The Vibe: Issue 10 by The Vibe

HABITS FOR LIFE

ISSUE 10

HELLO & WELCOME

A new year makes room for a new chapter in our lives and new opportunities. We set out our goals and what we want to accomplish for the year ahead, but we don’t reset our minds. The saying goes: ‘to have change is to change our mind-set first.’ Whether you want to have more hope, faith, positivity, or just a whole new outlook, changing your mind-set will give you the new beginning you really want. When I think of St Patrick’s College, I think family, I think opportunities, and I think support. So, welcome to a college that offers you the opportunity to gain the invaluable experience of studying in higher education. Through hard work, you can be rewarded with a qualification that can open many doors to a very worthwhile and expanding career. I head up the School of Technology, and I am very pleased to be part of a friendly and supportive group of senior managers, lecturers, administrative staff, and — of course — students. This community is large enough to give you full-on involvement in all aspects of study at a higher level, and yet it is also sufficiently intimate for you to feel respected and noticed as an individual. If I can offer just one piece of advice, it is this: make the most of the opportunity in front of you. Don’t let obstacles, set-backs, or disappointments prevent you from fulfilling your potential! I wish you great success with your studies.

Malcolm Thompson, Head of School of Technology

IN THIS ISSUE

IN THIS ISSUE HABITS FOR LIFE

p. 04 THE NEW WORLD OF PODCASTS p. 06 ST PATRICK’S NEWSROOM College highlights / Student photoshoot

p. 13 HEALTHY HABITS at college A few easy tips to look after your health: both mental and physical. p. 14 MEET A MENTOR

/ End of term celebration

Marie Fryer

p. 08 INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY Who we’re celebrating

p. 16 WHAT TO WEAR Colour of the Year

p. 11 CHANGING YOUR HABITS for life

p. 19 60 SECONDS with Jaya Govindaraj, School of Tourism & Hospitality

p. 20 CAREER & DEVELOPMENT TIPS for everyone / Time management tips / Get your writing right / Places for self-guided learning p. 25 LONDON IN BLOOM p. 29 WHAT TO WATCH / Black Panther / Midnight Sun p. 30 DAILY WISDOMS Habits

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THE NEW WORLD OF PODCASTS

Want to get started with podcasts, but not sure where to begin? We’ve rounded up a selection that will keep you engaged and inspired. Podcasts are a new and exciting way to learn in your daily life, whether you’re walking, commuting, or just getting ready for bed. These audio shows can be downloaded via an app/website or listened to online. Just get your phone ready, grab some headphones, and you’re good to go! Whether you’re interested in cooking, business, or fashion, there are bound to be lots of shows available for you to choose from — and because most of them are free and downloadable, you can listen to them anytime, anywhere! The hosts of these shows are usually very entertaining, and they often feature guests to provide an expert opinion and useful analysis

of different subjects. Podcasts have now overtaken traditional radio because they’re easy to access and portable; why not explore them and see what you can find? OUR RECOMMENDATIONS Melanin Millennials is a show hosted by Satie and Imrie, two twenty-something London ladies who discuss what it’s like to be young black women in the capital city of the UK. They discuss a wide range of topics, from Black Lives Matter to Beyoncé, and have featured several celebrities on their podcast, including comedian Ava Vidal, pop star Jamelia, and author Reni Eddo-Lodge. The Tim Ferris Show is a podcast that picks the brains of successful individuals

from all industries. It’s a useful show if you’re looking for some Monday motivation, career advice, or general life tips. It has been ranked as number one on iTunes many times, and is the first business podcast to reach over a million downloads. The show has featured Arnold Schwarzenegger, former army general Stanley McChrystal, and renowned motivational speaker Tony Robbins. The Career Catalyst is hosted by Steve Preston, whose motto is “do the work you love”. No matter what stage you’re at in your career, he offers useful tips for all. The show focuses on helping you lead a successful job hunt, giving you lots of new techniques . Titles of the shows include ‘Land The Job You Love’, ‘How To Enhance Your Job Search’, and ‘How To Wow During Your Interviews’.

Feel free to share your own podcast recommendation with us: newsletter@st-patricks.ac.uk

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S T PAT R I C K ’ S N E W S R O O M

ST PATRICK’S NEWSROOM COLLEGE HIGHLIGHTS

1– 4 — St Patrick ’s student photoshoot, November 2017.

S T PAT R I C K ’ S N E W S R O O M

E N D O F T E R M C E L E B R AT I O N

STUDENT PHOTOSHOOT

Last term, second year Health & Social Care and Hospitality students had parties to celebrate the end of term. They went all out with food, as each student contributed a dish to the spread. For some of the students it was a triple celebration, as they were not only celebrating the end of the term and Christmas, but also completing their entire course! The students have worked hard since January 2015 to complete all their modules (as well as 200 work placement hours for those on the Health & Social Care course). It was a challenging journey, but they persevered, and everyone showed great appreciation for the lecturers who had helped them. Amongst the future alumni were two former student council officers, Yanniecke Johnson and Oluwakemi Austen-Okoronkwo, who have been great assets to the college and the student body. Good luck to all students, and we wish you a bright future!

St Patrick’s would like to say a big thank you to the students that took part in our recent photoshoot and have become the ‘face of St Patrick’s’. In the past autumn, St Patrick’s invited any willing participants from the student body to come along and take part in an exciting photoshoot. Those involved became the ‘face of St Patrick’s’ with the photographs taken going on to be used in the College’s future endeavours. They represent the great ambition and potential of our students, and showcase the best of the college. More than 40 students came together on November 1 at our Sceptre Court campus and in the beautiful surroundings of the Tower Hill area for the photoshoot. Always looking to further student engagement, we are looking forward to organising more events like these in the near future and would welcome anyone wishing to take part. If any students are interested, they can email studentexperience@st-patricks.ac.uk

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I N T E R N AT I O N A L W O M E N ’ S DAY

INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY W H O W E ’ R E C E L E B R AT I N G

On 8 March, the whole world comes together to recognise the contributions of women in every country. The theme for this year’s event is #pressforprogress, focusing on the importance of continuing to fight for gender equality worldwide. At St Patrick’s, we are committed to celebrating diversity, inclusivity, and equality — so here are three women that we’d like to celebrate this year. Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie You might not know it, but you’ve probably already heard the words of author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie: part of her TED talk was sampled by Beyoncé on her song Flawless. This Nigerian novelist is going from strength to strength, from being awarded with a MacArthur Genius Grant to being recognised in Time Magazine’s “The 100 Most Influential People” list; she’s proof that no matter where you come from, you can rise to global success. Her books include Half of a Yellow Sun, which was

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made into a film starring Chiwetel Ejiofor and Thandie Newton in 2014. Find out more about her on her website: https:// www.chimamanda.com Octavia Goredema MBE In 2012, Octavia won an MBE for her work in supporting entrepreneurship among black women through her social enterprise, the Twenty Ten Club. It features the achievements of over a hundred black female entrepreneurs and role models. It also has a sister site called Twenty Ten Talent, focused on young black women, and includes a school programme that connects students with entrepreneurs — allowing them to discover how they found success. You can find out more about her organisation here: http://twentytenclub.com Martha Lane Fox In addition to being Baroness of Soho, Martha Lane Fox is a co-founder of lastminute.com and a board member of

Channel 4, Twitter, and Marks & Spencer — as well as being chancellor of the Open University! She has a lot on her plate, but still finds time to work with charities like Camfed and Reprieve, making her a great example for anyone (not just women). Follow her on Twitter: @Marthalanefox WHICH WOMAN INSPIRES YOU? “There are a few, but I just want to name one: Dr Maggie Aderin-Pocock. She inspires me because she is from a poor black minority background like myself. She didn’t only face the challenges of being dyslexic, but also changed a few schools. After her high academic achievements from top recognised universities and her highly acclaimed experiences, she has defied the odds of critics and is now one of the top scientists looking forward to going to the moon. Her tenacity make me believe no matter what comes my way, I can be one of the highest achievers and most successful individuals.”

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CHANGING YOUR HABITS

CHANGING YOUR HABITS for life

Willpower is like a muscle: the more you use it, the better it gets. However, it can be used up if you use it a lot in a short period of time — especially if you’re doing something extremely hard. Just like exercising, you can make your willpower stronger if you do something difficult repeatedly but give yourself enough rest. This will help you become better at taking decisions and creating change. There are some key components to strengthening your willpower to achieve better habits. YOU HAVE TO WANT TO CHANGE You may feel that you want or need to change; the key is realising whether you’re actually ready to do it. You need to really want it badly deep down in order to go through with it. You could try exposure to the things you want to change — such as watching videos about how to start your new habit — to help motivate you. DON’T START IMMEDIATELY A lot of people get very inspired by the idea of change, but the reality of trying it and then making a mistake or falling back into old habits can make you feel like your commitment doesn’t mean very much. Instead, set up a specific start day rather than immediately trying to change. Putting that date on the calendar

will give your brain time to assign importance to it, giving you anticipation and making you feel more excited. It will also give you time to actually plan how to achieve that goal, so that you can set everything up for your start date. CHANGE ONE THING AT A TIME Pick one thing that is going to really make an impact on your life, or one that really excites you; this will bring you more enjoyment and will be easier for you to accomplish. Make a list of habits you want to change and think about the ones that will make a difference in your everyday life. Then choose one to start every month until you reach all of your goals. TAKE SMALL STEPS Something like going for a 10–15 minute run is reasonable, but if you try to immediately do it every day then you will inevitably fail and become discouraged. Instead, allow things to slowly become a habit, and increase your focus as time goes on. This will help you to integrate the new habit into your daily routine. USE THE NEW HABITS TO REPLACE OLD ONES In addition to creating new habits, you can get rid of old ones which aren’t helpful to you. For example, if you want to make a new habit to eat more fruit, do this by getting rid of your old habit of eating chocolate.

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Focus on doing the things you truly love and forget about the rest read on

H E A LT H Y H A B I T S

HEALTHY HABITS at college

Instead of taking the bus or driving, try cycling to college. RIDE A BIKE Instead of taking the bus or driving, try cycling to college. It’ll give you some valuable minutes of exercise, will save you spending money on public transport, and is better for the environment. GET A FLU JAB You’ll be coming into contact with lots of people on your way to and from college, this inevitably can increase your contact with germs. A flu jab is a quick and easy way to stop yourself getting sick and is the best thing you can do to avoid this. Having to study hard, do homework, maintain a social life, and even hold down a job at the same time — college isn’t easy. Amidst all of this, it can be hard to remember to look after your own health: both mental and physical. Luckily there are a few easy tips and tricks to learn that will make things a lot easier.

DON’T TRY TO DO EVERY THING You’re going to want to go to class, work, play sport, and participate in social activities, but if you do all of this you’re going to get run down. Focus on doing the things you truly love and forget about the rest.

EAT BREAKFAST It can be tempting to skip the first meal of the day, especially when you’re rushing to class or running for the bus. However having a balanced and healthy breakfast will set you up for the rest of the day, and is well worth making the time for.

DON’T STAY UP ALL NIGHT You might think the best way to study for a test or finish an essay is to power through the night. This is not a good idea — a lack of sleep will impair your ability to do well. Make sure you get a sufficient amount of sleep before a test.

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MEET A MENTOR

MEET A MENTOR Marie Fryer

What is your name and why did you study at St Patrick’s? Hi, my name is Marie Fryer and I studied a HND in Health and Social Care because I am in the field of management and I wanted to get myself fully qualified in health and social care. How did you find your time at St Patrick’s? Great. It gave me the opportunity which I thought I couldn’t get at all, and it opened doors for me as well to many things I didn’t know of before. It was a bit challenging but I made it through. What was the best thing about studying at St Patrick’s for you personally ? I managed to get the opportunity here because other universities and institutes will not accept you if you don’t have certain qualifications — but St Patrick’s opens doors to every individual.

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I know what St Patrick’s students might be going through, so I decided to take the opportunity to mentor. This is something I have done at a sixth form college, so I thought it would be a great opportunity to share my experiences with students and help them reach their goals and objectives.

What are you doing with your life right now ? I went into further studying, but I had to stop for a while because I had to look after my daughter who is also studying now and working. As of now, I am undertaking some clerical work. Why did you choose to become a mentor? I know what St Patrick’s students might be going through — for example, with their coursework — so I decided to take the opportunity to mentor. This is something I have done at a sixth form college, so I thought it would be a great opportunity to share my experiences with St Patrick’s students and help them reach their goals and objectives. What piece of advice would you give to students? Don’t give up! Go for it and aim for the stars!

TA K E A S N A P St Patrick â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s photo competition now open!

Celebrate your favourite city with us by sharing photos of London on Instagram using #LondonStP. The winner will recieve a ÂŁ25 Amazon voucher!

@ S T PAT R I C K S C L

What to wear C O LO U R O F T H E Y E A R Dress to impress in ultraviolet — pantone’s colour of the year.

1 Mango Mixed Print Scar f £19.99 2 Topshop Rosie Pearl Fringe Cross Body Bag £27 3 Zara Leather Mid-Heel Cour t Shoes £69.99 4 Mango Tassel Flower Earrings £15.99

Update your look with a statement piece in a lighter shade of purple, or find a violet or lilac accessory to spruce up your spring wardrobe.

5 Mango Retro Style Sunglasses £19.99 6 Zara Basic Polo Shir t with Stand-up Collar £12.99 7 Mango Lace-up Suede Sneackers £49.99 8 Zara Basic Oxford Shir t £19.99

TA K E A S N A P St Patrick â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s photo competition now open!

Celebrate your favourite city with us by sharing photos of London on Instagram using #LondonStP. The winner will recieve a ÂŁ25 Amazon voucher!

@ S T PAT R I C K S C L

60 SECONDS

60 SECONDS with Jaya Govindaraj

What is your specialism at St Patrick’s College, and how did you get into your field? I work in the School of Tourism and Hospitality Management. I have been working with St Patrick’s College for the past 11 years. I started teaching after my Master’s in Tourism Management, and then also completed my PGCE to fulfil my passion for teaching. Why do you find your subject in particular interesting? It is a subject that will interest people always and keeps evolving with people, which is why I feel students will find it very interesting — it relates to an ever-growing industry. What do you think is the best thing about St Patrick’s? St Patrick’s is a place that gives people from different paths and stages in their lives the opportunity to fulfil what they have been striving to achieve. If used appropriately, it can have a great lifechanging impact on learners and their families. What advice about the future would you give to your students? Keep yourself focussed. Nothing is impossible, and if you work hard towards it you can achieve your goals. Knowledge will take you miles further than we acknowledge: it will make you look at your life very differently, but send you in the right direction.

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CAREER & DEVELOPMENT TIPS

CAREER & DEVELOPMENT TIPS for everyone

TIME MANAGEMENT TIPS

CREATE A CALENDAR Using a calendar, diary, or checklist can be a great way to manage your time and prioritise tasks accordingly. By being organised you will know what needs to be done when, and it will stop you forgetting anything that may be important. It can also help you to study in blocks and devote time to different subjects. The one thing to remember is to challenge yourself and make sure you stick to your schedule! STEER AWAY FROM DISTR ACTIONS Be sure to eliminate any distractions which could disrupt your attention and stop you from finishing your task. A good way to focus is to dedicate a particular amount of time to a task, and remind yourself that after the time is over, it will be done. CREATE MINI DEADLINES Another great tip for managing your time when studying is to create a series of ‘mini deadlines’ before an assignment is due. By doing this, you can do the work in small chunks, making it easier for you to get everything done. Once you are given a due

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date, count backwards from it to establish a start date, and set achievable goals from there. By meeting these mini deadlines, you will work towards the main goal of completing the assignment overall, easing the pressure (especially for students with lots of deadlines!). SLEEP WELL A good night’s sleep is key to ensuring that your body and mind are in the right state to take on new tasks and work efficiently. It is typically advised that adults should get seven or eight hours of sleep a night, which is scientifically proven to make you more alert and productive the following morning. Here are a few tips to achieve a good night’s sleep: • Take a warm shower to help you relax; • Exercise — light exercise such as yoga, can help to induce sleep; • Essential oils like lavender oil on your pillow can calm you into a good night’s sleep. Getting sufficient rest and listening to your body is essential to reaching your goals because you need to be physically and mentally ready for your project, whether you’re completing an assignment or preparing for an assessment.

Getting sufficient rest and listening to your body is essential to reaching your goals read on

CAREER & DEVELOPMENT TIPS

READ MORE The more you read, the better your vocabulary will be: you’ll learn new ways to express yourself from discovering how other people write. Try a new different newspaper, magazine, or genre of book — why not ask your friends for recommendations?

PLACES FOR SELF-GUIDED LEARNING

GET YOUR WRITING RIGHT

CHECK , CHECK , AND CHECK AGAIN If you’re writing anything important, whether it’s a business email or an advert, you need to proofread it. This means re-reading what you’ve written to make sure that there aren’t any typos, that you haven’t missed any words, and that you’ve included everything that you wanted to say. BE CAREFUL WITH WORDS THAT SOUND THE SAME In the English language, there are lots of words that are pronounced the same way but spelled differently; an easy example is ‘their’, ‘there’, and ‘they’re’, which all mean different things. Words like this aren’t picked up by the spellchecker, so if you’re not sure, look it up! REFRESH YOUR GR AMMAR SKILLS We’re all taught the basics of grammar and punctuation at school, but it’s easy to forget them. Common mistakes include using too many commas (or too few), putting apostrophes in the wrong place, and forgetting to end a sentence with a full stop. Check out grammarly.com for extra help with this! USE AS FEW WORDS AS POSSIBLE Nowadays, a lot of people don’t have a very long attention span: we all have busy lives and too much to do. To make sure that people actually have time to read what you write, get straight to the point and don’t use unnecessarily long words or phrases. For example, instead of saying ‘I am writing to enquire about the start of the course’, say ‘When does the course start?’.

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PLACES FOR SELF-GUIDED LEARNING Finding the right space to study can often be a struggle. Classrooms may be in use and the library might be a little loud. Even home presents too many distractions! If you need suggestions on spaces for your study time and self-guided learning, we’ve got you covered. PUBLIC LIBR ARY Libraries are not only for school trips — some of the best work can be completed when you’re surrounded by books, fiction or otherwise! Many libraries have dedicated spaces for solo or group study, providing computer facilities and the latest newspapers. Make sure you get familiar with your local library or search online for library services in your borough. You’ll be surprised at what’s on offer for free! LOCAL COMMUNIT Y CENTRE You might think that community centres are only for after-school clubs or the annual book fair, but why not use the space for study group sessions? Get talking with the centre manager and see what can be put together, then contact other students in your area and host weekly catch-up sessions closer to home. You could also take part in an activity or two at your centre, such as computer classes or learning how to use your mobile to its full potential — check the Newham Mag for events in the area: https://www.newham. gov.uk/Documents/TheMagArchive/Newham-Mag-issue-373.pdf CAFÉS AND COFFEE SHOPS For some, the café is like a community front room. At times it may be a bit noisy, but if the odd bit of sound doesn’t bother you too much, you can get together with a classmate to go over group work or a tricky question in a laidback, friendly space. Coffee shops often have just the right amount of ambient background noise to help you concentrate without feeling alone. Pick a quiet spot away from the entrance, order your favourite hot drink, and review yesterday’s lecture. Just take a look at all the people carrying out their work, feel motivated and carry on!

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We suggest taking your best friend and a camera out to appreciate the city in full bloom read on

LONDON IN BLOOM

As the days grow longer and warmer, springtime is arguably the best time to see what London has to offer. With an abundance of green spaces all over the city, it’s time to get outside as much as possible and shake your winter blues off. We suggest taking your best friend and a camera out to appreciate the city in full bloom.

CHERRY BLOSSOM

It’s safe to say ‘spring is fianlly here’ as soon as you start spotting cherry blooms everywhere. Kew Gardens is where you will find the most abundant display — The Cherry Walk — starting at Kew’s Rose Garden and taking you through King William’s Temple and the Temperate House. Aside from Kew, there are also plenty of other beautiful cherry displays all over London that you can enjoy for free:

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LONDON IN BLOOM

Notting Hill Kensington Blithfield Street / Kensington Gardens near Lancaster Gate Whitechapel Valance Road Imperial Wharf near Tynemount Street Regent ’s Park south end of Avenue Gardens

WISTERIA HYSTERIA

Take a lazy stroll and admire ornate facades draped in the pretty powder purple plant that is wisteria. Come mid-spring, #wisteriahysteria is a highly popular trend on social media. Whether you’d like to snap and share that perfect wisteria wall shot, or just want to admire the fairytale vibes, check out some of these wisteria hotspots:

Notting Hill Camden Hill Road Chelsea Elm Place / Park Walk Gertrude Street / Cheyne Walk Christchurch Street St Leonard’s Terrace Astell Street Kensington Kynance Mews Marylebone Dorset Street

MAGNOLIAS

Notting Hill Kensington

Flowering from late March to the end of May, strikingly beautiful magnolia trees are likely to be spotted in the majority of the city’s green areas, such as Hyde Park, Kenwood House, Hampstead Heath, Kew Gardens, and Regent’s Park. If you would like to see magnolias frame classic London facades and brightly coloured front doors here is a list of areas that you may want to explore:

South Kensington Chelsea St Leonard’s Terrace Addison Avenue Street Primrose Hill Mayfair

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W H AT T O WAT C H

WHAT TO WATCH

B L AC K PA N T H E R

Released mid-February, Black Panther takes us to a fantasy world where political conflict is rife. Character T’Challa returns home to enjoy his newfound victory, but finds himself challenged in a battle that has consequences for the entire planet. Since its release, Black Panther has enjoyed outstanding success and is the ninth highest grossing movie ever in the USA. The original idea for Black Panther was to highlight the ‘majesty’ of Africa, as Hollywood producer Wesley Snipes felt Africa wasn’t represented positively in Hollywood. The film has been hailed for its diversity and cultural representation and was the number one grossing film in many countries across the globe. Film review site Rotten Tomatoes has rated the movie as 97% with an average score of 8.2 across viewers. Fun fact: the idea for Black Panther was first created in 1992, but the project didn’t take off until 2005. Book your tickets and enjoy this action-packed treat today!

MIDNIGHT SUN

Releasing in March 2018, Midnight Sun is a romantic tearjerker based on a Japanese movie of the same name. The movie follows teenage lovers, Katie and Jack. However, what makes this romance movie unconventional, is its unique storyline. Katie has a life threatening genetic disorder which leads to severe sensitivity to sunlight. As a result, she only ventures out after nightfall, playing music at a local train station. One night, she meets Jack, someone she has secretly admired for years and embarks upon a summer romance with him, however, she is cautious to keep her rare condition hidden from Jack. With a star-studded cast, this isn’t a movie you want to miss out on. The on-screen lovebirds are played by Bella Thorne and Patrick Schwarzenegger, amongst other stars. If this quick peak into the movie is leaving you desperately waiting, you can listen to the movie’s soundtrack ‘Burn so Bright’ by Bella Thorne. Watch in cinemas this March!

Black Panther released on Blu-ray in May 2018 / Midnight Sun released in cinemas in March 2018

D A I LY W I S D O M S

DAILY WISDOMS HABITS

“We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.”

“If you are going to achieve excellence in big things, you develop the habit in little matters.”

Aristotle

Colin Powell

“Motivation is what gets you started. Habit is what keeps you going.”

“Make a habit of two things: to help; or at least to do no harm.”

Jim Ryun

Hippocrates

“99% of the failures come from people who have the habit of making excuses.”

“Creativity is a habit, and the best creativity is the result of good work habits.”

George Washington Carver

Twyla Tharp

For more daily wisdoms, keep an eye on our social media channels.

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