3 simple but highly effective tips to train your brain to be smarter

3 simple but highly effective tips to train your brain to be smarter3 simple but highly effective tips to train your brain to be smarterYou likely go to the gym to work your muscles, hike for endurance, and do yoga for flexibility- but how often does your brain get a workout?If you dont take care to exercise your brain regularly, it can wither, just like unworked muscles.Follow Ladders on FlipboardFollow Ladders magazines on Flipboard covering Happiness, Productivity, Job Satisfaction, Neuroscience, and moraThe human brain is made up of nerve cells called neurons, connected by synapses, which transport information from one neuron to the other. Just like other muscles and organs, the brain changes with age- synapses fire more slowly, some cells die off, and the overall mass of the organ shrinks.But studies have shown that any exercising of the brain may elend only stave off brain degeneration but can also reverse memory loss and improve mental agility.Here are some simple tips and tri cks that can make your brain faster, sharper and smarter1. Try using mental modelsMany of the most successful self-made billionaire entrepreneurs- Ray Dalio,Elon Musk, andCharlie Munger- all swear by mental models.A mental model is a concept, framework, or worldview that you carry around in your mind to help you interpret the world and understand the relationship between things. For example, supply and demand is a mental model that helps you understand the economy.Entropyis a mental model that makes sense of disorder and decay. And game theory is a mental model that helps you understand how relationships and trust work.The brain needs a variety of mental models to piece together a complete picture of the world. The more sources you have to draw upon, the clearer your thinking becomes. The best thinkers avoid looking at life through the lens of one subject or strategy.Here are some useful mental models you can use to improve brain functionCircle of competence.This mental model was de veloped by Warren Buffett and Charlie Munger to describe limiting your financial investments in areas where you may have limited understanding or experience. More broadly, it recommends recognizing the limits of your knowledge to develop an edge over others. When ego drives your undertakings, you wind up with cognitive blind spots. But understanding your circle of competence improves decision-making and outcomes.Occams razor.Attributed to the medieval philosopher William of Occam, this mental model holds that simple explanations are more likely to be true than complicated ones. Instead of wasting your time trying to disprove complex scenarios, you can make decisions more confidently by basing them on the explanation that has the fewest moving parts.Inversion.Most of us tend to think one way about a problem forward. Inversion allows us to flip the problem around and think backward. Sometimes its good to start at the beginning, but it can be more useful to start at the end. Developed by the ancient Stoic philosophers, inversion is a powerful tool to improve your thinking because it helps you identify and remove obstacles to success.Hanlons razor.Named for Robert J. Hanlon, this philosophical razor suggests not attributing to malice that which is more easily explained by stupidity. By not generally assuming that bad results are the fault of a bad actor, you look for options instead of missing opportunities. This model reiterates that people make mistakes and forces you to ask yourself is another reasonable explanation?unterstellung are just a few ofthousandsof useful mental models. The quality of our thinking is directly proportional to the number of models in our heads. The more models we have, the more likely we are to keep our brains sharp.2. Play gamesThe brain can be lazy. Once it realizes it has mastered something, it stops trying.But there are steps you can take to increase the range of mental motion by activating different parts of the brain. The trick is to constantly push your limits. Brainteasers and other problem-solving games are useful here. Here are some optionsSodoku.To complete a Sudoku puzzle you have to look ahead and follow trails of consequences- if you put a six in this box, that one must be an eight and this one a four, etc. This planning helps improve short-term memory and concentration.Lumosity.Lumosity is one of the most-developedbrain training websites around. It provides fun brain training and mental fitness games, tests, and activities backed by science. Youll challenge your brain, and keep track of your results and improvement. In addition to the website, apps are available for iOS and Android, so you can train on the go.Crossword puzzles.Crosswords are a classic brain trainer, accessing not only verbal language but your memory from many dimensions of knowledge. Studies have shown thatcrossword puzzles may delay memory loss and preserve cognitive function.Peak. This free app provides more than 40 fun games to h elp you exercise your brain. Peak is designed to improve your memory, sharpen your problem-solving skills, and develop your mental agility. Each game has been developed by neuroscientists and the app offers in-depth insights to help you track your progress.You should also do mental math whenever possible. Instead of whipping out your calculator app, calculate the tip in your head or try to total up the amount for items purchased at the grocery store.Research shows that variation in our mental activity is the key to long-term success. By regularly putting your brain to work, you can improve memory and other types of cognitive function.3. Exercise, meditate, and dietRegular exercise, proper nutrition, and mindfulness meditation all increase blood flow to the brain, which helps to enhance cognitive reserves.In particular, research shows thatregular aerobic exercise boosts the size of the hippocampus, the brain area involved in verbal memory and learning. Other studies show that the par ts of the brain thatcontrol thinking and memoryare bigger in people who exercise than in people who dont.Diet is also an important component of brain health.AMediterranean-style dietrich in fish, whole grains, green leafy vegetables, olives, and nuts helps maintain brain health and may reduce the risk of Alzheimers disease. Fish like tuna, mackerel, and salmon are rich in fatty acids that have been shown to help neuron function. And dont forget to take your Omega 3- ansicht fatty acids play an important role in brain function and development.Finally, mindfulness meditation is great for keeping your brain sharp. A recent UCLAstudyfound that long-term meditators had better-preserved brains than non-meditators as they aged. Likewise, a Harvard studyfound that eight weeks of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) was found to increase cortical thickness in the hippocampus, which governs learning and memory.Because nearly everything we do requires a sharp mind, these simple hacks are a no-brainer.This article first appeared on Minutes Magazine.You might also enjoyNew neuroscience reveals 4 rituals that will make you happyStrangers know your social class in the first seven words you say, study finds10 lessons from Benjamin Franklins daily schedule that will double your productivityThe worst mistakes you can make in an interview, according to 12 CEOs10 habits of mentally strong people

Incorporation Checklist - State Requirements

Incorporation Checklist - State RequirementsIncorporation Checklist - State RequirementsIncorporation ChecklistThis checklist is provided at no extra charge to you. While we believe the checklist was correct and accurate when created, laws do change over time and the various government departments may have changed their fees and other requirements. You should always confirm with the government Corporations department in your jurisdiction or qualified legal counsel to ensure that you have completed all the necessary steps to be able to properly incorporate your Corporation.State Requirement ChecklistNote In addition to the forms listed, you will also be required to file an annual or biannual report. Upon incorporation, you should receive an information package from your secretary of state if you do not, you should contact them to inquire about ongoing periodic filings.GeneralYou may wish to apply for a corporate name reservation prior to submitting your Articles of Incorporation to en sure that the application goes smoothly and that your Articles of Incorporation are not rejected because of a naming issue.Alabama Checklist Reservation of corporate name (contact the schreibstube of the Secretary of State) Articles of Incorporation Submit to a probate Judge in the county where the Corporations registered office is located. Original 2 Copies. The Probate Judge will collect the Secretary of State filing fee. Certificate of Name Reservation (sent by Secretary of State). File the Articles of Incorporation and the Certificate of Name Reservation in the county where the corporations registered office is located.

How to Handle Band Breakups

How to Handle Band BreakupsHow to Handle Band BreakupsBand breakups are kind of like divorces. Sometimes theyre amicable, but often theyre not. Like divorces, sometimes there are assets to be divided and making the wrong calls here can have long-lasting implications. Despite some short-term hard feelings, it is possible to manage a break up while protecting your rights and keeping your sanity intact. If you have a combo contract, it should have provisions that dictate how to deal with things like unused recordings, songwriting credits and more, so all you have to do is abide by it. But for those who dont have a contract specifying how things are to be handled, here are some tips. Make a List of the Issues How long your band welches together and how much work youve done will dictate how messy the break up might be.Some issues will be more contentious than others, and youll have a much easier time working through all of them if you clearly identify them and treat each one as a sepa rate subject whenever possible. Each bands situation will vary, but here are a few common concerns that arise. Songwriting Credits This one is really important if your group is earning royalties or if anyone in the group hopes to use some of the groups songs in future projects. In reality, this conversation is one of all bands should be having well before a break-up enters the equation. You might be surprised how differently you all view your own contributions and hammering these things out when things are tense is tough. If you have made agreements in the past when it comes to songwriting credits, stick to them. You might be angry now, but if you have agreed to share all the credit for the music equally in the past - even if only one of you actually did the work - take some deep breaths and honor the agreement. If you all share ownership of the songs, you should discuss what that means. Will you all have free reign to cover the songs in future projects? What happens if one of y ou joins a new band and suddenly has a hit on your hands with a song that was co-written with this band youre leaving now? In that case, the people who share songwriting credits are due to a royalty. It will get more complex if it becomes an issue sometime down the line and hasnt been addressed. Unreleased Recordings If you have unreleased recordings sitting around, what are you going to do with them? When youve invested a lot of money in recording, then obviously the idea of trying to recoup that money by selling the music is appealing. If you have signed a contract with a label that obligates you to deliver an album, then youre going to have to deliver the album or buy yourself out of the contract. How much that costs depend on how much the label has invested in your band and what they think they could have made from selling your record. If youre dealing with a small indie, you might be able to come to some sort of agreement.If youre dealing with a larger label that has lawyer s involved, then youll need to get a lawyer as well. If you dont have a deal, things are easier. If youre still friends and can work together to try and sell the record, great. Just make sure you discuss things like how youll divide the work, the expenses, and the profits. If you cant work together, then you might have to chalk it up to experience. If some members of the group have invested more financially into the project than others, the fair thing to do is try to reimburse them somehow. Dividing Co-Owned Property Many times, groups dont just invest in recording together, but they also sink their cash into gear for the group. If you chipped in for a drum kit, but you dont play the drums, dont fight for it. The drummer can pony up the cash to pay everyone back their share, or you can all sell the kit and split the cash. Group Finances In bands, you often find that some members are in a position to contribute financially more than others. Obviously, this is less of a probl em when things are going well, but can be a huge problem when things break down. Unless you have some agreement that states otherwise if youre the one who has been shelling out the cash, you cant make anyone pay you back. Of course, everyone should try to make this kind of stuff fair, but it doesnt always happen. Leftover Stock If youself-released your record, what happens to your stock when the group is no more? This one really depends on how acrimonious the split is. If you can maintain a professional relationship, then it is in everyones interest to continue to try and sell the stock. If you do so, then make sure you all are on the saatkorn page as to how it will work like who will shoulder the responsibility and how income and expenses will be handled. If you just cant do it, then the stock is a wash. Note the important thing here You all have to agree what will happen. You cant decide unilaterally to sell the stock over the objections of everyone else. Band Breakups More Issues and Karma Boosters The above list of issues is in no way exhaustive. Your specific circumstances will dictate the issues you have to handle. If you handle everything methodically and with a level head, and if you remember that you all used to be friends if the split is getting nasty, then you should be able to address everything you need to and keep your sanity at the same time. In the absence of a band contract, it all comes down to treating each other with respect, which is not always easy. Everyone has seen band breakups get really mean. But even though you might not have many legal obligations, sticking to these few rules are good karma. The music industry is surprisingly small. If you treat people badeanstaltly, word will get out, and youll pay for it someday. Save yourself the trouble and consider these band break-up niceties What happens in the band stays in the band. Dont go blabbing everyones secrets around town. Your bandmates likely have a few things on you that you dont want everyone to know, right? Exercise some discretion.Similarly, dont bad mouth people. Its bad form. Theres usually enough blame to go around, and it doesnt really fool anyone.If you owe people money, try to pay them back. At least acknowledge the debt and do your best to make it right.If some of you plan to continue to play together, dont use this bond to bully other band members when youre trying to come to an agreement on how to work out issues in the break-up. Dont withhold recordings, gear, money or anything else just because the balance of power happens to be in your favor for the moment. Get some perspective. As intense as these situations can be, if you take a step back, youll see that the future of civilization is not hinging on your actions. It will help you keep a level head. The Band Break-Up Bottom Line Band breakups can be incredibly stressful, but you can mitigate that by taking the right approach. Its a learning experience, and when things calm down, y oull realize youve come away with some good lessons that you can apply to your music career in the future.