plot or a part of any scare tactics BUT we strongly encourage you to please read through this SECURITY ALERT focused on this latest nightmare, that, like it or not, this Cognitive Hacking Is IN BUSINESS.  For alignment, let's define COGNITIVE HACKING as another form of cyber attack where threats manipulate the possible victim's PERCEPTIONS by exploiting their psychological weaknesses.  Attackers primarily use DISINFORMATION in their campaigns to fuel people's biases and prejudices📗📙📘

Now, before we get bogged down with COGNITIVE HACKING, let's identify the TOOLS and PLATFORMS leveraged well enough by COGNITIVE HACKING:

• SOCIAL MEDIA [with 4.7 billion people]
• FAKE NEWS SITES [80% of US adults got it]
• TROLL FARMS [Huge armies of DISINFORMATION SPREADERS]

The common confusion asked is:  Is COGNITIVE HACKING the same as spreading FAKE NEWS?  Given that FAKE NEWS SITES aren't the only tools COGNITIVE HACKERS use, we can say that spreading FAKE NEWS is just a subset of COGNITIVE HACKING.  So, how does COGNITIVE HACKING work💎💎💎

Let's dissect REAL-LIFE tricks of COGNITIVE HACKING.  Creating a celebrity is the TOP TRICK.  One way is to sway people into changing their perceptions is to employ a CELEBRITY ACCOUNT. Note that the CELEBRITY used DOESN'T have to be real.  This ruse involves four steps namely:  OBTAINING FOLLOWERS [11,500 followers], REPOSTING [55,000+ followers], GETTING regional fans [125,000+ followers] and BROADCASTING the account's popularity [300,000+ followers]❌❌❌

So what are our key takeaways here?  THAT biases and prejudices play a massive part in making COGNITIVE HACKING attacks work.  And the TARGETS should be easily duped into believing what the THREAT says.  Bottomline, let us be ALERT and CAUTIOUS when using social media. accessing FAKE NEWS SITES and TROLL FARMS.  Welcome to the COGNITIVE HACKING World❗❗❗

Have You Had Your 'SLAM DUNK' Yet?

Have You Had Your 'SLAM DUNK' Yet?

Have You Had Your 'SLAM DUNK' Yet?  Before we get embroiled into 'SLAM DUNK', let's agree that, in life, for you to get credited for a 'SLAM DUNK' means you have caused something so earth-shaking, so impactful as to significantly move the tectonic plates even at the dreaded San Andreas Fault in California.  But you have NOT been credited yet with that 'SLAM DUNK', DON'T unduly pressure yourself as long as you're committed to create that 'SLAM DUNK' in your life📗📙📘

Ironically, one of the most beautiful as well as painful things about us humans is HOW much we feel.  From our birth onwards, as we grew with more experiences, GOOD and BAD, some of those experiences that caused strong feelings would have made IMPRINTS in our life. As an imprint is a 'BELIEF SYSTEM' that equates to our embedded memory that sometimes alters HOW we see ourselves, that remains stored there.  And as time passes, that can turn into what feels like an ABSOLUTE TRUTH💴💵💷

Before we end up in a disconnect, to be credited with a  'SLAM DUNK'  could be translated with modest but SOLID milestones which can happen during our university days OR through our professional career OR through our commercial or entrepreneurial forays..  Either way, there is no hard definition of what a  'SLAM DUNK' is💎💎💎

Some of our IMPRINTS in life may seem trivial BUT they all can influence our PERCEPTION of life in ways that put a layer between YOU and YOUR REALITY at present.  Let's hold this intention of becoming aware of your IMPRINTS in your heart and see what arises over the next few days as you open yourself to recalling these early experiences.  And as you explore what you believe to be true about yourself, you will begin to recognize where those beliefs originated and hoping you will be able to bring into clearer focus whether they are actually TRUE.  In many cases, OLD IMPRINTS may either be NEVER really true or are no longer true❗❗❗

So, how is it?  WHEN was the last time you did claim or were credited with a 'SLAM DUNK'?  If your last/latest 'SLAM DUNK' was quite sometime back. there should be NO pressure for you to trigger another 'SLAM DUNK' anytime now.  And if you have NOT achieved any 'SLAM DUNK', it should NOT be another cause to trigger pressure because 'SLAM DUNK' performances do NOT happen everyday, and probably, NOT even every week.  Either way, we're egging you to include in your journal that goal of achieving a 'SLAM DUNK' within your journey✅✅✅

What's Your PROLOGUE In Life?

What's Your PROLOGUE In Life?

What's Your PROLOGUE In Life?  I doubt it if most of us have written up our respective PROLOGUE.  For alignment, let's agree as to what is PROLOGUE.  Simply put, IT IS THE STORY BEFORE THE STORY.  It is that short opening section in a book that is separate from  the main narrative💵💴💷

Taking place within the story itself, it will provide our reader [of our LIFE story] with the character backstory,   BTW, that PROLOGUE is different from the PREFACE which is written from the perspective of the author and it CAN'T be fictional.  It's also different from the INTRODUCTION or FOREWORD as the former is a summary of the author's arguments while the latter is written by someone other than the author📗📙📘

So, what can the PROLOGUE in our life do?  First off, we as the author, can leverage on the PROLOGUE to hook readers into our story by previewing WHAT'S TO COME.  And by giving a TASTE of MYSTERY or conflict to our readers, our PROLOGUE can whet their appetite for more.  The end objective here is to put our readers INTO THE DEEP and get them to ask inquisitive questions💎💎💎

So, where are we now?  Do we get your BUY-IN that it makes sense that you write up your PROLOGUE way before you start writing the STORY of your life?  Obviously, the very meat and core of things is your STORY as that will be your factual narration bereft of anything that's non-fiction❗❗❗

That PROLOGUE of our life is at our very own hands to write.  We can even write something NOT related to our main story and writing a PROLOGUE that is unrelated might be a sign that we [as the AUTHOR] are planting an 'IMAGE' or an IDEA we want the reader to subconsciously draw on.  Looking back into our life, please do consider that PROLOGUE as it may be optional, it gives you the chance to 'LEAD' your reader towards the narrative you're leaving towards to.  VERY IMPORTANT to note:  Ensure your LIFE STORY is non-fictional as nothing can be farther from the TRUTH❎❎❎

SKILLS We Should NOT Miss In Life

SKILLS We Should NOT Miss In Life

Around the internet, we can find many SKILLS that will be in demand in the future.  In fact, we can look at them to dive into trends BUT we will NOT be able to blindly follow them.  Often, the SKILLS in such lists are very general and quite voluminous.  WHEN you look at them, you think it will take FOREVER to master even half of the list.  In such a situation, we need to prioritize and be as flexible as possible.  We need to be ready to constantly retrain and manage our career.  WHAT we need to agree on is that there are SKILLS We Should NOT Miss In Life📗📙📘

Many studies have a common denominator.  One SKILL most of those studies ended up with is PROBLEM SOLVING a.k.a. troubleshooting.  I have to admit that it is really sheer coincidence that the very first SKILL I learned in my work life is PROBLEM SOLVING.  At that time, my job role is focused on TECHNICAL SUPPORT of Shell's IBM-based mainframe environment💎💎💎

WHICH meant that as TECHNICAL SUPPORT, our very core skills revolve in TROUBLESHOOTING.  In fact, many experts are in unison to agree that that is the MOST important SKILL that will allow one to stay "RELEVANT" in IT, management, and generally anywhere is the ability to solve problems.  And WHILE this SKILL is very extensive, this is a CLEAR VECTOR💴💷💵

Despite the myriad of SKILLS, let us focus on six core groups of SKILLS:

1. SELF ORGANIZATION - This is the SKILL of personal effectiveness, self-management in life
2. COMMUNICATION - These are writing and speaking SKILLS, including persuasion/negotiation
3. PROJECT APPROACH - The SKILL to organize people & resources for project-based activities
4. ADAPTABILITY - The SKILL of working in unforeseen and unpredictable conditions
5. LEARNABILITY - That SKILL of building an effective process of learning NEW things 
6. PROBLEM SOLVING - That SKILL to dig into a problem, fixing it and finding the ROOT CAUSE

Looking at the above-mentioned core groups of skills, please take note that there is NO single specific technical skill[s].  Instead, the skills core groups cover a much broader spectrum which starts with one's "SELF SKILLS"  all the way to "PROJECT-based SKILLS".  Bottom line is you can't ignore OR overlook any of these six skills core groups.  Ignore it and you will risk developing the foundational needs of your capability because there are SKILLS WE SHOULD NOT MISS IN LIFE❗❗❗

Need A Distress Call?

Need A Distress Call?

Need A Distress Call?  Not so fast.  Before we jump the gun, much as we DON'T want to be a bearer of ARMAGEDDON scare tactics, let us admit that there are really extreme stressful events we can experience in life.  BUT it might be helpful to increase our awareness that there are TOP STRESSORS in life which may eventually trigger us to make a DISTRESS CALL 📗📘

NOT so surprisingly, topping the list of studies that identify the TOP STRESSORS in our life, six of the TOP TEN STRESSORS are closely inter-twined to one's loved one/partner/spouse.  Obviously, WHEN our life is very closely intertwined with a person, losing them can be agonizing and may even lead us to experience other changes in life, our lifestyle, our daily routines, and even living arrangements💴💷💵

Even divorce, if both partners/spouses agree that it is the for their mutual benefit, let's admit it that it will be difficult to deal with it, especially because it requires us to readjust our routine and lifestyle.  To make matters worse, legal tussles will complicate even a divorce supposedly amicably settled.  Add-on custody battles of children will really drive us damn crazy.  And during this age of labor diaspora [especially in Third World countries], that means at least one of the partnered couple/spouses will travel thousands of miles away to earn $$$$$ and in return, he/she WON'T be back, maybe after a year or two.  Tough times indeed❎❎❎

For a very small percentage, some may get incarcerated.  What else do we expect BUT instantly, the person will have to go through LONELINESS and ISOLATION.  And the lack of access to better health safeguards and even nutrition will just push things down deeper. And when a major injury or illness befalls either partner/spouse or an immediate family member, besides the expensive medical bills, surviving that medical debacle is like a death knell❌❌❌

Knock on wood, if any of us get hit with any of these TOP STRESSORS in our life, leveraging on your support structure may become a MUST-DO even if it's akin to calling MAYDAY, calling 911 or screaming for HELP in the high seas.  Much as we will all fervently hope and pray that not one of these TOP STRESSORS may hit us one day, to be FOREWARNED is to be FOREARMED❗❗❗

Emotional Issues?

Emotional Issues?

Emotional Issues?  Well, most of us hear the term EMOTIONALLY STRONG and then we would assume that it means the ability to ignore your EMOTIONS or NOT feel them.  But studies are flagging that down as utterly wrong because EMOTIONAL STRENGTH is NOT about getting rid of difficult feelings but instead, it means we know HOW to respond to them in a healthy way📗📙📘

So HOW?  Let's be EMOTIONALLY strong in the face of anxiety by learning to accept our anxious thoughts and feelings rather than constantly running away from them.  Let's be EMOTIONALLY strong when we're grieving because it means we're willing to feel that sadness and accept our loss instead of distracting ourselves from it.  Let's be EMOTIONALLY strong when we're angry because that validates our anger rather than denying it💵💷💴

BUT let's face it it's HARD WORK to cultivate a healthier relationship with our EMOTIONS, one that allows us to be resilient and strong in the face of painful feelings instead of being FRAGILE.  BUT yes that is possible though.  And the most effective way to do it is to build consistent habits that promote a more tolerant and accepting attitude to our feelings💎💎💎

So HOW really?  First, let's CONTROL OUR ATTENTION [and NOT our emotions].  Like anything painful, our automatic response to difficult EMOTIONS is to try and control them, usually in an attempt to escape them or 'FIX' them.  In many areas of our life, it is helpful and productive to exert control over our problems. BUT here's the thing.  EMOTIONS are NOT under our direct control.  Reality is, there are ridiculous experiments to run because you DON'T have a 'HAPPINESS DIAL' you can just adjust at will❗❗❗

Frankly, if ever we try to CONTROL things we DON'T have CONTROL over, like your FEELINGS, you'll only create more pain and suffering for yourself in the long run.  Without pressuring ourselves, let us start to take CONTROL over our ATTENTION and what to FOCUS on.  Emotional issues CAN'T linger and pester you forever❎❎❎

Do Jockeys Matter In Horse Races?

Do Jockeys Matter In Horse Races?

Do Jockeys Matter In Horse Races?  Oh well, I'm NO horseracing aficionado BUT I do have some fundamentals about it.  While many experts claim that for a good horse to put in a good performance, a good jockey is essential.  BUT they claim that a good jockey CAN'T do much for a poor horse.  BUT here's the final caveat.  He can help a great horse win as the best jockeys know an animal's STRENGTHS and WEAKNESSES.  In the end, a jockey takes various factors info account to adjust his STRATEGY📌📌📌

The Miami Heat ballclub in the NBA is a classic case.  Many, if not a majority, of players [including star players] covet being part of Miami Heat.  WHY?  Because of their vaunted "MIAMI HEAT CULTURE" where many things that are loose and 'flexed' in many ballclubs are clearly defined and regimented in Miami Heat.  From the first day a new player get onboarded and onwards💊💊💊

So, who's the 'ARCHITECT; of such successes whether it's in horseracing or in NBA basketball?  It's the JOCKEY.  Its the COACH.  WHY?  By knowing so well the horse or his team like the palm of his hands. he can SQUEEZE HIGH and DRY his horse or his team until the last drip because he knows what it takes to win over the game💎💎💎

Amongst the 15 greatest coaches in NBA history stands Filipino-American Erik Spoelstra.  How he got touted to be one of the best in NBA history is no surprise because year after year, even if Miami Heat fail to land a superstar and they decide to RUN IT BACK, his team never hit the cellar.  In fact, the past four years, twice Miami Heat reached the NBA Finals❗❗❗

Swinging back to our life, NEITHER do you need an Audi or a BMW to drive over to your job interview NOR take an Audi or BMW to go and woe the girl of your life.  All it takes is how you deftly leverage on what you have, exploiting it to the hilt to help boost your chances of prevailing.  Frankly, even if one is penniless or jobless now, he is NOT guaranteed FAILURE.  He just needs to pick up the pieces and move forward✅✅✅

FIXED Income = FIXED Mindset?

FIXED Income = FIXED Mindset?

Why are there more FIXED INCOME earners than VARIABLE INCOME earners in the world?  Simple answer.  Most of us belong to the FIXED Income = FIXED Mindset equation.   For the longest time, I'll admit that I was breathing IN and OUT with a FIXED MINDSET.  And when a variable gets into the situation, I shove it off away simply because I was happy with a FIXED MINDSET📗📙📘

Problem here is that one common misconception in entrepreneurship is that you either have what it takes to be an entrepreneur OR you DON'T.  But studies have proven that in reality, entrepreneurial skills can be learned and strengthened like any other skill.  Do we have to be young, OR technical OR a college dropout❓❓❓

Studies have shown that the MINDSET, that ability and intelligence can be achieved through sheer effort and that equates to a GROWTH MINDSET.  And Experts say that someone with that GROWTH MINDSET views intelligence, abilities and talents as LEARNABLE and capable improvement through effort.  On the other hand, someone with a FIXED MINDSET views those same traits as inherently stable and unchangeable over time.  If you're an aspiring entrepreneur, obviously you need basic finance skills but with FIXED MINDSET, you'll say "I'VE NEVER BEEN GOOD IN MATH, I'M NOT CUT OUT TO RUN MY OWN BUSINESS".  With a GROWTH MINDSET, you'll say "I DON'T HAVE A BACKGROUND IN FINANCE BUT I CAN LEARN IT"💊💊💊

Now, l let's lay down everything on the table so that we would know whether the GROWTH MINDSET really needs some hard-selling.  So why GROWTH MINDSET?  Primero, it will position us to move into new fields, when needed OR when an opportunity arises.  Bluntly we got to INVEST in ourselves✅✅✅

Segundo, the GROWTH MINDSET has been proven over time to be one of the best way for us to foster our RESILIENCE, that capacity to recover and move through difficult situations, that has always been deemed as damn critical in the entrepreneurial world.  When challenges, setbacks, and failures inevitably arise, your business's survival depends on our own ability to persevere and learn from difficult situations.  We want to dump away that FIXED MINDSET which can prevent us from learning our own mistakes while a GROWTH MINDSET can empower us to perceive mistakes as learning opportunities.  FIXED INCOME = FIXED MINDSET❓❓❓

Life Is NOT Played On Paper

Life Is NOT Played On Paper

It's true we have our vaunted strengths as a person.  We can even rattle off aptitude results to vet our intellect.  We can even share a copy of our university transcript of records [and that doesn't include yet the diploma].  We can even beat our chest and proclaim that we are the scion of a business magnate and we're the next-generation managers BUT Life Is NOT Played On Paper💵💴💷

Yes we can play the 'X' and 'O' game but that's NOT life either because life does not offer us just 'X' and 'O' options.  Quite often, there are three or more options.  By a stretch, sometimes in life, we are left with ZERO options.  The REAL DEALS happen in the ROUGH and TUMBLE life out there, outside our homes, way beyond our comfort zones.  Sadly, some of us  still embrace [wrong] the off-track mindset📗📘📙

Yesterday, the NBA Teams hosted their respective MEDIA DAYS.  Obviously the cameras were zoomed on the vaunted title contenders, those who have considerably beefed up their rosters while other teams [like the MIAMI HEAT] will RUN IT BACK. albeit with minor add-ons.  But many basketball analysts were one in declaring that while there's so much ado with the roster changes, Life Is NOT Played On Paper💎💎💎

Not to devalue talent and aptitude but sometimes we'll hear someone blow his horns and declare "I'M GOOD IN MATH" or "I'M REALLY DAMN GOOD" but again, our Life Is NOT Played On Paper but instead, we need to ROLL UP OUR SLEEVES and get down in the middle of life's arena.  I've known some who are ALL TALK, period.  Pity it is📌📌📌

Yesirrrrrss, what is expected from us is that when the buzzer sounds, we actively raise our hands to volunteer as part of the game itself because Life Is NOT Played On Paper.  Let us NOT lose by DEFAULT by remaining in the sidelines, seemingly suited but deeply inside, we would rather prefer the COMFORTS of cheering the play rather than be the ones playing out there.  Unfortunately, LIFE IS NOT PLAYED ON PAPER❎❎❎

Ever Been Caught With Your Pants Down?

Ever Been Caught With Your Pants Down?

Ever Been Caught With Your Pants Down?  Yes, I've been there, done that.  And when that happens to us, it is something we DON'T even want to remember at all.  Where possible, it's like working on our laptop, we'd like to cleanup and wipe-out the local drive, leaving NOT even an iota of information that may be useful for forensics.  BUT let's face it, some "PANTS DOWN" situations are our very own undoing.  In short, we're the culprit and there's just NO way for us to pass the buck because that buck ends up on our table, period.  BUT our bigger problem is that some of us even end up totally unaware that he's now caught with that Pants Down💴💵💷

Two decades back, I did get caught with my Pants Down because of my own undoing.  I allowed 'market predators' to push me as a 'willing prey' when they exploited me by using my professional credentials for them to bid out for a project under the RFP [Request for Proposal] Phase.  When our market bidders fell short of winning the contract, the HR executive didn't waste an extra business day to give me the pink slip.  That HURT, badly in fact💊💊💊

When we get caught with our Pants Down, what happens next is just natural.  We end up red-faced and of course, being red-faced is just a manifestation of the boiling anger simmering deep inside us.  Indeed, those are moments that are way beyond our control for us to avert it.  BUT when 'lightning strikes' us, WHAT matters is HOW do we cushion things, HOW do we soften the IMPACT because obviously, we DON'T want to end up BLACK & BLUE📗📙📘

Oh, most apples are sweet and scrumptious but what happens if you Ever Get Caught With Your Pants Down, all because of that tempting apple?  There's just NO way you can UNDO things after you have bitten and digested even a small portion of that tempting apple.  Point is, life is littered with temptations that are cloaked like that scrumptious apple✅✅✅

So, next time we turn red-faced, two ways to handle it.  IF you're NOT guilty, then just shrug it off.  BUT where your own conscience seems to kick on you, ADMIT it [in GOOD FAITH and NOT out of DURESS], then be remorseful, hoping that the party who got offended can give you a LEASE of LIFE [which sometimes BTW, you got to beg for], given your predicament❗❗❗