Now we all want to know what we can do to keep our heads above water and how we can achieve more success than ever. It’s not just an act of surviving to get our economy into a brighter direction; it’s about thriving.

The guaranteed way for you to survive and thrive in this economy really doesn’t have much to do with what you gain. And it’s actually quite simple. The way is through “go-giving.”

What’s “go-giving?”

Go-giving is the ambitious act of helping other people achieve success and anything else they need without thinking of your interests first.

Go-giving is not some Kum-Ba-Yah, peace, love, and flower-power dream. It’s the concept that creates successful careers, successful companies, success economies and societies, and successful and fulfilled people. It’s how Google became so huge, it’s how Muhammad Yunus changed the world; but it’s also overlooked and misunderstood, or just unheard of by millions of people.

How’s it going to benefit me?

I know you might be wondering right now how go-giving will benefit you. Sure, it’s somewhat selfish, but that’s the animal instincts in us.

When you are a go-giver, karma is always on your side. The good you put out will come back to you in some way. It might be right away or it could be years. It might be from the person you helped or from a complete stranger. You’ll never know, but there’s no reason to fear; the good karma will be returned.

How to be a go-giver

There are many ways in which you can go and give. Rarely do you ever need any money or an extraordinary IQ level.

Here are some ways to go-give

- Refer a client to a competitor – Sometimes you can’t meet a client’s deadline or need, but you know of someone who can. Consider referring your client to them. You help them out, along with your competitor.

- Help competitors in other ways – Why? Because without competition, you won’t stay on your toes.

- Create a business with the main goal of helping others, not profits.

- Pledge a percentage of your earnings to charities.

- Forward job listings to others – If you’re looking for a job, I’m sure you know others who are as well. When you come across an encouraging listing, share it with your friends who are seeking too. Even if you’re going for the same position.

- Donate time, thoughts, and your voice to others; instead of money.

There are countless other ways to be a go-giver that you need to figure out on your own. There will be opportunities presented in which you can be a go-giver and at first you probably won’t seize the moments. However, as you practice go-giving more and more, it’ll become instinctive.

Books to check out

These books may guide you as a go-giver and guide you through this economy.

- The Go-Giver: A Little Story About a Powerful Business Idea

- The Business of Changing the World

- Career Renegade (out Jan. 13)

- Giving: How Each of Us Can Change the World

Photo by artemuestra

I just wanted to thank you all so much for being a part of the first year. I hope you continue to visit for many years to come. There’s plenty more in store.

Here is a selection of some of the most popular articles on the site as well as some notable links and press.

Body & Soul

- 75 questions to ask yourself

- 25 Simple Tips to Improve Your Health and Fitness

- How to just do it

- 5 easy pieces to piecing together your purpose in life

- 50 things to say before you die

Business & Money

- 9 Simple Strategies to Getting Things Done At Work

- 9 ways you can take advantage of this terrible economy

- The advantages of being poor

Entertainment

- What The Simpsons Can Teach You About Life

- 5 lessons from Indiana Jones

Family

- How to thrive in a single parent household

Fun & Travel

- 50 unconventional things to do in your lifetime

Green

- Seven, stupid, simple ways to be green and save green

Home

- Downsizing your home - 10 ways it will increase the quality of your life

Misc

- 15 questions I want to ask you and the world

- Dream big or go home

- 20 Websites That Can Change Your Life

News

- Why Obama being a celebrity is the greatest thing going for him and America

- How to bail out yourself

- Congrats Mr. Obama! But don’t forget your promises

- What YOU can do for your country

People

- 20 Ways to Change the World

- 7 lessons to learn from President Bush

- 11 beliefs I’ve found untrue

- 5 rags to riches stories

- 7 habits of really happy people

- 9 ways to battle poverty when you’re “poor” yourself

- 20 biographies that are must reads and must sees

Success

- 8 steps to life change and success

- How to be like Google

- Dealing with negativity: 8 ways to beat the naysayers

- How to turn failure into success

- How to graduate the School of Hard Knocks with a 4.0

- The art of getting off your ass

- Freaking Out: 5 Career Success Myths

Press & links

- Entrepreneur.com interview

- Top 20 Young Internet Entrepreneurs Under 21

- BNET.com

- Esquire.com

- NJ.com interview

- Portfolio.com

- ReadersDigest.com’s “The Daily Five” (no link available)

Do you have a personal favorite Lyved article? If so, please share in the comments below.

Photo by Jessica Driver

New Year’s resolutions have really lost their meaning (or perhaps they never really had meaning). They’re often too basic, and are more for sayers than doers.  If this year you want to be a doer and accomplish many goals, then it’s time for you to write you own constitution.

Writing a constitution for yourself is more profound than a to-do or life list. It has to do more with the beginning and middle steps and small goals, than the end results. Goal lists are an excellent tool and have their purpose, but you only see the ending, not how to get there.

Personal constitutions are not popular yet, but Dennis McCafferty of USA Weekend mentioned that even actor Will Smith and his family wrote their own constitution, in an interview he did with Will.

So if you want to do something fresh, this article will be your guide. The structure does not follow the US Constitution exactly, so have fun with it, move things around or add more to it. And if you would like; write a constitution with your family as well.

- The Preamble (intro)

First and foremost, figure out the main reasons why you’re writing a personal constitution. Along with your name, this will be the preamble or introduction. For example:

“I, John Doe, am creating this document to establish a happier, more prosperous, and extraordinary life.”

The intro doesn’t need to be long.

Now it’s time for more details. The next ten sections of your constitution will cover various aspects of your life. The reasoning is that the problems in one area of our lives may actually be caused by a completely different aspect. A financial problem could be caused by an attitude problem.

- Section 1: Emotions & Attitude

Think about the aspects of your personality and emotions you shouldn’t change, first. If you’re caring and ambitious then you certainly don’t want to change that.

Now think of the emotions and attitudes you want to change. Perhaps it’s the way you react to certain situations. Do you freak out when things don’t go your way?

Keeping with the John Doe character as a model:

“Section 1

In order to obtain more happiness I must let situations get out of my hands. Instead of freaking out I will step back and observe from afar and piece together why the event occurred.

I will not change my ambition, my honesty, and the way I care for others. I will however, relax my ambition when it’s necessary to live in the moment.”

Think of the way you act around certain people. Reflect on how positive and negative you are and even contemplate how you let other peoples’ emotions affect yours.

- Section 2: Family

It’s usually very hard to change members of your family. They’re your toughest critics and they have to want to change.

Consider what you want for them. Or maybe you even want to start your own family. Do they need wealth, health, happiness, or a home?

“Section 2

I appreciate all that my family has done and still does for me.

I want them to have more happiness, and better wealth. I forfeit my personal gains so that I can assist them when they need me.

I will give them my ears when they need someone to talk to and I will motivate them to achieve a better life alongside me.”

If your family is not happy and prosperous, either will you.

- Section 3 – Career

This is a self-explanatory section. Do you want to change careers? Retire? Fix the career you have or try a new and crazy career?

“Section 3

I no longer want to work dead end jobs. I will find a career in which I feel fulfilled by helping others feel fulfilled.

The career I pursue will also utilize my college degree.”

- Section 4 – Finances

This is on everyone’s minds. Do you need to get out of debt? Pay off loans? Do you want to make a million dollars?

“Section 4

I will pay off the rest of my college loans in 6 months.

I will save $400 every month of the year, or if I can I will save more, with the goal of reaching $5,000 in savings.”

- Section 5 – Charity

Will you donate money, resources, or time?

“Section 5

I will donate 10% of what I earn each month to various charities.”

- Section 6 – Helping others

Charity is not the only way to help others. Every day we can do simple things that will change the lives of others. Simple acts like:

- Giving up your seat to someone standing.

- Holding the door for someone.

- Even smiling to strangers.

“Section 6

I will go out of my way to help others, even if it means I’ll be late to wherever I’m going.

I’ll sincerely compliment others when they’re having a bad day.”

- Section 7 – Fears to face

It is extremely rare for someone to make a resolution to face a fear. With a personal constitution it is mandatory.

Think of fears that are hindering your success, your happiness, or fears that are just wasting your time.

“Section 7

I will face my biggest fear of speaking in public. I will make it a regular part of my occupation once I tackle this obstacle.”

- Section 8 – Health

Instead of just writing “lose weight,” be more specific. Do you need to lose 10 or 20 pounds? Also write down how you’ll go about doing that. With a mile run every day? Better eating habits? Actually using your gym membership?

“Section 8

I do not need to lose any weight, but I will gain five pounds of muscle.

I will do this by running 2 miles a week, and by lifting weights every other day.”

- Section 9 – Knowledge

Besides improving the health of your body, you must always improve the health of your mind.

Reading lots of books from different genres, reading magazines, reading blogs, writing, watching educational shows, and by watching films.

“Section 9

I will seek out the help and advice of a mentor. The mentor does not need to be famous and rich, but must have the success and happiness I desire. I will gain knowledge by listening to what he or she has to say.

I will also read at least one book a month and read articles every day.”

- Section 10 – Enjoyment

Your goals can’t be all work and no play. Include time to spend with family, new fun experiences you’ll try, and hobbies you want to keep.

“Section 10

I will eat at new restaurants or try new foods at the restaurants I frequent.

Once during the year I will spontaneously pick a place to go and head out on a small vacation within the next few days after deciding on the location.”

Your Bill of Rights and amendments

Besides the main sections of your constitution, it’s important to create your own bill of rights and include an area where you can adjust any parts of your constitution.

You can use amendments to fix time frames, change amounts; such as how much money you want to earn or how many pounds you want to lose.

The Bill of Rights will lay out your morals, what you believe in, and even how you let other people affect you. You can write as little or as many as you would like.

“My Bill of Rights

In order to stay on my path towards success and a better life, I will follow these rights and amendments.

1. I will not listen to those who tell me a goal cannot be achieved.

2. I will stand up for what I know is right.

3. I will go against the tide, not with it.

4. I will laugh every day.

5. I will help at least one stranger every day.

Amendment I

I will not seek as much money as I can make, but I will pursue as much happiness from my career as possible.”

Now it’s time to print out your constitution, sign & date it, and put it somewhere you will see it every day.

Then comes the hard part; doing it all.

Please feel free to share any pledges or rights you included in your constitution in the comment section below. Please feel free to ask any questions you may have as well.

Related articles

- 5 easy pieces to piecing together your purpose in life

- How to graduate the School of Hard Knocks with a 4.0

- 75 questions to ask yourself

- 20 biographies that are must reads and must sees

- The Benjamin Button guide to living backwards

Photo by Thorne Enterprises

Often people just forget how fortunate they really are. This time of year we all get swept up in getting presents for our friends and family that we become “too busy” to think about and help people we don’t know.

If you’re worrying that you didn’t get enough presents or that you won’t get a Wii, it’s time to STOP. Here are some quick facts on hunger and poverty to put things in perspective and show how fortunate you are.

- EVERY 30 seconds an African Child dies of malaria.

- More than 800 million people go to bed hungry everyday, 300 million of them are children.

- Every 3.6 seconds a person dies of starvation.

- More than 1 BILLION people don’t have access to clean drinking water.

- 134 million children from 7 to 18 have never been to school.

- 3 BILLION people live on less than $2.50 a day.

- 1 BILLION children live in poverty, there are about 2.2 billion children in the world.

- 1.6 BILLION people live without electricity.

Feel guilty for not thinking enough about others and taking things for granted?

These facts were not meant to rain on your parade, they’re meant to motivate you to help. It’s certainly not too late to do it. Here is a quick and easy list of 29 charities that are in need. They’re broken down into categories so you can understand what and who they support and so you can donate to something you’re passionate about.

Remember; even if all you can spare is $5 please do so. That $5 can mean the difference between someone being happy or sad, or the difference between someone living or dying.

Sports & Fitness

- Special Olympics

The Special Olympics is a non-profit organization that helps people from across the world with intellectual disabilities become more fit, more productive, and more proud of themselves.

Special Olympics site | Donation page

- Right To Play

Right To Play helps children of disadvantage areas improve their health, fitness, life skills through sports and play.

Right To Play site | Donation page

- Back On My Feet

Back On My Feet helps homeless people in a different way. They don’t provide food or shelter but they do provide healthier lifestyles and empowerment through running. Back On My Feet organizes runs and a positive community around running. This community helps the disadvantage men and women stay happy, opens up opportunities for employment, and helps them move in a better direction.

Back On My Feet site | Donation page

- Boys & Girls Clubs

The Boys & Girls Club gets kids off the streets and into a safe environment. BGCA helps children become productive and grow into excellent citizens.

Boys & Girls Clubs site | Donation page

Technology

- One Laptop Per Child

Here is 1LPC’s mission statement: ”To create educational opportunities for the world’s poorest children by providing each child with a rugged, low-cost, low-power, connected laptop with content and software designed for collaborative, joyful, self-empowered learning. When children have access to this type of tool they get engaged in their own education. They learn, share, create, and collaborate. They become connected to each other, to the world and to a brighter future.”

One Laptop Per Child site | Donation page

- Grahamtastic Connection

Grahamtastic Connection was founded by Leslie Morissette after she lost her young son, Graham, to cancer. One of the things that kept him in a positive mood was access to a laptop and internet while in the hospital. So Leslie created this foundation to help bring more laptops with internet access to seriously ill children. The laptops give them the ability to keep up with their school work and keep their mind off their sickness.

Grahamtastic Connection site | Donation page

- Federation of American Scientists

The Federation of American Scientists was founded to use science and technology for the betterment of humanity.

Federation of American Scientists site | Donation page

Education

- Ethiopia Reads

Ethiopia Reads provides the children of Ethiopia with books to foster creativity, dreaming, and to create an interest in learning. They believe that reading is the path to a better life.

Ethiopia Reads site | Donation page

- Adopt-A-Classroom

We all know that the American education system is lacking compared to other developed nations. The US is the richest nation in the world, but often students and teachers lack the necessary resources to grow and excel. Adopt-A-Classroom provides students and teachers with access to these resources.

Adopt-A-Classroom site | Donation page

- Jacaranda Foundation

The Jacaranda Foundation takes on two major takes on two major goals; providing education and preventing AIDs in Malawi. Their main focus is to help children orphaned by AIDs.

Jacaranda Foundation site | Donation page

- “I Have A Dream” Foundation

I Have A Dream Foundation encourages children of low-income surroundings to strive for higher education. The foundation provides them with tuition and the skills to succeed.

I Have A Dream Foundation site | Donation page

- Wikipedia

There’s no need to explain what they do. All of Wikipedia’s content is available free to everyone. Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales could have charged for access or placed ads all over the site. This would have made him billions, but he put content and people first. The site runs on donations and needs help to continue.

Wikipedia site | Donation page

Health & Medical

- St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital

St. Jude’s accepts children not based on how much money they have, but based on their sickness. The hospital and the doctors don’t just want to treat cancer and other life-threatening disease, they want to find cures. St. Jude is a research hospital and their discoveries help sick children across the world.

St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital site | Donation page

- Doctors Without Borders

Doctors Without Borders main goal is to bring volunteer medical professionals to areas of the world stricken by war and disease to provide advanced medical aid to those in need. They have no political or religious agenda or prejudice; they just want to help the sick and underprivileged.

Doctors Without Borders site | Donation page

- Soles 4 Souls

Soles 4 Souls provides shoes to the poor. Why shoes? Because they are the most powerful form of transportation; they can get people to work and keep kids active.

Soles 4 Souls site | Donation page

- Ronald McDonald House

Put aside any views you have on McDonald’s, because the Ronald McDonald House helps sick children and their families stay together and beat whatever disease the child may be fighting. They provide families with shelter near the hospital where the child is staying. This keeps the family bond strong and the child happy so they can fight their disease with all their strength.

Ronald McDonald House site | Donation page

- Malaria No More

Malaria No More’s goal is simple: to end malaria caused deaths. And the goal IS attainable. They know the tools that can prevent malaria, they just need the funding to obtain these resources and get it to those in need.

Malaria No More site | Donation page

- Wounded Warrior Project

The Wounded Warrior Project helps soldiers who were severely hurt in battle. The organization gets the soldiers and their families back on their feet by assisting the soldiers with establishing a successful career in the civilian world.

Wounded Warrior Project site | Donation page

- Fallen Patriot Fund

The Fallen Patriot Fund helps soldiers who were seriously hurt in Operation Iraqi Freedom as well as their families and the families of soldiers who died while fighting. The Fallen Patriot Fund assists in lessening the financial burden brought on by being wounded.

Fallen Patriot Fund site | Donation page

- Direct Relief International

Direct Relief International provides medical help for those affected by natural disasters, war, and poverty. They understand that better health is the key to better wealth, both in spirit and financially.

Direct Relief International site | Donation page

Culture & Society

- WriteGirl

WriteGirl empowers high school girls through writing and self-expression. They bring a variety of writing genres to the girls they mentor and teach; from screenwriting to journalism.

WriteGirl site | Donation page

- Do Something

Do Something supports and encourages young people to take up causes they know are important. They convert sayers into doers.

Do Something site | Donation page

- ACCION

ACCION is a microfinance organization that provides poor business men and women with microloans and training. They only help those who are helping themselves and the economies of the communities they live in.

ACCION site | Donation page

Homeless & Hungry

- Habitat For Humanity

Habitat For Humanity provides housing to poverty stricken people; regardless of race, gender, or religion.

Habitat For Humanity site | Donation page

- Save the Children

Save the Children assists children in the United States and across the world to achieve rights, improve literacy, and give them support during crisies.

Save the Children site | Donation page

- Action Against Hunger

Action Against Hunger helps 5 million people throughout the world. Their goals are to provide programs in nutrition, secure food, better the public health, and improve water and sanitation.

Action Against Hunger site | Donation page

Natural Disasters

- Make It Right Foundation

Make It Right is helping rebuild the Lower 9th Ward in New Orleans. The community was destroyed by Hurricane Katrina and was thought to be destroyed forever; unfixable. But Make It Right is providing affordable and eco-friendly homes to the families affected in the area.

Make It Right Foundation site | Donation page

- The First Response Team of America

The First Response Team of America doesn’t wait for the government to take action after a disaster strikes. They know that people need help right away.

The First Response Team of America site | Donation page

- Search Dog Foundation

Search dogs are often overlooked but they are a vital part of any disaster rescue. The Search Dog Foundation trains dogs for rescue missions and creates rescue teams that are ready to be deployed when needed.

Search Dog Foundation site | Donation page

If none of these charities interest you, please do your own search or visit Charity Navigator: http://www.charitynavigator.org/ and The Better Business Bureau: http://www.bbb.org/charity/ to find other reputable organizations.

*Poverty and hunger facts from:

http://www.unmillenniumproject.org/documents/3-MP-PovertyFacts-E.pdf (PDF)

http://www.care.org/campaigns/childrenpoverty/facts.asp

http://www.globalissues.org/article/26/poverty-facts-and-stats

Photo from publik16

“Life can only be understood backward, but it must be lived forward.” - Søren Aaby Kierkegaard

Have you ever experienced an event in your life that seems to make absolutely no sense?

Sure you have; we all have. They’re usually the “why me?” moments. You don’t see the value in them until you look back long after they occur. By then, it may be too late to benefit from the events.

In the film, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button; which releases on Christmas day, the main character lives his life backwards. The film is adapted from an F. Scott Fitzgerald short story of the same name; it stars Brad Pitt as Benjamin.

When Ben is born, he is crippled and already in his eighties. However, as he grows “older” he actually becomes younger. This gives him the unique opportunity to see and understand why certain events and circumstances happen in life.

Here is the trailer (be forewarned: the trailer gives a lot of the movie plot away)

High-def trailer from TrailerAddict.com

Now imagine you could be like Benjamin Button and understand the purpose of everything that happens in your life. The happy moments and the sad, the tragic and scary, the embarrassing, and the moments that are difficult. Imagine…

You would be in the right frame of mind in every situation, your wisdom would grow, and your worries would be laid to rest.

You may not be able to grow younger but you don’t have to wait until you’re old and bedbound to look back. You can understand your past, no matter what age you are now. It’ll help you make sense of today and move you into a new direction tomorrow.

Here is how you can live backwards like Benjamin Button

Sometimes, all we need to do is dissect an event and pull out all negative and positive sides. It’s human nature to “erase” memories from our minds, but it’s not always the right thing to do. You shouldn’t live in the past though. This article is only to help you visit your past as a temporary state.

First, grab yourself a few pieces of paper and a pen, or open a document on your computer. You can also do this in your mind if you wish, but you won’t get the same results.

Now, start off by writing down the events you actually understand why they occurred. Take your time and think back as many years as possible. The events could have produced positive or negative results, but try to stick with the good.

After that, start writing down events and past circumstances that make no sense as to why they occurred. Even jot down the little events, like embarrassing moments. Though they’re small, they can yield large outcomes.

Take the events you just wrote down and compile a list of the pros and cons of the occurrence. Here are a few things to think about:

What you’ve learned

- About others & yourself

- Any facts

- How something works

How it made you feel

What you’ve lost

- Money

- Friends

- Or perhaps nothing significant

Think of the others who were affected

- How the event affected them

- What they lost and gained

After taking the time to do this, it won’t be that long before you understand why the events occurred.

Thinking farther down the road, it’s time to reflect on your destiny. What is it that you want to do? Do you want to be an entrepreneur, teacher, singer, author, actor, social worker, or something else?

Now if you’d like, create another list with the events you now understand, but add more of the ones you still don’t get. Then write down in short sentences or in bulleted form, how the events and circumstances can help you achieve your destiny.

For instance, say I wanted to be an entrepreneur. Here are some possible events and circumstances; and how they could contribute to my goal:

I grew up poor

- It has taught me to be resourceful and grateful for what I have.

My father deserted my family

- Taught me I can’t rely on others, I must be self-sufficient.

I had a learning disability

- Forced me to teach myself and learn from books.

- Forced me to work twice as hard.

If you can’t think of how a circumstance or event can benefit your goal, then you aren’t thinking hard enough. Nothing, absolutely nothing, happens without a purpose.

What to do right after a major event occurs in your life

When your life is struck with a difficult event, first; give yourself some time. Maybe a few days, a week; but a month at the most. You don’t want to linger too long in a frozen moment.

After your emotions have settled, grab your journal or some paper. Write down the major event, and the other circumstances brought on by it.

Now, write down different time periods; 6 months from now, a year from now, 2 years, 5 years, 10 years from now, and the rest of your life.

Then, do the same procedure as before. Write down how you can benefit from the event and how your goal can be achieved because of it.

For instance, say my job was eliminated and now I’m unemployed. And I still want to become an entrepreneur.

Laid off from job

6 months

- I have more time to develop business ideas.

- It’s a do or die situation. Little money means being resourceful and creativity are a necessity.

2 years from now

- I learned that I can’t rely on others for financial security. No turning back to a 9 to 5.

10 years from now

- When I succeed, being fired will be the greatest thing to ever happen to me.

Even after doing this there will be some positive results you won’t be able to foresee. It’s something we can’t change, but it makes life interesting.

A few more tips

- If you’re having trouble remembering events, break down each year of your life. From around your birth date all the way to this year. Or group your life into childhood, teens, twenties, etc.

- Take your time! This is not meant to be a quick reflection on your past.

- Ask family members about your past. There are things you won’t be able to remember but they might.

- If you wrote a diary when you were younger, try to find it and start reading.

- Also check out old photo albums. They’ll bring back memories.

That’s the basics of living life backwards like Benjamin Button. Feel free to explore other ways to learn and grow from your past. If you think of anything interesting, please share in the comments below.

Related articles

- 5 easy pieces to piecing together your purpose in life

- 75 questions to ask yourself

- What the box office failures can teach you

- 5 lessons from Indiana Jones

- 50 things to say before you die

- 20 biographies that are must reads and must sees

Photo by RBerteig