I decided to finally clean out the shed in our back yard recently. My wife left the house early on a Saturday morning to run some errands and I knew that my cleaning the shed would please her greatly.

On the way out the door to fulfill my noble task, I take a quick look at the morning mail and notice a past due bill so I run upstairs to write a check.

Upon reaching for the checkbook, I see there is only one check left, so I call my mom in Georgia and ask her to send me more.

My mom tells me my uncle Fred is not doing well, and she makes me promise to give him a call, so I ring him as soon as I get off the phone with her.

He’s happy to hear my voice, and reminds me that I still haven’t sent any recent family pictures. When I get off the phone, I run downstairs, get the pictures, run back upstairs, and put them in an envelope.

I wake my computer up to get my uncle’s address, and the phone rings. My neighbor’s on the line asking me if I can move our bicycles so he can get a delivery. As I move our bikes I see another neighbor taking out their garbage, and realize I need to quickly do the same.

I run in for the garbage and the phone rings again. This time it’s my daughter’s piano teacher explaining the upcoming monthly teaching schedule.

Needless to say, by the time I get off the phone, I wind up just missing the garbage truck, and I slink back to the house knowing my wife won’t be pleased having to keep the garbage for another two days.

At this point in time I realize that I need to establish my priorities and stick to them, or the day is really going to spin out of control.

I sit down to sort myself out, and after a bit of time spent thinking, my wife comes back home and cheerfully asks me what I have accomplished so far today.

Upon hearing her question I suddenly feel the beginning of a panic attack coming on. I missed getting the garbage out in time, I still haven’t written the check for the overdue bill, I haven’t yet addressed the envelope with the pictures for my uncle, and of course I have yet to begin cleaning the shed.

Soon the day will be half over, and not only am I not making headway, but I am losing ground!

Recognizing the emotional pain, I am in my daughter pulls me over to sit on the couch and climbs up on my lap.
“Daddy,” she says, “Why don’t you do what you told me to do the other day when I was upset? ”
“Take three deep breaths…”
“Look around you and notice that indeed the world is NOT falling apart…”
“And give thanks for all that you have, and all of the people who love you!”

Better advice has never been given.

When you find your life spinning out of control, take the time to breathe and feel into the emotional experience you are creating. Regardless of the task at hand, if you maintain a clear concept of who you are and what you are wanting to accomplish, you can stay on track and feel OK with all that transpires.

bio = Charlie Badenhop is a fourth degree black belt in Aikido, and a certified instructor in Japan. He is a practitioner of the Japanese healing art of sei tai, and a Certified Trainer in NLP and Ericksonian Hypnosis. He has been studying and teaching in Japan for the last eighteen years and has students throughout the world. He lives in Tokyo with his wife and daughter and is the founder of Seishindo. Benefit from his thought-provoking ideas and a new self-help Practice every two weeks, by subscribing to his complimentary newsletter “Pure Heart, Simple Mind” at
http://www.seishindo.org/anger/index.html

Popularity: 3% [?]

We all need to decide whether to “play it safe” in life and worry about the downside, or instead take a chance, by being who we really are and living the life our heart desires. Which choice are you making?

One of the first things I noticed about my newly purchased parrot, was that he couldn’t fly. Chico’s wings had been clipped and he was stuck here on earth just like us humans.

Once the weather turned nice I took Chico and sat him on a branch of a tree in my backyard, hoping to make him happier. At first he seemed confused. He walked back and forth on the branch looking like an agitated father pacing back and forth in the maternity waiting room. I was surprised to see that he didn’t flap his wings in an attempt to fly. Somehow he knew he was incapable. I always wondered how he knew such a thing.

One day, while sitting on his branch, Chico got way more agitated then he had been when I first took him outside months ago. He was pacing back and forth and talking up a storm. Then all of a sudden, he stopped pacing, let out a spine tingling scream, and started madly flapping his wings for the first time ever. About three seconds later, he lifted off from the branch like the space shuttle at Cape Canaveral! I was amazed and shocked. Little did I know his feathers had been growing back in, and just like a sly convict, Chico had been biding his time until the moment was ripe for escape!

Chico made his break for freedom on a late Monday afternoon, and by late Monday night I knew he was not coming home. Finally, on Tuesday evening Chico returned, but stayed way out of reach. I talked to him and showed him some food, but to no avail. Then I took his cage inside so he would not relate coming back to getting locked up again. Finally, I made him a firm promise that if he did come back I would let him out every day the weather was nice. Shortly after making my solemn oath, he flew onto my shoulder and I took him upstairs.

>From that day on, whenever the weather was good I would let him out early and he would fly around and be back before dark. This routine lasted for about two months and then suddenly Chico became ill. The vet said that he had contracted a disease from the pigeons in the neighborhood. Within a few days he died, and I mourned his loss.

Just once the thought crossed my mind that if I had not set him free to fly every day, he would still be alive. It was then that I realized that the quality of one’s life is much more important than the number of years one lives. What sense is there in being a bird if you can’t fly?

Chico made his initial break for freedom on a late Monday afternoon in April. When will you make yours? You too can take a chance when the conditions are right, knowing you too in your own way, were built to fly. If you don’t set yourself free, what will be the purpose of your life?

I would suggest that the quality of one’s life is dependant on feeling one’s essence, and living the design that is you. If you are a fish, your life needs to be all about swimming. If you are a bird, your life needs to be all about flying and spreading your message to all that you meet along the way. What sense is there in being you, if you don’t really let yourself free and express your heart?

bio = Charlie Badenhop is a fourth degree black belt in Aikido, and a certified instructor in Japan. He is a practitioner of the Japanese healing art of sei tai, and a Certified Trainer in NLP and Ericksonian Hypnosis. He has been studying and teaching in Japan for the last eighteen years and has students throughout the world. He lives in Tokyo with his wife and daughter and is the founder of Seishindo. Benefit from his thought-provoking ideas and a new self-help Practice every two weeks, by subscribing to his complimentary newsletter “Pure Heart, Simple Mind” at
http://www.seishindo.org/anger/index.html

Popularity: 3% [?]

Have you ever noticed how the way you feel about yourself sometimes depends on whether or not you get confirmation of your value from others? When you enter into challenging situations with a positive self identity you will discover that you are living your life with a greater sense of enjoyment and fulfillment.

I have learned a lot about nurturing a positive identity of love and appreciation from the man who taught me to train dogs. Dogs and humans both have a “self identity” that determines perception of the world, behavior, and one’s sense of self worth. Let me explain how my teacher nurtured a positive self identity in the dogs he trained.

Frank had a very fascinating way of helping the guard dogs he trained, to feel respected, protected and loved, regardless of the situation/context they were in. Here is how he accomplished this. First of course, he started out by treating his dogs with love and respect, and by showing them an infinite amount of patience as they were learning. This of course is crucial.

Then, the next thing he did was a true stroke of genius. He would cut a small piece of carpet for each dog he trained. He would place the carpet in the dog’s sleeping area, for him to lie on each night. He would also take this carpet during the day and set it down in various locations, and sit the dog on the carpet, as he praised the dog for being good. Whenever he moved to a new location, he would have the dog stand up, and he would pick up the carpet and carry it to the new location, set it down, sit the dog down, and again, praise the dog for being a “good boy.” Soon the piece of carpet took on the distinct odor of the dog, and Frank said that this led the dog to feel “at home” when sitting on the carpet.

Next, Frank would teach the dog to pick up the piece of carpet himself, and carry it to wherever they were going. The dog would then set the piece of carpet down when they stopped, and sit on top of it, with Frank all of the time praising him for being a good dog. Now Frank said, “The dog begins to feel that he truly belongs in every place that he travels to, and no matter where he goes, he receives my love and appreciation. Soon the dog takes on this love and appreciation as the primary core of his identity.”

And I ask you now, if this strategy works so brilliantly with dogs, would the same basic strategy not work just as well with human beings? Ask youself, “What is the small piece of carpet you carry around with you wherever you go?” “Would your life not be very different if you changed your piece of carpet to one of self love and appreciation?”
bio = Charlie Badenhop is a fourth degree black belt in Aikido, and a certified instructor in Japan. He is a practitioner of the Japanese healing art of sei tai, and a Certified Trainer in NLP and Ericksonian Hypnosis. He has been studying and teaching in Japan for the last eighteen years and has students throughout the world. He lives in Tokyo with his wife and daughter and is the founder of Seishindo. Benefit from his thought-provoking ideas and a new self-help Practice every two weeks, by subscribing to his complimentary newsletter “Pure Heart, Simple Mind” at
http://www.seishindo.org/anger/index.html

Popularity: 4% [?]

Do you ever find yourself thinking, “Life has taught me some tough lessons, and the scars do not heal easily.”? This article can help you learn valuable lessons from the past, instead of allowing the past to determine your future.

The quality of the life we live, is based upon the learning we derive from our experiences. I know that for myself, it is sometimes easy to feel that “Life has taught me some tough lessons, and the scars do not heal easily.” When I find myself thinking like this it means that I have fallen into the trap of believing that “It is `only natural’ that an `X’ type event or relationship, will lead to a `Y’ type response.” At other times it becomes apparent that if I had somehow learned something different from a particular challenging situation, the quality of my life would be much more rewarding.

In working with a client struggling with alcoholism, we spent our first session with the client telling me in detail how he had come to live such an unhealthy debilitating life. In short he said: “Both my parents were alcoholics, and both of them were physically abusive to me. I grew up never knowing what bad thing would happen next. I learned from my parents that the best way to not have to feel the pain and uncertainty of life was to escape into an altered state of alcohol induced euphoria.” When listening to a client tell such a sad story, it is easy to believe that their situation was all but preordained.

As fate would have it, a week after beginning to work with this client, I went to a business luncheon to hear an inspirational speaker discuss how we can live our life fully, and succeed in times of hardship. Indeed, the speaker was truly inspirational. When the talk was over I waited around to thank him.

After introducing myself and thanking him, I asked him how he had come to lead such an exemplary life. He looked around to make sure no one else was listening and in a low voice he said the following: “Both my parents were alcoholics, and both of them were physically abusive to me.I grew up never knowing what bad thing would happen next. I learned from my parents that the worst possible way to deal with the pain and uncertainty of life was to escape into an altered state of alcohol induced euphoria. My parents taught me a difficult but very important lesson. I learned from them that staying present in the moment is the only real chance we have for living a fulfilling life.”

What a truly great example of embodied spirit the motivational speaker offers us. The quality of our life is not dependent on the circumstances we encounter. The quality of our life is dependent on what we learn from the circumstances we encounter. Perhaps the greatest example of this wisdom is present in the life of Nelson Mandela. He is a man that suffered great pain and hardship, and somehow his suffering seasoned his soul in a way that has led him to be compassionate and caring.

In the course of exploring how to live our life more fully we can consider pondering one question over and over again, “What can I learn from the difficulties I am experiencing, that will actually ADD to the quality of my life?” At the very least we can begin to entertain the fact that: We can derive a wide range of learning from any single circumstance, event, or relationship. When we get the most stuck in life is when we believe that the one thing we did learn is the only thing that can be learned.

bio = Charlie Badenhop is a fourth degree black belt in Aikido, and a certified instructor in Japan. He is a practitioner of the Japanese healing art of sei tai, and a Certified Trainer in NLP and Ericksonian Hypnosis. He has been studying and teaching in Japan for the last eighteen years and has students throughout the world. He lives in Tokyo with his wife and daughter and is the founder of Seishindo. Benefit from his thought-provoking ideas and a new self-help Practice every two weeks, by subscribing to his complimentary newsletter “Pure Heart, Simple Mind” at
http://www.seishindo.org/anger/index.html

Popularity: 3% [?]

Spyware, also known as adware or malware, is getting to be more and more of a problem to internet users. Spyware is usually a program or application that is installed onto your pc, often without your knowledge or permission. It may display ads, monitor your Web surfing patterns, steal your passwords or become responsible for a whole range of bad stuff.

Where does spyware come from/What does it do?

These programs/applications can come from Web sites that download music or offer free software, or even from certain popup ads if you click anywhere inside the ad instead of hitting the X button to get rid of it.

Cookies are almost inevitable (most websites use them, and some won`t even work without them), and rarely a problem as they are very easy to clean up or even not accept, but the threat posed by key loggers, diallers and Trojans is much greater.

A key logger can record anything you type, including your passwords, e-mail messages,and credit card numbers, and even your online chats. Diallers will secretly hang up your Internet connection and redial premium services that can run up your long-distance bill. Trojans can embed programs which will open “backdoors” into your computer to allow hackers to steal data or make your pc unusable.

These types of spyware can prove very costly to people unaware of them.

How do you know if your pc is infected with spyware?

Well, for definite, if you`ve never checked before, you can bet your bottom dollar that you WILL have some spyware on your computer.

Here are some common traits:

1. Changed IE favourites.
2. Homepage changes without you changing it.
3. Popup ads popping up even when you`re offline.
4. New desktop icons appear for programs you did not knowingly install.
5. Some trojans will cause changes to the icons of your normal programs.
6. Prolonged System start-up after a reboot (takes a long time to load user settings).
7. You have to refresh a webpage multiple times before you can see the content.
8. Your pc may seem uncommonly slow or sluggish.
9. A program may not operate correctly. Some examples of this are Windows Media Player will not work. Notepad will not work, Task Manager, MSConfig or Regedit may close immediately after opening.
10. Unexplained loss of internet access (worst case scenario).

To eliminate spyware you should keep it from being installed on your computer in the first place. You could always just never install anything and never visit websites, but then you might as well throw away your internet connection altogether, huh? A better option might be to turn OFF the install on demand option in windows. This can be done by following these steps:

1. Open a new browser window.
2. Click on tools.
3. Click on internet options.
4. Click on advanced.
5. Scroll down through the list of advanced options and UNCHECK “Enable install on demand”.
6. Click OK.

You can also make sure you can still download things that you WANT to download by following these steps:

1. Open a new browser window.
2. Click on tools.
3. Click on internet options.
4. Click on security
5. Click on custom
6. Scroll down until you find “Installation of desktop items” and set to “prompt”
7. Click OK

Remember, If your Internet security controls aren’t properly set, just visiting a Web site or clicking on a Web ad can install an application.
Please note that if any of your programs are set to auto-update, you will need the install on demand option enabled.

How do you get rid of spyware?

Before running spyware removal tools, clean up your pc a little by hand first, that way the scan won`t take as long.

1. Open a browser window.
2. Click on tools.
3. click on internet options.
4. Choose delete cookies –> ok
5. Choose delete files –> delete all offline content –> ok

The 2 most commonly recommended spyware removers are Spybot Search & Destroy, available here: www.safer-networking.org/en/index.html and Ad-Aware SE Personal, which is available here: www.lavasoftusa.com/software/adaware

Both of these are free, and they don`t pressure you into paying for a full version, although spybot also immunizes your computer from known spyware without purchasing a “paid version”, unlike adaware.

A great forum for getting answers about spyware and other related problems can be found here: http://forums.spywareinfo.com/index.php?b=1

Another really good place to find help with computer problems is http://forums.techguy.org

HijackThis is a general homepage hijackers detector and remover.It does not target specific programs/URLs, just the methods used by hijackers to force you onto their sites. As a result, false positives are imminent and unless you are sure what you’re doing, you should always consult with knowledgable folks before deleting anything. The above-mentioned forums are good places to ask for help with this. You can get HijackThis for free here www.spychecker.com/program/hijackthis.html

Make it a part of your regular maintainence routine to scan your system for spyware, and remember that NO spyware blockers will be fully effective unless you keep them up to date, so check for updates often.

-=-=-=-=-=-=-Resource Box-=-=-=–=-=-=-=-
How to easily avoid those contrived Scams, Shams, and
Spam. Yes; without spending your Hard won money with every so
called Guru. Be far better informed and prepared With This Brand
New, Huge money Saving Free E-Book! Now You can quickly learn
how to run a real home spun business without all the Hype.
http://annamarketing.com/pops/splash.html
Subscribe to Not Just Another Ezine http://annamarketing.com
=============================================
This article is available for reprint in your opt-in ezine,
web site or ebook. You MUST agree not to make any changes
to the article and the RESOURCE BOX MUST be included.
(c) 2004 AnnaMarketing.com. All Rights Reserved

Popularity: 4% [?]

Choosing domain names, or web addresses is a major thing when you want to do business online. Whilst a great, or even halfway decent domain name may not guarantee success, it can most definitely have an impact on just about all aspects of your online biz.

When choosing a domain name, your best bet is to get one that is short, concise and easy to remember, as this will minimise confusion. If you are going for a domain that could possibly cause a bit of confusion, then it`s generally recommended that it falls into one of these categories: words that sound similar, common misspellings, hyphenated or non-hyphenated variations.

On the other hand, long domain names offer more flexibilty in choosing a domain name, allowing you to be more descriptive about what your site is about or what it does.

Don`t choose things like stuff4free.com or free-stuff-online though, as it makes it hard for the domain to be passed on to others through word of mouth. People can`t actually “hear” whether it`s 4 or four, and they can`t “hear” the hyphens. Again, joe_bloggs.com looks ok, but try telling someone to go there, joe underscore bloggs dot com is just hard to say.

Personally I`m not a fan of dots, dashes and numbers in a domain name, I think I prefer them as letters all in a row, like stuffforfree.com, freestuffonline.com and joebloggs.com (or whatever else the extention may be).

Try testing out names on family and friends, together you could come up with a really great name, one you wouldn`t have thought up on your own, and with a bit of luck it may not have been taken already.

Here are some various links that can be helpful to check out before trying to buy the domain name you want.

Domain naming idea generators:
http://www.nameboy.com
http://www.webmaster-toolkit.com/domain-name-generator.shtml

Domain name exchanges:
http://www.afternic.com
http://www.websitenames.com
http://www.thedomainexchange.com

Domain registration services:
http://www.networksolutions.com/en_US/name-it
http://www.easyspace.com/domains/domains.html
http://www.register.com/register.cgi

You can use a whois search to look up domains that are already in use. This can be particulary useful If you`re looking for information such as the name and address of the registrant, creation date, expiration date, billing contact, technical contact, administrative contact, and domain servers.

Domain search tools:
http://www.whois.sc
http://www.domainsearch.com
http://www.domainit.com/domain-search-engine.htm

Even if a domain name that you really want is taken, if no one actually has a site there they may just let the name lapse. So check the expiry on the domain name, and within a few months of it expiring you might just be able to grab it for yourself.

Happy hunting!

-=-=-=-=-=-=-Resource Box-=-=-=–=-=-=-=-
How to easily avoid those contrived Scams, Shams, and
Spam. Yes; without spending your Hard won money with every so
called Guru. Be far better informed and prepared With This Brand
New, Huge money Saving Free E-Book! Now You can quickly learn
how to run a real home spun business without all the Hype.
http://annamarketing.com/pops/splash.html
Subscribe to Not Just Another Ezine http://annamarketing.com
=============================================
This article is available for reprint in your opt-in ezine,
web site or ebook. You MUST agree not to make any changes
to the article and the RESOURCE BOX MUST be included.
(c) 2004 AnnaMarketing.com. All Rights Reserved

Popularity: 4% [?]

The ease with which visitors are able to use a Web Site is very important, especially if you`re trying to market something from the site. Usability is very much about how quickly and easily visitors are able to move around the site and not just about making sure everything on the site works.

The need for your website to be easily navigated is enormous. Messy, disruptive and confusing sites are a huge turn off to potential customers. In other words: if you`re looking to make sales, make sure your website is easy to navigate so as not to chase off visitors at first sight.

Navigation (links for moving around the site) is extremely important if you want your visitors to look at more than just your main page. If navigation choices are unclear, most visitors will just hit the “Close” button, never to be seen again.

As a rule of thumb, the main navigation is usually placed in the top 1/3 of the web page or on the left hand column, and the secondary navigation tends to be placed within the bottom 2/3 of the page, or on the right hand column. Of course, this is entirely your choice, because, as with all rules, there ARE exceptions ;~)

If you want to build your website on your own from scratch, I highly recommend getting some free webspace to practice on, especially if you`re new to site-building. Try a few different ones and see which one is best for you, but keep in mind that to be taken seriously, you really will need to get your own domain and proper hosting for your site at some point in time.

Some free webspace hosts:
http://www.freeservers.com
http://www.50megs.com
http://www.20m.com
http://www.tripod.lycos.com

Of course, not everybody is an expert in hmtl, perl, php and things like that, so I`ve listed a few resources that you may find helpful in designing your first website.

Free website templates:
http://freesitetemplates.com
http://www.freewebtemplates.com
http://www.templatesbox.com
http://www.freelayouts.com

Free banner templates:
http://www.animationonline.com/S/banner_templates.html
http://www.pysoft.com/GIF_Designer_Banners1.html
http://www.clickfire.com/content/graphics/banners

Free scripts, tools etc:
http://www.free-scripts.net
Offers html guide, email checker, chat, and many other things.

http://www.free-webmaster-tools.com
Has over 1400 Directory resources for web development

http://resources.bravenet.com/scripts_archive/javascript_dhtml
Offers free clocks, colors, images, menus, mouse effects, scrollers and more.

And finally, some free HTML help and tutorials:

Some simple HTML codes to spice up your web site:
http://www.web-source.net/html_tips.htm

HTML articles and tutorials:
http://www.iboost.com/build/programming/html

Simple HTML tags:
http://htmlgoodies.earthweb.com/primers/primer_2.html

Just what it says: How to build HTML:
http://www.howtobuildhtml.com

Should you decide you want a “real” website from the start, with your own domain name and paid hosting but you still have problems designing one yourself, there`s plenty of places where you can find web designers at affordable prices, or maybe even free. Talk with friends, see if they have any knowledge on the subject, ask if they`d be willing to help you. Do a search on Google or Yahoo for forums, chatrooms and such-like pertaining to website design., try bartering something in return for web design services. You`ll be amazed at what a little bartering can bring you ;~)

-=-=-=-=-=-=-Resource Box-=-=-=–=-=-=-=-
How to easily avoid those contrived Scams, Shams, and
Spam. Yes; without spending your Hard won money with every so
called Guru. Be far better informed and prepared With This Brand
New, Huge money Saving Free E-Book! Now You can quickly learn
how to run a real home spun business without all the Hype.
http://annamarketing.com/pops/splash.html
Subscribe to Not Just Another Ezine http://annamarketing.com
=============================================
This article is available for reprint in your opt-in ezine,
web site or ebook. You MUST agree not to make any changes
to the article and the RESOURCE BOX MUST be included.
(c) 2004 AnnaMarketing.com. All Rights Reserved

Popularity: 3% [?]

About three hours west of Denver lies Snow Mountain Ranch, one of the top cross-country ski centers in the United States. Known as the “YMCA of the Rockies”, it boasts a large ski chalet and over 90 kilometers of packed and groomed trails.

From January 30 to February 6, 2005, the center will host the 30th annual Ski for Light International event, a week that brings blind and mobility-impaired adults together with sighted ski instructors for cross-country skiing and fun social activities. Participants come from the United States, Norway, and several other countries to either learn skiing for the first time, or improve on previously developed skills.

The first Ski for Light was held in Norway in 1964, and was so successful that a nonprofit all-volunteer organization was formed. Chapters began spreading to other parts of the world, and the program was first introduced to the United States in 1975. The idea is to provide the blind and mobility-impaired a chance to experience the freedom and benefits of physical activity through cross-country skiing.

At the beginning of the event, each skier is paired with an instructor/guide, according to experience level. Beginners are taught basic fundamentals of the sport, while more advanced skiers work on improving their techniques and endurance.

Skiers navigate the slopes in pre-set tracks or grooves in the snow, while their instructors ski on a parallel set of tracks. The guide advises when to change direction, speed up and slow down, and describes any changes in the level and direction of the tracks. Skiers with mobility impairments use sit-skis, while their guides give instructional tips and offer physical assistance if needed. In addition to cross-country skiing, mobility-impaired participants also have the chance to learn the sport of sled-hockey during the week.

The sighted instructors are volunteers from all over the United States who pay their own way to attend, just like the other participants. Duane Farrar, a blind skier and chairman of Ski for Light’s Public Relations Committee, says their role is vital to the success of the program.

“They are there because they love cross-country skiing and wish to share that love with someone like myself who otherwise might not have the opportunity to experience the sport and the exhilarating sense of freedom that it brings,” Farrar explains.

The highlight of the event is a 5-K rally and 10-K race, complete with national anthems and Olympic-style finish line. Skiers get the chance to showcase the skills they’ve learned during the week over a measured distance, but don’t have to be competitive or athletic. The only thing asked of them is to give skiing a try, and have fun.

Mary Kozy, a blind clinical social worker from Chicago, was a bit apprehensive when she attended her first Ski for Light in 1978. But it didn’t take her long to discover the joy of learning to ski, and meeting other people with positive attitudes.

“After attending Ski for Light, I caught the “if I can do this, I can do anything” attitude, and went on to love skiing,” Kozy recalls. “It is a real high to go to SFL for a week and be around so many enthusiastic people.”

While skiing is the big attraction, it is only part of the total experience. After a day on the slopes, skiers and guides return to their hotel for dinner, talent shows, music and dancing, or just lounging in a heated pool or hot-tub. Even poor snow conditions can’t stop the event. In cases of extremely low temperatures or not enough snow, participants organize games, field trips, exercises, and other activities.

Many skiers believe the most rewarding aspect of Ski for Light is the memories and camaraderie they share with each other and their guides.

“The friendships I’ve made through SFL are deep, and those I will have all my life,” Mary Kozy says. “People come through town and visit, and we are now like a big family.”

Deborah Kendrick, a freelance writer and devoted participant, agrees. “I believe there is no other environment in which participants suspend, so completely, the sense of who is and who is not a person with a disability,” she says. “People of all walks of life come together for that one week to share a love of skiing, the outdoors, learning, and loving life.”

To find out more about Ski for Light, or the upcoming event in Granby, Colorado, visit:
www.sfl.org

bio = Stephen Michael Kerr is a blind radio broadcaster and freelance writer in Austin, Tx. To read more fascinating articles about sports for people with disabilities, subscribe to Stephen’s free ezine, Adaptive Sports And Recreation. Just send a blank e-mail to:
mailto:41809-subscribe@zinester.com

Popularity: 6% [?]

Travelers who are looking for a fantastic all-inclusive resort destination that is priced far below most tropical destinations in and around the Caribbean should look into Mexico’s Riviera Maya. This area has fast become a very popular tropical vacation getaway for travelers from around the world. The Riviera Maya is located on the Caribbean side of Mexico and encompasses the stretch of coastline ranging from about 5 miles to 60 miles south of Cancun.

Don’t be misled into thinking that because you fly into Cancun to get to the Riviera Maya that it is anything like Cancun and its spring break, party-like atmosphere.it is far from it. The Riviera Maya has been set aside by the Mexican government as a semi-protected area, and as such it cannot become the touristy, high-rise resort type of destination you find in the Cancun hotel zone. Resorts can only be built 3-stories or less in height and they have to be constructed to embrace the surrounding vegetation, wildlife, and topography. It is a much more family-friendly and romantic vacation destination.

Resorts in the Riviera Maya are primarily all-inclusive properties. Because of the remote locations of many of the properties there are very few offsite dining areas. All-inclusive resorts give the traveler the benefit of having everything paid for prior to their arrival. All meals, drinks (alcoholic and non-alcoholic), non-motorized watersports, and other amenities are included in package prices. The more upscale all-inclusive resorts of 4-star and higher quality typically have many different restaurant options ranging from buffet to world-class a la carte cuisine..all-included! Some of the more popular resort chains in the Riviera Maya include Iberostar Resorts, Palace Resorts, and Secrets Resorts & Spas. Resorts run anywhere from more family-related types of properties or resorts for the budget-minded to very upscale adults-only spa resorts.

One of the best reasons to choose the Mexico Riviera Maya for your next vacation is not just for the superb quality resorts and great value, but also for the fantastic tours and excursions that are available in around the Yucatan Peninsula region. This area is teeming with Mayan ruins and ancient architecture that are very popular with tourists. The most majestic of the local Mayan ruins are the pyramids of Chichen Itza. These incredibly preserved pyramids date back to 400AD and this awe-inspiring tour will leave with you many wonderful memories. There are many other Mayan ruins tours you can take as well. In addition to ruins you can also experience many eco-based tours that take you to game and marine preserves where you will find amazing wildlife and snorkeling that is nothing short of amazing. Another popular day-trip for those staying in the Riviera Maya region is the island of Cozumel. You can reach this quaint island by ferry from the town of Playa del Carmen located in the heart of the Riviera Maya. It is a short 45 minute ferry ride and once there you will find duty-free shopping, great dining, and some of the world’s best SCUBA diving and snorkeling.

If you have taken tropical vacations in the Caribbean or Hawaii and are looking for a new destination to go to the Riviera Maya is an excellent choice that will definitely impress and have you ready to come back to again and again.

bio = Barry deCocq is a co-owner and managing director of Tropical Sands Vacations (http://www.tropicalSands.com), a discount Mexico and Caribbean travel brokerage specializing in all-inclusive resorts. Contact at info@tropicalsands.com

Popularity: 4% [?]

You do your best to make sure your organization is operating as effectively as possible. But if your policies and procedures are incomplete, outdated, or inconsistent, then they are not driving the performance improvement they should.
When employees try to use incomplete or undefined procedures, waste and costly errors soon follow.

Case Study: Procedure Mistakes Add Up Quickly

Without knowing it, employees at a local auto parts company were having a costly problem determining when to accept customer credit. The company actually had a detailed credit application procedure, including an exhaustive error correction routine, but the procedure had one fatal flaw: it was not properly indexed.

Indexing Improves Procedures Usability

Without a way to readily locate and reference the applicable procedure in the operations manual, employees could not find it and were simply not using it at all, leading to an inconsistent process and wildly varying output. Potentially valuable customers were regularly turned away by some staff members, while others accepted bad credit risks because they were unsure of which ones to reject.

A small omission like this can add up to thousands of dollars in lost sales and good will. Even the most thorough procedures inevitably have gaps that come from being “too close” to the process or not following the basic rules of effective procedure writing.

Profit from Process Experience

To be effective, procedures must be action oriented, grammatically correct, and written in a consistent style and format to ensure usability. These guidelines, along with industry “best practices” that are documented in auditable criteria, can be used to improve your procedures:

1. Context. Actions must properly describe
the activity to be performed.
2. Consistency. All references and terms are used the same way every time, and the procedure must ensure consistent results.
3. Completeness. There must be no information, logic, or design gaps.
4. Control. The document and its described actions demonstrate feedback and control.
5. Compliance. All actions are sufficient for their intended compliance.
6. Correctness. The document must be grammatically correct without spelling errors.
7. Clarity. Documents must be easy to read and understandable.

Quickly Improve Your Policies and Procedures without the Hassle

You can quickly resolve these usability problems and improve performance, and also upgrade your documentation to “best practice” standards without hassles or commitments. By beginning to improve your documents, you will be able to identify areas for improvement. And you can start today with the 7 Cs of “best practices”.

bio = Chris Anderson has over 18 years of sales, marketing and business management experience working with business process design, software and systems engineering for over ten years - consulting with companies large and small. He is also co-author of policies and procedures manual products, assisting in the layout, process design and implementation of the information. Mail to:chris@bizmanualz.com Visit:http://www.bizmanualz.com

Popularity: 7% [?]

There’s an old expression that says, “The only things
certain in life are death and taxes.”

Well that is not entirely true.

Now there’s a new kid on the block…

Guaranteed Signups.

Guaranteed Signups provide new opportunities for
marketers to get direct sign ups to their programs
without the time consuming task of having to
advertise or recruit new members themselves.

Here are some of the benefits:

1) You get a built in downline quickly and easily.

2) You can build a contact list and mail to them
as long as the back office of your program allows
you to do this.

3) You can develop a lead capture or splash page
and create your own mailing list without little or
no extra effort on your part.

There are many different kinds of guaranteed
sign-ups.

For instance, you can purchase…

* World Wide sign-ups
* US sign-ups
* Country targeted sign-ups
* Incentivized sign-ups
* Non incentivized sign-ups
* Phone surveyed sign-ups

Non incentivized, phone surveyed sign-ups give you
more bang for your buck and usually produce good
results.

US sign-ups are high demand primarily because
these people tend to purchase more.

The best of the bunch are phone surveyed
sign-ups, they cost a bit more, but they are
well worth the extra outlay.

Using Guaranteed Sign-ups for Your Members.

If you own a program with a large downline or
database, you can purchase large blocks of
sign-ups. This is a great way to provide instant
downlines for your members. It helps motivate
and excite them.

What Guaranteed Sign-ups Can and Cannot Do

All guaranteed signup programs work on the
following basis…

1. Your program must have an option to join
free, with the ability to upgrade to paid status.

2. Sign-ups will be sent directly to your site and,
if the person is interested, they sign up as a
free member.

3. For this point on it’s up to you. You need to do
the work of following these people up and give
them reasons and incentives to upgrade

Do not expect a sign up to upgrade automatically.
This won’t happen unless you work your new
contacts and nurture them. Let them know the
benefits of your product and give them heaps of
free information.

Sign ups to do not happen by magic.

A site that offers you sign ups is essentially doing
the hard work of advertising for you and that
takes time. So be patient.

Benefits of guaranteed signups…

* You can share them with downline members
* Do JV’s with the suppliers and resell them
* Fill you own program downline and work them
to get new upgrades.

And the best part, the companies that supply
them do all the work for you.

bio = Phil Basten and Jane Mark run their own Ad-Agency
online. They provide marketing services to online
marketers and small business owners including
Guaranteed Signups, Phone surveyed leads, Ultra-
Fresh Autoresponder leads and much more. You
get more info here…

http://jpeadvertising.com/signups/
http://www.jpeadvertising.com/leadmagnet/pesignups.html

Popularity: 6% [?]

You’ve probably heard about a “brain team”. It’s an idea that made many famous people rich. They all had a team. And a team had a brain. A brain of a whole team. What does it have to do with internet marketing?

So you have started to do some internet business. You need to make money of it. But all you have is some mediocre traffic, which doesn’t make a lot of money. As I told you in previous articles - you have to do some massive action. But first of all - you need to know - what kind of action do you need to do.

Of course you can plan it yourself, but there is a better way. Contact some of your competitors, say “Hi” and talk to them about their business. Here is a most important question you should ask them: “Is there a way I can help you?”

Why should you do that?

First of all, when you are helping tons of your competitors - you learn what you should do to get yourself a better place.

Second, you get a team of people who owe you, because you helped them. It doesn’t mean you have to cheat them and use them after that. You’ll eventually get some tips, ideas and joint ventures from them.

Also, you’ll get to know the most current news in your industry. You’ll understand the most some of the most current ways your competition achieves results.

Eventually you’ll see your competition linking to you. And sometimes you’ll see them asking you for advice or asking for some joint efforts. So, you are now in the center of a whole team of the best in your industry. And what did you do to achieve that? Just helped them (or even just asked what can you do).

That might sound unusual to help your competition. But new age requires new approaches. But I can hardly call that a new way. It’s just a new vision of an old marketing way. It’s a kind of things spies used to get into trust of another country, another company, etc.

Helping pays off really much. You don’t have to always to that, only at start and eventually later. But later you’ll get so big thanks to ideas of your competition that helping them will not affect your business in any way.

bio = Max Clixel is an author of www.Clixels.com “Clixelling your way to Marketing”.
You can reprint this article freely as long as it’s reprinted completely including this paragraph with active link and without any changes.

Popularity: 5% [?]

Many moons ago. Talking to people was something I avoided
where possible.

At the time, I did not know I was unconsciously setting
myself up for failure. I kept making the same mistakes
without even noticing what I was doing wrong.

You may be doing the same thing.

Here are three common mistakes together with tips on how to
deal with them:

1. Judging Your Performance Against Unrealistic Standards

Be honest with yourself.

Accept that where you are now in terms of your
communication skills is only your starting point - not your
finishing point.

And assess your performance and your progress against your
typical level of effectiveness. Not against some desired
state of perfection or ultimate goal.

Goals are very important as a destination to aim for but do
not use long term goals as a standard to judge your current
performance against - that is a recipe for disillusionment
and massive frustration.

I know. Because I tried it!

2. The Failure To Learn Each Day

As people we can be lazy. This means that a lack of follow
through on our goals can go unnoticed. After all we can
always catch up some other day.

This attitude will kill your dreams faster than you can
spell failure.

When I started to make massive improvements in how I
related to people I dedicated myself to becoming excellent.

Once I had proven strategies the rest was easy. I just
applied the material each day. I improved each day because
I made it a priority and because I committed to applying
the material.

Now…

I also know people who learned the same peak performance
strategies I learned. Today they are no farther ahead than
they were years ago.

How did they pull that off?

By putting it off until another day and by neglecting to
use what they had learned. Implementation is crucial.

If you do this your progress is a certainty.

3. Attempting To Be Original

Many years ago I put myself under huge pressure by
expecting myself to be original with each person I met.

This is a sure-fire strategy for failure and a great way to
get stressed out for no reason.

Guess what I later discovered?

There is no need to be original. You can have the same
conversation all day long with different people and nobody
will suspect a thing!

People are happy to talk about mundane topics because there
is no effort involved.

I have lived or worked in several countries including
Ireland, England, Germany, Holland, Spain and the U.S.

And everywhere I have been people are happy to talk all day
about:

- the weather
- their children
- the new movie
- the family pet
- the boss
- the traffic

You get the idea!

bio = Peter Murphy is a peak performance expert. He recently
produced a very popular free report: 10 Simple Steps to
Developing Communication Confidence. Apply now because
it is available for a limited time only at:
http://www.howtotalkwithconfidence.com/report.htm

Popularity: 3% [?]

Do you ever get an uncomfortable feeling in your stomach
when you have to approach someone?

In situations like this does your mind go blank?

This is not unusual. That feeling is often the fear of
rejection.

When you feel afraid your emotions take over, you feel
tense and your ability to think logically vanishes into
thin air.

And that is why you can talk to close friends without a
care in the world but never know what to say when you meet
new people. i.e. emotions cloud your thinking.

What is the answer to this challenge?

You need to take charge of the fear of rejection:

1. Imagine the worst case scenario.

Run it through in your mind. How will you handle rejection
if it does happen?

Our fears often take on a life of their own. However when
you can stop for a moment and plan in advance, whatever
does happen is usually not so bad after all.

Once you accept this you will feel more relaxed and better
able to deal with what does happen.

2. Decide what rejection means

When we react emotionally to rejection we can usually come
up with some awful reasons why people reject us, such as:

- People dislike me
- I am a failure
- I am not worthy of their approval
- I am not good with people

These limiting thoughts are only making things worse for
you. And the strange thing is that only you can choose what
rejection means for you.

Meaning is a choice so why not choose more empowering
meanings? Such as:

- I need to change my approach
- I can get better by learning a better way
- He is having a bad day and is too busy to talk

Decide what rejection really means before it happens and
you will feel a lot better about yourself if it does happen.

Like I always say…

Knowing what to say is not just a matter of what words to
speak, that is only the tip of the iceberg, ninety per cent
of the solution depends on you taking charge of your
emotional and mental states.

When you do this you will be able to talk to anyone you
meet with the same ease you talk to close friends.

One final point…

Are these techniques designed to be used once? No!

These strategies will in time become part of who you are
and how you live. Like any skill the more you use them the
better you will get.

Aim to improve slightly each and everyday and you will make
huge progress in the coming weeks and months. As long as
you make it a daily habit.

Doing a little now and again and expecting rapid progress
is like exercising once a month and expecting to be slim
and fit.

Aim for steady, gradual improvement and you will grow even
faster than you expect!

bio = Peter Murphy is a peak performance expert. He recently
produced a very popular free report: 10 Simple Steps to
Developing Communication Confidence. Apply now because
it is available for a limited time only at:
http://www.howtotalkwithconfidence.com/report.htm

Popularity: 3% [?]

Small talk used to be really hard work for me. I never knew
what to say and I always worried about saying the wrong
thing.

Then something awful happened to me….

I had to take a job dealing with the public. My worst fears
came true and I had to make small talk with a whole range
of people each and every day.

I found it difficult, tedious and nerve wracking.

Eventually after a lot of trial and error I got the hang of
it. And today I find it easy to do and even enjoyable.

You can do the same when you learn a few key distinctions:

1. Understand that the purpose of small talk is not to
exchange information.

It is a game you play to find things you have in common with the
other person.

Decide to be intensely curious about the other person and
go fishing for what you have in common. When you are
genuinely interested in other people they will respond
positively to your questions and to the way you listen to
what they have to say.

When you take the pressure off yourself to be a great
conversationalist and become a detective searching for
commonality the conversation tends to take care of itself.

Why?

Because people like people that are like them.

The more commonality you discover, the more the other
person will like you and feel as if they have known you
for some time.

This in turn causes the conversation to flow.

2. Give first to encourage sharing.

If all you do is ask questions the other person will feel
as if they are being interrogated.

That is not the idea!

Be prepared to reveal something about yourself first
without getting too personal.

By sharing first you are leading the way and cause the
other person to feel obligated to return the favor.

Sharing and receiving in this way allows you to take charge
of any conversation and to easily lead it where you want to
go.

3. Aim to control the conversation.

If you can lead a conversation you can control it. You now
know how to lead any conversation - give first and watch
the other person respond.

Most people will follow your lead right away. If the person
does not just move on to someone else.

Never shoot for 100% with people as its not a realistic
goal. Life does not work like that.

And remember…

The key to success with these distinctions is to use them, play
with them and then adjust them to suit you.

For the sake of 10-15 minutes a day, every day, you can
progressively get better and better at making conversation.

Its not rocket science. Its just a matter of strategy -
knowing it and using it.

bio = Peter Murphy is a peak performance expert. He recently
produced a very popular free report: 10 Simple Steps to
Developing Communication Confidence. Apply now because
it is available for a limited time only at:
http://www.howtotalkwithconfidence.com/report.htm

Popularity: 3% [?]

Okay, you have read some books on body language and they
all said you must mirror and match, pace and lead….

And you failed miserably when you went out into the real
world.

Let me tell you why and what you need to do instead. But
first a story that illustrates my point…

A few years ago I moved into a very well paid position in
the company where I worked. And in my new job I was dealing
with company directors, business owners and senior
executives — face to face.

And to make it all even more challenging I would meet them
on their territory - in their offices.

Teachers of pacing and leading would tell me to pace these
executives and then to gradually lead them.

However this is the 21st century where everything happens
at warp speed. You need to take charge of social
interactions within the first 5 seconds or its all over.

First impressions do count.

This applies in business and in your social life. If you
hesitate, wait and even… pace and lead the game will be
over before you know what has happened.

Here is what you need to do:

1 Take Great Care of Yourself.

Get enough sleep, eat well and take exercise that makes you
feel good on a regular basis.

Neglect your body and your emotional state will slide too.

And before you know it you will not have the energy to rise
to the occasion.

Having tons of energy is absolutely crucial if you want to
excel. When you feel fantastic it gets easier and easier to
be at your very best whenever you choose to be.

2 Lead and then Pace!

Instead of pacing and leading do this…

Get yourself into a great emotional state FIRST. The other
person will then follow your lead.

The more energetic you are, the happier you are and the
more confident you are — the easier it is to lead the
other person.

You can lead in many ways including….

- being abundantly happy

- smiling and genuinely caring about the other person

- exuding enthusiasm and excitement

If as you read this you think - hang on, what has this got
to do with communication?

It has everything to do with it.

93% of communication is non-verbal. Remember that.

That is why I place so much emphasis on mental and emotional
states - if you don’t grasp this, knowing what to say will
not matter because you will be gripped by fear, indecision
and insecurity.

3 Take the Discussion Where You Want it to Go

Many people are far too passive when it comes to making
polite conversation.

Why?

Because you have unconscious rules that dictate what is
acceptable. You may even have old patterns running in your
mind that are no longer appropriate e.g. only speak when
spoken to; don’t talk to strangers.

I hereby give you permission to break these rules!

The way to get started with being more adventurous is as
follows…

First of all, notice that you have a habit of letting other
people dictate the flow of conversation.

Then, in a small way start being more proactive and suggest
new topics of conversation or new directions to go in.

At this point do not concern yourself with whether or not
the person you are talking to follows your lead.

Just get comfortable with making suggestions.

If you are already living these principles you are having
great success in all your dealings with other people.

If you are not — you have room to get even better.

Listen!.

I was really not much good at dealing with people
until I committed to mastering this crucial life skill.

You can get better and you will when you aim to improve
even a little each and every day AND you apply proven techniques.

bio = Peter Murphy is a peak performance expert. He recently
produced a very popular free report: 10 Simple Steps to
Developing Communication Confidence. Apply now because
it is available for a limited time only at:
http://www.howtotalkwithconfidence.com/report.htm

Popularity: 3% [?]

The Afghan Hound is a medium to large 55 to 65 pound dog that grows to between 24 and 29″ in height. The Afghan Hound has long, silky hair and appears to be both elegant, reserved and agile. But, don’t let the looks fool you. They can run, frolic and play with the best of the dogs.

Afghan Hounds comes in a variety of colors including Black, red, cream, fawn and brindle. Fawn, cream and brindle Afghans typically have a black mask on face or on fringe of ears. White markings are discouraged by the AKC. In contrast to the long hair on its body, the Afghan Hound as a long, thin tail that curls on the end and is covered with short hair. Because of their long, thick hair, the Afghan Hound requires regular grooming.

They are very energetic and affectionate dogs. They get along with children, other dogs and pets, especially those that they know from puppyhood. They do not always get along with cats, especially those that they aren’t familiar with. Some Afghan Hounds can be more on the timid or high strung side, so they are recommended more for older or well behaved children. The Afghan Hound is an ideal dog for homes where they will get plenty of exercise, outside play and where there is ample room to roam and explore.

The breed can date itself back over 5000 years. It is native to Afghanistan. It is a sight hound and was originally used for herding, hunting and as a watchdog. Due to its quick speed, it made an excellent hunting animal to pursue game. It only reached Europe and the United States in the 1900s because its exportation was prohibited. The Afghan Hound is now used mainly as companion, watchdog and hunting dog.

This dog with a dignified air is a loyal and faithful companion. They make good watchdogs and a great companion for an active family that enjoys exercise and play. If you choose an Afghan then plan on a lifetime of love and enjoyment from your new pet.

bio =

Ever wonder what your dog is thinking? Visit our Dog Blog or our Dog website and Forum to find out. You can also visit our Afghan Hound page in the dog breeds section of our website.

Popularity: 6% [?]

One day when I was in school, many years ago, the school
principal wandered into our class room, sat down and started
to talk.

He talked and talked; and there was nothing we could do to stop
him seeing as how he was in charge!

For once he actually said something that interested me and I
never forgot what he said. Not because he was so original but
because he was the first person I heard saying it.

That day he spoke about the untapped potential of the human
mind and how we are all capable of so much more than we
realize.

And how once you learn how to use more of this vast
intelligence you can become much more successful.

This distinction has a special significance when it comes to
confidence. Because on those days when you are not feeling
confident dealing with people the solution to your problems
may seem elusive. Even though you are capable of handling the
situations you find yourself in.

If you could approach each day with an attitude of demanding
more from yourself than anyone else ever would - you would be
shocked at what you can achieve. You would be using more of
your potential and making great progress.

Silly tasks you have to perform then become stepping stones to
something far grander and problems become opportunities for
you to grow and impress not only yourself but everyone else
around
you.

The challenge for you right now comes down to getting started.

Once your engine is running the momentum will keep you going
but what do you do if you feel stuck and unable to begin?

You need to learn how to run your brain!

All of that vast potential is not being used because you do not
know how to activate it. When you discover how easy it is to
become confident with people you will be amazed that something
that once seemed so complicated can actually be so simple.

Here is something you can do right now to experience how your
mind works.

Think of something you feel confident doing - maybe something
you are good at. It does not matter what the activity is. What
does matter is that you feel confident when you are doing it.

Now pick a second experience. Something that involves dealing
with people. And make sure it is a situation where you have the
capability to handle it only your confidence is low.

Now compare how you represent these two experiences in your
mind in terms of pictures, sounds and feelings.

Take the second experience and change the way you
think about it by giving the picture, sound and feeling the
same qualities as the first experience. i.e. picture size
and color, sound volume and pitch, intensity of feelings.

Imagine you are tuning in the pictures, sounds and feelings
in the same way you would tune in a TV

This is difficult to do the first time you try it but it gets
easier with practice.

Why does this process work?

Because the way you represent experiences in your mind
determines how you feel. Its like when you watch a scary movie
and you heart is pounding even though you are not in danger.

Certain images, certain sounds and a certain atmosphere all
combine to change how you feel. However if you changed one key
element you would no longer feel scared.

For example if the sound changed to become a high pitched cartoon
like voice you might even smile and laugh.

In the context of feeling confident — when you start to
discover how you make yourself feel confident by the way you tune
your brain you are on the right track to feeling confident
whenever you choose.

When you learn more about peak performance you will be able
to do this in a matter of minutes. And go from feeling afraid
to feeling energized and confident in moments.

This time spend learning how to run your brain will transform
the quality of your life even more quickly than you can
imagine.

Enjoy rewiring your brain!

bio = Peter Murphy is a peak performance expert. He recently
produced a very popular free report: 10 Simple Steps to
Developing Communication Confidence. Apply now because
it is available for a limited time only at:
http://www.howtotalkwithconfidence.com/report.htm

Popularity: 3% [?]

SUPERVISORY TRAINING AND LEARNING - Part 1The author has spend years training supervisors, generally in manufacturing. With whatever curriculum he used, he would include a section on adult learning theory & practice. With this as a framework, he believed that trainees are far more receptive to the training as they have some understanding of why and how the program is constructed to benefit their growth. Very rarely do training facilitators take the time to explain the basics of adult learning to class participants. Indeed, if s/he has limited facilitator experience the facilitator may not even know the basics of adult learning him/herself!The Supervisor: A Key Position>From the outset you need to know that there is no other job more important than that of supervisor. It is the supervisor who helps staff work at their optimum level. It is also the supervisor that helps make management’s work smoother and more trouble-free than it would otherwise be. But developing the necessary skills to be successful in this pivotal position is a real challenge and does not happen because the new supervisor used to be a first rate tradesman!The new supervisor probably has the potential to be an excellent supervisor, otherwise his boss would not have appointed him. But it is too much to expect him just to “pick up the supervisory skills on the job.” This is why the boss normally provides supervisory training. When and if this occurs, the new supervisor owes it to himself, his boss and the training facilitator to do the best he can to participate fully in the training session discussions and other learning activities.As a prerequisite to training, the new supervisory needs to understand how to get the most from any supervisory training he may receive. This is made possible by having a sound knowledge of adult learning theory: how adults learn and what techniques help them to learn. 1. Learning Activity: The Benefits of Training to You and Others Or: What’s in it for me (WIIFM)!Firstly, we need to consider the importance of participating in supervisory training. “Because the boss wants me to” is an incomplete answer. To get the most from it and, in turn, be prepared to put a lot into it, the new supervisor needs to see the importance of it and the benefits to him, his staff, his boss and the company as a whole.Here is a partial list of the importance of participating in training.It will help you become:A better communicator Know how to develop a more positive work environment More cost-effective More satisfied on the job Develop more productive workers More confident in your abilities More self-aware and self-confident A person with better morale Increased in skills and so make fewer errors A better leader able to gain respect and discipline others respectfully A better problem solver More stress free A more collaborative team leader A strong team spirit developer Less likely to face personal liability lawsuits Better respected by staff A better time manager and more highly organized2. Basics of LearningIt is important to know how you learn for at least two reasons: 1. When you proceed through a training experience, you will have a better idea of what is taking place in the learning process and you are therefore more likely to respond positively to the experience.2. Good supervisors are also coaches and trainers of their staff. Therefore, it is essential for you to understand basic training theory and practice so you can increase your training skills.A. Learning as ChangeThe objective of learning is to bring about changes in your behavior so you can do things differently. Learning can be transformational-it can change your life forever! As you acquire new knowledge and skills, you begin to see new potential and opportunities that you perhaps had not thought possible beforehand. Learning can be a difficult experience as you strive to break through old prejudices and habits, but it also can bring many rewards.The focus in a training program is on your learning. The flip side is that the person standing up front is a facilitator of your learning, more than he is a teacher or a trainer. The focus, therefore, is on you, the learner, not the facilitator (trainer).B. Active and Positive ParticipationPeople learn in different ways, but one thing is clear: one of the best ways that all people learn is through active and positive participation, i.e. doing, discussing, listening actively, talking, being keen and enthusiastic about what you learn. It is important that you become actively involved in what happens during the training. Being active and positive will ensure you learn close to 100% of what there is to learn. Being passive, not participating, listening with one ear, day-dreaming is a waste of your time, the facilitator’s time and the company’s money. You need to make the effort for learning to happen.C. Self-Directed LearningA component of learning is the concept of self-directed learning, that is, knowledge and skills that a trainee has “learned on his/her own.” Research has shown that 75% of what adults learn is self-directional as opposed to institutional or employer provided learning. Write down the many things that you have learned on your own. You may be surprised:

In an training course, because of the limited amount of class-contact time available, you must use your initiative to determine what additional, related knowledge or skills you want to acquire, as you won’t be able to cover “everything there is to know about effective supervision” in the training sessions.Training resources are plentiful and we need not deal with these here. Suffice it to say that your local college, library are two main sources, and of course you will find lots of material on the Internet.D. An Inquiring MindPeople who have open, inquiring minds; ready and eager to continuously learn new things are far more likely to live satisfying and successful lives than those who close their minds to the opportunities, challenges and new ideas they may encounter.Here is a story: John Black, a forty five year old supervisor working in Victoria wondered why he never got promoted or increased responsibilities and he asked to see his boss. The boss invited him to meet at the local pub for a beer where he bought a jug. They began chatting and then the boss started pouring the beer into John’s glass. He poured it full, and then kept pouring. John watched the frothy overflow with amazement until he could restrain himself no longer. “Can’t you see, the glass is full? No more will go in,” he exclaimed. “Like this glass,” the boss said, “you are full of your own judgements, opinions and prejudices. I cannot help you get ahead until you empty the first glass.”A person with an inquiring mind thinks mentally and emotionally “out of the box.” Try this exercise: Connect all nine dots by drawing four straight, continuous lines without lifting your pencil or retracing a line. · · ·· · ·· · ·E. Spaced RepetitionLearning, and the behavioral change that goes with it, takes time. You have to review what you have learned time and again if you are to learn to do it well. Learning something may take weeks-sometimes months-especially if it is complex. You must repeat the process again and again with some time lapse in between. This is called “spaced repetition,” and if you do review and practice, you are far more likely to significantly increase the level of your learning achievement and to “push” your new knowledge into your long-term memory. That is why good training is usually conducted over a number of weeks, not crammed into 2-3 intensive days.F. Reflection and Thinking: the Importance of Doing “Nothing”We are a culture of eager beavers. We are active all the time and feel guilty when we are not. However, an under-recognized, yet invaluable way of “getting our act together”; of growing and allowing ourselves to be creative, is to spend time reflecting on what we do, how we do it now, and how we can improve. There are times when it is appropriate just to sit and think!G. Learning DomainsLearning domains are the areas in which learning takes place. When we learn, we learn three types of things: 1. Knowledge (cognitive) learning: e.g. recalling information, using rules, comparing and contrasting, problem solving. 2. Skills (psychomotor) learning: e.g. performing gross motor-skills, steering and guiding, position movement. 3. Attitude (affective) learning: e.g. learning to be empathetic, understanding, supportive.All learning falls into one of these three areas. There are no exceptions. H. Learning TechniquesThere is no one way to learn. People have their preferences. Some prefer to read books, others prefer multi-media or audio-visual materials. Some like to learn in groups, while others prefer to learn at their own pace on their own. Also, learning techniques will vary, depending on whether you are learning new knowledge or new skills or new attitudes. If you want to learn about welding, for example, you might best acquire new knowledge about it by reading a book or listening to a tape or a lecture. Welding skills, however, are better learned by demonstration and hands-on practice than by only reading a book. Learning to be a more effective supervisor requires both knowledge about what you need to do, but you also need to practice what you have learned to turn that knowledge into skills. In most training program, a number of techniques are used.They are all essential to your successful learning. They include: · Discussion and group work; · Readings and learning activities from a workbook and handouts; · Work-place skill-development activities; · Short talks by the Facilitator.I. Program DetailsContent AreasThe following two major content areas will be emphasized in training:1. Managing yourself, your work and your life in general. It is essential that you get your act together before you can help others to get their act together.2. Helping your staff to manage themselves, their work and their lives.J. Program ObjectivesYou need to know what you are going to learn at the beginning of the training. These are called Program or Learning ObjectivesFor example, at the end of this program you will:1. Have a clear sense of what your supervisory roles and responsibilities are and feel confident in your ability to implement them. 2. Have acquired significant new knowledge and skills in how to conduct yourself as a supervisor. 3. Be able to work effectively with other participating supervisors in a team atmosphere.Remember before you can get full benefit from training you need to know how you learn. This short introduction may help you and others.bio = Michael Brooke, Ph.D is a retired university administrator last working at University of Victoria as Dean of Continuing Studies. He is by professional adult educator, a corporate trainer and recruiter and a published author. He runs Internet businesses, his mainstay being Prosperity Automated System, an automated marketing system, which you can see athttp://ehomebiz.org. Reach him at wmbrooke@telus.net if you wish.

Popularity: 2% [?]

HOW TO GET RID OF STANDING WATER IN YOUR YARD
Do you have one or more areas in your yard that hold water after a rainfall? This is a common problem, and sometimes difficult to solve. Over the years I’ve talked with dozens of people trying to battle this problem, and on several occasions I have been hired to solve the problem. So what can be done?

Too often people come to me asking what kind of a tree, or what kind of shrubs can be planted in a wet area to dry it up. This is the wrong approach. Most plants, and I mean almost all plants are not going to survive in an area where the soil is soggy for extended periods of time. The roots need to breath, and planting a tree or shrub in a water area will kill it.

Another common approach is to try and fill the area with topsoil. Depending on a variety of variables, this can work, but many times adding additional soil to a wet area will only shift the water to another area just a few feet away.

If you are lucky enough to have some natural fall to your property, or a drainage ditch nearby, this problem is easy enough to solve. If you happen to live in an area that was developed over the past few years, there might even be a system to remove storm water nearby. In many new home developments I’ve seen stormwater catch basins already installed in backyards. Trust me, this is a good thing. There is nothing worse than having a soggy yard all the time.

If you are fortunate to have some fall to your yard, or a stormwater system that you can drain water into, this problem is easy to solve. Make sure you check with your local officials before you do anything at all with a storm drain.

All you have to do is go to your local building supply center and buy some 4″ perforated plastic drain pipe. The best kind for this purpose is the flexible kind that comes in 100′ rolls. This type of drain pipe has small slits all around the pipe. These slits allow water to enter the pipe so it can be carried away.

Just dig a trench from the center of the low area you are trying to drain, to the point that you intend to drain it to. Using a simple line level you can set up a string over top of the trench to make sure that your pipe runs downhill all the way. A line level is a very small level that is designed to attach to a string. Any hardware stores sells them for just a couple of dollars. Set the string up so it is level, then measure from the string to the bottom of your trench to make sure you have constant fall. You should have 6″ fall for every 100′ of pipe.

The highest point is going to be the area that you are trying to drain, so you only want your pipe deep enough at this point so it can be covered with soil. Once the trench is dug just lay the pipe in. At the highest end of the pipe you’ll need to insert a strainer into the end of the pipe to keep soil from entering the pipe. Cover the pipe with some washed stone, and then backfill the trench with soil. The washed stone creates a void around the pipe so that the water can find its way into the pipe.

Washed stone is usually inexpensive stone that has been washed so it is clean and free of mud. The only part of the pipe that needs to be exposed is the low end, where the water exits the pipe. Do not put a strainer in that end.

If you do not have anywhere that you can drain the water to, you still might be able to do something. But first consider what is happening, and why the water is standing where it is. Even if you have well drained soil, water cannot soak in fast enough during periods of heavy rain, and it runs across the top of the ground and eventually finds the lowest point, and either leaves the property, or gets trapped.

If you have well drained soil, the trapped water usually soaks in. If you have heavy clay soil, the water lays there, and the soil underneath becomes very compacted, and the problem compounds itself. The more water that stands, the worse the drainage gets.

What I have done in areas like this, where there is standing water, but nowhere to drain it to, is to install a French drain system that actually carries the water away from the low area, and allows it to seep into the ground over a larger distance, where the soil is not quite so compacted. To install this French drain system you do everything exactly as explained above, except instead of draining the water to a lower area, you can send it in any direction you like. Even in the direction from which it came, which is uphill.

When installing this type of system, it’s a good idea to dig a number of shorter trenches, all heading away from the area where the water stands. Using the line level, make sure your trenches fall away from their point of origin so once the water enters the pipes it will flow away from the wet spot. What is going to happen is that during times of heavy rain the low area is still going to trap water, but much of that water is going to seep into the drain pipes and eventually leach into the soil under each trench.

Because this soil has not been compacted by the standing water and the baking sun, it will accept the water. It won’t happen nearly as fast as if you could just drain the water to a ditch, but at least you will have a mechanism in place that will eventually disperse the water back into the soil. It’s a lot easier to leach 200 gallons of water into a series of trenches that total 100 lineal feet, than it is to expect that water to leach into a 10′ by 10′ area that is hard and compact.

bio = Michael J. McGroarty is the author of this article. Visit his most interesting website, http://www.freeplants.com and sign up for his excellent gardening newsletter.ÿ

Popularity: 5% [?]

What are NSAIDs?

NSAID stands for Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. These drugs are popular prescriptions that are taken to relieve the inflammation associated with arthritis, bursitis, tendonitis, etc. NSAIDs decrease inflammation by hindering the production of prostaglandins; a natural chemical associated with body inflammation.

What are the potential negative side effects of NSAIDs?

Approximately 10-50% of patients suffer with gastrointestinal issues such as abdominal pain, diarrhea, bloating, heartburn, and upset stomach. Furthermore, 15% develop ulcers after long-term use.

What is a Cox-1 enzyme?

Cyclooxygenase-1 (Cox-1) is an enzyme that is present at sites of inflammation as well as in the stomach. The Cox-1 enzyme of the stomach produces prostaglandins, chemical messenger. These prostaglandins protect the lining of the stomach from the acids that it contains. When Cox-1 enzymes are inhibited, inflammation is reduced; however, the integrity of the stomach lining is compromised. This reduction to the stomach leads to ulcers and other gastrointestinal issues.

What is a Cox-2 enzyme?

Cyclooxygenase-2 (Cox-2) produces prostaglandins also but solely at the sites of inflammation. Therefore, hindering these enzymes reduces inflammation.

What is a Cox-2 Inhibitor?

Cox-2 inhibitors are a new class of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Because they selectively block the Cox-2 enzyme and not the Cox-1 enzyme, these drugs are uniquely different from traditional NSAIDs.

Why were Cox-2 Inhibitors created?

Cox-2 Inhibitors were created to reduce inflammation without compromising the stomach lining. Therefore, inflammation sufferers will achieve relief without being at risk for ulcers.

What is the danger surrounding Cox-2 Inhibitors? (i.e., Celebrex, Vioxx, and Bextra)

Although in theory Cox-2 Inhibitors are a great solution, they have some definite health considerations you need to know before you take them. Cox-2 inhibitors have been manufactured in one set dosage. The only available dosage is at such a high level there is an extremely high risk for strokes and heart attacks. Without the option for healthcare professionals to individualize prescriptions for their patients, all patients are receiving the same amount regardless of height, weight, sex, medical history etc. The negative risk have been so great, the FDA formed an Advisory Committee consisting of 32 experts who agree that these Cox-2 Inhibitors cause too high a risk for strokes and heart attacks. They recommend that healthcare providers to be very cautious as to which patients they prescribe Cox-2 despite the pharmaceutical companies flashy advertising.

Are there natural alternatives to Cox-2 Inhibitors?

There are many viable natural options available for individuals suffering from inflammatory diseases such as arthritis and overuse type conditions such as tendonitis and bursitis. Specifically, there is an ingredient called Nexrutine offered by Next Pharmaceuticals that works on the Cox 2 enzyme without platelet aggregation or risk of cardiovascular health. Nexrutine taken by itself is a very good natural pain reliever. Optimal Therapeutics produces a Nexrutine ingredient based product called Phosoplex. The product promotes healthy joint function and also helps to alleviate pain and swelling. This cumulative effect allows for the repair of damaged joints. What makes the product so effective? In addition to Nexrutine, Phosoplex contains a synergistic blend of powerful ingredients such as Hyaluronic Acid, MSM, Glucosamine, BioCell Collagen II. Overall Phosoplex is as effective as any other natural joint pain reliever on the market today.

Based on current research and recent problems with pharmaceutical pain relieving drugs, natural alternative ingredients like Nexrutine and natural formulas like Phosoplex are the future for safe and effective pain management.

bio = Janet Hanh is a published author in the field of pain management. Many of her insightful health related articles can be found online at http://www.consumerhealthdigest.com

Popularity: 3% [?]

Most businesses may think they will never need a disaster recovery plan or they have everything under control, but they are wrong. It is vital that all businesses take the opportunity to protect itself before they regret it. A serious event can occur at any moment.

The officers or board of directors often take this task to labor. It is a good practice for the business to demonstrate a clear commitment to establishing and maintaining an effective disaster recovery plan. All employees should be informed that it is required and should contribute to its design.

The first step is to create a list of all necessary documents and information. Examples of documents are organizational chart, suppliers and contact information, emergency services and contact information, operations and administrative procedures, inventories of intellectual properties and floor plans. These are just a few of the many documents needed.

The disaster recovery plan should include a descriptive list of the organization’s major business areas. This list should rank the areas in order of importance to the overall organization. Each item should include a brief description of the business processes and main dependencies on systems, communications, personnel, and information / data.

You should perform a regular review of your plan in order to adapt to changes that the business will surely go through. This is very seldom done by businesses and cost more in the long run when ignored.
The risk your business faces as the result of a disaster or emergency must be assessed. It is impossible to plan for `what if’ in the face of disaster if you do not assess what could happen first. You have to consider all possibilities and what it would take to put the business back in business.

There are various threats that can affect your business. Examples include tornado, hurricane, flood, earthquake, fire, terrorism, theft, and equipment failure. There are many more and they all have to be taken in account.

Every business has non-personnel assets that must be considered when creating the disaster recovery plan. The solution is redundant systems when possible. The secondary market is a great source for these systems to keep the cost down.

Every employee should be aware of their part in this plan. It is vital to keep the plan up to date and the employees well informed. Be sure to test your plan to identify any gaps.

bio = Most businesses think they will never need a disaster recovery plan. They are definitely wrong. With today’s current events, we should prepare now more than ever.

Popularity: 3% [?]

Ways To Keep It Low

These days we hear a lot of warnings about cholesterol, but the funny thing is, cholesterol isn’t all bad. Your body produces it naturally and it performs some pretty vital jobs - helping to build new cells, as well as produce hormones and insulate nerves. Only when you’ve got too much do you have a problem.

Unfortunately, there’s a lot of confusion surrounding this substance because it’s made up of both good and bad cholesterol, and is known as HDL and LDL. So which is the good guy, and which is the bad guy ?
HDL (high-density lipoprotein) cholesterol is the good guy (higher the better), and LDL (low-density lipoprotein) is the bad guy - the artery-clogging little devil.

Every Day Ways Of Keeping Your Cholesterol Low.

Watch your weight.
The more overweight you are, the more cholesterol your body produces. So if your weight is up, this is one more reason to bring it down, but do so with a healthy diet.

Cut Out The Fat.
You’d be wise to cut back on such sources of saturated fat as meat, butter, cheese and hydrogenated oil. Whenever possible, replace these items with fish, poultry, low-fat dairy products and polyunsaturated oils.

Switch To Olive Oil.
Olive oil contains monounsaturates which is said to help lower cholesterol levels if added to your food on a daily basis. Two or Three table spoons full a day should be sufficient

Go Easy On The Eggs
Don’t feel you have cut them out entirely, if you want to play safe then limit your eggs to about three a week, or use egg whites only.

Be Full Of Beans
Nutritious and inexpensive, beans and other pulses contain a water-soluble fibre called pectin that helps clear cholesterol out of the body.

Eat More Fruit
Fruit also gets it’s cholesterol lowering punch from pectin, so by eating lots of fresh fruit you will help to lower your cholesterol levels.

Have Your Oats
Oat bran also helps to lower cholesterol in a similar fashion to pectin rich fruit. In fact it was a high oat bran diet that helped me to reduce my cholesterol level. I used it on cereals, and mixed it into meals that I ate. It looks a bit like sawdust, but it’s really effective.

Other Foods That Are Recommended.
Carrots can lower cholesterol. Carrots by way of their pectin content the same as fruit. Two carrots a day should be enough to help when combined with other foods which have been recommended. Eat them raw if possible.

Take Garlic
Eat raw garlic. As well as reducing your circle of friends, it will reduce harmful blood fats. If you don’t fancy eating raw garlic, then use the liquid garlic extract which can be bought in capsule form. These can be purchased at your local supermarket or health food store.

Don’t Smoke
Studies have shown that heavy smokers have a higher cholesterol than non smokers, so here’s another reason to give up. You’ll also save yourself a bundle of cash as well ! - In smoking trials which were carried out in Sweden, smokers tended to suffer from low levels of the beneficial HDL cholesterol.

Medication - Drugs
There’s now plenty of drugs on the market for lowering cholesterol levels. But, as with all drugs there’s always side effects to take into account, so try the natural methods first. Only use drugs as a last resort.

When I found out my own cholesterol levels were high, I managed to get my levels back to normal by using the methods mentioned in this article. I hope you’ve enjoyed reading it.
Author - John Moore..please use my link.
http://www.information-city-online.com

bio = Author - John Moore - use my link
http://www.information-city-online.com

Popularity: 3% [?]

Silly.