Malcolm Charlaw Archives

Be Careful Out There!!

Something that I recently read on Yahoo and in the papers about a scam that’s catching people out.  Their getting phone calls apparently from their bank to say that their is an issue with their card.  Then they get asked for the pin number, confirm the address and then a courier comes to collect the card.

If you get a call like the above, HANG UP.  Your bank or whatever organisation you have your money with will NEVER ask for your pin number.  You get told this over and over by the news, newspapers, magazines, radio and on the internet.

Should you get an email saying that your account has been frozen or cancelled, then use the number on statements or official letters and phone them about it.  Better still, go to a local branch and speak to a member of staff.  They will happily check things for you.  If there is an issue, they will deal with it for you.  DON’T click on the link in the email.  The site might look OK, but, it will be an impersonation of the real site.

If you ever have ANY doubts about a communication from a financial institution, then get in touch with them directly.

Let me state it again, YOUR BANK/BUILDING SOCIETY WILL NEVER ASK FOR YOUR PIN.  It is only for you to know and PLEASE do NOT pass it on to anyone else either.  It is part of making your account secure and safe.  Don’t let criminals and fraudsters fool you, not matter how convincing.

If you want, tell them that your “good friend” Malcolm told you that you should never give your details like your pin over the phone, text, letter or an email.  Then hang up on them, with my permission, if you need it.

I don’t want you to lose your life savings, pension or any other money to these unscupulous people.  It’s yours, so please make sure it stays that way!!

Hopefully, this post will be read by many people and help reduce the number of victims considerably.

Let me just say it one more time:

If anyone gets in touch with you for your account pin number or even your account number. STOP, THINK and then get in touch with that organisation with the official contact numbers you received from them  Better still, visit the bank in person and talk to them about your concerns.  They are there to help you!!

I know some elderly people get a bit confused and flustered, please keep an eye on them.  Talk to them, you could help save them from a lot of stress.  Don’t let them fall foul of these scams, and, be careful yourself!!!

Want To Be Converted?

So, you now have your ebook reader, but, would like to read a book in epub format on your computer, your smartphone, etc.  Wouldn’t you like something that takes the guess work out of doing that conversion? 

Whenever I get something like this, just like MP3’s that can be played across multiple platforms, I want to have the choice.

So I did some research and came across a neat little program called Epub to PDF convertor.  Surprisingly, it’s free and that, for me, is a bonus.  It deals with epub formats and does a great conversion to PDF.  Once done, I can put that onto my android tablet, Kindle and even my laptop as well as my desktop.  A win-win situation.

To get your copy, then click PDF to ePub

Pass it on!!

Want To Say The Right Thing?

No matter whether it is personal or business, how, when and it way you say something, can either make or break a relationship or sale.  There is power in words.

With words, you can build someone up or knock them down.  Make them feel loved and appreciated or hurt and lonely.  You can relate a product that meets someone’s need, or, turn them away from the very thing that could help them.

There is a saying, “If you’ve nothing nice to say, then don’t say it”.  How many times have things been said in anger and later regretted?

If we were stop, just for a moment, before saying something, then this world would be a better place.  Instead of hiding behind words and stating things in a way that is ambiguous, let it be clear and understandable.  Then there are no misunderstandings and we know where we stand.

Think, if you don’t want people to speak to you in a certain way, then consider how you might sound to them.  Having been in the support industry, some customers feel they have the right to have a go at you, even though you are there to help them.  I always wait until they have finished what they want to say, ask if they’re done, then proceed to deal with their issue.  In other words, I take control of the situation, lead it to a calm conclusion.  They leave with a new confidence in the company and will say positive things about it.

I have come across a video that nicely conveys how helping someone state something in a different way can make the all the difference from a small success to a big success.  Have you the time to help someone else, even if it is a moment?

After you have watched it, let me know what you think.

 

Makes you think, doesn’t it?

For more help and advice on learning “how” to think and not “what” to think, then visit Yvonne’s site

Have You The Right Mindset To Be Successful?

When you awake each morning, what is your first thought?

Is it something like, “Oh no, not morning already!!”, or, “I don’t want to go into work today…”, or, “What problems am I going to face today?”, or, “Fill in the blank…………”.

Then when you’ve said it, or, thought it, how does your day go?

Did you realise that you have a choice, to have either a good day or bad day?

If you get into the habit of “choosing” a good day first thing, you will find how much easier it is to deal with “issues” that come your way.  It is also a good habit to develop the right mindset to be successful.

It is one thing generating the success, but, it is entirely a different thing to keep that success.  If you want to enjoy it AND keep it as well gain more success, then NOW is the time to start.  Not only will you see a difference in yourself and your life, but, others will notice it.

A lot of us while we growing up were taught “what to think” instead of “how to think”.  Also, as we grew up, our ability to use our imagination was knocked back because we weren’t paying attention in class.  That is a great shame, it is a main part of “seeing” where you want to be in your life.

Hint:  If you have kids, it is important that they develop their imagination when at home.  Tell them stories and encourage them to make up their own.  It will help greatly in their successes in life.  Create a happy environment for them and as they grow, they will look to emulate that in their lifestyle.  Isn’t that what we want for them?

With regards to people being successful, you have the stories where they have won a lot of money, but ended up worse off.  This has been more down to not having the mindset to cope with the sudden influx of a large amount money.  Those that learn to do it quickly make the most of it and enjoy it.

What are your thoughts about money?  Are they positive?  Write them down, you may surprise yourself!!  Once they’ve been written down, those that are negative, rewrite them so they become a positive.  Then read them over and over until you rid yourself of that negative thought.

A great site for help in changing how you think and links to resources that will benefit you, then click on the following link:

Learn To Change Your Life And Mindset

How To Succeed In Life

You have heard the saying, “It is better to give than receive”.  Some people spend their whole lives giving and that’s great.  But, if you keep on giving without receiving, you’re missing out on a great reward/blessing.  In order for the giving to be done, there needs to be a receiver.  It make sense doesn’t it.  So why do so many people refuse a gift?  If everyone refused, then there would not be an environment to give.  That would be a sad state of affairs.  Thankfully, this can be put into a balanced perspective, and, I hope you can agree with it.

Let’s look at it again, “It is ‘better’ to ‘give’ than ‘receive'”.  In order to receive you have to ‘give’ the ‘giver’ the opportunity to give.  Do you see that?  You as the receiver give the giver the chance to give.  Therefore, when you give a gift, you also give a blessing, but, and this is the great thing, the receiver ‘gives’ you a blessing in return by receiving from you.  So at the time, both give and receive at the same time.

I know some people feel awkward when receiving a gift, well, look at it in this light.  Don’t refuse a gift because you feel you are not giving in return. Also, you can stop the flow of good things coming into your life and that is not something we want to stop.

Try this.  Take in a BIG deep breath.  Then, once you can’t take in anymore, let it out slowly and, at the same time, count to 300 slowly.  Keep giving out your breath until you do it.  Keep giving and giving and giving. 

Can you do it?  Or, did you have to ‘receive’ some more air into your lungs.  Did it wear you out trying to give out all that breath?  Now you see where the balance comes in.  We breathe in oxygen and then we convert it to breathe out carbon dioxide.  Then the plants in the world “breathe” in the carbon dioxide and “give” out the oxygen we need.  Balance, balance and balance.  That is what it is all about.

There are a lot of people who find that the more the give, the more they receive.  In fact, it ends up where they can’t give enough of it away.  They see a greater multiple in the return. 

So, yes, be a giver, but, keep the balance, and receive as well.  See the difference it will make in your life!!

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