‘Introverts love the world of ideas, we love to reflect and we thrive on deep relationships with a small number of people who become pillars in our life,’ says Lisa Petrilli in her article for 12most.com. Petrilli offers introverted business people tips on how to better use their ‘quiet strengths’. She believes that introverts have the ability to change the world and that the first step involves rethinking introversion. This means recognising and appreciating the inherent power of the preference.

Building relationships in a personal way

Although introverts enjoy quiet time, they should also acknowledge the importance of networking — or creating and maintaining relationships — to truly succeed in business. ‘Networking, at its soul, is all about creating relationships that grow over time and lead to personal growth, opportunity, and even lifelong friendships,’ advises Petrilli. ‘Commit to it as part of your road to success.’

Introverts are encouraged to network in their own way so that they feel comfortable. With their personal one-on-one approach, they are able to create strong connections with other people. Even so, introverts shouldn’t avoid events, with Petrilli saying: ‘Go.  Period. You have to show up in life and you have to show up in business.’

Another tip is to ‘embrace visibility and attention‘, as uncomfortable as it may be. By so doing, not only will introverts’ ideas be heard, their leadership abilities will be given an opportunity to be seen, too. Petrilli says introverts should then force themselves ‘to jump unabashedly’ out of their comfort zones ‘by joining a critically strategic team or initiative’.

Withdrawing to rejuvenate

Introverts need time out to think and to re-energise and it’s important that they recognise this. Others should be encouraged to respect their need to withdraw from time to time. Given sufficient ‘quiet time’, introverts can continue to bring their best selves to their projects.

‘After basking in the glow of visibility and attention you will return home craving privacy and time to re-charge,’ continues Petrilli. ‘Actually, on virtually every day of your business life you will return home craving privacy and time to re-charge.’

Realising potential by getting out into the world

Introverts run the risk of not reaching their full potential if they do not step out of their comfort zones. ‘As much as the world within our heads can be a truly magical place, it’s imperative to embrace and understand the outside world in order to thoroughly understand our customers, competitors and industry trends,’ suggests Petrilli.

By stepping out into the ‘big, bad world’, introverts give themselves the chance to realise their dreams and well-considered goals.

Not so long ago, simple freestanding gas or electric white enamel cookers were the order of the day. But with the evolution of technology and the resurgence of cooking as a leisure activity off the back of several popular food shoes, one now has a multitude of different cookers to choose from. From generously sized double ovens with extra large hobs and full width grills to smaller all-in-one microwave ovens with hobs and grills, there’s something to suit every taste and budget.

Modern demands

More and more, kitchens are being designed to accommodate modern lifestyles. Larger hobs make extra burners possible and give easier access to pots and pans. Increased capacity ovens give extra shelf space while knob-less appliances allow for uncluttered and streamlined kitchens.

Modern technology enables faster start up times, which saves on energy and overall cooking time, too. Induction hobs, for example, are not only safe and clean but they are environmentally friendly too.

Form and function, simple and sophisticated

Design and function can complement each other, which is important for open-plan living and entertaining. Depending on the cooker’s finish, it can add dramatic appeal to a kitchen or it can blend into the kitchen design.

Passionate cooks especially should consider a cooker that allows for the exploration of a variety of culinary options. Interesting cooker possibilities include char grilling and steaming, for instance. Fear not about the mess though, with self-cleaning ovens making cleanup a breeze.

For those who prefer ‘self-think’ technology, automated cooking is entirely possible wherein the weight of a meal determines the cooking mode, time and temperature. Pre-set recipes also make for effortless cooking, and some cookers can even be programmed to start and finish cooking at a given time. This allows one to come home to a ready cooked meal.

Other notable contemporary cookers feature moisture-plus technology that combines moisture with fan functioning in order to improve bakes like bread and cakes. This technology also allows dishes like meat to remain tender while allowing for a glistening finish. A drier environment is also possible, making it possible to create crispier meals.

Basically, gone are the days where buying a cooker was a painless decision. Nowadays, given your needs, your budget, and your routine, cookers can be highly specified.

Amanda Hocking is a writer of paranormal fiction. She published a novel as an ebook in an attempt to raise some urgently needed extra cash. Her previously unpublished book has since sold over 1.5m books. Not only has it made the author a fortune but it has changed the publishing game as we know it. Ed Pilkington points out in his article for The Guardian that Hocking ‘has emerged from obscurity to bestselling status entirely under her own self-published steam.’

How it all began

Amanda Hocking was in need of $300 or £195 to get to see a Muppets exhibition. She had six months to go before the opening and decided to sell her unpublished books as ebooks to raise the cash. Surprisingly enough, Hocking not only made the money she required, but she received an extra $20,000 during that time — by selling 150,000 copies of her books.

Who is Amanda Hocking?

Amanda Hocking is a 27 year old with a passion for books that began at an early age. She was telling stories and inventing her own worlds when other children her age were still learning to walk. By the age of 12 she was calling herself a writer. She estimates that she had written 50 short stories by the end of high school.

Brought up in the Minnesota countryside in the US, she came to love reading since after her parents were divorced, there was no cable TV and money was tight. She bought books from bargain sales and became a regular visitor at the library.

Amanda Hocking had read Jaws by Peter Benchley by the age of seven and went on to read books by Shakespeare, Stephen King, Jane Austin, Kurt Vonnegut, Mark Twain and Jack Kerouac, to name but a few.

Speed

Hocking’s reading speed increased dramatically, to the extent that she began reading adult books because they took longer to read. Besides, reading helped her cope with depression. As much as she read a lot, she wrote a lot and cried a lot.

She completed her first book at the age of 17. All the publishers she sent the book, Dreams I Can’t Remember, rejected her. She didn’t give up and began to write in earnest in 2009. She wanted to be published by the age of 26 — the age Stephen King had been when he was first published.

Hocking wrote from 8pm in the evenings into the early hours of the morning. Since she was able to write a novel in three weeks or less, she had 17 novels by the beginning of 2010.

Success

Amanda Hocking read JA Konrath’s blog to find out how to go about self-publishing. She then uploaded her work to Smashwords in order to access Sony eReader, Nook and internet book markets.

It took Hocking a few hours to format her first ebook before she self-published it. She has since made $2.5m by selling a total of 1.5m books.

Feeling less than rosy or downright miserable? The good news is that it is possible to change your capacity for happiness. University of California professor of psychology Sonja Lyubomirsky has pioneered a simple plan to increase our everyday quotients. Drawing on her research with thousands of men and women, she shares her findings in The How of Happiness: A Scientific Approach to Getting the Life You Want. The book explains that 40 percent of our capacity for happiness is within our power to change.

The How of Happiness

Lyubomirsky book examines what happiness is and what it isn’t. Supported with scientific research, Lyubomirsky demystifies some happiness myths. Strategies for sustaining one’s sense of happiness over the long term and the short term include staying active, savouring life’s pleasures and developing optimistic thoughts when addressing the future.

Research shows that only 10% of individual differences in happiness are determined by life circumstances whereas 50% are determined by genes. This means that a significant portion comes from one’s intentional activities — as much as 40%.

A taste of Lyubomirsky’s strategies

Take a moment to ‘smell the roses’ and taste the coffee. Those who savour life’s moments in the study ‘showed significant increases in happiness and reductions in depression,’ says Lyubomirsky. Rather than hurrying along, stop and reflect on ordinary everyday events.

Lyubomirsky also recommends focusing on one’s own personal achievements rather than comparing oneself to others. Setting goals helps to bring meaning to one’s life.

Reminiscing is more beneficial than ruminating. Overthinking can worsen sadness and inhibit motivation.

What the research shows

Lyubomirsky’s website explains that about 45% of US adults are reported as moderately mentally healthy. This means that a large percentage of people aren’t ‘flourishing’. There is a general lack of ‘great enthusiasm for life’ and people are ‘not actively and productively engaged with the world.’

Money doesn’t buy happiness. The site says that Americans who earned more than 10 million dollars annually report levels of happiness ‘only slightly greater than the office staffs and blue-collar workers they employ.’

People who practice mindfulness ‘are models of flourishing and positive mental health.’ Couples who are satisfied are ‘more likely to idealize each other.’ And ‘the key to a happy marriage is to respond appropriately to our partner’s successes.’

Other happiness strategies

Regular exercise releases ‘feel good’ endorphins — besides other positive side effects like improving one’s health and self-esteem. Taking the initiative, using one’s creativity and helping others can further increase one’s feelings of self-control and happiness.

As much as those who avoid comparisons enjoy greater happiness and satisfaction in their lives, so do those who don’t make material wealth a priority. Rather than making money a focus, practice gratitude and giving. Teach others your skills. Learn to listen.

Develop authentic and supportive relationships with friends and family. Treasuring those you love means taking time to understand them and care for them. Learn to forgive and remain hopeful about the future.

A new book called 30 Lessons for Living by Karl Pillemer offers advice on how to live now in order to finish without any regrets. Pillemer is a professor of human development and a gerontologist. He compiled the book from interviews with older people who shared what they did right and wrong during their lives. The interviews were part of the Cornell Legacy Project. Jane Brody summarises their life lessons in an article that addresses career, marriage, parenting, happiness, regrets and ageing.

Avoid regrets: stay honest and embrace opportunities

Start a bucket list now and travel while you’re young. Dr. Pillemer says that travel is ‘so rewarding that it should take precedence over other things younger people spend money on.’

Avoid regrets by always being honest. Take advantage of the opportunities and challenges that come your way.

Happiness: be grateful, it’s a choice

Adopt a policy of being joyful is the advice of one of the elders. Happiness is not about how life treats you, it’s a personal choice. You are in control of how you deal with the challenges that come your way.

Life is too short to waste on ‘pessimism, boredom and disillusionment.’

Career: follow your bliss

‘Not one person in a thousand said that happiness accrued from working as hard as you can to make money to buy whatever you want,’ writes Brody. Be involved in a profession that you love and keep on working towards what makes you happy.

Marriage: similar values, goals and commitment

Friendship, good communication, being able to give and take while remaining committed to each other and to the marriage is what keeps couples together. Also, as Brody points out: ‘A satisfying marriage that lasts a lifetime is more likely to result when partners are fundamentally similar and share the same basic values and goals.’

An 89-year-old woman said that too many young people give up on their marriages too early.

Parenting: quality time

The elderly advise that parents should spend more time with their children ‘even if you must sacrifice to do so.’ By spending time with children, which includes doing things that interest them, parents will be more able to spot problems early and teach good values.

Don’t make comparisons or show favouritism. Discipline is important when necessary but physical punishment is seldom advised.

Aging: stay engaged, keep on learning

Old age may exceed your expectations as many elderly people said it gave them ‘a sense of calm and contentment.’ It brings opportunities that weren’t there before. A 92-year-old said, ‘I think I’m happier now than I’ve ever been in my life. Things that were important to me are no longer important, or not as important.’

Another of the life lessons is to maintain social contacts. Also, do not waste time worrying about getting old. As an 80 year old put it: ‘Embrace it. Don’t fight it. Growing older is both an attitude and a process.’

Phillipe Starck is one of the most prolific designers of our age. His creative insight has touched everything from inflatable products to toothbrushes and motorbikes. Educated in France at the École Camondo, he founded his first design firm in 1968. He became art director of Starck the following year, along with Pierre Cardin. Starck later established yoo in 1998 with John Hitchcox and has since been involved in the design of extraordinary hotel and residential spaces across the globe.

Starck’s design process

In the process of improving our lives, design also offers us evidence of our existence. For Phillipe Starck, the design process, which is enabled by human ingenuity and imagination, begins with an idea and ends with a product. He points out that for him this process is never applied in reverse.

‘First you have intuition, which brings vision, which builds an ethic, which will give birth to a concept, and finally, perhaps, which will make a product,’ he says. He explains that the ‘need to question’ is our intuition and our imagination is our vision. Our culture then becomes our ethic.

Add our concepts, which are ‘our beliefs, values, desires, sensibilities, modes of expressions and behaviour.’ And what are we left with? Starck believes these all bring about the manifestation of the ultimate product: Us.

Beauty

In his interview with Thought Economics, Philippe Starck further explores the fundamentals of design and beauty. He suggests that beauty does not exist: ‘I have no respect for this word ‘beauty’. It is too volatile, which means it’s nothing. You can change, whatever time you like, your opinion of what beauty is, and what is beautiful.’

He suggests that this encourages greed in order to give people reasons to buy more as seen in ‘vanity, cynicism, marketing, business, advertising- and everything like that.’  It is for this reason that he says he cannot accept beauty in it’s current form.

Starck says that we have to take care in these times when a chair can be seen as more important than a human being. Whereas before there were fashion victims, there are now design victims. He says he prefers to speak about coherence, harmony and balance of parameters rather than use the word ‘beauty.’

Don’t kill forests to make chairs

Starck warns that we have to prepare for a post plastic era in thirty to forty years when we run out of oil. ‘Some stupid people will say ‘no problem, we shall have bioplastic — we shall make corn, and make bioplastic. No way!’

He explains that killing forests to make fields of corn to put gas in cars and make new Starck plastic chairs is not the way to go, especially considering pending famines. ‘Every day there is a new bio-plastic, and we have a question they cannot answer. Can you eat the component which made this plastic? es? or no? And mainly — it is yes.’

He adds: ‘if you can eat it, we don’t do it.’

Working creatively not only brings fulfilment but it helps one stay on top of their game. But for many people, the creative muse is a mysterious creature: here one day and gone the next. So how do professional creatives remain inspired? The Guardian recently interviewed a handful of top artists to find out where and how they find their inspiration. Do they have to keep on coaxing themselves like the majority of us do or are they blessed with an endless creative flow?

Susan Philipsz

Artist Susan Philipsz finds inspiration in books, movies, train journeys and daydreaming. She advises one to be open to one’s surroundings and to give oneself lots of time to do nothing.

‘If you have a good idea, stick to it. Especially if realising the project is a long and demanding process, try to keep true to the spirit of the initial idea,’ she recommends. It doesn’t have to make sense.

Because she feels she needs a pen in her hand in order to think better, she recommends always having something to write with.

Martin Parr

Martin Parr is a photographer who works with subjects that somehow reveal the interaction he has with the world. ‘The knack is to find your own inspiration, and take it on a journey to create work that is personal and revealing,’ he says.

Parr explains that his inspiration often comes once a connection has been made with his subject: ‘It may range from getting into a small community and winning the trust of the subjects over a number of visits; but it could also come from walking in the mountains and feeling a certain affinity with the landscape.’

Mark-Anthony Turnage

Composer, Mark-Anthony Turnage believes that hard work and routine are important: ‘However late you went to bed the night before, or however much you had to drink, get up at the same time each day and get on with it.’

He says that when he was composing the opera Anna Nicole, he was up as early as five in the morning. He would then work until lunch time. ‘The afternoon is the worst time for creativity,’ he warns.

As for inspiration, he advises to forget about the idea that inspiration will come like a flash of lightning. ‘It’s much more about hard graft.’

Rupert Goold

Director Rupert Goold says that shallow-sleep dreams have been a source of his best ideas. That’s why he advises others to get an alarm clock with a long snooze function. Like Mark-Anthony Turnage, he recommends setting it early.

In order to keep going in times of doubt, he advises one to make sure that one is asking a question that addresses not only one’s own inner world but the world around one too.

As far as ideas go, Goold says that an idea is like a map: ‘The ultimate landscape is only discovered when it’s under foot, so don’t get too bogged down in its validity.’

It’s that time of year again: a time to create a new list of New Year’s resolutions. Unfortunately, the eagerness to change often dissapears within a matter of weeks and before long, we’re stuck in the same old rut. Resolutions often fail because they are either too vague or because we take on too many new challenges at once. Sometimes we force ourselves to do things that don’t come naturally to us — and then of course, life has a way of getting in the way.

Take it slowly and have fun

Leo Babauta, creator of Zen Habits, suggests overcoming the problems of New Year resolutions by focusing on one habit change at a time so that one’s ‘focus and energies aren’t spread thinly.’ Changes are implemented gradually and the start is made easy so as to allow for a less intimidating experience. Instead of focusing on discipline, Babauta encourages one to choose enjoyable activities.

Choose one new habit

Leo Babauta’s 6 Changes Method starts with picking six new habits for the New Year. Next, choose one of the habits to start with and commit to creating the new habit within two months. You can do this by breaking the habit into eight steps. Each step should be ‘ridiculously easy’.

Choose a trigger and take baby steps

Babauta advises to choose a trigger for the new habit — ’something already in your routine that will immediately precede the habit. Examples: eating breakfast, brushing your teeth, showering, waking up, arriving at the office, leaving the office, getting home in the evening.’

If you want to start a running habit, for instance, the first step might be to put on your running shoes after your coffee every morning. Commit to doing the first easy baby step for one week, right after the trigger. This could be as simple as walking to the garden gate and back.

Commit for eight weeks

Move on to a slightly harder step every week but refrain from going faster as much as you may want to. Babauta advises, ‘you’ll want to progress faster, but don’t. You’re building a new habit. Repeat this until you’ve done 8 weeks.’

After eight weeks you should have a new habit. You can then take on your second goal and repeat the same process.

Making each goal public and reporting on your progress is a foundation of The 6 Changes Method.

An example

Taking up the New Year’s resolution of running, one would publicly commit to forming the new habit in two months. One would also publicly commit to each week’s change.

Week one might involve lacing up one’s running shoes (after the trigger of morning coffee) and heading to the garden gate and back. Week two might involve lacing up one’s running shoes and walking for five minutes. The time or mileage would slowly build up over the following few weeks until you are able to run your chosen distance by week eight.

What an interesting dish to include her cookbook: coffee steak! Whoever would have thought? But then, Tessa Kiros knows a thing or two about food. Born in London, she grew up in South Africa. She set off to travel the world when she was 18 years old to learn about different cultures, traditions and foods. She has since cooked at The Groucho Club and all over the world. Her coffee steak recipe is inspired by a meal she had at a cervejaria in Lisbon.

Steak in Lisbon

Lisbon is a society of steak lovers and coffee steak is one of many ways to serve it. Tessa says about the dish: ‘Although it sounds a bit rich, it’s just right. There is just about enough sauce here for two steaks, if you want.’

The ingredients are simple: espresso and cream for the sauce, which is added to the steak, butter, olive oil, bay leaves and garlic in the pan. ‘You pour the steak and sauce all onto a plate, so you don’t even have to go to the bar for a coffee afterwards! I loved it for the very idea.’

Ingredients for coffee steak for one

You will need the following ingredients for one: 1 tablespoon of butter, 1 tablespoon of olive oil, 150 grams of fillet steak (which should be about 2 cm thick), 2 bay leaves, 2 unpeeled garlic cloves, 1 tablespoon of cream and 2 1/2 tablespoons of strong espresso coffee. You will also require some course salt.

How to cook the steak

Tessa explains how to begin: ‘Heat a blob of the butter with the oil in a non-stick frying pan that will hold your steak compactly. When it starts to fizzle, add the steak and cook until golden.’ Once the outside has caramelised, turn it over and sprinkle some course salt over it.

Cook the steak according to your preferences. Tessa likes hers ‘deep charred and crusty on the outside, but still rosy inside.’ The butter should then be added towards the end, after which you can turn the steak over and sprinkle with some more course salt.

The bay leaves and garlic can be added to the pan in order to flavour the sauce. Remove the steak and place it on a plate.

How to cook the sauce

Your pan will now hold all the wonderful juices from the steak, as well as the extra flavours. Simply pour in the cream and the coffee and stir, while allowing it to bubble. Let it cook this way for a few seconds more until it has thickened.

Turn off the stove and place the steak back into the pan. Let it rest in the pan for a minute ‘to let the juices mingle.’ Place the steak onto a warm plate and sprinkle it with a generous amount of fresh black pepper.

Serve the coffee steak with vegetables or chips. Tessa Kiros recommends chips because they can be dipped into the sauce.

The world’s total population has hit the 7 billion mark will continue to grow. Not only are population experts concerned about the ensuing consumption that will follow, but so are some companies. They’re worried about all the demand for new vehicles and homes, for instance. How is our already overtaxed planet going to cope? Christopher Joyce on NPR’s science desk reports that a California home builder, ZETA Communities from California, is designing and building ‘small, highly energy-efficient homes’ as a result.

Consumption time bombs

Klaus Lackner, a physicist at Columbia University’s Earth Institute, has pointed out that as the economies of areas like Africa and India improve, so are the lifestyle expectations going to become problematic.

To make matters worse, these developing nations are often inspired by Western consumption patterns. ‘It’s very hard to convince people to stop consumption,’ says Lackner. ‘I would expect consumption in the future gets larger, but we also learn how to do things more efficiently.’ Lackner continues: ‘So the raw material consumption may well go down.’

But even so, he believes that consumption will increase again. Without any incentives not to consume, consumption will only continue to rise. ‘In many parts of the world, energy – and I hate to say this – is simply too cheap,’ says the physicist. That’s because inexpensive access to energy enables people to live ‘the high life’.

Going small – a possible solution?

Christopher Joyce sees it this way: ‘there just isn’t enough cheap energy or water or land for 9 billion or 10 billion people to live the same way. So what if Americans set a different example? Consume less by living smaller? The Japanese do it. Can small be beautiful in the U.S.? Some people think so.’

ZETA Communities thinks small can be beautiful. ZETA can build a 1,500 square foot home in a day using stackable modules. It’s a speedy operation because working in a controlled environment, there aren’t such things as weather days to contend with. Joyce explains that ‘everything from the caulk along the walls to the lumber is certified green or is from sustainable sources.’

The buildings are energy efficient and can be provided with rooftop solar panels in the correct climate. This would result in a ‘net zero’ energy home. The company envisions its big market to be cities since people are moving towards cities all over the world. The idea is to get creative with what space there is.

300 square feet and counting

Architect Taeko Takagi designs ‘micro-studios’ as small as 300 square feet. ‘I like to provide a large sink, so that the person who’s using it doesn’t feel like they’re lacking or living smaller and everything is miniaturised,’ he says.

These just-larger-than-living-room spaces will be a place for the ‘technocrat generation’ who use the city as their living room and kitchen. The micro-studio is their home at the end of the day.