Ways to change your life

10 Ways to Quit Smoking With "Smoking Quit Tips"

2008-10-13T21:49:00.000-07:00

If you don't like the thought of using medication to quit smoking,...

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The Decision to Quit Smoking

You've decided to quit smoking? Congratulations! Now what?...

If you are trying to quit cigarette smoking or smoking of any kind, whether it is for health reasons, to save money, or if you are just fed up with being the odd one out and having to sneak off for a crafty smoke, then you will need some "Smoking Quit Tips" and I hope that the following 10 ways to quit smoking will help.

1) Stopping smoking is not easy as you will probably know if you have tried to quit cigarette smoking before. Firstly you must make a positive decision to quit. This may sound obvious but if you are trying to quit just to please someone else (your partner, or your family) then you have less chance of succeeding. You must really want to quit for YOURSELF.

2) Making a list of the reasons why you want to quit cigarette smoking will help you. Think of the effect that smoking is having on your health, think of the inconvenience of having to go outside or into another part of the house just to have a cigarette. Whatever you think of to put into your list keep it with you so that you have a constant reminder of why you are quitting.

3) Work out exactly what you are spending on smoking, how much does your habit cost you. What are you spending on a daily, weekly, monthly, or even yearly basis? You will be surprised at just how much of your hard earned cash is just literally going up in smoke. On the positive side don't forget to think of all the nice things that you could be spending that cash on.

4) Make a note of the times that you will miss smoking the most i.e. after a meal, or at certain times of the day. This way you can be prepared and even plan to do something that will take your mind off of smoking. You could for example go for a short walk after a meal instead of having that smoke.

5) Let your family and friends know that you are going to quit cigarette smoking. It's amazing how much support you will receive, and this really helps.

6) Quit smoking one day at a time. Don't think things like "can I really quit smoking for good" instead say to yourself "I will not smoke today" this is a lot easier for you to take in. Then do the same thing the next day and you will be surprised how quick a week will pass.

7) If you have a friend who is also trying to quit cigarette smoking then try to do it together. Don't make it a competition but rather be there for each other for help and support.

8) When you feel the urge to smoke do something to take your mind off of the craving. Try chewing gum or nibble on some nuts or healthy snacks (not sweets) and also drink plenty of water and fruit juice.

9) Remove all temptations from around the house. Don't leave cigarette packets lying about; put all the ash-trays and anything else associated with smoking (lighters, matches, etc) away in a cupboard out of site.

10) Try to quit smoking when you know you will not be put under stress. Pick a week to start when you are on vacation or are going to be at home in a relaxed atmosphere.

These 10 ways to quit smoking are all sound and proven "Smoking Quit Tips" they will all help you to quit cigarette smoking. But you will also need some willpower to achieve your goal. Some people who have tried and failed because of this lack of willpower have found that hypnosis has worked for them. With quit smoking hypnotherapy it gives you a really great start with a higher chance of succeeding. To find out more about quit smoking hypnotherapy just click on the link below.

10 Ways to Maintain Your Healthy Weight

2007-05-22T01:34:00.000-07:00

Losing weight takes discipline and time. I know, because it took me a year and a half to lose 25 pounds. My weight stayed at 115-117 pounds until my husband I went to a conference in Warsaw, Poland. Conference and restaurant meals took their toll and I gained three pounds (one clothing size) in a week.

We stayed at the Marriott Hotel, which has a "Splendid Breakfast Buffet." Before I took any food from the buffet I surveyed my choices. I ate a healthy breakfast every morning: orange juice, fresh fruit, and low-fat yogurt sprinkled with granola. However, it was difficult to eat healthy lunches and dinners because I had few options.

Don't get me wrong, the food was delicious and artistically served. But leaving half a meal on my plate and skipping desserts didn't balance my food consumption. How could I get back to my healthy weight? The Harvard School of Public Health recommends a "defensive eating" approach to weight loss/maintenance.

Defensive eating has seven steps: selective eating, small portions, stopping before you feel stuffed, few desserts, eating slowly, sensible snacks, and awareness of why you're eating. I added these steps to my personal plan. Here are my 10 tips for maintaining a healthy weight.

1. EAT BREAKFAST. Nutritionists consider breakfast the most important meal of the day because it fuels your day. I get up at 5:30 a.m. and by 9:30 a.m. I'm ready for lunch. Solution? I eat half of my breakfast (two fruits and cereal) at the crack of dawn and the other half of my breakfast (fruit or wheat toast) mid-morning.

2. KEEP A FOOD DIARY. I don't keep a written diary, but I keep a mental list of everything I eat. This list includes every cookie, every cracker, and every pretzel. If I've eaten too much sugar, fat or salt I cut back on these the next day. My food diary has led to a collection of healthy recipes.

3. EAT LOW-ENERGY-DENSE FOODS. Mayo Clinic developed a Healthy Weight Pyramid to "encourage weight loss, weight maintenance and long term health." Low-energy-dense foods (lower calorie foods that make you feel full), are an important part of the pyramid. Fruits and vegetables are low-energy-dense foods and you may eat all you want.

4. STOCK UP ON HEALTHY SNACKS. I keep healthy snacks - carrot sticks, celery sticks, apples, and other fresh fruit - on hand. For a quick, filling snack I eat sugar free applesauce. Unsalted peanuts and walnuts help me to curb hunger pangs, but I'm careful to eat small portions. When I travel I bring healthy granola bars with me. (Yes, I took granola bars to Poland.)

5. BECOME SIZE WISE. By size wise, I mean portion sizes of the food you eat. You may be eating super-size portions instead of "normal" ones. For example, one serving of spaghetti is half a cup, not a mountain of pasta. According to the American Obesity Association, people who maintain a healthy weight eat five times a day, on average, and consume about 1,400 calories. In other words, they eat small meals often.

6. LIMIT CERTAIN FOODS. The American Obesity Association says 92 percent of those who maintain a healthy weight limit their intake of certain food, such as fast food. When I shop for food I avoid foods that have "empty calories," high-calorie foods with low nutritional value. In case you're wondering, I rarely eat at a fast food restaurant.

7. CUT CONDIMENTS. What's the second ingredient on the ketchup bottle? It's high fructose corn syrup, sugar you don't need. Mayonnaise has 90 calories per serving (one tablespoon) and 90% of these calories come from fat. Soy sauce is liquid salt. This extra sugar, fat and salt may cause weight gain. You don't have to give up condiments, just buy healthier versions of them.

8. KEEP MOVING. Regular physical activity is critical to Mayo Clinic's Healthy Weight Food Pyramid. And according to "Why Won't 'Diets' Work?", an article posted on the Internet by WOAI in San Antonio, healthy eating and increased exercise are keys to weight loss /maintenance. This combination "can actually increase your metabolism," the article says. I try to walk 10,000 steps a day and track my steps with a pedometer.

9. QUENCH THIRST WITH WATER. Sometimes your mind plays tricks on you and you think you're hungry when you're actually thirsty. A glass of water can ease your hunger. Instead of sugar-loaded soda pop drink water. I like no-calorie, non-carbonated flavored water and orange is my favorite.

10. GROCERY SHOP AFTER EATING. This is your main defensive eating tactic. Before I go to the grocery store I make out a detailed list. I rarely eat food samples because I'm allergic to soy (it's everywhere) and don't need the extra calories. Besides, these samples are often high in salt, fat, and sugar.

Thanks to these tips I was back to my healthy weight in two weeks. Now I practice defensive eating on a daily basis. The best part of the plan is that I control what I eat and am enjoying delicious, healthy meals. Bring on the holidays because I'm ready!

Copyright 2005 by Harriet Hodgson. To learn more about her work go to http://www.harriethodgson.com
Harriet Hodgson has been a nonfiction writer for 27 years and is a member of the Association of Health Care Journalists. Her 24th book, "Smiling Through Your Tears: Anticipating Grief," written with co-author Lois Krahn, MD, is available from http://www.amazon.com

Top 10 Ways To Cut Spending

2007-05-13T03:07:00.001-07:00

Do you run out of money before you run out of month? Do you wonder where your money goes each month? Do you struggle to find money to invest for retirement, emergencies and other financial goals? Here are 10 tips to cut your spending and stretch your dollar to the max:

1. Consider dropping your home telephone line. Your cell phone is probably all you really need, and most likely it has free long distance. You could save $30 or more per month by dropping your land line.

2. Cut back on trips to Starbucks or other premium coffee shops. Often called the latte factor, spending several dollars per day on luxuries like premium coffee can really add up. For example, if you spend $4 for a cappuccino five times a week for 50 weeks out of the year (youre on vacation the other two weeks), you would spend $1,000 in a year. Try treating your trip to Starbucks as a treat instead of a habit. Youll save money and probably lose weight too!

3. Pay your mortgage payment bi-weekly instead of monthly. Youll pay less interest and pay off your mortgage faster.

4. Carry cash instead of credit cards. Psychologically its harder to spend cash than it is to use the credit card. Youll spend less and save on interest charges.

5. Use the envelope system for groceries, dining out, entertainment, and other discretionary spending categories. This will help you track how much you spend in these categories as well as prioritizing your spending.

6. Raise the deductible on your homeowners and auto insurance policies. Its not wise to file claims for small losses anyway (insurance companies love to raise rates after you file a claim), so a higher deductible will save you money now and in the future.

7. Buy regular gas instead of premium. Most cars dont need premium gasoline. Also, take public transportation if its available in your area. Take advantage of park and ride and carpooling options.

8. Plan your purchases to avoid impulse buying. Take a list with you to the grocery store and stick with it. Studies show that impulse buying can add $10-50 to your grocery bill ouch!

9. Go to the library instead of the bookstore. If youre an avid reader, give yourself a book budget for books that you will want to keep, and go to the library for everything else.

10. Take a vacation at home. Check out all the local sites and happenings. Youll rediscover your hometown and save on travel and hotel costs.

These are just a handful of ways you can cut spending and stretch your dollars, but if you follow these tips youll discover you have more money at the end of each month to apply to other financial goals, such as saving for college, retirement or just for a rainy day.

About the Author: Kristine A. McKinley, CFP, CPA, and founder of Beacon Financial Advisors, teaches individuals and families how to invest and plan for retirement, college, and other financial goals. Kristine offers financial and tax planning on an hourly, fee-only basis. To sign up for free financial planning tips, worksheets, checklists and more, visit http://www.beacon-advisor.com. © 2006 Beacon Financial Advisors, LLC and Kristine A McKinley

Buy a home with no money down: 6 ways you can do it

2007-05-05T07:36:00.001-07:00

When Janette Jones of Gwynn Oak, Maryland, got ready to buy a town house last year, she discovered that a down payment and closing fees would cost nearly $10,000, taking a significant chunk of her savings. But because her credit score was above 620, she qualified for a loan that covered not only her down payment but her closing costs as well. "It was more important for me to keep the cushion I had in the bank for whatever happened after I moved into the home," she says. "The stove could have gone out the next day, or my car could have broken down two weeks later." Jones is among the 42 percent of first-time home buyers who paid zero down in 2004, according to the National Association of Realtors. Until recently the standard down payment was 20 percent of the purchase price, and the highest barrier to home ownership was the lack of cash. Then along came programs that required as little as 3 percent down. And today's zero-down programs are flinging open the doors to home ownership even wider. They're so popular "because many people with decent credit just don't have the money they need for a down payment," says Marcia Griffin, president and founder of Washington, D.C.-based HomeFree-USA, a nonprofit home-ownership organization. Consider these six options and how each might work for you:

1. GOOD CREDIT Many lenders offer 100 percent financing to those with good credit scores, typically above 580. The financing often comes in the form of two loans: one with a low interest rate for 80 percent of the cost and another with a higher interest rate for the other 20 percent. If your credit score is 620 or higher, you might qualify for loans that cover 103 percent, 104 percent or 107 percent of the sale price, with the additional funds going to closing costs. Mortgage-funding organizations Fannie Mae (fanniemae.com) and Freddie Mac (freddiemac.com) have 100 percent financing programs available. For instance, Fannie Mae's Flexible 100 plan covers the down payment, while you pay as little as $500 toward closing costs. The two organizations can steer you to financial institutions that offer these loan products. However, if you pay nothing down and no closing fees, your interest rate will be higher, and you'll pay interest on the total price plus the closing costs. "If you bring $2,000 or $3,000 to the table in the beginning, you would have thousands of dollars less to pay on the back end," says Sharron Murphy-Williams, executive director of the Ph6be Foundation, a financial-literacy organization in Cleveland.
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2. GOVERNMENT GRANTS In 2004 76 percent of Whites owned their own home, compared with only 49 percent of Blacks. As part of a plan to eliminate this home-ownership gap, federal, state and local governments issue down-payment grants to mortgage applicants with low incomes. Programs like the American Dream Downpayment initiative (ADDI) provide down-payment, closing costs and rehabilitation assistance to income-eligible home buyers. Check out the Department of Housing and Urban Development Web site (hud.gov) for a list of funds available from state and local governments and nonprofit organizations. Contact your state's Department of Housing and Community Development to ask about grants. "Many states have grants they don't use because people don't know they exist, and the government isn't really marketing them," Griffin notes.

3. FIXER-UPPER FUNDS If you're eyeing a property in need of repair, especially one in a neighborhood targeted for community revitalization, you may qualify for government programs offering fixer-upper loans. While properties that fall under such programs may need major renovations, a fixer-upper grant usually covers all the costs. Again, check with your state's Department of Housing and Community Development.

4. GIFT PROGRAMS Down-payment-assistance gift programs provide home buyers with between 3 and 6 percent of the sale price. While you don't have to pay this money back, you must buy a home that's part of the gift program because the funds come from sellers' donations. A number of nonprofit organizations offer down-payment assistance, including the Nehemiah Corp. of America (nehemiahcorp.org), AmeriDream, Inc. (ameridream.org), and Neighborhood Gold (neighborhoodgold.corn). You can also find a list of other down-payment-assistance organizations on the Home Gift Providers Association Web site (downpaymentalliance.org). These programs generally have no income requirements, but applicants must be eligible for a loan from a participating lender.

5. SELLER ASSISTANCE If the seller is in a rush to unload her home, you may be able to negotiate with her to pick up some of your costs. "Many times when you buy a home, the seller will agree to give you 3 to 6 percent to cover your closing costs," says David C. Harty, vice-president for legal affairs, Residential Home Loan Centers in Laurel, Maryland. If the seller is unable to find other buyers, you might also set up a "lease purchase" agreement in which you sign a contract to buy a home at a set price in a year or two, while living in it and paying rent. The seller generally will allow some of the rent money to go toward the purchase, which can eliminate the need for a down payment when it's time to close on the sale. You also benefit if the home's value rises because the purchase price is locked in.
6. MILITARY SERVICE If you're a veteran or currently in the military, you may qualify for a no-down-payment loan through the Department of Veterans Affairs. Check the department's Web site at homeloans.va.gov for a list of VA-approved lenders.

ZERO-DOWN CHECKLIST

Many no-money-down programs have hidden costs and risks, so keep these tips in mind before doing a deal:

GET INFORMED. For first-time home buyers, "It doesn't matter how much you know, you should get into a home-buying class," advises Sharron Murphy-Williams of the Phebe Foundation. "Then you can go to the bank equipped to ask intelligent questions about zero-down-payment loans."

LEARN THE COSTS. Ask your lender how much you'll be paying over the course of the mortgage with and without a down payment, then decide whether a fixed-rate or adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) best fits your budget. Also evaluate gift programs; sellers contribute a portion of the down payment, so there's a chance the price will be inflated to cover that loss.
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FIND A SUPPORTING CAST. Have an attorney or a real-estate professional look over all paperwork, because predatory lending is prevalent with many no-money-down deals, Murphy-Williams cautions.

ASSESS THE NEIGHBORHOOD. "Make sure you're in an area that's appreciating and not declining," advises David C. Harty of Residential Home Loan Centers. A decline in market value means you could be stuck owing more than your home is worth.

MAINTAIN A CASH CUSHION. Even if you can get a home without cash, don't buy unless you have money in the bank. Harty notes, "Individuals who say they don't have $350 for an appraisal might not be the best candidate for a 107-percent loan."--T.E.H.

Buy a home with no money down: 6 ways you can do it

2007-05-05T07:36:00.000-07:00

10 WAYS TO SAVE $2,000 A YEAR!

2007-05-03T06:27:00.000-07:00

The Bible tells us the last shall be first-the corollary is that the best careers are often the least-compensated. That means many ministry families feel forced to overextend or even leave their church positions in search of a living wage. They clip coupons, raise their deductibles, and make powdered mac and cheese a staple.

Well, after 11 years in youth ministry, my wife and I have discovered ways to cut corners without living like martyrs. Here are 10 ways to save up to an additional $2,000 per year in your family budget. It takes discipline, but it's well worth it. Our budget-cutting strategies have also united us even more as a team.

1 BE A GIFT GRINCH-For years, Christmas pulverized our budget. Between office exchanges and Sunday school parties, we just couldn't rein in the outflow. In an effort to teach our kids the meaning of service, we started offering acts of kindness as gifts. At first it sounded like a cheap way out, but I'll never go back. My dad would say the greatest gift he ever received was having his grandson help him paint a fence on a Saturday afternoon.

Minimum Savings: $100
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2 WET YOUR WHISTLE WITH WATER-The average American consumes six cans of soda or specialty drinks per day. I'm not saying you should totally eliminate fun drinksthat's not necessary. But eight glasses of water every day will not only help your wallet, it will also boost your overall health.

Minimum Savings: $300

3 MAKE YOUR HOME A BARBERSHOP-My wife learned to cut my hair almost 10 years ago. After a few nicks here and there, she grew into quite a stylist. We purchased our own equipment for $20. A home haircut might not look so hot on a CEO, but somehow it looks cool on a youth pastor.

Minimum Savings: $150

4 BE YOUR OWN GREASE GORILLA-Avoid vehicle maintenance plans. Mechanics ridiculously overcharge for basic services and lead customers to believe that old antifreeze may blow up your car. Untrue. Learning the basics (oil change, tire rotation, changing spark plugs) can save you a bundle.

Minimum Savings: $150

5 EAT DOUGH; SAVE DOUGH-As bread outlet stores grow in popularity, so do cost-saving opportunities. You can buy most loaves at half the cost, and they're still fresh when you bring them home.

Minimum Savings: $100

6 SHELTER YOUR LOOT-Many church employers offer flexible spending accounts that allow staffers to set aside money from their paychecks to cover medical and dependent-care expenses that are not reimbursable pretax. You can set aside up to $5,000 for dependent care.

Minimum Savings: $250

7 SUPPORT BRAIN POWER-Most families try to make annual financial contributions outside of church giving. If you're faced with a choice between agencies, consider giving to universities within your state because your donations can be deducted on both federal and state taxes.

Minimum Savings: $50

8 FUEL YOUR BUDGET-As fuel costs continue to break records, take advantage of credit card features that offer a percentage reduction off every gallon of gas you pump2 (of course, you have to pay off your monthly statement to avoid finance charges). Also, fill up your vehicle prior to the weekend because many gas stations increase rates by at least a nickel on Fridays.

Minimum Savings: $200 per vehicle

9 GO WIRELESS-Soon homebased telephones may become obsolete. If you boost your monthly cell phone minutes you can discontinue your household service line.

Minimum Savings: $300

10 SAVE THE LEFTOVERS, BABY-Young parents often face suddenly shrinking incomes and growing budgets. For our infants, my wife ground up leftovers, froze them in ice cube trays, and thawed food cubes before meals. Babies don't care if their food isn't in a jar-at least, they never told me so.

Minimum Savings: $200

I've almost accepted the fact that mansions, fancy jewelry, and luxurious travel will never grace my future. But according to my wife and kids, we're content with what the Lord has given us, and they make me feel like royalty.

DAVID LONG is a veteran youth pastor in Indiana.

3 Ways To Do More With Less Time

2007-04-26T00:36:00.000-07:00

We live in a world where more is expected of us every day.

First there were fax machines, now email and cell phones.Our number of communications daily rom various sources is extreme.

How can we get to all of it in a timely fashion and still get 8 hours of sleep?

Here are three time reducing strategies that are easy to implement:

1. Schedule. Like it or not in today's world if you want to achieve greater levels of success you must learn to use a schedule. You can use a Palm Pilot, a journal or a Daytimer. I use the Franklin-Covey Planning software for windows. It pops up when I turn on my computer and it is
compatible with my Palm Pilot so that I can sync at night when I leave my office.

Now, having a schedule isn't half as important as using a schedule. It doesn't work if you don't use it… everyday.

I keep track of appointments, make a To Do list and then as I work on projects I enter them in so that I can make a journal of my day. Later, this will help me remember how much time I spent on tasks for billing purposes. I schedule in exercise time and I schedule in personal development time for reading and writing.

Once you get started, you'll find it easier and easier to use. The amount of time saved by spending the time to keep your schedule can be enormous. It helps to eliminate the clutter we create on our desks and in our minds when trying to remember all the things we need to do.

It can also help to eliminate unnecessary tasks. Many times we say 'yes' when something is not really in alignment with our goals. The act of making time for it and getting on the
schedule will cause you to evaluate its importance. This can be a tremendous time saver.

2. Systems. Systems are a key component in time management. I have a system for everything! Systems do not have to be complicated but they help to keep you on track and save
time. For instance, I use a 'system' for my after-work time. When I leave the office my evening everyday is pre-planned. I drive home, I change, I make dinner, I watch one hour of TV,
I work two hours, and I go to bed… A system.

I follow the same system every single day. It removes wasted time trying to decide what I'm going to do with my time. Setting up systems for checking email or taking calls can be a real time saver. If you have tasks that you do regularly, think about ways to systemize them. Sometimes
setting up forms or check lists, creating schedules or flow charts, delegating, just about anything can be turned into a time saving system.

3. Lists. Keep lists. You can keep the lists in your schedule but you need to get into the habit of making a list for tasks and systems. Checklists save time because you don't have to think about what comes next. The amount of time I save by using a calculator instead of figuring in my
head is enormous…. Using lists is very much the same. By removing the "think" time you streamline processes and save brain energy for more important things. I have a grocery list prepared in Excel, I print it off before I head to the store and buy only what I need. No time wasted wandering the aisles.

I have a checklist for updating my weblog and writing my newsletter. I have templates for the newsletter and I have time scheduled to do both.

Many times a little time spent upfront can be a huge savings later. When I find myself doing a task that I've done before and feel like its taking too long, I sit down systemize and make a checklist and suddenly I've found 15 or 20 minutes.

© Yolanda A. Facio for Strategy-3.com All Rights Reserved Tired of watching others succeed? Discover how to achieve a more prosperous life. Yolanda A. Facio is the author of an incredible new ebook that guarantees you a more successful and productive life. Click Here Now => http://www.newrulesforsuccess.com More success tips can be found at http://www.strategy-3.com

Top 20 ways to lose those stubborn 10 pounds

2007-04-24T01:07:00.000-07:00

Like me, you've probably been meaning to lose some weight and may have included that goal once again in your New Year's resolutions. The statistics, however, aren't in our favor: Seventy-seven percent of Black women age 20 and older are overweight or obese, and half of us in this age group are obese. But that's no reason to give up--or give in. This time can be different. You can become more fit and weigh less. To find out what really works, we tapped two health and fitness experts for proven advice on what to eat, drink and affirm, as well as how to stay motivated for the long haul.

Ellie Krieger, a registered dietitian, lifestyle counselor and author of Small Changes, Big Results (Clarkson Potter), recommends these easy-to-adopt habits:

1. EAT BREAKFAST. Studies show that people who eat in the morning are more successful at losing weight and keeping it off.

2. EVERY MONDAY TAKE FIVE PIECES OF FRUIT TO WORK and keep them in a bowl by your desk. You'll have a healthy snack at your fingertips each day, and it looks nice, too.

3. GO FOR A SKIM LATTE instead of a regular. You can save about 100 calories.

4. INCLUDE TWO TO THREE SERVINGS OF LOW-FAT DAIRY or other calcium-rich food every day. They're good for your bones, and studies show that getting enough calcium may help you burn fat.

5. SAY GRACE. Offering thanks for the delicious food and abundance you enjoy calms you and focuses your mind on the meal. Eat slowly and savor each bite.

6. YOU DON'T HAVE TO AVOID CARBS; SWITCH to whole-grain versions. Enjoy whole wheat bread, pasta and couscous. Also select brown rice, oats and bulgur. They offer nutrients and fiber to help us feel full and satisfied. (See pasta recipe at left.)

7. IF YOU HAVE A TASTE FOR PORK, broil or grill some pork tenderloin. It's as lean as skinless chicken breast.

8. TRADE IN ONE SUGARY DRINK, like soda or sweetened tea, for a calorie-free beverage like water everyday, and lose more than a pound a month!

9. STOP EATING WHEN YOU LEAVE THE TABLE. Avoid the urge to nibble on leftovers as you clear the table and clean up.

10. GET ENOUGH SLEEP. Fatigue may cause hormonal and metabolic changes that make you more likely to gain weight.

11. WRITE DOWN YOUR WEIGHT-LOSS GOALS to help you stay on track. Ask yourself: Why do I want to lose weight? How much do I want to lose? Focus on your higher motivation for losing weight--becoming healthier, feeling better--because that tends to lead to long-term success.

12. INSTEAD OF DRINKING JUICES, eat the foods they come from. For example, six ounces of apple juice provides 90 calories and only 0.2 grams of fiber, while a medium-size apple contains only 81 calories but offers 3.7 grams of fiber, which gives you a feeling of fullness. This way you won't get hungry five minutes later and head for the fridge.

13. EAT FISH TWO OR MORE TIMES A WEEK. Seafood provides lots of nutrition without many calories. Bake, broil or grill instead of deep-frying. (See recipe for Dr. Ro's Citrus Barbecued Salmon at right.)

14. COOK GREENS WITH FAT-FREE BROTH, herbs, onions, garlic and red pepper. If you add one ounce of salt pork, the fat will soar from nearly zero to a whopping 23 grams.

15. COOK CABBAGE WITH LOW-FAT SMOKED TURKEY instead of fatty meat. Season with caraway seeds and green bell pepper.

16. SWITCH FROM CANDIED SWEET POTATOES to a baked sweet potato and save more than 200 calories.

17. PREPARE BAKED MAC AND CHEESE WITH LOW-FAT CHEESE. egg whites and bread crumbs. These substitutions keep the flavor and cut the fat.

18. HAVE MINIMEALS (250 to 500 calories] instead of large ones (1,000 calories). Aim for three small meals and two snacks. Carry minimeals with you. Whole grain crackers, baby carrots, small boxes of raisins, cans of vegetable juice stash easily in your briefcase, desk drawer or car.

19. TAKE A HIKE! Walking not only reduces your risk of heart attack, stroke, diabetes, hypertension and breast cancer, but it can also flatten your tummy, tighten your thighs, lessen depression, and make you feel good about yourself. Start slowly, and over days and weeks increase your pace and distance.

20. KNOW THAT YOU WILL SUCCEED. If you backslide, just make yourself start again, because every day is a new day.

BREAKFAST PARFAIT

Makes 2 servings. Total time: 5 minutes.
1 cup no-sugar-added granola
1 cup of your favorite low-fat yogurt
banana, peeled, sliced
1 tablespoon honey
1/4 cup orange juice

In a bowl or parfait glass, alternate granola,
yogurt and banana slices. Drizzle
with honey and orange juice.

Per serving: 418 calories, 5 grams fat, 6 milligrams cholesterol, 217 milligrams sodium, 87 grams carbohydrate, 12 grams protein.

WHOLE WHEAT PENNE WITH
SAUSAGE AND BROCCOLI RABE

Makes 4 servings. Prep time: 15 minutes.
Cook time: 15 minutes.

1 bunch broccoli rabe (about 1 pound),
coarse stems discarded, well rinsed
3/4 pound whole wheat penne or shells
2 tablespoons olive oil
3/4 pound low-fat Kielbasa or other
precooked smoked sausage, sliced
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 cup cherry tomatoes, whole or halved
1 cup low-sodium chicken broth
1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
1/4 teaspoon salt (optional)
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper

Bring large pot of water to boil. Blanche
broccoli rabe about 4 minutes. Use slotted
spoon to remove and place in a bowl. In
same boiling water, cook pasta according
to package directions. In large skillet, heat
1 tablespoon oil. Cook sausage, about 6
minutes. Remove sausage from skillet; set
aside. Add remaining oil to skillet; saute
garlic, about 2 minutes. Chop broccoli rabe
coarsely; add to skillet. Stir in sausage,
tomatoes, broth and seasonings. Simmer
for several minutes. Drain pasta; stir in
broccoli-rabe mixture. Place in large bowl.
Serve with Parmesan cheese.
Per serving: 523 calories, 12 grams fat, 35 milligrams cholesterol, 871 milligrams sodium, 80 grams carbohydrate, 29 grams protein.

CITRUS BARBECUED SALMON

Makes 4 servings. Prep time: 15 minutes.
Cook time. 10 minutes.

2 tablespoons frozen orange-juice
concentrate
1/3 cup barbecue sauce
1 pound salmon fillet, cut into 4 servings
2 tablespoons each: fresh thyme and
rosemary, combined
1/2 teaspoon salt (optional)
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
Nonstick cooking spray

In small bowl, mix orange-juice concentrate
and barbecue sauce; set aside. Rub
both sides of fish with herbs, salt and
pepper. Spray large nonstick skillet; heat
pan over medium-high heat. Add fish to
skillet; cook until underside is browned,
about 3 minutes. Turn fish; brown other
side, about 3 minutes. Brush tops of fish
with citrus-barbecue sauce; heat
through, about 3 minutes. Delicious with
steamed green beans.

Per sewing: 240 calories, 13 grams fat,
67 milligrams cholesterol, 236 milligrams
sodium, 7 grams carbohydrate,
23 grams protein.

5 Tips To Supercharge Your Motivation

2007-04-23T05:05:00.000-07:00

Motivation is the driving force behind life-enhancing change. It comes from knowing exactly what you want to do and having an insatiable, burning desire to do what’s necessary to get it. It keeps your dream on track as it is the power of motivation that keeps you going when the going gets tough.

Here’s 5 top tips to help you supercharge your motivation:

1. Create a picture board and fill it with images of your desired goals. The car you want to own, the house you want to live in, the area where you want to live yes, they’re the obvious ones. Others could be pictures of holiday destinations, trophies, first-class travel tickets, clothes you want to buy, fine restaurants you want to frequent – whatever you can think of that gets your pulse racing.

2. GET ANGRY. If you want to change your life for the better then get angry about where you’re at now. Having a blasé attitude towards change isn’t what’s needed and it won’t create a strong desire within you. So ask: “Why do I want to change?” Is it because you’re FED UP with debts? Does your job DRIVE YOU CRAZY? Is your life DULL AND PRECITABLE? Are you SICK AND TIRED of doing the same thing week in week out? Are you BORED BEYOND BELIEF by the dull, uninspiring, unhappy people you associate with? THEN GET ANGRY ABOUT IT. And I mean REAL ANGRY. Write it all down, all of the frustrating, unrewarding, miserable lot of it that makes every day a dull slog until your final days. IS THAT WHAT YOU WANT?

3. Speaking of your final days, start to appreciate the value of time. Time is one of the most precious resources you have and it is also a NON RENEWABLE resource. You can either use it fully or squander it. If you want to create change you’re going to have to invest a lot of time to make it happen. Start to reduce the time you waste on irrelevancies: Television, newspapers, lie-ins, weekends spent shopping, partying, dining out, visiting an endless line of relatives and friends – these won’t help you get what you want and all of them will rob time from you. Valuable time that you can use much more effectively by investing it in YOU. Remember this: You have a finite amount of time here on Earth. You don’t know how much time you have – no one does. But it’s how you use the time you have that counts. So make your time count and that means starting from right NOW.

4. Conformity. Are you a mindless little sheep who’s way too timid to pursue your own way? Do you have to follow where everyone else goes, doing exactly what everyone else does and therefore, who gets the same levels of happiness as all the other little sheep? Seriously, does this describe YOU? Are you too frightened to be different than all of the other sheep because they wouldn’t like it if you decided to follow a different path? So you dutifully trot along following all the other sheep because if they’re doing it then that’s how it is right? But if you do what everyone else does you’ll just get what everyone else gets. Do you want to be a mindless, timid little sheep who blindly follows all the other sheep? Or do you want to be a leader, a warrior who possesses the courage to be uniquely you and to do what you want to do and make your dreams happen? If so then this means you have to be more like a tiger than a sheep. Do you really want to be a sheep? I mean, haven’t we got enough sheep already?

5. Fear your fear. Fear is the force that is determined to stop you in your tracks and rob your dreams from you. But it can only do this if you let it. Are you going to let this cruel destructive charlatan trample on your dreams, steal your happiness and crush your spirit? Imagine this thought haunting your final days: “I didn’t do the things I wanted because I was too frightened to live”. And by then, it’ll be far too late to conquer fear. Refuse to let fear spoil your life and start taking action – now!

The world is waiting for your unique gifts. Why keep it waiting any longer?

Article Directory: http://www.articlecube.com

Chris Green is the author of the new book “Conquering Fear”, a special program which will show you how to conquer fear and attract greater happiness, success and prosperity into your life. For more info, click here => www.conqueringfear.net

Top 5 Tips To Reduce Your Life Insurance Premium

2007-04-23T01:29:00.000-07:00

Life insurance is essential without a doubt but it can be very expensive and as such can be tempting to avoid taking out. However should the worse happen then you could leave your loved ones in a whole lot of trouble financially. Using a little common sense and initiative you can however save your self some money and so make life insurance more affordable. Here are top 5 tips to help you get the cheapest and best deal available.

1. The number one tip when shopping for life insurance is to shop around. By shopping around - especially if you take advantage of the internet - and making comparisons of policies, you will quickly and easily get yourself the best deal possible. Factors to take into consideration when comparing policies includes understanding the details of the policy. These include the amount of premium you will be paying every month; the benefits you get from the policy; and, how much the surrender value of the policy is should you cash it in early. These charges will usually vary from company to company and can vary greatly with some in what you get for your payout.

2. Many companies will allow you to make savings if you choose to pay for your policy on an annual basis or by direct debit straight from your bank account. It is worth checking on this because you could be able to make a saving rather than paying on a weekly or monthly basis.

3. Where possible, instead of taking out several different smaller policies for life insurance take out just one larger one. A large policy is always the best value for money and will sell for less per amount of coverage.

4. If you have held a policy for a number of years then it might be outdated and you could be paying more than you should be for the amount you are covered for. In fact you could be paying around 2 to 3 times more than could you be if you shopped around online and compared newer policies for a better deal.

5. If you quit smoking and drinking, start exercising and lose weight if you need to, you could find that your premiums are a lot lower than those who smoke and drink etc.

Launched in March 2003, BestDealInsurance are a completely independent specialist broker.

They offer the full range of life insurance to mortgage protection cover, ensuring that their clients have the protection they need, without leaving a hole in their pocket.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=David_H_Thomson

Top 7 Ways To Get Rich

2007-04-19T10:18:00.000-07:00

Want to be one of the lucky ones on the road to riches, want to be on the freeway to financial freedom, on your way to wealth? Here are the top 7 roads to riches, the top 7 easiest and fastest ways to acquire wealth ...

Inherit it

This is how today's old money families got their wealth. In the 1800's and early 1900's, before anti-trust laws, income taxes and political correctness, America's finest families built empires and amassed great wealth; in industries such as oil, banking, newspapers, sugar, transportation, land, bootlegging and even prostitution. And that original wealth was passed down to succeeding generations. The number one easiest and fastest way to acquire wealth is to inherit it. Unfortunately, inheriting wealth is mainly a matter of blood; you have to be born into the right family.

Marry it

If you can't inherit it the second easiest and fastest way to acquire wealth is to marry someone who is already wealthy. And sometimes that person may even be kind, generous, compatible and loveable. And, if not, divorce can pay off handsomely. Just remember to get married (and divorced) in a state that has favorable community property laws.

Work for it

If you can't inherit wealth and can't marry it then you can work for it. People rarely get rich having a job. Rather, they build a company and own it. And then often take that company public, collecting hundreds of millions, or billions, of dollars in doing so.
Or, they invent something useful and valuable which greatly benefits society, such as explosive devices like dynamite, or the paper clip or the thigh master or eBay.

Win it

If you can't inherit wealth, can't marry it or can't work for it then maybe you can win it. Lotteries abound, paying out multi-million dollar jackpots, and eventually someone always wins them. Unfortunately, you have a greater chance of being struck by lightning then winning the lottery. But, hey, it only costs a buck!

Steal it or deal it

If you can't inherit wealth and you can't marry it, work for it, or win it then maybe you could steal it or deal it.

You could become a CEO or chief financial officer for a big cash-rich company, cook the books, steal millions of dollars, buy a $20 million dollar home, lie to the feds, and hope you don't get caught, convicted and sent to Club Fed. I don't recommend anyone try to get rich this way.

Also not recommended is to deal it; to become a drug lord and generate hundreds of millions of dollars in cash dealing heroin, crack, meth and other non-FDA approved goodies and wholesaling it to pushers who will gladly resell it to anyone to wants it, ranging from children to movie stars. After all, aren't drug dealers just supplying what people want; even if it creates crime, ruins lives, kills people or could put you in jail for the rest of your life. Not a legal (or moral) way to get rich.

Gamble for it

If you can't inherit money, can't marry it, can't work for it, can't win it, can't steal or deal it then maybe you could gamble for it. Over 50 million people play poker. A few even make millions of dollars at it. You've seen them on television, winning or losing upwards of a million dollars on the turn of a card. Looks easy, doesn't it? They don't look so tough on TV; I bet any decent poker player (like me for instance) has a good chance of beating them on a lucky day. So maybe you could simply plunk down $3,000-$25,000 per tournament entry fee, or get a backer, join the World Poker Tour, win a few tournaments and get rich! Or maybe, in reality, the average amateur poker player has a snowball's chance in hell of getting rich that way.

Invest and get rich

If you can't inherit wealth, can't marry it, can't work for it, can't win it, can't steal or deal it or can't gamble for it then maybe you can invest and get rich. There are 2 good ways to invest and get rich; the real estate market and the stock market.

According to historical data, over time, real etate goes up a average of 10% a year. So getting rich in real estate tends to take a long time. And also requires a large down payment. Hard to get rich quick that way.

On the other hand, the stock market can be a good way to get rich. Stocks can go up dramatically over a relatively short period of time and make you rich but you have to have the money to invest and you have to pick the right stocks at the right time.

To recap how to get rich:

1. inherit it
2. marry it
3. work for it
4. win it
5. steal it or deal it
6. gamble for it
7. invest for it

These are the top 7 easiest and quickest ways people can get rich. How will YOU do it?

Become a Millionaire From Home!

Alan Korber is the creator and publisher of the successful Korber Strategy, a simple easy-to-understand stock market investment strategy that can pinpoint stocks likely to go up 50%-100% in the next 12 months. His website is akorber.com

7 Ways To Motivate Yourself When Studying A Foreign Language.

2007-04-19T00:02:00.000-07:00

Motivation is a tricky thing, isn't is? If you are one of the brave souls trying to learn a foreign language by yourself you'll be sure to run out of motivation some time. This is a collection of my best tricks to help you complete what your started.

Track you progress.

Make a chart or find a calendar. Mark you chart every time you finish a session or have studied for a set amount of time. Place your chart in a place you can't avoid. Make a commitment to look at your chart every day. This seems simple, but it's incredible how much it helps your motivation.

Don't overdo it.

Learning a new language isn't a sprint, it's a marathon. If you start out full of fresh energy it is important not to burn it all at once. Limit you study time to one lesson or one hour a day. After you have reached your daily goal - Stop. That way you conserve motivation and energy for the nest day. Portion you energy to last. This allows you look forward to your next lesson and finish the race strong.

Get support.

Online or off-line there are groups who share your goal. Join an online forum or find some similarly minded people in your community. You will find that there are other people who are going through what you are going through. Some will even have been through it. Your support group will keep you going when you want to stop. Not to mention all the good advice, moral support and fun you will have.

Visualize you reason.

Get real clear on why you are learning a new language. Make at picture in your head of what will be different in your life when you reach your goat. What will it get you in the end. Great travel experiences, a promotion, new friend or something else? Find a picture in a magazine or online to represent your goal. Make sure that you look at it every day. Post it on your bathroom mirror, place it on your desk or hang it by your bed. Make sure you look at it every day.

Get a goal buddy.

Keeping you motivation high on your own is though. If you find somebody with the same goal grab the opportunity to ask if they want to partner with you. This can work even if you don't share goals. Just encourage and push each other to succeed. Having someone to answer to and who answers to you adds a whole other layer to your motivation.

The one minute trick.

You know those days when you can't find a glimmer of motivation. Do a one minute effort. That's right. You can find the energy for just one minute, can't you. Just get started with the intention of working for 60 seconds. Once you start, it you will keep going. This works like magic.

Set mini goals.

There is a trick to doing this right. Think back to a time when you quit something before you reached your goal. How long did you work on it before you quit? Your mini goal is to keep going half as long. When you get there give yourself a reward. Go watch a movie, eat a nice meal and pat yourself on the back. Then decide on your next mini goal. This will ensure that you never reach your quitting point.

Plan your rewards.

Split your large goals into smaller goals. If your language program is 30 lessons long you can plan a reward after every 5th lesson you finish. Write out a plan and decide what the reward will be after every smaller goal is reached. Rewards can be anything you like, big or small. Make your reward a small celebration!

Get a coach.

Learning a language by your self can be a lonely adventure. Even if it's just once a month a session with a language trainer or tutor will boost your motivation big time. This is will also show you that your skills are growing and that your progress is real. Check your local newspaper or college for adds. Nothing is better than finding a native speaker of your language who is willing to coach you.

Article Directory: http://www.articlecube.com
Kris Lunde is a personal performance expert. His passion is to help others learn to speak a new language. For language home study he recommends Pimsleur

15 Ways to Leave Your Job

2007-04-18T23:41:00.000-07:00

Diplomacy is defined as "tact and skill in dealing with people." While it's always a good idea to be diplomatic in all your personal and business dealings, it's especially important when you are resigning from a job. The world is much smaller than we sometimes think, and with all the company mergers, consolidations and acquisitions, it's best not to burn bridges.

When you're leaving a job, it's not the time to finally give an irritating co-worker a piece of your mind. The co-worker or supervisor you've despised could wind up as your boss somewhere down the career road.

Here are a few tips to take into consideration before you announce your resignation.

1. Always use professionalism and courtesy in announcing your intention to leave the company.

2. Advise your direct supervisor first. Then tell colleagues and department staff.

3. Don't boast to co-workers about your new position, salary, office or company car. Instead, thank them for their support and friendships and exchange contact information to stay in touch.

4. Write a professional letter of resignation. No need for lengthy explanations, you can simply state that you are resigning from your position to pursue other interests or opportunities. Whether you loved or hated your job or your supervisor, the outcome should be the same: a brief, respectful letter stating your intention to leave.

5. Give your employer advance notice so that they can begin to make arrangements for your replacement. Generally acceptable notice is two to four weeks. Work with your current and future employers to set a time frame that works for both them and you.

6. Offer suggestions for your replacement by putting your supervisor in touch with colleagues you know and respect. Share resumes of qualified candidates or recommend a valued co-worker for your position.

7. Finish the job. Don't leave projects half completed. Provide a list of projects and review what can or needs to be completed before you depart.

8. Don't leave your desk or office in disarray. Take a day to organize your materials for your successor.

9. Offer to train your replacement. This may require that you come back for a few hours or a day once you leave the company. If you leave before a replacement is hired, make yourself available to answer questions in person or over the phone.

10. Don't disappear. Avoid short-timer's attitude and stay an active and contributing member of your team during your last days at work. Work hard and do your best to leave a good and lasting impression.

11. Avoid naysayers and don't badmouth the company. Once others know you are leaving, they may seek you out to share their feelings of discontent. If you want to leave on good terms, don't be associated with disgruntled or unhappy employees.

12. Use your exit interview time wisely. Regardless of what you are told, this is not the time to trash your boss or your boss's boss. If you haven't discussed your concerns about work situations in the past, don't use the exit interview as an opportunity to reveal them for the first time.

13. Negotiate your exit package wisely, but don't be greedy or overly demanding. Politely ask for what you deserve, such as payout of unused vacation time, pro-rated bonuses, etc.

14. Leave the company assets behind. Don't walk off with supplies to outfit your new office. Unless you brought something from home or paid for that stapler with your own money, leave it on your desk.

15. Don't send boastful or sobbing farewell e-mails. If you choose to use e-mail to notify colleagues that you are leaving, provide your contact information -- these people are part of your network.

CareerBuilder.com

15 Ways to Teach Kids About Money

2007-04-08T07:22:00.001-07:00

Introducing Kids to Money Money gives people -- both young and old -- decision-making opportunities. Educating, motivating, and empowering children to become regular savers and investors will enable them to keep more of the money they earn and do more with the money they spend. Everyday spending decisions can have a far more negative impact on children's financial futures than any investment decisions they may ever make. Here are 15 simple ways to help educate children about personal finance and managing money:

1.As soon as children can count, introduce them to money. Take an active role in providing them with information. Observation and repetition are two important ways children learn.

2.Communicate with children as they grow about your values concerning money --- how to save it, how to make it grow, and most importantly, how to spend it wisely.

3.Help children learn the differences between needs, wants, and wishes. This will prepare them for making good spending decisions in the future.

4.Setting goals is fundamental to learning the value of money and saving. Young or old, people rarely reach goals they haven't set. Nearly every toy or other item children ask their parents to buy them can become the object of a goal-setting session. Such goal-setting helps children learn to become responsible for themselves.

5.Introduce children to the value of saving versus spending. Explain and demonstrate the concept of earning interest income on savings. Consider paying interest on money children save at home; children can help calculate the interest and see how fast money accumulates through the power of compound interest. Later on, they also will realize that the quickest way to a good credit rating is a history of regular, successful savings. Some parents even offer to match what children save on their own.

Allowance and Spending Decisions

6. When giving children an allowance, give them the money in denominations that encourage saving. If the amount is $5, give them 5-1-dollar bills and encourage that at least one dollar be set aside in savings. (Saving $5 a week at 6 percent interest compounded quarterly will total about $266 after a year, $1,503 after 5 years, and $3,527 after 10 years!)

7. Take children to a credit union or bank to open their own savings accounts. Beginning the regular savings habit early is one of the keys to savings success. Remember, don't refuse them when they want to withdraw a portion of their savings for a purchase--This may discourage them from saving at all. You can also introduce children to U.S. savings bonds. Bonds are still a good value, costing one-half their face value and earning interest that in some instances will be tax-free if used for a college education. Perhaps more importantly, when given as a gift, bonds will not be spent immediately, reinforcing saving and goal-setting lessons.

8. Keeping good records of money saved, invested, or spent is another important skill young people must learn. To make it easy, use 12 envelopes, 1 for each month, with a larger envelope to hold all the envelopes for the year. Establish this system for each child. Encourage children to place receipts from all purchases in the envelopes and keep notes on what they do with their money.

9. Use regular shopping trips as opportunities to teach children the value of money. Going to the grocery store is often a child's first spending experience. About a third of our take-home pay is spent on grocery and household items. Spending smarter at the grocery store (using coupons, shopping sales, comparing unit prices) can save more than $1,800 a year for a family of four. To help young people understand this lesson, demonstrate how to plan economical meals, avoid waste, and use leftovers efficiently. When you take children to other kinds of stores, explain how to plan purchases in advance and make unit-price comparisons. Show them how to check for value, quality, repairability, warranty, and other consumer concerns. Spending money can be fun and very productive when spending is well-planned. Unplanned spending, as a rule, usually results in 20-30 percent of our money being wasted because we obtain poor value with our purchases.

10. Allow young people to make spending decisions. Whether good or poor, they will learn from their spending choices. You can then initiate an open discussion of spending pros and cons before more spending takes place. Encourage them to use common sense when buying. This means doing research before making major purchases, waiting for the right time to buy, and using the "spending-by-choice" technique. This technique involves selecting at least three other things the money could be spent on setting aside money for one of the items, and then making a choice of which item to purchase.

Buying Smart

11. Show children how to evaluate TV, radio, and print ads for products. Will a product really perform and do what the commercials say? Is a price offered truly a sale price? Are alternative products available that will do a better job, perhaps for less cost, or offer better value? Remind them that if something sounds too good to be true, it usually is.

12. Alert children to the dangers of borrowing and paying interest. If you charge interest on small loans you make to them, they will learn quickly how expensive it is to rent someone else's money for a specified period of time. For instance, paying for a $499 TV over 18 months at $31.85 a month at 18.8 percent interest means the buyer really pays about $575.

13. When using a credit card at a restaurant, take the opportunity to teach children about how credit cards work. Explain to children how to verify the charges, how to calculate the tip, and how to guard against credit card fraud.

14. Be cautious about making credit cards available to young people, even when they are entering college. Credit cards have a message: "spend!" Some students report using the cards for cash advances and also to meet everyday needs, instead of for emergencies (as originally planned). Many of those same students find themselves having to cut back on classes to fit in part-time jobs just to pay for their credit card purchases.

15. Establish a regular schedule for family discussions about finances. This is especially helpful to younger children--it can be the time when they tote up their savings and receive interest. Other discussion topics should include the difference between cash, checks, and credit cards; wise spending habits; how to avoid the use of credit; and the advantages of saving and investment growth. With teenagers, it's also useful to discuss what's happening with the national and local economies, how to economize at home, and alternatives to spending money. All of this information will be important as they take on more responsibility for their own financial well-being.

http://millenniummommy.blogspot.com/

7 Practical Ways to Earn More by Working Less

2007-04-02T02:46:00.002-07:00

Here is a great article on how to work more productively, courtesy of Terry Dean of My Marketing Coach.

The motto of my coaching business is Earn More, Work Less, and Enjoy Life! This is something every business owner wants, but they often feel it's too difficult to achieve.

Too many of us have been programmed by the employee mindset of working hours for dollars. Employees get paid by the number of hours they put in. Entrepreneurs get paid based on the value they create for others...whether they're actively working or not.

Here are 7 practical steps to begin on the road to earning more by working less.

#1 - Hire a Personal Assistant

Quit trying to be a one man (or woman) show. Even if you're currently a small business of just one person (such as a home business, life coach, or real estate agent), you can't do it all yourself.

Hire someone to help you with the routine tasks of answering emails and phone calls. Have them do secretarial work. Figure out what parts of your current work can easily be handled by someone else. Either hand it to a staff member or outsource it.

#2 - Eliminate the Time Vampires

Quit wasting your time. That short call you had to answer became a 30-minute delay. The email you once answered for a non-client has produced 10 additional emails and help requests from the same person ... who still hasn't purchased. That individual who stopped by your office for a quick word with you is still here after one hour.

Try putting an egg timer on your desk and remind yourself every call or contact needs to get to the point within the next 3 minutes.

#3 - Quit Working On Your Weaknesses

We're told to acknowledge and work on our weaknesses to be a well rounded person. Forget about it! Acknowledge your weaknesses, but quit trying to work on them. Build a team and hand off responsibilities where you're weak.

Concentrate on your strengths and giftings. You do what you do best. Hire out the rest. If you're horrible at writing, hire a copywriter. If you don't like administrative paperwork, hand it off to someone else who's qualified.

#4 - Raise Your Prices

I've helped many businesses develop their unique client focus. In a few cases, they were one of the lowest cost options. Yet this is NOT the unique client focus I prefer to have. It's the most difficult one to build a business on.

I'd much rather see you use one of the other 17 ways to develop your uniqueness in the marketplace. You'll often find that by raising your prices and focusing on a more upscale market segment, you'll eliminate many of the time consuming problems of your business.

#5 - Work One Less Day a Week

If you want to make more money, work one less day a week. It sounds crazy, but it has been proven time and time again. If you're currently working 6 days a week, drop to 5. If you're working 5 days, drop to 4. By removing one day from your schedule, you'll be forced to focus more on the days you're working. You cut the garbage out and get down to business. You'll quickly find that a lot of the things you used to think were essential weren't needed at all.

#6 - Take Time to Plan

Plan the schedule for your next day in the last 5 minutes of the day. Plan your schedule for next week on the last ten minutes of your last day of the week. Take out one day every quarter to plan the next 90 days for your business. This is only a small investment each day, but it pays huge dividends for what you accomplish. Of course you can purchase a time management course, but this is the simple basis of planning your time.

Decide on the essentials that must be done in the coming period. And always plan time to work on your business instead of just in your business.

#7 - Hire a Coach

It's so easy to keep following the status quo. I'm sure you've heard that one definition for insanity is doing the same thing over and over expecting a different result. If you want to earn more while working less, you have to make some changes.

And the absolute best way to make these changes is bring in someone from the outside. They have a different viewpoint and experiences in helping other entrepreneurs just like you. A good business coach knows how to ask the right questions to help you discover exactly how to transform your business into a profitable business instead of just a low paying job.

Terry Dean is the president of MyMarketingCoach. Discover the 10 Key Strategies Any Business Owner Can Use to Earn More, Work Less, and Enjoy Life in a special free report by going to My Marketing Coach.

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Copyrighting: 3 Quick ang Easy Ways To Perfect Your Writing Style

2007-03-13T01:09:00.000-07:00

As a writer and editor, I’ve come across a lot of documents that someone asked me to “look over and tell me what you think.”

Overwhelmingly, I have the same reaction to most: Way too long. Way too stiff. And way too boring.

Nowhere was this more rampant than in a recent gig I had at monthly magazine. I was charged with editing material that had been submitted by business people writing “expert articles.” For the most part, the subject and content manner was fine. But the prose usually made me want to stick a chopstick left from the lunchtime Chinese takeout in my eye. It would have been a smaller headache.

What was wrong with the prose? It was full of jargon, long words, and had about as much spark as stereo instructions. And they were hard to read.

For examole, one article from a vet on common cat sicknesses read like an excerpt from a veterinary school textbook—full of words that I couldn’t even understand, much less check for proper spelling.

Others were full of language like this:

“I felt that it was necessary for me to examine the situation to see what could be done to rectify it. It was determined that a full diagnosis was necessary in order to properly determine the necessary
course of action.”

Swear to you, I’m not making this up. Read this thing out loud…is this
something anyone would say in daily conversation? And I saw this repeated over and over and over…

Arrraagghh!!!

But this plague of bad writing can be cured. The prescription for readable writing style is simple. All you have to do is look at your piece (or better yet, give it to someone else to read) and honestly answer three, simple questions:

Can this exact same thing be said in fewer words?
Is there any repetitive language?
Could I say this sentence out loud to someone and not sound like a robot?

That’s it! Don’t believe me? We’ll try it with our “necessary course of action” sentence. Take the same thought, check to make sure it’s not repetitive (words or message), cut a bunch of words
and write it like you’d say it daily conversation. It might end up like this:

“When I first saw the patient, it was obvious we’d need a full-diagnosis to know what to
do next.”

Doesn’t it say the exact same thing? But it’s a lot shorter and a lot easier to read. And that’s the key to connecting with your reader.

So when you’re writing anything for public consumption, these three, simple guidelines will help make your writing better and more powerful.

Try it and see!

http://waidwrites.wordpress.com

Top Ways To Reduce Stress

2007-03-06T01:16:00.000-08:00

Stress has the solution within the word. Rest plus two syllables to spare. Yes...yes...It is a product of self-creation. For the stress, you have to mostly blame yourself. They say you are the creator of your destiny and circumstances. When you think that you are the victim of circumstances, you are under stress. In short, when you are unable to cope up with a given situation, you are under stress!

Whether the businessmen have more stress or those in service have more stress? The answer is not 'No'. Both have stress. Stress or no stress, is the manner in which you manage your life. Your response to a given situation is the indicator whether you have the stress or not! To give you an example- it may be the best orchestra of the town; but if your heart is the muffled drum, what you can do about it? How you can enjoy the vibrations of the music?

When you know the signs and understand the sources of stress, with a firm resolution, you can find a remedy for it as well. Ups and downs are common in business. It is part and parcel of its sustainability. Women businessmen have a different type of stress. They have to strike the balance between running the business and the household duties.

One of the important steps to tackle the stress is to organize your environment, and budget your time. Set a time table and work according to that schedule. You can't have more than twenty four hours in a day. Your competitors too have just that many hours. Then how they are in a more advantageous position?

Think positively. Whether unnecessary thinking and stressful living, has solved any problems? Then, why worry over a matter over which you should not worry at all?

Your habits have lot to do with your stress. Never postpone for tomorrow, what you can do and complete today. Tomorrow never comes. Today it will be too late. Do it just now.

The sold saying goes, “A stitch in time, saves nine.” What nine? I do not know. Again the wise saying goes:

“One thing at a time, and that done well, Is a very good rule, as many can tell.”

“So if you want, to gain your way, Work while you work, and play while you play. That is the way to be happy and gay!”

Remember, you can't control what happens in life. You can just face the situation. On the physical side, have a regular exercising schedule. Set a goal and continuously work on it. Take enough rest, but not to the point of laziness!

To get more information on stress management, stress management and stress management tips visit www.aboutstressmanagement.com/stressrelief

Top Ways To Improve Your Social Skills

2007-03-06T01:11:00.000-08:00

Improve Your Social Skills:

If you are looking for a way to improve your social skills, there are many resources available that will assist you in refining your social skills and improving the way you communicate with others.

It's not only possible to learn how to improve your social skills; it's easier than you think.

Imagine how much simpler your life would be if you could rid yourself of nagging self-doubt and have confidence knowing you can handle any social situation.

Have you ever wondered how some people seem to excel at socializing? Learning how to improve your social skills will give you the ability to know what to say in any situation and be the type of person others love to be around.

You can develop the skills needed to start a conversation with anyone you encounter, deal effectively with awkward situations, accept rejection gracefully, and win the approval and appreciation of all that you encounter.

You will be able to read the body language of others, effectively solve problems, and develop the ability to diffuse sensitive situations with seemingly little effort.

In the process of learning how to improve your social skills, your self-esteem will soar and your confidence will reach an all-time high.

Here are 6 great tips you can use today:

1. Awareness of your own interaction with other people is the first step in improving your social skills.

Learn to identify which types of situations make you uncomfortable and then modify your behavior to achieve positive results is a critical step in improving your social skills.

You can learn to become aware of behaviors in other people that prompt you to respond in negative ways and modify your own behavior to turn the situation into a positive experience.

2. You must accept responsibility for your own behavior and do not fear apologizing for errors in judgment or insensitive actions.

Asking others for honest feedback about the way you interact with others can be very helpful. Accept the negative feedback along with the positive and make changes accordingly.

3. Your non-verbal communication is equally as important as the things that you say. Positive body language is extremely important in your interactions with other people.

If your words and your actions do not match, you will have a difficult time succeeding in social situations.

4. In order to learn how to improve your social skills, you must become and great listener. You must fight the urge to respond immediately and really listen to what the other person is trying to communicate.

Offering suggestions or criticism before you are certain of the other person's intent can only lead to frustration for both parties.

5. Improving your social skills is a process and cannot be accomplished overnight. Trying to improve or change too many things at once will be counter-productive.

You will become discouraged and overwhelmed if you attempt to change your entire personality all at once. Choose one or two traits at a time and work on those over a period of time. Learn to take advantage of your personal strengths and make a positive impact on others.

6. Maximize your positive personality traits and use them in your interactions with others. Good communication and great listening skills are the most important tools you can use in improving your social skills.

You can learn how to improve your social skills by developing excellent listening skills, learning to resolve problems and conflicts, understanding body language, and accepting responsibility for your own negative behavior.

Determination and self-awareness will make your desire to improve your social skills a reality.
Peter Murphy is a peak performance expert. He recently produced a very popular free report:10 Simple Steps to Developing Communication Confidence. This report reveals the secret strategies all high achievers use to communicate with charm and impact. Apply now because it is available for a limited time only at: http://www.howtotalkwithconfidence.com/report.htm

5 Great Ways to Motivate Yourself

2007-02-26T09:45:00.000-08:00

Category: Motivation
Motivation is a key to success. If you are a motivated person, then you will very likely be success in everything you do. In fact, research shows that motivation is the key behind the expert minds. People who are motivated will be very successful in their learning process. And so will in other areas of life.

The problem is, it’s not easy to be motivated, let alone be motivated for the whole day. There are times when challenges and problems strike us and make us feel bad. Or maybe there is no real problem, but we just feel that our energy level is low throughout the day.

Well, don’t let this happens. Be motivated and energized throughout the day ! Here is how:

Rise early
I don’t know about you, but for me, rising early is a kind of magic. It makes me feel more enthusiastic and energized throughout the day. Maybe it’s because by rising early I can start the day fresh without having to rush on everything. I would have more time to be prepared mentally and physically to face the day.
Pick “quote of the day”
Pick your favorite quote in the morning and keep it in mind throughout the day. Of course, the quote should be something that motivate and inspire you. Then speak out the quote to yourself throughout the day, especially when you think that you need extra motivation. This way, it will be easier to get rid of negative thoughts because you always have something positive to say to yourself.
Find the positive side of everything
One main cause for losing motivation is thinking negatively about the events which are happening to us. Every time you think negatively about something, you actually lose a part of your energy. Do it for the whole day and you will feel very exhausted and even intimidated.
So find the positive side of everything. There must be something positive we can get from everything that happens to us. If your effort end up in failure for example, then you know that you can learn something from it. And learning is a positive thing. If you must do something boring, just think of a useful thing you can get from it. There is always positive side on everything, so focus on it and not the negative one.
Focus on giving
Contributing to others is always motivating. It works for me. I don’t know why, but maybe it’s because by doing so I become less focused on my own problems. It doesn’t mean that I run from the problems, it just means that the problems seem less daunting and intimidating. Why ? Because I’m not just thinking about myself.
Also, there is something about giving that gives you extra happiness. Brighten someone else’s life today and somehow your life will also be brightened.
Decide to be a winner
It is your decision that makes the difference between winning and losing. Nothing can make you lose if you don’t allow it to do so. So decide to be a winner. If you decide to be a winner then you will be tough and brave when facing all challenges throughout the day. You will not let problems overcome you. Instead, you will go out and conquer those problems ! You are the winner, so who can resist you ?

15 Ways To Get Really Motivated

7 Easy Ways To Stay Motivated

http://www.lifeoptimizer.org

10 Ways to Score Points with Your Boss

2007-02-26T09:27:00.000-08:00

Following years of in-depth field research, I thought that I would share the following pointers as to how you can work to develop your career and ensure that you get noticed by the powers that be in your company. These pointers are by no means foolproof but, with a little imagination, you’ll be surprised at how quickly you can reinvent yourself with the absolute minimum of effort.

Though these pointers are very much tongue in cheek, I think we could all think of a colleague who we could probably relate a number of these points to - I certainly know I can….

1. Have a Passion for Your Job.

Try telling the boss that you could do a better job than them on account of the fact that you cannot help but have noticed that they seem to achieve very little in their role. Explain how you feel that perhaps this is not a role best suited to them and that how, in your modest opinion, you feel that they are letting the company down. Just so they know that you are being genuine, discuss possible alternative roles with them outside of your present organisation that have significantly less responsibility. You could even give them a list of job sites they might like to visit.

2. Take Ownership.

I the unlikely event that you mess-up, assume full responsibility for hiding any relating evidence and, for bonus points, use the situation to show initiative. For example, instead of hiding the evidence in your filing cabinet why not slip it into your manager’s cabinet whilst he’s at lunch?

3. Be Customer Driven.

Be honest with your customers, tell them that they can get a cheaper deal/better service elsewhere and, if possible, provide them with the relevant contact numbers and/or web address. To gain additional points, try disassociating yourself from your company completely and apologise for the fact that they have no doubt had to sit on the telephone in a queue for four days listening to the same piece of music for a product/service that ultimately you wouldn’t touch with a bargepole.

4. Deliver More Than You Promise.

Always promise significantly less than you know you can deliver. That way you can still impress without overly exerting yourself.

5. Develop a Healthy Belief in the Impossible.

Try to convince yourself that you will eventually be offered the dream job you have set your sights on and that you are only treading water in your present role.

6. Polish Your Writing Skills.

Pick on one of your colleagues at random and then write them an email assassinating their character whilst employing as many adjectives as possible.

7. Ask Questions.

Ask your boss whether he actually intends to do any work today or whether he only delegates everything for an easy life and to cover the fact that he probably couldn’t even do your job anyway.

8. Be On Time.

Make it clear to your employer from the outset that you have always been at least half an hour late in every role you have ever taken and then turn up at twenty-five minutes past nine having pre-crumpled your shirt in the stairwell and grossly misaligning your tie. For the full effect slap yourself about the face a few times so you genuinely look like you have completed a marathon and then sit at your desk lambasting the state of public transport.

9. Develop Your People Skills.

Pick a member of the opposite sex from your team at random and then spend at least six months making their life a complete misery. Then, at the next office party, set your sights on getting off with them whilst explaining to them that you consider yourself to be wholly misunderstood by everyone you come across. Even if they let you get to first-base you’ll be able to pat yourself on the back knowing that at least one person in the office no longer thinks you’re a complete dork.

http://nexus404.com

6 Ways to Find the Career You Were Born To Do

2007-02-22T09:10:00.000-08:00

A national consumer employment survey conducted by Harris Interactive reveals 84% of U.S. workers are still searching for their dream jobs, announced by CareerBuilder.com on January 25, 2007.

“What defines a dream job is surprisingly reminiscent of childhood wishes for many workers. Workers said they want to enjoy their work experience, apply their talents and feel like they’re making an impact. Having fun at work was the most important attribute of a dream job for 39% of workers, which heavily outweighed the 12% who said salary was most important.” said Richard Castellini, Vice President, Consumer Marketing at CareerBuilder.com.

What is your dream job ?

We have all been born with unique gifts and talents, but most of us have not been encouraged to find, explore, develop or express those qualities. Consequently most of us have found ourselves in jobs which do not allow us express who we really are.

The first step to take in starting to find your dream job involves identifying your unique strengths, gifts and talents, what you are passionate about and where you can make a difference.

If you're tired all the time, you don't want to get out of bed in the morning, you are not interested in what you are doing, you can't concentrate at work anymore, you might need to consider a job or career change.

Start by answering the following “self-analysis” questions to provoke thinking and to begin your journey towards purpose, fulfillment and meaning.

Find a quiet place where you won't be disturbed. Relax your body and mind. Take as much time as you need to write down your answers. Remove all limits and allow yourself to dream about the career you were born to do.

1. What work would you love to do if you had all the money, time and resources you needed already, or if all jobs paid the same?

2. What inspires you ? What do you most enjoy about life ?

3. What are your values ? Which values do you want to express through your work ?

4. What comes natural and easy to you? What do you do without struggle ?

5. What are your strengths, talents and gifts? What are your natural abilities? Write them down and spend some time reflecting on your answer. Then ask your friends and family members to answer this question for you. What is their perception of your skills and abilities? What do they think you are good at? Ask them what they see is a gift that you bring to the world. Sometimes others can help us see what we may not see.

6. What is missing from your work now ? What was missing from your previous jobs ? Is there anything you wanted to do, but have held back for some reason?

Take as much time as you need to evaluate yourself using these questions until you are satisfied with your answers which will give you some valuable information about your career direction.

Confucius said, "Find a job you enjoy, and you'll never work a day in your life."

Don't wait until tomorrow to identify your dream job. Take action today !

Top 15 ways you can help your career

Top 5 Easy Ways To Make a Career Change

10 Ways to Score Points with Your Boss

******

This article may be reprinted or forwarded to colleagues and friends as long as the following information is included :

Ebru Ulufer is a professional life coach who specialises in career coaching. She combines her 15 years of corporate career experience with her coaching training to help her clients create the career they were born to do and begin their journey towards purpose, fulfillment, meaning and happiness. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Political Science & International Relations and she is a qualified personal performance coach with The Coaching Academy.

For more information, visit http://www.lifecoachingzone.com

If you wish to publish/reprint this article, please advise Ebru Ulufer at info@lifecoachingzone.com

Top 15 ways you can help your career

2007-02-20T12:26:00.000-08:00

Most career advice you receive focuses on the big picture: how to get ahead, how to “win,” and such things that are on a much larger scale than the daily grind that most of us face. In fact, it is that day to day grind that pulls down many of us - we go to work, come home exhausted, and often feel as though we’re just spinning our wheels.

If you want to get ahead in your career and in your life, you need to start small and look at the immediate things you can do to help out your situation. If you’re sitting out there at your desk, tiredly wondering if there’s something better that you can be doing with your life, start with these fifteen tips that you can start executing immediately that will lead you down a path towards a better career.

Make a list of all of the things you did today/this week/this month to help your organization, and file them away.
Whenever you have a few spare moments, make a list of all of the things you are actually doing at work. Date them and provide specific examples. When you’ve made this list, drop it in a folder and let it sit there until your next performance review - or the next time you ask for a raise or a promotion. I do this regularly, which has allowed me to build up extensive positive documentation about my career.

Send a thank-you note
If you’ve recently been assisted in your career or personal development by someone, spend a few moments and send that person a handwritten thank you note. The respect, kindness, and personal touch of a handwritten thank you creates an indelible positive mark in your favor in the recipient’s mind, which can do nothing but help you out in the long run.

Work on your writing skills
For me, The Simple Dollar is actually an active part of improving my own writing. Starting a blog related to a work-related topic that interests you is a good way to practice your skills. Don’t be lazy with it, though; focus on writing strong material that will engage others, because without it, you’re not really improving your skills at all, merely regurgitating facts.

Design some classy business cards for you
I have a small pile of business cards that are just for me (actually, they’re for The Simple Dollar), not for any firm I represent or work for or anything else. I drop these regularly, as envelope enclosures and in face-to-face opportunities. These cards are a reflection of me and what I wish to represent to people, and by getting quality ones, I create a positive impression on the recipients. Don’t go for the office store perforated ones, either; get them professionally done and in a high quality.

Send a quick contact email
Got any professional contacts that you haven’t touched base with recently? Send them an email letting them know what you’re up to - and ask them what they’re up to. By this, I don’t mean clients - I mean professional acquaintances in the same field as you (contacting clients should be a regular part of your workflow). A quick email to the people you met at conferences last year can be a very good thing, as you never know if they might have a great opportunity available that could really help you out.

Suggest a solution to a persistent workplace problem
This is especially true for smaller things, not necessarily big enterprise-wide issues. Are people always complaining about the printers? Spec out an additional printer and ship a proposal for a new printer by your boss. Workplace tensions between two people? Figure out how to most discreetly move them far apart from each other, write it up, and ship it off. The key is to make the solution as complete as possible, so that the boss can tell you saw a problem, looked into how to solve it, and came up with a solution on your own.

Pick up the phone and make a call
Keep in touch with what’s going on in the organization as a whole so you can be more informed when meetings occur. Pick up the phone and give someone else a call to see what you can learn, or take a stroll through different parts of the workplace to find out what others are up to. Don’t make a nuisance of yourself, but be aware of what is going on, how it can affect you, and how you might be able to leverage that to get ahead.

Work on your language skills
Are you a non-native speaker of the language in your workplace? Spend your spare time working on the finer points. I find that listening to audiobooks and podcasts is an incredible way to pick up on the nuances of a language given that you already know the basics. If you don’t know the basics, seek out some audio courses on that language and get started. For myself, I’ve found that a great way to pick up a foreign language is to read a translation of a work I’m already very familiar with, such as Harry Potter.

Make yourself more presentable
It always helps to have a clean, fresh impression. I keep a few hygiene products in my traveling bag at all times: underarm deodorant, toothpaste, a toothbrush, some mouthwash, some facial cleanser, a comb, and some cologne. I make sure to clean myself up at least once a day, and often twice a day, when I have a few free moments. That way, I look freshly scrubbed at the 3:30 PM meeting - and having just washed my face vigorously, I feel more awake.

Polish your resume
There’s never a bad time to give your resume a bit of a touch up. Make sure it has plenty of action words and documents specific results that you’ve produced. In fact, your personal work documentation is a great way to look for ideas to spiff up your resume.

Read something on topics you plan to be facing in the future in your career
Don’t waste your time reading PerezHilton (unless you work for People magazine or something); instead, find resources that are related to your job and focus on those. If you spend your spare time at work browsing the web, at least spend that time browsing items that can potentially further your career.

Prepare some comments in advance for your next meeting
Got a meeting later? Instead of dreading it, look at it as an opportunity to shine. Look at what the meeting agenda is and prepare some notes and thoughts that you can present during them. If you’re going to sit through someone’s presentation, find out what it’s going to be about and do some preparatory legwork in advance so you can ask a few astute questions.

Work on your public speaking skills
This seems like it would be difficult to do right now, but it’s not. Merely listen to the work of great public speakers on the internet, burn yourself a CD or two of speeches that really inspire you, then play them in your car on the way home and practice speaking along with them. You’ll learn a great deal about how to enunciate words to get your points across and influence others.

Clean your work area
Not only will this create a better impression of you in the eyes of others, you may also come across important materials that you thought were missing or lost. It’s also good to start (or enhance) a document filing system when you do this, so you can quickly find materials.

Figure out where you want to be in five years - and create a plan for getting there
Spend some time visualizing where you want to be, then think about what it’s going to take to get there. From there, keep breaking down each piece in the process until the pieces are things you can do quickly - and start doing them. Every mountain climb is just a series of steps, after all.

20 Easy Ways to Advance Your Career

10 Easy ways to supercharge your new job

Top 5 Easy Ways To Make a Career Change

10 Ways To Use Speaking to Further Your Career Goals

Source: http://www.thesimpledollar.com/

Top 10 Ways to Improve Your Listening Skills

2007-02-19T10:03:00.000-08:00

Active listening is really an extension of the Golden Rule. To know how to listen to someone else, think about how you would want to be listened to. While the ideas are largely intuitive, it might take some practice to develop (or re-develop) the skills. Here’s what good listeners know – and you should, too:

1. Face the speaker. Sit up straight or lean forward slightly to show your attentiveness through body language.

2. Maintain eye contact, to the degree that you and the speaker remain comfortable.

3. Minimize external distractions. Turn off the TV. Put down your book or magazine, and ask the speaker and other listeners to do the same.

4. Respond appropriately to show that you understand. Murmur (“uh-huh” and “um-hmm”) and nod. Raise your eyebrows. Say words such as “Really,” “Interesting,” as well as more direct prompts: “What did you do then?” and “What did she say?”

5. Focus solely on what the speaker is saying. Try not to think about what you are going to say next. The conversation will follow a logical flow after the speaker makes her point.

6. Minimize internal distractions. If your own thoughts keep horning in, simply let them go and continuously re-focus your attention on the speaker, much as you would during meditation.

7. Keep an open mind. Wait until the speaker is finished before deciding that you disagree. Try not to make assumptions about what the speaker is thinking.

8. Avoid letting the speaker know how you handled a similar situation. Unless she specifically asks for advice, assume she just needs to talk it out.

9. Even if the speaker is launching a complaint against you, wait until she finishes to defend yourself. The speaker will feel as though her point had been made. She won’t feel the need to repeat it, and you’ll know the whole argument before you respond. Research shows that, on average, we can hear four times faster than we can talk, so we have the ability to sort ideas as they come in…and be ready for more.

10. Engage yourself. Ask questions for clarification, but, once again, wait until the speaker has finished. That way, you won’t interrupt her train of thought. After you ask questions, paraphrase her point to make sure you didn’t misunderstand. Start with: “So you’re saying…” As you work on improving your listening skills, you may feel a bit panicky when there is a natural pause in the conversation. What should you say next? Learn to settle into the silence and use it to better understand all points of view.

Susie Cortright is the founder of Momscape.com and Momscape's Online Organic and Natural Living Magazine. She is also the creator of Free-Article-Bank.com, featuring free, quality articles for your website, ezine, newsletter, or blog.

3 Great Ways to Lose Those Extra Pounds Without Exercise

2007-02-19T09:58:00.000-08:00

Irrespective of how much weight you may desire to lose, you have likely ran into the same confusing events everybody else does. That is, should you reduce your calories? Should you reduce your fat? Should you cut back or do away with your carbohydrate consumption? Many of us get so mixed-up by all the contrasting information accessible out there, we desire to know if it would be easier to just stop eating.

If you don't previously know this, not eating can hurt you. Sure you can technically get all the nutrition you require simply by the consumption of juices or consuming vitamins, but your health will decline. Especially if you do this for long intervals of time. The trouble is not really that there are so many ideas on weight loss, the problem is that all of these ideas work. Starting a juice fast will help you lose weight. But like I mentioned before, your well-being will suffer. In some instances it could suffer seriously.

Calories

Decreasing your calorie intake likewise will work. The body uses a certain number of calories in any day, so consuming less than you are using will make you drop some weight. The trouble many individuals face with this plan regrettably though, is they are hungry day in and day out. Today foods do not keep many of us full and stuffed for very long, but they hold quite a lot of calories. So eating 3 simple meals that have 500 calories each will give us a total of 1500 calories for the day. This is rather low for many men and women, but it will help you lose weight. Alas the three meals you select to eat might not gratify you, so you wind up more hungry than not.

You could eat 5 meals with just 300 calories each and that will help quite a bit. You are not waiting so long between meals, resulting in not feeling quite as famished in the process. Be cautious with your meal selections when doing this route because as I have said, our current meals are not really low in calories. In reality, most quick refreshments are near 250 calories all by themselves.

Fat

Let's forget the calorie intake and cut the fat. Well, many still think this is the most beneficial way to use, and many do discover weight loss when they eliminate fat from their diets. The negative side though, is that eating foods with little or no fat will make you hungrier than eating foods just on calorie totals.

Eating fat helps fill you up and keeps that feeling of being satisfied for a longer period. Even worse than that, foods lacking fat tends to have more fillers like sugar and starch. Sugars and starches are handled by your body promptly, so you are more hungry again faster. Most folks make the error of believing as long as they are not eating fat, they can consume non-fat foods anytime they would like. In actuality, they are filling up on too many calories and too much non-healthy foods.

Having said that, of course there are fats you should control in your diet. They are regarded to be the dreadful fats, and are known as saturated fat or trans fats. consuming too many of these kinds of fat can bring about health problems and weight problems.

Carbs

Now let us check the low carb issue. Many people think they should do away with carbs completely, but that's not a smart action either. Many of your healthy fruits and vegetables have at least a few carbs in them. So a better action is to restrict your carb intake instead of attempting to eradicate them completely.

In reality, you should attempt to select healthy good carbs in lieu of simple ones. You can still restrict the total number of carbs you take daily, make certain to eat those that are good for you like what you discover in vegetables or cheese.

This may sound strange, but a lot of people are able to eat as much food as they want as long as they are restricting their carbohydrate intake. In actuality, many people eat 3500 calories or more each and every day, but as long as they are limiting the carbs, they can still reduce their weight. The explanations are many but they are quite uncomplicated. Eliminating simple sugars, starches and carbs from your meals will control your body's insulin output. And it will pressure you to consume alternative foods, food which will fill you up better and longer.

Strange as it may seem, all of these usual attacks to to lose weight work together. And they work best when you eliminate the simple starches and sugars from your diet. Reducing your carbs to a low amount for just a couple days will stamp out your cravings for sweets, but it also cuts your appetite. Finally, you really eat much less calories totally, as you are not hungry much and you are not getting hit with sugar desires. So a low carb diet will convert to a low calorie diet over a period of time.

The same pertains to low fat diets. If done right, you could see yourself eating more fiber rich foods to aid you to feel full longer. Also foods which are naturally more superior in fiber are also naturally lower in carbohydrates and calories.

It all comes down to eating correctly. Select healthy fats and healthy carbs, plus get rid of simple starches and sugars, and you most likely will lose the extra weight. Just a suggestion, go one step further and get involved with an exercise program.

Jim's articles are from extensive research on each of his topics. You can learn more of weight loss by visiting: Weight Loss

15 Ways To Get Really Motivated

2007-02-19T09:52:00.000-08:00

First, recognize that motivation is an inside job. The word motivate means to impel, inspire, hope, stimulate, incite, propel, spur, goad, move, induce, prompt, instigate, fire, provoke, actuate, cause, egg on, drive, excite, and to trigger. Don’t wait for someone to motivate you, here are 15 ways you can motivate yourself.

1. Set daily, weekly, monthly, yearly and lifetime goals. A goal is a goal if it’s writing. Goals get you going in the direction that’s right for you.

2. Listen to a motivational tape. Record into a tape recorder your favorite quotes, anecdotes and personal success stories. Play back your tape frequently. Nothing is more motivating than the sound of your own voice. Try it!

3. Get motivated to make better telephone calls by buying Art Sobczak’s new book, “How To Sell More In Less Time With No Rejection.” To order call Art at 402-895-9399.

4. To overachieve every quota you are given take this advice. First write yourself a check dated for 12/31/05 payable to yourself and write how much you want to earn on the amount line. Make three laminated copies and put one in your briefcase, auto console, and home office. Second, always aim higher than the quota you are given. If you adjust your aim, the results will follow.

5. Buy an inspirational book of quotations and keep it in your car. Read three quotes daily. Remember - inspirational words usually inspire us.

6. Invest 15 minutes daily to read books and articles about the selling profession. This is gourmet food for your brain. Don’t skip a day.

7. Get a mentor, preferably one outside of your company. The truly successful people never go it alone.

8. To jack-up your sales performance, prepare your own laminated cue cards. Create cue cards for making appointments, your 12 best questions, for handling the price objection, and for asking for the order. Each cue card should be prepared word-for-word. Your performances will sky-rocket.

9. Buy a composition notebook for your car. Record your successes, failures, and daily observations about your selling environment.

10. Read the “The Ancient Scrolls” an inspiring book by Tim Connor. To order call 800-222-9070.

11. To get motivated about improving your personal financial situation, set a personal net worth goal and write it on a spread sheet, then review it monthly. Self worth increases proportionately with net worth.

12. Tell your family if you achieve 110% or more of your annual sales quota - you’ll take them anywhere they want to go on vacation.

13. Tell your family when you reach a new monthly sales record milestone, you’ll take them out to celebrate.

14. Select one song that really gets you moving and play it every morning as you back out of your driveway.

15. Make a dinner date with your spouse tonight then go some place special.

Every day is a great day, especially if you don’t see your name in the obituary section of the paper.

It's easy to make every day a masterpiece when you're motivated.

Jim Meisenheimer is the creator of No-Brainer Sales Training. His sales techniques and selling skills focus on practical ideas that get immediate results. You can discover all his secrets by contacting him at (800) 266-1268 or by visiting his website: http://www.meisenheimer.com

5 Ways to Make Money Online

2007-02-13T11:49:00.000-08:00

Make money from home, who wouldn’t want to do that? It’s an attractive idea. It’s a great idea. It’s the new way to earn. If the idea of wanting to make money from home has crossed your mind, you are not alone. Thousands of people around the world are sick of their jobs and looking for work at home opportunities. Stay at home Moms, such as myself, are looking for ways to make extra money from home so they can spend more time with their children and at the same time, contribute to the household finances. College students are looking for ways to create income so that they can have extra money as they go to school.

Learning how to make money from home is one of the best things you can do. There are many benefits you can enjoy by making money at home. It is a rewarding experience and one that is worth the time and effort.

The first critical step to make money from home is to start with a good idea. The best way to do this is to sit down and identify what it is you're passionate about. Do you have a special talent, such as playing a musical instrument? Are you a great cook? Do people always come to you for advice on how to fix things? What are your hobbies and interests? If you stop and think about it, any one of these can be turned into a profitable product for you to create and sell. Remember, the number one thing people use the Internet for is to look up information. So the best way to make money from home is to give the people what they want by having your own website, centered around your own products, hobby or interests.

If, after brainstorming, you still can’t think of something to create and turn into a product to sell online, don’t despair. There are many ways to make money online. Here are just a few:

1. eBay - One of the quickest and easiest ways to make money from home is with eBay. You can sell anything you want, from stuffed toys, old clothes your family has outgrown or never worn, to computer peripherals to a recipe book written by you. Clean out your garage and closets and you’re sure to find things you want to get rid of. Remember the old saying, ‘one man’s junk is another man’s treasure.’

2. Affiliate Marketing – Don’t have a product of your own to sell? Then try selling someone else’s. How many times have you recommended a product or service to a family member or friends and they went out and bought it? We do that all the time, right? Now imagine doing that on the Internet only this time you won’t be recommending something to a few people. With the power of the Internet, you can recommend products to the entire world, if they have an Internet access that is. With Affiliate Marketing companies pay you for referrals that result in a sale or lead. Joining affiliate programs is one of the "free ways to make easy money" on the net. It's very easy to get started.

3. Paid Surveys - Another easy way to make money from home is filling out Paid Surveys on your computer. I have done this myself so I know it works. The only downfall to this is that you have to have a lot of time to dedicate to this. Some surveys are 20 minutes or longer and will pay you anywhere from $2 to up to $100, although I have never been lucky enough to qualify for a $100 survey. I don’t have a lot of spare time to dedicate to this so I choose to spend most of my time being an Affiliate Marketer, selling on eBay, and creating products to sell. I make more money doing that than filling out Paid Surveys. If you are still interested in making money with Paid Surveys by all means feel free to do so. Just keep in mind the time involved and the fact that you will make money, but you may not make lot of money doing it.

4.Stock Photography - One easy way to make money from home is by using your photos. Stock photography is very big right now. Many companies and large corporations need pictures they can use on their website or brochures. They will pay Stock Photography Companies a lot of money for quality photos. Some corporations even create software that have pictures in it, such as Print Artist, Print Shop, Sierra Utilities and other software programs. Stock photography companies will pay you even more when a company uses your picture in software programs because they have to purchase a special license, which means more money in your pocket. So if you have a digital camera and can take good pictures, visit these Stock Photography websites to get an idea of the kind of pictures they need. This is easy money doing something that doesn’t even seem like work.

5.Homemade Videos - Another great way to make money from home is to create interesting home made videos. Do you know how to play the piano? If so, create a video showing people who to play. Piano lessons can be expensive and the instructor has to leave when their time is up. With a video your customers can watch and learn any time they want. You can make Homemade Videos on so many different topics such as; recipes, how to build your own computer, how to cut hair, how to train your dog to do tricks, how to lift weights properly, how to use a certain software program and many more topics. I personally know someone who creates videos showing people how to use a certain software program and he makes a lot of money selling the video tutorials. Put your mind to work and think of something you can create.

There are actually thousands of ways to make money at home working online. I’ve only listed five of the ways I make money. I could have listed more but then I would have written a novel instead of an article.

There's no doubt about it, the best way to make money from home is to work for yourself using your home computer. You’ve spent hundreds or even thousands of dollars on a computer so let it pay for itself by putting it to work for you. Why spend your entire life working for someone else, when you could work from home and be your own boss? Making money from home is the new way to earn a living.

I love money, especially when it comes easy. Let me give you a friendly warning though. The ideas I’ve listed on ways to make money are easy, but they do require a little bit of work on your part. Your success is going to be determined by how much you put into each program. Remember, if you pick something you enjoy, it will not seem like work at all.

How to Make Money Online with eBay, Yahoo!, and Google

To Your Success, Anna Allen

For more information on various ways to make money online go to: http://www.moneymakingresearch.com where you can find "honest" reviews, or visit her blogs at: http://moneymakingresearch.blogspot.com and http://wannamakemoneyonline.blogspot.com.

5 Ways to Make Money Quick and Easy

2007-02-13T06:52:00.000-08:00

This is where the rubber meets the road. Traction is something we all lack when we are doing our research and ultimate field tests in the quest for our first million. More traction would be great whatever step in the ladder you are at.

We generally focus on helping fledgling millionaires in our work because it is the most rewarding and gives us the greatest bang for our buck. To see an individual go from clueless to savvy in a fortnight is a gratifying experience. When its our resources that helped that transformation, then its very satisfying indeed. So thats the area we focus on here. This is for people who need direction but have small resource capital to manufacture acceptable results.

So lets give you a little traction before you sieze your jets.

The following 5 strategies will give you the moves to take you to the first level. -A guy with a proven idea that can be replicated-

(An enviable position to be in)

1) Lets get this straight. Million dollar bank balances are numerical in nature. By that I mean a million bucks is not made up of 1 large million dollar bill. Its made up of exactly one million single's. Or to go to the lowest common denominator, its actually numerically made up of One thousand, million (or 1 billion) cents.

Make money fast and easy by thinking of money as numerical and therefore exponential. A dollar that you hold in your hand is the same as $1 million dollars. No difference at all. Its a seed that grows into a tree, then that tree spurrs more seeds. (I apolgize for the metaphor, but how else can we put this so you understand the nature of the reality as it is)

2) When you approach your 1 million dollar goal, you are biting off much much more then you can chew thinking about that million.

To make money fast and easy always think small. Refine, refine, refine. Then duplicate, duplicate, duplicate. Are you with me? Is this making sense? Make a simple little mouse trap, then make lots of mouse traps exactly the same way.

3) Find demand and supply into that demand.

To make money fast and easy, even before you think about "what" you will do, you are going to research demand. You will become an expert at sniffing out needs. This skill is a millionaires bow and arrow. Let me tell you, most millionaires couldn't hit the side of a barn much less the bulls eye. But they DO know this. So their aim is not important. What is important is that the target is nice and gigantic. How can they miss?

Trust me, its what millionaires do, its how millionaires think. Always supply into Fat juicy demand where the pickin is easy. Do you want medals of bravery or a million bucks asap?

4) Have a structure you never deviate from.

They always failed to plan when they planned to fail. Once your research is done never deviate from it. Give it a good run but if it doesnt work out for you then move on without shedding a single tear. Chance and "chaos theory" are fascinating things. Probability is what millionaires deal with. They never delude themselves into believing in absolutes.

To make money fast and easy, you will not work backwards or second guess yourself. Plant yourself firmly in the middle of the road on the high side and go forward. Don't make it up as you go. Stick to what your demand planning told you to do. Many give up after 1 failure, but probability is a funny thing. We think we can control it, but even when all your ducks are lined up in a row, it may not work. But give it a chance and let it prove itself and you may find over a number of attempts you will get the results you expected.

5) Diversify AND Go deep.

They call out diversify when it comes to investing. Fair enough. Things change and relying on just one source for your income stream is dangerous. And it is. But there are two sides to every coin.

The pareto principle states that reality and probability are stacked unevenly. We as rational human beings think of everything as equal and even. However scientific evidence and business experience tells a different story. The pareto principle is also known as the 80/20 rule. It states that 80% of your results comes from 20% of your activities. Is this significant if true? You bet. It means that of every effort you make, of all the many things you do to manufacture your results, only 20% actually is responsible for a large proportion (in fact 80%) of them.

So what does this mean in English? It means you can easily quadruple your results by finding out what that special 20% activity is and stop doing everything else. By focusing on just that 20% activity you will not only increase results, but you will create a new pareto principle refined of the old one at a higher level. In this way you move forward and evolve your activities to higher and higher levels.

To your health and rapid success.

The Millionaire Maker: Act, Think, and Make Money the Way the Wealthy Do

Jack Reynolds was a broke Insurance salesman only 2 years ago, today he owns assets valued at several million dollars. What did he do in 24 short months? You can read about Jack's remarkable and rapid transformation and download Hayden's famous book "The Million Dollar Mentor" by clicking here.

20 Great WAYS TO LOSE WEIGHT

2007-02-13T06:14:00.000-08:00

1. Take it one step at a time

Start by paying attention to what you eat. Cut back on fat and sweets and add more fruit and vegetables. After you have that under control, add exercise. If you hate to exercise try it for only 15 minutes a day at first, then a 1/2-hour. Keep in mind that while you are exercising you are burning calories and not eating. Also, it will be easier if you chose an activity that you enjoy.

2. Find a friend

It is always good to have support when you are trying to lose weight. Find a friend who wants to lose weight and compare notes, weigh-in together and maybe even have a contest.

3. Use weights

Working out weights will build muscle and raise your metabolism so you will burn more calories. Also, muscle takes up less space than fat so you will be smaller ( but probably weigh more).

4. Eat fewer carbs

Don't eat as much bread and pasta and you will see a difference.

5. Set a goal

Set a deadline to lose the weight and write it down. For example, ' By Dec 14/04 I will weigh 150 lbs or less'. Put it somewhere you will see it daily.

6. Give up soda

If you drink a soda or 2 a day you are adding empty calories. If you find it hard to stop completely, cut back at first and drink water instead.

7. Grill or boil

Avoid fried meat, grill and use lots of spices. You will get used to it and probably enjoy it more.

8. Don't buy junk food

When you go shopping, don't go on an empty stomach and you will be less likely to buy junk food. Keep your home 'junk food free' so you won't be tempted to indulge.

9. Eat breakfast

Consume most of your calories early in the day and always eat breakfast. Don't eat after 8pm and not only will you avoid those added calories but you will sleep better.

10. Give yourself a treat

When you tell yourself that you can't have something you want it more. Give yourself a treat once a day ( ie. half a cookie) and you won't feel you are missing out.

11. Use smaller plates

Trick yourself into believing that you are eating more by using a smaller plate.

12. Drink lots of water

Drink water when you are feeling hungry and you will get that 'full' feeling.

13. Don't eat everything on your plate

Many times we eat just because it's there. Pay attention to when you have had enough.

14. Eat five or six meals a day

Eating more frequently will keep you from getting too hungry.

15. Plan your workout sessions

Write your workout sessions in your journal or planner.

16. Stay away from fad diets

Fad diets don't work. If you lose weight fast chances are that you will gain it back ( and more) just as fast. It takes time to put it on and time to take it off.

17. Do several body weight workouts a day

While you are watching TV do crunches and leg lifts.

18. Measure your food

If you decide to have junk food for a snack - be sure to measure and control what you eat.

19. Keep pre-cut vegetables

...and ward off those cravings.

20. Create Good Habits

It is a known fact that when we do something twenty-one times it becomes a habit. Create good eating habits.

3 Ballerina Tea Extra Strength Dieters Drink

Source: http://qualityherbalformula.blogspot.com/

20 Easy Ways to Advance Your Career

2007-02-13T05:49:00.000-08:00

To survive and thrive in today's competitive environment, it is not just what you know. You also need to be competent. You must stand out from the crowd - be memorable, impressive, credible, trusted and liked.

"Success is never a destination - it is a journey."- Maya Sullivan

1. Exceed expectations; deliver results on a or head of time.

2. Manage your time effectively.

3. Create a career plan with goals and training requirements.

4. Move away from day-to-day operations.

5. Develop strong rapport with colleagues, senior managers/executives.

6. Get a mentor, accept guidance in your career.

7. Know your organization's goals vision, values, business strategies.

8. Create opportunites to further own/business goals.

9. Solicit feedback and assess the decision for purposes of continuous improvement.

10. Communicate effectively to people at all levels of your organization.

11. Build and maintain relationships with individuals who might impact your work.

12. Plan, prioritize and organize your work.

13. Manage own emotions and reactions.

14. Balance the demands of your personal and professional life.

15. Give yourself quarterly reviews, identify your accomplishments.

16. Become your own sales team, market your abilities.

17. Dedicate yourself to lifelong learning.

18. Be decisive and action oriented.

19. Commit to excellence and professionalism.

20. Be self-disciplined.

Career Opportunities

About The Author

Cecile Peterkin is a trained Career/Life Coach and speaker whose work centers primarily on middle managers and their various challenges. She also works with individuals who are ready to move forward, take action, achieve goals and experience overall life improvement, both in personal and in career.

Cosmic Coaching Centre
www.cosmiccoachingcentre.com

7 Ways Fighting a Hangover

2007-02-08T00:36:00.000-08:00

The first step towards preserving your liver function should be taken before drinking. One should remember to begin your session with a good meal before drinking, and include plenty of complex carbohydrates to help combat hypoglyceamia later on. Make sure you balance the meal with some lean protein and vegetables to ensure you have good levels of minerals and antioxidants in circulation. At least this may appease you liver before the onslaught begins.

Alcohol is by nature dehydrating so fluid is of great importance at all times! Drink plenty of non-alcoholic fluid before, after and during you boozing session. Try to alternate alcoholic drinks with soft drinks. a lot of good old water before and during drinking. In the morning when a hangover hits, it is also the best thing to have. Sports drinks which are high in electrolytes may be helpful in replenishing what the kidneys have excreted during the night and should be taken before sleeping.

There are many myths and fallacies about how to cure or prevent a hangover, with little science to back it up. However here are a few ideas that may help to ease your pain and complement a liver health supplement.

It is thought that fructose may be important in assisting a hangover cure. This is the sugar found in fruit and fruit products. Take your pick from bananas, apples, mango etc. if your stomach is queasy you may want too avoid anything to acidic like grapefruit and kiwis. A banana milkshake sweetened with honey may calm the stomach, top up low blood sugar levels as well as some of our electrolyte levels.. The milk soothes the stomach and rehydrates the system and may assist with hangover symptoms. Bananas replace important electrolytes, magnesium and potassium.

Ginger tea, chicken soup, an egg-based breakfast and tomato juice ( in the guise of a Bloody Mary) are all said to help in curing a hangover. It would seem that everyone has there own particular approach. It is likely that including some lightl protein sources and complex carbohydrates are going to help with topping your B vitamins - try a poached egg on whole grain bread with spinach or a fruit smoothie with yoghurt and oatmeal.

Schisandra fruit extract may also be helpful in the treatment of hangover. There is evidence which indicates that it improve concentration, coordination, and endurance Although most of the experiment have been carried out in animals, they have suggested that extracts of the fruit have a liver-protective effect, a helpful effect on some liver enzymes, and an antioxidant effect. Schisandra is also rich in Vitamin C and E,

Milk thistle is frequently cited as a hangover remedy and there does appear to be some supporting evidence in the literature. Trials have indicated that it may be beneficial for decreasing mortality and improving liver function tests in patients with alcoholic liver disease. More conclusive research is needed to confirm its role however.

Finally, a bit of exercise may help to clear your head. It should increases the blood flow, and let blood and oxygen into the oxygen-starved brain. A shower might just do the trick - make sure it’s not too hot as this can contribute to the dehydration. Of course a few headache pills may be beneficial but if your stomach is feeling a little delicate try Nux vomica, a homeopathic medicine, helps relieve gas, bloating and nausea. Of course, the best advice of all would be not to drink at all and preserve your liver health!

Hangovers: Beer for remedies

Chaser 5-Hour Energy Drink

7 Great Ways to Eliminate Belly Fat

2007-02-07T23:38:00.000-08:00

It’s a new year and, for those of you determined to stick to your resolution to eliminate your belly fat, here are some tips for you to remember:

1. Eat at least three low fat meals a day. If you don’t know what kinds of foods to eat, find a low-fat cookbook with simple meal ideas. Don’t skip meals or you’ll be ravenous and overeat. If you find you get hungry or weak between meals then eat a mid-morning and mid-afternoon snack such as fruit, cut-up veggies, or a protein bar (watch the calories on these though, try to find diet brands with around 200 calories per bar).

2. Drink at least eight glasses of water per day. Water will not only keep you feeling fuller longer, but will help to keep you from being dehydrated. Many people find this very challenging as they were not raised with the idea of drinking water. For those people I suggest buying a large water bottle and sipping on it throughout the day. The first couple of days will be difficult as your body adjusts to the water but after that you’ll find that you crave it and it will come more naturally.

3. Get some exercise at least 5 days a week. This doesn’t mean killing yourself at the gym either. Just getting out for a half hour walk will do the trick. If that’s too much, then start with a shorter walk and work your way up. Ideally you should be walking at least 45 minutes for optimum fat burning.

4. Weigh yourself when you start to help you keep track of your weight loss. Check your progress every three days to see if you’re on track. But don’t weigh yourself every day as your weight can fluctuate and discourage you.

5. Have someone help you to measure your body. This can be a more accurate barometer of your weight loss as the scale can be frustrating. Measurements don’t lie. Measure your chest, waist, hips, and the largest parts of one thigh and arm. You’ll be glad you did when you see the inches lost after a month.

6. Don’t eat anything after 7:00 at night as any food in your stomach will be slow to digest and your weight loss will stall. Have some tea or water to help you feel full if you’re hungry.

7. If at all possible, keep a food diary to keep track of everything you eat. It helps to keep you honest. If you want to eat it, you have to write it down.

Take your weight loss journey one day at a time. Some days will be great while others will be more challenging. Accept that you’re human and that it’s okay to have bad days. Most importantly, if you fall off the wagon, get right back on the next day.

Did you find these tips on how to eliminate your belly fat useful? You can learn a lot more about weight loss here.

The Fat Smash Diet: The Last Diet You'll Ever Need

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sylvia_Jaumann

7 Easy Ways To Stay Motivated

2007-02-07T23:11:00.000-08:00

by Diane Corriette

You know what it's like. You set yourself a goal, something you want to achieve. You are excited and ready to take on the world, and then a few months later you can't even be bothered to spend 10 minutes working towards achieving it. Well welcome to being human! It is so easy to go from excitement to complete apathy but there are things you can do to ensure you stay motivated towards your goal and following are seven great ones!

1. Is Your Reason WHY Large Enough?

When I wanted to lose weight setting a goal to look great in clothes was not big enough, what didn't help was the fact that I loved who I was and what I looked like, but my health had begun to show signs of being affected by my excess weight and this is the WHY I used to ensure I stayed on track. I started with 6 weeks of no diary, no wheat and red meat only once a week. Do you think I needed a big why to stay committed to such a regime??!! I knew that health is my true wealth. Having been unwell for 6 months and hardly able to walk had taught me that without my health my goals were useless. So maintaining a healthy body that would allow me to enjoy the fulfillment of my goals was the big WHY that kept me on track.

Stop and think about your reason WHY? What reason is big enough to keep you motivated at times when you want to give up and/or give in?

2. Create a visual and emotional image of what you want

Writing your goals down is an essential tool but not always enough to keep focused. Writing your goals down and having a visual image of you completing that goal adds fuel to the motivational fire. Writing goals down, having a visual image of your completed goal AND connecting this image with your emotions is the power of 3 that will ensure your motivation remains high. At any point during the day, or at any time when you are feeling in need of encouragement, you can simply stop, close your eyes, see your goal and evoke all the emotions achieving that goal holds for you. Nothing is more powerful!

3. Questions to ask before, during and after!

It is important to know not only why you are doing something but also WHAT. What achieving this goal will provide for yourself and your family. It is easy to believe that what you want is to make a million, but for many it is the lifestyle and the time freedom that this money has the potential to provide that will be the real motivation.

Spend time asking yourself questions that will help you identify what achieving your goal will provide. Questions such as:

*What will it bring me? *What will it do for me, my family, and/or friends? *What kind of lifestyle will I be able to have? *What sacrifices will I need to make? *What will be the impact on my current routine? *What will be the impact on my family? *What outcome do I want to achieve? *What contributions will I be able to make

Motivation and staying motivated is easy when you know what the achievement of your goal will provide for you and we only really lose motivation when we lose sight of our goal or end result.

4. Creating a visual representation of what you want

Keep the motivational fires burning by creating a collage with the family of what your end result will look like, or paint a picture, write a poem, sing a song, or whatever creative endeavor excites you enough to complete it.

Whatever you create keep it in a place where you can see it constantly, I remember listening to someone talk about sticking a poster of making their first 100,000 on their ceiling so that as they woke up it was the first thing they saw each morning, and the last image in their mind before falling asleep.

Leave yourself reminders on your fridge door, on your bathroom mirror, in your car. The more places you are able to leave yourself little notes and reminders about what you want to achieve the better. Doing this will help your unconscious mind bring you the results you desire, whilst also supporting you in staying focused and motivated towards achieving your goal.

5.Get Support from people around you

Support from family and friends is important but also consider what other support is available to you. Books, mentoring, work colleagues, life coaching, forums - these are all things that can support you as you work towards achieving your goal. Also think about WHO can support you in staying motivated, can you buddy up with someone, do you have a boss or lecturer who will be happy to help you keep accountable.

One thing I recommend is that you tell as many people as you know about what you want to achieve, this has the effect of keeping you motivated to complete your goal because you have told so many people. However, a word of caution is needed here because it is easy for people to trample your dreams and fail to support you. You must first pick and choose carefully those people you know will want to support you, but also you must gain enough inner personal strength to be able to continue no matter what negative comments may come your way.

6.Develop Inner Personal Strength

Ultimately, the person who will determine whether you stay motivated and achieve your goal will be you. Your thoughts will determine your behavior which determines your results. Developing a strong inner personal strength about your ability to achieve and your ability to motivate yourself when you are in an unproductive state of mind is essential. Being able to see setbacks and failures as opportunities for continued growth and upset and emotional turmoil as opportunities to discover what you want and need, will determine how you view life. One of the best ways to inner personal strength is to read and listen to audios that inspire and motivate you. Continued learning is an essential part of being able to stay motivated.

7. Support from Continued Learning

If you are going to need to learn new skills to ensure you complete your goal then you it is a good idea to identify what learning you will need to undertake as early as possible. If you have planned out how you will achieve your outcome then you will already be aware of any areas where you need to strengthen your skills or out source to others who will be able to fulfill what you need.

There is nothing worse than getting halfway towards the completion of a goal and to be stopped because you are not able to complete something because of lack of knowledge and/or skills. This is a surefire way of dampening your excitement and your motivation.

Make a list of what you can and can't do and who might be able to help you. Knowing this in advance can help you avoid getting frustrated because things aren't getting done. If you are serious about developing your personal and professional life then I recommend getting yourself a Mentor or Life Coach, to ensure you stay on track.

You should also look at continued learning as it relates to your own personal development, continuing with your own personal development will ensure you are able to work through set backs quickly and stay motivated.

Staying motivated when you are looking to achieve your goals is essential for ultimate success. I have provided you with seven practical ways to achieve continued motivation and I recommend you use them all. Some of them such as creating a collage will be activities you perform occasionally, but others, such as continuing your personal development will be a continuous learning process. There is not one single thing that will determine your success in staying motivated but a combination of many, finding the combination that is right for you will change from goal to goal and will be an ongoing (fun filled) exploration.

How to Stay Motivated: A Proven Formula for Positive Living

About the Author

Diane Corriette runs the Personal Growth Podcast Directory. Listen to inspirational and motivational podcasts. If you create podcasts in the self-improvement area why not submit them to
http://www.personalgrowthpodcastdirectory.com

10 Ways to Lose Weight Now

2007-02-06T04:47:00.000-08:00

from Men's Health
You'll start dropping pounds before you finish reading this article
By: Elizabeth Ward R.D.

The perfect weight-loss article would include only four words:
Eat less. Exercise more.

Of course, if it were really that simple, I'd be out of work and the R.D. after my name would stand for Really Desperate (for a job).

Unfortunately for you (and, I guess, fortunately for me), it's a lot more complicated than that. Some guys need to eat more to lose weight. And some who are already exercising need to do less, but at a higher intensity.

My goal here is to show you 10 ways that you can manipulate your diet -- adding in some places, subtracting in others - to start losing weight the next time you open your mouth with the intention of putting something in.

1. Start your engine

I'm a mother, but I'm not your mother. So I can't order you to eat breakfast. But if you don't, you're putting your number-one fat-burning tool in time-out. It takes calories to digest calories, so eating in the morning fires up your metabolism.

Perfect breakfasts: Try a cup of whole-grain cereal with 1 percent low-fat milk and a banana, or two pieces of whole-wheat toast with two tablespoons of peanut butter and an apple. If you hate breakfast food, or have to eat on the fly, take a turkey sandwich (going easy on the mayo) or a slice of leftover cheese pizza and go.

2. Run with the snack pack

Here's where I disagree with your mother. She discouraged you from eating between meals-probably so you'd eat more of her delicious boiled-liver casserole-but I want you to have a snack handy at all times.

Here's why: If breakfast stokes up your metabolic fires, then snacks keep them going between meals. And planning your snacks in advance keeps you from making a mid-morning Chips Ahoy run.

Perfect snacks: Include one of the following two or three times a day: an ounce of nuts, pretzels, or string cheese; a medium piece of fruit; six graham cracker squares; or six cups of low-fat microwave popcorn.

3. Practice fiber-opting
I'm not out to turn you into a vegetarian or anything, but fiber-rich foods are about the only free pass you'll get in the nutrition world. They have few calories and make you feel full. Your goal is to eat 25 grams of fiber every day (Americans typically consume just 12 grams daily).

Where the fiber is: Eat at least three servings of vegetables and two fruit portions daily; and add beans to salads and soups. Choose whole-grain breads over those made with refined flour. And for breakfast, pick the highest-fiber cereal that doesn't taste like cardboard.

4. Fight fat with fat
Things change fast in my world. A few months ago, you couldn't tell overweight people to eat more fat without the evil specter of Dr. Atkins appearing over your head. Now, it seems, everyone knows about the health benefits of unsaturated fats, those found in fish, nuts, avocados and olive oil.

But in case you haven't heard, here's the basic problem with low-fat diets: You replace the fat with carbohydrates. Carbs provoke a rise in insulin. More insulin leads to more hunger. On top of that, your body digests carbs faster than fat. So you get hungrier faster.

Fat has neither of those liabilities. Your body digests it slowly, and it doesn't cause an insulin surge. So adding a bit of fat to breakfast, lunch, and dinner actually speeds weight loss.

Another point: Fat makes you feel more satisfied after a meal. You feel as if you've eaten, not just nibbled.

The flip side of this (you knew there was a catch) is that too much fat will make you fat. Fat packs more calories per square inch than protein or carbohydrates. Overeating is easy-especially if you're breaking rules 1 and 2, starving yourself through the day and then shoveling down a bag of fried pork rinds at night.

So add some nuts and olive oil to your next salad. Put some avocado on that turkey-breast sandwich. Smear peanut butter on your morning toast. And when you eat out, never pass up a chance for a nicely prepared piece of salmon, herring, tuna, or mackerel (these are the fattiest fish).

5. Don't get juiced

Sure, 100 percent juice beats the pants off soda for nutrition, but juice (and those pseudo-juice beverages, like Snapple) pack just as many calories-up to 225 in a 16-ounce bottle.

What to drink: Water works. It's not as magical as some make it out to be, but you can't beat it for calories (zero). Diet soft drinks are the next-best alternative.

6. Beer down

Want to look better naked? Try drinking half as much beer, wine, or whatever booze you choose. Alcohol puts on pounds in more ways than we can list here, but try these highlights:

> Alcohol contains calories. You may drink like a fish, but booze isn't water. Even a light beer has more than 100 calories. Kahlua and cream? Now we're talking calories.
> Booze makes you store fat. Your body sees alcohol as a poison, and tries desperately to get rid of it. Your liver stops processing all other calories until it has dealt with the alcohol. So anything else you eat during the time you're drinking is more likely to end up as fat.
> Alcohol lowers testosterone. With more abdominal fat, testosterone drops.
> A bender interrupts sleep. And sleep is when your body produces its biggest surge of growth hormone, a chemical that signals your body to use fat for energy. The less growth hormone you release, the fatter you become.

Inconspicuous consumption: When you want to drink less without anyone noticing, start with a glass of water as your first "cocktail" (add a lime for camouflage). Then alternate water with alcoholic beverages. You'll keep your hands busy, and think of all the calories you'll burn during those bathroom runs.

7. Have a green day

Sipping green tea -- the kind served at Japanese restaurants -- revs up your metabolism. Green tea may be foreign to you, but don't knock it until you've tried it. You can find it any supermarket, and it tastes fine. (Go ahead and add a teaspoon of sugar if it's not sweet enough.)

8. Greet meat

It's lunchtime in the local food court. Which do you go for: salad or burger? Of course, you think, the salad is better for you. After all, it's green. And leafy. And has all kinds of crunchy things, which look a lot healthier than a brown slab of dead animal.

But the burger is probably the better choice. Sure, the salad will have fewer calories if you limit what you put on it. Once you add turkey, ham, cheese and dressing, however, you could be looking at more than 700 calories for a three-cup serving. The burger? About 430 calories for a typical quarter-pounder. Plus, the burger will almost certainly make you feel more full, while the meat is rich in zinc, an important mineral for raising testosterone levels.

9. Go for the freezer burn

If weight loss were a game of poker, portion control would be your ace in the hole. You can eat anything and lose or maintain weight, as long as you don't eat too much of anything.

So here's another test: Dinner tonight - frozen meal or pizza? The frozen dinner wins because it gives you portion control. You buy one serving, eat one serving, and you're done. With the pizza, you buy multiple servings, and hope you only eat one of them - probably two slices. If you can pull that off, fine, eat whichever looks better to you. But if you think there's any chance you'll eat more than those two slices, you're better off not tempting yourself.

If the dinner you choose is just an entree and doesn't have vegetables, buy a bag while you're in the frozen-food aisle, and cook a cup of it. Don't worry about the vegetables not being fresh. In winter, the frozen vegetables are often in better shape than the "fresh" ones that were picked last week in Argentina.

10. And, uh, did we mention exercise?

While it's possible to lose weight by eating less without doing more, it's unlikely. The people who lose the most and keep it off the longest tend to approach both sides of the equation with equal fervor. So we'll see you in the gym.

Lose Weight Now

8 Easy Ways To Cope In A Hostile Work Place

2007-02-05T08:15:00.000-08:00

Do you get stressed out at the thought of going to work every morning?

Does the thought of spending eight or more hours at work each day get you all wound up and sweaty?

Do you constantly find yourself wishing that Monday mornings were Friday evenings?

Does the mere thought of interacting with your boss or co-workers leave you feeling emotionally drained?

If these feelings have nothing to do with your ineffectiveness at work, then you are probably in a hostile work place.

What makes a work place hostile varies largely, but it’s commonly attributed to having a bad boss (this could be an understatement), co-workers who drive you up the wall, and an ineffective Human Resource Department, among other things.

Here are 8 survival tips to help you cope in a hostile work place until the tide turns in your favor:

1. Work on yourself.

As irritating as the situation may be, learn to contain yourself. Develop an internal coping mechanism like counting to ten before you respond to an annoying or insensitive comment.

Draw strength from a higher power. Pray, meditate and do whatever it takes to get yourself together, calm and composed.

2. Keep reminding yourself why you are at the job.

Why are you working in that company? Are you there for the money, experience or for personal fulfillment? What are you hoping to achieve? Whatever the reason, let the objective you want to achieve give you the strength to survive each day.

3. Don’t mix business with pleasure.

If you can help it, draw the line between your private life and your life at work. Sometimes unnecessary socialization at work provides the ammunition that makes your work environment even more unbearable.
A little gossip at the copy machine with a co-worker can be the beginning of a nightmare.

4. Be courteous and professional.

Conducting yourself in a professional manner seals the lips of those who want to capitalize on your unprofessional behavior to make your life a misery. Before you respond to annoying e-mails, or speak to your boss or co-worker about frustrating issues, calm down, take a deep breath and avoid the temptation to escalate the matter.

5. Learn what not to do.

Since life is always about making progress and getting better, consider your work environment as the best teaching arena to learn something about yourself, learn what not to do, learn what not to say and also who not to trust in future.

If you are planning to start your own business or be in management, consider this a good place to learn about how not to treat employees or how to be a good boss!

6. Look within yourself and be creative.

It's amazing how a hostile work place can bring out the best in you. What you are experiencing may force you to look deep within yourself to explore your life from a new perspective. You may be pleasantly surprised by what you learn about yourself and this may prompt you to expand your range in terms of what you want to do in life.

When you have reached the end of your rope, start focusing on what matters most and expect better things for yourself.

7. Stand up for yourself.

Do not keep silent about the hostility. Speak up for yourself, defend your actions when necessary, talk to someone who might listen to you, record your complaints with Human Resources and do whatever is necessary to set the record straight. Even if the results of your action are not what you expect, it really feels good to know that you are standing up for yourself and letting your voice be heard.

8. Jump ship!

Stay on the look out for better opportunities elsewhere so that when your job situation gets so bad and unbearable, and after you have exhausted all options, you can get the courage to be good to yourself and jump ship!

By: Caroline Jalango

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

Caroline coaches women, provides strategies and solutions, motivates and helps women who want to do better for themselves, create and live, meaningful, happier, productive, improved and purpose driven lives. Visit www.dobetterforyourself.com and SIGN UP for your FREE "do better for yourself" mini e-course designed to help you develop and maintain the momentum to do better for yourself and get the results you want!

10 Ways To Empower Your Communication

2007-02-05T07:56:00.000-08:00

The Blarney Stone is a historical stone, or actually part of the Blarney Castle in Ireland where it was believed that kissing the stone can grant you the gift of gab. Yeah, it seems strange in this day and age, but who are we to question tradition? It's not like I'm saying that Santa Claus doesn't exist (OOPS!).

There is so much to know about conversation that anyone, even I, could ever realize. You can go though watching talk shows; radio programs; clubs dedicated to public speaking; ordinary conversations; certain rules still apply when it comes to interaction through words. It may sound tedious, I know, but even though it's your mouth that's doing the work, your brain works twice as hard to churn out a lot of things you know. So what better way to start learning to be an effective communication is to know the very person closest to you: yourself.

1. What you know.
Education is all about learning the basics, but to be an effective speaker is to practice what you've learned. My stint as guest at every Toastmasters' meeting I go to taught me that we all have our limitations, but that doesn't mean we can't learn to keep up and share what we know.

2. Listening.
It's just as important as asking questions. Sometimes listening to the sound of our own voice can teach us to be a little bit confident with ourselves and to say the things we believe in with conviction.

3. Humility
We all make mistakes, and sometimes we tend to slur our words, stutter, and probably mispronounce certain words even though we know what it means, but rarely use it only to impress listeners. So in a group, don't be afraid to ask if you're saying the right word properly and if they're unsure about it then make a joke out of it. I promise you it'll make everyone laugh and you can get away with it as well.

4. Eye Contact
There's a lot to say when it comes to directing your attention to your audience with an eye-catching gaze. It's important that you keep your focus when talking to a large group in a meeting or a gathering, even though he or she may be gorgeous.

5. Kidding around
A little bit of humor can do wonders to lift the tension, or worse boredom when making your speech. That way, you'll get the attention of the majority of the crowd and they'll feel that you're just as approachable, and as human to those who listen.

6. Be like the rest of them
Interaction is all about mingling with other people. You'll get a lot of ideas, as well as knowing what people make them as they are.

7. Me, Myself, and I
Admit it, there are times you sing to yourself in the shower. I know I do! Listening to the sound of your own voice while you practice your speech in front of a mirror can help correct the stress areas of your pitch. And while you're at it you can spruce up as well.

8. With a smile
A smile says it all much like eye contact. There's no point on grimacing or frowning in a meeting or a gathering, unless it's a wake. You can better express what you're saying when you smile.

9. A Role Model
There must be at least one or two people in your life you have listened to when they're at a public gathering or maybe at church. Sure they read their lines, but taking a mental note of how they emphasize what they say can help you once you take center stage.

10. Preparation
Make the best out of preparation rather than just scribbling notes and often in a hurried panic. Some people like to write things down on index cards, while other resort to being a little more silly as they look at their notes written on the palm of their hand (not for clammy hands, please). Just be comfortable with what you know since you enjoy your work.

And that about wraps it up. These suggestions are rather amateurish in edgewise, but I've learned to empower myself when it comes to public or private speaking and it never hurts to be with people to listen how they make conversations and meetings far more enjoyable as well as educational.

By: David Slone

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

Copyright 2006 David Slone. Visit Why Do We Dream for information on dreams such as nightmares, sleepwalking, lucid dreaming and more. Free content articles you can use on your website, ezine or newsletter. You may republish this article on your website provided author information and active link(s) are left intact.

7 Easy Ways to Lose Weight Fast

2007-02-02T02:43:00.000-08:00

1. Drink Ice cold water. Okay I know you already know this and you probably already know ice cold water makes your body burn fat to heat the ice cold water back up to body temp, but I keep saying drink water because… A lot of people still don’t drink enough water. If you want to lose weight fast… Stop wasting your money on ugly fat-weight gainers like coffee, soda, and juices and pick up a FREE magical weight loss drink called water

2. Eat Peppered beef jerky. I can’t explain any science behind this one, but every time I eat peppered beef jerky I seem to shred a little fat and I think this is due to the spices they put in the beef jerky and some studies show that spicy foods increase your metabolism and there’s also enough protein in beef jerky to help curb your appetite

3. Kill your cravings. Eating lots of protein (nuts, jerky, fish, and chicken) raw veggies and water will kill your appetite. I promise you the sooner you get used to eating raw veggies you will stop craving for all the junk foods that made you fat in the first place.

4. Drink green tea. Hate drinking water all the time? Then sip on some green tea to increase your metabolism to burn more fat.

5. Limit carbs. This is really an emergency weight loss trick. If you stop eating carbs (or limit your carbs) you can lose 5 lbs or more real quick by burning up all the stored carbs in your body. You have about 1 pound of carbs stored in your body and each pound stored in your body has 3-4 lbs of water attached to it. So if you burn up the stored carbs in your body… The 5 lbs of water will burn up with it

6. Do something in the morning – Wake up and break a sweat for 30min in the morning. I know you hate to exercise but if you do it first thing in the morning guess what… Your body will ONLY BURN FAT because since you haven’t eaten anything yet… Your body has no choice but to feed off the stored FAT in your body for energy.

7. Walk for 10 minutes after you eat – Your body burns calories to digest the food you eat and if you walk for 10 minutes after you eat you will increase the amount of calories you burn during digestion and get his… If you eat three times a day you will easily get the 30 minutes of activity you need to lose weight (3 meals x 10 minute walks after each meal).

Lose 30 Pounds in 30 Days

Author: Adrian Bryant

10 Great Ways to Start Taking Control of Your Life

2007-02-02T02:40:00.000-08:00

At first glance, it would seem that positive thinking and Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) have nothing to do with one another. But many of us with ADD develop negative thinking patterns because we become frustrated by our challenges and frequent feelings of being overwhelmed. This negative outlook then makes it even harder for us to manage those challenges and move forward.

Practicing positive thinking allows people with ADD to focus on our strengths and accomplishments, which increases happiness and motivation. This, in turn, allows us to spend more time making progress, and less time feeling down and stuck. The following tips provide practical suggestions that you can use to help you shift into more positive thinking patterns:

1. Take Good Care of Yourself It's much easier to be positive when you are eating well, exercising, and getting enough rest.

2. Remind Yourself of the Things You Are Grateful For Stresses and challenges don't seem quite as bad when you are constantly reminding yourself of the things that are right in life. Taking just 60 seconds a day to stop and appreciate the good things will make a huge difference.

3. Look for the Proof Instead of Making Assumptions A fear of not being liked or accepted sometimes leads us to assume that we know what others are thinking, but our fears are usually not reality. If you have a fear that a friend or family member's bad mood is due to something you did, or that your co-workers are secretly gossiping about you when you turn your back, speak up and ask them. Don't waste time worrying that you did something wrong unless you have proof that there is something to worry about.

4. Refrain from Using Absolutes Have you ever told a partner "You're ALWAYS late!" or complained to a friend "You NEVER call me!"? Thinking and speaking in absolutes like 'always' and 'never' makes the situation seem worse than it is, and programs your brain into believing that certain people are incapable of delivering.

5. Detach From Negative Thoughts Your thoughts can't hold any power over you if you don't judge them. If you notice yourself having a negative thought, detach from it, witness it, and don't follow it.

6. Squash the "ANTs" In his book "Change Your Brain, Change Your Life," Dr. Daniel Amen talks about "ANTs" - Automatic Negative Thoughts. These are the bad thoughts that are usually reactionary, like "Those people are laughing, they must be talking about me," or "The boss wants to see me? It must be bad!" When you notice these thoughts, realize that they are nothing more than ANTs and squash them!

7. Practice Lovin', Touchin' & Squeezin' (Your Friends and Family) You don't have to be an expert to know the benefits of a good hug. Positive physical contact with friends, loved ones, and even pets, is an instant pick-me-up. One research study on this subject had a waitress touch some of her customers on the arm as she handed them their checks. She received higher tips from these customers than from the ones she didn't touch!

8. Increase Your Social Activity By increasing social activity, you decrease loneliness. Surround yourself with healthy, happy people, and their positive energy will affect you in a positive way!

9. Volunteer for an Organization, or Help another Person Everyone feels good after helping. You can volunteer your time, your money, or your resources. The more positive energy you put out into the world, the more you will receive in return.

10. Use Pattern Interrupts to Combat Rumination If you find yourself ruminating, a great way to stop it is to interrupt the pattern and force yourself to do something completely different. Rumination is like hyper-focus on something negative. It's never productive, because it's not rational or solution-oriented, it's just excessive worry. Try changing your physical environment - go for a walk or sit outside. You could also call a friend, pick up a book, or turn on some music.

When it comes to the corporate world, protocol is pretty much the religion. To know the things needed to do are the basics of productivity, but interaction and having a steady mind makes up the entire thing to true productivity. There are those who seem to work well even under pressure, but they're uncommon ones and we are human and imperfect. To get these little things like stress under our skins won't solve our problems. Sometimes it takes a bit of courage to admit that we're turning to be workaholics than tell ourselves that we're not doing our best.

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People

7 Successful Ways to Quit Smoking

2007-02-02T02:09:00.000-08:00

Author: Claire Bowes

Everybody knows how hard it is to quit smoking. Even people who have never smoked understand the tremendous amount of willpower and drive it takes to actually quit smoking for good.

One of the most overbearing symptoms of quitting smoking is the withdrawal symptoms. Withdrawal symptoms can be in the form of anxiety, cravings, irritability, difficulty in concentrating and a sheer 'want' to have nicotine. And they can be sheer hell!

The good news is that there are many ways to quit smoking, you just need to find out which one will work best for you. You might have to end up trying them all, but if you eventually find one that works for you and you give up smoking for life, then the trials and tribulations will be worth while.

Let's take a look at six different successful ways to quit smoking.

1) Stop Smoking Aids

Nicotine patches, gum, lozenges, nasal sprays, and inhalers are all aids to help alleviate the cravings of nicotine.

Let's take nicotine patches for example. They are designed to deliver a small amount of nicotine to your bloodstream, satisfying your nicotine cravings - without the dangerous tars and poisonous gases found in cigarettes. This is a very convenient and easy way to help you reduce your cravings while trying to give up nicotine.

2) Hypnotherapy

A growing trend nowadays is to get hypnotherapy to help quit smoking. By all accounts, hypnotherapy is one of the most successful ways to quit smoking. The reason being is that by using hypnotherapy to stop smoking, you effectively eliminate the cause of the bad habit right at the source, the subconscious mind.

3) Alternative Therapies

As stated above, we are trying to find ways to help you control your cravings and relax you while trying to give up smoking. Many people endure the thought of alternative therapies to help counteract these symptoms. The most popular therapies being acupuncture, aromatherapy, and meditation.

4) Willpower

Willpower is a state of the mind and it always seems to be easier said than done. Just the decision to actually take the step to give up smoking is a tribulation of willpower in itself. But can you carry on along the whole road of smoking cessation with willpower alone? You definitely have to be permanently in the 'right frame of mind' to stop smoking with willpower and sheer determination alone. But it can be done!

5) Counselling

Sometimes your willpower needs a boost and counselling is great for behavioural support. You can either have one-to-one counselling sessions, or feel that you would get the best support from a group meeting with like-minded people. You can find private, government and charitable organisations that offer smoking cessation support.

6) Prescription Only Medicine

Prescription only medicine is available from your doctor to help you quit smoking. These medicines for smoking cessation are only available through your GP, so you should make an appointment and talk about your needs.

There you have it. These are the top ways to quit smoking and all are successful in themselves, depending on each individual. So why not give one a try and see if it can work for you. If not, try another one. The main thing is not to give up.

Good Luck!

Claire Bowes is a successful writer and owner of many websites including Quit Smoking Support where you can find further advice and information about Ways to Quit Smoking

4 ways to make money online

2007-02-02T01:04:00.000-08:00

Do you want to make money online? There are about 4 ways in my opinion.

First, you can take the paid surveys online. Many companies want to know whether a program good or not when they start a new program. How can they know? Some of them ask research companies for help. These "research companies " will give the paid surveys. When you complete a survey, you can get $5 or more. For example, when a company want to manufacture a new product, they need to know the opinion of target customers. What do the customers like? What do they think about the size, shape, color and so on? So the company need to do a research. Now, if you are one of their target customers, you take their survey, then they pay you some money. It is so easy. The online thing you need to do is find some survey companies and join it, they will notice you when new survey come.

Second, you can buy things online and save money. Saving money means making money, doesn't it? There are tons of free stuff or coupon codes when shopping online. Compare to traditional ways, selling online' low cost make many manufactures save more money. So they sell things online at very low price. Some of the things are totally free.

Third, building you your own website can make money too. The more visitors, the more money you can get. You can join some affiliate programs which is the third party between you and companies who are doing business online. You can also join Google Adsense, which is largest PPC company, will giving you money when visitors click the ADS on you website or your blog. YPN, which is powered by Yahoo, can give you much money too. By the way, the target of the visitors is the most important. For example, if your site is featuring about weight loss, the offers of loss weight free trials will run very well.

Fourth, why don't sell your things online? Sell your products on ebay is one of the best way. You can even sell your things via Google Adwords. Why don't start you own home business and earn more money? You can get more and more money while shopping online is more and more popular today and in future.

Now, these are the ways to make money online in my opinion. You need to do a research of the ways for more things if you want to try.

Jia, a professional money making online person who has been doing home business for years, maybe can help you. My website which is about making money online will give you some help too. Just check out the link below: http://www.cashken.com

5 Ways To Become More of an Optimist

2007-02-01T01:12:00.000-08:00

From Elizabeth Scott

Optimism is measured by your explanatory style, or how you define events. If you can learn to define positive events as being a) because of something you did, b) a sign of more good things to come and c) evidence that good things will happen in other areas of your life, you’re halfway there. If you can also think of negative events as a) not your fault, and b) isolated occurrences that have no bearing on future events or other areas of your life, you’re the rest of the way there!

Here's How:

1.When something positive happens in your life, stop to analyze your thought process for a moment. Are you giving yourself due credit for making it happen? Think of all the strengths you possess and ways you contributed, both directly and indirectly, to make this event occur. For example, if you aced a test, don’t just think of how great it is that you were prepared, but also think of how your intelligence and dedication played a role.

2.Think of other areas of your life that could be affected by this good event. Also, think of how the strengths that you possess that caused this good thing to happen can also cause other positive events in your life. For example, what other good things can come from your intelligence, dedication, and ability to effectively prepare for tasks?

3.Imagine what future possibilities could be in store. Because you hold the key to your success, shouldn’t you expect to do well on future exams? Isn’t a successful career a natural result?

4.When negative events occur, think of the extenuating circumstances that could have contributed to this happening. If you do poorly on an exam, for example, were you especially busy in the preceding week? Were you somewhat sleep deprived? What outside circumstances contributed to your failure? Keep in mind that this isn’t necessarily a reflection of personal weakness.

5.Also remember that you’ll have endless opportunities to do better in the future. Think of your next potential success, or other areas where you can excel.

Tips:

The key to optimism is to maximize your successes and minimize your failures.
It’s beneficial to look honestly at your shortcomings so you can work on them, but focusing on your strengths can never hurt.
Keep in mind that the more you practice challenging your thought patterns, the more automatic it'll become. Don't expect major changes in thinking right away, but do expect them to become ingrained over time.
Always remember that virtually any failure can be a learning experience, and an important step toward your next success!

The Winner's Guide to Optimist Sailing

Top 5 Easy Ways To Make a Career Change

2007-02-01T00:47:00.000-08:00

By Perri Capell

Many people find it difficult to change careers because they think they have to do it in one big leap. But you can start by taking small steps that will lead you where you want to be professionally, without losing significant income or disrupting your family.

Here are five ways to make the transition.

1. Build on functional skills. If you like using your core skills and knowledge, consider transferring them to a different industry or field.

Lucinda Wright was a marketing executive for Battle Creek, Mich., cereal maker Kellogg Co. for nine years, rising to vice president of marketing for natural and frozen foods. She then started a consulting business that helped companies with marketing issues. Meanwhile, she volunteered at her graduate business school, the Eli Broad School of Management at Michigan State University. In 2004, when the school needed a new director of career services, Ms. Wright was offered the job.

She now markets the school's M.B.A. program and helps students market themselves to employers. "I'm applying my experience and knowledge to new targets," says Ms. Wright, who is 43.

If this type of career change might work for you, identify your key functional skills and experience and repackage them in a resume aimed at the new field. Next, think of employers to approach and network to learn of possible openings.

2. Return to school. This can help you enter a new field that requires educational credentials that differ from your current background.

After earning an engineering degree, Joe Flerlage joined Underwriters Laboratories Inc. in Northbrook, Ill., and worked his way up the ladder to become an engineering group leader. But he dreamed of becoming a lawyer and decided to attend the DePaul University College of Law at night while continuing in his engineering job during the day.

He commuted to class in downtown Chicago after work and studied at night and weekends and during lunch. After three years in law school, he resigned his engineering job to join a law firm. He finished his last year of law school while working as an associate at his current firm, Brinks, Hofer, Gilson & Lione, a 120-attorney firm in Chicago.

This strategy isn't right for everyone because of the time it requires, says Mr. Flerlage, now 38. However, he says he made more money immediately as a law associate than he did as an engineer with nearly 10 years' experience.

3. Start a parallel career. This is a career that begins while you continue in your former field.

After relocating to New Orleans for her husband's career 1997, attorney June Coldren needed to pass the state's bar exam before she could practice. Meanwhile, she helped her husband set up and run a consulting firm serving oil-and-gas companies.

After she passed the bar, Ms. Coldren did pro bono work to learn more about the law field in Louisiana and explore whether to join a firm or start her own firm. Meanwhile, she helped with the paperwork for her husband's company at night. When her husband accepted a full-time job, he urged her to continue with the consulting business.

Ms. Coldren decided to take his advice and learned the oil-and-gas industry from the ground up. Ten years later, her firm, Cenergy Corp., has logistics services and consulting arms that contract out rig and wellhead supervisors, geophysicists and other exploration-and-drilling professionals.

If you keep your day job, while working weekends or at night in a second profession, be careful not to antagonize your primary employer, since companies don't always view moonlighting favorably.

4. Make an internal move.
If you like your current company, consider a change of jobs there that launches your career in a new direction. Identify unfilled needs -- perhaps things others don't want to do -- and volunteer to do them while in your current job. You may be saddled with extra work temporarily, but it may get you into the new area or a promotion.

"Seek new learning opportunities and ways to expand your skills," says Arlene Hirsch, a Chicago career counselor.

5. Go cold turkey. Suppose you don't want to stay in your current job another day longer. For you, quitting outright to enter a new field may be an option, especially if you can survive temporarily without an income.

Deborah Bolin wasn't making enough money as a photo-journalist in Dallas and grew tired of working side jobs to pay the bills. She quit to get her real-estate license and became a mortgage broker to learn the home-sales industry. In three months, she made $60,000, more than she had ever earned in a year, says Ms. Bolin, who is 53. She has since moved to Monroe, La., and is selling real estate full time.

Career Counseling: A Holistic Approach

-- Ms. Capell is a senior correspondent for CareerJournal.com.

10 Easy ways to supercharge your new job

2007-01-31T23:58:00.000-08:00

by JOE HODOWANES, Special Sections Correspondent

When a U.S. president enters office, the entire Washington, D.C., press corps talks about the administration's first 100 days, which is a critical time for the party in office to gain momentum behind major legislation.

OK, so you're not the newly elected president of the United States. That means you have about 30 business days to make your first impressions at your new company and get the momentum going.

What follows are several activities and suggestions compiled from the book, "How to Land the Job of Your Life" by Jeff Taylor, founder of Monster.com, and Doug Hardy. These helpful hints can assist you in making a seamless transition into your new job.

1. Before you start a new job, write five strengths and weaknesses from your last job. Privately determine that you're going to change one or two of those weak behaviors in your next job. They don't have to be big changes. For example, are you always late to meetings? Decide to change that from day one at your new job. In those first few weeks, always be on time for your meetings.

2. Start with an on-the-job assessment. If you're a replacement, make a list of the things the former occupant of your position did right and wrong (you'll have to ask around). If it's a new job, make a list of all the reasons why the position was created.

3. Develop one new work habit that will make you more productive. Perhaps it's an organizing habit you already practiced in your job search: You've always put sticky notes all over your computer as reminders. Change to an electronic to-do list in the new job.

4. The great management teacher Peter Drucker suggests this powerful habit: Just before beginning a new job, write down what you expect will happen. Then check that statement three months and then a year later. You'll get a reality check on where you are and are not effective.

5. It's a great time to start working out, start eating better or learn a new skill. You've just proven to yourself that you can make positive changes happen in your work life, so why stop at that?

6. Set up a 10-day check with your boss. Say, "I've been working on the following five things. Do you feel that I'm spending my time in the right places?" This gives your boss the opportunity to say, "I'd really like you to be spending more time on this…" This isn't a formal performance review. You're just finding out if you're on track. Do this again after 30 days.

7. Keep a "brag book." Write down all of your accomplishments above and beyond the call of duty. What did you do? When did you do it? What were the results? When it comes to creating a resume in the future or being asked by a potential employer for your corporate accomplishments, this brag book will give you the ability to quickly produce what you have achieved.

8. Find a mentor. Look for an experienced person who has been with the company for a few years. Have regular conversations about what is going on in the company. Your boss may be a candidate for this role, or it may be someone in another part of the company.

9. Be sure to thank everyone who helped you in your job search. Call or write to them personally. Also, send e-mail updates to your personal network every four to eight weeks. These notes can be informal; the idea is simply to stay in touch. And don't forget to thank executive recruiters, employment counselors and employment coaches.

10. Finally, check in with yourself. At 100 days, assess the big picture. You're the CEO of your own life, so ask yourself important career questions such as how you're doing toward achieving your goals and do you like this company.

How to Win Friends & Influence People

Joe Hodowanes is a career strategy adviser in Tampa. Readers of The Tampa Tribune are qualified to receive a résumé critique, as well as a price quote if you decide that your résumré should be rewritten. For a risk-free telephone evaluation, e-mail your rrésumré to jmwanes@jmwanes.com or fax it to 813-264-9203. For questions, call Joe at 813-264-9172 or visit www.jmwanes.com.

12 Ways to Renew Yourself

2007-01-30T22:57:00.000-08:00

Want to boost your productivity? Just as batteries need recharging, our minds and bodies need recharging as well. If you don’t take that time to recharge, you’ll likely experience burnout. It’s important to find ways to rejuvenate and refresh ourselves. By taking renewal breaks, you’ll be more productive, effective and satisfied with your job.

What are some ways to renew yourself? Through vacations, daily personal time, and real-time renewal and relaxation breaks.

Retreats/Vacation

Some workaholics boast about not taking a vacation for years. Others take vacation, but stay in contact with work on a daily basis by checking voicemail and e-mail. This is not a real vacation! We need time to unwind and totally relax. You’ll come back feeling refreshed and with more energy to tackle your work. Give yourself the gift of time off work. The organization will survive without you for a week or two.

Daily Personal Time

Take some time each day just for yourself, even if it’s just 15-20 minutes. Take time to pray, meditate or say affirmations. Spend time doing something you really enjoy, like reading or walking in nature. Do something that relaxes you, like soaking in a hot bath or enjoying a neck massage. Just 20 minutes will energize you and help you maintain a better frame of mind.

Real-time Renewal Breaks

When you’re feeling overloaded with work, it’s tempting to skip breaks and work through lunch. However, research shows that those who take frequent breaks are actually more productive in the long run. If you work too long on tasks, the time you need to solve problems increases five-fold. When you start to feel fatigued, take a quick renewal or relaxation break. Here are a few ideas. These will only take a few minutes and will increase your productivity throughout the day.
• Repeat positive affirmations. Keep affirmations on your desk. Repeat them regularly. This will help you stay positive.
• Express gratitude. Remind yourself of all the things you’re thankful for – your family, friends, your home, and even your work. Remember to say “thank you” to those who help you at work.
• Look for larger meaning and purpose in work activities. Keep the big picture in mind. Remember why you’re performing your work and who you benefit.
• Perform small acts of kindness. What can you do to show kindness? Maybe you can buy your co-worker a cup of coffee, bring someone flowers from your garden, or simply hold a door open for someone. Performing acts of kindness will help you to feel better about yourself too.
• Be playful at work. Tell a joke or tell a co-worker about a funny experience. Laughter can be great medicine.
• Take a short walk. Get outside to get some fresh air or just walk the halls to stretch your legs. The exercise, however short, will do you good.

Relaxation Techniques
You can also apply relaxation techniques right at your desk. Here are a few to try.
• Deep breathing – After an especially stressful situation, take a few minutes to breathe deeply. Inhale and count to five and then exhale slowly. As you exhale imagine all your tension leaving your body.
• Stretching – It helps to stretch tight muscles. If you feel self-conscious stretching in your cubicle, then go to the restroom and do your stretching there.
• Muscle tension and relaxation – Most people carry their tension in their neck and shoulders. Tense up those muscles, and then relax them. Repeat this a few times.
• Visualization – By using visualization you can take a little vacation in your mind for a few minutes. Imagine yourself on a warm, sandy beach soaking up the sun as you hear the waves crashing.

The next time you’re feeling fatigued, try out one of these ideas. And don’t forget to plan your next vacation too. Not only will you feel better, but you’ll boost your productivity as well.
Kathleen Barton is a keynote speaker, workshop presenter, and coach who heads her own firm, The Success Connection, specializing in purpose/passion, maximizing potential, career success, and work/life balance. She is also the author of Connecting with Success, Finding Your Purpose & Passion in Life and The Balancing Act: Managing Work & Life audio/workbook. Kathleen can be reached at http://www.the-success-connection.com

Renew yourself: despite over half a century of nuking the planet, it's not too late to detox. Here are a few tonics that inspire.(energy conservation in ... : An article from: New Internationalist

5 Ways to Get Rid of Headaches

2007-01-30T20:16:00.012-08:00

Since I have a migraine heading my way, I decided this would be a good topic. Headaches are one of the most common afflictions we can have but fortunately, they're often one of the easist to get rid of. So in that vein, I offer you my experience on what will help get rid of headaches.

Drink lots of water - I can't stress that enough. One of the most common causes of a headache is dehydration. This is a big contributor to the headaches that often accompany hangovers as well. Also, we've become a society of caffeine addicts and one problem with that is that caffeine is a diuretic and instead of quenching your thirst, it will actually make you more thirsty because you will be expelling water that your body needs to maintain balance. In other words, don't let coffee, tea, and sodas become a substitute for water. Your body will thank you. I'm not saying that you need to avoid all caffeine, just make sure you drink water, too.
Make sure you're not withdrawing - Along with our caffeine consumption is addiction. You may be addicted to caffeine without even realizing it. Fortunately, if that is what is causing your headache, it's easily solved with more caffeine. It doesn't fix the root of the problem, but it does fix your headache.
Stretch your muscles - When we are under tension or stress, we feel it a lot in our shoulders and our necks. That's what causes tension headaches. Take steps to directly relieve some of that tension by slowly stretching each muscle from your waist to your head. Be methodical and massage each joint. Yes, it will take 5 minutes, but it could be part of your headache solution. Besides, it just feels good.
Go for a 5 minute walk. This has a number of effects. First, if gives you fresh air. This could clue you to any sinus problems that are causing your headache. Also, it will force you to refocus your eyes. We often forget that eyestrain is also a prime cause of headaches. The best way to get rid of eyestrain is to focus on something far away once in a while. And the best way to focus on something far away is to step outside.
Know your over-the-counter pain relievers. Personally, I've found Excedrine® (or the generic alternative) is the best for headaches. It's even got approval by the US FDA to specifically claim it's recommended for migraines. It has the the ingredient in Tylenol® as well as aspirin and a little bit of caffeine. If your headache is sinus-based, you probably want Sudafed® or Sudafed-PE®. If allergies are making your headache worse, Claritin© is your friend. Just follow the directions on the bottles and don't take too much or whenever it's not indicated. Used safely, over-the-counter medications can be a big help if you're taking the right medicine for the right symptom.

Lastly, I can't stress enough that if you have headaches that persist for days or are too severe for you to handle, don't be afraid to see a doctor. A headache can be a symptom of something more. Also, there are medications for migraines that could be helpful if your doctor recommends. One such drug, Imitrex® is even available (by prescription only) to be used on an as-needed basis with not only pills but with a quick-acting nasal spray or a faster-acting injectible pen.

Remember, if you're in pain, it's your body telling you something isn't right. If you're in ongoing pain, you deserve to find out what is causing it and what can be done to relieve it.

Nobody should accept pain as "just the way it is".

Previous articles:

8 Good ways to exercise your brain

5 Ways To Stress Relief

7 Ways Fighting a Hangover

10 ways to have an Active Mind

10 Ways to get a Good Night's Sleep

Heal Your Headache: The 1-2-3 Program for Taking Charge of Your Pain

Source: http://alwaysuseful.blogspot.com/

5 Ways To Find Products To Sell On eBay

2007-01-30T02:13:00.000-08:00

I was part of an eBay Roundtable discussion recently with six other experts and we all agreed that the number one question most new (and even old) eBay sellers ask is:

"Where do I find things to sell on eBay??"

To help answer that question I have compiled 10 ways that anyone can use to find products to sell on eBay. This is by no means a definitive list and depending on your situation, some of the ways may not apply to you. However, if you're a beginner and don't know where to start, this list should help you get on track.

1. Look Around The House:

We all have items lying around the house that we no longer use or need. Have you grown or shrunk in size? If so, you have clothes you can no longer wear and can sell. Did you get a gift for Christmas or your birthday that you will never use? If so, slap it on eBay (just don't let the person who gave you the gift find out). Do your kids have toys they no longer play with? Just looking around your house and garage should give you plenty of things to get your eBay ball rolling.

2. Garage Sales and Flea Markets:

When it comes to eBay, remember this old adage: One man's junk is another man's treasure. Now this is not to say that you should sell junk on eBay. You should only sell products in good condition. The point is you can find items in good condition at garage sales and flea markets that you can pick up cheap and resell for a profit. Remember, nobody wants to buy your old Beanie Babies that no longer have eyes and noses, but they may buy "gently used" items if they're in good shape and offered at a good price.

3. Talk To Your Friends and Relatives:

After you've gone through your own in-house inventory, contact your friends and relatives and tell them you have started an eBay business and will sell their items for a piece of the sales price. Chances are they have as much excess stuff lying around their house as you did. Offer to list the items for them and if they sell, take half the profits. You will probably have to pay the eBay fees out of your pocket up front, but you can then deduct the eBay fees from the sales price before slicing up the pie.

4. Consignment Sales:

Consignment sales are a great way to find a wide range of products to sell on eBay. Consignment selling means that you offer to sell an item that belongs to a company. In exchange for your trouble you get a percentage of the sales price. You can charge up to 50% plus fees for smaller items like clothing, lamps, jewelry, etc. and around 15% for larger items like cars, boats, and bulldozers (yes, I said bulldozers).

Contact every business in town and offer to list their excess goods on eBay for a piece of the action. Most businesses have returned items, liquidated products, used equipment, etc. that they would love to get rid of, but don't have the time to do so. Many will see you as their hero if you can help them get rid of this merchandise and you'll make a pretty profit for your efforts. For business customers you should have them pay the eBay fees on the front end, not you.

5. Thrift Stores:

Thrift stores are an excellent place to look for things to sell online. Stores maintained by the Salvation Army and non-profit%

eBay Income: How Anyone of Any Age, Location, and/or Background Can Build a Highly Profitable Online Business with eBay

Tim Knox - Entrepreneur, Author, Speaker
Tim Knox is a nationally-known small business expert who writes and speaks frequently on the topic.

For more information or to contact Tim please visit one of his sites below:
http://www.dropshipwholesale.net
http://www.smallbusinessqa.com
http://www.timknox.com

Top 10 Ways to Protect Yourself from Computer Viruses

2007-01-30T02:02:00.000-08:00

As more and more people are becoming comfortable using their computers at school, home or in the office it’s only a matter of time before they encounter a computer virus. Here are our top 10 steps to protect you from computer viruses.

Use a high quality anti-virus program. There are many different anti-virus computers programs on the market some of them are better than others. Look to reputable computer magazines or websites for ratings to help you find the one that matches your needs.

Always use your anti-virus software. Make sure your anti-virus software is always turned on and scanning, incoming and outgoing email messages, and any software programs you run.

Keep your antivirus programs up to date. Most programs come with a yearly subscription make sure you take advantage of the updates. More advanced programs allow you to schedule updates or full system scans for “off hours” like 2AM when you aren’t likely to be using your computer.

Keep your computer up to date. From time to time operating systems fall victim to security holes or issue updates. Make sure you check periodically to make sure you are running stable up to date versions of your software.

Backup your data regularly. Most windows computer users keep their documents in the “My documents” folder. This makes it easy to back up all of your important documents. Make weekly or monthly copies to CD or USB drives.

If you use floppy disks or USB drives on public computers like your school computer lab, Kinko’s, or even digital photo printing store make sure you scan them for viruses. Public computers are notorious for not being up to date and properly protected.

Be wary of email attachments. Treat any email attachment as potentially dangerous. Never open attachments from people you weren’t expecting. Also be careful of attachments from people you know but weren’t expecting. Many computer viruses replicate themselves by reading the contacts from an infected computer.

Use text email if possible. While HTML email is prettier and allows you more control over formatting it also can carry computer viruses. If you use text based email the only way to get a virus is by opening an attachment.

Use downloaded freeware and shareware files or software with caution. Try to download them from popular reputable sources that scan the programs before they are uploaded. To make sure you are safe scan the program before you install it on your computer.

Be wary of links in IM or instant messaging software. Don’t accept invitations from people you don’t know and never click a link from someone you don’t trust, they can easily redirect you to another website that will try to install a virus on your computer system.

© Computers.6ln.com, All Rights Reserved.
This article was written by Jim Faller of http://computers.6ln.com a website with information about viruses, spyware, adware, backups, data recovery and computer security.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jim_Faller

10 Ways To Increase Your Free eBook Downloads

2007-01-30T01:52:00.000-08:00

1. Anticipate the objections your visitors might have about your free ebook offer. You should research your target audience's needs and wants.

2. Allow your visitors to feel good about themselves by giving them compliments. If they feel good, they will also feel good about downloading your ebook.

3. Tell your visitors the emotional and logical reasons why they should download your free ebook. It can be the goals they'll acomplish, positive feelings, etc.

4. Publish a list of respected or famous people that have downloaded your free ebook. Just remember to get their legal permission first.

5. Tell people what they're thinking and feeling as they read your ebook ad. Most people will start to actually do it, statements should back up the ebook.

6. Make your free ebook offer very rare. People perceive things that are rare as being more valuable. You could use a limited time offer or free bonuses.

7. Create rapport with your visitors by telling them something they already know is true. They'll know for sure you're not lying and download your ebook.

8. Show your visitors how much enthusiasm you have for your free ebook. Most people will start to feel the same and download your ebook.

9. Make your visitors curious about your free ebook by telling them they need to sign-up to get access to a password protected site in order to download it.

10. Motivate people to download your free ebook. Tell them a lot of positive things like: "You can now reach your goals and change your life forever!"
About the author:

Rojo Sunsen is a specialized bounty hunter who prefers to work quietly/confidentially for the benefit of her clients.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Rojo_Sunsen

5 Ways To Prevent Credit Card Late Fees

2007-01-30T01:38:00.000-08:00

Paying a credit card late fee is the same as throwing your money away. Late credit card payments can also hurt your credit score. The payment tips and strategies here will show you how to prevent these costly fees.

When credit card companies process credit card payments, every single detail is extremely important. Get even one of these small details wrong and you will have to pay credit card late fees.

The Fair Credit Billing Act requires credit card companies to credit payments the day they are received. However, this law also allows each credit card issuer to set their own specific payment guidelines. If any of these guidelines are not met, the credit card company can take as much as five days to credit the payment.

That means you can get your payment to your credit card company on time and it could become late during that five-day period. The credit card company could legally charge you credit card late fees. So it's in your best interest to follow their payment guidelines carefully. The payment guidelines are usually on the back of your credit card bill.

Here is the five best ways to prevent credit card late fees.

1. Follow Credit Card Payment Guidelines Carefully

This includes everything from a specific payment address to the time of day the payment has to be received to be credited that day. Some companies even require that payments arrive in their preprinted envelope they sent you with your bill. To be safe, always use the preprinted envelope provided by a credit card company.

Include the billing coupon, and write the amount you are paying in the box provided. Make your check legible, don't forget to sign it and double check that the payment amount is correct. Write your credit card account number on your check and send the payment with the proper postage to the payment address requested by the credit card company.

2 Pay The Minimum Payment Immediately

The best way to prevent paying a credit card late fee is to pay your bill as soon as it arrives. Even if you can only make the minimum payment, it's better than paying a late credit card payment. You can always make additional payments later to keep your interest costs down.

3 Change Your Due Date

Most major credit card companies allow you set your own due date by just asking. Set your due date so your credit card bill arrives right after you get paid.

4 Automatic Online Payments

Paying bills online is also another good way to avoid paying a credit card late fee. Most major credit card companies are accepting credit card payments online. Just sign up for the service on the card company's web site. Make sure to choose a payment amount that automatically covers the minimum amount due on your credit card each month. You can always make additional payments later to keep your interest costs down.

5 Make Your Payment By Phone

Most major credit card companies will accept payments by phone. Some of them will charge fees, ranging from $5 to $15 for the service. But credit card late fees cost you much more so it's better to pay the small fee than a late credit card payment fee. Call the toll-free number on the back of your credit card. They will ask you for a check number and the bank routing number, which is printed at the bottom of every check.

If you do get hit with a credit card late fee, try calling the credit card company and ask if they will waive it. Many credit card companies will waive late credit card payment fees as a courtesy to customers with good payment records.

Copyright © 2005 Credit Repair Facts.com All Rights Reserved.
This article is supplied by http://www.credit-repair-facts.com where you will find credit information, debt elimination programs and informative facts that give you the knowledge to correct your own credit and credit report. For more credit related articles like these go to: http://www.credit-repair-facts.com/articles_1.html

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Gary_Gresham

5 Ways To Neutralize The Dominantly Negative Co-Worker

2007-01-30T01:29:00.000-08:00

It was the tale of two airlines, though in each case the planes carried the same insignia and the personnel were paid by the same corporate coffers.

During my first trip to Florida, I was on a flight where the attendants were noticeably cheerful, enjoying themselves, each other, and the passengers, and they seemed genuinely eager to please.

On my second trip, a few days later, a different crew was grouchy and nonverbally venomous.

All of those flight attendants seemed to be in a siege mentality, barricaded behind frowns, and eager to be offstage, as far as possible from the customers as they could get.

“What made such a difference?” I wondered, as I was strapped into my seat, observing the second crew as it went about its sorry business.

Then I noticed the most senior member of the staff was the most acerbic. He looked peevish, prickly, and totally out of sorts, and his mates, who were co-hosting the serving carts, took on his demeanor.

In fact, they seemed to be playing up to his dour personality, almost trying to outdo his displays of contempt for the passengers.

I caught myself wondering, “Could one person have such a negative impact on the whole team?"

And without hesitating, I knew the answer was “Yes.”

I was watching it happen.

In fact, sourpusses spoil lots of workplaces, but this time it was obvious because we were all confined, coexisting in a flying tube. There was no escaping the negativity.

Of course, it got me to thinking, what can we do to at least neutralize the impact of a negative personality, a venom spitter?

Here are five things that come to mind:

1 Ask them directly and quickly after observing their bad vibes: “Is everything all right with you?” Then, if they disclaim any problems, explain briefly “I just thought maybe you weren’t feeling so well because you seem so, uh, SERIOUS!”

2 Boldly walk up to them and say: “Smile, you’re on Candid Camera!” They’ll be baffled, temporarily, but it may be enough to bring a grin to their lips.

3 Tell them a joke.

4 Say: “You look like I feel; so cut it out! Let’s put on a happy face, shall we? The show must go on!”

5 You might offer to fill in for them for a few minutes. “You look like you could use a break, a little attitude adjustment. Can I help? Want to take a few minutes to yourself?”

Each approach gives the offender feedback as to how he’s coming across to others, and he might be oblivious to it, until you bring it up.

So, don’t suffer in silence.

By taking action you’ll do everybody a favor, including those negative people!
Best-selling author of 12 books and more than 900 articles, Dr. Gary S. Goodman is considered "The Gold Standard"--the foremost expert in sales development, customer service, and telephone effectiveness. Top-rated as a speaker, seminar leader, and consultant, his clients extend across the globe and the organizational spectrum, from the Fortune 1000 to small businesses. He can be reached at: gary@customersatisfaction.com.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dr._Gary_S._Goodman

5 Ways To Buy Real Estate With No Down Payment

2007-01-26T21:18:00.000-08:00

When I got my start in the real estate investing game, it seemed very hard to learn any actual way to buy properties without any money out of my pocket. To say the least, I was discouraged. To save some of our newer members the same frustration, here are 5 tried and true "no money down" real estate investing methods.

The Owner Finance

Quite simply put, this is what happens when the owner owns the property free and clear and extends credit to you in the form of a note and mortgage. If you negotiate the owner finance correctly, you can get into the property with no money down. What's more, if you're really sharp in your negotiations, you can get a pretty nice interest rate as well. The downside of this method is that most owners simply won't do it. There are those who will, but they are a tiny minority among motivated sellers, and even a smaller minority among sellers in general. If you can negotiate an owner finance, good for you! If not, maybe one of these other methods will work better for you.

The "Blanket" Mortgage

The blanket mortgage is one of my least favorite methods, for one simple reason: benefit. The seller gets the tax benefits while the investor pays down the mortgage. In a blanket mortgage deal, you (the investor) makes payments to the property owner which exactly match the owner's mortgage/insurance payments. The owner then pays his mortgage & insurance in kind, getting all the benefits of ownership without paying in a dime. Another pitfall of this method is the possibility of a dishonest seller taking an investor's money for 3-4 months until the bank forecloses, then filing bankruptcy, thereby keeping the house and the investor's money and leaving the bank and the investor in a lurch. You can use this method, but be very careful!

The Partner / Backer

This method can be very lucrative for you and for your partner/backer. Simply, you find someone who wants to invest their cash into your deal, while you invest your time, knowledge, negotiating skills and other efforts. You can split the profit any way you like, and none of the money for a deal comes from you!

The Assumption

Some day people will write songs praising assumable real estate loans. Until then, let me give you a short background on them. An assumable loan is a loan anyone may assume as long as they meet the lender's qualifications for credit score, employment history, etc. Once upon a time the FHA and VA both offered assumable loans with NO qualifying. All you had to do to assume one of these loans was fill out a form and send the agency around $50. There are still some FHA/VA assumable loans out there, but not many. On December 1, 1986, the FHA stopped allowing non-qualifying assumptions and on February 29, 1988, the VA did the same. If you can find an FHA or VA loan issued before these dates, chances are it is still fully assumable without qualifying.

The Lease/Option

My favorite method of property acquisition, the lease/option is both wickedly simple and highly profitable - a combination most investors truly love. In a lease/option, you enter into what is basically a normal lease agreement. The only difference is in the option. An option is just what it sounds like - it's an option to buy a property at an agreed-upon price within a certain span of time. When you put them together, you end up with a rent-to-own scenario. You pay rent each month, the seller credits a certain amount of the rent toward your purchase price. If you decide to buy the property within the option period, you just give the seller a check and get the deed. If you decide not to buy the property, you've still controlled the property for that period of time. Controlling is sometimes better than owning. If you control the property, you don't pay the property taxes. You also don't pay homeowner's insurance. You don't pay renter's insurance, either - your tenant/buyer does. You collect a check once a month, send the seller his share and keep the difference. And each time you put a new tenant/buyer into your property, you collect another option consideration (which is similar to a down payment but usually smaller and 100% non-refundable). The benefits of lease/options are various and sundry, but for this article, suffice it to say it's a great way to acquire/manage real estate.

Real Estate Brokerage: A Management Guide

Keep in mind that this list is by no means all inclusive. There are literally hundreds of ways to buy or control real estate with none of your own money. These methods should get your creative juices flowing and help you to come up with others on your own.

Source: http://www.articlestree.com/
Autor: David Jaymes.

5 ways to get credit-card savvy

2007-01-26T20:51:00.000-08:00

The good thing about credit cards is that they let you make purchases when cash isn't an option. The not-so-good thing: They tempt you to impulsively charge items you don't really need. Keep in mind that every time you use a credit card, you're borrowing money. So think of credit-card debt as a high-interest loan, and consider these five smart ways to use credit cards:

SHOP AROUND With hundreds of credit cards to choose from, it's smart to shop for the best deal--a card with no annual fee and a low APR (annual percentage rate)--advises Pat Martin, a financial consultant at Ryan Martin Associates in New York. Read the fine print to see if a low APR is a promotional rate that expires after a few months and then leaps up, often dramatically, particularly if you make one late payment. If you plan to pay your bill in full each month, look for a low annual fee and a long grace period--the time between the statement date and the payment-due date in which you'll avoid finance charges. If you plan to carry a balance, go for the lowest interest rate. Also look for a low rate on cash advances. Comparison-shop at Cardweb.com and Bankrate.com.

IMPROVE YOUR CREDIT RECORD A credit report is a snapshot of your debt-paying activity; your credit (FICO) score--a number ranging from 350 to 850--predicts whether you're a good credit risk (above 620 is considered respectable). The higher your score, the better your chances of getting a low interest rate on a credit card, car loan or mortgage. Charging near the limit or maxing out credit cards can lower your score, Martin says. Get a copy of your credit report at least yearly from the three major credit bureaus (equifax.com or [800] 685-1111; experian.com or [888] 397-3742; transunion.com or [800] 916-8800) and challenge any errors. (Under a new law, by September 2005 all consumers will be able to get a free credit report.)

LIMIT YOUR NUMBER OF CARDS A wallet filled with credit cards (which represent money you owe or can borrow) may work against you when you apply for a loan or mortgage. Two or three cards are enough, Martin says. If your credit report indicates that you already owe or can access a great deal of money, potential creditors may determine that added debt could strain your ability to repay.

SWITCH BALANCES CAUTIOUSLY If you transfer your high-interest balances to a low-interest credit card, be aware that the low rate may last for only a limited time, and that many credit-card companies assess transaction fees, sometimes up to 4 percent of the amount transferred. Avoid cards that charge hefty fees, which may outweigh any savings offered by a lower interest rate. Scrutinize the application or call a company representative and ask about all charges before signing up. Once you transfer the debt, stop using the old card.

AVOID CREDIT PITFALLS Despite the benefits, there are pitfalls that accompany credit-card use: It can be costly, with some interest rates higher than 25 percent and whopping annual fees, finance charges and penalties that can jack up the purchase price. And you risk spending more than you can pay. Calculate how much you can afford to charge each month, then put your receipts in an envelope and keep a running total on the outside. Once you reach your limit, put away the plastic.

Source: http://everything-fine.blogspot.com/2007/01/5-ways-to-get-credit-card-savvy.html
Original http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1264/is_5_35/ai_n6198430

5 Ways To Stress Relief

2007-01-26T02:25:00.000-08:00

Stress has been called 'the plague of our time'. More than ever before stress relief seems to be in great demand and especially for people in stressful jobs or careers. It would be more appropriate to ask which jobs or careers are not stress related and you would probably be able to count the number on one hand. As a self help tool for handling stressful situations in your everyday life, I'll give you 5 simple methods for instantly relieving stress that has worked great for me. I really hope these methods can be useful for you as well.

Remove stress with relaxation

If you are stressed, sit down at the most comfortable place you can find, close your eyes and say to your self slowly:

"I am calm. Absolutely calm. I feel relaxed. My hands are heavy. I'm calm and relaxed. My arms are heavy and relaxed. My arms and my legs are relaxed and heavy. My torso is relaxed, calm and feels heavy. My shoulders and neck are heavy and relaxed. My entire body is calm, relaxed and heavy. I feel great, relaxed and calm. I feel warmth spreading from my stomach to all parts of my body. My entire body is calm, relaxed, heavy and warm. I feel good and I’m totally relieved from stress. "

Continue having this feeling of being totally relaxed and stress less for as long as you can or want. When you decide to finish this down-stressing session, take a deep breath and stretch out your arms in a short and energetic movement. How do you feel now? Practice this exercise every time you feel stressed.

Sit down and look at the Sea

If you are stressed and need to relax go to the harbor, the nearest beach or any place close to the sea, or a lake if you live in the inland. Just sit there and feel it, smell it, hear it. Don't think so much, just sense. Do you feel relaxed? Keep on until you feel the stress has left you.

Take a Walk

If you are stressed leave your home or office and take a thirty minute walk. Just walk don't talk to anybody. Try to relax while you walk. Instead of thinking or focusing on your current problems, try to sense your environments like smell, sound impressions and what you see as well as your inner feelings; heart beat, your feet touching the ground and the movements of your arms. Do you feel relaxed now? After half an hour your stressful feelings should have disappeared.

Listen to Music

If you are stressed sit or lie down, walk or do whatever you want, while you are listening to music. Don't listen to heavy rock and similar music, this might invoke even more stress. Relaxing with a Nat King Cole ballad or two, some slow pace smooth Jazz, the Adagietto movement of Gustav Mahlers 5th symphony or Mozart's Grand Partita for wind instruments are all great. Do you feel more relaxed? Is your stressfulness leaving you? It should.

Laugh, laugh and laugh

If you are stressed, call or visit friends that you have had much fun with. Talk with them about funny things you have done in the past and as they the youngsters say, “Get your laugh on”. Do all you can to provoke good and healthy laughter as it is very relaxing and dissolves the away the stress. Read a joke magazine, watch a comedy DVD or video or listen to a funny audio. If you have kids around you, play a crazy and childish game with them, they love it and everybody will relax. The point is, laugh and your stress will disappear and you'll feel relaxed.

Source: www.isnare.com

9 Ways To Avoid Credit Card Pitfalls

2007-01-26T00:51:00.000-08:00

1. Be aware that the card issuer has a great deal of leeway. They reserve the right to change the terms of your card, including the APR (annual percentage rate), at any time, for any reason—with as little as 15 days notice. So check your monthly statement carefully.

2. Even if you make your credit-card payments on time, the bank can raise your interest rate automatically if you're late on any other payment elsewhere (such as a water or heating bill, or an outstanding charge on any other account). This is called "universal default."

3. Your credit score—commonly referred to as the FICO score—has become a vital statistic for Americans seeking credit, and can be widely shared. Even if you don't think you have a credit problem, numerous studies—including one by the General Accounting Office—indicate that 70 percent of credit reports have some sort of error! Check your credit report at least once a year—since your credit report is the basis of your all-important credit score, you want it to reflect your true credit history. A free resource: www.annualcreditreport.com.

4. There is no limit on the fee a credit-card company can charge a cardholder for being even an hour late with a payment. That's due to a 1996 U.S. Supreme Court decision (Smiley v. Citibank) that lifted the existing restrictions on late penalty fees. Today, $30 is the most common late fee, according to the Consumer Credit Counseling Service. Ten years ago, that number was $13.

5. There is no federal limit on the interest rate a credit-card company can charge. Take a look at your credit-card statement. Most likely, the return address is located in a states where state governments have weak "usury laws." These usury laws determine whether or not there is a cap on the amount of interest that can be charged on a loan.

6. It's possible to negotiate better terms if your interest rates change or you have received a penalty fee. Always call your card issuer to try to negotiate these terms.

7. Most lenders like a debt payments-to-income ratio with not more than 36 percent of a consumer's gross income, according to the Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Greater Dallas. In other words, for every $1,000 of income, don't have more than $360 going to pay debts. If you exceed this ratio and want more credit or a better interest rate, you'll have to reduce your debt or increase your income.

8. Specialty cards and department-store cards usually have higher interest rates than general-purpose cards like Visa or MasterCard. While they may save you 10 percent on your first purchase, you'll likely end up paying for it in the long run.

9. One late payment can result in a significant drop in your credit score—of up to 100 points—so pay on time every time. A drop in your credit score of just 50 points can mean you pay $100 more a month in your mortgage payment.

5 Ways to Stay Motivated in Your Work at Home Business

2007-01-25T20:53:00.003-08:00

Whether you're just starting out with your work at home business or you've had a home business for many years, you'll need to stay motivated if you're going to see continual success. Everyone goes through a home business slump occasionally, but it's those who stay motivated who will reach their goals. Here are five simple ways you can stay motivated in your work at home business.

1. Work from a List

Create a daily, weekly and even monthly list of things to do in your business. This sounds so simple, but yet a "to do" list is a powerful tool in helping you accomplish home business tasks. Prioritize your list each day so you can do those things that are most important first. If you have tasks that you absolutely dread, then put those tasks at the very top of the list if possible. This will give you a free mind for the remainder of the day to concentrate on the tasks you enjoy.

A list can consist of many things, from promotion steps to phone calls to make, and even a stack of papers that must be organized on your desk. Most successful business people create a list and then check off items as they are completed. This gives a sense of accomplishment throughout the day as you complete tasks.

2. Search for New Opportunities during Slow Business Times

Having a slow time in your work at home business? Don't despair. And, whatever you do, don't go apply for a job at the local fast food chain - just yet! Stay motivated by seeking out other home business opportunities that may tie into your current business.

Perhaps you offer a product or service that sells very slowly during the spring months. You could seek out related products or services that would be popular during those months to offset the other in profits. This will give you a chance to make money and enjoy multiple streams of income year round!

3. Take an Online Training Course for Better Education

Educate yourself through online training courses related to your field so you can learn how to maximize your skills and profits. There are many training courses available online today in the fields of web design, graphic design, online marketing, real estate, travel, office skills, medical, insurance, and finance.

With online training, you choose only those courses that will benefit you and your work at home business. You can usually take the courses at your own leisure from home, and will pay far less than you would for a college course.

4. Expand Marketing Avenues

Don't settle for less. Use the wisdom and experience of others who have been in business a while to expand your marketing avenues. You might consider reading after top marketers to get Internet marketing ideas. Also, there are many ways to promote your work at home business off-line.

To stay motivated, always test your efforts to see what results they bring. This is far more exciting than paying for ads and never knowing if they work or not!

5. Network with Others

Another way to stay motivated during a business slump is to network with others. Find others in related fields who can offer advice and encouragement about your business. A work at home business can be lonely at times because you never leave the house! Finding others online and off-line who do the same thing will give you an outlet for those lonely days.

Use these tips to stay motivated in your work at home business. You deserve success, so don't give up!

Article Source: http://www.articlecafe.net

15 Easy Ways To Keep Your Speaking Inspiring and Creative

2007-01-25T20:51:00.009-08:00

When stressed or blocked it is wise to make a change so that we don't stay in that place. Yet, many times we forget some of the simple things that we can do for ourselves, quickly and easily to bring our inspiration back and increase our creativity.

1. If you usually type your speech first, hand write them.Nothing compares to seeing the ink mesh into the paper and display what you created.

2.If you spend too much time at the computer, take a break every hour. Go for a walk or just sit outside in the sun.Even five minutes in a winter sun does wonders for a mood and creativity.

3.Flip through magazines or books. Their colors and ideas will give you sparks and switch your attitude. Blue and green can reduce your stress levels by 30% or more.

4.Add strong smells to the room. Light scented candles around you, visit the fruit isle at the grocery store, or go to a store that is heavily scented. Find an orange or strawberries and smell it. Both will change a mood or create inspiration. Smells awaken your creativity. Smell strigger memories and are a great method to rekindle stories from the past.

5.Go see or rent an inspirational movie. Relaxation time is important. Watch the movie with a notebook and record inspiring phases or ideas that pop in.

6.Read a book on the topic that stirs and sparks your creativity. Poetry can do the same.

7.Look at bold and bright colors for a few minutes. These change your mood.

8.Talk with a friend about your topic to flesh out ideas,titles, and content. Tape-record the conversation so you don't miss anything. You would be surprised at how much we think we hear and how we actually do.

9.Write an email to a friend to tell him or her what you want to accomplish. If you are stuck, say so and ask for help.

10.Check in with your vibrational energy and do something to switch it into high gear. Take a shower. Go for a walk or dance naked in the moonlight.

11.Hire someone to transcribe your recording so that you can stay focused on the creative end of the speaking.

12.Authentic, flat-out, raw laughter frees the psyche and opens the creativity process.

13.Find a setting with lots of trees and flowers and feel nature. If the weather permits, take off your shoes and socks and feel the grass between your toes. Nature has away of freeing our spirit to let the flow out of our best material.

14.If you are used to practicingyour speak in a quiet place, create noise and practice. You will learn to speak with distractions.

15.Go for a quiet leisurely drive and practice your vowel soutlook expand your voice range

10 Ways to Quit Smoking Forever

2007-01-25T01:22:00.000-08:00

Quitting is big business, and there's an endless array of ways to spend money on kicking the habit. Smokers spend about $2,400 per year on cigarettes, so, while some of the products and therapies are expensive, they are still less expensive than a life-long smoking habit. As with all programs, each person is different, so everyone will respond to a program in a different way. Giving up smoking is like giving up a neurotic relationship. Ultimately there comes a day when the decision is made, only to return to what you know is bad for you. Premature wrinkles and yellow teeth don't deter smokers - so, how do you quit? Here are some of the most popular program today.

Many people try to quit cold turkey. It's the easiest method to begin. Simply stop smoking and resolve -through willpower alone - to never take another puff. The success rate is about 3-5% because most smokers are not prepared to take on both sides of quitting: intense withdrawal cravings and smoking habits. If you have had a difficult time trying to quit in the past, studies show you should consider trying an assisted quit method

The patch is KING! In clinical trials, nicotine replacement therapy was shown to double a person's chances of quitting. The patch functions by transdermally (topically) feeding the body nicotine at a continuous and regulated pace over a 24-hour period, controlling the body's physical addiction which allows a smoker to sever the mental reliance on tobacco. The total cost of Nicoderm is $270 for the 10week therapy. There are normally no adverse reactions, but side effects can include irregular heartbeat, rashes, nausea, vomiting, dizziness and weakness.

Grass Roots "Smoke No More" is an herbal tincture. This option is popular because of the "oral fixation" so often associated with smoking. Whenever a smoker has a craving, the Smoke No More drops are placed under the tongue and held there until its absorbed. According to the creators, the tincture works based on healing the connection of mind, body and spirit. Relaxing the mind staves off cravings. And the absence of tobacco detoxifies the system. Reports claim that the drops are horrible tasting and burn immediately upon using. Side effects include quesiness, making the user less interested in both smoking AND eating, but it is something to do with the mouth. Smoke No More can be purchased for about $22 at herbal stores.

If you'd like to try acupuncture, don't confuse the National Board Certified or Licensed Acupuncturist with Certified Acupnucturist. The latter is a doctor or dentist who has completed only 300 hours of course work. These types are great for physical injury but are less equipped to handle internal problems. According to this Chinese tradition, inserting needles in certain points on the body will draw energy to that point and then redirect it to the area of concern. This allows the body to heal itself. For addictions such as smoking, the three points that correspond to the liver, kidneys and sympathetic nervous system are targeted and, by detoxifying the body, the cravings for nicotine are reduced and there is an increase in the flow of energy into the body. While peaceful and stimulating at the same time, for a half-hour treatment one can expect to spend $75 for the first treatment and $55 for subsequent treatments. Over a series of 20 treatments, although acupuncture is not a miracle cure, the experts guarantee the results.

Many people find the support and encouragement of counseling or group treatment helpful. Counseling can help smokers identify and overcome situations that trigger the urge to smoke. Research shows the success rates for all quit methods are higher when coupled with ready access to support. For help with your quitting effort, consider selecting a program that is at least four to eight weeks in length. The programs that work best provide plenty of encouragement and weekly one-on-one meetings with a counselor.

Deciding to do an in-home hypnosis program like Dr. Walton's or employing the services of an certified hypnotist, stimulating the occurrence of deep focus and relaxation means making yourself vulnerable to someone else. By filling out an extensive questionnaire to determine one's particular smoking habits, motivations and patterns, the hypnotist can use the subjects brain to "reprogramm" the cravings. Self-affirming phrases like "I don't want to smoke" and "I don't need to smoke" are used to convince the brain that what it has been told during hypnosis is factual, therefore allowing the body to "ignore" the need to smoke. The National Institute for Mental Health reports that 80% of smokers who use this method successfully quit smoking; it's the longest lasting form of therapy on the market. For this service, expect to do sessions again and spend $75/hour to drop your average addiction.

CHANTIX is a pill that is different from other ways to quit. It contains no nicotine but works on the same receptors as nicotine. And it's the addiction to nicotine inhaled from smoking that makes quitting so hard.
Ciga-Rest is also a pill designed to help smokers overcome the urge to smoke whenever and where ever it strikes.

Smoking cessation prescription medications are clinically proven to help smokers.

There are also the fun ones that let you think you're actually having a cigarette! E-Z QUIT is a smokeless cigarette substitute that fills your need to do something with your hands and mouth, and to inhale deeply. Smokers can use E-Z QUIT by itself or together with any other quit smoking method.

While unpleasant in any form, quitting smoking can be devastating. Most relapse and then crawl back on the wagon without successfully giving up. Picking and sticking to one of these methods is the best way to ultimately increase health and rid the body of cravings all together.

Top 15 Ways to Stop Smoking

10 Ways to Quit Smoking - by Kevin Dark

7 Successful Ways to Quit Smoking

The How to Quit Smoking and Not Gain Weight Cookbook

Source: http://www.pillfreevitamins.com/

15 ways for successful family life

2007-01-24T11:17:00.006-08:00

The family life is like a heaven as per Vedas (divine sacred books). Family is the foundation for the well being of the society. If every home has to become a heaven- the wife and husband should observe certain norms.

How to turn your home into a heaven:

1. They should be righteous and behave lovely.

2. They should behave courteously with each other.

3. Wife and husband are like two wheels of a cart. Unless the wheels move coordinately, the cart can not move smoothly.

4. Their mind should be pure and blameless.

5. Their character and conduct should be perfect.

6. They should be honest and have good consciousness.

7. There should be discussions in their homes on spirituality and knowledge. Children keenly observe the behavior of their parents from their childhood.

8. They should not be separated. They should not think about taking divorce. They should support each other through thick and thin.

9. Both should feel happiness and get mental peace by their good behavior.

10. Husband should cooperate with the wife in keeping house clean. As is wife; so is their house.

11. They should be like parrots (i.e. move together and live together).

12. If there is no love and attachment in that house- the house is like a hell. Parents are the first teachers and the teachers are the second parents to their children.

13. Devotion towards GOD and Almighty is highly necessary in parents. The devotion towards GOD should become hereditary in that family. Strong belief in the existence of GOD does not allow the parents to commit wrong doings.

14. They should show keen interest in charitable activities depending upon their economical capacity.

15. The home= the house+ happiness. Otherwise it is a building with four walls. The heaven and the hell are not at far away places. They are in and around our home. We are the chief architects of our heaven and hell with egos and bad character.

Source: http://personality-talks.blogspot.com/2007/01/15-ways-for-successful-family-life.html

Top 3 Ways In Which You Can Optimize The Use Of Bodyweight Exercise

2007-01-24T06:55:00.000-08:00

Bodyweight exercise is the best place to begin when starting a physical fitness training program, should be added to programs that otherwise neglect bodyweight exercise and should be diversified with resistance training for programs that use bodyweight exercise exclusively.

Some people love bodyweight exercise and some people hate it... similarly, some people think bodyweight exercise is valuable to a physical fitness training program, and others don't.

I believe that bodyweight exercise is not only the best method to start a physical fitness training program... but I believe that it should remain an active part of any well balance physical training program.

Let's look at bodyweight exercise from three different perspectives... from the beginner just getting started, from the experienced weight lifter that neglects bodyweight exercise and from the bodyweight exercise only crowd.

1. Bodyweight Exercise For Beginners

Most commercial gyms will prescribe an exercise regimen of strength training, usually in the form of machines, and cardiorespiratory endurance training, normally in the form of stationary "cardio" equipment.

This is a generalization of course... but these two types of training are the predominant forms of physical training in most gyms, regardless of how they are put together.

Notice... bodyweight exercise is missing.

Answer me this... should a beginner with no prior experience with physical training start by jumping right into resistance training with free weights or machines, or would they be better served by learning more about the movement of their bodies by using bodyweight exercise?

Physical training allows you to improve the body by supplying increased stimulus that is not normally found in your daily lifestyle.

For the beginner, bodyweight exercise is the logical place to start... because most beginners are actually going from a state of complete inactivity to a state of activity.

The beginner has not even scraped the surface of what their body can perform without resistance... and should therefore strive to make improvements using bodyweight exercise first.

Once the beginner has made sufficient gains and reached an improved state with bodyweight exercise... then they can add resistance.

2. Bodyweight Exercise For The Experienced Weight Lifter

Many people with a great deal of experience and expertise in physical training completely neglect bodyweight exercise... or believe it to be ineffective.

They notoriously use all types of resistance training methods... while neglecting bodyweight exercise all together.

I propose that the goal of any physical fitness training program is to improve performance that can be used to meet the challenges of sport, work and life with excellence.

Many of those challenges will be met by the effective control and movement of your own body... and not the movement of other objects through space.

And what is the best way to train the improvement of body movement and control of your own body... that's right, bodyweight exercise.

Here is an example...

Many people that have trouble doing a push up will focus on the bench press with hopes of improving their push up numbers... with limited results.

If you want to be able to do more push ups... do more push ups!

The point is this, the improvements you will see from physical training are specific... so if you want to see improvements in a bodyweight movement, use bodyweight exercise to do so.

3. Bodyweight Exercise For The Bodyweight Only Crowd

As you can already tell, I am a strong advocate of bodyweight exercise... but not exclusively.

There are various physical fitness training programs that use bodyweight exercise almost exclusively... like Yoga or Pilates.

While I have no problem with these forms of training... I believe they can take you only so far on the road to physical fitness excellence.

We must remember... Yoga exercises are performed in conjunction with meditation and Pilates was originally developed as a form of rehabilitation for war veterans.

The point is this... bodyweight exercise only programs will only take you so far, and then some form of resistance training must be applied to see further improvement.

In Conclusion...

Bodyweight exercise is an important part of any well balanced physical fitness training program.

If you are just getting started... bodyweight exercise is the perfect place to start.

If you have notoriously neglected bodyweight exercise in your training... add it to improve the physical abilities you have been neglecting.

If you only use bodyweight exercise... diversify your fitness training program by adding some form of resistance training.

In this way, each group can optimize the use of bodyweight exercise.

Do not underestimate the importance of bodyweight exercise... Use it effectively and in the right proportion to meet your goals, needs, abilities and limitations and meet the challenges of sport, work and life with excellence.

Best Bodyweight Exercise

10 ways to get the most pay out of your job

2007-01-24T00:41:00.000-08:00

A lot of people assume that more pay can come only from winning a promotion, or finding a new job elsewhere. But there are ways, large and small, to put more money in your pocket each week. Separately, these strategies may not be enough to change your life. But put several together, and they start adding up.

"It's nickels and dimes that can get you to a dollar," says Alan Johnson, managing director of Johnson & Associates, a New York pay consultant. "A thousand here and there can add up to real money."

Here are 10 tips from compensation experts, human-resources managers and employees on how to beef up your pay.

1. LISTEN TO YOUR BOSS

You may work harder than the people around you, but your annual raise and bonus award may still be lower than theirs. That's because your co-workers are getting more of the right things done than you and making sure their boss is aware of it.

"To say it concisely, the main way to increase your paycheck is to do a good job and make sure the right people know about it," says Craig Schneier, executive vice president, human resources, for Biogen Idec Inc., a Cambridge, Mass., pharmaceutical company.

The best performers received raises averaging 9.9 percent in 2005, compared with 3.6 percent for average performers and 1.3 percent for poor performers, according to a survey by Hewitt Associates, a consulting firm in Lincolnshire, Ill. Thanks to compounding, those differences translate into a lot of money over time.

Hewitt offers the example of three hypothetical employees, each hired in 2001 at a salary of $50,000. They then received salary increases related to their performance. After five years, the poor performer earns $52,807, the average performer makes $57,821, and the top performer earns $72,078. (Hewitt calculated the final salaries based on actual increases for the three types of performance since 2001.)

What's more, don't assume you know what your manager expects, and don't be afraid to ask. You must understand exactly what he or she thinks is outstanding performance in your position, says Laury Sejen, practice director of strategic rewards for Watson Wyatt, a global compensation consulting firm.

Have two meetings with your manager, she advises. At the first, ask how you can earn the maximum amount of pay over time at your company. This can tell you what career goals to shoot for. At the second, ask how you can receive the highest salary increase.

"Some organizations struggle to set objectives," says Ms. Sejen. "You can take the responsibility to have it clarified."

Write down what you both agreed to and give your boss a copy, says Steve Gross, head of rewards consulting in Philadelphia for Mercer HR Consulting. At the end of the year, you can use this list to discuss how well you performed against your goals.

"Now you both have a scorecard for the performance review, which makes it easier for your boss to recognize your performance," Mr. Gross says.

You don't have to brag to get a top-dollar raise. Simply citing your accomplishments will set you apart "because a lot of people don't take the time to do it," says Paul Dorf, managing director of Compensation Resources Inc., an Upper Saddle River, N.J., consulting firm. He adds that if you have no significant contributions to list, "you probably shouldn't be seeking more money."

2. BET ON YOURSELF

Having a bonus tied to performance goals and hitting them can get you more money annually. More than 95 percent of companies offer a chance to earn annual bonuses to executives, while 80 percent offer them to managers, 68 percent have plans for professionals and 54 percent award them to clerical and technical workers, according to Mercer HR.

Target bonus awards vary by industry and company type, but a typical bonus for an employee earning $50,000 might be 10 percent of salary, while someone earning $75,000 in salary might have a 15 percent target bonus and a $100,000-a-year employee might have a 20 percent target, Hewitt reports.

The key to receiving more bonus money is superior performance. If you meet your goals, you should receive your target bonus amount. But at some companies, if you exceed the targets set for you, you may receive an award that exceeds your target bonus. At Biogen Idec, for instance, high-performing employees can receive up to 200 percent of their target bonus amount, says Mr. Schneier.

In the mid-1990s, Eric Herzog was director of marketing for a computer-hardware-storage company in Silicon Valley that paid its senior executives salaries only. Mr. Herzog says he wanted the potential to earn more money, so he told the chief executive officer that the company might be more successful if it created an annual bonus plan for executives that was tied to revenue and profit goals.

He explained that every executive had the ability to influence profits and that the plan could be designed so that bonus awards would be distributed only if the company made more money. Having all six of the company's executives in the plan was key, because then they would aim toward common goals, Mr. Herzog says he told the CEO.

The CEO agreed and created a bonus plan tied to revenue and profit objectives. "We hit the goals, and I received 20 percent over my base pay," says Mr. Herzog, now a vice president of product management, channel marketing and communications for Maxtor Corp., a computer-hardware-storage company in Scotts Valley, Calif.

It's hard to increase the size of your target bonus once you've accepted a job. But when negotiating with a new employer, you might be able to swap a higher salary for a larger target award amount, Ms. Sejen says. Suppose the employer offers you a $100,000 salary and a target bonus of 10 percent of salary. You could counteroffer that you'd take a $95,000 salary if your bonus-award target was 20 percent of it. Your annual target pay then would be $114,000 instead of $110,000. "An employer might be willing to change the pay mix," Ms. Sejen says.

3. SEEK FINANCIAL ADVICE

Executives who are skilled at running their companies often aren't so skilled at managing their own finances. Many could benefit from financial counseling so they know what to do with their stock options, restricted stock plans and other long-term incentives, says Mr. Dorf of Compensation Resources.

"Most executives, if pushed, would say they are financially challenged when it comes to doing their own deals and could use a financial counselor to advise them," he says.

One little-known Internal Revenue Service regulation allows executives to pay tax on the value of restricted stock when they receive their grants. This may help lower capital-gains taxes when you sell the stock.

A counselor can also help you determine when it's most beneficial to exercise stock options and whether to do so with cash or trade stock you already own. Using appreciated stock to exercise options may be better than using cash, because you reduce your taxable gain on the existing shares, notes Mr. Dorf.

"I estimate that 75 percent of the executives I know do not know what they earn from year to year because it's coming from so many sources," Mr. Dorf says. "They could be smarter about it."

4. LEARN ABOUT SPECIAL COMMISSIONS OR AWARDS

Many employers pay one-time bonuses to employees who bring in new business or refer candidates for hard-to-fill company jobs.

After taking a break from the work force, Deirdre Carey joined Kel & Partners, a Westborough, Mass., marketing-services company, as director of client services last year, accepting a salary that was lower than her prior pay. After her employer offered all employees a 15 percent commission for landing new clients, Ms. Carey brought in a $10,000-a-month account, garnering a $1,500-a-month salary increase for 12 months, or $18,000 total. "I'm already starting to work on some other new business," she says.

Company owner Kel Kelly says six of the firm's 15 employees also have earned the commissions.

Special bonuses also may be awarded to employees who accomplish something that's unusual for their positions. Companies often call these "spot" awards, and about two-thirds of U.S. employers offer them, according to Mercer HR.

Typically, a pool of money is set aside annually to allow managers to give out spot awards at their discretion. The amount awarded might range from $100 to six figures, although some companies give gift certificates or other noncash items, says Mr. Gross.

So, find out whether your company has a spot-award program. If it does, learn what your manager thinks it takes to get one. Mr. Gross says that at a previous employer, he gave his secretary a $1,000 bonus for bringing in a new client, which he viewed as exceptional behavior for someone in her role. "It's the event based on the expectations for that person," Mr. Gross says.

5. CHANGE YOUR TAX WITHHOLDING

Taking home a bigger paycheck may be as simple as having less tax withheld. One sign that your current deduction is too high is getting a big refund from Uncle Sam on April 15, says Tim Jones, vice president, global human resources, for IXIA, a Calabasas, Calif., technology manufacturer.

Your goal is to have your company deduct only what you will owe the government. "Otherwise you are loaning money to Uncle Sam," says Mr. Jones.

Unless you say otherwise, your federal withholding filing class determines your state filing class. You can change either anytime by visiting your human-resources department.

Be careful not to have too little money withheld, or the IRS may fine you, says Art Kaufman, a tax accountant in Monmouth Junction, N.J. The IRS requires at least 90 percent of your upcoming tax bill to be deducted, he notes. (The IRS offers a withholding calculator at http://www.irs.gov/individual.)

After joining the Abelson Group, a New York-based public-relations firm, four months ago, account director Liz Erik asked a professional to do a tax projection to determine how much she should have taken out for taxes. She changed her election and now receives $150 more per pay period, or $300 more a month, than when she started.

6. TAKE THE FREE MONEY

Many employers will match the amount you contribute to a 401(k) retirement savings account, up to a certain level. The company's matching amount might be, say, half of your contributions up to 6 percent of your salary. At minimum, employees should contribute enough money to get the maximum free matching money, Mr. Jones says.

While having money deducted for a retirement account reduces the size of your paycheck, the free money and the tax-free account growth will pay off. Still, only about 75 percent of eligible employees participate in their companies' 401(k) plans, reports Hewitt Associates.

At Biogen Idec, for instance, not all employees are in the 401(k) plan, even though the company offers a 2-for-1 match on employee contributions up to 3 percent of their earnings, says Mr. Schneier. He declined to disclose the percentage of employees who don't participate.

Discount stock-purchase plans that allow employees to buy company stock for less than the fair market price also translate into free money. Typically, employees receive a 15 percent discount on the stock's trading value, which means that unless they are required to hold the stock for a few months, they can sell it immediately and receive the gain.

7. PAY FOR AS MUCH AS YOU CAN WITH TAX-FREE INCOME

Many companies offer employees flexible-spending accounts that can be used to pay for commuting, health-care and child-care costs with pretax income. The enrollment period, when employees sign up for the accounts and say how much they want deducted from their pay, usually occurs in the fall. Employees receive the untaxed money after submitting their expenses to their companies or a third-party administrator.

The potential for savings is significant. An average employee might owe 28 percent in federal, state and Social Security taxes, says Craig Copeland, a senior researcher for the Employee Benefit Research Institute in Washington. Such workers would have to earn about $14 of taxable income to cover a $10 expense. By having a fund of pretax money, they can keep the $4 that would go for taxes.

The more money you can set aside, the greater the saving. For instance, an employee who has $5,000 in pretax income deducted to pay medical or child-care bills would save $1,400, he notes.

But it's important to know that you'll forfeit any unused funds, so you have to be careful when deciding how much to have withheld. Participating also means less take-home pay initially. Employees benefit at tax time because their federal taxable income is lowered by the deducted amount.

Cathy Summers, an account director for Shift Communications LLC in San Francisco, has $1,500 deducted annually to cover parking and daily commuting cost from Walnut Creek to the city's downtown financial district; $2,000 taken out for medical expenses; and 5,000 for child-care costs. When she submits receipts, the expense reimbursements are automatically deposited in her bank account.

She estimates that she realizes about $200 in extra income monthly due to the plans. "As a single mom raising a 5-year-old son," she says. "I'm always looking for ways to stretch my dollars."

8. ASK FOR A PAY RE-EVALUATION

You may be able to boost your salary outside of annual salary increases just by taking on more responsibility or being assigned to a department where employees doing the same thing are paid more.

Or, if you're a valued worker and the market suddenly heats up for people with your skills, the company may want to raise your pay to ensure it retains you. This was the case with information-technology employees for a few years beginning in the late 1990s.

"The outside world was moving so quickly that some companies were giving IT workers raises every six months," Mr. Gross says.

Such salary adjustments are akin to getting a promotion-based increase without the promotion, says Ms. Sejen. Companies set aside funds every year for this purpose, but employees must have justification for receiving unscheduled raises, she says.

Following a downsizing at his former employer, a technology-consulting firm, Derek Messulam met with the company's CEO, who said two remaining units were going to be merged into a group Mr. Messulam already managed.

One of the firm's youngest vice presidents, Mr. Messulam knew through the grapevine that he was underpaid relative to his peers and that in light of the increased responsibilities, he could expect a pay review and a possible increase.

He decided to see if he could squeeze a larger raise than the company may have been planning by taking an unconventional approach. When he sat down with the human-resources manager, he told them he didn't want a raise. This prompted concerns that he might be leaving, Mr. Messulam says. "The result was to shift the negotiation from a conversation centered on money to a passionate discussion of the great things the management team would accomplish," he says.

The company then designed new objectives for his role and offered Mr. Messulam a larger salary and bonus. "I was extremely satisfied," says Mr. Messulam, now a vice president at GE Capital Solutions, a unit of General Electric Co. in Danbury, Conn.

9. TURN DOWN BENEFITS THAT COST THE COMPANY

Lowering a company expense can sometimes translate into a larger paycheck. This is the case for employees who are paid to "opt out" of company medical-benefits plans because another family member provides coverage for them. The size of the payments usually varies depending on whether your health insurance was for a single person, couple or family. Your salary also will grow if you no longer have health insurance co-payments deducted.

You also might have grounds for a higher salary during initial pay negotiations by offering to forgo health benefits. Debbie Veney Robinson, a communications vice president with Communities in School Inc., an Alexandria, Va., nonprofit that helps kids stay in school, negotiated a $10,000 salary increase by offering to do without health benefits when she accepted her job in 2005. Ms. Robinson receives health-insurance benefits through her husband's plan.

"I said I would save them a lot of money now and in the future by not taking health benefits," says Ms. Robinson. "This allowed them to afford me and me to bump up my compensation a bit."

10. DON'T FORGET THE SMALL STUFF

Some employees don't take advantage of a plethora of benefits and freebies available from their employers, says Mr. Johnson, the pay consultant. "Read the manual where it tells you all these things," he says. "A lot of people have no idea what a company will or won't pay for."

Tuition reimbursement is offered at 85 percent of companies, while 30 percent match education or other charitable donations, according to Mercer HR. You may not have to take courses in your field to get reimbursed for educational expenses.

Some companies subsidize gym memberships. Nearly one-fourth allow employees to purchase products at a discount, while 19 percent offer discounts on movie or theme-park tickets and other entertainment events, Hewitt reports.

"You don't pay attention to those things until you are standing in line at Great Adventure," Mr. Johnson says, "and it's going to cost you $99 for each member of your family."

Don't Send a Resume: And Other Contrarian Rules to Help Land a Great Job

Source: http://kennethg.blogspot.com/

8 Good ways to exercise your brain

2007-01-24T00:22:00.000-08:00

8 ways to exercise your brain

There are some aspects of aging, such as gray hair, that Laura Bestler-Wilcox can accept.

Mental decline is not one of them.

"I'm only 38, but I have no intention of growing old - mentally, at least," said Bestler-Wilcox, from Ames.

She started playing Nintendo's Brain Age game last month, and says it helps keep her brain active. The goal is to score the ideal "brain age" of 20, which you achieve by doing a range of exercises - from math problems and counting the number of syllables in words, to reading aloud and Sudoku.

"I do math better," said Bestler-Wilcox, who plays the game every other day for about 20 minutes. "It's like doing exercises for different parts of your body. This is exercising your brain."

Staying mentally fit is a hot topic - from new research touting the benefits of mental exercises, to seminars on maintaining your brain health done by AARP and the Alzheimer's Association.

Two new studies, one done in Des Moines, show that brain workouts are beneficial for mental health, and can help improve brain function.

Brain health is an important issue among America's approximately 78 million baby boomers. The AARP Web site includes tips for a healthy brain, as well as brain puzzles. The organization conducted about 30 presentations nationwide on brain health last year, said Michael Patterson, manager of AARP's "Staying Sharp" program.

"People seem to be more willing to put up with physical decline, more than mental decline," Patterson said.

Here are eight ways people of all ages can keep mentally sharp.

1. PLAY HEAD GAMES

Brain games may help improve mental function, and could possibly help prevent dementia.

That's according to a six-month pilot study in Des Moines that included Alzheimer's patients.

Participants used the "Happy Neuron" software (www.happyneuron.com), said geriatrician Dr. Robert Bender, who led the research team. The activities targeted language, visual-spatial and memorization skills.

The findings were released earlier this month.

The games seem to help overall brain health, said Bender, medical director of the Orr Center for Memory and Healthy Aging in West Des Moines. Researchers don't know yet whether doing the exercises can definitely prevent diseases like Alzheimer's.

"The challenge is to stretch yourself, at the same time without making it frustrating," Bender said. "At all ages, we need to challenge our brain to learn new things, and that's the main thing."

The study's "brain wellness program" also included: consistent social interaction, physical exercise, a low-fat diet, stress management and meditation.

Caregivers also participated in the study, funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

2. TRAIN YOUR BRAIN

Brain training can help ease daily tasks. Seniors who did certain mental exercises improved their thinking skills, according to a recent study.

They also had an easier time performing everyday tasks, even five years after receiving training, compared to untrained people.

The difference was significant for people who had reasoning training, said Michael Marsiske, one of the principal investigators of the study.

The study included 2,802 adults age 65 and older who were living independently and had normal brain function.

The training exercises included:

- Memory: To help people memorize word lists, one method was to organize a grocery list by the sections of the store, said Marsiske, an associate professor in the department of clinical health and psychology at the University of Florida.

- Visualization: Use all your senses to remember things. For example, if you need to remember a dog's name, visualize what the dog's fur feels like, recall the sound of its bark, and, yes, try to re-create its smell.

- Reasoning: Participants learned to use highlighters to identify key points in complicated information. That included underlining important information like dosage and frequency on a medication.

3. TAXES

Don Eller of Urbandale says he stays sharp by volunteering to do people's taxes as part of a program run by AARP.

"In preparation to do that, there are tax classes you attend," said Eller, 76. "So you are continuing working with numbers and math concepts."

During the off-season, he likes to play Sudoku online. He also tries to take daily walks, and on most days walks about three miles.

Marsiske recommends taxpayers take a crack at those pesky forms and complicated columns of numbers before handing them off to professionals. It's just one way to flex your mental brawn.

"That's where you're engaging your mental activity," Marsiske said.

Another simple numbers tip: Figure out the calculations yourself, first, before breaking out the calculator.

4. BUILD YOUR "COGNITIVE RESERVE"

There's a whole new body of research showing that individuals with a lot of education, highly challenging jobs, and who are very socially engaged have the highest levels of mental function and the lowest levels of decline later in life, Marsiske said.

"If we do things to produce healthy brains early in life, then we will benefit from that later in life," he said.

5. REMEMBER PASSWORDS

Keep track of your passwords - without the help of your computer. This is Marsiske's trick: "I never let my computer remember any passwords," he said. He writes them down in a hidden spot, in a hidden code. "What I want to do is engage in that act of having to remember."

6. RETHINK YOUR CROSSWORD PUZZLE

Remember that you want to find activities that test your mental mettle. One danger with crossword puzzles, Bender said, is that people who regularly do them may already be familiar with the vocabulary. Avoid slipping into the familiar, and try something new.

7. APRENDER EL ESPAÑOL

Translation: Learn Spanish, or another new language or mechanical skill. "It's important to find things that we enjoy because that lowers stress and that helps the brain work better," Bender said.

8. EXERCISE YOUR BODY

What's good for the body is good for the brain. More research is confirming that exercise, diet, a healthy lifestyle and getting an adequate amount of sleep not only keep you physically healthy, but also mentally, Marsiske said.

Train Your Mind, Change Your Brain: How a New Science Reveals Our Extraordinary Potential to Transform Ourselves

Sourse: http://www.digg.com/health/8_Ways_to_Excercise_Your_Brain_Besides_Digging_All_Day

50 Ways to Take Notes

2007-01-24T00:08:00.000-08:00

I am constantly writing notes. Whether it be for my blog, work, meeting, new ideas, or just basic notes, I am always jotting something down. So I started thinking about all the services I’ve used for taking notes and thought it would be a good idea to share them with you and while I’m at it, to make a list of any others that I find. Now, when it comes to note taking, I personally look for quick and simple. If I have something on my mind, I don’t want to go through some advanced system and climb a mountain just to save a note for myself. There won’t be all the note taking tools out there on my list, but ones that I feel get the job done well.

Quick Public Pages
Using a quick public page service, as I call it, is my favorite method of saving notes on the go. Some are simply a text field on a page that you fill and in click save, others allow you to record notes to a service directly through Instant Messaging with AIM, and some are full planners for creating well outlined documents.

ShortText - Fill in your text, click save, and you’ve got yourself a permanent url to a text note. Includes private pages as well.
YourDraft - Create and share content using a rich text editor (WYSIWYG) instantly without registration.
Cl1p.net - The Internet Clipboard. Copy and paste between computers.
Sabifoo - (Personal favorite) Simply use an Instant Message client (ie: AIM), message “sabifoo”, and your message is recorded online to a permanent link and RSS feed.
Deusto - A new service for the creation of small web pages (digital books) in a simple and fast manner.
Backpack - Organize to do lists, notes, images, photos and share.
BareWiki - Build your own website and easily allow others to edit it.
Infogami - Build good-looking, easily-editable web sites.
Zoho Planner - An online organizer to Plan & Organize yourself.
Change To Link - Easily create a page of information to bookmark or share with friends.
PasteHere - Make pastes from screenshots of your desktop, code from your clipboard, or any other image/text. Pages last for 15 days unregistered user / 30 days registered user.

Basic Note Taking
Quick public pages aren’t really made for note-taking, although they work really well for it. Here are a few services and applications that are meant for note taking.

Pianist - Simple memo manager helping you save your ideas.
JotCloud - Jot down notes in a cloud of sticky notes online.
Web Note - Quickly takes notes with an online post-it like interface.
Performancing Firefox - Meant for blogging, although it has a section for saving notes and drafts that works rather well.
Forty Internet Notebook - (Note: Service sadly may not be live much longer) Simple and categorized place for you to keep notes saved hierarchically.
Backpack - Organize to do lists, notes, images, photos and share.
JotSpot Live - JotSpot Live allows you, your colleagues or clients to take notes together on the same web page at the same time.
TaskToy - More for to-do lists, but also features searchable notes and memos.
Zoho Planner - An online organizer to Plan & Organize yourself.
Campfire - Although meant for chatting, Campfire also works great for taking notes! Read this How-To.
SyncNotes - “Your notes. Anywhere. Anyhow.”
Yahoo! Notepad - Yahoo! Notepad is very simple, especially when using this handy Notepad Bookmarklet.
Google Desktop Scratch Pad - Although Scratch Pad requires the Google Desktop software, I find myself using this little plugin all the time. Just type and it saves automatically.

Development
I’m a programmer and when I’ve got an idea on my mind for a script or code snippet, I want to get it down ASAP. I find that collaborative programming services, like Pastebin, or just a service that lets you save a script and share works perfectly. These are like quick public pages, but for programmers.

Pastebin - Collaborate on debugging code snippets and receive permanent links to code snippets.
TNX - “Simple web service for temporary text storage. A unique URL is generated, that can be easily pasted in a message, but is hard to guess.”
TextSnippets - Public source code repository in that you can tag and categorize code. You may also set snippets as private.
PasteHere - Make pastes from screenshots of your desktop, code from your clipboard, or any other image/text. Pages last for 15 days unregistered user / 30 days registered user.
Nopaste - Pastebin with Syntax Highlighting for PHP Programming.

Online Documents
I found that there are times that simple text notes just don’t always fit my needs. There may be a note or part of a document that I need to save with text formatting, colors, and headings, but most note-taking services are text-only. In time, I started using services like Writeboard more and more because I can just down notes with it during a conference adding headings and lists making reading my notes a lot more organized. Makes sense, so I decided to make a list of a few.

Writeboard - (I find I use this often because of Basecamp integration for work) Collaborative writing software online. Write, share, revise, compare. You can share by email invitation only.
Writely - Writely allows you to edit documents online with whomever you choose, and then publish and blog them online.
Rallypoint - (I use this for project notes often) Rallypoint combines the powerful features of your favorite desktop word processor with the collaborative abilities of a secure hosted wiki, giving you the best of both worlds.
Zoho Writer - Online tool to create a document, edit in your way, and share with anyone.
WideWord - Write and share documents easily, quickly and privately!
YourDraft - Create and share content instantly without registration. The WYSIWYG editor allows fast and flexible drafting.
gOffice Word Processing - gOffice has a nice Word Processor that I’ve only used once before, but worked well then. (Update: ~~Just tested again and it seemed to have made an error when exporting, but works for saving still~~. Seems to work fine now)

Voice Recording
Don’t think your stuck with typing all your notes on a computer when it comes to note taking. Sometimes it’s just simpler to speak something out loud rather then writing and although the following services aren’t meant for taking notes specifically, they seem to work quite well. Sure, they are for emailing and podcasting, but that’s not stopping me!

Evoca - Evoca is excellent for recording podcasts, but it also seems to work for notes as well because when you record, it simply saves it to a list in that you can listen to at any time. They are private until published.
Odeo - For podcasting as well, but as does Evoca, Odeo’s podcast recorder also works well and saves your recordings as podcasts which you can easily listen to at any time. They are also private until published.
Springdoo - Springdoo allows you to send voice email, as does Slawesome. When you make a recording with Springdoo, it will allow you to preview the recording and send the address to others. Simple bookmark the address or send it to yourself.
Slawesome - Meant for emailing voice recordings, but I simply email myself and mark it in my email client as an important note in my memo folder. (Update: Voice recording does not appear to be working as of now, although the emails still send along with your note. It will save, but won’t play it seems.)

Start Pages
What better place to write notes then a start page that opens every time you open your web browser? As I mentioned the other day, I now have Netvibes as my homepage for my browser and I found that I use the Webnote module quite often. Most start pages include note functionality, but I’ll list a few favorites with note modules.

Netvibes - My start page of choice which has a simple Webnote module with auto-saving and multi-color selection.
PageFlakes - Personalized start page with notes and many “flakes” bringing the web to your fingertips.
Protopage - A very neat start page allowing for notes and drag and drop containers for just about anything. Also allows for making multiple pages and setting pages public.
Fold - Allows for adding of multiple Notepad Containers which you can drag and drop any where in your Fold Start Page.
Google Personalized - Google’s Personalized start page works great for notes when using the Google Notes Module that saves your notes automatically.

Online Databases
Online database services can also be used for managing notes. I’ve made a system in Dabble DB and Zoho Creator for notes which I have made to my liking because I choose what is recorded. Any of the following will allow you to create your own database application for recording your notes.

Dabble DB - (Private Beta) Dabble DB is the most powerful service of the bunch with large customization options and application flexibility. Can’t wait for it to go public so everyone can experience it’s power.
TracksLife - “Your Friendly, Personal, Online Spread-abase.” Very simple system that works very well. Also allows for public tracks and rss feeds.
Zoho Creator - Free online service to create and share web applications with just a few mouse clicks. Very customizable.
FlexLists - Create your own online sharable lists with this database like service allowing for custom fields and values.
Lazybase - Lazybase allows anyone to design, create and share a database of whatever they like.

That about wraps it up! I hope this list was of help for anyone looking for simple solutions on taking notes. As always when I make a list, if you know of any other services, feel free to share with us in the comments. And for those of you curious as to what solutions I use most often, I tend to use Google Scratch Pad, Netvibes, and Writeboard the most and have recently become addicted to Sabifoo. What ones do you use?

Source: http://www.solutionwatch.com/368/fifty-ways-to-take-notes/

20 Ways to Improve Your Life and Health

2007-01-23T11:06:00.001-08:00

Perhaps one of the best things I have done is sat down almost everyday and thought out ways of improving my life, and improving my general thought structure. Sometimes I even like to write down my thoughts, and especially lately - maintaining a positive outlook has been an important factor in maintaining my sanity.

Make sure you get something productive done every single day, even if it is just a small thing - the small things add up.
Get some physical exercise at least three days a week. Exercise is something that, especially in various parts throughout the United States, is often neglected! Push your limits when you can, and also experiment with different physical exercise routines to see which ones work best for you. Persist in working to improve your body.
Start a journal and record your daily thoughts. Try to write down as much of what you’re thinking everyday as possible, even if some of the details seem asinine, or insignificant.
Take a look at your finances at find a way to improve upon them. Cut any expenses possible and devise a plan to earn more money.
Get enough sleep. While a common rule of at least 8 hours per night holds true with many people, everyone is different. Some people function with 10 or 12 hours much better, and medical journals and magazines have been raving about sleeping in for years; sleep is not a bad thing. But do not oversleep, of course, and do not let sleep interfere with your daily functioning.
Try something new as often as possible. Don’t give yourself a heart attack or anything, but try to step outside of your comfort zone whenever and where ever the situation permits. Try new things!
Be optimistic! Positive thinking is directly linked to good physical and mental health. Those who are optimistic are generally thought to live longer than those who are cynical - so think positive!
Find someone to love. Those who are married statistically live longer than those who have lived the majority of their life alone. A long term relationship not only adds depths to your emotional intelligence and existing personality, but it is shown that in terms of your biological, neurological, and physical development, having someone to love and be with for the majority of your life is beneficial to your health!
Read a book a week or more! Reading is pushed on kids everywhere, and for good reason. Those who hold more education hold better jobs, better health, and live happier lives. Read as much as you can about as much as you can. If you have children, get them started early in reading and try to facilitate them getting into the habit of it. Don’t just read fiction - dive into the world of real, factual knowledge about a topic that fascinates you. Become an expert.
Change and monitor your diet. Improving your health means watching what you eat. Look into how different foods and components of food affect your mind and body. Is the Atkin’s Diet safe? What about the medication you’re taking? Are vegetarians more healthy or less healthy because of their no-meat diet? Find out the facts and do your own research!
Get a hobby if you do not already have one. A lot of people already have hobbies, and a lot of people don’t. If you do not have one, get one! Those who have hobbies are being more intellectually stimulated than those who do not have them, as they are keeping themselves active and occupied. Hobbies don’t just have to be things like scrap books or photography, they can be all kinds of things! Just as long as you enjoy it, it’s fun, and it keeps you moving - it is a good thing to have.
Get off whatever drugs you can. Drugs are not just the illegal drugs you hear about like marijuana or cocaine, drugs are the everyday medications we’re taking, and even the medications we’re buying over the counter from the local store. Do research on whatever it is you often take, and if there is any way to avoid taking the medication that does not cause you to suffer any negative symptoms, then get off the medication when you can! The body is meant to heal itself, not have pills do it.
Hold back on the TV, or quit television all together. Some people I know are personally terrified to quit watching TV - they think it will be the end of the world or something. My suggestion is that you try it and see what it might do for you. For 30 days, lay off television and see what happens as a result. Take all the time you spend watching TV and hit the town - go meet new people, get involved in other activities, or read. Your perspective, even within a very short period of time, may dramatically change as a result, and your brain will thank you.
Limit the music you listen to when driving. If you drive a car, limit the amount of music you listen to from both radio stations or any kind of audio player. Turn it all off, and drive in silence during a time when you’re relaxed, and alert. Listen to the sounds of the road, experience the thoughts that will run through your mind, note how your emotional state can change.
Get over your old romantic relationships. If you’re obsessing or stressing over a break up that happened a long time ago, forget the past! Think about the now, and look into the future. If you must absolutely think about the old relationship, take a moment to note the happy times you had and then let the rest go, and move on. Continuing to think about something you no longer have is either leading your actions toward a distorted direction or keeping you in a downed emotional state. Either way it isn’t very beneficial. Forget the old person and find a new person or even enjoy being single!
Take the time to have fun. Having fun is important, and anyone who says otherwise is probably not a very happy person! Do you want happiness? Then make some time, everyday, to have at least a little bit of fun.
Give up coffee and energy drinks. An occasional cup o’ java is okay in my book sometimes, but most of the time, I suggest you lay off the caffeine and other natural stimulants. The energy drinks can also be very unhealthy, so watch what you’re consuming in the mornings; it affects the entire rest of your day and long term future. Stick to taking a multivitamin, eating right, and getting enough exercise to maintain your energy level.
Stay social. Continue to meet new people, and keep improving the relationships with the ones you’re already with! If that means going to church, volunteering with a community group, or even getting involved in a discussion with a complete stranger in the middle of a bookstore - just stay social, and try to be outgoing and friendly with everyone you meet and talk to.
Follow the golden rule. Give out and you shall receive back. The more you give out, the more you’re saying to the environment around you, “I have enough,” and you’ll find the rest of the things in your life responding to that message in a positive way.
Read DirtyMechanism.com. It might be a funny name, but this is a site I have dedicated to using my personal experiences to aid your growth and development. And don’t just read my site, stay involved in reading as much as you can with other self growth and personal development resources. Keep reading books from your local library, bookstores, and other websites.

Follow these 20 tips, and continue to branch out even more in your journey for self exploration and you just may land on your feet!

Source: http://www.dirtymechanism.com/index.php/20-ways-to-improve-your-life-and-health/

The 7 Top Ways Millionaires Become Wealthy

2007-01-23T00:02:00.000-08:00

There are 7 common factors to those who build net fortunes of one million dollars or more. In America, there has never been more personal wealth than there is today; yet most American’s are not wealthy. Amazingly, a mere 3.5% of our households own almost one-half of the wealth in the United States! Although we may be hard working, educated, moderate to high-income earners, why are so few of us affluent?

In studying the affluent, I found a pattern that the wealthy follow. It is more often the result of planning, hard work, perseverance, and self-discipline that determines who become wealthy. The factors compiled here are summarized from the research done by Thomas Stanley Ph.D. on over 1100 actual millionaires (many are multi-millionaires) in the U.S. today.

1) Live Well Below Your Means

Don’t be fooled.The ‘average’ millionaire doesn’t look like a millionaire! The key word here is frugal, frugal, and frugal. The typical person is America is a consumptionist. It’s in our blood. We work hard, make money, and spend it well. Not the typical millionaire! They play great defense (saving and investing) as well as offense (making money). Just like in football – great offense is exciting…but great defense wins games. An interesting note: Millionaires on average claimed their spouses were as frugal or more than they were. It’s a family affair: Sacrifice high consumption today, for financial freedom tomorrow.

2) Spend Your Time, Energy, and Money in Ways that Build Wealth.

Although the road to Millionaire’s Ville takes a frugal path, they pay well for training and advice. Do investment planning. Go to seminars. Hire good attorneys, tax accountants, mentors and coaches. Learn to identify and invest in assets that produce income. The wealthy spend money when the investment will protect and grow their assets. Millionaires also know the details: How much is spent each month and on food, clothing, and shelter. The non-wealthy say they don’t have time to plan, while the wealthy make time to plan. But here’s the shocker: The average millionaire spends 8.5 hours per month planning, while the non-affluent spend 4.5 hours or less planning. How can 4 more hours per week impact your future? Make it happen and the odds are in your favor of joining the truly wealthy!

3) Choose Financial Independence over Displaying High Social Status

The wealthy run highly efficient operations both in business and at home. Most live in average neighborhoods, and drive average cars. They’re not interested in keeping up with the Jones’ – because the Jones’ aren’t financially free. It takes lots of energy to consume big mortgages, change homes every few years, buy the most recent model cars, and wear the latest fashions. The wealthy drive typically American made cars! Japanese cars come in 2nd place; half of these are Toyota Camrys. Yes, significant value per dollar is the key here. The Millionaire’s Motto: You aren’t what you drive. The status cars – Lexus, BMW’s, Mercedes? At 6.4% or less per each brand.

4) Don’t Accept Economic Support from Your Parents once Outside the Home

Sounds painful doesn’t it? It’s a fact that has taught the wealthy how to earn, keep, and invest money. Parents of the wealthy do not, or cannot, provide “economic outpatient care”. The results are clear: The more dollars the adult children receive, the fewer they accumulate. Those who are given less are motivated to accumulate more on their own merits. An amazing fact: 80% of millionaires are first generation millionaires; they have made their money on their own, in their lifetime. Many of these folks have been immigrants to the U.S., starting out with minimal cash on hand. Work hard to learn and generate wealth—it CAN be done, and happens in America every day.

5) Teach your children to be economically self-sufficient to foster a “Wealth Mind-Set”

Provide your children fish and they will eat for a day. Teach them to fish and they will eat for a lifetime. As you might guess, children who grew up to be affluent, who had affluent parents, were taught to be disciplined and intentional with their money. Robert Kyosaki, author of Rich Dad Poor Dad, didn’t cave in when his son asked for a car at 16 years old, even when the neighbor kids were being given cars by their parents. He gave his son $3000, and a subscription to the Wall Street Journal, and a few books on investing in the stock market. Now Rich Dad’s son watches more CNN than MTV. He has the motivation, and is getting an education that will provide him for a lifetime, well beyond his first car purchase.

6) Become Proficient in Targeting Market Opportunities

Find your niche, like the wealthy do. Follow where the money flows, and look for specialized opportunities. Why not target the wealthy themselves? Yes, they are frugal, especially first generation self-made wealthy. BUT…they spend openly on investing in themselves and their families. Investment advice and services, business training, software, tax advice, legal, medical, dental, health, real estate, and education are top priorities. They pay well for products and services that protect and grow their assets. Remember the majority of the wealthy are self-employed entrepreneurs. Followed by medical professionals and business executives.

7) Choose the Right Occupation

You now have a good idea of what the affluent do. 20% are retirees. Of the remaining 80%, most of these are self-made businessmen and women. Keep in mind that entrepreneurs are 4 times more likely to become millionaires than those who work for others. There is no one business, or group of business more likely to breed millionaire-hood. Some are lecturers, others medical professionals, farmers, small manufacturers, and corner mom and pop stores. The most important predictor is the characteristics of the owner, than the type of business. It’s the winning combination of skills and attitude that hit’s the wealth target.

NOTE: The affluent attribute being honest with all people as the most important characteristic in their businesses, tied with being well disciplined. The vast majority of the wealthy were not stellar students, or born into money. They have made it through following a few simple principles and being consistent.

Best of all, you can do these! For more information, participate in Steve's LIVE workshops from your home or office. Curious about how that's possible? See the link below.

Secrets of the Millionaire Mind: Mastering the Inner Game of Wealth

Source: http://www.selfgrowth.com

7 Easy Ways to Spend Less Time on the Phone

2007-01-22T23:50:00.000-08:00

Reviewing a typical day's activities, you're shocked to discover how much time you spent on the phone. Even as you're adding up the number of calls, the phone rings again. "Here goes another twenty minutes," you mutter. Meanwhile, your desk overflows with uncompleted paper work. Fortunately, there are strategies for reducing your telephone time. Here are my 7 top ways to spend less time on the phone. I used every one of them during my twenty-three years in management, so I guarantee they will be useful for you.

1.Budget (yes, budget) your phone time. With six calls to make, allow yourself no more than thirty minutes to complete all of them. Obviously, this constraint will discipline you to get to the point, cover the point and make an exit.

2.As I have just indicated, batch your calls. Instead of scattering them throughout the day, make your calls consecutively. You'll shift into a "telephone mood," comparable to what athletes call "the zone." The second call becomes easier than the first, the third call even easier. Your efficiency escalates, and you accomplish more sooner.

3. Rely on E-mail more consistently. This is my favorite way to avoid phone tag. E-mail allows us to send messages at our most convenient time. Too, we will probably use fewer words (and time) than we would use by phone.

4. Make calls from your cell phone, if you can handle the phone safely while driving. When you tell someone, "Hi, Ted, I've got a couple of minutes to chat as I'm driving into downtown Atlanta," you're triggering them to get to the heart of the call instantly.

5. Outline what you intend to cover in the your calls. The outline keeps you from rambling, and from having to call again to cover an item you forgot to mention--embarrassing as well as time consuming. Ordinarily, I use a key word outline that resembles a grocery list. For example, in calling to get details about my next speaking engagement, my notes might include: time, duration, microphone, handouts, number attending, introducer and convention theme.

6.Call people just before lunch and just before closing time. I guarantee they won't be longwinded then.

7. When you have said what is important, make a summary statement and say farewell: "Barbara, it's my understanding that you have given me permission to exceed two or three budget items as long as I stay within the departmental budget. Thanks for the clarification. That's all I needed to know. Goodbye."

Source: http://Top7Business.com/

20 Ways to Lose Weight

2007-01-22T02:03:00.005-08:00

20 WAYS TO LOSE WEIGHT

1. Take it one step at a time

Start by paying attention to what you eat. Cut back on fat and sweets and add more fruit and vegetables. After you have that under control, add exercise. If you hate to exercise try it for only 15 minutes a day at first, then a 1/2-hour. Keep in mind that while you are exercising you are burning calories and not eating. Also, it will be easier if you chose an activity that you enjoy.

2. Find a friend

It is always good to have support when you are trying to lose weight. Find a friend who wants to lose weight and compare notes, weigh-in together and maybe even have a contest.

3. Use weights

Working out weights will build muscle and raise your metabolism so you will burn more calories. Also, muscle takes up less space than fat so you will be smaller ( but probably weigh more).

4. Eat fewer carbs

Don’t eat as much bread and pasta and you will see a difference.

5. Set a goal

Set a deadline to lose the weight and write it down. For example, ‘ By Dec 14/04 I will weigh 150 lbs or less’. Put it somewhere you will see it daily.

6. Give up soda

If you drink a soda or 2 a day you are adding empty calories. If you find it hard to stop
completely, cut back at first and drink water instead.

7. Grill or boil

Avoid fried meat, grill and use lots of spices. You will get used to it and probably enjoy it more.

8. Don’t buy junk food

When you go shopping, don’t go on an empty stomach and you will be less likely to buy junk food. Keep your home ‘junk food free’ so you won’t be tempted to indulge.

9. Eat breakfast

Consume most of your calories early in the day and always eat breakfast. Don’t eat after 8pm and
not only will you avoid those added calories but you will sleep better.

10. Give yourself a treat

When you tell yourself that you can’t have something you want it more. Give yourself a treat once a day ( ie. half a cookie) and you won’t feel you are missing out.

11. Use smaller plates

Trick yourself into believing that you are eating more by using a smaller plate.

12. Drink lots of water

Drink water when you are feeling hungry and you will get that ‘full’ feeling.

13. Don’t eat everything on your plate

Many times we eat just because it’s there. Pay attention to when you have had enough.

14. Eat five or six meals a day

Eating more frequently will keep you from getting too hungry.

15. Plan your workout sessions

Write your workout sessions in your journal or planner.

16. Stay away from fad diets

Fad diets don’t work. If you lose weight fast chances are that you will gain it back ( and more)
just as fast. It takes time to put it on and time to take it off.

17. Do several workouts a day

While you are watching TV do crunches and leg lifts.

18. Measure your food

If you decide to have junk food for a snack - be sure to measure and control what you eat.

19. Keep pre-cut vegetables

…and ward off those cravings.

20. Create Good Habits

It is a known fact that when we do something twenty-one times it becomes a habit. Create good eating habits.

Source: http://www.searchles.com/links/show/hoodiacactusdiet.wordpress.com%2F2007%2F01%2F22%2F20-ways-to-lose-weight

15 Easy Ways To Relax At Work

2007-01-20T07:46:00.000-08:00

Do you have a sore back and stiff neck after only a few hours at work? Does the rush to meet deadlines, constant talking on the phone or finishing off reports seem to wear you down hour by hour? Then maybe it's time to relax for a few moments over the course of each day.

If done right, even a minute of not thinking about work can help you loosen up in the long run. And if you don't think you have time for a five-minute break, you may just be working too hard.

Here are 15 quick, easy tips that will hopefully rest your nerves, up your productivity and postpone the onset of ulcers.

1- Massage your temples
Think of it as massaging your brain, in a manner of speaking. Take your eyes off the computer screen, focus on something down the hall (this helps to ease the muscles that move your eyeballs) and try to relax your whole body. Breathe, and try to forget what you were just working on, even if only for a moment.

2- Listen to music
Whether it's something soothing that mellows you out or something hard and heavy, music is great for a quick escape. Try using headphones at your desk or sitting in your car during a break so you can have the tunes all to yourself. The more engaging it is for you, the more it will release your tension from work.

3- Change settings
Don't let your cubicle turn you into Milton from Office Space . Change your scenery a little bit by reading something standing up, or doing some work in the conference room. You'd be surprised how much even the slightest shift in spatial surroundings will positively affect your composure.

4- Stretch
That's right, stretch. And I'm not simply referring to the "lean back in your chair," yawning, "boy I could sure use another cup of coffee" kind of stretching. Get out of your chair, find a little floor space, and work it like you were on the track team. Touch your toes, flex your calves, make little circles with your arms. The muscles of the body are interconnected so the more you stretch, the more the whole body relaxes.

5- Take a walk
It's best to get outside for some fresh air, but if limitations keep you indoors, even a stroll around the office will help you break the monotonous routine. Focus on moving parts of your leg and arm muscles that have been stationary all day. Even climbing a flight of stairs can do the trick.

6- Exercise
Go to the gym, take a bike ride, go for a jog, or play catch outside with a co-worker. There's no doubt that one of the best contrasts for draining mental exertion is physical exertion. Upping your heart rate a little will get your blood flowing more quickly. Obviously, this one takes more than a few minutes -- so don't blame me if you Stairmaster yourself through a staff meeting.

7- Do something personal
Reply to an e-mail, return a personal phone call, or even handwrite a letter. Reminding yourself that you actually have a life beyond your cubicle is a nice reaffirmation. Also, thinking about a relationship or a fun event can provide a nice mental diversion, even if you only do so for a moment.

8- Have a cup of tea
As the world's second most popular beverage (the first is water), tea has to be good for you, right? Try the caffeine-free variety, unless you're a coffee addict, in which case you might need your little jolt. Tea helps digestion and is great for relaxation.

9- Eat something
A light snack is a nice sensory change from mental grunt work. Something with protein is best, as it is less likely to make you crave more snacks later in the day. Be forewarned that if you eat too much, you'll end up like a lion after it devours its wildebeest -- lazy!

10- Have a drink
Don't get carried away and don't make a habit of it, but a glass of wine or beer with lunch, or a splash of Baileys Irish Cream in your coffee during a break might be just what you need. Sometimes a slight glaze over your tense mood will help you relax and work more efficiently and calmly.

11- Read a comic strip
Anything that gives you a little intellectual stimulation outside of your usual professional mind-set is a good distraction. You'd be surprised how much a five-minute read will help alleviate stress and momentarily erase the nagging thoughts in your head between nine and five.

12- Plan your weekend
Looking ahead to the weekend, or better yet your vacation time, can easily cheer you up. But don't get carried away, otherwise you'll end up despising your workday even more. Take a minute or two to imagine the beach or snuggling under the covers on Sunday morning and before you know it, you'll actually be doing it.

13- Freshen up
Take a trip to a secluded bathroom, roll up your sleeves, wash your hands, and splash some water onto your face. Get some cold water on your temples and on the back of your neck. Aside from being refreshing, cold water on the skin can awaken your senses.

14- Do something creative
Draw a cartoon, paint a little picture, take a photo, write a poem. This will remind you that your brain is capable of tasks other than the ones you repeat all day.

15- Run an errand
Go to the bank or the post office and do something for yourself. You can even pretend that the power drill at the hardware store or the new boxed set at the record shop is, for a few minutes anyway, more important than work.

Relax and Renew: Restful Yoga for Stressful Times

15 Ways to Win at Job Interviews

2007-01-20T07:36:00.000-08:00

When you walk into a job interview, the product you are selling is YOU. The interview process begins when you accept the interview, and ends when the employer decides to either hire you or look for someone more suitable. The more you are able to communicate professionalism with personality, distinction and skill, the better your chance of getting the job.

Before the Interview: Use the 3 P's - Plan, Prepare, and Practice.

1. Prepare for the interview; research the company and prepare questions based on your research.

2. Do mock interviews in order to prepare for all questions, especially uncomfortable ones.

3. Dress professionally even if the company dress code is business casual.

4. Arrive early! (12 - 15 minutes before the interview)

5. Give your interviewer a firm handshake. A powerful handshake and a genuine smile will get you off to a good start.

6. Beware of your Body Language; sit erect, stand and walk with confidence, lean forward toward the interviewer.

7. Build rapport - use powerful, effective communication techniques.

8. Be a good listener. Answer only what's asked, in a brief but effective manner.

9. Show enthusiasm and sincere interest. Don't act desperate.

10. Take notes. You may need to refer to them later in the interview.

11. Communicate your skills, qualifications, credentials and the benefits you offer.

12. Demonstrate your accomplishments; how you improve sales, reduce cost, improve productivity, solve organizational problems, etc.

13. Make eye contact. It demonstrates confidence, trust, and power.

14. If you want the position, ask for it - directly.

15. After the interview: Send a follow-up thank you letter. The letter should state what interests you about the position, why you are suitable for the job, and your appreciation for the interviewer's time.

15 Ways to Stop Smoking

2007-01-20T07:33:00.000-08:00

This is not about WHY; you know that smoking is life-threatening, expensive, anti-social and makes your breath smell. This is about HOW because chances are you've already tried to stop and crept guiltily back into the fold. It won't be easy this time either...but according to a new Cancer Research UK study, people who give up for a year have a better than even chance of quitting long-term. And, remember, people who manage to give up smoking are WINNERS.

Because smoking is both a physiological and psychological addiction, you need a two-pronged attack:

1:Breaking habits is top priority, so if you always smoke when picking up the telephone, drinking coffee, logging on, change your routine. Keep busy, do something with your hands, go somewhere interesting where smoking isn't allowed. Or give up on holiday, away from the normal triggers.

2:Simultaneously cut down the drug. Cold turkey or softly, softly... it's whatever turns you off. Cutting down gradually is less painful but many people can't do it - one puff and they're on 20 a day. Try smoking one less every day, or starting to smoke an hour later. Whatever you decide, fix a date by which you'll be a nonsmoker and tell everyone.

3:By willpower alone? Great if you can but nicotine is highly addictive (even more than cocaine). Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) in its many guises (gum, capsules, patches inhalants) reduces the cravings and according to a new survey, increases your chances of quitting for a year by 45%. You should be able to reduce the dose after three months and abandon it after six, although we know two people still chewing after five years! Side effects are minimal - dry mouth, hiccoughs, occasionally palpitations, but no long term effects have been reported. When it doesn't work it's usually because people aren't taking enough or for long enough. Most forms of NRT can be prescribed on the NHS. Acupunture

4:There's no clear evidence about acupuncture but acupuncturists claim that it stimulates the body's healing response and if it works for you, it works. Ditto hypnotherapy which creates a state of deep mental relaxation when you may be open to suggestions about changing your lifestyle. Some people find Chinese herb therapy useful and even herbal cigarettes can help by keeping your hands occupied.

5:Zyban (bupropion hydrochloride), by GlaxoSmithKline, a prescription drug that does not contain nicotine, is thought to double people's chances of stopping. Can be used alongside NRT and works by counteracting the effect of chemicals in the brain responsible for withdrawal symptoms. There have been questions about its safety; side effects can include nausea, dizziness, influenza type symptoms and palpitations. Not recommended for anyone with epilepsy, or a history of seizures or eating disorders. There have been rare cases of deaths associated with Zyban though it's still much less risky than smoking. Try another method first.

6:Persuade a friend or family member to give up with you. Help each other when you're dying for a fag (though no one ever died of nicotine withdrawal). As with all addictions do it one day at a time. Pick up the phone when you're desperate to pick up a fag - Try: NHS Smoking helpline 0800 169 0169 Quitline 0800 00 22 00 or the Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation website (http://www.roycastle.org).

7:Pamper yourself. A 20 a day smoker spends around Â£1600 a year. Splash some of the cash you save- a weekend in the South of France, new sound equipment, quality wine.

You're worth it!

8:Worried about gaining weight? The average gain is 6 lbs, a small price to pay and you can lose it when your metabolism settles down. Fill up with fruit and vegetable, not sweets and chocolate. Don't ruin your teeth with manic peppermint chomping. Stock your fridge with low calorie treats. Chew pumpkin, sesame and sunflower seeds or nibble dried apricots, raw carrots, radishes or tiny plum tomatoes. Exercise

9:Exercise will keep your spirits up, work off the frustrations of not lighting up and help keep your weight stable. Swimming, tennis, running, whatever - build a regular routine - it'll generate happy hormones to replace the high you're missing from the nicotine. And now, you can afford to join the health club.

10:Withdrawal symptoms... you'll certainly get them if you were a serious smoker. NRT can help and most will pass within a few days or weeks. Most common are acid indigestion and heartburn, diarrhoea or constipation, insomnia and respiratory symptoms. Occasional problems include bleeding gums, headaches and muscular pains. All are normal and will pass but seek help if they persist.

11:The good news is your sense of smell will improve, your taste buds will perk up and your body will begin to repair itself immediately. Blood pressure and pulse rate return to normal only 20 minutes after stopping, carbon monoxide is eliminated 24 hours later and your body is free of nicotine after 48 hours. In three to nine months lung function has increased by up to 10% and 10 years after stopping your risk of lung cancer has fallen to half that of a smoker. alcohol

12:Don't overdo the alcohol. A few beers or a bottle of wine down the line and your resolve will weaken. Just the one... but it won't be just the one.

13:If you do weaken, make a new resolve and start again. Most people try quitting three or four times before succeeding. You probably didn't even enjoy that rogue cigarette anyway - after a week or so they don't taste so good - it's mostly the idea that's seductive.

14:Any friend who tries to tempt you is no friend; strike them off the list. If you're offered a cigarette, simply say you don't smoke. Say it enough times and you'll believe it. Remember the first couple of weeks are the worst but there will be danger points for months. You can rise above them.

15:Congratulations... you're a non smoker. You're no longer a public menace (passive smoking hospitalises 17,000 under-fives annually), your hair, teeth, skin, nails, will lose that attractive yellow tinge, you'll wake without a sore throat, you can be pregnant without worrying about nicotine damage and you've proved you can conquer a deadly addiction.

Stop Smoking in One

12 Ways to Persuade without Manipulating

2007-01-19T05:20:00.000-08:00

There is a fine line between persuading someone and trying to manipulate the way that they think. And when you’re in a loving relationship, you should be focusing on the positive aspects of persuasion and discussion, rather than ways to trick someone into agreeing with you.

1.Honesty is truly the best policy

It can’t be stressed enough that being honest about what you want is that best way to start influencing your relationship because it creates a no-games way of looking at problems and conflicts. Instead of your partner wondering what you mean, they will know exactly what you need.

2.Know what you want

And do you already know what you want? Many times, manipulation is easier for those that don’t really know what they want to achieve from a discussion. In order to avoid this, you will want to make sure that you have a clear idea of what you want share with your partner and what you want to achieve as a result.

3.Acknowledge what they want

But it’s not just about you either. You need to be sure that you know what your partner wants in the situation as well. Ask them to be clear about the way that they want your relationship to be, and then be sure to acknowledge that in your persuasion. A partnership includes two people.

4.Realize that you can’t change minds

You won’t always be able to change their mind, nor should that be a goal of yours. What you do want to do is persuade them to look at a situation or problem in the way that you are. They might have other ideas that they want to share with you; other perspectives that you might not understand. And from their own way of thinking, they might never change their way of looking at things.

5.Honesty anyone?

Once again, when you refuse to build a relationship on lies, you can move from conflict into resolution much more efficiently. When you find yourself in a lie, you will want to explain yourself immediately and then correct the wrong statement.

6.Information is best

When you want to correct a problem or smooth a situation in a relationship, you will want to get the facts straight so that you can present your case accurately. Instead of using facts that would help your persuasion, you will want to use the real facts. For example, instead of saying the other person never wants to do anything, show examples of how this happens.

7.Let them talk too

But again, this isn’t all about you. You need to hear what your partner thinks and feels as well to start moving toward some sort of compromise. Ask them what they think about what you have said and whether there’s anything else that they might want to add. Try to engage them in dialogue so it’s not a one-sided conversation.

8.Admit when you’re wrong

And you will be wrong in your thinking or ideas, so be sure to admit that. Partners like it when you admit to being fallible. We all make mistakes and we’re much more likely to listen to those that admit to doing so.

9.Honesty once more

When you have ulterior motivations for your discussions with a partner, you are creating a situation in which only one of you is benefiting from a promise or a solution. Instead of what kind of situation, why not be honest about what you’re really trying to achieve?

10.Choose common ground

If you choose a location for your discussion that you are comfortable in, but your partner is not, you will automatically put them on the defensive. Instead, choose a place that is neutral and gives no one the advantage. Or if you’re the one that wants to have the discussion, have your partner choose where you will talk.

11.Pick the right time

Being rushed or tired is not a good way to feel during an important discussion. You want to choose a time that works out best for the both of you. This might mean that you both have to clear your schedules or make time available – but it creates the best possible conditions.

12.Honesty always

Just in case you didn’t already realize it, being honest is the only way to avoid manipulation. Even the tiniest infraction will lead to further distrust of each other.

Source: http://personals.netscape.com/story/2007/01/18/12-ways-to-persuade-without-manipulating

10 Ways to Eliminate Obstacles to Success

2007-01-18T22:00:00.000-08:00

Boosting Productivity: 10 Ways to Eliminate Obstacles to Success

Can you recall ever working in a situation that you'd describe today as the "job from hell"? If so, even if you knew how to do the job well, you'd probably say that you lacked the essentials for getting your work done.

Many people suffer silently while they're really missing the authority, training, tools, job support, guidance, resources, information, or incentives to be effective. On top of these problems, people may encounter other road blocks to getting things done. Their hurdles might include tangled communications, non-supportive managers, a lack of cooperation, unavailable colleagues, and cumbersome procedures.

When people experience these situations, they're struggling with what I refer to as "burning hassles." Companies that tackle burning hassles head-on can systematically remove these frustrating, mind-numbing barriers to success. This article explains 10 ways to bulldoze obstacles so that you, too, can get rid of them. The benefits will include a visible increase in both personal and organizational performance.

What's Wrong with a Few Obstacles?

Companies that follow what I call a "tough love policy" perpetually expect personnel to find a way to work around nearly every problem they encounter. It's the model in which people are expected to do what they're supposed to do while maintaining a stiff upper lip. Can't the folks who complain about hassles or information holes just "get over it" and be glad they even have a job or contract?

The problem is, people spend endless hours of precious time fighting battles they may not win. Even if people know their jobs inside out, they're usually no match for the boulders that block their every move. And all the while, morale, productivity, and potential profits are simply disappearing down the drain.

10 Keys to Conquering Obstacles to Success

If people have skill deficiencies -- a true lack of job knowledge -- or not enough job practice, you would remedy those through training and/or more repetition on the job. But if people already know how to do their jobs and are facing hurdles, you can start removing these frustrating hassles by being alert for the opportunities below. (You can even adapt this list into a checklist or survey to poll your staff.)

1. Troubleshoot any clogged communications that delay or distort important broadcasts. These could be dragging down both productivity and morale.

2. Identify missing information, such as incomplete, outdated, or inaccurate procedures, standards, schedules, facts, or data needed to do a job. Supply the information as soon as possible, and be sure to maintain it regularly.

3. Be alert for poor cooperation from managers, peers, or suppliers. And by all means, don't "shoot the messenger" when people report these problems!

4. Check for any absent or inadequate tools, equipment, space, lighting, or supplies. These conditions can seriously reduce the ability to do one's job.

5. Uncover overly complex procedures that can be simplified, automated, or even eliminated. The simpler you can make your processes, the better!

6. Correct any work environments or conditions that are problematic or unsafe. Do everything possible to avoid accidents and liability concerns.

7. Recognize where task support ought to be coming from supervision, job aids, quick reference guides, or online assistance. If it's missing, supply it!

8. Look for and reduce extreme work pressure due to unattainable deadlines or workloads. People can't sustain their productivity under these conditions.

9. Be sure people have regular, complete feedback on performance quality, including timely access to data about customer desires and concerns.

10. Sort out any conflicting priorities or directions from authority figures. When people work on multiple projects, this type of confusion is common.

And Here's a Bonus Tip:

It's important to clear up situations in which someone has the responsibility to do a job but lacks the authority to act. Until that's resolved, work is an uphill battle!

In conclusion, are you unsure of where to begin identifying your burning hassles? Try asking your staff or colleagues what's impeding their work. Remember to use these ground rules: No blaming or accusing! Everyone should feel free to speak up without being criticized, and everyone can help brainstorm the solutions.

Source:http://digg.com/business_finance/Boosting_Productivity_10_Ways_to_Eliminate_Obstacles_to_Success