Green Tea

There are several health benefits of drinking green tea.  Green tea is considered by many to be the ultimate “anti-aging beverage.”

In Okinawa, Japan — one of the world’s “Blue Zones” that’s associated with longevity —drinking green tea daily is considered “essential.” A popular practice is sipping on a combination of steeped green tea leaves, jasmine flowers and a bit of turmeric (turmeric tea) throughout the day.

According to dozens of studies, green tea is considered one of the top healthy drinks. Regularly drinking this tea may reduce your risk of developing heart disease or Alzheimer’s, help you maintain better bone mineral density, ward off eye diseases that affect vision in older age, prevent strokes, and even extend your life.

What Is Green Tea?

Green, black and oolong teas come from the Camellia sinensis plant.

Green tea consists of leaves that haven’t been fermented so they contain the highest level of antioxidants. For example, flavonoid antioxidants account for about 30 percent of the dry weight of green tea leaves.

Some of the antioxidants and healing compounds found in green tea include polyphenols, catechins and various other types of flavonoids — the same anti-aging compounds found in things like red wine, blueberries and dark chocolate. Despite that it does contain small amounts of caffeine, green tea consumption has been associated with more health benefits than even many of the healthiest foods available to us.

Most experts recommend drinking about three to four cups per day for the most anti-aging benefits of green tea. But, even drinking one to two cups is a step in the right direction. There are some ways to spice up your green tea.

The standard way to brew green tea:

Place your tea bag or high-quality tea leaves (purchase organic from a reputable company for the best tea) in your teapot.

Heat or boil water, but don’t let it completely boil and become too hot, as this can destroy some of the delicate compounds found in green tea leaves. The “ideal” temperature for brewing green tea is between 160 degrees Fahrenheit to 180 degrees F (traditionally standard Chinese green teas brew at a slightly higher temperatures).

Pour hot water into the teapot to steep the leaves for only about 1–3 minutes. Larger leaves need more time to steep than finer, smaller leaves. At this point you can also add any fresh herbs you plan on steeping.

Once brewed, pour a little tea at a time into each cup in order to have the tea’s strength be evenly distributed. At this point, you can add some lemon juice or raw honey as the finishing touch.

Mindfulness

The past is gone, the future is uncertain, but the present is where life happens. Embrace it fully.

In a world where distractions are constant and the pace of life relentless, mindfulness offers a profound escape from chaos. By cultivating the simple yet powerful practice of being fully present, you can unlock a deeper sense of calm, clarity, and connection to yourself and the world around you.

Mindfulness is not just a technique; it’s a journey of self-discovery that allows you to peel away the layers of stress and anxiety, revealing a more authentic, resilient version of yourself. As you embark on this path, you realize that the greatest gift you can give yourself is being fully here, fully now.

Mindfulness is about living in the present and focusing on the here and now. It’s about making the most of every present moment.

By letting go of past regrets and worries regarding the future, you can truly live and create a wonderful present.

Living in the present is simple to say but not easy to implement. Staying present can be challenging, but it’s the only time we can control and appreciate. Yet, it is the only moment that is truly in your hands.

In the Bible, Matthew 6:34 advises, “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”

Mindfulness, or “being present, self-aware, and focused on the present moment,” aligns with many biblical teachings. The Scriptures often encourage believers to set their focus on God, cultivate peace, and be intentional in their actions and thoughts.

As you weave mindfulness into the fabric of your daily life, you begin to experience a profound transformation. With each breath, you anchor yourself in the present, letting go of yesterday’s and tomorrow’s burdens and uncertainties.

Mindfulness is not just a practice; it’s a way of living that illuminates your path, guiding you toward a life of purpose, peace, and profound connection. By embracing this journey, you discover the power to transform your life lies within you, waiting to be awakened.

And as you walk this mindful path, you find that every moment becomes an opportunity to grow, heal, and flourish—reminding you that the greatest miracle of all is the miracle of being fully alive, fully present, and entirely yourself.

Coach Cael Sanderson: What Can We Do Better

“We just try to focus on our guys and our program and ask, ‘What can we do better?’” – Cael Sanderson

Coach Cael Sanderson, the head coach of Penn State Wrestling, is often considered the greatest college wrestling coach, and perhaps the best coach across all sports. He emphasizes that teaching his wrestlers that “wins and losses” are less significant in the long run than consistently giving their best effort, improving daily, and being grateful for the tremendous opportunities they have.

This perspective is a key reason he maximizes the potential of his athletes each year.

Gratitude is a core principle of Sanderson’s program. He told Carter Starocci that he was still the “baddest dude” at the wrestling tournament, encouraging him to think critically. “You can win this national championship on one leg, but it’s going to be much harder to do that on one leg with a bad attitude.”

Sanderson believes in keeping things simple and living in the present. Past championships and successes are just that—past. What matters is wrestling one match at a time and scoring more points than the opponent. He asserts that “wins and losses” are secondary to embracing the process of giving maximum effort while competing, continually improving, and maintaining gratitude for the opportunity to wrestle.

He also emphasizes a long-term perspective with his wrestlers. He wants them to be mindful and seize the moment, not worrying about past victories or defeats. Instead, he encourages them to focus on their best efforts in the present and let the results unfold naturally.

Sanderson has instilled his focus and determination in his wrestlers, preparing them for life’s uncertainties both on and off the mat. The emphasis is not solely on winning matches or claiming national championships. Rather, it’s about cultivating gratitude for life’s opportunities, developing character over the long haul, and achieving success in life.

Cael is committed to building his wrestlers for the long term, fostering their ability to compete, learn, and grow on a global stage in any sport or endeavor they choose. He is shaping young men of great character who also happen to be national champion collegiate wrestlers along the way.

https://x.com/theschoolofwres/status/1901994618662625783

Time is Precious and Short

Time is incredibly valuable because it allows you to do things that matter to you, such as learning, working, creating, enjoying, and helping others. It is finite and irreversible, and we cannot get back the time you have lost or wasted.

While people often say “Time is money,” time is actually the more precious resource and more valuable than money.

The value of money is based on its purchasing power of goods and services.  Furthermore, it’s value depends on how soon you can use it, and when time is the only differentiating factor, money received sooner is always more valuable. The intangible nature of time makes it one of mankind’s most priceless treasures.

According to James Clear, author of bestselling book Atomic Habits, “not all uses of time are equal, and this simple truth can make a big difference in life.”

“People who spend their time doing more profitable work make more money. People who spend their time investing in others build better relationships. People who spend their time creating a flexible career enjoy more freedom. People who spend their time working on high-impact projects contribute more to society,” states Clear.

“Whether you want more wealth, more friendship, more freedom, or more impact, it all comes down to how you spend and value your time.” And, time is finite and short

Source:  https://jamesclear.com/value-of-time

Billionaire Stock Selection Criteria

Billionaire investors share several common traits that contribute to their extraordinary success. Billionaire investors’ traits can be categorized into investment strategies and broader habits:

Billionaire stock selection criteria for your investments:

Analyze Company Fundamentals: Review the company’s financial health before buying a stock. Look at metrics like revenue, profit margins, and earnings growth. Tools like Yahoo Finance or Seeking Alpha can help you understand these details.

Identify Competitive Advantages: Ask yourself what makes this company stand out. Does it have a strong brand, innovative technology, or an untouchable market position?

Consider Valuation: Use valuation metrics like the price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio or price-to-book (P/B) ratio to determine if the stock is undervalued. Compare it to industry peers or historical averages.

Evaluate Debt Levels: Check the company’s debt-to-equity ratio to ensure it isn’t overly burdened by debt. Lower ratios often indicate financial stability.

Follow Market Trends: Look for industries with growth potential, such as renewable energy, AI, or biotech. Diversifying across sectors can also reduce risk.

Assess Management Quality: Research the leadership team. Have they successfully steered the company through challenges in the past? Confidence in management is key to long-term success.

Focus on Long-Term Growth: Avoid getting caught up in short-term market volatility. Instead, invest in companies you believe will perform well over the next 5–10 years.

Consider creating a checklist or using a portfolio analysis app to make this process easier. Of course, always align your investments with your financial goals and risk tolerance.

Here are some notable stock picks favored by billionaire investors:
• Nvidia (NVDA): Steve Cohen’s Point72 Asset Management increased its stake by 75%, holding shares worth $448 million, making it the fourth-largest position in his portfolio. Nvidia has shown strong growth, up 175% in 2024.
• Amazon.com (AMZN): Philippe Laffont’s Coatue Management holds $2.1 billion of Amazon shares, representing 7.8% of its portfolio. The firm has owned Amazon since 2009 and recently increased its stake by 4.6%.
• Meta Platforms (META): Stephen Mandel’s Lone Pine Capital added $100 million to its Meta stake, which now accounts for nearly 9% of its portfolio. Meta’s profitability, driven by platforms like Facebook and Instagram, makes it a standout pick.
• PDD Holdings (PDD): David Tepper’s Appaloosa Management upped its stake by 170%, with holdings valued at $714.6 million. PDD is the second-largest position in his portfolio.!

The Burden of Too Many Meetings

Modern management chronically suffers from too many meetings — and not enough time to get work done.

Middle management has suffered for decades under the heavy burden of too many meetings.

Meetings should support work; when they don’t, they become a time suck that wrecks productivity for companies and organizations. But the reason management is increasingly buried in meetings generally center on leadership wanting more control or believing (erroneously) that gabbing in groups clarifies and expedites.

However, Apple founder Steve Jobs observed the problem and knew what meetings to keep and which to cut. And he knew how to run them efficiently, according to Inc. Magazine.

Keep the invite list small — ideally, three to five people.
His reasoning? The more people you have in a meeting, the less productive it is. Too many voices become a sea of noise and it’s less likely you’ll get anything accomplished. In fact, Jobs famously declined an invite from President Obama to a tech meeting because, well, the guest list was too long.

Also, as you craft your invite list, know exactly what each person’s stake or role in the meeting will be. If they cannot or will not contribute, cut them. Anyone there for informational purposes can be sent a transcript or recording after the fact.

Keep the agenda short — no more than three items.
The goal here is focus. With more than three items on an agenda, you’re likely to get lost in a rabbit hole of unrelated topics and side conversations. It’s hard to know what conclusions to draw and what action items you have at the end when agenda items run amuck. Keep it short — and make sure all three agenda items are clearly connected to the core meeting purpose.

Keep the length to no more than 30 minutes.
You may think the substance of a given meeting demands a bigger time slot, but science tells us that largely ends up as a waste of time. Our attention span is shorter than a goldfish’s and our mental stamina is unable to sustain meaningful, analytical discussion for very long. If you keep meetings short (no more than 30 minutes) and parcel key pieces of information in digestible chunks (one- to two-minute segments), you’re more likely to leave the meeting with broad comprehension.

Sheryl Sandberg took this a step further, actually — she kept a lot of her meetings to 10 minutes.

There’s also the question of need. Do you really need to have a meeting? Ask yourself the following three questions; if the answer is no to all of them, don’t schedule one.

Does this meeting require feedback from others, or is it just informational?
If I do need input/feedback, is a meeting a more time-effective way to get it than a message or email?
Would a meeting provide anything that an email or message wouldn’t (such as in-the-moment feedback on problems that are constantly evolving)?
And finally, as a general note to CEOs just establishing business cadence, consider building a minimalist meeting culture. Following the “Rule of 3s,” keep this general guideline in mind: Management should aim to schedule no more than one minute of meeting time for every three minutes of work. In essence, no more than a quarter of a day should be spent in meetings.

https://www.inc.com/jeff-steen/steve-jobs-3-point-formula-for-leading-effective-meetings-was-brilliant-we-need-to-get-back-to-it.html

 

 

Being Mindful: Do Not Anticipate Trouble

“Do not anticipate trouble, or worry about what may never happen. Keep in the sunlight.” – Benjamin Franklin

As you step into each new day, you have the power to shape your experience by choosing how you approach the world around you. By being mindful, you can cultivate a sense of calm and clarity, allowing you to navigate life’s challenges with grace and resilience.

Instead of anticipating problems that may never arise, you can focus on the present moment, embracing its beauty and potential. This mindset not only helps you avoid unnecessary stress but also opens you up to new possibilities and opportunities that might otherwise go unnoticed.

You must stay present and not let worry steal your energy, happiness or joy. You must stay grounded in the present moment rather than worrying about challenges that might never occur. By living in the here and now, you can unlock a more profound sense of peace and fulfillment, transforming your life into a journey of discovery and growth.

Don’t fret over the past, it’s gone and there is nothing you can do to change it. Don’t stress or worry about the future, it hasn’t arrived and is uncertain. Live in the present and make it wonderful.

The most successful people don’t live in the past. They don’t get stuck in the future. They own and take responsibility for the present moment.

The moment you’re in right now is the only one you can control. Be where your body and mind are, and live in the now.

Focusing on what you can control and embracing optimism and a positive attitude can truly transform your mindset.

Remember, you are free to choose, but you are not free from the consequence of your choice. You can choose to be positive or you can choose to be negative in the present, but there are consequences for each choice. Essentially, you cannot realize positive results from negative thoughts.

Life is too short to wait for happiness. Embrace the present moment, big or small, and choose happiness and find joy in the present moment.

Happiness isn’t a destination, it’s a choice, mindset and way of living .

Financial Planning

Never underestimate the power of a comprehensive financial plan to assist you in building wealth and achieving financial freedom.

Your financial plan is like a roadmap for you money. It’s your long-term guide to answer questions such as:

Will I have enough money to retire?

Do I have my expected health care expenses covered?

Once you have your financial plan laid out, following it becomes much easier. When you have a clear goal in sight, reaching it feels more achievable.

In order to help figure out how to set aside a significant amount of money for retirement, one first needs to get a handle on current spending. Set a plan, create milestones, and go after them relentlessly.

To help achieve retirement goals, it’s important for a person to understand a clear definition of needs as opposed to wants.

With inflation showing few signs of slowing down anytime soon, it is important to create and follow a financial plan.

https://trib.al/eFPyVFb

Only Speak Positively to Yourself

“Only speak positively to yourself in your head.”

Speaking positively to yourself or engaging in positive self-talk is crucial for your well-being. A positive mindset strengthens your ability to cope with setbacks and adversity, and helps you bounce back from challenges more effectively.

Positive self-talk can enhance motivation, focus, and performance in various areas of life, including work, sports, and personal goals. It helps to create an “I can do” attitude, which is more than half the battle.

People with a positive outlook are more likely to engage in healthy behaviors, such as exercise, healthy eating, and adequate sleep. Additionally, positive thinking can help with pain and stress management.

Positive self-talk is a powerful tool for cultivating a healthier, happier, and more successful life.

Here are some positive quotes to say to yourself, framed as internal thoughts:

  • “I am capable of amazing things.”
  • “Every day is a chance for something wonderful to happen.”
  • “My potential is limitless.”
  • “I choose to see the good in every situation.”
  • “I am strong, resilient, and worthy of happiness.”
  • “I embrace challenges as opportunities to grow.”
  • “I radiate positivity and attract good things.”
  • “I am grateful for all the blessings in my life.”
  • “I believe in myself and my ability to succeed.”
  • “My thoughts create my reality, so I choose positive ones.”

Billionaire Stock Purchases

All the major stock market indexes are trading close to new highs, pushing valuations well above historical norms. The current price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio for the S&P 500 is around 30—almost double the historical average.

It is getting challenging to find reasonably priced growth stocks in 2025. But, billionaires often use a mix of strategies and criteria when selecting stocks. Here are some common factors they consider:

  • Company Fundamentals: They analyze financial metrics like revenue growth, profit margins, return on equity (ROE), and earnings per share (EPS) to assess a company’s financial health.
  • Competitive Advantage: They look for companies with a unique product or service that gives them an edge in the market.
  • Valuation: Stocks undervalued relative to their intrinsic worth are often attractive, as they offer potential for long-term gains.
  • Debt Levels: A company’s debt-to-equity ratio is scrutinized to ensure it isn’t over-leveraged, which could hinder growth.
  • Market Trends: They consider broader economic and industry trends to identify sectors with growth potential.
  • Management Quality: Strong leadership and a capable management team are key indicators of a company’s ability to execute its strategy.
  • Long-Term Potential: Many billionaires focus on companies with sustainable growth prospects and the ability to weather market fluctuations.

These criteria often combine with a deep understanding of the market and a disciplined approach to investing.