Most of us spend over 1/3 of our waking adult years working. Make it an exciting 1/3.

Work shouldn’t just be something to bring in money and pay the bills. It’s a big part of your life and if you’re going to spend 1/3 of your time working, find something that excites you. Find something you’ll look forward to working on each day. And when that becomes boring, move on and find something else.

Some people realize this after it’s too late and feel like they just wasted their time. Don’t just do something you’re good at. Do something that gets you excited.

I often read newspaper or magazine articles backwards (from finish to start). And I have two theories why.

The first theory is that when you read from page 1, you know there’s still a lot left. You’ve only just begun. But when you start at the end of the article, well… you’re already done. Now you’re just backtracking. It feels faster to finish!

The second theory is that we’re so used to the “conclusion” being at the end of the article. I only have so much time to read, so let’s cut to the chase and get right at the heart of the article: the 5 sentences that sum up the 3 pages that came before it. Once I’ve read that conclusion, I can pretty much stop reading. If I’m interested, I’ll keep reading back.

So is reading backwards actually more efficient? I think it might be. How about you?

If you understand each of those phrases, guess what? You can speak multiple languages!

Alright, so maybe that’s pushing the envelope a little, but it’s true. We grow up learning not just English, but phrases in other languages like French, Spanish, and Latin. In fact, those phrases are so ingrained in our society that they’re essentially just another “word” in the English dictionary.

The fact is, it probably works both ways. Do you know any popular English phrases that are used in the everyday conversation of another language?

If you can make me laugh (which isn’t that hard to do), you get far in my book

Laughing (or just smiling) is so important to your everyday health. Believe it or not, your physical health really does depend on your emotional health. Weird, right? Why would your body break down when you’re sad?

Well, your body puts down its defenses and makes you more vulnerable to things like heart attacks, strokes, and other things you don’t want.

So tell a joke and laugh a little today. You might live longer if ya do.

When you’re interviewing for a new job, don’t forget that it’s a two-way street.

In my field, there are a few major things interviewers first look for: Are you competent? Can you handle stressful situations? Are you willing to learn new technology? These are all great topics that help filter out unqualified candidates.

As the candidate, the important thing to remember and actively take advantage is: Interviewing is a two-way street. There are some things you need to look for: Is this company competent? Are its engineers productive, smart people that you’ll enjoy working with? etc.

Don’t forget that you need to play hardball too.

It’s easy to get caught up using shorthand “speak” over e-mail. Be careful who you use it with.

When talking professionally in-person, the chances that you get criticized for grammar or spelling is almost none. However, professional e-mail requires much more attention to be paid towards grammar, spelling, and proper English.

In addition, it’s important to remember to separate personal from professional “speak” within e-mails. When I was looking for a new job, I was e-mailed by a potential employer using shorthand like “u” for “you”, “2″ for “to”, etc. (e.g. “i’d like u 2 get back 2 us asap. thx!”). That’s a huge turn-off for any candidate.

First impressions count, even if it’s just an e-mail.

There are some things we simply can’t get through alone. We need each other.

The strength of a relationship with a significant other is more than just love, mutual interests, or having fun. Without the other, you’re just not the same person; it’s a bond that can’t be broken. I need you and you need me.

When a significant other passes away, it’s devastating. Some people are able to carry on with their lives; others simply lose all their motivation. It’s important to remember that everyone needs someone in their lives who can make that bond and provide each other with the motivation to live a full, happy life.

Most ideas don’t just come out of thin air. They’re the result of knowledge and experience in a special line of work.

When you work in a certain field, you learn about what works and what doesn’t. Entrepreneurs in that field are able to take what they know about what doesn’t work and come up with new ideas to fix those problems.

For example, take a look at Noca. This company was founded by ex-Visa employees to fix the problems with credit card transaction fees. Coming up with good ideas is nothing special; it just takes a little knowledge and a little insight.

I’ve always wanted to write a book. Not a novel or tall tale, but something in nonfiction.

Writing a fictional book is one thing. Writing a book that will educate or help other people is another and I think that’s what interests me the most. Blogging kind of gives you that opportunity to dip your toe into the world of publishing and it can be a lot of fun.

If there’s something you’re passionate about, I say go ahead and write a book about it. Let other people know about your passion and you might be able to make a difference in someone’s life.

Did you know there are over 1,100 Dunkin’ Donuts within a 50-mile radius of the city of Boston?

The first question most people ask is: Why? Why why why why why? It doesn’t make sense. However, what you probably never knew is that Dunkin’ Donuts originated in Boston. That’s the reason it’s so popular and so well-received.

It’s a known fact that communities will tend to stand by a business that started in their hometown than businesses from outside the area even if the products are better. In the last few years, Krispy Kreme tried building a few stores in the Boston area. It didn’t go too well. Even though Krispy Kreme’s donuts may have been better, Bostoners stuck with their heritage.

Something to keep in mind if you ever try to start a business