The race for quantum supremacy isn't just between tech companies, but between nation-states as well.

Why it matters: The first country to produce effective, working quantum computers will have a key advantage in economics, defense and cybersecurity and the U.S., China, and Europe are all competing.

What's happening: Last month, the Commerce Department added a dozen Chinese companies to a trade blacklist in an effort to prevent emerging U.S. technologies from being used for quantum computing efforts that would boost Beijing's military.

The big picture: One of the clearest uses of quantum computing is to eventually break the complex mathematical problems used to encrypt information of all kinds on the internet, including sensitive government data.

Between the lines: While U.S. companies generally have the lead on building better quantum computers, China has invested massively in the industry, including an $11 billion national laboratory for quantum information sciences.

What to watch: Progress on American efforts to develop post-quantum cryptography standards that would resist more powerful quantum computers, as well as research from the five new quantum institutes created by the White House last year.

The bottom line: "The economy for the next hundred years will be driven by quantum," says Chapman. "So it's not a game we want to lose."

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Running the international quantum race - Axios

The race to lead in quantum computing is not just a matter of two. Currently the United States and China have the upper hand, but other countries, including Germany, France or the United Kingdom, are also making important contributions with a very clear purpose: to acquire a solid technological foundation in this discipline.

In the medium term, quantum computing, if it continues to develop as it has done during the last decade and little by little it circumvents the challenges that still remain to be solved, will make a difference not only in the field of scientific research; also in telecommunications, economy or in the very sensitive field of cryptography, among other critical areas for many nations.

Quantum computing will make a difference not only in the field of scientific research; also in telecommunications, economics or in the very sensitive field of cryptography

The countries that I mentioned in the first paragraph of this article, and some others, have embarked on a long-distance race to avoid being left off the hook, but beyond this international pulse there is a strictly technical struggle that is going relatively unnoticed outside the scientific realm.

The interesting thing is that in this context, the leading role is not played by the countries that seek to lead in quantum computing; It is demanded by the most advanced technologies that are being used to make qubits. However, that in an area where there is so much to do we have several options on the table is great news. Far from being a problem, any innovation that allows us to develop more and better qubits is welcome.

Having quantum computers with many qubits is crucial. And it is so not only because by increasing the number of qubits it is possible to carry out many more calculations simultaneously, but also because in order to make these equipment capable of make amends for their own mistakes it is essential to have more qubits. So many more.

Eagle, the most advanced quantum processor to date, is from IBM and has no less than 127 qubits

The most advanced quantum processor developed to date, known as Eagle, was unveiled by IBM in mid-November, and has 127 qubits. This company plans to have a 433 qubit quantum chip ready by 2022, and one of no less than 1121 qubits in 2023. If this progression is confirmed, come from the hand of IBM or any other company, the first quantum processors with more than a million qubits will arrive in a few years, and just at that moment quantum computers will reach a tipping point.

During the conversation we had with Ignacio Cirac, a Spanish scientist unanimously considered one of the founding fathers of quantum computing, last June he explained to us how many qubits a quantum processor must have to be capable of solve truly significant problems and implement the long-awaited bug fix:

The number of qubits will depend on the type of problems we want to solve with quantum computers. To tackle symbolic problems we will need to have several million qubits. Probably even hundreds of millions of qubits. Right now we are talking about a hundred qubits, so there is a long way to go. There are people who say that 100,000 qubits may solve a specific problem, but it really takes a lot of qubits.

There is no doubt that much remains to be done. Very much. But the researchers are on it. And, furthermore, they are not following a single path. Currently there are two technologies that are proving to have enormous potential not only because of their ability to allow us to increase the number of qubits of quantum processors, but also because they are allowing researchers fine-tune higher quality qubits.

As the quality of a qubit increases, the greater its ability to resist quantum decoherence, which is the phenomenon that appears when the quantum effects that give these computers an insurmountable advantage over classical supercomputers vanish. This is the reason why it is crucial not only to have processors with more qubits, but also to develop higher quality qubits.

Intel is working to increase the scalability of its quantum processors by applying the knowledge that this company has accumulated during decades of producing CMOS devices in their manufacture.

The technology that companies such as IBM, Google or Intel, among others, are using to manufacture their quantum processors uses the superconducting qubits, which are characterized by working at a temperature of about 20 millikelvin, which is approximately -273 degrees Celsius. It is imperative that they operate with the highest degree of isolation from the environment possible and at such an astonishingly low temperature.

IBM aims to have a quantum processor with 1,121 qubits by 2023, and its competitors are likely to be on its heels.

And it is because this minimum level of energy allows them to extend the time during which the quantum states of the system are maintained, and, at the same time, also postpone the moment in which quantum decoherence appears. Quantum states are maintained for a limited period of time, and this time is precisely what we have for carry out quantum logic operations with the qubits of our computer.

One of the greatest successes that superconducting qubits are achieving is precisely how fast they are allowing scaling the number of quantum bits. As weve seen, IBM aims to have a 1,121-qubit quantum processor by 2023, and possibly Intel, Google, and the quantum chips being developed by China will undergo similar development.

In fact, Intel announced just a few days ago that it is working to increase scalability of its quantum processors, applying in their manufacture all the knowledge that this company has accumulated during decades of production of CMOS devices. In fact, the background that both this company and IBM have in the field of semiconductor production works in their favor because all that knowledge is being very useful when it comes to addressing the progressive refinement of their superconducting qubits.

This is the path that IonQ and Honeywell are taking, and they seem to be getting good results. In this article we are not going to delve into the operation of this technology so as not to complicate it too much (we can do it in another report if you are interested in this topic and you confirm it in the comments), but it is interesting that very broadly we can intuit what is your strategy to identify how superconducting qubits differ from those that use ion traps.

Ion trap qubits use positively charged ionized atoms, keeping them confined and isolated in an electromagnetic field

These last use ionized atomsTherefore, they have a non-neutral global electrical charge that allows them to be isolated and confined within an electromagnetic field. This is the starting point of this technology, and from here the strategies used by IonQ and Honeywell, which are the companies that have decided to travel this path with more impetus, to manipulate these ionized atoms and carry out logical operations with them differ. slightly.

The ion-trapped qubits that IonQ and Honeywell are using are more robust than superconducting qubits, allowing them to effectively bypass quantum decoherence for longer.

IonQ acts on the quantum state of its qubits with ion traps by cooling them to reduce the computational noise level and using lasers just below to trade them. But it does not use a single laser; It uses one for each ion, and also a global laser that acts on all of them simultaneously. Honeywell also uses ionized atoms and lasers, but the procedure it uses to establish entanglement between two ions and act on them with a laser is different from that used by IonQ.

In any case, the most interesting thing is that both Honeywell and IonQ ensure that their qubits with ion traps they are more robust than the superconducting qubits used by your competitors. And this means, as we have seen a few lines above, that they manage to preserve the stability of a quantum state for a longer time, which allows them to carry out, according to these companies, more operations with their qubits before quantum decoherence appears. .

Although, as we have seen, superconducting qubits and those using ion traps are currently the most highly developed, they are not the only technologies within our grasp. Many research groups are working in this area, and some promising lines of research propose different ideas at the two in which we just inquired.

There are experts in Spain who work in quantum computing with molecules. They implant ions in macromolecules, store information in them, and can do little calculations. It is a very unique line both in Europe and in the world that could be strengthened. There are many areas where all the greater robustness of ion-trapped qubits versus superconducting qubits. And, incidentally, he told us about another very promising technology, which reminds us that, fortunately, there are several attractive lines of research open that seek to develop more robust and stable qubits:

Superconducting qubits will probably help us to have more qubits, but we think they will have more errors than ion qubits. There is also a third technology, neutral atoms, in which several research groups are working and which is managing to gather more qubits while maintaining the accuracy and lack of errors of the other systems. I hope that very soon we will be able to develop more advanced technologies that will surpass those we have today.

Images | Honeywell | IonQ | Intel

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In the race for the best quantum computer there are two sides, and they are not the United States and China: they are the two most advanced qubit...

IonQ(NYSE:IONQ) seeks to lead the way in a very specific market: quantum computing. Fortunately, you dont have to be a mathematician or computer scientist to invest in IONQ stock.

Source: Amin Van / Shutterstock.com

It is important to understand what the company does, though. To put it simply, IonQ develops quantum computers designed to solve the worlds most complex problems.

This niche industry has vast moneymaking potential. According to IonQ, experts predict that the total addressable market for quantum computing will reach around $65 billion by 2030.

IonQ got in fairly early and aggressively, as the company has been around since 2015 and produced six generations of quantum computers. Theres a terrific investment opportunity here, yet the share price is down and if you ask me, this just doesnt compute.

Going back to the beginning, IonQoffered its shares for public tradingon theNew York Stock Exchange on Oct. 1, 2021, after reverse-merging with dMY Technology Group III.

The stock started off at around $10 but sank to the low $7s in just a few days time. However, that turned out to be a great time to start a long position.

Amazingly, IONQ stock staged a swift turnaround and soared to nearly $36 in November. In hindsight, however, this rally went too fast and too far.

Inevitably, a retracement ensued and the early investors had to cough up some of their gains. By early December, the share price had declined to $18 and change.

Sure, you could wait and hope that IONQ stock falls further before considering a position. Yet, you might miss out on a buy-the-dip opportunity with an ambitious, future-facing tech business.

I case I didnt make it abundantly clear already, IonQ is serious about advancing quantum-computing technology.

Case in point: in order to cement its leadership position in this niche, IonQ recently revealed its plans to use barium ions as qubits in its systems, thereby bringing about a wave of advantages it believes will enable advanced quantum computing architectures.

A qubit, or quantum bit, is basically a tiny bit of coded information in quantum mechanics.

Its perfectly fine if you dont fully understand the scientific minutiae, as IonQ President and CEO Peter Chapman and his team have the necessary know-how and experience.

We believe the advanced architectures enabled by barium qubits will be even more powerful and more scalable than the systems we have been able to build so far, opening the door to broader applications of quantum computing, Chapman assured.

Apparently, the advantages of using barium ions as qubits include lower error rates, higher gate fidelity, better state detection, more easily networked quantum systems and iterable, more reliable hardware, with more uptime for customers.

Thankfully, now I can leave the science to the scientists, and focus on what I do best: breaking down financial data.After all, Id be hard-pressed to recommend any company if it didnt at least have a decent capital position.

CFO Thomas Kramer was evidently glad to report that, as of Sept. 30 IonQ had cash and cash equivalents of $587 million.The companys strong balance sheet, according to Kramer will allow IonQ to accelerate [the] scaling of all business functions and continue attracting the industrys best and brightest.

Since IonQ is well-capitalized, the company should be well-positioned to benefit from Capitol Hills interest in quantum as shown by the infrastructure bill, the CFO added.

Its also worth noting that IonQ generated $223,000 in revenues during 2021s third quarter, bringing the year-to-date total to $451,000.

Hopefully, the company can parlay its quantum-computing know-how into seven-figure revenues in the near future.

IonQs loyal investors dont need to understand everything about qubits. They only need to envision a robust future for the quantum-computing market.

We cant claim that IonQ is generating massive revenues at this point. Therefore, it requires patience and foresight to invest in this company with confidence.

Yet, an early stake could offer vast rewards in the long run. After all, when it comes to deep-level, next-gen quantum computing, IonQ clearly has it down to a science.

On the date of publication, David Moadeldid not have (either directly or indirectly) any positions in the securities mentioned in this article.The opinions expressed in this article are those of the writer, subject to the InvestorPlace.comPublishing Guidelines.

David Moadel has provided compelling content and crossed the occasional line on behalf of Crush the Street, Market Realist, TalkMarkets, Finom Group, Benzinga, and (of course) InvestorPlace.com. He also serves as the chief analyst and market researcher for Portfolio Wealth Global and hosts the popular financial YouTube channel Looking at the Markets.

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IonQ Stock Is an Investment in Cutting Edge, Global Solutions - InvestorPlace

The coming era of quantum computing how it will usher in a new era for our world one company on the cutting edge to consider today

Atoms dont follow the traditional rules of physics.

Our top scientists now understand that quantum particles can move forward or backward in time.

It gets crazier

They can also exist in two places at onceand even teleport.

Its mind-blowing stuff.

Now, consider that these strange behaviors are what leading technologists are trying to harness as they create a tool that will transform, well,everything.

***That tool is the quantum computer

Heres a boiled-down description from our hypergrowth expert, Luke Lango:

While the engineering behind quantum computing is super complex, the big idea is quite simple: Take the unique attributes of quantum mechanics such as super-positioning and entanglement and apply them to computing, so as to create a new generation of quantum computers that can do things infinitely faster than even the fastest supercomputers can do today.

Its hard to grasp the additional speed of these quantum computers, and what it means for coming technological advancements.

But consider this comparison from Peter Chapman, CEO of leading quantum startup, IonQ:

The differences between quantum computers and classical computers are even more vast than those between classical computers and pen and paper.

Futurist, Bernard Marr, writes that quantum computers can solve problems that would take a traditional computer a billion years to solve.

And this isnt just a later this decade kind of technology were already tiptoeing into this world.

FromMedium:

In 2019, Googles quantum computer did a calculation in less than four minutes that would take the worlds most powerful computer 10,000 years to do

This makes Googles quantum computer about 158 million times faster than the worlds fastest supercomputer

It is the seed for the worlds first fully functional quantum computer that can make better medicines, create smarter artificial intelligence and solve great riddles of the cosmos

As to the ability of quantum computers to change everything, there are many examples, but consider perhaps the most significant healthcare.

FromForbes:

Quantum computers could enable drastic progression in drug discovery and development, ultimately giving scientists the ability to solve problems that are currently intractable

Scientists, such as those at Swiss pharmaceutical company, Roche, hope that quantum simulations will speed up the development of drugs and vaccines to protect against the likes of Covid-19, influenza, cancer and even potentially find a cure for Alzheimers.

***Big tech is already funneling money into this budding technology

Google isnt the only big tech name pouring money into research here.

Back to Luke:

In December of 2019, Amazon announced that the company would be jumping into the quantum compute space by launchingBraket, its own Quantum Computing as a Service (QCaaS) business.

Not two weeks later, Intel unveiled a first-of-its-kind cryogenic control chip Horse Ridge to help facilitate the development of full-stack quantum computing systems.

More recently, IBM just shipped its first quantum computer to Germany (this summer), marking the first quantum computer in Europe. (Also this summer), researchers at the University of Innsbruck, Austria, fabricated a compact quantum computer processor that fits in two small boxes a huge step forward for the miniaturization of these computers.

Folks the quantum computing revolution startsnow and over the next decade, the rise of quantum computing will turn into one of Wall Streets biggest investment megatrends.

Lets put some numbers on Lukes claim.

FromGlobalNewswire:

The Global Quantum Computing Market Size is expected to value USD 487.4 million in 2021 and is expected to reach USD 3728.4 million by 2030 at a CAGR of 25.40% over the forecast period from 2021 to 2030.

We will be bringing you news of advancements here in theDigestover the coming years, as well as specific quantum-related recommendations for your portfolio. But its never too early to begin.

And so today, were peering over Lukes shoulder at a recent quantum computing play he wrote about in his service,The Daily 10X Stock Report. It turns out, this company is the same one that our venture capital expert, Cody Shirk, highlighted in his recent issue ofVenture Capital Digest.

Whats coming with quantum computing is going to be nothing short of astonishing. Today, lets put a company on your radar thats right in the middle of all of it.

***A pure-play quantum computing company

For newerDigestreaders, Luke is the analyst behindTheDaily 10X, as we call it. His specialty is finding market-leading tech innovators that are pioneering explosive trends, capable of generating 10X returns for investors over the long-term.

TheDaily 10Xis like nothing else we offer. Luke doesnt keep a portfolio or provide sell advice. But every day the market is open, he highlights a small cap stock with the potential to grow 1,000%.

Its a lucrative approach to the markets. To illustrate, in just the past five years, Luke has recommended 17 different 1,000%+ gaining stocks. Most investors never enjoy even one such 10X-winner.

Returning to quantum computers, whats the company on Lukes radar? The same that caught Cody Shirks eye?

From Luke:

The company were talking about isRigetti,who is coming public via a SPAC merger withSupernova Partners Acquisition Company II(SNII).

Rigetti is a pure-play quantum computing company founded in 2013 by someone we perceive as a modern-day genius, Chad Rigetti. Mr. Rigetti is an Applied Physics PhD from Yale that previously was a researcher for three years at IBMs quantum computing group. Very few people know the quantum computing industry like him.

Over the past eight years, Rigetti has established itself as a thought and technology leader in the quantum computing space. The company has secured huge partnerships with power tech players like Amazon Web Services and found itself cited in over 1,000 peer-reviewed publications. The company has also amassed a workforce in excess of 130 employees, over 40 of whom are PhD holders.

In Lukes issue, he dives into Rigettis competitive advantage its proprietary and scalable chip architecture. He notes that it appears to be highly effective and highly defensible.

But whats especially interesting at the moment is its valuation. At just $1.7 billion, its well beneath other quantum computing startups that are valued in the multi-billion-dollar range.

***How might Rigetti 10X your investment?

Lets go back to Luke:

Management pegs its addressable market at $850 billion, very similar to estimates being thrown around by other public quantum computing companies.

Revenues are expected around $600 million by 2026. That number could easily eclipse $1 billion by 2030.

Application software stocks of this ilk tend to trade around 11X sales.

That implies a long-term valuation target of $11 billion.

***One final note on Rigetti and quantum computing investing in general

Luke makes a great point, namely, that were in the earliest of the early days when it comes to investing here. That means plenty of risk we simply dont know who tomorrows winners will be.

In this type of situation, small position sizes in a basket of sector-related companies is often the best approach. This offers diversification, as well as the chance you align some of your money with tomorrows big winner.

On this note, heres Luke to take us out:

Were in love with the quantum computing market. I know. Were not supposed to fall in love in the stock market, but quantum computing is a rare exception because the trend will be that big and is that inevitable.

When you find a trend with huge potential like this, you have to take multiple shots on goal within the industry to maximize your return potential.

That is mostly why Rigetti is so interesting. It is another high-quality shot on goal in the quantum computing industry.

Have a good evening,

Jeff Remsburg

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The Next Megatrend Has Started - InvestorPlace

A recent reportpublished by theStreet.comranked QTUMas one of the top tech ETFs for 2022, beating out all of all of GlobalX's and Ark's suite of ETFs.QTUM's values hasrisen over34% so far in 2021,compared to ARKK'sbeing down22%.

QTUMlaunchedinSeptember2018 and now hasover $170 million in AUM. With 70 holdings and a 0.40% expense ratio, Defiance'sQTUM ETF offers diversified yet targeted exposureto a range oftopcloud computing, machine learning andquantum computing stocks.

Media Contact:

Julia Stoll MacMillan Communications (212) 473-4442[emailprotected]

As of this writing the Fund may or may not hold one or more of the positions (stocks) mentioned in the article. For a current list of holdings, click here

Fund holdings and sector allocations are subject to change at any time and should not be considered recommendations to buy or sell any security.

The Funds' investment objectives, risks, charges, and expenses must be considered carefully before investing. Theprospectuscontain this and other important information about the investment company. Please read it carefully before investing. A hard copy of the prospectus can be requested by calling 833.333.9383.

Investing involves risk. Principal loss is possible. As an ETF, the funds may trade at a premium or discount to NAV. Shares of any ETF are bought and sold at market price (not NAV) and are not individually redeemed from the Fund. The Funds are not actively managed and would not sell a security due to current or projected under performance unless that security is removed from the Index or is required upon a reconstitution of the Index. A portfolio concentrated in a single industry or country, may be subject to a higher degree of risk. The value of stocks of information technology companies are particularly vulnerable to rapid changes in technology product cycles, rapid product obsolescence, government regulation and competition. The Funds are considered to be non-diversified, so they may invest more of its assets in the securities of a single issuer or a smaller number of issuers. Investments in foreign securities involve certain risks including risk of loss due to foreign currency fluctuations or to political or economic instability. This risk is magnified in emerging markets. Small and mid-cap companies are subject to greater and more unpredictable price changes than securities of large-cap companies.The possible applications of quantum computing are only in the exploration stages, and the possibility of returns is uncertain and may not be realized in the near future. The "BlueStar Quantum Computing and Machine Learning Index", "BQTUM Index" (collectively "Quantum Computing and Machine Learning Index"), is the exclusive property and a trademark of BlueStar Global Investors LLC d/b/a BlueStar Indexes and has been licensed for use for certain purposes by Defiance ETFs LLC. Products based on the Quantum Computing and Machine Learning Index are not sponsored, endorsed, sold, or promoted by BlueStar Global Investors, LLC or BlueStar Indexes, and BlueStar Global Investors, LLC and BlueStar Indexes makes no representation regarding the advisability of trading in such product(s). It is not possible to invest directly in an index.

Total return represents changes to the NAV and accounts for distributions from the fund. Median 30 Day Spread is a calculation of Fund's median bid-ask spread, expressed as a percentage rounded to the nearest hundredth, computed by: identifying the Fund's national best bid and national best offer as of the end of each 10 second interval during each trading day of the last 30 calendar days; dividing the difference between each such bid and offer by the midpoint of the national best bid and national best offer; and identifying the median of those values.

Diversification does not ensure a profit nor protect against loss in a declining market. Commissions may be charged on trades.

QTUM is distributed by Foreside Fund Services, LLC.

SOURCE Defiance ETFs

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$QTUM ETF, Disruptive Tech Exposure without the Soul Searching - PRNewswire

Personally, I don't make New Year's Resolutions anymore, because if something is worth doing, it is worth doing all year long. Plus, who wants to feel disappointed in themselves when you inevitably break your resolution? That being said, I looked up the most common New Year's Resolutions and there were some variables depending on the source. A lot of the categories overlap. For example, if you want to be healthier, you probably want to eat better, exercise more, and have less stress. I think Tia Mowry's cookbook, "The Quick Fix Kitchen: Easy Recipes & Time-Saving Tips For A Healthier, Stress-Free Life" ticks a lot of those boxes. Some people may want to live a more sustainable life or take up a new hobby by gardening and growing their own food. Scuddles Garden Tools will be a big help for those goals. Others may want to spend more time outdoors and spend quality time with loved ones. The Wicker Cooler Picnic Basket, which is one of my favorite things on this list, can fulfill those goals. Some may want to finally take that trip of a lifetime or just experience new places. Use the Travel Pin Board as a fun way to celebrate those trips. I hope you find something on this list to help you achieve your goals and don't be too hard on yourself if have a hard time sticking to your resolutions. You can try again tomorrow. In the meantime, have fun with these 87 Inspirational Challenge Cards to Make Your Life Better!

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The Renpho Smart BMI Scale connects with apps to help accomplish fitness goals, track daily, weekly, and monthly progress, and save historical data. The scale uses "advanced technology to calculate 13 key body composition metrics". Simply download the Renpho app and it will work with Fitbit and Google Fit. "Track Your Body, Not Just Your Weight".

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"All gardeners need quality Gardening tools that will perform well for many years," which is why Scuddles offers a Lifetime warranty on their Eight Piece Heavy Duty Gardening Kit. The kit includes gloves, hand trowel, digging fork, shovel, spade, weeder, transplanting tool, and a garden tote bag to carry it all! The tools have ergonomic handles for comfortable use and thick-gauge stainless steel blades that won't rust or bend. Garden with your kids and "Grow Together"!

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Everything anyone wants to know about Building Your Backyard Homestead is in this book by David Toht. Learn how to build raised beds, planters, and arbors. Build a chicken coop or install a fence. Build a goat shed or erect a windmill or install a solar system. Learn about Aquaponics or building beehives. Learn about outdoor wiring and plumbing basics. All that is just a start. This book has every bit of knowledge that will fit into 256 pages, which turns out to be 40 projects.

Amazon

I used to paint in high school, and when my daughters saw some of my old projects, they used to ask me why I don't paint anymore. It is amazing how much of what used to be done for joy and fun is replaced by the necessities of everyday life. I still haven't quite found the time to start painting again, but when I do, I will want a set like this that has everything needed to start painting again. It includes 24 acrylic paint colors, 22 paintbrushes, 2 stretched canvases, 3 canvas panels, and an adjustable easel.

Amazon

Embroidery is another skill of mine that has fallen by the wayside. My grandmother taught me to embroider when I would stay with her during summer break. I would have to relearn some of the different stitches I used to know. This Embroidery Kit for Starters would be a good foray back to the Victorian skill of fancy needlework. The kit includes three plastic hoops, three stamped fabric pieces, instructions for three patterns, six needles, and all the thread needed. If only I can do as good as the pictures!

Amazon

So many people are taking outdoor portraits of families as a side hustle, this would be a good time to hone those photography skills. The Kodak PIXPRO FZ43 16.15MP Digital Camera would be a good starting point. This bundle has everything needed to get sharp, high-quality images and videos. It has a 4x Optical Zoom Lens, digital image stabilization, 9 point autofocus modes, Face, Blink, and Smile Detection just to name a few of the features. Also included are a memory card, Point & Shoot case, card reader, cleaning system, screen protector, and Tabletop Tripod.

Amazon

It is shocking how affordable this Samsung Galaxy Chromebook is! I was really pleasantly surprised. I generally prefer to work on my desktop, but sometimes I want the flexibility to be able to work in a different environment. This Chromebook is compact and light while still having military-grade durability. The display is 11.6" and the keyboard and trackpad are full-sized. 12.5 hours of battery life can make for a very productive day and there are multiple layers of built-in virus protection.

Amazon

I think it is so much more thoughtful to take the time to actually pick a card, write a note, and mail a letter than to just text or send a greeting on Facebook. It seems like all the birthday cards I get in the mail now are from my bank or credit card company. Actually writing a letter to a friend or family member on pretty Stationery is a practice we need to bring back. This cute patterned stationery includes 32 pages of writing paper and 16 envelopes in various styles.

Amazon

Set Boundaries, Find Peace is a New York Times bestseller by one of the most influential therapists on Instagram, Nedra Glover Tawwab. The book is all about setting healthy boundaries and how we can "express our needs, say "no", and be assertive without offending" people. Healthy boundaries are needed "to achieve work/life balance, cope with toxic people, and enjoy rewarding relationships with partners, friends, and family."

Amazon

Amazon's #1 Best Seller in Foreign Language Translators is POCKETALKS Portable Two-Way Voice Interpreter. The "built-in data plan translates conversations anywhere internet signal is available." The translator allows the user to "travel and communicate confidently in 133 countries". One-year limited warranty.

Amazon

The Tribesigns 2 Drawer Lateral File Cabinet is a few steps above the old gray metal file cabinets of the past. I have a few file boxes, but I just can't keep organized with those. This file cabinet is available in Walnut, White, or Black. "The sleek and modern finish is an easy fit for any office or home study room.".

Amazon

It is so easy to say, "I'll do it tomorrow". I say that all too often. Get It Together by Melanie Cullen lays it all out. "Covered topics include healthcare, finances, dependent care, and funeral planning. From practical considerations, like coordinating care for children, pets, and other dependents,... it is easy to understand why this would be regarded as a trusted guide." The forms in the book can even be downloaded.

Amazon

"Write down all the things you have always wanted to do together but could never find the time" in Our Bucket List. There are 100 guided entries to answer questions like, "we want to do this because", and "to make it happen we need...". This journal can be the first step to making some of your dreams a reality.

Amazon

Building better habits is something Ksafe's Time Locking Container can help with. "Manage the amount of time you spend on your phone by placing it in the container, set a timer for how long you need to be away from it, and the lid will remain locked until the timer reaches zero!" Lock away whatever your temptation is whether it be cigarettes, candy, or phone.

Amazon

Pinch Me Therapy Dough is "a squishable putty that channels relief through the senses with its aromatic scent, soft texture, and calm color." It is a sensory dough that can be massaged between the fingers to relieve stress, enhance mood, and exercise hands. Think of it as a fidget toy for adults. Available in Ocean, Beach, Bumbleberry, Citrus, Refresh, and Spa scents.

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40 Genius Products That Will Help You Keep Your New Year's Resolutions - Brit + Co

The economics of taxes goes beyond public revenues. Taxes serve as important economic policy tools and growth drivers. Economic literature is fraught with case studies of countries that have leveraged taxation to stimulate consumption and grow local industries. Countries tend to reduce taxes during economic lull but increase the same during a boom. And there is often a trade-off between a higher tax burden and economic growth. Indeed, the questions relating to these decisions are not often as straightforward as they seem. Sometimes, such decisions could be as complicated as the devils choice; the alternative could, indeed, present themselves as the proverbial devil and the deep blue sea. Indeed, Nigeria is currently standing between the devil and the deep blue sea. Presently, the countrys documented sovereign debt has ballooned to about N35.5 trillion, with the Federal Government alone looking at borrowing close to half of the figure in the next three years as captured in the 2022-2024 Medium-term Expenditure Framework and Fiscal Stability Paper (MTEF/FSP). Thus, the country should, as suggested by the World Bank as well as the International Monetary Fund (IMF), look inward for resource mobilisation and think urgent tax reform as an important route to achieving this. The impact of such reforms in the form of additional burden however spells doom for existing tax payers. Yes, the fear of continuous debt accumulation could be the devil. But more taxes, of course, weaken the purchasing power of individuals and stifle consumption, with attendant consequences for social cohesion. Already, many Nigerians think the tax burden is already unbearable especially with the rising implicit component (the unnecessary cost inflicted on households because of neglect of social responsibilities of government), which the President of the African Development Bank (AfDB), Akinwumi Adesina, said has huge socio-economic impacts on households. In February 2020, the government adjusted the value-added tax (VAT) upward by 50 per cent through the Finance Act 2020 and argued that it would not have much impact on the poor as essential consumption was exempted pted. About two years later, Nigerians know better the implication of the increase. Inflation increased to a crisis level, pushing many companies into desperate cost-cutting options, including layoff and many consumers household incomes weakened. Last year also, the government expanded the band of excise duty, a category of tax originally known as sin tax (a name rooted in its prohibitive rather revenue-generating role). It was extended to the telecommunication sector. For a country whose unemployment, especially among the youth, has reached a crisis level, a contemplation of more taxes on businesses is like adding fuel to fire. At 33.3 per cent unemployment rate according to data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), the country is in the league of five countries with the worst unemployment rates globally. Hence, some economists advocated the use of fiscal incentives as opposed to taxes to encourage the private sector to create the much-needed jobs. Earlier, excise duty was imposed on alcoholic beverages in defiance of the impact on the industry, which is known for its high labour factor intensity. And now, the non-alcoholic beverage is awaiting sugar tax as contemplated in the Finance Bill 2022. Unfortunately, the beverage has had to bear the brunt of cut-throat indirect taxes as there is a limit to how much tax burden a manufacturer can pass to the consumer when the underlying commodity or service is reasonably elastic. With competition from cheaper brands and sachet alcoholic drinks, brewing firms in the country are groaning under the burden of excise duty as they struggle to manage costs that would have hitherto been passed to consumers. Already, consumer purchasing power has continued to drop with preference for cheaper commodities taking the centre stage in many of such purchases. But the obsession for tax financing could worsen the already bad situation. For instance, the Federal Government had introduced a new excise regime in 2018 to address shortfalls in revenues; the new regime led to an increase of at least N30 per litre of alcohol consumed in the country. Another increase to N35 per litre was implemented in June 2019. With another adjustment imminent, operators are already concerned about their survival, especially as inflation continues to take of chunk of individuals real incomes, limiting household spending. Industry sources estimate the new excise on alcoholic beverage to hover at N50 per litre, representing over 40 per cent increase. At N50 per litre, the proposed increment is expected to impose an additional tax burden of between N10 billion to N30 billion in excise on companies that are already in loss position. You can see the elasticity curve. And beyond a certain price point, consumers switch to local products. That is why I sometimes say it is important that we are not overtaxed, because what you can get with excise increase etcetera, is that there is more and more a gap between ourselves and the locals. And actually, the government might get less tax income because simply the elasticity curve will move consumers to the local brews, the immediate past Managing Director of Nigerian Breweries PLC, Jordi Borrut Bel, had said at a yearly general meeting. Indeed, as every other industry, Nigerian brewers compete with a potpourri of local and, sometimes, unsafe brands smuggled into the country through the porous borders. Already, the assorted local mixtures from the neighbouring countries have siezed the Nigerian market by the jugular, selling in sachets, bottles, and other packages at the motor parks. This is the challenge: an overpriced bottle of beer in Nigeria is like selling the available jobs to neighbouring West African countries where the local brews are imported. But this is, perhaps, the most damaging aspect of unaffordable excise duty on beer beverages there is a high positive correlation between the tax and the growth of the illicit market. African countries are known for weak implementation of fiscal policies including taxes. While the formal corporate organisations that create jobs and grow the economy are held hostage by such policies, the government inadvertently hands over the market to smugglers and illicit traders. Kenya, South Africa, Zambia, and many other African countries have had their fair, unsavoury taste of how misapplied exercise duties could create an illicit market and weaken the formal sector. The Kenyan drive to reduce alcohol consumption through prohibitive excise duty in the 1990s and Diageos Senator Keg campaign is a classic case in branding and marketing. With the increase in excise duty, young Kenyans could only substitute popular beers, which turned out to have health consequences. Diageo decided to introduce an affordable beer (Senator Keg) to penetrate the illicit market. Diageo was able to introduce the product at 15-20 Kenyan shillings per glass with a 100 per cent excise remission. Senator Kegs price was marginally higher than illicit alcohol; thus, it reduced the size of the illicit market to about 50 per cent by 2013. However, tax remissions were reduced to 50 per cent in 2013, and that led to an 86 per cent decline in Senator Kegs volumes, 48 per cent reduction in outlets and thousands of job losses to farmers. But the government had to quickly intervene to save the industry and the value chain. About six years ago, it raised tax cutbacks back to 90 per cent, paving the way for a gradual recovery of the industry and jobs. In 2014, Zambias illicit alcoholic market stood at 40 per cent amid disjointed tax policies, weak enforcement and a rising misery index. Zambia has had high excise duties on alcohol, historically, and this has led to a large gap between legal and illicit prices. In 2001, there was an 85 per cent excise on clear beer, 125 per cent excise on wine and spirits and 35 per cent excise on opaque beer. The government had raised excise duty on clear beer to 60 per cent of its 2014 budget to check the social ills of alcohol abuse. Sadly, data from Euromonitor International shows that instead of a decline in cases of abuse, the reverse has been the reality. Zambias illicit alcohol market grew from 39 per cent in 2014 and it is currently 69.5 per cent. The excise rate was subsequently reduced, but Zambia is still battling the consequences. In any case, the government could be milking over-starved cows in its obsession with more taxes. Last year was particularly harsh for businesses. In the beer sector being targeted for more taxes, the books were generally red last year for obvious reasons. For instance, Nigerian Breweries profit after tax (PAT) fell by over 53 per cent to N7.5 billion while its key competitor, Guinness Nigeria Plc posted a N17.07 billion loss. International Breweries, on its part, closed the year with a loss of N12.4 billion. In 2019, it recorded a loss of over N27 billion. Still, the companies play their roles as responsible corporate citizens, paying their taxes and other collectibles, in billions yearly, while shouldering virtually the responsibilities of government in their host communities. In the face of daunting challenges last year, for instance, Nigerian Breweries, still remitted N4.2 billion in taxes, while International Breweries paid N12.5 billion. Last year alone, the government generated N112.84 billion in company income tax (CIT) and VAT from the brewery, bottling and beverage sector. That was about four per cent of the entire CIT/VAT income for the year. While there is no credible and verifiable data on the contribution of the sector in terms of jobs, many experts believe it is one of the leading employers of labour. In recent years, the leading players have embarked on aggressive backward integration, which has expanded the value chain and increased their relevance to rural areas. Hence, some members of the organised private sector (OPS) have urged the National Assembly and the Federal Ministry of Finance to suspend plans to impose excise duty on any segment of the Nigerian manufacturing sector. They have raised concerns about knock-on effect of re-introducing excise duty on the production of soft drinks in the country and the additional burden on beer beverages manufacturers. According to them, the adjustment in excise duty is not unconnected to the upward review of revenue target for the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) in the 2021 budget year from N1.465 trillion to N1.679 trillion and advocacy for sin tax by the NCS, Colonel Hameed Ali (rtd.) during at an interactive session on the 2022-2024 MTEF. Economist and private sector advocate, Dr. Muda Yusuf, had stated that the proposed excercise duty was a negation of the economic recovery and job creation objectives of the federal government and detrimental to the job creation and poverty reduction commitments of President Muhammadu Buhari. Yusuf, a former Director-General of the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), described the move as ill-timed, inappropriate and detrimental to the growth of the manufacturing sector. According to him, Nigerian manufacturing companies and most investors are going through tremendous stress now, with many currently grappling with serious macro-economic challenges and structural constraints impacting on capacity utilisation, productivity, and competitiveness. He added that the implication of the challenges is affecting sales, turnover, profitability, shareholder value and the sustainability of investments, noting that the norm globally at this time, is to provide incentives for industries to aid their recovery from the shocks of the pandemic and escalating costs. On its part, the Chairman of Fruit Juice Producers branch of MAN, Fred Chiazor, stated that manufacturers are currently recording as much as 39.5 per cent loss due to imposition of various taxes with concomitant impact on jobs and supply chain businesses. MAN, therefore, called for the suspension of the fiscal policy, even as it noted that the proposed excise duty collection would shrink the sectors contribution to gross domestic products (GDP), which currently stands 35 per cent. He argued that the tough economic situation in the nation presently should see the government introduce fiscal palliatives and tax rebate instead of introducing excise duty collection. A member of the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG), Dr. Ikenna Nwosu advised that the initiative be shelved for a minimum of one year to allow for robust discourse with industry stakeholders on the possible gains and shortcomings of the policy. Nwosu posited that the one-year waiting period would also enable the nations economy, especially its manufacturers, to recover from the debilitating effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. He argued that most global economic bodies including the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Trade Organisation (WTO) have been advising governments to suspend taxes for one year as part of efforts to support their businesses amid the global fiscal challenges. Rising from the ruins of COVID-19, countries have created several bounce-back schemes to help organisations survive the impacts of the pandemic. From Europe, Asia, America to Africa, companies are getting a helping hand in the form of grants and single interest loans to keep jobs and save the economy from the cliff. It may be understandable why the government cannot do much now to help struggling businesses cope with existing challenges and the new income crunch that comes with COVID-19. But, perhaps, the least the government could do now is to resist the temptation to impose more taxes on businesses. That will be as good as auctioning the few available jobs.

Read the rest here:

As Government 'auctions' Few Available Jobs For Hike In Excise Tax - The Streetjournal

Highlights

Thailand's rice export rebound continues in October

Vietnam remains out in front, set to hang on to second place

Exports boosted by return of West African, Iranian, Iraqi, Chinese demand

Thailand's monthly rice exports grew for a fifth consecutive month in October, putting the country within striking distance of reclaiming its title as the world's second largest rice exporter in 2021.

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According to data from the country's Ministry of Commerce, October exports totaled 773,823 mt, up by 74% on the year and the highest monthly total since January 2019. That brings Thai exports in January-October 2021 to 4.59 million mt, marginally higher than this time last year.

No country will challenge India's pre-eminent status at the world's largest rice exporter, with January-September exports totaling 16.3 million mt and the country on course to represent around two-fifths of global rice exports in 2021. As in 2020, the only country which stands in Thailand's way to the title of second largest exporter is Vietnam.

According to Vietnam Customs, the country's January-October exports are still around 592,000 mt ahead of Thailand's, despite the country's strict regional lockdown during August-September. While it would generally be safe to assume that Vietnam will retain its position as second largest exporter in 2021, Thailand has witnessed a staggering growth in exports in recent months. Exports reached an extraordinary monthly low of 302,669 mt in March, but have since increased by over 150% to reach October's level.

Additionally, sources have consistently reported in recent days that the government of Vietnam's largest buyer, the Philippines, has been restricting buyers' access to phytosanitary licenses which they need to import. While late in the year, this could still prove an impediment to December exports from Ho Chi Minh City.

The principal reason for Thailand's resurgence as a major exporter in recent months has been its return to price competitiveness. Thai 5% broken white rice was assessed by S&P Global Platts at as high as a $137/mt premium to its Indian equivalent in February this year, but a collapse in Thai pricing following improved output meant that both products were almost neck-and-neck for much of July-October.

While a $20-$30/mt premium for Thai white rice has emerged in recent weeks, many buyers are still willing to pay this due to the perceived premium quality of Thai rice and the typically more favorable reputation of its exporters with regards to execution. Prices of Hom Mali and Pathumthani Fragrant varieties have also declined substantially in recent months, further supporting demand for Thai rice.

As a result, many price-conscious West African buyers have returned to Thailand for Fragrant, white and parboiled rice. While remaining largely absent from the Thai market earlier in the year no West African countries featured as a top 10 export destination in May or June Benin and Cote d'Ivoire were Thailand's top two export destinations in October.

Unusual demand has also aided Thai exports in recent months. Iraq's return to the Thai market following a seven-year hiatus is the most remarkable development, with the country taking 180,885 mt of Thai rice in 2021, according to the Ministry of Commerce data. The principal reason for the uptick in demand is that Iraq's government divested rice sourcing responsibilities to a company called Al-Owais earlier this year, which was much more open to non-Americas rice origins.

Additionally, neighboring Iran has been in the market in recent weeks for large volumes of Thai white rice, which are expected to be shipped in December and January. While sources typically agree that a deal has been done for at least 60,000 mt, some sources believe that the final confirmed volume could be more than double this if buyers can secure the required financing.

The world's largest rice buyer, China, has also been on a buying spree. From January-September, imports totaled 3.58 million mt, more than double the 1.68 million mt imported over the same period in 2020, according to the country's customs data. This does not exclude Thailand, with Thai exports to China so far this year roughly double that of last year, making China Thailand's third largest export market.

While Thailand also faces exporting hurdles at the end of the year especially a lack of containers it appears that even if the country does not reclaim its title as the world's second largest rice exporter from Vietnam, it will likely be very close.

Original post:

Thailand in tight race with Vietnam to be 2021's second-largest global rice exporter - S&P Global

We will never see Keanu Reeves, protagonist of Matrix, Constantine, John Wick and many other successful films, become part of the most successful cinematic universe of the Nerd world of the last 15 years? The possibilities multiply, passing from the rumors of the fans to the statements of Keanu during a recent interview he gives to Esquire, American mens fashion magazine.

On the occasion of the interview for the well-known overseas magazine, held by the Matrixian Mr. Anderson almost at the debut of the fourth film of the homonymous saga, the actor does not hide a certain interest in the superhero sagas, praising the work of the many directors who oversaw the making of theMarvel universe:

There are some truly extraordinary and visionary directors, and they are doing things that no one else has ever done before. Its something special in terms of scale, ambitions and production. So yes, it would be nice to be part of it.

K. Reeves

The actor, certainly not new to the world of science fiction he was born in Fantasy (with the aforementioned Matrix, Constantine, but also with several other blockbuster titles such as 47 Ronin And the Devils Advocate and Bram Stokers Dracula) as to that action (John Wick 1, 2 and 3, Speed, Man of Thai Chi and many others!), would certainly fit the role of somebody hero with a dark past (it would be a fantastic Moon Knight, for example), as well as a villain very respectable.

Moreover, it is also true that Reeves has already entered the universe of comics by right before suspicious times, marked DC Comics, for the character of John Constantine, taken from the saga of Hellblazer, so maybe we could even talk about a return to the world of comics, at least, and a new beginning for that of superheroes.

Already in the past the name of Reeves has been around the Marvel meeting rooms, with the hypothesis that our beloved actor could have interpreted the Kree warrior Yon-Rogg in Captain Marvel (2019), but the commitments made for John Wick 3 they did not make his entry into film possible, a role later attributed to Jude Law, with good appreciation of the fans.

Also in 2019 Kevin Feige, film producer and president of Marvel Studios, confessed in an interview that he had repeatedly talked to Reeves about a possible role and that Marvel was actually very interested in finding the right way to best involve Reeves in one of the future projects.

We just have to cross our fingers and hope for the future: in the meantime, many other interesting films await us, first of all Matrix 4 Resurrections.

Read also: Brzrkr: a live action adaptation is planned for the Keanu Reeves project Keanu Reeves could be Kraven the Hunter in the Spider-man movies That time Keanu Reeves did a story about Well, about some teddy bears (VIDEO)

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Keanu Reeves: To join the MCU? An honor, but is it possible? - D1SoftballNews.com

We all know these situations in which were simply unable to pay attention. We give our very best, but its simply not possible to stop the mind from wandering off. Some of us start having vivid daydreams, while others diligently think about all the things they need to do. We engage in all kinds of exciting thoughts, but we dont do what were actually supposed to do: Paying attention. We cannot help but lose focus, often without even realizing it. It prevents us from ever paying attention, which makes it incredibly difficult to focus on the task at hand. No one likes to admit it, but we all lose focus more often than we actually like to. Even the most ambitious among us know how incredibly difficult it is to maintain a high level of concentration, especially when tired or bored. A lack of focus can be quite a problem, which is why the following presents the most inspiring focus quotes to aid you in reestablishing a high level of focus.

The ability to focus can make or break your success in life. In fact, scientists consider the ability to establish mental focus as an important predictor of a persons future success. It is perhaps one of the most important indicators, along with intelligence and GPA. We may be unable to increase intelligence, but we still can greatly increase our ability to focus.

Improving ones mental focus, however, takes time and patience. There will be times when its quite a struggle to train ones concentration. In these situations it can be tremendously helpful to have a couple of inspiring focus quotes at hand that help you to maintain your motivation. Similarly, whenever we lack the right mental focus it can be greatly beneficial to read the wise words of inspiring people who have managed to maintain a high level of concentration throughout the course of their lives.

Unfortunately, many people largely underestimate the great power of a selection of wisely chosen quotes from some of the wisest men and women. However, you will quickly notice that the following focus quotes can greatly help you in overcoming mental sluggishness. Reading these quotes and reflecting on their meaning can help you to quickly reestablish the necessary willpower and perseverance to remain focused.

The following presents a hand-picked selection of the most inspiring focus quotes. Use these sayings to pursue your dreams with a razor-sharp focus.

Lack of direction, not lack of time, is the problem. We all have twenty-four hour days. Zig Ziglar

The key to living a focused life is direction. When you have a clear goal, you can steer all your actions in one direction. But if you are unsure where to go, you will mindlessly wander around. At the same time, it is often not so important how long we work, but how effectively we use our working hours. If we pay the closest attention to maintaining a high level of focus, we can use the available hours of the day more effectively. However, if we allow distractions to draw away our attention, we are less likely to accomplish much in the time available.

Whenever you want to achieve something, keep your eyes open, concentrate and make sure you know exactly what it is you want. No one can hit their target with their eyes closed. Paulo Coelho

Whatever you do in life, make sure you have a clear goal. Otherwise, you might be wasting valuable time by spending your time in an undirected and unfocused manner. Knowing precisely what you want to achieve will help you to maintain a higher level of focus and motivation. It will also encourage you to do whatever it takes until your goal is accomplished. But if theres no dream or vision that fuels all your actions, you are more likely to simply give up when the going gets tough.

It is during our darkest moments that we must focus to see the light. Aristotle Onassis

We all suffer and we all experience misery from time to time. During these challenging situations, its incredibly difficult to maintain a positive attitude. When confronted with pain and suffering, we often see nothing but the negative aspects of whats happened to us. We struggle greatly and wish that it had never happened. Especially during our darkest hours, its incredibly difficult to see the light. It is therefore all the more important to trust in our ability that we will one day be able to draw important lessons from what happened. At the same time, it is important not to lose faith and to give up during these challenging times. Instead, its important that we use all the power we have left to endure the suffering.

Concentrate all your thoughts upon the work at hand. The suns rays do not burn until brought to a focus. Alexander Graham Bell

True greatness can only be accomplished when we are able to focus all our attention on what were doing at the moment. If we allow distractions to interrupt the workflow, it is likely that the output of our work will suffer from it. However, if youre able to focus intensively on the work at hand, youll be able to unlock greater parts of your potential. Just as the suns rays ignite paper when focused, so will the results of your work improve dramatically if performed with the greatest level of concentration.

We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act but a habit. Will Durant

If you focus long enough on mastering a certain skill, you will one day be able to excel in this particular area. However, if youre not focused and switch from one random activity to another, its unlikely that youll ever master what youre doing. Instead, Will Durant encourages us to persist with whatever were doing until we excel in it.

The successful warrior is the average man, with laser-like focus. Bruce Lee

According to Bruce Lee, mental focus can make the difference between being average and extraordinary. He highlights the tremendous benefits of being able to reach the highest level of focus and concentration. But he also points out that if we are able to perfect our concentration skills, we can be so much more than just average.

Successful people maintain a positive focus in life no matter what is going on around them. They stay focused on their past successes rather than their past failures, and on the next action steps they need to take to get them closer to the fulfillment of their goals rather than all the other distractions that life presents to them. Jack Canfield

With every single moment of our existence, we get to choose if we want to focus on the positive or negative aspects of our lives. The human mind is not able to entertain a positive and negative thought at the same time. This is why it is of the greatest importance to be able to maintain a positive outlook on life. Focus not on your mistakes or failures, but concentrate on your past successes and draw strength from these experiences.

I dont care how much power, brilliance or energy you have, if you dont harness it and focus it on a specific target, and hold it there youre never going to accomplish as much as your ability warrants. Zig Ziglar

If you want to burn something with the suns rays, you need a burning glass to focus the rays of light. But you also have to direct the rays on a specific target. If you dont, nothing will ever start catching fire. The same holds true for accomplishing goals in life. If your approach is undirected and not focused, its unlikely that your actions will provide the results you desire.

Thats been one of my mantras focus and simplicity. Simple can be harder than complex: You have to work hard to get your thinking clean to make it simple. But its worth it in the end because once you get there, you can move mountains. Steve Jobs

Attaining a high level of focus can be a challenging goal. It takes time and perseverance to strengthen your ability to focus, but once youve reached a certain level, you will see powerful results.

Instead of focusing on that circumstances that you cannot change focus strongly and powerfully on the circumstances that you can. Joy Page

Theres no use bothering yourself with things you cannot change. It will only waste time and decrease your optimism. Instead, focus on the aspects of your life that you can influence. You will see that there is much more you can do than you think.

It is wise to direct your anger towards problems not people; to focus your energies on answers not excuses. William Arthur Ward

Its always easier to blame someone else for your own mistakes and shortcomings. There will always be someone else to blame for whatever happens to you in life. But playing the blame game may not necessarily lead you very far. Instead, give your very best to find solutions to the problems youre confronted with. Anything else will simply waste your time.

Dont dwell on what went wrong. Instead, focus on what to do next. Spend your energies on moving forward toward finding the answer. Denis Waitley

When confronted with problems, we can either obsessively analyze the problem and complain about it or focus our attention on finding a solution to the problem. Many of lifes greatest challenges were solved by people who were unwilling to complain about the problem, which assisted them in finding a solution to it.

Most people have no idea of the giant capacity we can immediately command when we focus all of our resources on mastering a single area of our lives. Tony Robbins

Usually, distractions prevent us from focusing all our attention on one specific aspect of our lives. But once we are able to overcome these distractions, we can accomplish a great deal. All we need to do is to focus intensively on mastering a single aspect, without allowing distractions to draw away our attention.

Concentration can be cultivated. One can learn to exercise willpower, discipline ones body and train ones mind. Anil Ambani

No matter how difficult it may seem in the beginning, we must never forget that it is possible to increase ones willpower and concentration. It takes time and patience to cultivate these skills, but if you are not discouraged by difficulties and challenges, you will affect beneficial changes in your entire life.

You dont get results by focusing on results. You get results by focusing on the actions that produce results. Mike Hawkins

It is never enough to simply focus on the things we wish to accomplish. When we only focus on our dreams and goals without thinking about the necessary actions, nothing will be accomplished. Therefore, if we want to accomplish a certain goal in life, we always need to focus our attention on the specific actions that will lead us to this goal.

A clear vision, backed by definite plans, gives you a tremendous feeling of confidence and personal power. Brian Tracy

Having a clear vision for your life will help you to maintain a higher level of focus. The vision will help you to steer all your actions in the right direction, without losing focus of the intended outcome.

One look at an email can rob you of 15 minutes of focus. One call on your cell phone, one tweet, one instant message can destroy your schedule, forcing you to move meetings, or blow off really important things, like love, and friendship. Jacqueline Leo

Especially in times of information overload, its important to be able to maintain your focus. If you concentrate all your attention on your goals, unimportant distractions will no longer decrease your productivity significantly.

My success, part of it certainly, is that I have focused in on a few things. Bill Gates

Set yourself priorities in life and focus all your attention on the accomplishment of your high priority goals. Dont try to pursue a wide variety of goals simultaneously. Instead, focus on the few things that are really important and give all you can to accomplish these.

You only have to do a very few things right in your life so long as you dont do too many things wrong. Warren Buffett

Many people make incredibly stupid mistakes. Even more so, they keep repeating the same mistakes over and over again. They continue to let their passions or greed influence most of their decisions, when they should clearly know better. As a result, they have to spend large parts of their time to make these mistakes undone. The wasted time could be used in much better and more productive ways. By focusing on avoiding stupid mistakes, you can greatly stay out of life-changing trouble. It helps you to spend less time on making amendments and enables you to spend more time pursuing your goals instead.

Your destiny is to fulfill those things upon which you focus most intently. So choose to keep your focus on that which is truly magnificent, beautiful, uplifting and joyful. Your life is always moving toward something. Ralph Marston

If youre not careful what you focus on, you might move towards something that you dont even want. Similarly, if you focus heavily on the negative and challenging aspects of your life, you might attract even more of these into your life. As Ralph Marston says, were destined to fulfill that upon which we focus the most.

We each focus on what were going to buy, but thats an incorrect focus. Focus instead on why you want to spend the money on this or that. What feeling in you does it satisfy? Suze Orman

In many cases, we spend our money without reflecting the underlying reasons for our purchases. We do not question what desires or feelings we want to satisfy when buying a specific product. Focusing on the reasons why you want to buy a product can greatly change that. It will help you to become more aware of your buying choices and the underlying motives. In many cases, doing so will help you to see that there is no real need for the product you intended to buy. Instead, you will realize that clever marketers created an artificial need inside you. At the same time, knowing what desire you wish to fulfill with the purchase of a specific product may help you to find better and non-material alternatives.

When walking, walk. When eating, eat. Zen proverb

This excellent proverb is not only about walking and eating. It describes a general approach to life. The proverb encourages us to focus all our attention on the present activity. It tells us not to do a great number of activities simultaneously, but to do one activity with the greatest attention instead.

Discovering what you really want saves you endless confusion and wasted energy. Stuart Wilde

If you know precisely what you want in life, you can steer all your actions into this direction. However, if you dont know where your journey leads you, you might end up hopelessly confused. Not knowing where youre going will also waste your energy. It is therefore crucial to take the time it takes to discover what you really want in life. Doing so will help you to get a better understanding about your dreams and the actions you need to take to realize them.

Energy is the essence of life. Every day you decide how youre going to use it by knowing what you want and what it takes to reach that goal, and by maintaining focus. Oprah Winfrey

Each day you get to decide whether you take the necessary action that helps you to get one step closer to your goal or if you just waste your time. If you know where you want to be, it will be much easier for you to maintain a high level of focus. You will precisely understand why you have to confront challenging difficulties that stand in-between you and success. However, if you have no clear understanding of your goals, youll eventually lose focus and give up.

Focus 90% of your time on solutions and only 10% of your time on problems. Anthony J. DAngelo

While its important to analyze the reason why youre confronted with a specific problem, its just as much important to find solutions to it. Most people neglect the second step. They see a problem and complain about it, but do nothing to solve it.

Focus is a matter of deciding what things youre not going to do. John Carmack

Most of us understand the importance of focusing on what we want to accomplish in life. At the same time, it is also important to know precisely what were not going to do. We need to develop a clear understanding of the activities that do not align with our goals. It is tremendously beneficial to know what distracts you from accomplishing your goals. At the same time, it is also helpful to identify the actions that do not bring you any further.

I believe that as much as you take, you have to give back. Its important not to focus on yourself too much. Nicole Kidman

Each of us experiences life through our own eyes. It is therefore only natural that we have a highly self-centered perspective on life. When something negative happens to us, it might feel incredibly painful. However, by taking a step back and focusing less on ourselves, we might realize that things are not as worse as we thought they were. Focusing less on ourselves will help us to realize that things could be much worse than they actually are. Doing so will give us the necessary confidence and strength to endure difficult times.

I do what I do, and I do it well, and focus and take it one moment at a time. James Caviezel

Whatever you do, do it with the greatest focus and attention. Concentrate on one task at a time and do it as well as you can. If you follow these steps, the output of your work will be so much better than the results from doing multiple things simultaneously.

I only want to do better work. Thats the focus of my life. Ajay Devgan

The key to attaining greatness lies in continuously striving for improvement. It lies in becoming a little bit better with each day, until finally greatness and excellence is accomplished.

It is those who concentrate on but one thing at a time who advance in this world. The great man or woman is the one who never steps outside his or her specialty or foolishly dissipates his or her individuality. Og Mandino

This quote illustrates once more the great importance of concentrating on only one thing at a time. Its not advisable to multitask. Doing so will only decrease your productivity and may result in less excellent outcomes. Instead, focus all your attention on one task at a time.

Be sure to also have a look at the 100 Most Motivational Quotes of All Times. You will love it!

I hope you enjoyed reading this article about the best focus quotes.

Stay victorious!

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The 30 Most Inspiring Focus Quotes - Planet of Success