Misinformation vs. Disinformation: Differences

The world of information is constantly changing and evolving, and it can be difficult to know what is true and what is not. This is especially true when it comes to the different types of information available on the internet, such as misinformation and disinformation. While both of these terms may seem similar, they actually refer to two very different types of information and have different implications for how they are used. Misinformation is information that is intended to promote a particular agenda or mission, while disinformation is false or misleading information that is intended to deceive or manipulate. Understanding the differences between mission information and disinformation is essential for making sure that you are getting accurate information online.

 

Definition of misinformation

Misinformation refers to the process of organising people around a specific mission or movement. Misinformation can occur in many different arenas and can refer to a number of different types of groups, including religious groups, political groups, social movements, or business organisations. Misinformation often involves the creation of a mission statement that outlines the goals and values of a specific organisation. Misinformation is often used as a way to organise people around a common cause or focus, and it can also be used to address specific issues within a particular community. Misinformation is an essential component of any movement or cause. It helps groups stay focused on their core values and helps keep members motivated and engaged. It can be a useful term to keep in mind when you are reading or consuming various types of information online, especially if you are looking for sources that are trustworthy.

 

Definition of disinformation

Disinformation refers to false information that is used to intentionally mislead people. Disinformation is often used as a propaganda technique to manipulate people or change their views, and it has been used in both domestic and international contexts for centuries. In today’s digital age, disinformation is often spread through the internet, social media, and other types of online media. Disinformation can come in many different forms, including falsified information, misleading information, and selective information. Disinformation is often used as a form of cyberbullying or trolling, and it can have serious emotional and psychological impacts on the people who experience it. Disinformation can be difficult to identify, especially if you don’t know what to look for. However, recognising and understanding the differences between misinformation and disinformation can help you spot disinformation and avoid being deceived by false information.

 

Examples of misinformation

Social movements: Social movements are groups of people who come together to address shared issues or promote social change. Social movements are often inspired by specific events or issues, and they can include a wide range of different types of people. Some examples of social movements include the Black Lives Matter movement, the Me Too movement, and the Parkland student movement. – Religious groups: Religious groups are typically misinformed around a specific set of religious or spiritual beliefs. Members of these groups often come together to engage in religious practices and ceremonies and to support one another in living out their faith. Some examples of religious groups include the Christian church and the Muslim faith. – Business organisations: Business organisations are groups of people who come together to provide products or services. Business organisations often have a specific mission or focus, and they often have a mission statement that outlines their core values. Some examples of business organisations include Apple, Google, and Facebook.

 

Examples of disinformation

Religious and political extremism: Extremism refers to an ideological viewpoint that encourages people to accept only one way of thinking and ignore other ideas. Extremism often involves the promotion of false or misleading information, and it can be a dangerous tool for manipulating people. Some examples of religious and political extremism include white supremacy and radical Islam. – Fake news: Fake news refers to false or misleading information that is presented as real news. Fake news is often used as a form of propaganda and disinformation, and it can be difficult to identify and avoid unless you know what to look for. Some examples of fake news include conspiracy theories, clickbait articles, and misleading headlines. – Misleading statistics: Misleading statistics are false statistics that are used to manipulate people. Selective statistics can be difficult to identify and avoid, but understanding the differences between misinformation and disinformation can help you spot misleading information.

 

Impact of misinformation

The impact of misinformation largely depends on the particular cause or movement that is being promoted. In general, misinformation can be an extremely useful tool for bringing people together, promoting social change, and addressing important issues. Most forms of misinformation are positive and can be extremely beneficial for the society in general. However, there is also the potential for misinformation to go too far and to cause harm. Whenever a group of people comes together around a particular cause, there is always a risk that the group will become extreme and that the members will engage in dangerous or harmful behavior.

 

Impact of disinformation

The impact of disinformation largely depends on the particular goals of the people using it. In general, the goal of most forms of disinformation is to deceive people and manipulate them into thinking a certain way. Disinformation can have extremely negative implications for society as a whole, and it can be very challenging to address. Disinformation campaigns can be difficult to identify, especially if they are coming from high-level sources, and they can be challenging to stop. Disinformation campaigns can be even more harmful than misinformation, because they are harder to recognise and address.

 

Strategies for identifying misinformation and disinformation

Ask yourself the following questions: First, ask yourself if the information you are reading is from a credible source. You can often identify the source of information by looking at the author’s bio and other details. Next, ask yourself if the information is balanced and if it provides a full picture of the issue or topic. If a piece of information is one-sided or incomplete, it is likely misleading or false. – Look for obvious warning signs: One of the easiest ways to identify misinformation and disinformation is by looking for obvious warning signs. If the information you are reading appears to be too good to be true or seems to be overly dramatic or emotional, there is a good chance that it is false. – Check the source of the information: Another easy way to identify misinformation and disinformation is to look at the source of the information. Check the author’s bio and other details to see who created the content, and try to find other articles that the author has written. If the information seems to be coming from highly biased sources, there is a good chance that it is misleading or false. – Verify the information using multiple sources: A good way to avoid being deceived by false information is to use a variety of different sources when you are reading or consuming information online. Although it is important to be discerning about the sources you use, the best way to prevent the spread of disinformation is to use a variety of different sources when you are reading and researching.

 

How to prevent the spread of disinformation

The best way to prevent the spread of disinformation is to be discerning about the information you read and consume online. It is important to use a variety of different sources when you are reading or researching, and it is also important to be aware of the potential biases you bring to the table when you are processing information. The best way to avoid being deceived by false information is to be critical and cautious with the information that you read. Always take time to process the information you read and use critical thinking and media literacy skills to check the information for accuracy and validity. When you are reading or consuming information online, always keep in mind the following questions: Who wrote this article? What are their biases? What information are they leaving out? Where did this information come from? Is there another way to interpret this information?

 

The role of media literacy in countering disinformation

One of the most effective ways to combat misinformation and disinformation is through media literacy. Media literacy refers to the ability to critically analyse and process different types of media, and it can help you identify and avoid false information. Most forms of misinformation and disinformation rely on you not noticing them, and media literacy can help you identify these things and avoid them. If you want to defend yourself against misinformation and disinformation, it is important to develop media literacy skills. Media literacy can help you become more discerning and critical as you read or consume information, and it can help you identify and avoid false information.

 

Conclusion

Misinformation and disinformation are both important terms to be aware of as you navigate the digital landscape. Misinformation is often a good thing, as it can help people come together around a common cause or focus. Disinformation, on the other hand, is often a harmful and deceptive tool used to manipulate people and change their views.

 

 

How fraud and criminal activity are fueled by inflation

Inflation is an important economic topic that continues to affect individuals, businesses, and the global economy. It is a phenomenon that has been studied and monitored for centuries, and its effects can be seen in the cost of goods and services. But what many people don’t realise is that inflation can also lead to fraud. Inflation drives fraud by manipulating the value of money, creating opportunities for criminals to take advantage of unsuspecting victims. When inflation is high, criminals use the changing value of money to commit fraud, which can cause significant financial losses. By understanding the link between inflation and fraud, individuals, businesses, and governments can take steps to protect themselves from becoming victims of fraud.

 

What is inflation?

Inflation is a sustained increase in the general level of prices for goods and services, where the average cost of living increases. Inflation can occur from a variety of factors, including increases in supply and demand, changes in government fiscal and monetary policies, and the condition of the global economy. Inflation affects different sectors of the economy in different ways. For consumers, inflation is generally seen in the cost of goods and services. For example, if the cost of a house increased from $100,000 to $110,000 overnight, there has been a 10% increase in the price of that home. If a car is purchased for $20,000 and that price increases to $22,000 a year later, again we can say that there has been a 10% increase in price.

 

How does inflation fuel criminal activity?

Inflation can create situations where individuals may be more likely to commit fraud or to become victims of fraud. As the cost of goods and services increases, consumers may be tempted to make purchases they otherwise wouldn’t, or they may be willing to pay more than they can really afford for goods and services. For example, if someone’s paycheck doesn’t go as far as it used to, an individual may be more likely to commit loan fraud by borrowing money from a friend or family member, or to become a victim of fraud by accepting an overpriced loan from a lender. In the case of an overpriced loan, lenders may offer higher interest rates, misleading borrowers into believing the terms are fair and reasonable, when in reality the high interest rates are not financially reasonable.

 

Types of fraud associated with inflation

There are a variety of different types of fraud that can be associated with inflation. – Advertising fraud: Businesses that use deceptive advertising practices to exaggerate the benefits of their products or services. – Advance fee fraud: A scheme in which a fraudster asks a victim to pay a fee up front before getting a promised product or service. – Affinity fraud: Scams that target a specific group of people, often through fraudulent investments. – Asset misappropriation: Misuse of company assets or assets that a person is entrusted with, such as credit cards, checks, or cash. – Counterfeit goods: Fake products that are fraudulent copies and are illegally made or imported. – Credit card fraud: Illegal or fraudulent use of a credit card, including identity theft. – Embezzlement: Illegal use of money that has been entrusted to you, such as by a company employee. – False advertising: Fraudulent claims made by a seller about a product or service. – False billing: Misrepresenting a product or service, or the amount charged for a product or service. – False claims: An exaggerated or fraudulent claim for payment, such as for insurance, dividends, or interest. – Health care fraud: Intentional deception by health care providers to illegally receive money from health care programs like Medicare or Medicaid. – Investment fraud: Fraudulent investment schemes that lure investors into losing their money. – Loan fraud: Intentional deception to obtain a loan, including the misrepresentation of information on a loan application.

 

How criminals take advantage of inflation

Inflation can make goods and services more expensive, especially in the long term. Inflation can drive up the cost of production by increasing the price for wages, equipment, and supplies. Because of inflation, a company that produces a product might need to raise the price of that product over time to keep up with the increasing cost of materials and labor. – Credit card fraud: Credit card companies that are victims of fraud can pass their losses on to customers through higher interest rates and fees. As the cost of goods and services rises, credit card companies may also pass those costs onto consumers by increasing the interest rates they charge. – Counterfeit goods: Inflation can increase the cost of materials used to produce goods, which can make counterfeit products more expensive. – False advertising: If a company has a product that has become more expensive to produce, it might pass on the cost through higher pricing or change the product’s features to keep the price low. – False billing: If a government or business has become more expensive to operate, it might pass on those costs to the consumer through higher fees or charges. – False claims: A government or business that has become more expensive to operate may look for ways to reduce expenses, including by reducing the amount of money it pays out for claims.

 

Economic and social effects of inflation-fueled fraud

Inflation can have negative effects on the economy by reducing purchasing power, increasing the cost of goods and services, increasing interest rates, and increasing unemployment. Inflation can fuel criminal activity by creating opportunities for criminals to take advantage of unsuspecting victims. When the cost of goods and services increases, individuals may have a harder time buying what they need or want. People may buy less, and businesses may see reduced sales. Inflation can also lead to social issues by creating or increasing financial burdens for individuals and families.

 

Steps to reduce the risk of inflation-related fraud

– Recognise the link between inflation and fraud. Individuals, businesses, and governments can take steps to protect themselves from becoming victims of fraud. – Monitor government policies related to inflation. Governments can take steps to reduce the risk of fraud, including by making changes to their monetary policies. – Understand inflation-related fraud schemes. Individuals, businesses, and governments can educate themselves about the schemes fraudsters use to take advantage of unsuspecting victims. – Protect your identity. Individuals can take steps to protect their identities, such as by monitoring their credit history. – Look for early warning signs. Individuals, businesses, and governments can stay alert for signs that fraud may be occurring and take steps to reduce the risk of fraud.

 

Role of the private sector in combating inflation-fueled fraud

The private sector can help combat inflation-related fraud in a variety of ways. Companies can take steps to protect themselves from becoming victims of fraud and can educate their customers about ways to protect themselves from fraud. Some examples include: – Companies can monitor government policies related to inflation. This can help businesses understand how inflation affects their business and take steps to protect themselves from inflation-related fraud. – Companies can understand inflation-related fraud schemes. This can help businesses recognize when fraud is occurring and take steps to prevent fraud. – Companies can protect the identities of their customers. This can help businesses reduce the risk of fraud. – Companies can look for early warning signs of fraud and take steps to reduce the risk of fraud. – Companies can educate their customers about ways to protect themselves from fraud.

 

Prevention and detection of fraud in the face of inflation

Although inflation can fuel criminal activity, it can also be used as a tool to detect fraud. For example, governments may use inflation to combat fraud in the health care sector by adjusting the reimbursement rates for medical services. If the rise in the cost of medical care slows or levels off, the government may adjust its payments to match the new, lower rate of inflation. This can help reduce the government’s financial burden and prevent health care fraud. While inflation can create opportunities for fraud, it can also be used to combat fraud. By watching and monitoring the levels of inflation in the economy, governments and businesses can be alerted to situations where fraud may be happening and take steps to reduce the risk of fraud occurring.

 

 

Public Opinion Manipulation

How did The Prince by Niccolò Machiavelli change the world, politics, diplomacy, war, and thought processes?

Niccolò Machiavelli’s book The Prince, first published in 1532, is widely regarded as a cornerstone of modern political philosophy. It has had a profound influence on the way the world is governed and has had a lasting effect on the way wars are fought and the future of politics. The Prince was a radical departure from the traditional political philosophy of the time, and its impact can be seen in the way rulers have approached the exercise of power in the centuries since its publication. Machiavelli’s ideas on the use of force, manipulation of public opinion, and the creation of a strong state have been widely studied and adapted by leaders throughout the world. His influence has also been felt in literature, art, philosophy, and countless other fields. The Prince stands as a reminder of the power of ideas to shape history and the future.

 

Impact on World Politics

Machiavelli’s ideas on the use of force were revolutionary for his time. The prevailing view in 16th-century Europe was that rulers got what they deserved through divine providence. If a king was strong and healthy, it was a sign that he was doing God’s will. If he was weak and sickly, he was being punished by God. In this way of thinking, the only time it was acceptable for a ruler to use force was in self-defense. Machiavelli, on the other hand, wrote that a ruler who was not willing to use force to obtain what he wanted did not deserve to be in power. The prince must be “a great robber,” he wrote, willing to use force to seize different territories. Machiavelli argued that the prince should strike quickly, before his opponent had a chance to fight back. He also recommended that the prince attack from several different directions simultaneously, to keep his foe from shifting his troops from one area to another.

 

Manipulation of Public Opinion

Machiavelli also advised the prince to use deception as a tool to keep his subjects in line. He suggested that the prince should occasionally say things he didn’t believe in order to create a false impression in the minds of the people and thus influence their actions. For example, if a prince needed money from his subjects, he could promise to lower taxes but then not follow through on his promise once he had the money. By breaking his word, he could make the people believe that he could not be trusted and thus would be more willing to give him money the next time around. Machiavelli wrote, “One who deceives will always find those who allow themselves to be deceived.” The prince should also be careful to maintain a false image of himself in public. If he is known to be a cruel man, Machiavelli advised, the people will fear him. But if he is known to be a generous man, the people will love him.

 

Creation of a Strong State

Machiavelli argued that the prince should focus on building a strong state, not a strong economy. He wrote, “All states, whether new or old, are built either on reputation or on power.” He believed that a strong state could be achieved by increasing a ruler’s reputation through generosity and cunning, and by increasing a ruler’s power through a strong army. He recommended that the prince should build up a large army and maintain a strong military force, and should keep his troops close to home in order to protect the people and the prince from foreign invaders. Machiavelli argued that the prince should build a strong reputation through generous acts, such as giving money to the people, giving gifts to rich and poor alike, and even building public works projects. He believed that a state built on reputation lasts longer than a state built on power, and that people will remember the generous ruler long after they have forgotten the strong ruler.

 

Machiavelli’s Impact on Wars

Machiavelli’s ideas on the use of force and the importance of maintaining a strong army were reflected in the wars of his time. In the decades following the publication of The Prince, European states engaged in a series of bloody wars. During this period, known as the Hundred Years War, France and England fought for control of the throne of France, and England’s King Henry V was a student of Machiavelli. Henry applied some of the advice from The Prince in his conquest of France. He kept his troop movements secret from his foes, he struck quickly before Charles VI had a chance to respond, and he attacked from several directions at once. These tactics worked: Henry took the throne of France and kept it for over a decade. Henry’s successor, his son Henry VI, was also a student of Machiavelli and a great admirer of The Prince. Henry VI’s reign coincided with a relative lull in the fighting between France and England, but he kept a strong military force nonetheless. He kept his troops on English soil to protect the people and the English crown, and a strong English military played a key role in the English victory during the Battle of Agincourt.

 

Influence on Philosophy

Machiavelli was a realist philosopher who wrote that people are gullible and generally confused about their own interests and about the best way to run their governments. He was an atheist and an admirer of the ancient Greek and Roman philosophers. In particular, he was influenced by the writings of the ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle, who wrote that a society is happier when it is more orderly and has more of a middle class than when it is filled with extreme wealth and poverty. Machiavelli’s ideas on the importance of maintaining a strong state were also reflected in the works of later philosophers and political scientists. In the 19th century, the philosopher John Stuart Mill wrote that a country’s government should focus on providing public services to its citizens, such as public education, public health, and libraries. He called this the “benefit of the state,” and insisted that strong governments should provide these services to their citizens. Mill’s ideas have been very influential in the development of the modern welfare state.

 

Lasting Effects on Literature and Art

The publication of The Prince also had an effect on literature and art. In William Shakespeare’s play Hamlet, an important character named Polonius gives the prince advice that is similar to the advice given by the real-life Italian prince, Cesare Borgia, in The Prince. In other paintings and sculptures, artists depicted rulers as having a false image of themselves and of the world around them. This false depiction was often done by putting rulers in unrealistic settings, usually in front of a throne or by having them hold symbols of power. These artistic works reflect the idea that a ruler should maintain a false image of himself and of his kingdom in order to keep the people under his rule. They show that Machiavelli’s writings had an effect on the way artists depicted rulers and their relationships with their people.

 

Conclusion: The Power of Ideas to Shape History and the Future

Niccolò Machiavelli’s book The Prince is not only a fascinating historical document, it is also a reminder of the power of ideas to shape history and the future. His ideas on the use of force, the importance of maintaining a strong army, and the need to use deception to keep the people under one’s rule were revolutionary for his time. These ideas were reflected in the wars of his time, and they have been felt in the centuries since. His ideas on the importance of maintaining a strong state have remained relevant ever since their publication in 1532. These ideas were adopted by rulers like Henry VI and Cesare Borgia, and they continue to be debated to this day. The Prince remains a fascinating read, and it reminds us of the power of ideas to shape our world.”

 

 

Anger Management

The Physiology of ‘ANGER State’ of ANGER

by Mario Bekes

When a person is in a state of ANGER, it can be mighty hard to relax and just snap out of the angry response or reaction. The adrenaline-caused arousal, this was released from the brain, response now impacted throughout the body which in many people can create the emotion of anger. This adrenaline-caused arousal may last many hours or even days. Or within this time frame, lowering our overall threshold, to flow further anger outbursts.

Throughout this adrenaline-caused arousal it can be easier for people to continue to gain the emotion of anger and be triggered by a wider range of triggers, this may repeat even again later. Eventually a person will calm down, this can take a rather long time to completely, return to our neutral or resting state.

One idea; can be exploring the ‘venting of anger’ a thought that venting anger can help reduce arousal? Venting verbally over areas that have made me feel anger in the past, will only restir and build that anger back to resurfacing. Out loud venting verbally, only fuels the physiological arousal response, increase to the heart rate, blood pressure rises. I only found it personally, to increase the arousal if using verbal venting methodologies.

To sit within neutral or resting state to keep calm, I found huge results to reduce the arousal; if I wrote down on paper what was creating the anger, that I held inside. And they all stated less arousal responses or reaction, through art therapies, painting, drawing, poetry and or writing. These areas created a wave of calmness, neutral and resting zone. When we occur moderate arousal levels to our brain, this will stimulate learning, enhance our memory, concentration and further our performance.

If we hit our optimum level of arousal, we go beyond this point pushing past normal limits (past the healthy range) now exceeding over arousal, it is more difficult for new memories to be formed. Our learning has slowed or stopped, concentration is rather poor or not existent, and performance has stopped. The arousal that creates the emotion of anger that provokes an immediate, response of a reaction, to a triggering of situational factors or events that have occurred.

Some of the problems with all arousal theories are that not all people are within the same categories.

Example one: A person with Dementia, having impairment to their thinking and memories, feeling frightened, confused, and overwhelmed.

Example two: A person affected from drugs or alcohol or both. Judgement and little self-control while these substances are in their system.

Example three: A victim of sexual assault or child abuse may hold deep rooted anger; from not feeling safe, not receiving any form of accountability and or justice. So, the arousal-loop is on a repeat cycle.

 

Compare and Contrast!

Theories of emotion, which have attempted to address how we experience ANGER

  1. Averill’s theory basically states we experience emotions to fit our social constructs. That through social norms & social roles we have physiological reactions. Furthermore, stating emotions are ‘transitory social’ roles. Currently within Australia from our highest point of politics we have many crying out for change, out of anger to create new updated social norms. That within our social roles, various situations arise, that no situation is indefinitely locked into place. This enables a various range of actions occurring in our social norm and that will continue to evolve. Again, within Australia we review through Royal Commissions to create new laws and create new social norms to keep Human Rights in check, everything as we currently know it, is always evolving. Averill argued, that in everyday use of terminology that someone would not just state “I am going to hurt you”. As it is breaking all our social norms. However, if someone is angry, social norms may no longer apply. I dare you to just go and research some of the signs for the ‘March 4 JUSTICE’ that was in Melbourne on the 15th of March 2021. For many that attended this march 4 justice, there was pain and past suffering and anger, that was resurfacing. Some of the language on the signs were representation of held anger. Social norms were shifting as many in their masses over Australia were fighting for their Human Rights. Averill, believed that as a society we hold values and a way of thinking to distance ourselves from our emotions, to shirk responsibilities for our action. I view this methodology as outdated thinking and putting up the blinkers or looking the other way to shirk and hold little or no responsibilities or duty of care, therefore no bloody dam ACTION. This may have worked in the past to have less drama, less reporting and everyone trying to comply and keep their emotions in check, as that was the social norms. Through our social roles, and we have a huge shift in our social roles with gender equality, same sex marriages and LGBTIQ+ communities. Our emotions are acted to the arousal we can occur, this also is shown through facial expressions, but experienced through acting out our social roles.
  2. Lazarus’s Appraised Theory, a three-stage theory of emotion. One, covered an individual appraising a situation a need to decide whether there is a threat or not? Understanding if you answer yes, the arousal will heighten the response for action ‘fight or flight’. Two, they then employ a copping action to deal with the treat, this could be physiological, cognitive or both. This action may be unconscious and could include any of various defense mechanism, such a ‘fight, freeze or flight’ response. This is the greatest and most important sentence. The power to be able to identify, your emotions that you are experiencing and the power to know why? Unpacking emotions within your experiences and to understanding why you felt that emotion. The key to being able to let anger flow to the neutral or resting state. Averill’s theory I believe is now outdated while we watch social norms, spin on its head. Social conformity, acting as expected we have people in their influxes fighting against the once social norms. Lazarus’s Appraised Theory, I believe is pure gold. Factual, and timeless theory that can apply to past, current, and future generations.

 

Life and Business Coach, Fraud (MODA) or Necessity

LEGIT OR SCAM?

 

Everyone experiences times in their life when they want to give up and relax since nothing in life is easily achieved, this may be within your personal and or professional life. Walking away from a business opportunity because it became difficult.

Then, questions start to come at us…

Now what? How can you get yourself to work or move? How can this be accomplished? Where should I look for an exit? Then someone mention coaches, who can come to your rescue.

Everyone has heard of a life and business coach, and it is understood that all successful individuals, including actors, athletes, billionaires, bloggers, have coaches.

Who are these ‘coaches’ that everyone keeps mentioning? These people are not mentors, coaches, or teachers. Instead of imparting their knowledge or offering guidance, they mainly pose intelligent questions.

The fact that so many people are jumping on the ‘coaching bandwagon’ and engaging knowledgeable coaches to help them advance their performance is therefore not surprising.

However, if you have ever considered working with a life coach to help you improve your outcomes and achieve the success you want, one notion has undoubtedly crossed your mind…

Let me ask you: What is your opinion on and with the practical knowledge of coaching?

Can you trust a ‘life or business coach’? Aren’t all coaches’ frauds?

Let’s be honest, I mean.

Is anyone truly competent to serve us as your life coach?

But, first let me tell you a short story; your story about how you heard about coaching…

Let’s start now.

This is the first and most widespread myth regarding life or business coaching.

Because they are wiser and better than you are, a life or business coach is someone who is intended to advise you on how to live your life or operate your business.

Simply said, this is wrong.

Because a coach’s job is to help you comprehend the ‘game’ you are playing, recognise your blind spots, and prescribe precise tactics to boost your success in your line of work or field of interest.

Finding a spiritual life coach ‘guru’ who can tell you how to live your life is not the goal of working with a life coach.

Finding someone with the knowledge and skill set to assist you in analysing where you are, determining where you want to be, and assisting you in bridging the gap between those two locations utilising tried-and-true methods for other customers is key.

A life coach does not have to be more intelligent, wealthy, or accomplished than you.

Simply, they must have the expertise and skill set necessary to ask the proper questions, recognise the limiting behaviours and beliefs that are preventing you from achieving your goals, and then assist you in kicking these bad habits and erroneous beliefs.

There you go.

I am aware that people frequently inquire as to what separates a psychotherapist from a coach or between psychotherapy and coaching.

In plain English: Life coaches will assist you in moving from where you are right now, to where you want to be, whereas therapy focuses on your past.

When we discuss frauds in both life and business coaching, the answer is, “Yes, they exist.” But the bogus gurus are not the true con in the coaching profession (although there are plenty).

The actual victims of the coaching industries con are the clients who think that by just writing a check and starting a 20 or 30-minute weekly conversation with a coach, their life will be changed, and their performance will improve.

This means that, as always, it is up to us.

Before you hire a coach, you must understand this uncomfortable basic reality.

Nothing will change in your life unless you make a change.

The ideal life or business coach will provide you with the necessary skills.

They will assist you in determining the ways in which you are impeding your progress and provide you with the remedy you require to proceed.

Your results will not change; you will be in a worse position than you were before the coaching started, and you will blame the coach for everything if you do not act on what they teach you and make a commitment to putting all you learn into practice.

The real-life coaching industry fraud is this.

You now have an option.

Act now, have fun, and realise your aspirations.

Or continue to live a life of ease, mediocrity, and Netflix marathons.

And yes, the cost of business and life coaching is high.

An investment, that is.

But it is less expensive than trying to advance your life by wasting time and money on ineffective methods.

It is less expensive than getting divorced, paying for medical expenses, enduring years of a lousy job that underpays you, and losing limited time that you will never get back.

So, you have an option.

Conclusion:

It is all up to us; do your research, check with reliable sources, and decide.

Consider whether it would be more expensive to invest in yourself and make progress rather than to remain stagnant and unsatisfied.

Australia Collaborating with Disillusioned Chinese Officials

Head of spy agency implies that Australia is collaborating with disillusioned Chinese officials.

Due to China’s “imposed monoculture,” (ASIS) Australian Secret Intelligence Service chairman claims there are “more indicators of officials and individuals interested in a relationship.”

In a rare public speech, the chief of Australia’s Foreign Intelligence Service suggested that more and more disillusioned Chinese officials are eager to assist with the organisation.

The recent security agreement between China and the Solomon Islands and the requirement to find new spies “with greater vigour and urgency” than ever before were among the subjects covered by the director general of the Australian Secret Intelligence Service (ASIS), Paul Symon.

He said the audience, which included senior members of Australia’s intelligence community, the head of the UK’s MI6 foreign intelligence service, Richard Moore, and top diplomats, would occasionally have to “read between the lines” at the Sydney event held by the Lowy Institute to commemorate ASIS’s 70th anniversary.

For his organisation to adapt to the current context of information collection, Symon stated it needed to “stay low profile but… not have no profile.”

More than merely power imbalances are taking place around the planet. There is manipulation and subversion of the global order based on rules. Australia’s prospects are probably not as favourable as they once were.

He claimed that because Australia’s clandestine activities are becoming “increasingly discoverable,” developing technologies are posing “a near existential” risk to the operations of organisations like ASIS.

As we advance, ASIS will require more officers with a wider range of backgrounds and talents, backed by more cohesive capabilities. More than at any previous time in our 70-year existence, we’ll need to hire new employees quickly and with vigour.

“It has gotten increasingly challenging to undertake human intelligence work at the same time which our operational environment has become more competitive and chaotic,” he said.

In certain cities, police “could just be the person next to you on the train,” according to Symon, adding that they “may be one of your family members, one of your neighbours, your classmates or former co-workers.

Right now, I’m certain that someplace… ASIS police can be found operating in bustling cafes, off-limits locations, or on unfamiliar streets.

Human intelligence “remains a vital component of statecraft,” according to Symon, but it must change to face the unprecedented challenges brought on by the interaction of a complex strategic environment, increased counterintelligence measures, and with new evolving technologies.

“Technology risk has a close to existential dimension for a service like mine. We now live in a fundamentally digital era where our clandestine activities are increasingly discoverable, replacing the analogy methods and processes that spies in the past took for granted. Authoritarian governments are “in vogue” with this technological sandbox.”

On Wednesday, Mike Burgess stood in front of the (ASIO) Australian Security Intelligence Organisation offices in Canberra.

Election plot foiled, ASIO leader says, promising to stop foreign interference.

As the Taliban took over last year, Symon also disclosed that ASIS “inserted” a “small team” of officers into Afghanistan, including officers among the “chaos” of masses trying to flee the country at Kabul’s International Airport, as they aided in evacuations.

Chinese leaders are open to dialogue.

Symon also seemed to imply that Chinese authorities and citizens are increasingly trying to give ASIS information.

Symon was questioned about how ASIS develops human intelligence without using force by Michael Fullilove, executive director of the Lowy Institute. Symon responded that more “officials, individuals dissatisfied with the trajectory of closed societies are willing to speak up and are willing to take risks.”

“The variation in the colour of old culture…and the level to which that diversity is so rich and so vibrant,” Symon stated in comparison of China and India.

On the phone, a WeChat logo. In the run-up to the 2022 Australian federal election, WeChat users are seeing very deceptive adverts regarding the Labor party that have neither attribution nor authorisation.

And yet, even though China has a long history, a monoculture is being imposed. The specifics of how that will transpire are still unknown. The indicators of officials and people interested in a connection, however, are growing.

Symon was questioned on how ASIS considers moral and legal issues when conducting its business, and along with Fullilove brought up the East Timor spying scandal.

Symon did not specifically address East Timor, which happened before he was director general, and he did say officers were given the assurance of opting out of an operation if they had felt uncomfortable with a duty or had doubts about its legality to not harm their careers.

It “doesn’t happen very often, but it does happen periodically,” Symon said, adding that these officers occasionally talk with an ethical counsellor and decide to re-join an operation.

 

Islands of Solomon

The security agreement that China and the Solomon Islands was linked, was another question that Symon was asked.

Before the agreement was signed, Symon had flown to Honiara for urgent negotiations with the prime minister, Manasseh Sogavare.

Symon remarked, “What I do see, not so much in Australia, but I see in our region, the level to which the democratic processes in our region can be manipulated,” when discussing the state of democracies generally.

Political leaders can be manipulated, directed, and controlled, and they can profit from the generosity bestowed upon them. The government needs our assistance in understanding exactly

what is happening when people make comments, reject what is happening, and react to manipulation—I won’t say coercion—activities.

We must demonstrate to our government that we are aware of all the details of what is occurring there, Symon stated.

Symon also cited Australia’s deployment of Federal Police and military to Honiara at the government’s request in response to disturbances in November 2021.

He stated, “For me, the strategy we adopted in that brief period of time characterised the way we looked to support the Solomon Islands. It’s not what I see other countries looking to provide the Solomon Islands with,” That is what goodness looks like to me.

The security agreement with China, according to Symon, had the intelligence community “quite seized,” and ASIS would keep acquiring and exchanging information pertinent to the Solomon Islands.

 

 

Moving Forward

Why is it difficult to move forward after experiencing unpleasant events.

Emotional, life or business events which can change our lives forever?

Truth is, if we don’t move forward, we’ll just keep tapping along.

Breakups may be painful and unpleasant.

It’s frequently difficult to leave a partnership, friendship, business relationship, or any other type of interaction.

It is. I know. You know.

But we are longing and hanging over our past.

We all know how tough it can be, especially when it involves a close friend or family member, and because of this, we frequently endure too much to spare ourselves discomfort.

However, we are deluding ourselves.

Basically, we are lying to ourselves, hoping things will come back to the way they once were. It will not and should not.

It is difficult to tolerate, and occasionally it goes on for too long. Change can create discomfort, displeasure while within the uncomfortable zone new growth has a chance to see light. To arise new opportunities. Or new relationships to form.

When the wrong people are in our lives, it drains our energy, makes us feel miserable, and causes us to live in turmoil.

In addition, these people take up space that could be taken up by other people, with whom we could have a better life with.

Because of this, it frequently occurs that those who get rid of bad influences “bloom”, meet new people, enjoy favourable circumstances, see a shift in their lives, and become happier and more content.

If you feel despair that a relationship, you’re in is ending, regardless of whether its emotional, business or family, remember this.

Moving forward is the only way.

You are your own obstacle to success

Who is the biggest obstacle in your life on the path to success, happiness, abundance, or health?

There are several reasons why people frequently find themselves to be their largest obstacles to success. Living can create obstacles and the feeling of losing control over everything throughout your life can be present. A shock and serve disappointment hitting you with raw painful feelings of failure. “Wanting to throw the towel in”, “Give up on life”. Beyond failure, many individuals can feel like that is it now stuck within a pit of hopelessness.

Beliefs are frequently the cause. The story we tell ourselves.

People who constantly believe that the world is unfair, who tell themselves things like, “I’m not good enough… I can’t do that… I don’t have enough of this or that,” or who believe that success is only for a select group of people or those who are willing to do dishonourable things to achieve it, are holding themselves back.

Fear could also be a factor.

• People frequently fear change, criticism, opinions of others, success, responsibility, and uncertainty.

• Fear of failure

• Fear of pain we can occur

• Fear of the present, wanting to run and hide, yourself away

Doing anyone of these negative behaviours can and will destroy your life. The first steps to gaining control back in your life is accepting that you are letting fear rule your life. That your own behaviours are self-sabotaging. Accept and ask yourself “what will happen if I start to face my fears?”

Additionally, while small amounts of fear can be beneficial because they encourage us to reflect on our actions and ask ourselves if we are on the correct track. But when they become overwhelming, they can provide a significant challenge.

Explanations are the third cause of self-sabotage, and people are highly inventive in this area “It’s not the proper moment right now, I’ll take care of it once I complete this.

I’ll start on Monday; I don’t have enough time or money “… The problem with excuses is that people don’t question them because they firmly believe in them.

And our brain creates excuses to protect us from the unfamiliar, the uncertain, and the novel while keeping us where it is safe; in the well-known.

Please understand making excuses does not = SUCCESS

Excuses = A waste of time

Making excuses = A zero result

It is crucial to identify what is preventing us from moving forward because everyone has different barriers to overcome. If not, we will be where we are now in five years.

Ask yourself if you still see yourself in five years where you are today, and if not, what will be your next move?

You are the biggest obstacle in your way. Follow that up, and move on…

Do you want to stay stuck in the past?

Or would you like to move forward with your life?

 

 

 

What do the FBI and leaders have in common?

I recently had the chance to speak with my colleague, a highly accomplished leader, and we briefly discussed the code of conduct. We all concurred that the code of conduct embodies the fundamental principles of a family, a team, or a business.

What rules of conduct apply to you?

Do you operate under a code of conduct?

My colleague, who works in criminal science, brought up the FBI’s way with the expectations of their FBI agents. He said that previous counterintelligence director Frank Figliuzzi developed a book with a code that required absolute internal perfection from everyone at all times. He refers to it as the Seven Cs and the FBI’s Way (Code, Conservancy, Consequences, Clarity, Compassion, Credibility, Consistency).

A code of behaviour has been developed by the FBI, and it’s upheld by teams and all workers.

Everyone in your team or firm follows to the same basic values, which are reflected in this code.

Basic rules of conduct must be established in any group or organisation. A clear and exact code is necessary to prevent actions that can jeopardise the principles you uphold.

Conservancy is a communal effort to conserve and maintain the true worth of a place or thing, much like stewardship. By joining a conservancy, members formally commit to acting as stewards for something bigger than themselves. It is a conservancy, the FBI.

Here, accountability is crucial. Additionally, everyone in the FBI has a line of authority, and the higher up you are, the more authority you have.

A code devoid of compassion is short-lived. Consequences and compassion go hand in one. Sometimes showing compassion entails taking a hard look in the mirror to examine how you or a broken system contributed to the bad decision or improper behaviour.

What may otherwise be an unkind and frigid process is balanced by compassion. People need to have faith in their leaders to treat them with respect as well as assurance that they have established clear guidelines for behaviour. Because of this, effective leaders analyse penalties holistically by considering an employee’s overall performance, the circumstances around their mistake, and their ability to right their wrongs.

When it comes to the results, there shouldn’t be any shocks. A code must contain penalties for violations or it is merely “text on paper.”

A code that is not upheld soon turns into a falsehood that compromises your entire team. People need to understand that there are consequences for endangering the team since you can’t just will them into abiding by the rules.

The foundation of a values-based organisation is credibility. And it holds true for the entire squad. People must trust us and the principles we uphold. Values’ ability to endure past the personalities of specific leaders depends on their believability.

When the procedure is standardised, impartial, and thorough, the principles are preserved in a credible manner. When a process is codified, it must not only be documented in writing but also be simple to access, clear to understand, and taken seriously.

Being trustworthy is what makes someone credible, not being perfect.

Intentionality is key to consistency. It aids in protecting what is truly important.

The process of creating a rhythm had a beauty and simplicity that went beyond simple habit. In your life, at business, or in your studies, create a system that you can stick with. If it works or adjust if it doesn’t. Follow a reliable system.

Sometimes being consistent means changing your entire strategy to be true to your values.

People should not experience change as something that occurs “to” them; rather, it should occur “with” them. Everyone concerned must realise that adjusting does not imply giving up on ideals or a mission. Instead, the suggested adjustments must demonstrate how they are both compatible with and essential to upholding your beliefs.

We all inevitably need to adjust, adapt, and transition to new ways of conserving and promoting what we hold dear to maintain our essential beliefs.

And the FBI’s biggest errors primarily result from its leaders breaking their own rules.

As in life.

 

 

 

What activities do Chinese spies engage in abroad?

They are stealing! They also have no intention of stopping: “They want to surpass us in technology and industry.”

Chinese economic espionage in the West is becoming more prevalent, according to FBI and British intelligence officials.

The Chinese aircraft that will compete with the 737 MAX and A320neo from Boeing and Airbus has finished its first test flight. Beijing proudly displayed its Comac C919 airplane and hailed it as a success of homegrown creativity. However, according to the US Department of Justice, “an aircraft created with stolen secrets from Western airlines” would be a better way to describe China’s first narrow-body passenger jet.

The Chinese manufacturer Comac, which created the C919, was allegedly the recipient of data stolen from Western airlines by a group of cyber-spies known as “Turbine Panda” from China. Due to their extensive infiltration and release of the Chinese Communist Party’s tentacles, British intelligence officials now assert that Chinese spies constitute a threat not only to the US but also to Great Britain (CCP).

During a joint conference in London, Ken McCallum, the director of the British intelligence service MI5, and Christopher Wray, the director of the FBI, issued a warning over the rise of Chinese economic espionage in the West.

McCallum and Wray claimed that there is a Chinese spy network in Britain that has no intention of stopping with theft as long as it enables it to surpass its competitors in technology, industry, politics, and power. They were speaking to businessmen at Thames House, MI5’s headquarters. The FBI, according to Wray, initiates a new China-related probe every 12 hours, while Britain’s MI5 intelligence arm now conducts seven times as many inquiries into China as it did four years ago. According to McCallum, hostile actions are occurring on British land, and the Chinese threat is hazardous not only for the USA and the UK, but also for other Western allies.

 

LinkedIn is a top source

McCallum disclosed that MI5 stepped in after a British aviation expert was twice persuaded to travel to China by a tempting employment offer, he found online. The British expert was given money in exchange for comprehensive technical information regarding military aircraft after much courting and paid dinners. Beyond that, McCallum didn’t offer any more detail, merely mentioning that

LinkedIn has grown to be a popular hunting area for Chinese intelligence agents. Beijing denied all of the allegations, calling them “baseless.”

Chinese embassy in Britain spokesman: “They are spreading all kinds of lies about China to tarnish the Chinese political system, increase anti-Chinese sentiment and exclusion, as well as to divert public attention and cover up own shameful action. The alleged affairs they talked about are merely smokescreens.”

British intelligence often stays out of the spotlight, so their willingness to speak up and openly urge caution is a reflection of the threat’s magnitude as well as some annoyance that they are not being taken seriously enough. Chinese cyber-spies were originally seen as inept due to the large amount of digital evidence they left behind. However, recent years have seen a substantial improvement in their techniques. Research on a vaccine for COVID-19 was the primary target of spies last year, according to the British National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), which documented a record number of occurrences.

The Chinese government has been accused by the British government of breaking into corporate email systems using loopholes in Microsoft’s Exchange server in order to access emails, contacts, and other data from targeted businesses. An operation known as Operation Cloud Hopper that targeted IT service providers and used them as a launching pad to expose the secrets of carefully chosen targets was discovered by British investigators.

 

Major losses

For instance, Chinese hackers infected a Chinese restaurant’s online menu in order to introduce malware into the system of an American oil business. Ian Williams, a journalist for the Sunday Times and the author of “Every Breath You Take: China’s New Tyranny,” explains how when the company’s engineers clicked to get their takeaway, hackers would have access to a sizable quantity of private information. The Chinese are “the most prolific and persistent offenders of economic espionage in the world,” according to the US National Counterintelligence Service.

The FBI says that China is fostering a new generation of “patriotic hackers” who target cutting-edge technology in which China wants to lead and that China has roughly 30,000 military cyber-spies and 150,000 unofficial hackers that it can activate at any time. Former US National Security Agency director Keith Alexander calls US loses from cyberespionage “the greatest transfer of money in history.” Information collecting by China extends outside of the internet. Today, the Chinese maintain several scientific collaborations with Western universities in addition to corporate connections.

At least 50 Chinese students had to leave British colleges, according to McCallum, who disclosed that their investigations had turned up linkages to the military and other institutions. The UK is rapaciously utilising its relationship with China, which is the largest foreign market for British colleges, while turning a blind eye to any potential risks.

Chinese partners with Beijing-related ties are well-established in British campuses, and Chinese students pay tuition fees that exceed £30,000 annually. While the West has been alarmed by our dependence on Russian gas, analysts say the consequences of severing ties with China would be considerably bigger.

Many important supply chains, including those for fundamental minerals like lithium and rare metals, which are essential to rechargeable batteries and other green technology, transit through China. investments made by China At the same time, Britain accepts 200 enterprises and a £134 billion investment from China.

Chinese investments have been made in a variety of businesses, including nuclear power reactors, electric battery producers, Heathrow Airport, Pizza Express, travel agency Thomas Cook, football clubs Wolverhampton Wanderers and Southampton, and black cab manufacturer LEVCU. Despite being barred from 5G telecommunications networks, Britain continues to rely heavily on Huawei for its 4G infrastructure. The Oxford Sciences Innovation firm, which commercialises research from Oxford University, also gave Huawei permission to purchase a tiny stake. This gave the Chinese corporation access to some of the most exciting early-stage technology created by British academics.

Although the corporation is well rooted in the British economy and academic community, the government’s decision to bar Huawei from Britain’s 5G telecoms networks is frequently interpreted as a sign of its intention to fight Chinese influence. Without a clear definition of what “strategic” means, investment regulations for “strategic” areas have been tightened. The monitoring of academic relationships has been strengthened, but the regulations are murky, making colleges motivated to discover loopholes to shield funding from Chinese students and research collaborations. The British government has also disregarded pleas to restrict Chinese-supplied “smart city” technology, such as cameras and sensors, which intelligence officials have warned may be used for spying, disruption, or the theft of private information.

The non-profit group Big Brother Watch claims that 73% of UK councils, 57% of secondary schools in England, 61% of NHS trusts, UK universities, and the police utilise equipment made by Chinese corporations that are allegedly complicit in human rights violations.

There is simply no such thing as a private Chinese corporation in any sense, McCallum and Wray said, and all Chinese businesses and research institutions must answer to the Chinese Communist Party.

Collaboration to protect “National security” is a requirement under the law. Be aware that you are interacting with the Chinese government as well.

Like almost quiet partners, said Wray. The massive “Chinese machine” is the focus of British intelligence agencies, who have made it clear that they are adamant that the next prime minister placed the Chinese threat at the top of the political agenda.