Easy Steps to Success™

WELCOME!

Welcome! This website provides free and easy lessons on how to succeed with People, Work, and Money.

And, because you need good communication skills and knowledge of your rights to succeed, I also provide some basic lessons in English and Law, from time to time.

I hope you learn a lot from here and tell all your friends about it. That’s what this website is all about: learning and sharing lessons and tips about how to succeed in life!

To help you understand how to get around this website more easily and quickly, read the instructions below. Also, you can click on anything in red letters because that shows it’s a direct link to the page or category described by those words.

For a complete list of all articles, by month and year, go to ALL ARTICLES. If you want access to the latest articles without always having to return to this website, you can either “Subscribe via RSS” or “Subscribe via Email” (see sidebar at left). Both are free. Just click on the words in the sidebar and follow the instructions.

HOW TO USE THIS WEBSITE

You can go to older and newer articles in any category by using the “<< previous page" and "next page >>” prompts at the bottom of each page.

A. HOME PAGE

You are now at the HOME page, which is also the first rectangular “button” on the menu bar that goes across the top of each and every page of this website. Here, on the HOME page, you will find a brief explanation of the purpose of this website, how to use this website, information about me, a way to contact me by email, and a way to show your appreciation for this website by making a donation.

B. BLOG PAGE

The second button on the top menu is the BLOG page. On the BLOG page, you will find the most recent articles from one of the first three main categories: PEOPLE, WORK, and MONEY. Or, they can be notices to viewers, once in a while, such as Q & A, in which I respond to viewer questions. ENGLISH and LAW article (see below) are not posted on the BLOG page. So, for the latest in those two categories, you will need to go directly to the menu buttons for each.

C. PEOPLE PAGE

The third button on the top menu is the PEOPLE page. On the PEOPLE page, you will find, in reverse chronological order, the title, date, and first few sentences of every article on this website about how to improve your people skills. By reading these little blurbs, you can decide which articles you want to read first.

The PEOPLE category is where you will learn how to deal with HIGH-MAINTENANCE PERSONALITIES, such as Backstabbers, Control Freaks, Critics, Sponges, Wet Blankets, Martyrs, Chameleons, Workhorses, Cold Shoulders, Gossips, and Flirts. It’s also where you will learn HOW TO FIND YOUR SOUL MATE and THE MEANING OF LIFE. And, the greatest self help book about people skills ever written, HOW TO WIN FRIENDS AND INFLUENCE PEOPLE, is summarized here. Finally, a more personal article I wrote called 10 THINGS I WISH MOM TAUGHT ME is here, too.

D. WORK PAGE

The fourth button on the top menu is the WORK page. On the WORK page, you will find, again in reverse chronological order, the title, date, and first few sentences of every article on this website about how to improve your work skills. By reading these little blurbs, you can decide which articles you want to read first.

The WORK category is where you will learn about different occupations from the INTERVIEWS WITH series, including the Policeman and Fireman, Professional Baseball Player, Professional Hockey Player, Receptionist, Telemarketer, Stockbroker, TV Commercials Producer, President of a Giant Corporation and Business Consultant, Young Founder and CEO of Four Corporations, Inventor, Entrepreneur, and Factory Owner, Housewife, and Prostitute. A more basic article WHAT JOBS ARE THERE? provides a brief description of additional occupations.

Whatever occupation you choose, you will want to know HOW TO FILL OUT JOB APPLICATIONS and HOW TO ACE JOB INTERVIEWS. Then, once you get your job, you can advance quickly if you apply the professional coaching tips in the SUCCESS IN THE CORPORATE WORLD series, which starts with an eye-opening Self Test.

D. MONEY PAGE

The fifth button on the top menu is the MONEY page. On the MONEY page, you will find, again in reverse chronological order, the title, date, and first few sentences of every article on this website about how to improve your money skills. By reading these little blurbs, you can decide which articles you want to read first.

The MONEY category is where you will find a summary of the greatest get rich quick book ever written THINK AND GROW RICH. You will also find a modern-day application of the 13 Steps to Get Rich taught in that book in HOW TO BE A BILLIONAIRE IN 10 STEPS. If you feel conflicted about money, read GREED v. DESIRE. The result of studies about how people get rich today is summed up in MILLIONAIRES v. BILLIONAIRES. Finally, I share some personal insights in HOW DAD TURNED $50 INTO $1.2 MILLION and 10 THINGS I WISH DAD TAUGHT ME.

MONEY LESSONS FOR NICE PEOPLE is the latest series of articles about how to transform the way you think and act so that you can get live the life you want instead of settling for the life you now have. This series, like the companion “Success in the Corporate World” series, also starts with a Self Test.

E. ENGLISH PAGE

The sixth button on the top menu is the ENGLISH page. On the ENGLISH page, you will find, again in reverse chronological order, the title, date, and first few sentences of every article on this website about how to improve your English language and American culture skills. By reading these little blurbs, you can decide which articles you want to read first.

The ENGLISH category is where you will find the old SCHOOLHOUSE ROCK videos that teach, not only parts of speech, like Nouns, Verbs, Adjectives, Adverbs, Conjunctions, Interjections, and Prepositions, but also early American history and government, like how laws are made, how the British colonists became Americans, the Preamble to the U.S. Constitution, the American War of Independence, the Declaration of Independence, the great cultural mix resulting from immigration, and the expansion of the U.S.A. into the West.

NOTE: If you click a red-lettered item and end up at an “error” page, that means that article is scheduled to post but has not yet posted. Please check back later.

In addition, there are plenty of more traditional lessons in English such as Greetings and Goodbyes, How to Share Ideas and Opinions, How to Ask for Directions, Differences Among the Words “Like,” “Love,” and “Hate,” How to Say Sorry, How to Leave Voicemail Messages, Rule Questions Not to Ask in America, American Dinner Parties, How to Order Drinks, and How to Ask for a Date. Finally, there are also useful lessons about American culture and holidays such as Holiday Greetings and Christmas Carols, New Year’s Resolutions, and Valentine’s Day.

Starting April 12, 2008, the new series POP MUSIC ENGLISH teaches English lyrics and Western culture through the best selling pop songs from the 1960s to the 2000s, featuring songs by the Beatles, Captain and Tennille, Abba, Samantha Sang, Irene Cara, Spandau Ballet, Madonna, Pink, and Black Eyed Peas.

F. LAW PAGE

The last button on the top menu is the LAW page. On the LAW page, you will find, again in reverse chronological order, the title, date, and first few sentences of every article on this website about how to improve your knowledge about law. By reading these little blurbs, you can decide which articles you want to read first.

The LAW category is where you will find information about basic laws that affect your daily life. For example, your duties as a pet owner, how to protect yourself from most lawsuits, your rights as a tenant and duties as a landlord, how to act at car accidents, when a car acccident is no one’s fault, how to prepare for a deposition, secrets even therapists must tell, what is sexual harassment, when you can sue for a broken promise, and what is a binding arbitration.

ABOUT

Hi! My name is Shanel Yang, and I started this website to share the Easy Steps to Success that I have distilled after trial and error since 1971, when I came to the U.S. from South Korea with my parents and three younger sisters.

My parents had no education, had no marketable skills, knew no English, and had only $50 when we landed at LAX with absolutely no idea how we would survive in this new country. The responsibibities were divided between my parents and me like this: They earned as much money as they could with odd jobs, like janitorial work in a church, dishwashing in a restaurant, and sewing in a downtown sweatshop, while I learned as much as I could about how to do everything else in this country and, in turn, had to teach it to the entire family.

All of that responsibility from such an early age left me with a lifelong desire to help others similarly in need of all the important lessons I had to learn to help my family survive—and eventually thrive—in this great country. I went to UCLA Law School and practiced law for 10 years in Los Angeles. Now, I have begun my second career as a writer to provide self help advice to help others succeed in their lives. My formula is People, Work, and Money. And, for immigrants who are struggling now, as my family once did, I add English and Law.

I believe that success in life can be simple if you focus on people first, work second, and money third. To simplify it further, if you have great relationships—especially the most important one, which is with yourself—the rest will naturally follow. Dare to be awesome! Strive to be your own hero!

DONATE

If you like this website, enjoy the spirit of giving, too, and make a donation to support it. Or, spread the word, keep coming back, and vote for the articles you like on this blog using the bookmark button at the bottom of each article.

CONTACT

Please feel free to email me with your comments, suggestions, or requests by using the form below. If you do email me, I will send you a free copy of my eBook.