“A good traveler has no fixed plans and is not intent on arriving.” – Lao Tzu  Words have never rung truer in my mind.  Traveling has always been an exciting passion of mine and as it sits I have had the luxury of growing up around the world.  When I started backpacking, more than 10 years ago, it was a totally different scene than it is today.  Today most backpackers have a computer or iPhone, Facebook and every other conceivable way to stay connected on the road, able to have an adventure without losing connection with friends, family, even work.

Today is different, today I have actually started my very own adventure blog all about backpacking on a budget, going to amazing different places in the world and having an adventure that suits your particular needs and comforts.  I have seen so many different types of travelers over the years and it seems that everyone has a different goal or destination.  It’s a lot like playing telephone when your a little kid in a circle, someone whispers to the next person and by the time it gets to the last kid the idea is totally different then when it started.  You start your trip with a goal in mind and it morphs and changes into reality in a completely different way then you expected.  That has to be my favorite part of traveling, never knowing what is coming next.

So here is the view from my rooftop, and well I guess I am pretty fortunate to be able to travel to such amazing places.  And now with online bachelor degree programs you can study from wherever you choose to make your home.  The world is so huge, but daily it seems to be getting smaller.  The internet is connecting everyone to everything and making the travelers life even easier.  Why not get a degree while you travel, or find a job that you can do from anywhere through the internet.  It seems like this is the future, space seems to be the final frontier, but until that pans out for the masses we are here exploring our crazy planet.

So today I leave you with one final thought,
“A journey of a thousand miles must begin with one step”  -Lao Tzu

And in much the same way a blog of millions of pages must begin with one word.

How to eat better and feel great

A lot of people are in a rush these days.  I mean it's Christmas, the holidays are here and everyone is in a rush to do something.  Whether it be to get presents or just trying to catch up with work, or taking care of your family.  Everyone has something to do and no one has time for thinking about eating healthy and taking care of your body.  It happens every year and then people start making their crazy new years resolutions to make up for all the bad habits they have allowed themselves to fall into over the holidays.

It wasn't that long ago that I was in college, and it was very stressful.  At the time I was considering switching to an online degree because I figured it would be easier if I decided to move or travel I could still keep working towards my goal.  It was just stress coming in from all angles and I didn't know what to do or how to handle it.  So I did what most college kids did I ate lots of fast food, got lazy didn't work out and by the end of the holidays I was fatter than I'd ever been and definitely not happy.

I realized that it was a combination of everything that had gotten me there and I promised myself that I would not let it happen again.  I vowed right there that I would make a real difference in my habits everyday.  Let's be honest that lasted all of two days before I was back to my usual habits.  So over a course of a couple weeks I realized I really needed to make a change and I needed to stick to it.

I realized I was doing a lot of work at home and that making a change had to be about a daily change.  So I put a notepad on the fridge and everyday I would write down everything that I ate, anything I felt was bad I put in a big black marker.  Anything I ate that I felt was healthy and putting me towards my goal I put in a nice colorful marker and then everyday before I went to bed I would review the list.  It amazed me as I saw all the black on the list instead of nice colorful writing. 

The more I reviewed the list the more I would remember to make a change each and everyday.  When I would go to the fridge I would see the list from the day before and try and make changes every time I ate.  I also made other simple healthy choices.  I realized it was unrealistic for me to go to the gym everyday.  I simply didn't have the time, so instead I made quick easy changes.  Instead of driving the couple blocks to the grocery store and being lazy, I would walk it.  Instead of driving to school everyday and searching for a parking spot wasting gas, I bought a bike and rode to school.

It doesn't seem like much, but after a while everything started to click.  I realize these are very easy changes that anyone can make, but the more I made them, the more my subconscious would kick in and start making them automatically.  The moral of the story is when the holidays end and you decide to make your new years resolution, be realistic with your goals. 

Don't tell yourself you'll work out everyday or that you will eat healthy everyday.  It's not impossible, but it just won't happen overnight.  Instead start making small gradual changes and you will see that overtime it will become not only easier, but the subconscious decision in your head.  I still eat a fast food burger every once in a while, but my subconscious healthy decisions have evolved and now I work out 3 times a week, ride my bike to work, and almost always have a nice yogurt and fruit breakfast and a healthy salad with dinner.

How Do I Become a Zoologist?

So maybe you are studying biology or animal biology, but aren’t sure what to do? You could become a Zoologist! A Zoologist is any person who works with animals. You could become a veterinarian, work in a zoo, or even a museum. So how do I become a Zoologist?

Since you are most likely working on your undergrad, it is best to study zoological science or animal biology, or a related field. However, as a potential Zoologist, be ready to continue your education. Most Zoologists achieve Master’s and even doctoral degrees. You can absolutely find a job with a Bachelor’s, however, know that there is little room for advancement in this area. The key here is the more education you complete, the higher your position, which also means higher pay.

Now while this may seem like a lot of work, and it definitely it is, remember that today you can take a number of your courses online. With the flexibility and convenience of the Internet today, there are a number of accredited online schools to choose from. If you’ve never taken an online course before, you should give it a try! They are similar to a regular classroom lecture, however, you can “attend class” by sitting in the comfort of your own home, or while commuting, or even while you are on vacation! These days you can complete your entire degree program all online without ever taking a step on an actual college or university campus!

All in all, a career as a Zoologist can be a lot of fun! When we were young, the majority of us wanted a career working with animals. Well, you should know that this doesn’t have to be just some childhood fantasy, you can actually develop a well-rounded and fun career as a Zoologist.

So while you’ve got a lot to think about, particularly on all the school you may have ahead of you, keep in mind that education is never wasted. Zoologists that complete their Master’s or doctoral degrees can make up to $100,000 in some government positions! So with that high earning potential, six or seven years of school doesn’t seem all that bad, especially if you can work towards your zoology degree online.

How To Get An Internship

1. Ask around. The best way to get an internship is through people you know. Ask friends, family friends, acquaintances. Put a request out on Facebook and Twitter. Someone must know someone else. Think six degrees of separation. If you are only six people away from the person who can give you an internship that will change your life, it makes the task seem less daunting.
   
   
2. Brush up on your activities; An active, community spirited person is more likely to be hired than someone who has nothing to say and spends their time doing nothing. Make yourself sound as interesting as possible. 
   
   
3. Lose the sense of entitlement; No-one likes someone who thinks the world should give them everything, you are no more special then anyone else. Arrogance is off-putting, confidence is key. 
   
   
4. Work Harder than anyone else. Employers love people who help themselves. Do an online degree, the more skills you have the more likely you are to get an internship. Employers love people who go for it. 
   
   
5. Think about what is stopping people giving you an internship, and then remove it. Take the feedback that you are getting from other people. If you are trying to get into finance do you keep getting told you need another qualification? Get it. Are you trying to become an actor and people tell you you need to be able to dance? Take some dance lessons. Remove the obstacles. 
   
   
6. Account for gaps on your CV; Think about what you could say when asked about these. Bad things to say are; sitting around the house or watching TV. Say that you were learning French or something similar that could add another string to your bow. 
   
   
7. Be likeable; It's a simple one but people like working with nice people. Try to smile even if you don't feel like it, say please and thank you and hold doors open for people. People will remember you as a good, decent person. The kind of person who gets hired!
   
   

Good Luck.

Top Ten Ways to Get Along With Your Fellow Students

How to get along with your fellow students whether you are studying for a masters degree or are doing a part time course. 

1. Don't take things personally. It is very easy to get off on the wrong foot with someone. Just because someone doesn't like the same thing as you, doesn't mean they are criticizing you. Everyone likes different things. You will probably have some stuff in common.
   
   
2. Don't ask personal questions: It is best never to ask people questions about age, politics, religion and sex. Asking people questions about these explosive subjects is the quickest way to an argument....
   
   
3. Agree to disagree. If you cannot agree with someone then just respect their opinion and ask them to respect yours. Don't just state that you are right and they are wrong. This will not make you any friends. 
   
   
4. Be Polite: Manners cost nothing. Even if you do not like someone you should be nice to them. A good person treats people nicely even when that person can do nothing for them. 
   
   
5. If you can't be kind, be vague. Least said, soonest mendest, as they say! 
   
   
6. Respect other people's boundaries. Don't invade other people's space, talk over them or hit on their partners. Have other people's feelings in mind. 
   
   
7. Don't talk behind other people's backs. Not only will it probably get back to them, but the person you are being indiscreet with won't trust you either. 
   
   
8. Reputation is everything. Protect yours. As Bob Dylan says: 'You're dignity is something that you can sell, but you can't buy back'. 
   
   
9. Say sorry. If you do something that upsets someone, apologize. It may be the last thing you want to do, but it will make you the bigger person. 
   
   
10. Talk it through. It is easy for misunderstandings to happen. Always be brave enough to talk things through with people. They will respect you for it. Be honest. Maybe there wasn't even a problem in the first place! It's easy for misunderstandings to escalate into something bigger. Stop it from doing so immediately. 
    
    

How to Start Your Writing Career At College

Sometimes it pays to get a head start in life. The years of college can go pass in a blur and while you are getting a degree, other people are getting ahead in their careers. College is stressful and piling on any more work can cause burn out, so here is a few ways to get your foot in the door of a writing career. So when you leave college, you have that all important head start.

1. First, go to one of the best journalism schools you can and write for the student paper, if there isn't a student paper, make one. Lots of people, including Richard Branson, got their start from doing a student paper. You will learn all the basics of journalism and will make invaluable contacts. You will also have a market for your publication: you're fellow student.
2. Start a Blog: Starting a blog had made many people rich and famous. Think Belle Du Jour. You will also get into the habit of writing regularly, learn what people are reading most and gain invaluable skills.
3. Write as much as possible: You probably won't get paid at first but you will find your voice as a writer and also learn the discipline of writing. Many people give up because of the sight of a blank screen.
4. Ask for feedback: Ask your most trusted friends and family for feedback on your writing. It's the only way you will get better. You will probably have some bad writing habits or overuse certain words. Only ask people who's opinion you trust. Don't take the feedback negatively, but as an opportunity to learn.
5. Write an e-book: There a number of e-readers out there. Amazon's Kindle has made it very easy for anyone to write a book and sell it on Amazon. Write fiction or take something you know and sell your wisdom to someone else. If you write 500 words a day, it will take you 160 days to get to 80,000 words. It is completely manageable to do that in a year.

Will Accounting Majors be Required to Learn International Financial Reporting Standards?

In order for financial statements to be comparable, there must be a set of agreed upon methods to ensure everyone is following the same set of rules.  This is comparable to ensuring everyone uses the same street light colors of green and red for “go” and “stop.”   In regards to their own set of “accounting rules,” The United States has adapted the Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), which tells businesses how and when they are to record income and expenses, along with a long list of other accounting procedures. However, there is a popular accounting standard with its own set of “rules” called the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS).   Many countries have already decided to converge from their own set of accounting standards to International Financial Reporting Standards.

If you’re considering sitting for the CPA Exam, you should be aware that it now requires you to be tested on your understanding of both GAAP and IFRS accounting, which should allow new CPAs the ability to quickly understand and help companies transition over to IFRS, if the United States ever decided to converge.  However, this would not happen until the SEC officially crowns IFRS as the official accounting standard within the United States over GAAP accounting.  But the question remains, would this ever occur?

The answer to this is unfortunately not completely known, as many questions still need to be answered.  While the SEC issued release Nos. 33-9109 and 34-61578, stating the support of the United States to “Converge to Global Accounting Standards,”  there is no decisive time period stated, but the FASB and IASB are attempting to get the United States converged to IFRS by 2015. Please read the IFRS FAQ by the AICPA for more details.  However, US colleges are still teaching GAAP accounting  accounting in the majority of their accounting courses, and have not made IFRS accounting a mandatory subject for accounting majors, despite major talk of the United States converging. This is likely due to head college professors doubting the SEC's ability to converge to a whole different set of accounting standards.

I believe the United States’ willingness to converge to a whole new set of accounting standard is not going to happen, due to the lack of their willingness to change.  For example, consider the United State’s unwillingness to converge to making the metric system the official measuring standard. They are now only one of three countries that have not made it the official measuring standard.  In short, The United States simply does not enjoy giving up their own ways of doing things.   I believe there are many reasons behind this.  One being the fact that the United States has predominately been one of the most financially secure and successful countries, thereby making them believe their methods is superior.  It could even be the possibility that the United State’s culture tends to be a more individualistic, thereby making us think each should “be of their own,” and not necessarily follow a trend set by others.

Regardless of the reasoning, I believe it’s unlikely that the SEC will mandate public companies within the United States to converge to IFRS accounting.  Additionally, it appears colleges are also not optimistic about IFRS conversion, and are still going to focus on primarily teaching GAAP accounting.