Posts Tagged ‘life’
The Law of Attraction and Love
The Law of Attraction says that ‘like attracts like’. It means that whatever your predominate thoughts are will show up as people and experiences in your life. I used to get really angry with this idea. The people in my life were not the kind of people I wanted. The experiences in my life were not the experiences I wanted! Why couldn’t I seem to get this attraction thing to work for me? Why couldn’t I make things come out differently? What was wrong with me?
I hear the same thing from many of my clients. “What is wrong with me?” they ask, when the woman they are interested in does not show the same interest in them. Another client asked “Am I just stupid?” when she failed to see that the man she was dating was a closet alcoholic. “I feel like a failure.” Another client confided after another relationship that didn’t turn out the way he had planned. But the Law of Attraction works perfectly every time. It can work for or against you. Just like gravity. It can work for you to keep you from spinning off the planet, or against you if you lean too far over the edge of a cliff! But the Law of Attraction works through your thoughts and most importantly through the predominate thought you think most of the time. So if your predominate thought is that relationships are a lot of work, then you will attract partners and situations that are a lot of work. If your predominate thought is that all the good ones are taken, then you will tend to meet people you like and could be interested in, who are already in a relationship with someone else. If your predominate thought is that women are only after your money and you worry about having enough, then you will meet women who worry about money too. So begin to direct your thoughts toward what you want. How do you do this? First realize at your core you are a creative being. You have the power to expand the knowledge and experiences on this planet simply because of your unique perspective. So why not direct that creative power that is yours toward what you want? Start by noticing what makes you feel GREAT! Notice when you feel energized! Notice what settings or circumstances you are in. Notice what kinds of people make you feel joyful and loved. Make of list of all of these. And begin to look for ways that you can be that kind of person yourself.
For example if you are energized by hiking in the mountains or spending time at the seashore and you feel a sense of awe and excitement when you are in nature, make note of that. Then declare, “I am a magnet for a partner who loves nature as much as I do and is looking for a woman like me to enjoy it with.” As you declare this, out loud with enthusiasm, you are setting powerful creative energies in motion. You are igniting the Law of Attraction! That is the first step.
The second step is to know and accept that the Law will work and produce what you give your attention to. So if within your wanting to find that perfect partner you are more focused on the “wanting” and therefore on the fact that you do not have, then that is exactly what will continue to show up for you, more wanting and pinning over the fact that you are once again alone. To change this, begin to experience and visualize what it is like to have the person of your dreams at you side. That’s right, daydream! Vividly pretend! Get the feeling you will have when that person is right there. And accept that just as it takes three hours to drive from Denver to Glenwood Springs, it will take some time for your lover to get to you. So don’t get discouraged. Don’t give up.
Do let go of any sense of “wanting” and instead be joyous and energized by all that you do.
Finally, allow the Law to work for you. Trust that it is working for you. And go out and do things that allow you to feel at your best. Then just keep your eyes open and notice what shows up. Like Tom Hanks in the movie “Castaway”. You never know what the tide will bring.
Want to get a jumpstart on getting the Law of Attratction to work for you? Hire a coach. If you have not experienced the power of personal coaching, call me and ask for a free trial session.
Deb Melton, Singles Coach and Certified Fearless Living Coach lives in Denver and coaches singles all over the country to help them find their soulmate. Deb’s philosophy is, “It’s never too late to find the love of your life and live the life you love! Deb also offers teleclasses and seminars on a variety of subjects for singles of all ages. Whether you have never been married or you are recently divorced, Deb’s coaching and classes are interactive, fun and full of helpful information. Go to her website to learn more http://www.denversinglescoach.com
Baby Nursery Furniture
You are expecting your first baby and are wondering what type of nursery furniture you will need to make your life easier and your little one comfortable. You will find that there are an array of cribs in all types of designs, styles and colors to fit with any décor you choose for your nursery.
The main nursery furniture items you will need include a crib, changing table, a chest or dresser, and a rocking chair. These are the basics.
Finding the right nursery furniture will be fun and exciting. You just need to know how to shop for furniture that will be right for you. When looking for a crib, you will want one that you will be able to place a sleeping baby in without needing to hassle with the sides of the crib. You will want a firm mattress and adjustable mattress heights for when your baby gets older and may try to crawl out of the crib. Look for durability. How easy does the crib shake? You want your crib to last at least until your new little one is ready for a toddler bed. As he gets older he will stand and shaking the crib and trying his best to learn to climb out of it.
You may decide on a 3 n 1 crib for your nursery furniture choice. These are very unique cribs that can be converted from a crib into a toddler bed and then into a day bed or full size bed. These cribs are designed to last. Conversion is usually pretty simple and the hardware and all needed parts are included for each bed when you purchase the crib.
The changing table is one furniture item you are sure to enjoy in the line of nursery furniture. It is great to place your infant on a comfortable table with all the necessary items close at hand. Most changing tables have shelves under where you can keep everything you need for changing your little one. I prefer stationary changing tables, not one with wheels unless you can lock them in place.
You will be able to find matching dressers or chests in the nursery furniture line for holding all the new baby clothing that you received during your baby shower. The chest should have enough drawers for fitting all the babies clothing and accessories nicely. Check for easy glide and for durability. Baby clothing can usually snare very easily and if the drawers inside are rough you can snag the outfit causing them to look tattered.
What nursery would be complete without a rocking chair? The rocking chair is a wonderful experience for both you and your baby. You will be able to sit and enjoy reading to, cuddling up and just holding your new baby will rock away the time. Choose one that is comfortable for you.
Linda author of the Baby Strollers Guide and the Baby Products Guide
Valentines Day Flowers
Flowers & Valentine’s Day go hand in hand. Your Valentine will be so thrilled to receive a beautiful flower arrangement! Of course, Roses are known for their association with love. They are available in many colors and can create quite an impressive presentation. For a really impressive gift, send a 2 or 3 dozen arrangement, WOW! Looking for something a little different than the standard red roses? Consider “Black Magics!” With their dark red velvet like petals, Black Magics express elegance, class and true beauty. Perfect for your Special Valentine!
If you want to send flowers, but are seeking something a little different than roses, florists can provide many options. You may choose to send a mixed arrangement containing a variety of flowers. You may choose a tall vase of all Calla Lilies or Tulips. You may also decide to send a flower basket or blooming plant.
Men like flowers too! Consider an elegant vase of all white flowers for the special man in your life. Men have also been known to favor vibrant floral colors, blues, reds, yellows. Even the manliest of men appreciate the beauty of flowers.
Your local florist can also provide Gourmet Gift Baskets for Valentine’s Day delivery. What a treat to receive a beautiful basket full of delicious chocolates, coffees, snacks, etc. Gift Baskets can also contain bubble baths, lotions, candles. Ask your local florist for specific contents available for gift baskets.
Don’t forget that you can also add “Special Touches” to your arrangement. Plush Animals and Mylar/Latex Balloons are popular additions to a floral arrangement or gift basket.
Your local florist can add a personalized message to your gift. Flowers are the ultimate expression of love, and your message can tell your Valentine exactly how you feel about them!
For best selection and timely delivery call ahead of time for your Valentine Order. Most florists will suggest calling at least a week before.
Remember, Don’t pay an order taker to process your order. Call the florist that will be designing & delivering your floral order. No Middleman, No Processing Fees! You will get a better value, meaning your Valentine will get a beautiful arrangement!
Tenley McDonald- Former Florist- Now Co-Owner of http://www.flowerpowernetwork.com (Online Directory of Real Local Florists) Ms. McDonald has over 14 years experience in ~Consumer Relations/Marketing ~Customer Service Management ~Floral Design. Please email the Author directly for reprint permission of this article.
Get a Raise: How To Ask Your Boss For More Money
How many people do you know who think they deserve a pay rise, but are too scared to ask? You might even be one of those people! Why is it we are afraid to ask for what we believe we are worth? It’s time to stop worrying and start asking, but before you charge into your boss’s office give yourself the best chance of success with these helpful tips?then book that meeting with the boss.
Do an audit. Make a huge list of all your achievements in your current role. Think about where you add value to your organisation and how you have grown the business. List both demonstrable results such as statistics, sales figures, client testimonials and reports as well as those things that can be a little more difficult to quantify, such as improving staff morale.
Know what you’re worth. Find out what similar jobs to yours are paying in the market. Look at the same industry and other industries to determine what your market value is and what type of additional package benefits are on offer for similar roles.
Create your ideal package. Make a list of what you would like to receive in salary, car allowance, employee benefits, superannuation and time off. Look at the total dollar value of the package ? don’t focus only on the individual components.
Consider the organisational situation. Be aware of how the organisation is performing before you approach your manager. If times are tough, your proposal is less likely to be considered but if the company is performing well your manager might be more open to your request.
Book a time. Make an appointment with your manager and let him or her know that the agenda will be your remuneration package. Try to schedule this appointment for early in the day so your manager is not distracted by competing priorities and you are not spending a nervous day waiting for the appointment time.
Practice. Go over your presentation in your mind and perhaps even with a friend or colleague. Know what it is you want to say and why you believe you deserve this raise.
Objection! List all of your manager’s potential objections and consider how you would respond to them.
Be calm and positive. Take a few deep breaths before the meeting and remind yourself of why you deserve this raise and the positive impact it will have on your life. Don’t approach your manager timidly or they won’t believe you are worth the raise. Believe in yourself and your achievements.
Be aware of body language. Make sure you sit forward in your chair, your shoulders are straight, sit forward in your chair and make eye contact and smile. Try to appear relaxed and comfortable not nervous and fidgety.
Build your case. Before you launch into your presentation about what you want and why you deserve a raise, ask your manager these questions:
How do you feel I have been performing over the past few months?
Do you agree I have added value/sales/benefits to this organisation?
Are you happy with my performance to date?
Your manager’s responses to these questions will allow you to understand what his or her opinion of your performance is and help you to position your request in light of their responses.
Be assertive. Use positive assertive, not aggressive, language when you are making your case for why you deserve this increase; don’t moan or complain. Talk about the benefits to the company and to you.
Don’t blink, don’t look away. When you do tell your manager the total package figure you would like to receive, don’t blink and don’t look away. Hold their gaze and remain calm.
Allow your manager to respond. Remember, you’ve been thinking about this and putting together your proposal for some time ? this is the first your manager has heard about it, give him or her time to respond and process your request. Don’t talk while they are responding, let them talk through their thoughts and issues without interruption. Allow yourself to sit in silence if required. Don’t try to fill any silence with further explanation or justification.
Be flexible. If appropriate, let your manager know that you are prepared to be flexible in how the raise is provided to you perhaps is can be phased in, include a bonus or one-off payment or involve changing the structure of your current package.
Agree on a response timeframe. If your manger can’t give you an answer immediately, agree on a timeframe within which he or she will come back to you with an answer. Around one-week should be an appropriate amount of time.
Neen is a Global Productivity Expert: by looking at how they spend their time and energy ? and where they focus their attention ? Neen helps people to rocket-charge their productivity and performance. A dynamic speaker, author and corporate trainer, Neen demonstrates how boosting your productivity can help you achieve amazing things. With her unique voice, sense of fun and uncommon common-sense, Neen delivers a powerful lesson in productivity. Find out more at http://neenjames.com/
A Beginner?s Guide to Buying House Plans
Learn How to Select a House Plan That Will Result in The Home of Your Dreams
Building a home for most people is one of the most adventurous and time consuming projects a family can invest in during a lifetime. Because of that, it is important that care be taken when buying, selecting and implementing a house plan.
Before buying a house plan, you should first ensure you know what you are getting into.
Home Plans: A Beginner’s Guide
So what are house plans? House plans easily defined are the blueprints for a home that hasn’t been constructed yet.
Some home plans are very detailed and concise, whereas others meet only the bare minimum requirements for a house plan. One of the more common forms of house plans are stock home plans, which are very detailed blueprints that contain everything a person would need to build a home from scratch.
Stock home plans are the same as custom blueprints, but less expensive. One of the benefits of buying house plans online in fact is the relative costs savings realized with such a purchase. Most home plans offered online are fashioned after homes that have been built before, yet are also unique house plans because you have the ability to customize them in any way you see fit.
How does buying house plans online save you money? If you had to hire a licensed architect or home designer to come out to your plot, examine it and create a custom blueprint from scratch, you’ll be charged up to thousands of dollars more than if you search for stock home plans such as those offered online.
Searching for house plans has never been easier thanks to the advent of the internet. Even better, because the world wide web allows so many different designers to contribute their blueprints, you can rest assured you will find unique house plans ever where you turn. Your house will be different from your neighbors, unless the two of you get together and purposefully plan on building the same house.
Benefits of Buying House Plans Online
What are some of the other benefits of buying house plans online?
- Style — You get to choose the style of your home from a selection of thousands of different unique designs
- Size — You can modify the size and select a plan that meets your unique requirements
- Amenities — When buying online, you can pick and choose amenities from literally thousands of different choices. You never have to ’settle’ for something when shopping online.
- Specificity — You even have the ability to specify your requirements online!
- Selection — From the comfort of your home, you can sort through our database of house plans until you find the one that perfectly matches your unique needs. No need to meet with hundreds of different architects or designers to negotiate price, and no need to tear your hair out trying to find the house plans that best suit your needs.
You also have the ability to change a home plan that almost, but does not quite meet your needs. If you need to make a few changes, no problem.
Finding the Perfect House Plan
How do you find the perfect house plan for the home of your dreams? Finding the right house plan requires a little planning. There are several things you should take into consideration when looking at unique house plans such as:
Family Size — You want to ensure you select a plan that will result in a home large enough to accommodate your needs. Consider how big your family is presently, whether or not you plan on expanding and how your life might change 3, 5, 10 and 20 years down the line. The whole point of building a custom home is to be comfortable in it for a long time.
Lifestyle — Consider what demands your lifestyle will place on your new home. For example, do you plan on entertaining? This will require additional space. Do you prefer a separate living and family area? What about the dining area. Do you plan on entertaining for large family gatherings (such as during Thanksgiving) or by and large will you be eating most of your meals in the kitchen? If you love to cook, you’ll want to plan for adequate space in the kitchen. Remember that style considerations are also a factor.
Some people prefer a country style kitchen whereas others are looking for something more modern. Also take into consideration personal hobbies and interests. For example, will you need a library or exercise area? Write down all of your ideas and intentions before you begin looking at online house plans, and your more likely to find what you are looking for quickly.
A Word on Size
The size of a home is often one of the most critical considerations. Keep in mind that no matter what type of house plan you purchase, you may decide to add on at some point in the future. One of the benefits of buying house plans online is you can see several different versions of a home in many different sizes.
You should make every effort to take into consideration the actual size you will need. The square footage of the home you are planning on building will impact the amount of money you’ll need to invest.
Style Perhaps the best benefit of buying house plans online is having the ability to look at multiple different style homes. You can check out both exterior and interior designs when shopping, without having to leave your home. Some of the more popular exterior styles include the following:
- Country — characterized by a large front porch, gabled roofline, may be two story
- Traditional — styles in this category are often labeled ranch, Federal and Cape Cod. Most traditional homes are simply constructed with little extraneous décor
- Victorian — Victorian house plans are a variation of the traditional style. Rooflines are often more intricate in this type of home, and may include towers and bay windows. Victorian homes are often more ornamentally decorated than traditional homes, and usually this type of home is a two story design.
- Mediterranean — This style is popular along the East and West Coastlines. Usually the exterior on this style home is stucco. Roofs may be tiled and open air verandas are not uncommon. Many Mediterranean style homes are one story, but it isn’t uncommon to see two story as well.
Building your own home from a unique house plan is an exciting adventure. Be sure to enjoy every moment of it, and take care when selecting the house plan t hat will result in the home of your dreams.
About The Author:
Antigone Arthur is a successful freelance writer with 10 years of professional experience providing consumers with informative articles on such topics as home floor plans, and house designs.
An Entrepreneurs Challenge
Living in the twilight zone has its advantages. In the early days of starting my business, I found the limitations of living in a rural area to be restrictive. However, later I realized that those limitations were not an obstacle that could stop me; they were only a challenge that would strengthen me. Since my business would be smaller, I would have the advantage of fewer employees and less strife in the processes of doing business.
Growth, while difficult in a single entity, could easily be accomplished through multiplication. By repeating the business in several locations, it could become the kind of business I wanted to run.
The challenge was no longer in the viability of the business, but in the potential of business development. So, simply put, where do I go from here?
How big was my dream and did I have the courage to pursue it to fruition?
It was BIG and I did. The processes of developing my multi-business center company, connected by computers, people, and a dream was not particularly difficult, nor were there any major obstacles to overcome. The biggest challenge was in the mind.
The process of realizing a dream is pretty much the same from any vantage point. My vantage point was a small town in the mid-west (right between the vastness of the Great Plains and the vertical beauty of the Rocky Mountains). Some of you call this the WEST ? but I’ve been to both coasts ? it is MID WAY between them, trust me.
The challenge was literally in formatting the dream and scheduling the conceptual steps and the processes by which the dream would be realized.
Creating the dream.
A good business fills a need. You must realize a need. Through a need of your own, you may realize that other people have the same need, and the cure for your needs could also be a cure for the needs of others with similar needs.
Quite essentially, while speaking to a friend one day, I said those magic words that spoke directly to my heart, “I wish somehow there was a way to?” Being the kind and generous person that she is, she fed into my dream by asking me what options could possibly provide solutions to that problem. So, for much of that afternoon we ‘brainstormed’ for solutions to my problem. That evening, when I got home, I wrote down a list of our solutions, and put them on a shelf in my home office, where I promptly forgot about them until several months later when another friend was in the same boat.
Realizing the Viability.
A good business can fill the need at a profit. Take your dream one step further; determine if the product/service that could be a solution to your problem is worth paying for.
My friend mentioned that she would actually pay someone to deal with her situation. I frowned at the thought, realizing that it was a signal to me, to put the ‘brainstormed’ solutions into actual practice. My dream became a viable option. I could feel the reality of what I was dreaming, and I could ‘touch’ what it would become.
Conformation.
A good business must have a substantially saleable product. Specifically describe the product/service and how you could build/design/create it. Determine if the value of the product/service is worth the cost of producing it.
When I got home again, I took out that first brainstorming list of solutions and put it on the table along with a pad of paper and a pen. I got a cup of coffee and sat down to work. I needed a product/service that could be sold. From that brainstorming list, I developed a list of products/services that could be sold at a profit, and I began to put together a profile of the company that would sell them. The ‘business outline’ that resulted from these hours of work, was substantial enough to start working on a business plan.
Marketability.
A good business must be marketable at a profit. Developing a market feasibility plan was the next step. By determining the marketability of the product/service and orchestrating the process within the sphere of location, pricing/value, accessibility, and dispensation, it is possible to realize the maximum profit from the product/service within a specific market during the initial phase of distribution. By establishing a marketing plan based on the feasibility of marketing your product/service during this phase of the business development process, your business can become profitable from the earliest stage possible.
Targeting Profit.
A good business must operate regularly IN THE BLACK. Often, developing a profitable business is an accidental event that can’t be explained. More often, businesses fail within the first five years because owners plan to FAIL by failing to PLAN. However, profitability in business can be explained, planned, and projected, if the business owner establishes a plan of business and manages his business according to that plan.
Determine the requirements of making a profit in your business and incorporate that process into your plan. That is what targeting profit is all about; making sure that your business plan has ‘profit’ directly in sight.
Make PEOPLE your priority.
A good business must serve its people. Occasionally a company will forget its purpose for being in business. The only REAL reason for being in business is to help other people. No matter what your product/service might be, your purpose is helping others. When THIS concept becomes genuine within the people who work in your business, they will acquire the ability to serve with objectivity the clients who purchase your products/services. Recognize your business priorities and keep them at the top of the list. Customer Service is not where you want to cut costs.
Plan your BUSINESS.
A good business follows a solid business plan. A solid business plan based on marketing strategies, prioritized business practices, and a sound proposal of profitability will project your company to triumph. A complete business plan will include concepts and procedures for day-to-day operations that will lead regularly to the level of success planned for and projected. If you are following your business plan in an organized manner, with periodic reevaluations for business development changes, your company will have its very own success story and history of success.
Comprehensive Development.
A good business is based on a solidly proven business history. EVEN if you are new to the business industry, there are proven examples of businesses for you to follow. Find a successful ‘mentor’ within your chosen industry and follow their guidance. Trying to reinvent the wheel doesn’t work. It’s been invented and it works, so why mess with perfection by trying to reinvent it. This means that there is a proven method of doing business, and it does work, so when you find a person who is successful in your chosen field, use their proven strategies and update for current technical abilities, but do not try to reinvent the processes.
Consistent Record keeping.
A good business uses a consistent record keeping method. Prepare an office for your business that is capable of tracking daily activities within your business, marketing practices, and financial records. Consistently record financial records in a clearly defined manner that will properly project your financial situation at any given time. Weekly, monthly, and annual reports are necessary for managing the profitability of your business. Be certain that these reports are available for weekly, monthly, and annual evaluation, and religiously do those evaluations based on your business plan. Be prepared to revamp and revitalize your business plan based on the evaluations you do.
NOTE: While ‘weekly’ reports are necessary for this evaluation ? do not adjust your business based solely on the weekly reports.
Use the Three E’s.
A good business promotes enthusiasm, effort, and ethics. Enthusiastically promote what you do. If you believe in what you are doing and put your best attitude toward accomplishing the job at hand, you will be promoting your business in the best possible way, with personal enthusiasm. Be sure that the majority of effort you put into your business every day is intended for profit. If you are working all day and accomplish nothing toward making a profit, your business will not be profitable in the long run. Personal ethics are a choice. If you value your business you will maintain a high standard of ethics. Honesty and Integrity cannot be regained once they are lost.
Don’t allow anyone to take those from you for any reason, hold your personal values dearly and promote your business based on solid values.
Smell the roses.
A good business allows for the enjoyment of life along with the requirements of work. As with any job, burnout is a threat if you don’t take time out to enjoy life while you work. It often amazes me, the number of people who indicate that they have no time for family, fun, and hobbies, as they are working to own their own business. What ARE they working for? If you don’t take the time to enjoy life, you will burnout and be no good to anyone, and definitely not capable of succeeding in your business. Take time out for you, for family, for LIFE. Your job will still be there when you get back, and you will be more capable when you go back to it.
Without the specific details that make a business work successfully toward a profit, you don’t actually have a business; you have a great idea. An idea won’t actually get you very far in the land of profit margins, it actually will cost you more than it will make. An idea is something that is incomplete and surrealistic, until it has been scripted and formatted into the reality of a series of goals that work together to make a profitable business.
What is your NEMESIS? What is your dream? Is your dream going to make you a life? Is your dream worth the investment of your time, effort, and money?
Success is in the details. If you want to make your dream a business, it’s important to develop the details and process your ideas into REAL goals. The difference between a dream and a successful business is in the presentation of the details.
Copyright (c) 2001 – Jan Verhoeff
Printed in the USA
Jan Verhoeff combines 27 years of service in the Free Enterprise domain and a lifetime of education in business development to bring expertise and understanding of basic business principles to new business owners. An expert in the field of business development, Jan presents conceptual information through publications, live presentations, and Power Launch, a weekly live conference chat for business developers. For more information see her site at: http://wahopportunity.blogspot.com
10 Secrets to Write Your eBook Like a Winner!
You already have what it takes to write your first e-book. And like other winners you can create or increase your passive income stream each month. Your winning competitors wish you would never discover these secrets.
You may be asking “What if I don’t have the mind of a techie?” You can still write your winner e-book and start earning in a few weeks. Start by solving your readers’ problems using your expert knowledge. You know the articles and reports already in your files. Expand one of your articles or speeches into a short book by adding a short story or some practical how-to steps.
If you want to increase your present book income or just get started now, read these ten secrets and apply them:
1. Secret One.
Write a short e-book first to test your market. I know short doesn’t mean the same thing to every person. For e-books, let’s agree 10-90 pages is short, even 5-27 sounds less intimidating. Your future customers are busy and usually download only the pages they want at the time.
Make your e-book simpler, shorter, and punchier than your print book. Shorten your sentences, stories and analogies. Your winner format will include a strong heading (question) your reader needs answered and the answer. This winner formula presents the problem and solution quickly without a lot of words.
2. Secret Two.
Focus on one topic in your book. It’s a known fact bestsellers focus on one main topic. Focus on one topic then write each chapter to support that subject. When you overload your reader with information, you come across as disorganized, wordy and flat. Instead of including everything you know, stick to one how-to subject and include plenty of simple details with examples to make it useful to your reader.
3. Secret Three.
Brand yourself, your business and your book. Think about the greatest benefit that you offer through your book or service. Consider your book and chapter titles. Now think about your keywords and headings on your website. Do you see a repeating word that stands out? For example, the book “Win With the Writer Inside You” the author threads some form of “win” throughout her materials. Ever heard of the Chicken Soup for the Soul series? The title changes in its audience but the Chicken Soup brand stays the same. For example, there’s a Chicken Soup for Teen-agers, Chicken Soup for Mothers, and so on.
4. Secret Four.
Get a professional editor and/or book coach. Yes, its o.k. and you should get feedback from family, friends, local writing group, etc. But you need to get a professional viewpoint of your work to weed out the passive voice, bad grammar and all the things that slow your readers down to a standstill. Copy that appeals to the emotions of your reader sell your books. Your future customers want word pictures that they can respond to with their emotions.
5. Secret Five.
Target and get to know your audience. Let’s face it not everyone will want to read your book. Most newbie authors think up what they feel is a great product; spend tons of time and sometimes money looking for people to buy it. Instead match your expert knowledge with an audience you can serve. Consider their needs, problems and how you can help solve them. Business people are a hot audience right now. They are hungry and willing to buy what will improve, make profitable their life and business. Right now think of one to three preferred audiences in your area of expertise. Then write the book your customers will be looking for.
6. Secret Six.
Automate your business. Don’t get frustrated if you are a non-techie, like me. You can do it. Take your time or at least decide to learn at your own pace. Years ago, the author knew very little about the internet now she owns many websites. She has published 5 inspirational e-books and several on internet marketing and e-book writing/publishing at the time of this writing.
Write your e-book quickly but offer a quality product. Aim to give your customer more than they have asked. Market your book on your site, on the site of others, everywhere basically. A good place to start is eBay or Booklocker. Don’t forget to offer your e-book for sale through an 800 number. Ureach is an excellent service 888-506-7790. Setup a download link for people to access your product. Consider Paypal, Clickbank and/or 2Checkout and/or your own merchant account for offline purchases to offer your customer choices. They will reward you by choosing one.
Whenever you are ready, think delegation, delegate some of your work to a computer assistant. For some perfectionist (not me) delegation may sound like a dirty word. Contact your local high schools and technical schools where bright techies live. The expense is low in comparison to the results you can gain.
7. Secret Seven.
Sizzle Your Title. Your title may well be 90% of the pulling power for your book. An excellent title is short. The top titles are benefit driven. Don’t forget to heat them up with emotion. Use terms your audience can relate to. Use action words and verbs. Quantify change with ways and time limits. Use one or two word ideas to tell a story. Pledge change. Spark interest. Instead of “How to Write an E-book” the author chose the title “Ten Secrets to Write Your E-book Like a Winner.” She quantified change, sparked interest and branded her title.
Have a meeting of the minds with friends or associates. Let them help you choose the best title from the list. Find out which will make them pull out $15-20 or more to buy your book.
8. Secret Eight.
Leverage Your Sales Potential. Think for a moment about the valuable knowledge that you have packed into your e-book at $20 a sale. Remember the principle “Divide and conquer” Web users love chunks of information. To leverage your sales conquer and divide your e-book into an e-course. With minor revisions, you can set your book up as a how-to course or mini-course. In the e-course format you can double your price and up. Don’t forget to bundle several lower cost e-books and offer a discount. At one of the author’s sites she sells 2 e-books for 20.00 separately, bundled she sells them for $30.00
9. Secret Nine.
Add bonus value to your e-book. When you add bonus value (2-4 how-to lists, articles, special reports, sample chapter or mini-course) at the end of your e-book document, you increase its value. Many (author included) will buy for the bonuses alone. Most people love bargains and valuable free stuff. Everyone is looking for original but useful information. Implement this secret of bonuses and watch your subscriber rate and sales go up.
10. Secret Ten.
Market before, while and after you write. Most writers want to avoid marketing. I overheard a writer saying, “I wrote the book. Why should I have to market it too?” Whine, whine?No really as you know marketing can be hard work. From my marketing friend Judy Cullins there are seven hot selling points that will make it much easier: Put marketing into each chapter title, each chapter’s questions you will answer, rough draft of e-book’s back cover (sales letter), the one-minute tell and sell, targeting your audience, thesis, and table of contents. You can implement these before you write a single chapter.
It’s faster to write an e-book if you know how. People surf the net daily looking for practical information and knowledge that you have. Don’t let your ideas, knowledge and expertise fade away. Put it to work for you in an e-book. Remember, if you need help contact a professional book coach or take an e-course to inform yourself.
©Earma Brown, 10 yr. Entrepreneur, Author, Speaker, Empowers entrepreneurs and writers to realize their book and web dreams
eBk: Win with the Writer Inside You
P.O. Box 111046, Carrollton, Texas 75011-1046
http://www.writetowin.org
earma@writetowin.org
877-846-9908
Free eZine: Web Wit – webwit@writetowin.org
Benefits of Online Fitness Programs
There are many benefits of choosing an online fitness program over a live personal trainer. In this article, I will focus on the most important ones. I will also mention and recommend Global Health and Fitness’ online fitness program ( http://www.popularfitness.com/global-fitness.html ) because in my opinion they are the leaders in this field on the web. Not only have they been online since 1997, more importantly they have helped hundreds of people over the years achieve their fitness goals. They are associated with many well-known fitness-related professionals and have also been featured in numerous fitness articles.
Convenience.
The best thing about the Internet is that information is available when and where you want it – it is interactive and dynamic. These are the reasons why the Internet is ideal for a fitness program and trainers. A true personal trainer that has come of age and that is accessible from your home or office almost any time of the day. Most people cannot afford to have a trainer to offer them guidance and support whenever they need it. With online fitness programs you can receive advice almost any time of the day. Got a question that pops in your head while your at work? You can email the fitness program and receive a prompt reply. Something live personal trainers just cannot do.
Inexpensive and extensive area of expertise.
Most live trainers specialize in general fitness only whereas Global’s fitness program includes 30 highly qualified professionals from every fitness-related field. Not only do you receive help with your workouts, but you will receive nutrition advice, injury and rehabilitation training help for a specific sporting event or competition, your medical questions answered, motivational help and more. This is all available at a fraction of the cost that a personal trainer would charge who is limited in knowledge to only his or her field of expertise.
Fitness must be enjoyable.
For any fitness program to be a success, we all know that it needs to be enjoyable. If you are new to fitness or want to start on an exercise program, it is difficult to know where to begin and very time consuming to read and figure out your own fitness program. In the end, it could be very frustrating and boring for you resulting in you giving up. Global’s online personal trainer program cuts through all the confusion and teaches you exactly how to achieve the results you want. By eliminating the guesswork, your very own online personal trainer will help you avoid the common mistakes that can waste your time and effort. Their mission is to have you seeing great results as soon as possible. You will soon discover that you can truly enjoy healthy eating and physical activity for the rest of your life.
If you have been exercising for a while and are trying to reach new plateaus, Global can help you by creating an exercise and nutrition program that produces the best results that you are aiming for. By teaching you techniques for making your routine much more effective and personally guiding you step-by-step to achieving new results again and again!
Up-to-date
A fitness program that is frequently updated, thus offering you all the latest reliable research and discoveries in the fitness industry.
Customized and personalized for you.
Global’s online personal trainers will customize your very own program based on your fitness level, goals, personal preferences, time and equipment availability, and special limitations and requests.
Tools and Live Chat.
Various tools are also available that outside of a live personal trainer would end up costing you a lot such as video demonstrations, exercise instructions, Protrack software, healthy recipes and shopping lists, online books of the 5 components of optimal health, live chats with online personal trainers and much more. All of which will enhance your learning and assure your success.
About the author:
Peter Kudlacz is the owner of http://www.popularfitness.com where you can find online fitness and golf programs, exercise instruction guides, articles, resources, tips and newsletters.
Do Organizations Serve Us Or Do We Serve Organizations
We have seen an erosion in the confidence that society has in organizational leadership and its integrity recently with the numerous accounting scandals that have become public.Clearly this has led to the demise of several large organizations. In performance terms it is obvious that erosion of leadership integrity is not good for business.
The integrity that exists within an organization either lives or dies with the mission statement and underlying values around which an organization functions. Often the mission and values focus on such things as organizational performance, customer service, quality products, profit goals etc. These are then used as guiding posts and navigational aids to lead and inform leaders and employees at all levels within the organization.
Effectively, individuals then have to “integrate” themselves within the organizational directive in order to survive there. The organizational mission becomes an overarching theme in the lives of these individuals whether or not it is truly aligned with their own values and purpose in life. Of course most individuals are not in the habit of considering their values or purpose in life so they are only too happy to adopt someone else’s in order to stem the inner feelings of insecurity that arise from not having their own.
The organization then becomes a species in its own right and the individuals working within it have to alter their own values and purpose if they hope to remain a part of it. The problem arises however with the fact that organizational mission and values are often not aligned with basic human values. A clear example of this relates to the increasing number of hours that individuals find themselves working in a week and the increasing incidents of burnout related illness. Truly, I think anyone would say that this is not what he or she desires.
So the organization has become an entity that runs individuals lives rather than a means for individuals to achieve their purpose in life. They serve the organization not the other way around. But wait a minute here, isn’t an organization a “human” construct meant to further our goals, desires and purpose in alignment with our basic human values? After all don’t we want to do something in life that gives us joy, happiness, peace of mind, that helps us expand our creative potential in meaningful ways, that furthers the quality of our lives and the lives of others on this planet and that protects our environment? Have we therefore given up our power to an entity that doesn’t represent us? Is it possible to restore our rightful place in this equation and return the organization back into an instrument (or perhaps more accurately a process) that serves human values and humanity in general?
If we come back to the issue of integrity it becomes clear that the integrity, that is the “survival”, of the organization has become the imperative, not the integrity, that is the “wholeness”, of the individual. Notice that I have used the concept of integrity in two different senses here. The individual loses her/his sense of wholeness by repressing his/her basic human core values, effectively “cutting off” important parts of themselves. This repression often occurs out of fear of not surviving and effectively is an unconscious way of “lying” to oneself about what is truly important to that individual. The behavior of lying to oneself is about being “dishonest” with ones’ self or losing one’s integrity or wholeness.
At this point one might ask, is trying to survive not a basic human value? Well I might say that if given a choice an individual would rather “live” than just try to “survive”. Yet because the fear is so powerful most of us have even lost a sense of what it means to live. The idea of survival has a negative feeling attached to it for most people. It’s a feeling of just getting by and for no other purpose. It begins to feel like a meaningless exercise. Living however feels more positively motivating and full of potential. It in fact encompasses most of the human values for joy, peace of mind, creativity, etc. that I mentioned earlier.
Now if you follow me so far I think you are beginning to see that the problem of integrity has something to do with how we as individuals have been conditioned to react out of fear throughout our lives. It is clear that there is a lot to be afraid of as we are growing up in an uncertain world. It is this accumulated fear that we carry around that ultimately undermines our integrity (sense of wholeness and sense of personal honesty) in the long run.
Coaching for Organizational Integrity is about restoring our sense of wholeness and sense of personal honesty. This will allow us then to have the awareness of what we truly desire for ourselves and possibly enhance our courage to pursue it. Its premise rests on the observation that our conditioned responses to life long trauma become associated with limiting negative beliefs about others our environment and ourselves. Below is a short example of an exercise that I have used with individuals in my coaching practice to help them go beyond internal limitations to a place of greater awareness and self determination
Example:
A sales executive selling water treatment equipment is under pressure to meet his sales quota for this month. The economy is in a slump and he knows he will be unduly pressured to explain why his performance is slipping. He generally likes his job and has felt that his mission in life has been to help improve the environment and offer customers a product that they will truly get health benefits from. But under recent pressure he has started to doubt his sales abilities and this has inhibited him from being his normal ebullient self. He has started to have fears of failing and worries that he might get fired if he doesn’t meet his monthly quota.
Analysis of Situation:
There are a number of beliefs that this individual is unconsciously entertaining that need to be addressed:
1. His doubts about himself suggest that deep down he “doesn’t believe that he is capable of succeeding”. This is evident because if he knew with certainty that he could succeed doubt about this would never arise.
2. His fears of failing suggest that he ” believes he could fail”. This is evident because if he knew with certainty that he would never fail this thought would never arise.
3. The worry suggests he “believes the quality of his life would be made worse with failure to meet his quota”.
Now from the standpoint of integrity the highlighted beliefs clearly are not doing him any good. They are causing him to turn against himself; they create anxiety, confusion, inhibition, and ultimately reduced performance. We therefore have an individual who is “disintegrating” not one who is “integrated” or “whole”. So why would anyone accept these negative statements to be true?
Well over our lives we unconsciously learn to accept such negative beliefs about ourselves based on the failed experiences we have had. Rationalizations form around these negative beliefs and anchor them in our minds, whether we want them there or not. Let me illustrate:
1. The negative belief ” I don’t believe I can succeed” is held in our unconscious by the rationalization: ” Well if I believe this then I will work harder and I will succeed”.
In other words we unconsciously come to believe that this negative belief actually “helps us to succeed”.
2. However when we look at the evidence the belief ” I don’t believe I can succeed” actually ushers in self-doubt, anxiety, fear, confusion, inhibition all of which ultimately lead to reduced performance and potential failure. There is no success in this picture.
3.The rationalization “Well if I believe this then I will work harder and I will succeed” is actually a “lie” we choose to accept as truth. By doing so it anchors the negative belief in our minds and makes us susceptible to its ravages.
It is possible to make individuals aware of their negative beliefs and the rationalizations that anchor them. Additionally through a simple exercise, known as the Mind Resonance Process?, it is possible to permanently release this kind of unconscious material. This allows individuals to live with a greater sense of freedom in alignment with their own true values and desires. This freedom leads to enhanced motivation, joy, creativity and performance. The result is a more ” integrated”, “whole” individual. Such an individual is living, and working, from a place of power, creativity, joy, passion, etc. Clearly this is the kind of person any organization would value.
Some of the benefits to the organization are increased performance, increased productivity, and a greater creative resource in employees fostering continued innovation. As employees become integrated in this way they will more effectively help shape the organizational process in ways that will make it serve the real needs of others in its environment.
Copyright© 2005, Arrizza Performance Coaching Inc., All Rights Reserved
Nick Arrizza MD, Presidient & Founder of Arrizza Performance Coaching Inc.,is an Organizational Psychiatrist, Executive, Life & Leadership Coach, Stress & Performance Researcher, Speaker and Workshop Leader. He has developed powerful tools known as the Mind Resonance Process? which he uses in his practice to enhance individual and organizational performance. He can be contacted through his Web Site at: http://www.telecoaching4u.com
How to Buy Baby Carrier as Baby Shower Gift
Every year, people may have couple baby shower invitations. Buying baby shower gift may be painful for some people. Here we are going to talk about baby shower gift idea.
Taking care baby is a difficult job, whatever you can provide to ease mother’s effort is a great gift. We don’t necessary to buy fancy and expensive items as baby shower gifts. The important point is how much you care about baby and baby’s parent and how your gift can ease their life. Baby gear is one of the great baby shower gifts. For example, baby carrier can let parent to take baby everywhere comfortably. There are different kinds of baby carriers in the market. Some of them have unique features that add extra convenience. Since baby shower gifts can show how much you care about your friends and their babies, and they will use them very often, pay attention to some special features of the baby carriers can show how considerate you are.
Here are some basics on buying baby carrier. First of all, height adjustment is very important. Baby can grow very fast; body height changes in a short period of time. To let parents to use your baby shower gift longer, buy a baby carrier with height adjustment. Moreover, weight of the baby can grow very fast too. Some baby carriers equip unique strip to carrier attachment that make sure baby is comfortable. If possible, buy a baby carrier with all adjustments are located in the front of the carrier. Dual side entry is a convenient feature to take baby in and out of the carrier.
Since baby carrier is going to be used in daily basis, choose a carrier with soft material to make it more comfortable. Machine washable is a must.
Baby feels shaky when moving around in the baby carrier. In order to prevent baby head shaking too much, find a baby carrier with wraparound adjustable head support. This can make baby more comfortable, and baby cab sleep much better while moving around inside the baby carrier.
Baby needs a lot of accessories on the road, such as pacifiers, diapers, and toys. Buy a baby carrier that has more pockets. Some brands even have pockets for specific purpose. It allows parent to get specific item for baby easily.
Buying baby carrier is definitely a good baby gift, no matter it is a baby shower gift or not. When you are buying baby carrier, don’t forget following points.
It must be very comfortable for both baby and parent. You may try it out before you buy. Also, it is easy for parent to get baby in and out of carrier. The adjustable straps by arm holes and crotch that can fit baby grows.
Your friend or relative will definitely love your baby gift since it is so much helpful to them. Moreover, don’t hesitate to check with baby’s parent to see your baby gift is duplicated or not.
Wayne Liu is the founder of http://www.StyleAndMatch.com, a Gift Giving ideas site that provides thousands of gift ideas and information for different kinds of events and different kinds of people. He can be reached at wayneliu@styleandmatch.com.
