Problem: Article: You’re more likely to be successful if you’re pursuing a goal that is your own rather than one you feel forced on you. Consider your purpose and motivation for accomplishing this goal.  Pursue goals that matter to you, not others. In some cases you might be working toward a goal that isn’t a top priority for you but is still important. For example, your goal might be to excel in a course you find boring and purposeless. When this happens, refocus your efforts by considering how this goal will help you reach your overall goal, such as getting into your desired college. Looking at your goal as a whole can be overwhelming. Instead, create a checklist of the small tasks you need to do to reach your goal. It doesn’t have to be a perfect plan, as you can adjust it along the way.  If your goal is very large, you might create smaller sub-steps for each action you need to take. Be flexible. It’s normal for your plans to change. As you accomplish each step, take a moment to assess your progress. Based on your experience and current outcomes, make changes to your plan, if necessary. If you’re struggling to accomplish a step, consider if you’ve set expectations that are too high. You might be attempting too much at once. Reaching your goals will take good self-discipline, so hold yourself accountable. Letting yourself down can make you feel bad about yourself, but staying true to your word will help you feel confident. You may have days when you can’t keep all of your promises to yourself. As long as you do your best, give yourself credit for trying. Consider why you couldn’t meet your goals that day, then adjust as necessary moving forward. Don’t expect yourself to work constantly, as no one can keep up with this pace. Give yourself permission to rest, relax, and blow off steam. In the long run, you’ll be more productive!  Dedicate one weeknight each week to relaxation. Spend one weekend day engaging in fun or relaxing activities. Take a few vacation days each year. Enjoy your holidays with your favorite traditions.
Summary: Make sure your motivation is internal. Break your goal down into small steps. Adjust your plans as necessary. Keep the promises you make to yourself. Take regular breaks.

Problem: Article: In order to change the standard date format for any new Excel sheet, you will need to change the overarching date format for you computer. First, click the Start button. The next step will depend on which operating system you are using:  If you are using Windows Vista or Windows 8: Open the Control Panel. Then, click "Clock, Language, and Region." Alternately, in Windows 8, open the Settings folder and select "Time & language". If you are using Windows XP: Open the Control Panel. Then, click "Date, Time, Language, and Regional Options." Again, the navigational steps vary from operating system to operating system.  If you are using Windows 8: In the Clock, Language, and Region folder, select "Change date, time, or number formats" from beneath the "Region" heading. If you are using Windows Vista: Open the Regional and Language Options dialog box. Then, select the Formats tab. If you are using Windows XP: Open the Regional and Language Options dialog box. Then, select the Regional Options tab. If you are using Windows 8: Make sure that the Formats tab is open. If you are using Windows Vista: Click Customize this format. If you are using Windows XP: Click Customize. You will have options for the short date and the long date. The short date refers to the abbreviated version: e.g. 6/12/2015. The long date refers to the wordier form: e.g. December 31, 1999. The formats that you select here will be standardized across all Windows applications, including Excel. Click "OK" to apply your choices.  Review the short date options. June 2, 2015 is used as an example.  M/d/yyyy: 6/2/2015 M/d/yy: 6/2/15 MM/dd/yy: 06/02/15 MM/dd/yyyy: 06/02/2015 yy/MM/dd: 15/06/02 yyyy-MM-dd: 2015-06-02 dd-MMM-yy: 02-Jun-15   Review the long date options. June 2, 2015 is used as an example.  dddd, MMMM dd, yyyy: Friday, June 02, 2015 dddd, MMMM d, yyyy: Friday, June 2, 2015 MMMM d, yyyy: June 2, 2015 dddd, d MMMM, yyyy: Friday, 2 June, 2015 d MMMM, yyyy: 2 June, 2015
Summary: Navigate to the time and date settings. Navigate to the Regional options. Prepare to customize the format. Choose a date format.

Problem: Article: Include the attorney’s name, address, phone number, and website address. You can search for lawyers in your area online under “personal injury attorneys.” You can also look in the yellow pages under “attorney.”  You can also find a local personal injury attorney by visiting your state bar association’s website or calling and asking for a referral. While you could represent yourself, a lawyer will research laws in your region, communicate with the insurers and those responsible for your fall, and make sure you have persuasive evidence to present. You can eliminate lawyers from your list by looking for recommendations and referrals. Talk to friends and family, read online reviews, and disciplinary records for the attorneys on the list you have compiled.  State bar associations keep public records about complaints and disciplinary actions taken against attorneys licensed to practice in the state. You can find your bar association’s website by selecting your state from the State & Local Bar Associations page provided by the American Bar Association. If any attorneys cannot take your case, ask if they have any recommendations for an appropriate attorney for your case. You can whittle down your attorney list further by reviewing the website of each. Look for:  Information pertaining to slip and fall cases or other personal injury suits A professional website free of misspellings, grammatical errors, etc. Background information, such as education, work history, and specialization—you don’t want a personal injury attorney who only handles medical malpractice, for instance Most lawyers will want to work on a contingency fee basis. Paying an attorney for this type of case on an hourly basis can be risky because outcomes in slip and fall cases are difficult to predict. Paying using a contingency fee means that you only pay the lawyer if you recover money in your case. He or she will get a percentage of the money awarded. If the case is lost, you won't owe any legal fees for the attorney’s work.  Contingency fee arrangement percentages vary, but 30% to 40% is common. Make sure you discuss what you are responsible for paying and how much of a percentage the attorney will take from your settlement if you win. Even without legal fees, most lawyers will require you to pay some or all related costs upfront. Possible costs include:  Filing costs Costs for serving the opposing party with a copy of the complaint Paying the court reporter to record any depositions Paying for expert witnesses to testify if your case ends up going to trial If you are thinking of entering into a contingency fee agreement, you should also discuss with the attorney what the possible outcomes for your case are. For example, you may want to consider another type of fee arrangement if the attorney says that you are likely to win only a small amount of money. After paying the attorney’s fee, you could end up with an insufficient amount for your medical expenses.
Summary:
Make a list of personal injury attorneys in your area. Gather referrals and recommendations. Review attorney websites. Discuss fee arrangements and other costs. Discuss possible outcomes with the attorney.