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If you are anything like me, when studying for exams, you need to take breaks. Due to the increasing use and prevalence of the internet, on demand media, and with my cell phone by my side, taking a “study break” has come to mean checking Facebook, Twitter, celebrity blogs, Google Chat, and every other distracting website and app you can imagine.Thus, a study break morphs from a reprieve into an unplanned detour into internet-land that takes up just as much time (if not more) than the actual studying. A five minute break becomes half an hour, and pretty soon, instead of going to sleep by midnight as planned, you get to sleep at 4 AM instead.Don’t be like me, get refreshed, and prepare yourself to dive back into your books.You also don't want to study for too long at a time, because your brain gets fatigued and after a while it needs a rest. 90 minutes is probably the maximum you should go before taking a 10 minute break, and usually 60 minutes is enough.Here’s your AnswerLife Without LimitsBy - Nick VujicicLife Without Limits: Inspiration for A Ridiculously Good Life is a book by Nick Vujicic, who was born without his arms and legs. This extraordinary individual overcame the barriers that his disability had created and now lives a happy, independent and wealthy life.The author speaks about his own difficulties, both physical and emotional and tells people that his faith in God helped him find a sense of purpose. Life Without Limits: Inspiration for A Ridiculously Good Life is a book that will help readers become motivated, find confidence and build a life which knows no limits.Vujicic says that in order to lead a ridiculously good life, he relies on only a few attributes. He speaks about the importance of love and self-acceptance and how one must be willing to change. He also says that one must develop their ability to assess risks and always remember to serve others first. Each of the twelve chapters in Life Without Limits: Inspiration for A Ridiculously Good Life focus on an attribute. The author offers practical advice and tells readers to make a list of the limitations they have in their lives. Readers will realize that though life isn't always easy, it is possible to turn setbacks into opportunities. In order to lead a happy and fulfilling life, it is essential to become free of any limitations.What inspires me most about Nick is that despite the adversity he’s faced in his life, being born with no limbs, he is not constrained by his circumstances. He shares his story and what he experienced growing up feeling like an outcast and being suicidal. Nick had been through some dark times, wondering if he’d ever find a woman that would love him and was frustrated by not being able to do what others could. He felt often like he was a burden to others, and even began questioning his faith in God.I was really amazed and impressed by Nick’s mindset and how he was able to overcome such adversity described. Throughout the book, he shares how other people have experienced worse challenges than his, and references the earthquake in Haiti and his experience in China after an earthquake there. He talks about how despite those horrific conditions those people faced, they still were able to remain happy and in good spirits.Nick Vujicic’s message is simple: Keep your hope alive and to never give up on your dreams.He demonstrates the power of hope and never giving up in his inspirational story and how today he has been able to travel the world and experience a life most people never will. Despite his condition, he hasn’t allowed it to stop him in any way from living life to the limit. There’s so many people that have arms or legs and luxuries that he doesn’t have, yet are miserable and depressed. It goes to show that happiness and fulfillment is a state of mind, it has nothing to do with your outer world. You have control over it.I enjoyed this little book. It really inspired me and really put my life in perspective. It’s so easy to take things for granted, and reading about Nick’s story has really made me feel more gratitude for what I do have and to appreciate the gifts that my creator has given me. If you’re going through a challenge in your life or are feeling down, this book will definitely uplift you.2) Acres of DiamondsBy- Russell H. ConwellIt’s goes like this:There was once a wealthy man named Ali Hafed who lived not far from the River Indus. “He was contented because he was wealthy, and wealthy because he was contented.” One day a priest visited Ali Hafed and told him about diamonds.Ali Hafed heard all about diamonds, how much they were worth, and went to his bed that night a poor man. He had not lost anything, but he was poor because he was discontented, and discontented because he feared he was poor.Ali Hafed sold his farm, left his family, and traveled to Palestine and then to Europe searching for diamonds. He did not find them. His health and his wealth failed him. Dejected, he cast himself into the sea.One day, the man who had purchased Ali Hafed’s farm found a curious sparkling stone in a stream that cut through his land. It was a diamond. Digging produced more diamonds — acres of diamonds, in fact. This, according to the parable, was the discovery of the famed diamonds of Golconda.The point of the story is that we often dream of fortunes to be made elsewhere. We ought instead to be open to the opportunities that are around us. He illustrates this concept with several other stories, including that of the discovery of Gold in California. Another is a farmer in Pennsylvania sold his farm for $833 and went to work for his cousin in Canada, collecting oil. Shortly after, the man who purchased the farm found oil worth millions of dollars.Now I’m not suggesting you physically go and start digging up your backyard, as this is a story, so how can you find the acres of diamonds in your own backyards?Maintain a ready mind. Be open to the possibilities around you. Don’t let preconceived notions cloud your judgment. We often overlook the value of something because we believe we already know it.Look at the familiar in new ways. Conwell lists some important inventions — the snap-button, the cotton gin, the mowing machine — and notes that these were created by everyday people who found new approaches and new uses for commonplace objects.Learn what people want, then give it to them. Discover a market, and the provide a good or a service. Too many people do this the other way around. They develop a good or a service and then try to market it, try to manufacture desire. You’ll have more success if you see a desire and then try to meet it.Knowledge is more important than capital. Lack of capital is a common excuse for not starting a business venture. How often have you heard, “You need money to make money.” Nonsense, says Conwell. He gives anecdotes of wealthy people who started with nothing but an idea.Don’t put yourself down, and don’t belittle your environment. Don’t compare yourself with others. “Believe in the great opportunities that are right here not over in New York or Boston, but here — for business, for everything that is worth living for on earth. There was never an opportunity greater.” Find the best in what’s around you.ConclusionAre you one of those people who looks for diamonds in faraway places. Is the grass really greener there? Is there an opportunity that has been in front of you all the time. Have you taken stock of your life lately? Perhaps there are diamonds sitting just outside your back door.In reading Acres of Diamonds, I am also reminded of the biblical Parable of the Prodigal Son, whowas wiser because he at least had the common sense to return home and beg forgiveness. Your diamonds are not in far-away mountains or in distant seas; they are usually in your own back yard if you will take the time to look for them.”3) Secrets of the Millionaire MindBy - T. Harv EkerThe ideas in this book are meant to be applied. Eker invites you to really study the book, keep what works and throw away what doesn’t. He stresses that you can consciously choose to release any belief, way of thinking or being, and replace them with new ones.Your level of success is largely dependent on your character, thinking and beliefs. The results you are getting in your outer world (including money, wealth, health, illness, weight etc.) are a reflection of your inner world. For the principles to work, you need to be prepared to let go of old ways of thinking.According to T. Harv Eker, money is a unique phenomenon that only needs to be properly understood to be accumulated. In Secrets of the Millionaire Mind, he explains that our prior programming on the subject of money has an incredibly deep impact on how we interact with money and what our future possibilities of wealth will be.Eker calls our subconscious perceptions about wealth our "money blueprint" and explains that what we learned about money from our parents is shaping exactly how we feel about money today, whether we know it or not. By teaching his readers how to reprogram their brains to think like a millionaire and create positive thoughts around making money, he offers them a complete program for becoming wealthy.Declarations and ActionsEker explains that changing our financial blueprint involves becoming aware of how we presently think about money, understanding where our way of thinking originated and how it has come from outside of us, disassociating ourselves from this way of thinking, and reconditioning ourselves to generate wealth. In Secrets of the Millionaire Mind, Eker describes how we can undo the verbal programming, modeling and experiences that have shaped our attitudes about money. His solution involves making specific declarations that can help us improve our financial lives, and taking simple actions that can anchor the changes.Eker encourages readers to put a hand on their heart when making declarations such as "My inner world creates my outer world," and "What I modeled around money was their way. I choose my way." By having them accompany these actions with a touch to the head and the words, "I have a millionaire mind!" Eker aims to reprogram his readers for success. The lesson he imparts with all of these declarations and affirmations is, "Your income can grow only to the extent that you do."The rest of Eker's book answers the question, "How do rich people think and act?" His response comes in the form of 17 ways that rich people think and act differently from poor and middle-class people. By installing these alternative "wealth files" into the minds of his readers, he offers them new choices so they can shift their focus to thinking like the rich people they want to be.For example, the first wealth file that Eker offers is, "Rich people believe ‘I create my life.' Poor people believe ‘Life happens to me.'" The message he attaches to this is that each individual must believe that he or she is the one who creates success, creates mediocrity, and creates his or her own struggle around money and success. "Rich people understand the importance of money and the place it has in our society," Eker writes. He explains that until you believe that money is important, you will always be broke. He adds that being a victim is the opposite of being rich, so if you blame, justify or complain, "you are slitting your financial throat."The second wealth file that Eker offers is, "Rich people play the money game to win. Poor people play the money game to not lose." To describe the power of intention, he explains that if your intention is to have enough money to pay the bills, "that's exactly how much you'll get — just enough to pay the bills and not a dime more." But if you want to get rich, he writes, "your goal has to be rich."'Shoot for the Stars'To help readers ingrain this lesson into their subconsciousness, he advises them to place a hand on their heart and declare, "My goal is to become a millionaire and more!" and then once again touch their head and say, "I have a millionaire mind!" He also encourages readers to write down two financial objectives that demonstrate their intention to create abundance. Although he writes that these "play to win" goals for annual income and net worth must be achievable with a realistic time frame, he adds that they should also "shoot for the stars."Along with its material focus on finances, there is a spiritual side to Eker's program of wealth creation as well. He writes that "the goal of creating wealth is to help you grow yourself into the best person you can possibly be." This process can be improved with the help of a personal coach, he adds. By focusing on the parts of themselves that can be taught and trained, Eker shows readers that they can take personal responsibility for their commitment to growth, and take that learning to the bank.Why We Like This BookSecrets of the Millionaire Mind presents a clear path to wealth in a highly readable format, carrying its readers through a realistic program filled with introspection and helpful hints. By showing them how to change the patterns that keep them earning less than their potential, Eker offers actionable advice that cuts through prior negative programming and nourishes the mental roots of wealth creation with the energy and thoughtfulness required to reach lofty monetary goals.5) Outliers: The Story of SuccessBy- Malcolm GladwellIn Outliers, Gladwell explains how opportunities can transform an individual’s life. Throughout the book, he presents various findings and argues that the perception of success in our eyes is drastically wrong. Generally, we think that success is an offspring of various factors that include intelligence, lifestyle, hard work and diligence. However, Gladwell states that there’s more to success than meets the eye because opportunities and cultural legacies play a major role in an individual’s success. Most importantly, he asserts that a person’s success depends immensely on the time he was born.Throughout the entire book, Gladwell names famous personalities who have achieved the pinnacle of success. In the first half of the book we read how respected individuals that are extremely intelligent and hardworking also were extremely lucky to bag the right opportunity at the right time. In the second half of the book Gladwell stresses the importance of cultural legacies that operate like powerful forces and extend to several generations. In addition, Gladwell presents several researches that prove that no matter how intelligent a person is, his intelligence beyond a certain threshold won’t really matter. Gladwell isn’t saying that successful people were just lucky, but he’s saying that there were lucky enough to be at the right place at the right time, and exploit that opportunity giving to them.Outliers is a fantastic book that explains numerous concepts about why some people are more successful than the others. A man can definitely reap great rewards with his hard work, intelligence and determination, but when an opportunity is thrown in, his success becomes unstoppable.IS BILL GATES JUST LUCKY?Once upon a time, there was a brilliant math whiz kid who transformed computer programming. Armed with his sheer brilliance and guts, he conquered the world of computers after he began a small startup along with his friend Paul Allen. He was charismatic and had all the skills to become a successful entrepreneur and as luck would have it, he became the richest man in the world. Can you guess who that is? Obviously, that’s Bill Gates! Bill Gates became mighty successful and wealthy after Microsoft, but what about his life before he founded the company? What could have been the reason for his unimaginable success?Amazingly, Bill Gates experienced a lucky series of events that helped him find his way. As a kid, Gates was bored with his studies and consequently, he was sent by his parents to Lakeside, a private school that taught children who hailed from elite families in Seattle. Fortunately for Gates, Lakeside was wealthy enough to install a time sharing terminal that had a direct link with the mainframe computer in Seattle. One would find it difficult to find computers in 1968, let alone time-sharing computers, but Gates had the opportunity to practice and fine tune his skills. In fact, time-sharing was invented in 1965, but think about Gates’ incredible opportunity that allowed him to practice programming when he was just a seventh grader in 1968. Even Gates declares directly to Malcolm Gladwell that he would be shocked if even 50 kids had the same opportunities as he had during that time.Apart from all that, the mothers of the children studying in Lakeside were generous and rich to pay for computer fees; however, when their resources depleted, Gates again had a spectacular chance to test codes in a company called C-Cubed in exchange for programming time. At a time when most kids hadn’t even heard about computers, he could practice programming undisturbed for hours.Computer programming was highly expensive those days and C-Cubed faced bankruptcy but Gates’ road to success didn’t diminish there since he connected with a company named ISI. ISI offered free programming time in exchange for testing software that automated the company payrolls and Gates accepted. Astonishingly, Gates along with his group, managed to run about 1,575 hours of programming time in a single month in 1971. Unsurprisingly, this lucky event totally altered his life because he had his incredible head start and was light years ahead of other kids. Later, he was expelled from ISI but once he found out that his friend had discovered a free computer in the University of Washington, there was no stopping him.Gates used the computers whenever he got the chance and pretty soon, he was obsessed with it. He would walk to the university every night after his bedtime because it was located within a mere walking distance from his house. At the time, Bud Pembroke who was one of the founders of ISI was contacted by TRW who were desperate to source programmers that could understand the software. Since Pembroke knew that Gates had run thousands of hours of programming time, he offered the position to Gates. Somehow, Gates managed to persuade his teachers to allow him to go to Bonneville and take up the project. Now, how many private schools let their children decamp to another place to write code? And how lucky was Gates to spend thousands of hours again to practice and master his art? Before the computer boom Gates had spent 10,000, a magical number if you want to excel in any discipline, when everyone else had hardly touched a computer.Gates faced so many opportunities that made him what he is today and mind you, all these events took place before he even founded Microsoft. It was as though the universe was helping him find his way and this fortunate kid transformed computer programming in more ways than one. Of course, Gates was brilliant beyond imagination and dropped out of Harvard University to pursue his dreams, but how many kids have affluent parents who put them in private schools just because they are bored to study?! Most importantly, Gates was born in 1955, a time that allowed him to take advantage of the computer revolution. Gladwell also states that the people born from 1954 to 1955 had incredible opportunities that helped them carve their way towards success. So, does the birth date have anything to do with success? Will it matter when you were born? Well, Gladwell has answers for these questions too…CAN YOUR BIRTHDAY PREDICT YOUR SUCCESS?Gladwell states that the year as well as the month we are born in makes a huge difference in our lives. In order to prove his statements, he talks about Canadian hockey that runs on a merit system. Thousands of kids play hockey every day in the novice level and as they proceed, they are sifted through various levels that sort and evaluate them, thus ensuring that the system only selects elite players. As the kids continue to play, they are then channeled into a special elite league named Major Junior A that represents the very top of the pyramid.Gladwell presents his findings about the selection procedure to prove that birth dates are important. Upon closer inspection, statistics reveal that while 40% of the players in the league are born between January and March, 30% are born between April and June, 20% between July and September and 10% between October and December. Looking at these numbers, it’s easy to discern that the kids born in January have a significant advantage over their counterparts since they are physically and mentally more mature than them. These kids born early in the year will be selected for all stars teams, getting better coaching and better team mates to practice with, and the difference to the other kids will compound over time. Astonishingly, a single year can make a gigantic difference in a kid’s ability to perform and this applies not only in sports but also in the education system where kids are screened in various levels. Most parents recognize this pattern and often try to hold their children back before sending them to kindergarten.Further, Gladwell says that successful people don’t rise out of nowhere. We all owe it to our patronage and parentage. We experience several wonderful possibilities and our cultural legacies often help us work hard and walk the path that leads to success. Our culture shapes our achievements and lives in ways we can’t even imagine.This trend not only applies to humans, but it also applies to biology where scientists discuss the ecology of organisms. Why do some plants grow better than the others? What makes an oak tree the tallest in the forest? Is it because it grew from the perfect seed or is it because there were no other trees blocking its precious sunlight? Gladwell asserts that the tree is tallest simply because it had major advantages. For one, the soil around the tree was rich and nutritious and secondly, no animal disturbed the tree by chewing it up when it was just a young sapling. In addition, no human cut it down before it grew into a gigantic tree.Similarly, we should realize that successful people have excellent advantages and opportunities to help them succeed. Just like the tree, these people thrive in good soil and environment with no rabbits to chew on them. Successful people are intelligent and hard working, but when they receive some amazing opportunities, they grab them and make sure they succeed. Success isn’t complicated, but Outliers will provoke you to perceive success in a totally different way.ASK THE INVESTORS: INVESTING RECOMMENDATIONS FOR A COLLEGE STUDENT?For a college student, minimizing debt can be seen as an investment. Getting a good education and not being buried in debt and liabilities when you graduate is as valuable as getting a high return on your portfolio. Controlling your expenditure will give you the desired steady cash flow stream, which is the foundation for accumulating capital in the long run.As a college student you should focus on accumulating your knowledge. Wealth will come as a bi-product of that process. It might seem like a superfluous advice since college students by definition spend more time studying than other people. The problem is that colleges are directed at exams and for students thinking like employees. If you want to build wealth through investing, you must learn how to think like an owner.“ALL THE BEST”