A Driveway Alarm - Saving Children's Lives

Unpleasant incidents can happen to anyone, anytime! But, the true wisdom lies in knowing how to tackle them so as to minimize the loss of life as well as property. A driveway alarm is an ideal product for those, who put the security of kids and house above anything else in their life. A driveway alarms has a sensor that monitors the areas around your house, especially the entrances and exits. The driveway alarm would alert you in case someone intrudes from the backyard of the house. It alerts you if someone approaches your property or your driveway, and thus saves your family from facing an untoward incident.

There is a huge variety of driveway alarms available in the market to suit your specific requirements. The recent models of driveway alarms are completely wireless, and are equipped with an advanced range of sensors to enable you detect any suspicious motion. In fact, it is an ideal product to manage a big house. For example, the wireless version of driveway alarm can monitor upto 2 miles of area around your house. In addition, you get a Walkie Talkie that can be used for effective supervision of the house or business property.

Driveway alarm is an enhanced security measure that you must take to ensure you and your family complete peace of mind. Moreover, it's very simple to install a driveway alarm and avail its wide range of benefits. Other than ensuring your safety, a driveway alarm can be used to notify when your guests reach your driveway. It can effectively dissuade unwanted people by activating its siren, alarms or lights. You can even install it outside your house and be informed when someone reaches your premises. You also have an option to go for wired magnetic probes, which disrupt the movement of vehicles by creating a magnetic field on your driveway.

You should get a right type of driveway alarm installed by an expert. This would help you ensure complete safety and peace of mind. Therefore, it is important to first take a closer look of your specific needs, and decide which driveway alarm to go for. While a hose type of driveway alarm alerts you about the movement of cars and heavy vehicles, a magnetic probe will only be identifying metallic vehicles. Then, you can choose a wireless beam as well, which can identify people as well as metallic vehicles. So, first of all you should decide the type of driv8FBeway alarm and match it with your requirements.

Next, you should pay attention to identify the construction of your home. Remember, the choice of a driveway alarm would be greatly influenced if you have a mobile home, or the one with steel or aluminum siding. So, observe and discuss it with the driveway alarm expert and take the decision accordingly. If your house has any transformers close by, their presence may interfere with the transmission of the signal. For example, if there is an electric fence around your house, you can use the DWA 5 model in this case.

Therefore, you should first know which type of driveway alarm is suitable for you. There are certain features that you can keep in mind while choosing a driveway alarm model:

• Signal Detection range up to 2 miles
• Wired or wireless installation
• Voice message
• Doorbell chimes
• Separate tones for separate areas of detection
• Cameras to monitor risk-prone areas
• With or Without a Fence

A driveway alarm provides you with complete security at very nominal price. Sometimes, the decision to install a driveway could be the decision to choose happy or tragic life.

Steve Strong's is an employee with Sun Security which is an innovative and growth oriented company who uses a fresh and new approach to meet the security needs of millions of consumers throughout North America. Sun Security supplies Home Security Systems Visit us at: http://www.sunsecurity.com

Basement Remodeling Ideas

Remodeling your basement is an excellent way to add extra living space, plus extra value, to your home. By planning carefully before you begin you can maximize the space and get the most for your money. When planning, consider a bathroom and wet bar area if the plumbing is available. This will ad extra value and make entertaining in this room easier and more enjoyable. A small refrigerator, a microwave, and coffer maker are good to include. A full bath is a great value, but even a half bath adds to the value. If the plumbing is there, or you can add it, do so.

The first step is to make sure the basement is, a1C84nd will remain, dry. Water seepage will completely undo all your hard work, so it is very important that you don't overlook this first step. There are many products sold in your local hardware stores that you can just paint on the walls to keep your basement dry and leak free. It's very much worth the time and effort.

There are certain elements in the basement that you can't move or change, so plan around them. Beams, support columns, furnace, water heater and any existing plumbing can be incorporated into your plan by building around them. Build a separate room for the furnace and water heater. Box in beams and columns that you want to cover and then drywall around them. Do the same with plumbing pipes, but remember to leave a way to access this plumbing in the future, either by adding a small hinged door, or a removable piece of drywall that can be latched into place.

The duct work for the heating system will be running between the floor joists. You can add a couple of heat ducts from the existing system to the new space to direct heat where you want in the room.

Frame the walls with 2 x 4's, with a header and footer, the studs being 16 inches on center. Attach these to the cement walls in the basement and also to the floor.

Next, it's time for the wiring. This is something that should definitely be installed by a professional certified electrician. Electrical outlets should be plentiful to allow you free use of the space for whatever you choose later. Also, the wall switches should be the type that can be operated from two different locations. You don't want to come upstairs only to have forgotten to turn off one of the lights and have to go all the way back down to do it. Putting one of the switches near the entrance to the basement from the first floor will save many steps and aggravation. This is also the point at which you should install the wiring for telephone lines and surround sound speakers.

If you don't already have plenty of insulation in the walls, now is the time to put it in. It never hurts to have extra, and doing this will help lower your energy bills in the future.

Hang and finish the dry wall. This is a job that can be done by most do-it-yourselfers, with a little practice. Use drywall screws to attach the sheetrock to the 2 x 4's. You can also use wood paneling if you prefer, but drywall produces a more professional appearance.

After the drywall is finished, it's time for the ceiling. Using a dropped ceiling is the choice of most people, for a couple of reasons. One is that hanging and finishing overhead drywall is a tough job. The main reason is that a dropped ceiling will allow easy access to those plumbing pipes and any wiring that is running overhead. If there is a breakage or a leak, you can access it easily and will not need to replace the entire ceiling, just the panels that may be damaged.

Put insulation between the floor joists before you hang the ceiling panels. This acts as a sound barrier to the overhead rooms. When you're in the basement enjoying loud music with the surround sound at full blast, anyone upstairs will not be disturbed by the noise.

The flooring is the last step. Carpeting with good padding is a good choice because it keeps the cement floor warmer and helps with insulation from the ground up. Tile floors in the bathroom and wet bar area allow for quick clean up of any spills that occur in those areas.

Using Christmas Tree Lights

For many children, sitting in front of the Christmas tree with the Christmas tree lights twinkling is a daily hobby during the holiday season. Many of us remember spending long moments doing just that, fascinated throughout. By turning off all light in the room and lighting just the tree, it will create a beautiful, peaceful glow for the entire space. With perhaps some Christmas music playing in the background, it quickly would become a favorite way to spend your day.

Memories As A Child

As a child, you may have had fond memories associated with the Christmas tree, such as helping to get it straight in the stand and then taking care of it. Perhaps it was your mother that would place Christmas tree lights throughout the branches, so that each one would hold onto the branch just right so that the cords were hidden. With Christmas carols playing in the background, it creates a lasting memory that can only be perfectly honored by replaying it each year. Once the lights are placed on the tree, next will come the beautiful ornaments, many of them ornaments that were used year after year; some crystal, some glass, some beautiful handmade pieces. As they are added the ornaments danced in the Christmas tree lights. The tree looks beautiful.

More Than The Tree

Although Christmas tree lights are mainly used for the tree itself, they5B4 do have decorating abilities for other locations around the home. For example, you can use them to decorate the banister or wrap the cords along a favorite mirror. You can use the Christmas tree lights on any fixtures that it is safe to use on. When you do, you allow those items to fit in the Christmas themed home, giving it more character and festive attention. Use the lights as they fit throughout your home.

While using Christmas tree lights on the actual Christmas tree is the normal thing to do, it is also a warm and welcoming way to greet people by placing them throughout the home. Using Christmas tree lights to decorate your home is something that you can learn to do and then pass on to your children. Throughout the process of decorating the home together, you will quickly find yourself creating traditions that will be cherished for years to come. Use Christmas tree lights to enhance and enamor your home to make it the most beautiful for the holidays.

Adam Peters enjoys writing about design for http://www.home-decorating-reviews.com A focused website that offers the best articles on christmas tree home decor and design.

Basement Finishing Ideas You Should Consider

Coming up with basement finishing ideas is the first step to utilizing the space in your home. Whether you are thinking about finishing your basement on your own or you want to hire a professional you have to decide how you want to use the space before you can get started. There are many different aspects you have to look at when you are coming up with basement finishing ideas. Not only do you have to decide how you are going to use the space and what rooms will make the best edition to your home, you also have to decide on the dcor.

When you are finishing your basement you need to make sure there aren't any moisture problems. Sealing the walls and floor so that you have no seepage before you put up your walls is important, if this step is forgotten you will not only have more work to repair the problems, but you will have the huge expense of replacing the materials that were ruined as well as starting the project over.

One great basement finishing idea is to use the space as an office or workspace. Basement offices are great for starting your own business or keeping up with your work at home. A basement library is also a great idea when you are looking into finishing your basement. If there is space that you can place book shelves, add good lighting, and keep warm and quiet you have a perfect home library. Families with teens and preteens can use a library for a study area before important tests.

Basements are also a good place for an entertainment room. When you are coming up with basement finishing ideas you need to look at costs. If you decide to make an entertainment room you not only have to look at the cost of building materials and the construction crew (if you hire professionals) as well as remembering the cost of the furnishings for the entertainment room. It is not very entertaining to have a large empty room. Keeping your ideas within your budget is important.

When finishing the basement you will want to think about the floor coverings. Carpeting is an effective way to cover the floor and keep the room looking nice while adding warmth and personality. If you choose to carpet the area you may want to double pad the carpet. Unlike the other levels in your home the basement is on a concrete floor. If you don't add to the padding then standing on the basement floor for long periods of time can cause leg and back pain.

While you are coming up with your basement finishing ideas there are several things to think about. Keeping in mind what your budget is and what you want to use the space for will help you to be able to meet your goals. Once you have come up with the basement finishing ideas that you find appealing you can then move forward with your remodeling plans.

If you're looking for more basement refinishing ideas or some really creative basement ceiling ideas then visit us to learn more about the Owens Corning Basement System

Gutter Types - How To Choose The Best Rain Gutters For Your Home

If you are like most homeowners you don't give much thought on gutters and downspouts, but they certainly play an important role in the upkeep of your home.

Leaking rain gutters can cause a wide array of problems, from just an inconvenience of getting wet from them dripping on your head, to major damage with water leaking into your basement or rotting the wood on your roof and siding.

So, if you're looking to replace your guttering system, the big question is what type of gutters are the best? Let's look at the various types you have to choose from.

Steel Gutters

If you are looking for strength a steel guttering system is your choice here. Steel holds up to the elements better than any other type of gutters. They will basically last forever. The one major drawback with steel is that it can rust over time unless you treat them.

Copper Gutters

The durability and visual appeal make copper gutters an excellent choice for your home. They are easy to maintain and hold up to rain water very well. The major drawback with copper is that it can discolor over the years. What starts out as shiny16D0 and gold can turn to dark brown or green over time due to oxidation. With that said, there are sealants you can apply to help prevent this from happening. The tradeoff is increased costs and the time involved.

Aluminum Gutters

The selling points with aluminum guttering is their light weight and affordability. They are the most economical rain gutter option. Aluminum is not as strong as steel or copper, but they still hold up well to the different weather elements. Their biggest drawback is the maintenance involved. They require more frequent attention than other types of rain gutters.

Vinyl Gutters

Vinyl gutters provide you with a system that is lightweight and virtually maintenance free. They also give you a variety of colors to choose from that other gutters do not. The drawbacks to them are their lack of strength and the fact they are subject to the effects of hot or cold weather.

By the way, you can learn more about Rain Gutters as well as much more information on all types of gutters and downspouts at http://www.GuttersA-Z.com

Sunroom Installation

You need to take several things into consideration when you're thinking of a sunroom installation and there are many options to choose from. Maybe the first thing that will come to your mind is the price, but this all depends on how big you want your sunroom to be and what type of material she will be using. For example, if you want an aluminum sunroom and you're just thinking of adding a few windows, then it is going to cost you much less than if you had the entire sunroom constructed out of glass and wood. So there are a few factors that you must consider before you get started.

When building a sunroom you start with the foundation and it is impo10FFrtant to build its foundation to the building codes of your local area. These codes will vary depending what kind of climate to live in. If you have a lot of freezing during winter, then it stands to reason that the foundation has to be deeper in the ground and this will mean more expense in labor and materials. But if you have an existing patio then the expense won't be as much.

Of course the major expense in a sunroom is the number of windows that you intend to use and also the type you have in mind. For example, if you are going with fixed windows will be less expense than if you order custom installation. Another cost difference would be in the type of glaze that you choose to put on the windows. This glaze can control sunlight and block out damaging rays but keep in mind the more your windows can do the more expensive it will be. You will find a difference in the materials that you choose and this will affect costs also. The cheapest material is PVC and the next one up the line is aluminum with the most expensive being wooden material.

For lots of information on how to build a sunroom and other sunrooms related topics, visit DIY Home Advice at http://www.diyhomeadvice.com

Home Mold Test Kits

Thoughts To Ponder #90

Eric Butterworth was among the leading spokespersons in modern times on "practical mysticism." Eric was considered a legend and spiritual icon in the Unity movement. The author of 16 best-selling books on metaphysical spirituality, a gifted theologian, philosopher, and lecturer, and for over 50 years a teacher of "practical Christianity," helping thou1C80sands of people to help themselves to a more abundant life by the study and application of Truth. He possessed a unique ability to render the most complex metaphysical teachings in simple sound bytes of awareness. He mastered the art of the brief "essayette," of which he has written thousands and is often described as "The twentieth century Emerson."

Don't go through life, grow through life.

Evil, and evil spirits, devils and devil possession, are the outgrowth of man's inadequate consciousness of God. We must avoid thinking of evil as a thing in itself-a force that works against man or, against God, if you will.

Fundamentalists believe Jesus was God becoming man. I believe that Jesus was man becoming God.

God can only do for you what He can do through you.

I am not what I think. I am thinking what I think.

Most people show up for work being physically accoutered but mentally disheveled.

Nothing stops the man who desires to achieve. Every obstacle is simply a course to develop his achievement muscle. It's a strengthening of his powers of accomplishment.

One of the best things to do sometimes is simply to be.

Our job is not to set things right but to see them right.

Dorothy M. Neddermeyer, PhD, Life Coach, Hypnotherapist, Author, "101 Great Ways To Improve Your Life." Mind, Body, Spirit healing and Physical/Sexual Abuse Prevention and Recovery. As an inspirational leader, Dr. Neddermeyer empowers people to view life's challenges as an opportunity for Personal/Professional Growth and Spiritual Awakening. http://www.drdorothy.net

Louis B

Life or Stress

Any event, good or bad, causes a stress response if we are unprepared for the situation at hand. Our stress responses exist to ensure safety in our world, for our dependents and ourselves; its function is to respond to danger, not Life itself.

What is Life? Life, in a yogic context, is summed up as those things in day to day existence that bring us peace, joy, contentment and open, loving awareness. It is our basic nature to be peaceful, loving and open not mistrustful, closed and afraid.

What is Stress? Well, virtually everything else - mostly non-life threatening and largely self-inflicted by placing monumental importance on incidental things. Stress is summed up in the things that cause us to act against our basic human nature.

Lets take a moment and look at our range of day-to-day stress: we have job stress, family/relationship stress, health stress, money stressand an overpowering amount of media that encourages stress, keeping us on the lookout for the quick fix, hungry for possessions and terrified about the state of the world today. We drink stress like coffee, consuming several cups of the stuff per day. As such we are habituated to stress, so accustomed to being in a heightened state that our natural stress responses become dulled by overuse. Our natural state of calm awareness is affected too, dulled from lack of use.

The truth is that most of our stress comes from perceived threats to our ego and identity - not our lives. Unfortunately, there are places in the world where day-to-day living is synonymous with real stress, but for most of us, it is not.

How does this relate to yoga practice? Living in a heightened state of alert, we tend to create stress for ourselves, in order to maintain the status quo. We bring stress to our yoga practice in the form of perceived ego threats: performance anxiety, comparison to others and personal criticism. We all know what happens when we experience stress, breathing becomes shallow and ragged and the mind becomes confused. So the solution is simple - come home to the breath; regain focus on your practice, your life, or the situation at hand. This transaction applies universally, to any situation and is the most efficient, effective way to combat stress and anxiety simply breathe.

So now Ive identified a concern, is this something to stress about? No, but as part of being mindful and practicing Ahimsa (non-violence), it benefits us all, instructors and students alike, to be aware of how stress plays out in life, in the body and in our fundamental regulating mechanism, the breath. A dozen deep breaths will remind you that Everything is already Ok.

Transcendental Meditation

Removing Emotional Blocks To Success

The single biggest impediment to any individual's ability to achieve success in any area of their life is the presence of emotional blocks that prevent them from actualizing their dreams.

Emotional blocks can take many forms. Some of them are:

1. The Fear of Change.

2. The Fear of Failure.

3. The Fear of Disappointment.

4. The Fear of Making Mistakes.

5. The Fear of Taking Responsibility.

6. The Emotional Need For Certainty.

7. Self Doubt.

8. Low Self Confidence.

9. Low Self Esteem.

10. Low Self Worth.

11. The Fear of Success.

There are many more that I'm sure you have either experienced or can name.

All emotional blocks arise as a result of one's early life history accumulated and stored as memories in the mind/body. Such memories act to limit and constrain one's "playing field of life".

In other words the limitations that any individual experiences are not due to external constraints as is commonly thought rather they are instead due to this invisible yet ever present "net" of conditioned internal mental and emotional blocks that were acquired early in life.

Many are acquired so early that often the individual has no conscious recollection of the memories associated with them. Instead they become integrated into what the individual considers their personality only to find out years later, if at all, how their life has followed a definite but restricted course.

Those who feel the constraints and wish to move beyond them often turn to coaches or psychologists who attempt to help them move past such limitations.

Unfortunately the coaching and/or therapies offered have one significant limitation in themselves. What is that you ask?

Well what most coaching or therapy misses out is the fact that after all of the work is done the offending memory remains stored within the client and has the potential to rear its head again whenever the client tries to push past the limitations imposed by it.

In order to remedy this problem it becomes imperative to completely "release" the memory from the mind and body at all levels.

Releasing it means that the individual will then experience the event as if it never happened to them!

Now for some this may sound somewhat radical. After all why would anyone wish to release what they consider a part of themselves, something they identify themselves with?

Well that is exactly my point. When you identify yourself with say your so-called personality, which is the result of your life history, you are inherently bound by it. Therein lays the limitation!

In order to free yourself from such limitations you have to step out of your limiting personality and transform yourself into a more capable individual. This might be analogous to taking on a new yet more empowered identity. In order to do so however one needs to "break out" of the limitations of the old personality altogether.

In other words it is not sufficient to pretend that you are someone else or to learn new skills. The personality itself must be cracked and shed like a snake's skin in order to allow a new way of being to come into being.

The only way to do this is to release your identification with your so called past and therefore release it from within yourself.

A new process called the Mind Resonance Process(TM) (MRP) one of the most powerful personal growth tools known on this planet was devised for this exact purpose. I have written extensively about here in this ezine.

If you would like to experience MRP and release your limiting emotional blocks kindly visit the web link below.

Dr. Nick Arrizza is trained in Chemical Engineering, Business Management & Leadership, Medicine and Psychiatry. He is an Energy Psychiatrist, Healer, Key Note Speaker,Editor of a New Ezine Called "Spirituality And Science" (which is requesting high quality article submissions) Author of "Esteem for the Self: A Manual for Personal Transformation" (available in ebook format on his web site), S555tress Management Coach, Peak Performance Coach & Energy Medicine Researcher, Specializes in Life and Executive Performance Coaching, is the Developer of a powerful new tool called the Mind Resonance Process(TM) that helps build physical, emotional, mental and spiritual well being by helping to permanently release negative beliefs, emotions, perceptions and memories. He holds live workshops, international telephone coaching sessions and international teleconference workshops on Physical. Emotional, Mental and Spiritual Well Being.

Web site: http://www.telecoaching4u.com/IntroConsult.htm

David Deida

Give Yourself Permission to be Successful

Do you lack self-belief? Does it stop you from achieving what you want to have and do and your want in life? Well you are not alone! But how can you start to break the chains and really live again?

Enter self-belief into Google and it seems inevitable that the major search results will involve someones story of how they changed their life from one of under-achieving and procrastination due to a lack of self-belief. Big deal I say! Who cares!? You only care about you. You may have tried to break the chains of having low self-esteem which also pretty much inevitably goes hand in hand with a lack of self-belief.

Having a lack of self-belief and of self-esteem is simply crippling to th562e personal growth, self actualisation and self-fulfilment of anyone. We humans experience change all the time in life, its situations, challenges and constant changes within ourselves too. We are literally living in a different world from one day to the next in a body and mind and emotional and psychic state that is constantly changing. Often its difficult to keep up!

With the rush of modern living, we lose touch with ourselves to the degree that we do not have a clue who we really are. We end up attaching so many externally based labels to ourselves of what we are, what we do, our definition of ourselves, and most of all, our definition of what we can and cant do!

Most of us know about those childhood experiences that have so shaped the way we are today. We can do our own psychoanalysis thanks very much. We know ourselves better than anyone, right? We may count ourselves lucky or unlucky depending on how our childhood experiences shaped us and our present life. But we probably do not know ourselves at all!

So how much of how we see ourselves is from the past based on our perceptions of what happened to us, how it affected us and how we feel about it all? But our perceptions are fallible and our ability to process scenes, events, emotions can be changeable, to say the least. Even the way we map faces in our brains can be decei5A8ved by our perception of reality. Even green plants are not green but thats what our brain tells us! (Thats the colour wavelength reflected off the plant but is not the plant colour itself!)

The brain is limited by the way it works. Not only this, but everyone is wired-up differently so to speak. Ask a policeman what opinion he has of the publics ability to describe details of an incident. It will not be that high probably with vast discrepancies between different peoples accounts. There are still areas of our brains and aspects of our minds about which we know as little about as the deep unexplored oceans and the outer reaches of space, and these are constantly throwing scientific dogma into turmoil.

We usually do not even remember an event 24 hours ago, or 2 hours ago, or even a minute ago. So how can we really trust and believe our self-belief about ourselves, which may be based on memories from times before our brains have even been fully formed? Thats just plain crazy!

Our reference points are simply not accurate. If we add all our fears into the equation, then realise that most of our fears come from the fear of something happening but probably never has and never will. Not only this, but if we were growing and stretching as human beings according to our natural ability to do so, dealing with these fears if they did happen would be so much less of a trauma 5B4as our capability to deal with them would be so much greater!

I meet so many people every day and this relates to the majority of people I meet, who I would term as emotionally and psychologically closed down often to great degrees, even though operating as average people you would meet on the street. They may have jobs and families and busy lives, but they are in effect sleep walking through life. Mostly these people know in intricate detail what they do and what they have, but how many of them truly know who they are, what they truly want in life, and the honest reasons why? Virtually none of them!

Most people are living in the past every day of their lives and therefore are not living in reality moment by moment. Having created a false world view of reality based on opinions, false impressions, misinterpretations, lies they have been told or incorrect information they have been fed. It is like we all live in a dream of our own making, good or bad. Our minds do not represent a true map of our external reality at all and can be easily fooled.

That is why it such a shame that so many of us live our lives according to our false limiting beliefs we have created. We are all growing, but unless we realise it and explore it regular, how can we exploit these changes and assimilate them into our new belief systems and act out a new internal reality accordingly?

Sure, emotional scars can really ru5B4n so deep they are not 'cured' by methods we presently know. But many can be healed by numerous means and our own bodies and minds especially are the greatest healers of them all! So you may suffer from a lack of confidence in situations where past feelings of pain, fear or inadequacy raise your heart beat. But each time you watch television or read a book, you may wander how it is you can zone out and ignore completely what is going on around you. Thats the power of your mind. It can work for you to protect you as it should or against you because it is still protecting you in situations that are no longer a genuine threat to you.

These mind traps sabotage your life every moment you are not aware of them happening, where your mind is now working against you.

Now I am no expert on self confidence and how to achieve it, but I can tell you I was rejected at birth and adopted as a one year old by a family in which I did not live and perform up to their expectations. However, I am not living my life, like so many sleep walkers do, trying to achieve in life exactly what my parents expectations of me were.

So many people live their lives trying to get love where it will not come from truly unconditionally. Many people never acknowledge their true selves their whole lives, not allowing themselves the personal integrity to be true to their own dreams which rarely are the same as their parents anyway. Sur5B4e mind traps are like walls that have to be dismantled brick by brick. But it helps to get a big breakthrough once in a while by challenging your own beliefs and taking risks in new situations in life. Once a big false self-belief starts crumbling it can effect many others like dominoes falling.

I think most people live their lives rather like you might try to bend a spoon like the infamous Uri Geller. The vast majority of people will focus all their energy on the spoon, trying to change it with all their might, their egos getting more and more frustrated the longer the spoon stays the same.

But is very interesting to note that many children are able to bend spoons like Uri Geller. We have no scientific explanation for this phenomenon at present. But the funny thing is that children appear to bend spoons with ease. Perhaps the key is not trying to change anything at all, but being in a relaxed and unattached state where we are truly in touch with ourselves. At a place where any negative self-beliefs and conditioning are not present as a barrier to natural processes we have yet to discover scientifically.

As our quantum physicists admit there is far more space between matter than previously thought possible. This sure is shaking their beliefs about the true nature of reality and of all the physical matter in it. If you let go of past set paradigms of thought and realise how shaky they are how many laws o5B4f science have had to be re-written in even the last 50 years, how much of our accepted beliefs of reality will be different in another 100? Im certain we will be shocked beyond belief. Like many big changes to our belief system, there will be shock.

As someone of limited self-belief and of very changeable self-esteem, I can say this. I do get very sensitised by various experiences which feel risky. They may make me feel extremely vulnerable. Some give me a feeling of great strength afterwards. Some leave my nerves jangled. It seems crucial not to over-stretch when exploring and developing yourself on purpose. Taking baby steps is the key.

Ive tried big risks and big steps, and they can leave you on highs that take you out of practical everyday reality and can undermine your confidence very detrimentally if you take risks you are not ready to handle when they do not work out as you had hoped. As Zig Ziglar said Youve got to be before you can have.

Life is full of fears, pain and trauma that is completely illusory. When you meet new people, their impressions of you are not true. Their opinions of you are often based on the tiniest of scraps of information. It is not personal because they do not truly know you. I think it is such a waste and shame that people often just judge people on first appearances. This is completely insane.

How many of you have felt that peer pressure of havi142ng to fit in by buying that outfit, car, house, or even getting that husband, or girlfriend. That is not living. It is living second hand to appease and fulfil the clouded desires of others. Why live your life for other people when your true happiness comes from the love of doing what you need to grow for yourself.5B4 Sure this may mean serving other people in many different ways but you will feel the freedom and feeling of positive energy as you burst through one false inner shell after another.

Helping others is self-growth in action. And positive action is the key. Princess Dianna ways painfully shy and yet she was able to face strangers, massive crowds of admirers and even manipulate the media. Her solution was simple. When with people, focus on them instead of on yourself!

The big lesson for me about my past is that life is not about finding my past or my roots, hoping to find there the thing to ease the pain of my past. I do not think you find yourself in the way many think. I think you make yourself and in doing so you discover and remember your true self along the way. The past is gone and can never happen again quite the same way. The truth is, we give ourselves the permission we need to have the things we need and want, and sometimes we can give those things to ourselves and the most important of them all is unconditional self-love. Whether you believe in love as an eternal spiritual power is irrelevant. We all die inside without it...

Even if you are made to look stupid in front of millions on a television 'reality show', who cares? If you do it for personal growth and it strengthens you and makes you more secure in yourself you will secretly be envied for doing it. Anyone can laugh at someone but could they walk in that519 person's shoes ?

Failure or defeat is subjective, so whatever happens in our lives has the potential to help us grow. Feedback is painful, but it does not have to stop you. As Bruce Lee said: Defeat is not defeat until accepted as defeat in your own mind. (And even a rubber band has to stretch before bouncing back...)

(Warning: This article is protected by copyright.)

By Tim Richardson.

For the unique and acclaimed new massive expert bait making bible ebook / book:

BIG CARP BAIT SECRETS! SEE:

http://www.baitbigfish.com

Tim Richardson is a British carp study group member, carp and catfish bait-making expert, and a highly successful big fish angler. His bait making and bait enhancing books / ebooks:

BIG CARP BAIT SECRETS! At his dedicated fishing baits secrets website.

http://www.baitbigfish.com

Getting In The Gap

Developing Your Imagination

So now you know how to "Practice the Pretend" (discussed in part one). Knowing how to practice 5B4the pretend is merely one piece of the puzzle to the first step in becoming a successful entrepreneur. Now you need to know what exactly it is that you need to imagine (the pretend part). You need to set some goals!

So what you do is this: Think about everything that you want in life (your goals) and write your want's down. There is a lot to this. Write down your financial goals (how much money you want to make per month, per year, or how much money you want saved in the next five years, etc...). Write down your personal goals (do you want to be married, have two kids, a dog, graduate college, go skydiving, etc...). Next write down your business goals (what kind of business do you want to own? how many businesses do you want? Do you want employees, and if so how many? Do you want investments, properties, or other business assets? Etc...). And, finally write down your personal asset goals (Do you want that yacht, that 70 inch television, a motorcycle, fancy cars, or a huge house on the lake, etc...).

Try to make these goals practical and within some reason. If your goal is to make One Billion dollars over the next six months; well that probably won't happen (unless you win the Lotto six times in a row, even then it is a stretch. Not recommended by the way). But now if your goal is to make One Million dollars over the next year and a half; Well that is doable. That is a more reasonable goal.

Now notice I say reasonable 5B4goal, and not realistic. The reason why I do not use the words "realistic goal" is because there is no such thing. What is realistic to you may not be realistic to me. If your idea of realistic is only making One Hundred Thousand dollars over the next year and a half; I am going to tell you to shoot higher. Find a new reality. If your goal is to make One Billion dollars over the next six months, I will tell you to aim high but maybe set the bar a tad bit lower. Like on Earth.

Now you have your goals written down, right! Good! What now? Well take your list of goals and make a copy. Now you have two lists. Now you click on my signature profile below and take a look at the article, "Think Success (part 3)" for the last installment of this series: Think Success!

Jeremy Alexander is a successful Entrepreneur and Instructor in the business of helping other entrepreneurs achieve their own personal and financial success. Whether at home working with his clients, or on the road speaking at conferences and classrooms; Jeremy is dedicated to the fundamental philosophy: "Success can not be earned without first creating success in others". To find out more about why Success is his passion checkout his website at http://www.secretsofwealthandprosperity.com or f379or some more tips on how to be successful checkout his free Blog at http://www.secretsofwealthandprosperity.com/MyBlog

Characteristics Of A Buddha

Simple Success System For Daily Results

With so much to do and so little time, how in the word can I manage my time? This is probably the most paradoxical question for many of us. We all have the same 24 hours a day and the same 365 days of the year. Yet, some get so much more done in that time. How do they do it? What is their secret? Well, I know what my "secret" has been, and it has allowed me to have as much time as I want to spend with my lovely wife and my beautiful two year old son. I believe everyone should have this Simple Success System Secret, so I trust you will read on and benefit from using it yourself.

I am breaking it down into very specific questions to guide you through the process. However, before I share those questions I must state a few key components in order for this "secret" to give you maximum results.

First, you MUST write down your responses to the questions I share with you. Having the answers in your mind will NOT do it. It has been proven time and time again that just having the thoughts without writing them down are nowhere nearly as effective as putting them down on paper. There is something almost magical about putting things down on paper, it seems to be the beginning of manifesting something into reality. Think about it, everything that has every come into existence, has in some way or another made it on print, prior to it taking form. Yes, thoughts come first, but it is when those thoughts are put on paper that they really begin to take form. So, WRITE it down.

Second, this Simple Success System is much more effective when done either last thing before going to bed, or the very first thing upon arising. I trust there is some psychological scientific explanation for this. However, the one that made the most sense to me was that it is at these two times that my subconscious is most open and available at these times. Think about it for just a moment, when you go to bed, you give your subconscious mind anywhere between 5-8 hours (or more for us sleepy heads) to sort out what you are wanting to accomplish the next day. That's a pretty long time and to top it off, it is when you are often most relaxed (allowing for an even more effective mindset). If you do it in the morning, there is that morning fog, where your analytical mind hasn't kicked in yet, and your subconscious mind is open, available and rested. And if you've ever watched "The Secret" you understand that this is where you tell your subconscious mind, "This is what I want my day to look like..." and your subconscious mind will begin to do everything it can to make it so. So, how about telling it exactly what you want your day; to be like. Think of yourself as a script writer, and you are writing a script for your perfect day.

Third, use the following 5CESimple Success System handout along with the prompts below to set yourself up for daily success. Here are your simple instructions:

• Press here to open up and print your Simple Success System handout.
• Consider the following questions as you complete your handout:

  Professionally:

  - What are the top 5 highest priority professional action items.

  - What are the top 5 medium priority professional action items.

  - What are the top 5 LOW priority professional action items

  - My most important calls to make today are...

  - My most important emails to address today are...

  Personally

  - What are the top 5 things I am doing to take care of myself today.

  - What are my top personal relationship action items I am willing to nurture today?

  - What am I willing to do today to "Pay it forward" (or be of service)?

  - What am I grateful for today?

• Once you've completed your list keep it somewhere you can see it consistently throughout the day.

The process itself should take no longer than 10 minutes. However, the "secret" to you getting the results you want is based on the following premises. First, write it down. Second, do this process in the morning upon awakening or just before going to bed. Third, put it somewhere you can see it. Finally, and most 59Cimportantly, do the highest top priority things FIRST before moving onto anything else. Do this and results are guaranteed.

I trust this is of service to you and you will decide to make the use of these tools a habit. Enjoy creating your next level of success. For additional resources on health, wealth, and growth articles simply visit us at www.bodymindsuccess.com.

Aurelio (Leo) Ramos invites you to create your next level of Body Mind Success. Use world class coaching for health, wealth, and growth.

What Is The Meaning Of Life

How To Help People Think Better - The Nitty Gritty of Listening

You know how to listen. You do it every day. In fact, you spend a good portion of the time you're interacting with others in listening. You're good at it.

And, we find that leaders who are remarkable listeners are always looking to expand their listening skills. So let's really make a study of listening today; let's take a look at the nitty gritty.

Helping people to think more deeply is the highest purpose, the best reason, for a leader to listen more deeply. When people think more deeply, when they make their own connections, they get a jolt of energy, and they're inspired to action. David Rock in his book Quiet Leadership (Appeared, 2006) describes the neuroscience of the process of coming to one's own insight. Then he says,

When people make deep, new connections in their own mind, there is a tangible release of energy, a discernable "aha" moment that fills us with a desire to take action. On a physical level, this aha moment releases chemicals in the body to prime it for movement. The energy created by insight is an important energy source to be harnessed. In the workplace there are many drains on our energy, including restrictions, policies, politics, long hours, and hundreds of emails every day. We should be harnessing every possible energy source that might inspire better performance. Letting people come up with their own ideas is a deep well of motivation to tap. (pp.39-40)

We have found that people get excited, become more conscious, and solve their own problems when their leaders and colleagues employ the skill of listening for. When you are listening for my potential, my strengths, or my skills mastery, I can sense that and I respond to it. When you're listening for what's important to me, for my goals, for what I value, for what I believe is possible or not possible, you help me become more conscious of these myself. When you're listening for how I feel about the subject I'm discussing - whether my energy is high or low, whether I'm excited or worried - I know I am truly heard. When you're listening for the real issue, maybe the question behind my question, then you help me to see so much more. When you're listening for what I'm not saying but is clearly present, then you give me permission to bring it out.

So how do you do it, this listening deeply and listening for? Here are some of the nitty gritty techniques:

Say less than you think you need to. Give lots of time for the person to think or to frame what they're saying. Resist the urge to jump in.

Summarize, paraphrase, and mirror back what you're hearing to be sure you understand clearly and to give the person a chance to hear what he or she is thinking.

As you reflect what you're hearing, use their language. It will have more of an impact. As you reflect, use language that indicates "I heard" rather than "You said."

Notice the difference between the person's words, tone of voice, and body language.

Practice setting aside your own judgments of what you're hearing.

And finally, just practice hearing some of what we've already mentioned: potential, goals, values, strengths, mastery, possibility, point of view, feelings, what's underneath.

Now let's look at an example. Your employee, Bob, comes to you and says, "Sandy is alienating everyone around her." For many, the automatic response is to look for a solution. The leader who is listening for starts by asking for more information and listening for what's important to the speaker.

As you listen, you reflect what you're hearing, giving Bob the chance to become more aware of the elements of the situation and what's really going on. You use language that tells Bob what you've heard. You listen for possibility, for Bob's strengths and for Sandy's. You listen for how Bob is thinking about the situation and what he may not be saying about it. And you assume Bob's competence in being able to solve his problem.

As you reflect what Bob is saying, he begins to see possibility, too. Now may be a good time to ask Bob what he'd like to see and how he'd like to move forward. You continue to see him as competent and creative. In this collaborative conversation, Bob feels heard, and he taps into his own resourcefulness. Your deep listening allows Bob to harness his own energy and to solve his own problem, to become a leader in this situation.

We have all experienced the power of being truly heard. It is one of the highest gifts we receive in this life. In the business world, it encourages deeper thinking, energized action, and greater connection to the work at hand. And it invokes the leader in everyone.

Jennifer Sellers is the Chief Energy Officer of Inspired Mastery, a leadership development company that helps people see inside their own blind spots to become powerful communicators, powerful leaders, and powerful in their lives. She is a Professional Certified Coach through the International Coach Federation. Her background includes teen and adult education, project management under contract to NASA, a year as a ski bum in Telluride, Colorado , and 5 years as a coach, facilitator, and speaker. She has practiced Zen meditation for almost 20 years and is passionate about tapping the highest potential in each of us. http://www.inspiredmastery.com

Law of Distraction

Become Who You Were Meant To Be Now

We are what we think, believe, and do. If you can change how you think and what you believe, with God's help, you can change your life - what you do and who you are.

Are you on the path that will lead you to your highest calling - to actualize your greatest potentials and give your best to those you love?

What attitudes, beliefs, negative self-statements, inner or external distractions, and unhealthy habits are holding you back?

Decisions you make today, goals and commitments you establish, can and will change your life. Starting today you can become the person you were created to be.

Negative programming, destructive thought patterns, and damaged emotions can be changed, rewritten, and healed. This process can start now - in this moment - and continue throughout your life.

No matter how old you are, you aren't too old to change. Although we are "creatures of habit" who often get stuck in ruts - mental and behavioral patterns that get stronger every time we repeat them, with sufficient motivation and persistence (and with God's help) we can break free from old habits.

I want to challenge you today to take an honest look at yourself and identify 3 aspects of yourself you wish to improve. Write down how you want to change - be specific (i.e. - cut down to pack a day over the next two weeks and then stop smoking completely by 4 weeks from today). If your goal is to be more productive or to spend more time with your family or to develop a more disciplined prayer life - decide how you will know when you have reached your goal. What will be a sign that you have arrived? And what benefits do you hope to obtain? Make sure your goals are consistent with long term objectives, realistic, and measurable.

Today's decisions will be realized in tomorrow's successes, and a thought or a wish traveling across the synapses of your brain right now could be the impetus that changes your world - perhaps even the whole world.

All things are possible if we believe!

Do you believe? If not, may God help you to believe. Don't fail to see the infinite possibilities God has placed within your grasp. Jesus said: "If you have the faith of a grain of mustard seed you can move mountains." What doubts are holding you back? Do you doubt yourself, your calling, your God? Are you willing to doubt your doubts and begin to believe?

Which of you are willing to make a commitment to change? Listen to the Wind of change within your soul. Ask and you shall receive!

William Kuntz, M.S., LCSW

Licensed Psychologist / Life Coach

George S Clason

Concentration Is The Power

Have you ever taken note how you breathe when you feel in love with the whole world or with some one special and that noble emotions which thrills you. When you are fille111Cd with good thoughts, you breathe a plentiful supply of oxygen into your lungs and love fills your soul. Love develop a person, this feeling changes them physically, mentally and socially. They breathe deeply when they are happy and they will gain life and strength; they will steady their mind and will develop a power in concentration and become magnetic and powerful. If you want to get more out of life you must think more of love. LOVE is the GIVER. Unless you have real deep affection for something or some one, you have no sentiment, no sweetness, no magnetism. So arouse is your love and deep affections by your will you enter into a FULLER life. A FULLER life is sweetness in itself. The Energy , the POWER.

The hand of love always magnifies, but it must be steady and controlled. Love can be concentrated in your hand shake, and this is one of the best ways to influence another. The handshake that is steady and firm will be the controlled mind.

The next time you feel yourself becoming irritable, use your will and be patient. This is a very good exercise in self-control. It will help you to keep patient if you will breathe slowly and deeply. If you find you are commencing to speak fast, just control yourself and speak slowly and clearly. Keep from either rising or lowering your voice and concentrate on the fact that you are determined to keep your poise, and you will improve your power in concentration.

When you meet people of some importance, assume a reposeful attitude before them. Try Do this at all times. Watch both them and yourself. Static exercises does develops the motor faculties and increase the power in concentration. If you feel yourself getting irritable, nervous or weak, stand squarely on your feet with your chest up and inhale deeply and you will see that your irritability will disappear and a silent calm will pass over you.

If you are in the habit of associating with nervous, irritable people, quit them until you grow strong in the power in concentration, because irritable, angry, fretful, dogmatic and disagreeable people will weaken what powers of resistance you may have.

Any exercises that give you better control of your ears, fingers, eyes, feet, will help you to steady your mind; when your eye is steady, your mind is steady. One of the best ways to study a person is to watch his physical movements, for when we, study they actions, we are studying their mind.

As actions are the expressions of the mind. As the mind is, so is the action. If it is uneasy, restless, erratic, unsteady, its actions are the same. When it is composed, the mind is composed. Concentration means control of the mind and body. You cannot secure control over one without the other.

Many people who seem to lack ambition have WEAK or SLUGGISH minds. They are steady, patient and seemingly have good control, but this does not say they are able to concentrate. These people are indolent, inactive, slow and listless, because they lack energy; they do not lose control because they have little FORCE to control. They have no temper and it therefore cannot disturb them. Their actions are steady because they possess little energy. The natural person is internally strong, energetic and forceful, but his energy, force and strength, thoughts and physical movements are well under his control.

If a person does not have energy, both mental and physical, he must therefore, develop it. If he has energy which he cannot direct and hold to a point he must learn to do so. A man may be very capable, but, unless he WILLS to control his abilities, they will not do him any good.

I have heard so much talk about the benefit of physical culture, but the real benefit of this is really lost sight of. There is nothing that holds the faculties at work in a sustained and continuous manner as static exercises do. For, as I stated before, when you learn to control the body, you are gaining control over the mind. I would suggest to you to read my blog "Motivate Yourself To Achieve Anything".

How to Gain What You Want Through Concentration

The ignorant person may say, "How can you get anything by merely wanting it? I say that through concentration you can get anything you want. Every desire can be gratified. But whether it is, will depend upon you concentrating to h5B4ave that desire fulfilled. Read my previous article. By merely wishing for something will not bring it. Wishing you had something shows a weakness and not a belief that you will really get it. So never merely wish, as we are not living in a "fairy age." You use up just as much brain force in "vain imaginings" as you do when you think of something worth while.

Be careful of your desires, make a mental picture of what you want and set your will to this until it materializes. Never allow yourself to drift without helm or rudder. Know what you want to do, and strive with all your might to do it, and you will succeed.

Feel that you can accomplish anything you undertake. Many undertake to do things, but feel when they start they are going to fail and usually they do. I will give an illustration. A man goes to a store for an article. The clerk says, "I am sorry, we do not have it." But the man that is determined to get that thing inquires if he knows where he can get it. Again receiving an unsatisfactory answer the determined buyer consults the manager and finally he finds where the article can be bought. He was persistant to have what he wanted. He made certain that that he would get what he came for. "NO" was not in his vocabulary.

I love helping people who need advice on Home Environment wh4A8ich include help with advice and tips for families with debt and personal problems in sickness, weight loss, back pain, tips on how to save money at home and away from home, internet products. After all love is about giving. If you like this post sign up for my newsletter by clicking on the right and receive some cool stuff and more post that you ask for. You can also bookmark this post by clicking on the icons at the bottom of the post. By the way if you are interested in weight loss I have tried and succeeded in losing 25 pounds. Just let me know.

http://www.cookingrecipeforyou.com

Louis B

Continuing To Learn

I'm sure that you have heard the statement "If you are not learning then you are not growing". This is more than true, it is a fundamental that all successful people have that the average person does not. Successful people know the value of continued education and seek to find other like minded people, conferences, courses and various other meansFAE to support or enhance their knowledge.

Have you ever heard people say that the successful ones who are selling CD's are making money. Most people who are not willing to do what it takes will find fault with information put on an audio or CD format. Cost is one fault most complain about. They think that it is only to make money and not to share information. The wealth of knowledge and experience at your fingertips is crucial to your growth and development. The fact that you can listen to it while in your car is invaluable since most of us spend a tremendous amount of our time drive from on destination to another. You can also re-listen to an audio program and take notes as if you were at the seminar or course in person. Imagine if you had spent the actual money to attend that event!

Although a large amount of people don't seem to have much time to breath, books can be another valuable success builder. They provide a reference point that you can back to at any given time. Highlighting in a book gives you quick reference when you are looking for something specific that caught your attention during the first reading. Most successful people have a well stocked and used library for future reference. The act of spending just fifteen minutes per day reading either early in the morning or later in the evening you can acquire a wealth of knowledge in the long run and added to your points of reference while building your success in whatever you choose.

Courses and seminars are a large benefit for the person who is building financial freedom and success. Courses are available online in the form of e-courses as well as in physical locations. Seminars are also available in teleseminar and webinar form for those who choose to learn from their homes, on their computers or telephones. The biggest advantage to courses and seminars away from home is that you have the benefit of actually being in the presence to the presenter or teacher. It is true that birds of a feather flock together. Like minded people benefit from being together especially from the energy that is present. By making a commitment to attend an event you are making a commitment to yourself to improve and grow for the future. These people do what it takes to get the job done efficiently and effectively.

All types of continued education are tools to use to increase your success and the amount of time in which it takes for you to succeed. The question is "Are you willing and ready to take yourself to the next level"? There are a variety of opportunities to acquire these tools. Finding a mentor, someone who has been where you want to go and has tools available to teach you is important to developing your future success.

For further information on some tools available to assist you in your success journey visit http://www.setyourmillionairemind.com

Many people are in sales of some kind. You can find very valuable information and tools to enhance your skills and effectiveness can be found at http://www.foryoursuccessfulmindset.com

Transcendental Meditation

Risking Everything

The movie What's Eating Gilbert Grape takes place in a small sleepy town of Endora with the storyline built around a poor, fatherless, dysfunctional family. While you may be familiar with Johnny Depp, Leonardo DiCaprio, Mary Steenburgen and Juliette Lewis, the5B4 star who stole my heart was Darlene Cates. She played Momma, a former beauty queen who, because of circumstances, became a 500-pound recluse who had given up on lifeexcept for eating, sleeping and channel surfing.

She had little purpose in life and would rather be dead than seen in public. One day, her "slow" son (DiCaprio) was put in jail for climbing the water tower for the umpteenth time. The Sheriff had had enough and made good on his promise of arrest after looking the other direction since the first incident.

Momma was worried to death about her son suffering in a cold cell. Unfamiliar with his surroundings, he might scream and sob all night or inflict self-injury. This time she knew nothing else would get her son out except a face-to-face confrontation with the law.

Of course, she did a lot of soul-searching...

This meant facing embarrassment, shame and humiliation. This meant people stopping to stare, kids pointing and laughing, townsfolk gossiping, heckling and telling fat jokes. This meant risking everything she valued in life to get her boy back.

Gilbert (Depp) drove the family to the courthouse steps. Momma got out the car and with her walking cane, made a staggered beeline to the Sheriff's office. She screamed the Sheriff's name and demanded for her son. When the sheriff made an excuse about police procedure she screamed even louder, "My son! Give me my son!"

The office staff was quit5B4e invisible at this moment. Their codes, policies and procedures didn't prepare them for matters of the heart. They cowered beneath the undying love of an angry mother.

Momma wouldn't take no for an answer. This caught everyone, including her family, by surprise. With the guts and determination Momma showed, the sheriff had no choice but to give her what she wanted. There wasn't a braver soul in Endora.

Momma risked everything to get her son back. There was no other alternative. There was no other choice. She had to conquer her inner demons.

Have you ever taken any risks?

I don't mean gambling your paycheck away at poker, driving 85 miles-per-hour on a 65 miles-per-hour highway, or eating fast food every day. I'm talking about serenading your sweetheart when you can't hit a note, going up against your boss and his gang of "Yes Men" in a company meeting, or jumping out of an airplane for the first time in your life. You know, the stuff that really matters. The stuff that causes you to stretch and makes something of you.

Imagine you had to do something you're uncomfortable at, or perhaps it was your first time...

For me that would be swimming. I've been in the pool a few times during high school and even took some lessons, but don't ask me to rescue your drowning cat. The closest you would ever find me to a pool is when I'm in the Jacuzzi.

But couldn't I become an adequate swimmer if I had enough 562practice? What if I hired a swim coach? Couldn't I get comfortable in the water then?

Definitely. With enough practice anyone can get good at anything within reason. It centers on possibilities and your beliefs in what you can or cannot do.

If I were to take swimming lessons at the YMCA, I'd look rather silly because I'd be surrounded by children who'd probably laugh at me. But wouldn't the shame and humiliation be worth it if I saved someone from drowning some day?

Tommy Yan helps business owners and entrepreneurs make more money through direct response marketing. He publishes Tommy's Tease weekly e-zine to inspire people to succeed in business and personal growth. Get your free subscription today at www.TommyYan.com.

Get a FREE 5-week Secrets to Web Mastery e-course. If your websites aren't making sales or capturing leads, you can't afford to let it idle in Cyberspace. Read more...

Louis B

The Heart of the Mentor - Drawing From Experiences

Those of us who have been mentored know that it takes an extraordinary person to touch and affect peoples lives in such a unique way. Mentors must be many things, but they must primarily be a person who draws everything there is to be gained from an experience. Experience teaches us wisdom, knowledge, morality, and human nature to name a few. But a mentor internalizes the feelings and emotions gained from lifes experiences and translates them into the words that can lead, guide, educate, and heal.

One may assume that experience and emotional learning occur naturally in everyone but this is not always true. How often do we go through the motions of life without ever really articulating the feelings we experience? It requires careful monitoring and a thorough memory to take the emotional lessons life teaches us and turn them into lessons for another. A mentor is a mentor long before they meet their partner or make a commitment. They are a lifelong interpreter of feelings associated with experience. It is more than learning from encounters. It is more than remembering encounters. It is reliving the encounter every time they share the experience.

When a mentor shares an experience they recapture the feelings they had at the time and put them into the context of the present. Sharing the feelings they had when they faced a challenge takes more than just retelling the events and time frames. To be genuine and authentic they must touch the actual feeling of challenge, with its fears and excitement, and put those feelings into words.

It is the authenticity of feeling that truly enriches the mentoring process. We have all had conversations where stories are told and walked away with only knowledge of a specific event. In mentoring we walk away with much more. The energy and authenticity of our mentors words are the elements that make mentoring far more than a conversation. They are the elements that inspire and motivate us. They are guidance with the energy to motivate us to take action and make changes.

When mentoring is part of the career process we have the chance to develop our lives with the knowledge and wisdom of anothers experience. When that knowledge and wisdom are shared with genuine feeling we dont just learnwe absorb. It is what allows us to choose a path, take a risk, and learn from our mistakes. It gives us the vigor to make these decisions and choices. It takes a lot of energy to live and grow in the business world and it is the lack of that energy that leads to apathy and ambivalence. More than seeking advice, seeking mentoring is reaching out for the power to control and influence our world.

You may wonder how you will know if someone is truly a mentor or just someone who is giving advice. Once you have met a mentor, the difference will become obvious. Your mentoring sessions will leave you motivated and intrigued, not fearful or apprehensive about decisions you are now faced with. The mentoring experience is a truly remarkable relationship and it is no wonder that so many professionals credit their success to mentoring. Some of the most influential and successful business people sought and received mentoring early in their careers and achieved incredible things.

All these things are possible because mentors mentor with their hearts. That vital and powerful part of them is what allows them to have such an impact on the lives of others. Sharing their hearts, with all its intrinsic hopes and dreams, gives them the authenticity to guide and enrich. When you meet a true mentor it is not hard to believe them because they have a consistency that one can trust and believe in. The emotions they share are consistent with the words and experiences they impart. When you find a mentor you have found a valuable treasure and the process deserves your efforts and respect. Future articles will cover how to be a good partner in mentoring and how mutual nurturing is essential to the process. Mentoring is such a complex concept that this article alone only touches the surface of such an exciting and beneficial process.

Melissa Vokoun is a successful Business Advisor and Trainer. From 1983 to 2005 she was COO and VP of Sales and Marketing for a national telecom equipment distributor. Her passion for business, working with clients in solving critical issues in the strategic, tactical and operational areas of growth continues. She is now President and Founder of NuVo Partners and Successful Business Advisors. To learn more about the services available, please visit the website at: http://www.nuvo-partners.com or call 847-392-6886.

Transcendental Meditation

Granite Tile: Stone Cold Beauty

Granite is a decorative natural st1C84one that is truly eye-catching, delivering a unique, classy look to any interior or exterior. Granite is as durable as it is beautiful, being one of the hardest substances on earth. Also, to the question of usage and longevity, with proper care, your granite tile project can last a lifetime, transforming a foyer, a kitchen, or even in an outdoor installation (provided youve chosen a non-slip, unpolished finish) into a key feature of a property. Granite tile flooring is, in many cases, the obvious choice for those interested in any kind of natural stone tile flooring or countertops material.

The origins of granite

Granite tile is often a feature in a residence or a commercial building, not only because it is visually impressive, but because of the auspiciousness of having a flooring material which literally took ages to create! Formed deep in the earth, granite is the end result of tremendous heat and pressure applied over thousands of years. Granite is an igneous rock that is described as intrusive. That is, granite is formed when liquid magma is forced between other layers of rock, where it eventually cools and forms a layer of its own. Here, it is fused with elements such as quartz, feldspar and mica among other trace elements. The cooling process is slow, the new layer of rock being shielded by the layers above and below where the molten magma had been forced. The mineral elements which have become suspended in the cooling magma define the crystalline appearance of this unique natural stone. Due to its harsh origins and the lengthy process that suspends so many stabilizing elements within it, granite is an incredibly hard surface. This is material you can trust for durability!

Granite at the Quarry

Once the raw granite has been removed from its bed, first stage in processing granite for the purposes of flooring or countertop slabs is cutting the larger chunks of granite into manageable blocks. These blocks of granite are then further cut to size for use as both slabs and tiles by means of wire saws which are treated with various kinds of durable abrasives, such as sand, aluminum oxide, and diamond. These saws are most commonly used with water as a coolant. Sometimes, high-pressure water jets are used to cut the granite in tandem with the more traditional wire saws. Once the cutting process has been completed, the granite undergoes three processes that make them recognizable as tile flooring or countertop slabs. They are polished on one side, calibrated and gauged. These latter two terms refer to the process of making the back of each tile or slab as even as possible, and the edges as square as possible respectively. Once completed, the granite tile or slab is ready to be shipped to site, ready for your installation.

Popular uses for granite tile for flooring and countertops

Granite tile, being a very versatile material, can be installed in a great many locations in a residential or commercial project. Some of the more popular uses of granite are halls and foyers. Because of their decorative appearance, the popularity of granite tile in these areas is far from surprising. Granite tile helps to create an ambience of professionalism, strength, and permanence when placed in the foyers and halls of an office building. In the home, a granite tile floor can make all the difference in creating a space that is characterized by a singular, refined beauty that complements the surrounding dcor.

Further to this, granite tiles and slabs make a great countertop surfaces. Granite tiles are commonly used as highly suitable backsplashes that can add just the right accent to a kitchen installation. For an outdoor installation, on a terrace for instance, or a walkway, unpolished granite tile can add similar visual accent to a property as well as overall value. If you have leftover granite tile pieces after your installation is complete, granite tile can be cut to size and serve as cutting boards, coasters, fireplace surrounds, and a number of other uses limited only be your imagination and sense of practicality.

Caring for granite tile flooring and countertops

Given the hardness of granite, and the harsh origins that make it extremely resistant to certain types of wear, many of the things you would have to worry about with a lesser material is simply not an issue. For instance, many people choose granite for kitchen countertops and flooring because granite tile and slabs are highly resistant to abrasion caused by cutlery. Granite is also extremely heat-resistant, making it a worry-free countertop solution when it comes to hot pots and plates placed directly on its surface.

However, despite how durable granite tile is, it does require your attention in terms of care. One of the first things to consider is the application of an appropriate sealant. The choice of sealant may be determined by the variety of granite tile youve chosen to install, and where youve chosen to install it. Generally, a sealant is required to protect your granite tile from moisture, which is the most insidious enemy of any building material. As to the specific brands and varieties, talk to your local retailer or flooring expert about which one is the most effective choice with regard to your specific choice in granite tile.

Many of the other approaches to caring for your granite tile come down to common sense; clean up spills right away, keep your granite tile free of dirt and grit that can scratch the polish, and see about which types of cleaners and polishes are most appropriate to granite tile. Also, consider what you are prepared to do to maintain your granite tile surface. A level of commitment is needed in order to keep the sheen of the polished granite tile the same as it is when you first lay it down.

Granite: All this and brains too!

Granite tile and slabs are both a decorative and practical choice, making your choice of granite both a stylish and smart one indeed! Due to its hardness, its resistance to heat and other forms of stress, as well as the versatility which is offered by granite tile, you are making an investment that will add value to your property and one which will be the source of a tremendous pride of ownership. The production of granite has been millions of years in the making, made by the greatest manufacturer there is the earth itself. For a lasting durability designed by nature that is stone cold gorgeous too, granite may be the best idea youve ever had!

Granite Tile Dos and Donts

Here are a few things to think about when you are considering granite tile for your project:

Do:

Consider the area where you intend to install granite tile. Make sure that factors such as moisture levels, foot traffic, and slip resistance are carefully considered. Consider what type of surface is the best polished, honed, or brushed (AKA flamed) are popular varieties in granite tile, each better suited to certain areas than others. Polished granite is great for countertops and low traffic areas, but often becomes slippery when wet. Honed flooring is more all-purpose, but may 5B4be considered less decorative by some. Brushed or flamed granite tile is most commonly used outdoors

Read all warranty information before purchase

Look into hiring a flooring tile professional to help you as working with granite can be very strenuous, due to its weight particularly. When in doubt, its always best to get experienced help

Inspect the whole batch before beginning an installation for possible breakage and any other issues, and consult your terms and conditions as to how to see about compensation, if any

Expect color variations in your batch of granite tile. Remember, granite is a natural material. Use these natural color variations found in your batch to your advantage. Get as creative with your layout as you can

Lay out all of your granite tiles in a dry run before applying mortar or other chosen adhesive agent.

Choose a sealant that best suits your choice in granite tile. Ask your sales rep or flooring professional about specific varieties and brand names

Initiate a cleaning and maintenance regimen; choose the appropriate cleaners and polishes based on experienced advice in order to make sure your granite tile retains all of its natural beauty

Dont:

Install granite tile on an uneven, dirty or wet subfloor

Leave spills to sit on your granite tile flooring or counter9ADtops. It is important to avoid excessive moisture as this is what contributes to the wear of any building material. Also, liquids with an acid base are often culprits of stubborn stains

Allow dirt and grit to remain on the surface of your granite tile. These elements can affect the finish over time and take away from the natural beauty of granite

Use acid-based cleaners or other agents on your granite tile. This can be a major source of wear on your tile, cause stains to become permanent, and dull the finish as well. Avoid using any product your no sure about

Forget to thoroughly rinse your granite tile once youve used a recommended cleaner, or forget to change dirty water or solution which you are using to clean the tile

Use scouring powders, steel wool, or other abrasive materials to remove stains from your granite tile

Obviously this is not a complete list. Once again, one of the best courses of action to take to ensure that granite tile is the right choice for a flooring or countertop solution is to consult with the experts. This way, you are benefiting from years of experience which will allow you to avoid costly mistakes. It will also help to make sure that your granite tile will be as attractive and long lasting as it is meant to be with you as its best ally!

Rob Jones is Communications Coordinator with BuildDirect, a leading online wholesaler of building products. Rob writes articles for commercial contractors and DIYers on features, installation, and maintenance of building materials used in commercial and residential projects. These articles focus on materials such as flooring, decking, roofing, and siding, and other related topics.

Remodeled House Exterior With Siding

Sunroom Installation

You need to take several things into consideration when you're thinking of a sunroom installation and there are many options to choose from. Maybe the first thing that will come to your mind is the price, but this all depends on how big you want your sunroom to be and what type of material she will be using. For example, if you want an aluminum sunroom and you're just thinking of adding a few windows, then it is going to cost you much less than if you had the entire sunroom constructed out of glass and wood. So there are a few factors that you must consider before you get started.

When building a sunroom you start with the foundation and it is impo10FFrtant to build its foundation to the building codes of your local area. These codes will vary depending what kind of climate to live in. If you have a lot of freezing during winter, then it stands to reason that the foundation has to be deeper in the ground and this will mean more expense in labor and materials. But if you have an existing patio then the expense won't be as much.

Of course the major expense in a sunroom is the number of windows that you intend to use and also the type you have in mind. For example, if you are going with fixed windows will be less expense than if you order custom installation. Another cost difference would be in the type of glaze that you choose to put on the windows. This glaze can control sunlight and block out damaging rays but keep in mind the more your windows can do the more expensive it will be. You will find a difference in the materials that you choose and this will affect costs also. The cheapest material is PVC and the next one up the line is aluminum with the most expensive being wooden material.

For lots of information on how to build a sunroom and other sunrooms related topics, visit DIY Home Advice at http://www.diyhomeadvice.com

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Home Remodeling - Some Useful Tips

Home remodeling includes remodeling of various parts of your house such as kitchen, bathroom, lobby, sitting room, basement and all. Home remodeling is a complete package that gives a new and complete look to your home. With home remodeling, you also get to modify the exteriors and interiors of your home in a way that you want. Home modeling is now a common phenomenon amongst many home owners in many parts of the world. Home remodeling also lets you restructure your home and incorporate the latest trends and fashion.

However, there are a few things you need to consider before opting for home remodeling. First of all you need to hire a contractor to remodel your home (of course after you have done enough research find the best one; internet research is a good option). A contractor is a n expert and can also show you various options and designs. An expert will do a better job than you can do any day. Second, you need to have a budget for home remodeling. You need to keep some money aside for home remodeling. Also, keep in mind that during the process of home remolding, sometimes there are unanticipated expenditures. So, always have some funds aside for that.

You can choose either specialized contractor or general contractor for your tasks, depending on your requirements. Also, consult your friends and relatives when choosing a contractor. If possible, see their past works to get an idea of the quality of their work. Home renovation does not happen everyday, and when you get it done, ensure that you get the best.

For more tips and details please visit www.allremodel.com.

Natasha

Possible 6 X 6 Wood Post Damage

Western Bathroom Decor Ideas

Often, the bathrooms in our homes get little or no consideration when it comes to decorating. That's too bad because there are plenty of western bathroom decor ideas that can make a big difference. After all, the bathroom is usually where we're at right before bedtime and where we spend time in the morning getting ready for the day. So, why not add a few decorative touches to remind us of something we have a fondness for?

Our favorite decor ideas for the bathroom are ones from the western, southwestern, lodge, and rustic styles of home decorating. For example, western style decor might include items related to western scenery or settings, cowboys and cowgirls, or horses, as well as rodeo and ranching activities. The Southwestern style might feature desert scenes, red rock canyons, cactus, or Native American designs. Nature and wildlife are common themes for the lodge and rustic styles.

Most of the things we use as part of our bathroom decor ideas are common items for the bathroom, but they're done in a certain decorative style. These common items include shower curtains, towel bars, robe hooks, tissue holders, soap dishes, lotion dispensers, toothbrush holders, waste cans, and so forth. There are also wallpaper borders, vanity lights, switch covers, along with cabinet pulls and knobs that are done in your favorite decorating style.

If your home has more than one bathroom, you might have one for the master bedroom, one (or more) for the other bedrooms, and perhaps a guest bathroom or powder room. If that's the case, you might want to use one of the best bathroom decor ideas we know of - simply get a few items that reflect the hobbies and/or interests of the person(s) that uses each of the bathrooms the most. Then, decorate the guest bathroom or powder room to match or complement the rest of your home.

If you're a horse lover, you'll be able to find a wide variety of shower curtains with a horse theme. You can choose all kinds of scenes, from a horse grazing in a lush meadow to a group of wild mustangs running freely across the open range. You can easily find other bathroom accessories and accents that feature a design or depiction of a horse.

Are you a cowboy or cowgirl at heart? You can get a toothbrush holder, lotion dispenser, soap 8D7dish, and more, all with a matching design that features a depiction of a western character. Towel bars are available that make it seem like a pair of cowboys are holding a rope for you to drape your towel over. Some types of western light fixtures have a cowboy silhouette in metal art.

Perhaps you have a deep appreciation for nature and wildlife. You can express your feelings with rustic style bathroom accessories and accents that bring a touch of the outdoors into your room. Whether it's plant or animal, you'll have lots of choices. You can get decor items with designs or depictions of acorns, pine trees, pinecones, elk, deer, moose, bears, ducks, geese, or trout.

No matter which bathroom decor ideas have the most appeal for you, the best part is that getting a desired look or creating a theme is easily accomplished without spending lots of money. Most of the accessories and accents for the bathroom are affordable and have a very practical purpose, so why not get them in your favorite style? The difference it makes as you start your day can certainly make you glad you did!

AnnaRae Mills loves informal home decor; especially the western, rustic, southwestern, country, and lodge styles. She has dozens of great decorating tips to share with you. Plus, see more than 375 pictures that show why casual home decor is more popular than ever. Go to http://www.Western-Home-Decor.net

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Renovating A Commercial Property

Commercial real estate investing, just like residential real estate investing, has a strong renovate and sell component to the overall calculus of profit and loss. Many commercial real estate investors see properties they hold solely in the context of the revenue stream generated every month, rather than as an asset that can be improved over time. In the current competitive commercial real estate marketplace, this could have you falling behind the curve on getting your maximum return on investment.

There are several good reasons to renovate commercial real estate. Renovate your current property to greatly improve the re-sale value. Buy another cheap property in a good area. Then renovate it for future resale. Consider subdividing your property into smaller offices and retail spaces to increase the number of tenants and therefore, the amount of rent collected. Or, simply command higher rents for premium facilities. All of this is about improving the attractiveness of the property for tenants and potential buyers, making it easy to get a solid return on your investment.

As with all real estate investing, you need to determine if your strategy is to buy-and-flip or to buy-hold-and-lease. In particular, if you're planning on hosting your own office in the facilities, buying and leasing makes a fair amount of sense; on top of this, there are tax incentives available for commercial real estate held for seven years or more, to help fund and encourage renovation work. This is all part of the process of encouraging businesses to remain in communities, and foster a good employment market.

Once you've chosen to renovate, for any, or several, of the reasons above, the question becomes "what sort of renovations will return the best value for the money invested." If your property under renovation has tenants, they're the first people to ask. If it's just been vacated by a tenant, it's also a good time to ask what sort of renovations and remodeling would be desired. Typical renovations that are worth doing include checking the plumbing, adding conferencing space and making the foyer more open and airy. All of these renovations will help you qualify for the tax relief programs being offered for long term commercial real estate holders.

If you don't have any5B4 tenants, the renovations possible are much more extensive - you aren't disrupting someone's business workflow while you undergo the renovation process. Consider green renovations first. These can be as simple as replacing the windows with triple glazed thermal protection windows to a panoply of more extensive changes, like elevators that capture electricity when they descend, using regenerative breaking. If you're looking to sell the building, using recycled materials in a renovation can greatly improve your ability to sell it, particularly to younger business owners who consider green buildings to be a mark of prestige, or a moral obligation.

While it's possible to sink more money into green renovations than the property is worth, there are several things to seriously consider. The three most common include solar collectors on the roof, rainwater collectors that can be used for the toilets and other gray water facilities, and using a solar wall with black piping to let the sunlight do part of the hot water heating for the building. Regrettably, much of the furor about making green housing pay for itself in reduced utility bills boils down to poor math. Most businesses will spend more on green features than they'll earn back over the expected time they'll remain in the business at foreseeable energy prices. What you're doing when you do these sorts of capital investments in your property is staking a fiscal position that t5B4he price of energy is going to rise in the near future, and that you're improving the resale value of your facility. This isn't to say they aren't worthwhile - a lot of the green innovations in building construction make the building more habitable, and they do reduce the costs of operation. The unquantifiable benefit is the price value of reduced environmental impact.

The hazards of renovation include the usual hazards involved in any sort of construction endeavor. Contractors can run late, or run over budget, or both. You can have renovations that result in disasters. When looking to do renovations, take the time to interview your contractors carefully. Work through the entire process with them, and set up metrics for what needs to be done as well as when it needs to be done. Work with your contractors as closely as you can afford to, without joggling their elbows or "backseat driving" the job.

Above all else, make plans and stick with them - renovations are big projects and big projects more than anything have a tendency to take longer and go over budget, as the final specification becomes more and more of a moving target.

If you're going to be building a new facility on a lot, you're likely going beyond the bounds of renovation. That being said, there are several options that are easier to facilitate into a new building, than into an existing one. Among them are baseline water heaters (which heat and cool 5A9rooms by running water through pipes under the floor), energy capture facilities like solar arrays integrated into south facing walls, a property designed heating and cooling system with an energy star compliant ventilation system, and proper insulation.

Make your renovation budget work in your favor to increase the value of your property. The capital outlay now will give a substantial return on the investment, either as a flip, or through increased leasing revenues.

Anthony Seruga and Yolly Bishop of Maverick Real Estate Investments, Inc. work with builders, developers and other players in the commercial real estate industry to acquire and develop properties. They use progressive investment strategies that have proved extremely profitable. In addition to their own deals, they teach both seasoned and inexperienced investors how to be big players in the game. Visit the website for more info.

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