Slow is better than never

Wedge dream projects into your current lifestyle, and commitments. Even if you crawl forward at ten minutes each day, do something every day toward that end goal. When you go to sleep each day, rest yourself in the knowledge that you have done something that day, to move you closer to your dream. At some time during every day, put one foot in front of the other toward that dream. Slow is better than never.

[http://life-coach-thea.blogspot.com/2009/07/life-power-tip-505.html]

It is a good time to update your CV

I think it is a good idea to update CV and job profiles in internet from time to time.
I suppose we should do it at least one time per year or half of year.
Even if you do not what to change you job I would suggest you to update CV.
The reason is just to write your key achievements down.

How often do you update your CV?

Break stereotypes, work on your thoughts and think everyday

Suddenly, I relalize that unique grade is very important on all levels of life.
So I changed my life slogan  for time being

Try to be unique and 

Make your head works for you.

Break stereotypes, work on your thoughts and think everyday. That make you life happy.

Book review. Poor Dad, Rich Dad.

Name: Rich Dad, Poor Dad
Author: Robert Kiyosaki
Links:
- amazon
- richdad.com
Review:
Everything is simple in this book. Ask only one quick question to yourself: Do you want to have financial independence? If yes, go on and read this book.
I would say this story can't give you direct answers to your questions but it may give the way to move. At least you will definitely start to think your current financial situation over.

Living and working in Dublin from "Robert Walters"

I serfed the web and came across useful document about Living and working in Dublin.

Accommodation:
PHIBSBORO, DUBLIN 7
This northside district has a buzzy mix of students and professionals who appreciate the edgy, underground vibe, as well as the close proximity to the city. Rent averages around €350 per month for this microcosm which boasts a large, late-night supermarket, soccer stadium and charity shops. Hop on the number 10, 19 and 22 buses
into town and make sure you have a pint in The Hut as well as the Grave Diggers, which is adjacent to Glasnevin Cemetery. This is not an area noted for its trendy drinking establishments.
...

'Rough' Price Guide
Local Pub
Stout - € 3.30 +
Lager - € 3.70 +
Cider - € 3.80 +
Spirits - € 2.20 +
Mixer - € 2.20 +
...

Check out full report here.

COST OF LIVING IN DUBLIN. Info from web.

The cost of living in Dublin can be high, although it very much depends on each student's individual needs.

Estimate of a Monthly Student Budget, in euro

Accommodation* off-campus 430
Food 400
Electricity (estimate based on house share with 3 people) 15
Heat (estimate based on house share with 3 people) 15
Textbooks and Study Materials 75
Clothes, entertainment, other living expenses 250
TOTAL per month 1,185

*Accommodation On-Campus must be paid in 2 instalments, in September and in February, but works out at approximately €338 per month for undergraduate students and approximately €473 euro per month for postgraduate students. Please note that prices are subject to change.

Guide to Food Prices in Dublin, in euro

Milk (1 litre) 0.90
Loaf of Bread 1.20
Butter (500g) 1.92
Sugar (1kg) 1.09
Coffee (200g) 5.14
Tea (80 bags) 2.50
Coca Cola (2 litres) 1.63
Big Mac Meal (medium) 4.90

Guide to Miscellaneous Prices, in euro

Dublin Train / Bus - Monthly ticket 74.00
Second-hand bike 60.00 / 100.00
Cinema ticket 6.00 / 7.00
Sports event ticket 6.00 / 25.00
Hair cut 15.00 / 35.00"

[http://www.ucd.ie/international/helpadvice6.htm]

Netherland (Holland), Amsterdam. Cost of living. Prices.

Tax:
In 2008 the Netherlands corporate tax rates are 20%-25.5%, depending on the annual income. The tax rate for income up to EUR 40,000 is 20% ,a 23.5% rate, compared to the previous 23% rate, for income of EUR 40,001-EUR 200,000, and 25.5% for income exceeding EUR 200,000. Personal income tax rates are progressive for salary income. The 2008 rates are 2.5%-52%. Thr standard VAT rate is 19%. The VAT rate is expected to rise to 20% in 2009.

[http://www.worldwide-tax.com/]

Transport:
Taxi. - Rides cost €1.80 per km regardless of the time of day and a 5%-10% tip is expected
Tickets for Buses, trams, metros and night buses
24 hours - € 7,00
48 hours - € 11,50
72 hours - € 14,50
96 hours - € 17,50
If you're interested in these prices go here http://www.gvb.nl.


Salary:
Average salary is 43000 EUR

[http://www.payscale.com/]

 

Food and Clothes: 
"Regarding food and clothing, you will probably spend about the same or a little more, just say if you spend 300 dollars or 500 dollars a month in food/clothing, then say 300~ euro."

[http://www.expatforum.com/]

"Restaurant - probably around 20 euros a person depending on what you eat...with wine or beer more like 30 to 40 and above"

[http://www.expatfocus.com/]

"Levi jeans - around 80 to 90 euros and up a pair"

[http://www.expatfocus.com/]

Rent a flat:
"Living - It depends. When I looked for apartments in Maastricht, they were DIRT CHEAP. Like 300euro for 80sqm apartment, 500+ for nicer apartments fully furnished and in the center of the city.
However, Amsterdam is way more expensive. If you look for apartments within the center of the city, it may cost you 600 (cheaper I've seen for like 40sqm furnished), to 1000+ for a decent place."

[http://www.expatforum.com/]

The One Minute Manager. Book to be read.

Recently, I bought ebook and started read more and more. Yesterday, I've finished with The Art Of Software Testing. Therefore, today, I'll start with next one. It will be The One Minute Manager.

I'd like to read this book since I've read Who moved my cheese? a few month ago. These books have the same author. Spencer Johnson wrote very small but effective tips for every. The message is clear, and implementing the ideas is straight-forward and laid out in the book. So it's quickly, easy and understandably.

Other book reviews across internet:
"The secrets of one-minute management will help a manager boost profits and productivity immediately through increases employee morale and job satisfaction. For any person who is currently manager striving to get the most from people, or who is planning to become one in the near future, "The One Minute Manager" is an indispensable success too"

[http://www.coolavenues.com/know/gm/book-review_arnab_4a.php3]

"The author explains how to effectively use your one minute to accomplish your task of explanation, praise or reprimand. Being a parent, many of these principals and teachings can be applied to parenting. We should be able to tell our children what needs to be done in less than one minute, explain something they should not have done in less than one minute and praise a great job, yet again in less than one minute. A good quick read and the book earned its place on my shelf with the “to be read again” stack."

[http://ezinearticles.com/?Book-Review:-The-One-Minute-Manager&id=290395]

I still don't read it but definitely recommend it.

Success. What does it mean for you?

It's know truth, life has both white and black strips. Sometime I have to do think on myself and on my behavior. Honestly, It's very useful. You can better understand yourself and understand what you want from this life. Today I'm trying to think over "success". What does it mean for me?

Success doesn't come to you…you go to it.

I guess it's proactive view but anyway it's mine :) What is your point of view?

Czech Republic, Prague. Cost of living.

Today I'll outline amazing country Czech Republic. Namely, I'll writing about Prague.

Quote: “Prague is like a vertical Venice steps everywhere.”
Author: Anonymous

So lets start.

Currency:
At first i'd like to reminder current index for eur/czk and usd/czk
1 USD = 15.5159038 CZK
1 EUR = 24.7307991 CZK

[http://google.com]

Tax:
Individuals who are permanently resident in the Czech Republic (as determined by their circumstances) or are usually domiciled here (i.e. spend more than 183 days per annum in the Czech Republic) are considered to be tax resident in the Czech Republic and are liable to Czech tax on their world-wide income. If the individuals are present for less than 183 days, then they are liable to tax only on their Czech-source income. These rules apply to Czech as well as foreigners.

Everybody working in the Czech Republic is liable to Czech social and health insurance payments. It is only in the case of short-term secondments that non-Czech nationals may be exempt from contributions to the Czech system. The employer is obliged to deduct tax advances under a payroll deduction scheme and at the end of the fiscal year, any differences between the amount due and amount advanced would be settled the following tax year. It is possible following the end of the tax year to claim tax relief for certain payments such as mortgage interest and life insurance (if the individual’s Czech income exceeds 90% of his/her world-wide income). If the employee received any additional income exceeding CZK 6,000 (except exempt income or, for example, dividends), then he would be obliged to file an income tax return.

The czech income tax rate for individual's income in 2008 is flat, a 15% rate. In 2007 tax on the income of individuals was payable at rates of 12% - 32%.
Mandatory social and health insurance payments are: Employee- 12.5%.

[http://www.worldwide-tax.com/czech/czech_tax.asp]

Well, common tax will be 27,5%

Useful links:

• CzechInvest, the inward investment agency: www.czechinvest.cz
• Ministry of Finance: www.mfcr.cz
• Ministry of Interior Affairs:www.mvcr.cz
• Czech National Bank:www.cnb.cz
• Czech Trade:www.czechtrade.cz
• Ministry of Industry and Trade:www.mpo.cz
• Ministry of Labour and Social Affairswww.mpsv.cz

Average salary:
Sr. Software Engineer - 40000 USD
Software Engineer - 25000 USD

[http://www.payscale.com/research/CZ/Country=Czech_Republic/Salary]

Property to rent:

Area: 62m
Size:2+kk
Furnished: yes
Transport: metro, tram, bus
Price: 14000 CZK (892 USD)

[http://www.expats.cz]

Transport:
One-way Ticket - 14.00 CZK
Transfer Ticket - 20.00 CZK
24-hour Pass - 80.00 CZK
Monthly Pass - 460.00 CZK (30 USD)
Annual Pass - 4,150.00 CZK
Taxi (airport to center) - 400.00 CZK
Taxi (within center) - 150.00 CZK

[http://www.dpp.cz]

Food cost:
Milk (1 liter) - 16.00 CZK
Loaf of Fresh Bread - 24.00 CZK
French Baguette 19.00 CZK
Eggs (10) - 24.00 CZK
Cheese (100g) - 20.00 CZK
Water (1.5 liter bottle) - 12.00 CZK
Bottle of Czech Wine - 80.00 CZK
Domestic Beer (0.5 liter bottle) - 12.00 CZK
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle) - 30.00 CZK
Pack of Cigarettes (Marlboro) - 60.00 CZK
Pack of Cigarettes - Czech Brand - 40.00 CZK

[http://www.expats.cz]

Other:
UTILITIES, ETC. (Monthly)
Basic (Gas, Electricity, etc.) - 2,500.00 CZK
Phone (Land Line) - 500.00 CZK
Mobile Phone - 700.00 CZK
Internet (512 kbps ADSL) - 600.00 CZK

[http://www.expats.cz]

So to sum it up:
I've calculated that live in Prague will monthly cost you 25000-30000CZK (1600-1900 USD). Let do a small calculation here. If average salary is 40000-45000 CZK (2500-2900 USD) then your income after paying tax will be 30000-33000 CZK (1900-2200 USD) and finally, after all expenditures you will have 5000 CZK (300 USD).
Well, to be honest, it's not good situation but if you receive 60000-70000 CZK then you will be live without complain.

What I'm trying to say, your life is in your hands.
Good luck and hope for the best.

Who moved my cheese?

Every time I fly (i mean on the plane) I try to find some short-term entertainment. Last time (it was on Saturday) I bought small book "Who moved my cheese?". I was pretty impressed because it gave me big value in despite of small size. I spent above 2 hours to read it all but I'm thinking about such things until now. It just can give you kick and you move yourself and your thoughts.

The sense of the book is simple. it's just one story about mice that are looking for cheese all time.

If you're interested in such book and want to buy it or download it from somewhere, please read a few pages from it here. Or read review on wikipedia or see it on Amazon.

P.S. Next time I'll be in London or somewhere I'm going to read another books of Dr. Spencer Johnson that also very popular.

Working time in your life

How many time do you spend at your desk and away from desk?
From time to time we should think it over.
There's time for work and should be time for relax.
Unfortunately, time goes by and we should plan recreation and entertainment.
Let's do simple calculation.

8 hours - sleeping time.
1 hour - come to work.
8 hours - working time. Sometimes it might be more.
1 hour - come home.

so it has leaved only 6 hours. If this time isn't planned you won't fill it.
There's so much books about time management. I even attended training.
I should say it's very instructive and useful.

A few links regarding it:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Time_management - just in common.
http://www.time-management-guide.com/index.html - good source
http://www.dartmouth.edu/~acskills/success/time.html - exact example and videos
http://www.managementhelp.org/prsn_prd/time_mng.htm - good source
and the last link http://www.sellingsalesmanship.com/time.html - good quotes.

Well, sum it up:

Money, can only be gained or lost. But time I can only lose.
So, I must spend it carefully

Belgium, Brussels. Cost of living.

As I mentioned before I have plans of moving to another country.
From time to time I'll write countries' survey.
I'm going to disclose following points: tax, transport, food, average salary, flat rent

Today It'll be Belgium, Brussels.

So lets go and have a look on cost of living.

• Tax:

From first sight Belgium is associated with highest tax. Lets check it.
I looked through "Centre for Tax Policy and Administration".
The table is below. Tax is 55.4%.

• Transport:

Here are some sample prices:
Single ticket – 1.50 EUR
5-ride ticket – 6.70 EUR
10-ride ticket – 10.50 EUR
Day pass – 4.00 EUR

• Average salary:

• Rent a flat of apartment:

All is simple here. We're google Brussels rent flat and take investigation on this point.
Instantly, I've found http://www.brusselshome.be and take a look on flat with 1 bedroom and 1 toilet. It costs 700 EUR + 125 EUR (charges) but I guess you may find flat cheaper. After rental survey it can tell the range is 500 EUR to 1500 EUR.

Salary survey and salary calculator

Salary is always delicate point during negotiation.
There is no rules salary discussion but there salary survey.
A few minutes I've found such one. Check this out. http://www.salaryscout.com/
Also if you plan to move to another country and you'll face with tax.
Often we don't know laws and that's why it's hard to estimate salary.
I was trying to find out some calculator and find :)
For example if we just google "salary calculator" we'll find following:
http://www.thesalarycalculator.co.uk/salary.php

2007 has passed. Lets gather what we have,

I strongly believe we should be fair and honest-minded to ourselves this year. I decided to be more organized and determined. That's why I'm writing this article.

2007 has passed. It's time to outline and point out main achievements of last year and set goals for next year.

I saw a lot of articles with results and events of business, politics and IT in 2007 but I've not seen yearning to show private goals and achievements.

I'd like to commence new year from determining this point. I hope it'll be the rule for me. I assume it's very important to define "next year plan" both for private life and work.
Achievements:

• Promotion. Currently, I'm working in Luxoft Ltd. and take over Senior QA position.
• Travel. I visited Hungary-Budapest; Bulgaria-Nesebr, Sozopol; England-London.
  

Goals:

• Children. I'm eager to have children. I'll try to do my best concerning this point :)
  
• Property. Currently, I don't have apartment but I'll try to change this situation.
  
• Car. 2 years ago I could not even dream of it but now it's time to think it over.
  
• Move to another country. Ukraine doesn't give me enough opportunities therefore lets move next.
  
• Set up own business. I won't comment this point :)
  
• Travel. I'm going to visit Czech Republic, Italy and England again.
  

I guess next year I'll review this list and understand what truth is.

I'd like to share such idea with my friends and see such list on their blogs if you don't mind:
- Yuri Zozulya
- Dima Pastovensky
- Maxim Makivchuk
- Alexey Baytsurov

Guru.com earn money

Recently, I decided to use guru.com to earn money and get more skills and knowledge.
Main goal of this web-site is to join customer with projects to professionals who can make it.
I assume it's possible but it needs to be goal-oriented and then you'll reach all points.
My account is http://profile.guru.com/653388.