Music in my iPod

An IPod works just like any other mp3 player. An MP3 player is a computer file, not unlike a picture or a text document. At its most basic level, it consists of a long stream of 1s and 0s which correspond with nearly microscopic electrical components. MP3s are created by converting analog signals (basic audio technology used by phones and stereo equipment, consisting of vrying frequencies converted into sound) into a digital format. A digital format is more or less a mathematical representation of the analog waves, which in turn represent the actual sound or music you want to hear.

The challenge of creating and MP3 player such as an Ipod is in file compression. An MP3 can take up a lot of space, which is why Ipods are so revolutionary because it can compress more MP3s into a smaller area than any othe MP3 player on the market. It is not simply nano techno;ogy (extraordinary tiny components approaching the microscopic) that makes this possible. Equally significant is the development of ever more sophisticated codecs (COmpression DEcompression algorithS) by teams of brilliant mathematicians in Apple’s employ.

These mathematicians have developed increasingly complex formulas which allow very large packets of information to be “simplified” into smaller pieces of information. The answer to the question “How does an iPod work?” may be better answered by a calculus textbook than any trendy tech magazine.

MP3 player like an Ipod works by converting a set of digital codes back into an analog signal that replicates the original sound, which was probably produced in a sound studio. A DAC chip (digital-to-analog converter) is responsible for the conversion, and depending upon the quality of the chip the sound quality may vary. In many cases, the internal circuity of the MP3  player may compromise the sound quality. iPods, however, have gained considerable notoriety for their ability to truly represent the sound with the highest quality possible.



Selling Potential Unlocking

Over the years, I’ve been lucky to be around a number of super-achievers–ranging from top athletes and business leaders to brain surgeons and billionaires. Whether they’ve been my guests on TV and radio or clients and friends, their words and actions have had a profound effect on how I think and act.

Sometimes, changing the way you think and act will dramatically impact your sales. It goes beyond simply hanging around successful people, though. If your goal is to achieve peak performance in selling, these four keys will help you get there:

  • Environmental control: We become the company we keep. We are the products of our environment, so what we think about and surround ourselves with matters. Carefully select what you read, what you do and the people you spend time with by the quality of the content that lies within them. Act on all your learning–apply it, and test it. When we repeat something of quality over and over, it becomes a part of our subconscious, and our actions naturally reveal what has been learned. Next time you read something with strong value, brainwash yourself with the content. When it affects your actions, performance is enhanced.
  • Work ethic: If a person makes something look really easy, you can bet there was a great deal of work behind that person’s performance. When you immerse yourself in your work and obtain deeper knowledge of your business, it builds excitement and confidence, which impact your performance.
  • It’s not popular to use the word ‘work’ as one of the keys to peak performance. Every day, we’re exposed to countless products that promote instant gratification–lose weight in a day, get rich in a week, grow hair in an hour. We want everything we desire to be easy, fast and immediate. When you work hard for something, you appreciate the earned return on effort. When you start to stretch and struggle to reach greater heights, it helps you build a strong foundation. If you feel discouraged, remember this proverb: “The work will teach you how to do it.”
  • Pushing past your fears: Fear stops us from achieving peak performance because it keeps us from trying new things that would advance our goals. We don’t want to fail, we don’t want to look foolish in front of our peers, and we don’t want to take chances when we don’t have control over the outcomes. But that’s when we can grow most! When we attack our fears, we ultimately diminish them. Belief in our abilities and actions is what gets us past our fears. As Mark Twain said, “Courage is resistance to fear, mastery of fear–not absence of fear.”
  • Positive thinking: Our bodies will only follow what our minds direct. When we approach a project, a sales call or any other situation where we want to improve our performance, our attitude and mind-set will determine the outcome more than any other factor. To get into the right mind-set, start by following the first three steps mentioned earlier.

Once you’ve mastered these keys to peak performance, don’t be surprised when they positively impact not only your sales efforts, but other aspects of your life as well