SelFulfillment

The Easiest Way to Write Anything | by Joe Vitale

2007-04-10T07:48:00.000Z

You've got something to say. You know it. Your associates know it.

But you don't regard yourself as "a writer."

How are you going to express your wisdom?

How will you communicate your thoughts?

Yes, you can follow the path of J.Paul Getty, Lee Iaccocoa, and Donald Trump and hire someone to write your words. That works. (And I'm available should you want to talk about hiring me as your ghostwriter.) :)

But there is an easier way.

I call this the "two step" because that's all there is to it.

Here's the secret in a nutshell:

Step one is state your principle. Step two is illustrate it.

Pretty simple dance routine, right? Yet you can use this method to write ANY type of nonfiction---whether it's your life story, a school paper, an executive brief, or a full length scholarly book. (Actually, the scholars sorely need this method. They're too stuffy!)

I was reminded of this method while reading a book from the 1940's. I noticed that throughout the book the author would make a statement and then illustrate it with a story. The more I thought about it, I felt this was the easiest way to write anything.

Here's how it works:

1. Make a list of the ideas you want to communicate. Pretend these are laws, rules, insights, commandments, theories, or whatever will work for you. What you're looking for is a list of messages. For example, I was working with a Houston body-mind therapist and I told him about this method. I said, "One of your messages is that people can have whatever they want, as long as they aren't attached to how they get it." He nodded. "Another message of yours is that the energy we put out is the result we get." He nodded again. "Those are your key points," I explained. "Write those down. That's easy. All you do is pull out a sheet of paper or turn on your laptop, and just jot down the ideas you want to get across."

2. Now all you do is illustrate every point with three stories. This is what I liked about that book from the forties. The author made a statement, then illustrated it with a story that made the statement come to life. "You have all kinds of stories to share," I reminded my therapist friend. "For every point you make, support it with a story. Maybe tell how someone achieved a breakthrough following your main point. This reinforces your point and makes it easier to understand."

That's it!

Principle-story, principle-story, principle-story.

You can take ANY subject and break it down this way.

You're making it easier on the readers, too. They don't have to wade through a long involved tale. With this method, you cut right to the point. You say, "Here's what I believe," and then you use a story to explain why you believe it.

The book from the forties that I'm referring to was "How to Develop Your Executive Ability" by Daniel Starch. I'm using it as an example of this two-step formula, and not necessarily urging you to run out and find a copy (it's out of print, anyway).

I just pulled the book off the shelf and opened it at random. I'm looking at the chapter titled "Putting New Ideas to Work." It begins with a statement: "Write them down at the time they come to you."

It then spends four paragraphs giving lively quotes from Tolstoy, Darwin, and Robert Louis Stevenson about the importance of writing down your ideas when they come to you.

If you just write down your message or key point, it will sit on the page in a lifeless, very un-hypnotic way. If you want people to remember the message, if you want them to install the message in their skull, then tell a story that illustrates it.

Your stories don't have to be classics of literature. A relevant quote can bring a statement to life. Stories from other people can bring your message to life. But most powerful and memorable of all are the stories from your own experience.

I just flipped open Starch's book to chapter twenty-four, on "Turning Bad Breaks Into Opportunities." Right off the bat there's a statement: "Resolve not to be downed by failure."

And then follows a page and half of stories about people who were in accidents and went on with their lives, including a quote from Cervantes and John Bunyan. This supportive material awakens your message in the reader's mind.

You might notice that I just used this very technique to write this chapter. I told you there was a two-step formula for writing anything. Then I illustrated the two steps with stories from my clients, and with a story about the book that gave me the idea.

This "two-step" works!

The next time you have to write something, remember: principle-story, principle-story, principle-story.

It's the easiest way to write anything!

About the Author
Joe "Mr. Fire!" Vitale, regarded as one of the world's most
powerful copywriters, is a best-selling author of marketing
books and courses, including "The AMA Complete Guide to Small
Business Advertising," Nightingale-Conant's audio program, "The
Power of Outrageous Marketing!" and "Create Advertising That
Sells."

Article Marketing - 5 Winning Tips You Cannot Miss! | by Davion Wong

2007-04-10T07:41:00.000Z

Article marketing is an effective marketing technique to drive targeted visitors to your website. The outcome of a good article marketing campaign is a warm audience that has been pre-sold on your ideas and sales pitch and ready to buy your product or subscribe for your service. If traffic and sales are what you struggle with, then you would not want to miss this incredibly powerful advertising method.

Not only is article marketing effective, it is also free. This is why it is the preferred website promotion method by many online marketers and authors. There are hundreds of article submission directories that would gladly accept your article submission for free. Once published, your website is ready to receive traffic. It doesn't cost you a single cent and the quality of traffic is on par with PPC traffic. But there are some tips that you might want to use to put your article marketing on steroids.

Article Marketing Winning Tip 1 - Writing Informative Articles

People are looking for information which is why they landed on your article. Give them enough information as unique and useful as possible so that they feel they have gained something. You want to convince them that you know your stuff.

Article Marketing Winning Tip 2 - Keep it Short and Simple (KISS)

Be concise and to the point. Make your article simple to understand so that everyone knows what you are driving at. That way, you can reach the masses easily. Speak their lingo and cut away unnecessary technical jargon.

Article Marketing Winning Tip 3 - Pack Benefits into Article Title

Tell your readers what they can expect from reading your article. The best place to do so is the article title. Sell the benefits to entice them to read. Remember that you only have a few seconds to grab their attention. So give some thought to your article titles as that is the first thing they see.

Article Marketing Winning Tip 4 - Write One for Your Website

Since you have written an article, why not rewrite or write a brand new one for your website? Elaborate in greater details so that your visitors see relevant content on your website. If you have written an article about 'how to get started with article writing', you can add in related content such as how to find article content, where to submit your articles and how to write creative and attractive titles. Repeated exposure improves conversion rates.

Article Marketing Winning Tip 5 - Pre-Sell and Not Sell

Avoid doing a sales pitch in your article. This is a Big 'No No'. Readers tend to flee the moment they detect a clear sales pitch. Pre-sell them about the benefits of your product before they even see it. It adds a sense of mystery and instills curiosity. This is what you want to achieve.

These are just a few tricks amongst many to make article marketing work for you. Look out for my next article on more killer tips to supercharge your profits using article marketing.

This article may be freely reprinted or distributed in its entirety in any ezine, newsletter, blog or website. The author's name, bio and website links must remain intact and be included with every reproduction.

About the Author
Davion Wong is a successful article marketer. Discover The Secret Article Marketing Weapon he uses to sell thousands of dollars worth of products every single month without fail.

Comic Thoughts | by Eleutherios Borrias

2007-04-10T07:32:00.000Z

You there. Yes, you, the one who likes comics, don't be shy, step forward. There are very few forms of expression as misunderstood as this, decades of prejudice have created the stereotype that the 9th art is an immature, simplistic stupidity concerning men with muscles and tights, able to fly and explode stuff, suitable only for the smaller ages and yet better off without it. Well, if that's how much you know on the subject, allow me to observe that you know nothing at all.

There were always comic books not like those indifferent ones that come out every month in vast quantities, if you just know where to look there's no way you won't find something valuable even in a huge industry like this one. I'm talking about those interesting, dark, realistic or not, innovative, groundbreaking stories that come accompanied by captivating art, each issue a work of art on its own, every month coming to you in a price and form if nothing else approachable. Today more than ever, with hundreds of different titles being published every month, there's a whole pile of junk threatening to overwhelm us but fear not, the same applies for those great comics that seem to be taking the place they rightfully deserve in the hearts of readers and the minds of critics.

Some of the greatest creators of fields related have turned to comics, and that's not accidental, writers and artists worked together in this brave new world using its potential. Clive Barker, Neil Gaiman, Stephen King, Terry Pratchett, Alan Moore, Frank Miller and so many more, all of them proof that it's not kid cartoons we're talking about but a new form of art with an adult target group destined to change the way we think about text and picture, using a combination of them in a way, maybe not that traditional as literature, but promising and fresh. It took some hard years for the comics industry to grow up and get wise but the mistakes of the past have helped, the production is now evenly matched to the demand, the companies more responsible and the readers significantly more mature and demanding. Comic reading is no more for the geeks, those too bored to read a book or even only for the guys, people who would be concerned to be totally irrelevant to the subject nowadays show a great interest to a new suggestion willing to get you to places none ever took you before.

Arm yourselves with patience and persistence, the quest ahead of you is a hard but promising one. You might stumble upon cheap art, naןve stories and uninspired characters but keep searching, for there are some worth it, capable of traveling you to lands unreachable and dreams unspoken. You may lose yourselves in magic stories and even better, you may reappear a better person. It happens every day!

About the Author
Eleutherios Borrias is the owner of Comic Art and he is a passionate fan of Comics. You can find some great info for comics and especially for DC Comics and Marcel Comics

Top 7 Ways To Become Effective Writer

2007-03-13T08:21:00.000Z

Are you an effective writer? Have you ever analyzed your write ups? Well I think that everyone is capable of producing effective writing. Unfortunately, laziness, lack of confidence, poor time management, and/or lack or experience can be barriers that prevent effective writing from happening.

Here are 7 tips that can guide you to become effective writer

1 - USE PROPER LANGUAGE IN WRITING

When we speak to each other, we don't use grammatically complete sentences, careful constructions, and beautifully modulated syntax. Our utterances are often quite ungrammatical, abbreviated, and incomplete. If these habits of speech are carried over into the written language the results are usually not very good. Using the most effective language to put your thought across is the key to be an effective writer.

2 - USE PROPER PUNCTUATION

Some people scatter marks of punctuation like confetti throughout their writing, making little distinction between the ranges of devices available. Yet if it is not used accurately and consistently, this creates an unsettling effect. The most frequent abuse of this kind is the use of the comma to string together statements, which are in fact grammatically separate. They might be independent sentences, or (more usually) notes or brief 'thoughts . The other extreme of the same problem is too little punctuation. This usually has the effect of leaving readers disoriented. Use proper punctuation while writing to be an effective writer.

3 - USE PROPER VOCABULARY

Do not use jumbled vocabulary. Using jumbled vocabulary usually occurs because the writer does not have a firm grasp of the meaning and best use of words. Thinking before writing is another way to become effective writer.

4 - HAVE VARIETY IN WRITING

An effective writer is one who can grip the reader in whatever he writes and avoids repetition. Effective writer chooses variety of style, chooses variety of topics, and tries new writing techniques and strategies.

5 - PROOFREAD YOUR WRITINGS

Writing has an advantage over oral communication in that you have time to get your thoughts together, organize them in the best way possible, and use the most effective language to get your point across. A piece of writing that may be effectively written but is riddled with errors and sloppily presented, sends the message loud and clear that the writer is lazy, incompetent, ignorant, or worse. But an effective writer proofreads his writings.

6 - RELAXED WRITERS ARE EFFECTIVE WRITERS

Good writing comes from good energy. When your body is tired from stress or lack of sleep, you cannot work at your best. Getting yourself in a relaxed and rested state of mind can help at all stages of the writing process.

7 - THINK POSITIVE

Last but not the least but positive attitude always works wonders. Do not set yourself up to make your worst predictions come true. You can program yourself to get the best out of yourself just by changing the way you think-and talk-about your writing. Being positive about your writing, however, does not mean setting wildly unrealistic expectations for yourself. You wouldn't expect to learn to play the guitar or become a champion swimmer overnight, so don't expect overnight miracles with your writing. it takes time for everything to happen and a skill to develop. Give yourself time and you will become an effective writer.

About the Author
John Khu is an experience entrepreneur and internet marketer. He specializes in communication development and personal happiness.
http://www.communicationessence.com

Middle East - The Big Picture

2007-03-12T20:44:00.000Z

A good friend of mine lives in Dubai. He explained that, even today, no Arab school -not even in Jordan or Egypt- teaches that Israel is a country. They all refuse to even recognize it.

Isn't it strange that Sweden/EU allows Mosques but not even Saudi Arabia allows ANY Christian churches?

Isn't it strange that people said Japan could never be a democracy, haven't learned the lesson; now instead say that Iraq can never be a democracy?

Isn't it strange that people failed to learn the lessons from Hitler and thus fail to see the real threat that Iran repeats - even in public - that Israel should be wiped from the face of the earth?

Imagine that there will be peace in the Middle East for 10-20 years. Will there be a need/demand for Hamas, Hezbollah or the current regimes of Syria and Iran then? NO! The ENTIRE base of existence for them is hatred of USA/Israel.

No, it isn't about religion - if it had been then Syria and Iran would thank USA/NATO for overriding UN's endless discussions by taking action and stopping the genocide on Muslims in Bosnia!

With peace, Syria and Iran have no reason to exist. That's why they prevent peace from happening - sending enemy combatants, 'suicide'-mass-civilian-murder-bombers and weapons to Afghanistan & Iraq, and that's why Syria and Iran stopped Arafat from signing the Oslo-treaty. They are fighting for their survival and will do whatever they can to preserve the status-quo. If they fail - if there is peace - Syria and Iran will automatically fade away and die!

40 years of trying to get peace in the Middle east with peaceful negotiations failed with not signing the Oslo Treaty. It doesn't work! So anyone who WANTS a new result (= peace) must agree that a NEW approach is needed - the only one they understand: one of beating Syria and Iran at their own game - violence! Go W Bush! History will prove you right unless the U.S. will fuck it up.

About the Author
Peter Cederholm City politician, Stockholm

Keep Your Cat Off of the Counter

2007-03-10T16:10:00.000Z

Disciplining a cat has long been known as an exercise in futility. These proud creatures will happily ignore scolding's and other methods to do just what they want. Kitchen counters are like magnets to cats. Cats love high surfaces, and, as a bonus, the kitchen counter smells delicious. Your counter is often full of good things to eat, or at least, still smelling of them, and any self-respecting cat is required to investigate. It may seem impossible to keep your pet from "counter-surfing." Before kitty drives you to your wits' end, try a few simple tricks to discourage him.

Cats hate the sticky feeling of tape, so try applying some sticky-side up to the edge of the counter. The sensation of stickiness on your cat's paws may be enough to keep him off the counter. The disadvantage to this method is that you will have to keep applying the tape as long as you want to repel the cat, and cleaning the adhesive off your counter later can be a chore. Strips of aluminum foil are also suggested, as some cats hate not only the feel of it on their toes, but also the crackling noise. Be careful, though. Some cats find aluminum foil highly attractive and will pull it down for a toy. Make sure that your cat does not ingest any foil if this happens.

Another method of repelling your cat from the counter is to employ a loud noise that will upset your cat when he has done something wrong. A few pennies in an empty aluminum can, shaken when the cat is on the counter, can make him learn that the counter is off limits. If you place a few of these cans along the edge of the counter where the cat will be sure to knock them off when he jumps up, the resulting racket will bring down the cat. Other loud noise methods include a popped balloon, or slapping noisemakers based on mousetraps. The traditional water spray method can also work, though it is important to make sure that the cat connects the discomfort of being wet with the counter, and not with you.

It is also important to make sure that temptations that entice your cat to jump on the counter are reduced. Keep good smelling food off of the counter top, make sure that there are other high places that your cat can sit, and make sure your cat has ample space to roam. These steps, combined with the above preventatives, can help keep your cat off of the counter.

About the Author
Lauren Ashley has been the proud owner of a European Shorthair cat named Pumpkin for 12 years and an Australian Shepherd dog named Mollie for 8 years. She loves cats and dogs and is happy to provide pet owners with wonderful kitty condos, scratching posts, and dog stairs found at http://www.luckycatfurniture.com

Cat Climbing Tree - Getting The Most Out Of Them

2007-03-10T15:56:00.000Z

Well you finally got that special kitty you have been wanting. In preparation you have bought all the little things your kitten will need; toys, a bed, food and a litter box. The little dream is more than you could ask for, cute, fuzzy and loving. Then you begin to notice his preference for you sofa and the kitty hair all over it. Many people live with this problem but you don't have to!

You quickly realize you forgot to get a cat tree. If you are not familiar with this necessity, it is a piece of cat furniture that comes in many shapes. The most common is anywhere from 3 feet to 6 feet. It will have several perches for your cat to sit on and is often covered with carpet and sisal. Sisal is a rope like material that the cat can scratch. This is very important to have for you kitten. It gives him a place of his own where he can play and sleep.

While searching for a cat tree you want to keep in mind quality. When your kitten get bigger, should the cat tree begins to weaken, he may pick your furniture to sleep on once again. Should you choose an upright cat tree, be sure to get one with a wide and stable base, because you don't want to worry about it falling over. You can always get a cat tree that s secured to the wall for stability. This is good for multiple cat families.

When you decide which type of tree is right for you and your kitty, its time to teach him that this tree is the only thing that he is allowed to sleep on. There are a couple of ways to accomplish this. Just remember to be kind and consistent in the suggestions that follow.

One of the methods to teach your kitten would be to take him to the new tree. Make this an enjoyable time, play with him on the tree. It is always good to leave a little cat nip somewhere on the tree. Get a toy and play with him there. Another trick is to leave a recently worn article of clothing. This will give him the feeling of being close to you. Praise him whenever he is on the cat tree, he will want to go back again and again.

When you see the kitten starting to use something other than the tree, tell him no in a firm voice and redirect him to his spot. Please do not use physical punishment, it really has no place in training. Using catnip and toys to entice the kitten to the tree is a very good way to reinforce that this is where you want him to be.

These steps will need to be consistently re-enforced with the kitten until he learns the rules. It will be work, but will be worth it. The results of a kitten that uses a cat tree are many, including fur-free furniture and a loving relationship with your pet.

About the Author
Find more info on cat litter furniture, cat trees, cat kidney disease, & cat feline leukemia.

How To Get Rid Your Cat's Fleas

2007-03-10T15:47:00.000Z

Is your cat a fleabag? If his scratching and biting are keeping you up at night, it is time to get the pests under control.

Even the cleanest cats end up occasionally with fleas. All it takes is one to start an infestation. When your cat goes outside he is exposed to flea eggs and any time he comes in contact with other animals, there's a chance a flea will chose your cat for a home.

Two of the most well known flea and tick preventatives for cats are Frontline and Advantix. Both of these products come as pre-measured liquid treatments which are applied directly to your cat's skin and works to kill fleas and ticks immediately. However, most people wait until they actually see fleas or ticks before they begin the pest control war. By the time you see fleas though, you probably already have a major infestation on your hands.

The best way to catch flea problems right away is look for them on a regular basis. Carefully comb through your cat's hair with a flea comb, paying close attention to the hair around his head and on his belly. Fleas like to hide around a cat's ears, eyes, and nose. They also tend to hang out in the creases where a cat's legs and body meet.

If you catch a flea, you will know that your cat is starting to develop a flea infestation. However, while fleas may be able to evade your comb, the dirt he leaves behind will not. If you see specks of blackish dirt in the comb's teeth, this is evidence that fleas are hiding somewhere on your cat.

To find ticks, run your hands over your cat's body, looking for any raised spots. If you find a raised spot, check it closely to see if it is a tick. Don't try to remove the tick yourself. Instead, have your veterinarian do it, as they are quite difficult to remove. Often the tick's head breaks off in the animal, leading to infection.

There are other flea and tick treatments, collars, and shampoos available. If your house has become flea infested, you will need to fumigate your cat's bedding, scratching post and your upholstered furniture. If all else fails, use a flea and tick bomb in your house, but be sure to keep your pets out of the building for at least 24 hours.

About the Author
To find the information you need before you get your cat, visit Dave Owen's:
My Pussycat

Cats love to hunt - it's in their genes

2007-03-10T15:30:00.000Z

Cats are one of the best developed species when it comes to hunting. They are very effective predators, even domestic cats can hunt and eat more than 1000 species including mice, birds, rats, moles and fish. Their whole body is made for hunting, their senses are much better developed than those of humans. Cats can hear and see better, they have skills and instincts that helps them to catch their prey. If they didn't have these skills they would starve to death in a natural environment.

Cats can hunt a huge variety of animals. They eat very little animals like roaches but also bigger ones like rabbits or rats. The fact that cats are not specialized on a small number of preys gives them a better chance to find an animal to hunt. If there is no tasty rabbit to hunt, they go for a mouse or a bird or even small animals like spiders, roaches or other insects. In order to hunt these little fast insects, cats need to be also very fast as well as intelligent.

Cats use different strategies to hunt their prey like sneaking or pouncing. Cats have developed these skills throughout thousands of years and unlike us humans even domestic cats still have these skills. Humans had similar skills but we lost them due to civilization and industrialization.

There are cats hunting in groups like lions or tiger. As you can see in various wildlife reports on TV they are very successful by hunting in a group. Although there are cats hunting in groups most cats are single hunters. They simply sneak as close to their prey as possible. If they are close enough the prey has no chance to escape. In most cases cats hunt in woods or in areas with high grass, this way they can hide and not be seen by their prey. Cats are very silent when hunting, you will not hear them coming, they suddenly appear.

You can see some domestic cats presenting their victims to their owners. These trophies are kind of a present, they give you something back in return for feeding them. This is a highly social behavior and means that the cat has adopted the human owner in her social group. Sometimes this means that the cat wants to take care of you. This behavior can be seen in wildlife , cats help each other in case one was not successful at hunting.

Cats are specialized on killing and eating other animals. They have developed special teeth to kill the pray fast and shear it up in pieces that fit into the mouth. It is probably good to give your cat raw meat once in a while for a better development of her teeth. This natural food is healthy for the cat because it provides needed amino acids, taurine, vitamines and quality fat.

Cats can not live on a vegetarian diet, they are carnivores so they need their meat. They need a high percentage of amino acids and vitamins provided by the meat. A vegetarian diet can not provide enough amino acids, it contains too many carbohydrates and other low quality ingredients. Feed your cat with a high quality meat or special cat food. Make sure the cat food does not consist of too many carbohydrates or low quality ingredients.

If you want to be nice to your cat provide her a way to get outside the house. You cat can then develop its natural instincts and behavior. It has a chance to develop its skills at hunting and sneaking. Your cat will love the nature and it will be thankful for getting outside. Maybe your cat will come home with a little present for you, something like a bird or a mouse...

If you life in a city where there is no possibility for your cat to go outside then at least play with her at home to develop her skills. This can be done in several ways, read about it in other articles on my website.

About the Author
Guido Nussbaum is a 28 year old cat-friend from Germany.
He run the website: cat urine cleaner

The Computer as a Food Processor

2007-03-08T07:32:00.000Z

The computer is not the Promised Land. It contain many bugs and technical obstacles. They stop the average person from using the computer and send him to an endless pilgrimage.
We need to overcome the psychological barrier of regarding the computer as a mind compote. There is one advice, which can be helpful especially for women. It is to regard the computer as a food processor.

As with cooking, The computer process the ingredients, which is the data that you put in it.
So the first think to do is check if you have enough free memory.

You do so by right clicking your hard disk icon, usually called 'C', in 'My Computer' file on your screen.
You will see a 'PIE' of the free and used memory.
The free memory should be enough: At least one third and preferably more.
This image is a symbol of the computer as a CAKE.
As with food ingredients, you first weigh what is needed for your recipe.

The Hard Disc's Free Memory Pie

Another important bakery product of the computer is the COOKIE.
Cookies are small files which are sent automatically when you visit web pages and ask for some interaction.
The problem is that some of them are hostile and block the computer, and today cookies are regarded as a major threat.
You must have a good 'cookies remover' software, and operate it at least once a day.

You must check of course for VIRUSES, otherwise your 'food' will be contaminated.
Good anti-virus software can detect and remove viruses automatically. But don't rely entirely on it. Be careful and avoid adding content to your computer from suspicious resources.

Delete the 'temporary files' every week. These are internet web pages which are stored in the computer to save downloading time when visiting them again.
This is done by entering 'tools>internet options' in your browser's MENU.

Avoid the fast 'food' and everything will start to go well.

I can foresee a future were the computer terminology will be based more and more on kitchen activity.

Instead of the tough technical terms, which no one knows from were they came, people will start calling the computer's parts and processes in some more friendly terms from the world of food recipes.

APPLE had a good start in this direction, but they invented the Mac instead of the Cake.

One of the popular methods for downloading large movie files from the Internet is called TORRENT, which reminds everybody of TART PIE.

The MOTHER BOARD is an important part, on which all the computer is built.

On the other end, LAPTOPS are very fashionable. They give the illusion that operating them is as easy as lapping ice cream.

I wish you success in your search for food in the subsistence economy of the Web.

About the Author
Avira publicizes his ideas in the Internet since 1997. He sees it as the last stage in the development of the Baby Boom generation. He is skeptic and believes that what was is what will be, but he hopes to make the best out of it. His website is: The Human Shape of the Holy Land

Focus Key

2007-03-07T21:50:00.000Z

Concentration is the magic key that opens the door to accomplishment. Success is the result of well directed energy.

You can, in time, become what you earnestly desire to be, if you set your face in the direction of the thing you want and bring all your powers to bear towards its attainment.

When your physical and mental resources are focused, your power to solve problems multiplies tremendously. To do two things at once is to do neither.

Nothing can add more power to your life as much as concentrating all your energies on a limited set of targets.

Here is a simple proof that shows why you should only focus on one project at a time for maximum results.

Below are three projects. Each color represents one project. Each block represents a different part of a project. So for the blue project to be completed, the blue, A, B and C blocks must all be completed.

The example below is FOCUSED on only one project at a time. Because of this, the blue project is totally finished at the end of week 3. By week 6 the blue and red projects are both finished. At the end of 9 weeks all three projects are finished.

Now let's look at how most people do it. They start the blue project, then something better comes along and they start the red project, then the yellow project comes along and they start it.

By the end of week 3, they have three projects started, but no projects finished.

In fact it takes 7 weeks just to finish the blue project!!

If they had only focused, they would finish two projects by week 7.

Being unfocused made them lose it all.

When you start one project and goes to a second and then to a third one, You create a pattern where after the third project you will start an entirely new one.
Very soon you will find yourself moving between many projects, each of them in a preliminary stage.

The focus key is good also for relationships and love.

Focusing on relashionship means that you give yourself specific time for one person. If you didn't get what you want at that period, it means that you wasted your time.

You have to be clear, and put everything on the table in the shortest possible time.

If no result is in hands, move on to a new relationship project. The focus key will remind you of the old ones if neccesary.

About the Author
Avira post in the Internet since 1997. He sees it as the last stage in the development of the Baby Boom generation. He is skeptic and believes that what was is what will be, but he hopes to make the best out of it. His website is: The Human Shape of the Holy Land

A Three Step Formula For Outrageous Success

2007-03-07T14:06:00.000Z

"Always bear in mind that your own resolution to success is more important than any other one thing," counseled Abraham Lincoln.

This resolution is made up of three essential features.
Success happens when you follow a simple three-step formula:

One, success happens when you have a clear idea of where you want to go.

Two, success happens when you have a strong feeling about the value of what you are doing.

Three, success happens when you are able to do the physical work necessary to rearrange the world to meet with your vision.

Miss any of these three steps and you get what most people get: a life of mediocrity and failure.

Pursue these three steps and you get what most people long for: a life of success, where all needs are effortlessly met.

Thus, success consists of three essential parts: thinking, feeling, and acting.

The thinking stage is making discoveries, creating choices, fashioning goals, and outlining commitments.

This conceptual stage is then followed by an emotional stage.

The emotion is the fuel that fires up the ideas.

This emotional energy is enthusiasm, or en theos which means to be filled with divine energy.

Once we have recognized our goals, we have to feel them.

This feeling stage is what brings the ideas to life.

Once these feelings build up, they form passion. When you are passionate about something, then you are highly motivated and are ready to act.

Sheila Graham explains the value of feeling your way to success:

"You can have anything you want if you want it desperately enough. You must want it with an inner exuberance that erupts through the skin and joins the energy that created the world."

Without strong feelings about your goals, they will be squelched by your own inner comfort zone and your own limiting beliefs.

Furthermore, a single word of criticism from someone or a single obstacle along the way is enough to stop you completely.

Thus, your enthusiasm, your passion, your burning desire is the fuel that converts ideas into actions, and these actions, in turn, will change the shape of your world.

The final stage, then, is action. When you move toward your aspirations, things start to shift and change both within you and around you. Like a blacksmith, you have to hammer the shape of your ideas on the anvil of action.

Yet premature action is foolish. Action that is tempered with a clear ideas and galvanized with passion is action that will get you where you want to go.

The inclination to just act alone is not helpful. Heading in the wrong direction is not of much benefit to you. And acting without burning desire is action that will soon collapse into inertia again.

As you pursue these three essential steps to success, you will create excellence. And you will also find that there is little competition on the road to excellence.

About the Author
Saleem Rana would love to share his inspiring ideas His book Never Ever Give Up tells you how. It is offered at no cost as a way to help YOU succeed. The Empowered Soul

4 Proven Methods For Finding a Girlfriend-Starting Today

2007-03-07T13:19:00.000Z

If you're like a lot of guys, then finding the right girl is an important thing in your life. While it's great to have an fun social life and lots of friends, there is a certain void which only great girlfriend can fill.

Now the one mistake men make is to sit back and HOPE a great woman will just walk through the door. Unfortunately fate usually isn't this kind. If you want to find a girlfriend, you have to be willing to go out and do a little bit of work.

In this article, I'll give you four ways you can increase your likelihood of finding girlfriend. If you apply these four tips, you'll be able to quickly find lots of great women who'll make great girlfriends:

1- Try dating different women

The first step to getting a girlfriend is to try dating different women.

Now the important thing to remember is to not dive into a committed relationship with the first woman who find interesting. Instead try dating different women to figure out what you REALLY want in your life

While you should avoid sleeping around with lots of girls, it's extremely important to date different women. Since your goal is to find someone special, try being a little selective about the woman you choose for a relationship.

Think about dating different women as a selection process where you're looking for you want in a future girlfriend.

2- Widen your social circle

The guys who really enjoy life know the important of having a large group of friends and a social circle with many contacts.

If you learn to increase your social circle, you'll have more opportunities to have interesting things to talk about and will know lots of great people. One of the cardinal rules of dating is having an active life helps you become a better person. By making more friends, you'll become the kind of guy who women LOVE to date.

Another reason for increasing your social circle is it'll help you find more women to date. If you pay attention to people with significant others, you'll learn that a lot of them met their partners through friends and social contacts. By taking the time to expand your social life, you'll be more likely to find a girlfriend

3- Have fun with your life

One of the secrets for happiness in life is to know how to enjoy different things. When only focus on getting a girlfriend, you'll be depressed if fall short of this goal.

Instead of only concentrating on landing a girlfriend, take this time to enjoy other aspects of your life. This means spending time with your friends, focusing on work or school, exercising, taking up a new hobby, or being with your family.

Even though you don't have a girlfriend, you should still live life to the fullest!

4- Find your dream girlfriend

If you do the previous 3 tips, you'll start to get an idea of what you want in a girlfriend. Over the weeks and months of dating, try narrowing down the women till you find a great girl who matches your interests and personality.

While you'll probably date and meet lots of incredible women, it's important only choose a woman who completes your life. If you take the time to find the right woman, you'll end up in a very successful relationship.

If you follow the four tips I outline in this article, and become proactive with your life, you'll find it's pretty simple to find the girlfriend of your dreams!

About the Author
Want to know the secrets to finding, attracting and seducing women? If so, take a look at Scott Patterson's Free eBook where you'll learn a guaranteed step-by-step system for approaching, attracting and seducing ANY woman.

3 Tips on finding "the one"

2007-03-06T00:08:00.000Z

Sometimes you can feel that you've been in the dating game for years and years and that you are no closer to finding "the one" than when you were young. It is important to look at what your criterion is for the perfect relationship. The debate has been going on for centuries as to whether each of us has a soulmate.

Tip#1
One thing to look at in your life is whether or not you have a committment problem generally. Is it hard to be definite with plans with friends, stick with a job or stay focused on projects? Some people have been characterized as a bee needing to taste all the flowers.

Tip#2
There's a line in a popular song that says, "Like a worn-out recording of a popular song" when he speaks of his fantasy of a new person and frustration in his current relationship. Do things wear out for you quickly? If so, is there a way to see the newness and freshness of each moment rather than constantly to need new experiences?

Tip#3
Commitment IS a serious issue and one requiring a lot of thought. However, if you are someone who finds they can't stick to work, plans and relationships then that area needs to be examined in more depth as it is a pattern that may sabotage not only relationships but other aspects of your life.

About the Author
Learn 50 ways to build a serious relationship. Find out now.
www.startnichen.com/50

Weight Loss Strategies: Getting Unstuck

2007-03-04T19:49:00.000Z

When it comes to weight loss, many people feel stuck.

One definition of being stuck is this:

"Being stuck is when you can only see one possibility, and you don't like what you see."

One thing coaches help clients do is generate more possibilities and more options.

When you have more possibilities, then you have a CHOICE.

And when you have a choice, then you have FREEDOM.

PAYING THE PRICE

So consider that there is always a price to pay for getting unstuck.

The price might be changing your eating habits. That might mean eating less, or eating your favorite foods less often.

The price might be starting an exercise plan and sticking to it.

It might be paying the cost of hiring a personal trainer, a personal coach, or a gym membership.

Or it might be investing time in learning ways to soothe yourself without using food.

It might mean changing the belief system that is supporting your current behavior ("Everyone in my family gets heavier as they get older. I'm going to too.")

Or changing your values to make health and weight loss a higher priority in your life. Change typically doesn't happen until it becomes your highest priority.

You may worry that the price is too high . . . that you would need to give up too much.

But, there is a price to pay for staying stuck as well.

And you probably have been paying this price for far too long.

That price might be low self-image, low self-confidence, and poor body image.

It might be constant emotional turmoil, or listening to relentless negative, critical self-talk day in and day out.

It may be putting your life on hold and NOT going after what you want until you lose weight.

It might be the physical discomfort of wearing clothes that don't fit, combined with the mental anguish every time you look in the mirror.

Or it might be some other cost, but in EVERY case, there is a price.

SELF-COACHING

To coach yourself in getting unstuck, follow these steps:

1. Recognize that there is a price to pay whether you change your behavior or keep things the same.

2. Recognize that there IS a way to make the change (once the price is paid, then you have made the change). In most cases, there are MANY ways to make the change.

3. Identify the price for keeping things the same AND the price for making the change.

Ask yourself what it is costing you to keep things the same, and what it would cost you to make the change. What would you need to give up?

4. Decide if you want to make the change. If the price seems too big, think about it some more. Use your optimism and flexibility of thinking to come up with ways to make the change that are easier and more doable. Think about how you might ease into it without struggle.

If you LOOK for these, and EXPECT to find them, your mind has a way of creating them.

5. In most cases, the price to be paid involves changing your beliefs. For instance, if you believe "this is going to be hard," it will be.

6. Keep in mind both sides of the equation. It may SEEM easier to keep things the same, but when you think of what it is actually costing you, and HOW LONG you have been paying that price, things may look different.

And the sooner you start, the lower the cost will be.

About the Author
Learn the #1 reason you sabotage yourself, and what you can do to stop it. Go to:
http://www.Lose-Weight-Now-Stay-Slim-Forever.com
Carol Solomon, Ph.D. Psychologist and personal coach specializes in helping people stop binge eating and turn off the drive to overeat
http://www.Stop-Binge-Eating.com

The True Use of Money

2007-03-03T20:33:00.000Z

Despite all of the information and discussion regarding money in our society, there is still an important and overlooked aspect. Nearly everyone saves or fails to save without understanding the logic (or lack of it) behind their behavior.

If you are handling money based on subconscious motivations then you are likely to fail in achieving your real goals. Take an honest look at your life. What do you truly enjoy and how much of a sacrifice are you willing to make to attain those things?

Are you really willing to give up over half of your life in a stressful job to attain status symbols or escape an irrational fear of poverty?

What are the precise items you are saving for and how much time and effort are you willing to give for these things?

Our handling of money comes from several influences. Societies which evolved in areas subject to severe droughts or winters tended to develop a stronger hoarding mechanism which carried over from saving food to saving money. The opposite was true for societies surrounded by plenty.

Many of these behaviors may no longer be optimal in the modern world. People also handle money based on negative emotions such as fear, greed, and pride. People fear that they will die destitute and alone if they run out of money. Other people's greed pushes them to save and become rich in a subconscious attempt to prove themselves better than others. Still other people can't wait to prove themselves better in the future, and instead mortgage themselves immediately to acquire possessions they believe will give them worth in the eyes of society.

So much time is spent acquiring money that it is vital to understand the reasons for our actions and learn what we really want.

Nearly everyone today is using money for more than the basics of food and shelter. Instead, our society is desperately consuming money in an attempt to show status.
Although few people are willing to admit it, generally the desire to project wealth comes from insecurity about social standing.

However, true improvement in social status doesn't come from borrowing against your future to gain a temporary appearance. Ultimately, your status is determined by all aspects of your personality - not just your money.

When you project wealth, you are simply making the statement that you are a member of the class which feels insecure about their money - the Nuevo Riche.

Instead, consider that the upper class is judged by their intellect and manners as well as their possessions.

Although you may not be able to quickly increase your net worth, you can increase your knowledge and manners rapidly.
Or you may decide that you are happy with your current social position and concentrate on things which are more natural and enjoyable. I

I like travel, boating, reading, and having as much leisure time as possible. I'm willing to forgo almost any status symbol in order to have free time, an early retirement, and money to travel. If people judge me by my car, they probably aren't compatible with me.

Nonetheless, projecting a degree of wealth may be necessary to attract the some people you wish to associate with.
If that is the unfortunate case, you can at least try to project wealth in a cost-effective manner.
For example, you could simply borrow or rent a luxury car for the rare occasions you need it - that's all you're doing anyway when you lease or take out a car loan.

The main reason I save money is to gain greater freedom from economic exploitation. I don't ever want to be trapped in a job or a mortgage with no way out.
We often assume that debt and wage slavery are a normal condition of modern life. This is not the case if you are knowledgeable and patient.

The following advice may seem difficult and unreasonable to many who are currently trapped in a financial system stacked against them.

In order to escape from economic exploitation, however, you must basically overcome the cumulative actions of your ancestors over many generations.

This effort will never be easy, but it will insure that you and your children have a chance at freedom from what is otherwise an endless cycle of servitude.

Mortgage debt is the main tool which traps the average American in both his job and an exploitive banking contract.
Yet, the average house costs only two or three times annual salary.
It is the interest payments which make the home cost many times more and keep people trapped over the course of a 30 year mortgage.

During recessions, repossessed or run-down homes are sometimes available for half price or less.
This can sometimes be as little as a person's annual salary.
By saving just 20% of your annual salary for five years you can sometimes buy a house for cash during a recession.
Alternately, you can buy land or a ruined house for less money and gradually build.
A third option is to relocate with your savings and buy housing in a cheaper area.
Once you are free from a mortgage (debt servitude) or rent, you are close to financial freedom.
Furthermore, your children will be closer to freedom when they inherit the home from you one day.

Saving 20% of salary seems incredible to many Americans today. This was not always the case.
Difficulty in saving is often due to conditioning. We are bombarded by an ever growing array of consumer products and encouraged to buy everything on credit.
These products are often purchased for status or for the desire to fill some emptiness a person feels.

It's important to analyze and remember what you really want in life. Are you buying on impulse or to impress others?

If not, then you should often buy used items.
When a product doesn't have a lot of moving parts, it generally functions about as well used as new - for half price or less.

Buying pre-owned should cut your discretionary spending in half.

The next big expense for many Americans is a car.
Here again, many people pay double the price they need for basic transportation.

Rather than buying on impulse, consider what is more important - a few inches of leg room, an annual vacation overseas, or the chance to save and start your own business someday.

Now that you've hopefully saved half of your luxury and automotive expenditures, the next big cost is food.
In addition to saving money, learning traditional food preparation methods can also save time and greatly improve health.

Beyond food, you can save money by learning to repair and maintain all of your possessions.
Although it may seem "impossible" people can quickly learn many methods to save 20% or more of their salary.
After all, when given a 20% pay cut or forced to take a lower salaried job, few Americans starve but instead rapidly learn to become more frugal. Likely you will find even better financial plans for your own life.

Finally, an enormous amount of money is lost through subtle mechanisms in the financial industry.
The banking, investment, and brokerage industries have become enormously wealthy and yet have no real product. Instead, these industries survive by taking a percentage of the earnings and savings of the working class.
By researching and understanding these hidden methods of siphoning money, you can learn to cut them off one by one.

In summary, the state of our financial independence today is not much different from the majority of people throughout history.
Most of us are born into an economic system stacked against us in ways which will never be advertised by the financial establishment.
Difficult as it may be to admit, most people live in a state of subtle servitude to banks and employers because of an inability to efficiently save money.
At any moment, the average person can lose everything if they stop working and end the constant flow of payments.

The great news is that once you understand this system you can begin to deal with it and implement effective strategies to avoid the theft and leverage your newfound wealth.

If you want real financial and employment freedom, it is vital to understand the system and then take action.

Knowledge and action can eventually give you an unimagined degree of freedom once your efforts are no longer subtly siphoned away by others.

Hopefully this information will assist in learning about a misunderstood topic, and attaining the happy and fulfilling work and freedom which should be the birthright of everyone.

About the Author
This article is condensed from a chapter of, The Real Story of Money, Health, and Religion, by Loren Howe available in paperback or $1.25 download at:
http://www.lulu.com/content/592768
Loren Howe is an environmental engineer from Los Angeles. He has extensively studied traditional cultures and their practices. He can be reached for comment at www.lorax2013@aol.com

Humor in Business management

2007-03-03T13:32:00.001Z

The sense of humor is essential for business leadership. This article describes the central place of humor in life and the possibilities of using the precise humoristic expression in business training with daily cartoons.

With the advancement of computers the good businessman can simulate all the routines before he goes to the business work.
He has the opportunity of concentrating more on the uncomputerised human expressions:
The customer service, the relationships among fellow workers, safety and self improvement.

The occupation with the human capital in business management is obligation to deal with emotions.
Emotions volumes are not measurable accurately, contrary to cognitive or physical volumes.
The reason is that emotions expand all the time. It gives them their unique attribute: The human ability of identify with the other and be empathic.

We can measure exactly sales volume, I.Q. and weight lifting, but not the intensity of love and hate.
For example: Questionnaires about satisfaction from a product or a boss give very limited answers.
This leaves the business leader exposed to mistakes of emotional intelligence and the computers cannot help him.

There is nothing better then the sense of humor, the best known therapy for the soul, for illuminating the human factor.
Humor is derived directly from an overloaded mind which seeks to facilitate the feelings it faces with others.
Any accurate expression of emotion is followed by humor as part of a relief.

The definition of humor is: Emotions made precise.

Isaac's ['Laugh' in Hebrew] Sacrifice

Every business negotiation is also a transaction of emotions. These are accurate emotions, purified through the long bargaining process.
After a deal is closed, there is a mutual sense of emotional relief between the negotiating sides.
While this sense of relief fades away down, It create a by product in the form of a lightness of the spirit, a sense of humor.

The precision of humor makes it suitable for the businessmen training.
There is a use for humor in all aspects of business communication, but currently it is limited in scale and methods.
Humor workshops for businessmen are relatively rare.

Large part of the business continuity, from the morning meetings, through the motivation papers and finally with the private learning,
is dedicated for advice on human resources.
The amount of humor in it is very small, compared to humor in ordinary life.
While daily life is a continuous effort for laugher, business life is a cooperated effort for making life more serious and heavier.

The business office needs steady humor supply. Otherwise its athmosphere may turn into acidly cynic.

Business fun is not as simple as it looks like. It demands professionalism both in humor and business. It has to be precise.
Otherwise there is a danger of getting out of focus. Laser precision is part of any humor. If the target is missed, the damage is big.

One medium of humor, the cartoon, is more suitable for the business office.
The Visual aspect of the cartoon makes it easy to grasp the content. It affords a visual relaxation in the visually intensive business world.

Two major daily cartoon series deals directly with the business work:

One is Dilbert by Scott Adams.

Another one is The Daily Cartoon by Randy Glasbergen.

An example of Glasbergen's cartoons

Let us compare between these two cartoon series:

Dilbert has not a very inspiring affect. The characters are clumsy. They create clumsier situations.
It is the result of their incriminating surface behavior. It is very hard to understand them. We laugh at them without very much intellectual gratification.

The Daily Cartoon by Randy Glasbergen is much more sophisticated. A delicate situation, the result of ordinary human behavior, is at the center and not a character.
The situation is mostly a very sharp event regarding money. The elusive world of money making motives finds here its accurate, funny representation.
The characters serve just as a mean for clarification. The subject is not a certain character with unique attributes, but a situation with a familier background.

The reliance on practical situations makes the Daily Cartoon by Randy Glasbergen a favorable choice for the business world.
If we could apply it on a daily basis, we would laugh all the way to the bank.

To do so we need a closer focusing on business stories.
Anybody can identify and act properly when facing a situation which was represented before him in a cartoon with dynamic replacing of characters.

There is a huge need for sophisticated cartoons in all that is concerned with hman resources. It is a business training technique.

The Business cartoons by Randy Glasbergen combines intensity with sophistication.
New cartoons are published every day and they are backed up by a huge archive.
The subjects of the cartoons deals directly with all the modern business environment:
computers and Internet work, management and workers, decision making, work morality and so on.
It covers in exactingness almost any field with a very positive affect.

Whenever I open my Daily Cartoon website I find also ideas and advice regarding other aspects of life, like health, family and self improvement.

I suggest cartoons as the best way for introducing emotional intelligence to businessmen.
Applying them to the daily business processes, adding more sub topics and finding ways for implementing them to the infrastructure of business management,
will give us a better world.