Q: You can plan out your whole day ahead of time to go as smoothly and successfully as possible, but get a flat tire on the way to work that throws off your whole schedule.  Adapting to changes like this and keeping your focus on how to alter your schedule can help you remain positive and mindful the rest of your day instead of feeling resentful or helpless. Learn how to tell the difference between what you can and cannot control to help you move forward with your life.   Remember that you cannot control what other people do, but you have complete control over how you react to everything around you.  Your emotions are solely your responsibility. Reflect on things that contributed to your current position.  What could you have done differently then?  Can you use this experience to apply such lessons to your future behaviors and actions to make sure you don’t repeat yourself? .  Since you have been able to fully assess and accept your current situation and what you don’t like about it, as well as how your actions contributed to creating it, you can now decide how you want your life to be different in the future. Think of a general goal and then come up with a definite smaller goal that will help you get there.  Do you want to find a new job, lose a healthy amount of weight, learn to better handle your finances, or develop stronger and healthier relationship skills? If you want a new job, do you need more training or education? Do you need to start practicing for interviews and hiring a resume consultant? Will you start spending an hour every morning looking through want-ads? If your goal is to lose weight, start with a specific goal, like fitting into those pants you love and haven’t been able to wear in two years.  How much lost weight will it take to get into those pants again? Avoid non-specific goals like, “I want to be thin” or long-term ones like “I need to lose 100 lbs.” Focus on specific goals you can obtain in the near future, such as “I will walk for 30 minutes every day this week.” Include steps you will take to get there, how you plan to recognize and change negative thought patterns as they come up, and what you will do if you hit a stumbling block. Break your goal into small steps that you can accomplish one at a time to build your confidence and self-worth as you go.   For example, if your goal is to stick to your budget for the next 30 days, then identify ways that you can do that. You might plan to make a grocery list and stick to it. Or, to cut out spending on extras such as entertainment. You might also plan for potential obstacles, such as an unexpected bill.   Perhaps there is a way you can make $50 quickly if an emergency arises.  Do you have anything valuable to sell on eBay?  Can you work a few extra hours at your job or pick up a shift from someone? Can you set aside an emergency fund for unexpected expenses?
A: Focus on what you can control. Decide what you want for yourself in the future Make a plan for reaching your goal.

Q: Stray dogs tend to be very fearful. Any sudden movements you make, or even just moving toward him normally, could look threatening to him. In turn, his 'fight or flight' response will be activated, causing him to turn and run away from you. Staying still will allow him to see that you are not a threat to him.  If he approaches you when you are standing still, allow him to smell you.    Do not  hold your hand out for him to sniff it. He may bite your hand out of fear.  Resist the temptation to pat your leg to get the stray dog to come to you. He may interpret that as a threatening movement.  Even if the dog is displaying aggressive behavior, remember that he is likely more afraid of you than you are of him. Depending on how long the dog has been a stray, he may been called repeatedly by people—even his owner—trying to catch him. Over time, he may have developed a negative association to being called. Thus, if you call him to get his attention, he may run off in fear.  If you are trying to get his attention, consider using noises that are more calming, such as clearing your throat or faking a sneeze. You could also lick your lips or yawn to convey that you are not a threat to him. If the stray dog is demonstrating erratic or aggressive behavior and you become fearful, fight the temptation to run away. If you start to run, chances are good that he will chase you. In addition, if you run away from him, you will have your back to him, which will put you in even more danger. If you want to distance yourself from him, walk away slowly and do not turn your back on him. If you are uncomfortable around the stray dog, or are unsure of the safest way to catch him, call your local animal control or a professional dogcatcher. Provide as much information about the dog as you can, such as the location of the dog (e.g., landmarks, street signs) and his breed. If you can, send photos of the dog to the animal control center or professional dogcatcher.  Leave your phone number with the dispatcher, and inquire about how long it will take someone to come to you. Keep your eye on the dog until help arrives.  Make your own safety a priority—do not attempt to interact with a stray dog that is displaying erratic or aggressive behavior.
A: Remain as still as possible. Avoid calling out to him. Do not run away. Call your local animal control.

Q: An associate degree usually will not get you a major management job in the financial industry. But it will qualify you for a management position in the service industry or middle management jobs in an office environment. An associate degree will also help you gain admittance into a bachelor’s program and may give you credits for such a program as well. An associate degree will teach you all of the basics of management and might provide you some skills for specialized industries like health care administration and human resources. Most programs will require that you have a high school degree or equivalent: i.e. a GED. You will possibly also be required to have an SAT score. Most nearby community colleges should offer an associate degree in business administration. There are also an array of online programs for associate degrees. These will make it easier to attend if you are already in the middle of your career, however, not all such programs are credible. To verify that the school you are interested in a credible ranking, research its accreditation.  An accreditation by the Association of Advanced Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) is only available to programs with a strong record of scholarly research and is generally considered the gold standard. However, programs accredited by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP) should also be of a reasonable standard. Some programs specialize in certain types of careers and are more appropriate for your objectives.  Some are more flexible for part time students or offer more reasonable tuition. Consider all of these factors and pick three of four institutions that stand out for you. Review the school’s website to see if they offer any specialized degrees in careers that you are interested.  Look up the faculty biographies to see if they have experience or connections to fields that you are interested in. Once you’ve completed all of your requirements and found programs that you are interested in, apply. Try to apply to several programs, in case you get rejected. An associate degree will typically take two years. However, they should be flexible and it is possible that you could finish it either later or earlier than this, if that is the best option for your lifestyle.
A: Research what an associate degree can do for you. Meet basic requirements. Research colleges for you. Pick programs that fit your life. Apply. Earn your degree.

Q: You can't plan to spend less unless you know what you spend now. While spending money as you normally would, write down every penny you spend and what you spend it on for a week, two weeks, or a month to get an idea of what you spend your money on.
A:
Keep track of your spending.