Child Self-Esteem

     I believe that today one of our most precious possessions is our children.  We need to consider how we treasure them and provide for their safety and well-being.  There was a time that I can remember in my life-time when children were guarded and looked after.  When we stop and think about it human children are probably the only species of creature who have to be cared for and watched out for for many years before they are able to care for themselves.  Others in the animal world have their young and they are almost immediately able to “get up on their own feet” and begin a process of training that will provide them the needed skills of survival.  We as humans are not like that.

     However, in today’s world it is becoming more the “common” thing that our young are abused, mistreated, neglected, and often looked upon as merely an “inconvenience within our lives.”  This is true in so many parts of the world. Where at one time the young were nurtured and cared for, not only by the parents, but by the entire community it has become the unpleasant surprise that even mothers will discard their newborns like an old, unwanted garment. 

     If you have ever considered a working position to help assist in this much needed area I would like to offer the consideration of becoming a child coach?  Today many children struggle with their studies at school, with their teachers’ expectations, with their friends and social skills, with their own behavior and attitudes, with authority, with their personal health, with their siblings and sometimes, even with their parents.  These are certainly things that break the hearts of loving and caring parents.

     Although, deeply loved by their parents, many children ARE NOT happy and life seems complicated and difficult for them to deal with.  They have to struggle to get up in the morning and go to school, to get involved in the very activities that will help them deal with their situations, or to even communicate their feelings to those who truly desire to help them cope.

     “Life affords no greater responsibility, no greater privilege, than the raising of the next generation.”  C. Everett Koop

     I’m NOT a medical doctor, a psychologist, or any other type of trained individual who has the skills to guide the adjustment of a young one.  However, I do believe that it is not healthy for a young person (especially a very young one) to go to any kind of therapy (unless it is absolutely a necessity) as their subconscious perceives this as a confirmation that their parents feel that “something is wrong with me” and “I need to be fixed.”

     Parents are the best coach for their children.  So the proper approach for a child coaching program is to include the parents within the scope of the training.  Thereby giving them the tools to assist and support the training and adjustments that the child is receiving.

     The “old school” approach was that when you had children you would “somehow” become this great parent and instantly receive all the knowledge that is necessary to raise that child within a proper environment and surroundings that will produce a well-nurtured individual.  However, parenting is a learned skill.  Unfortunately, most parents don’t have the time, or the money to invest in a degree in parenting.  But they still need to learn the psychological, educational theories and parenting tools that have been researched and implemented all over the world by millions of parents and have found to be extremely successful.

     “My father didn’t tell me how to live; he lived, and let me watch him do it.”  Clarence Budinton Kelland

     Happy parents raise happy kids.  When parents are happy with themselves and clear about their beliefs and values, this will be reflected by their children.  Child coaching has been around a long time.  It is basically known as personal development.  There is not ONE person who could not benefit from a constant process of growth and progress within their lives.  This is especially true of children.  They have not had the opportunity to gain much experience in life.  They are still vulnerable to the hidden snares of deception from those around them.

     Often it is only the building up of the child’s self-esteem that is needed to help them learn the process of coping with the anxieties of life.  The parents can be helped in this area also.  Sadly our young ones are often lead to believe that they are unlovable, they are unwanted, and that all of this is because of their own doing.

     As a society of adults we should have the fortitude to help raise a bright new generation of young ones who can be assured that they are completely capable of handling not only their own problems, but the problems that they will need to face in the future. This can be done if we begin now to take a personal interest in their advancement and in the problems that they are dealing with now.

     I think most of you can realize that when we went to school we didn’t have to worry with fellow students carrying knives or guns.  We didn’t have to consider that while we were sitting in our classrooms that perhaps we would never see our loved ones again.  Our thoughts were upon learning and not upon who would be charging through our classroom door within the next few minutes before the end of class.

     We need to do what we can to help our young ones today return to those days of peace and tranquility.  We need to help them deal with all the problems that have become so prevalent today.

     One way we can do this is by becoming a Certified Self-Esteem Coach for Children.  There is now a program available that can provide us with the training that we need to do this.  Whether we want to merely want to do this to help our own children or grand children or we want to begin a rewarding career within this area, the opportunity is available to us.  Please click the link above if you would like to learn more about this opportunity.

QUOTE TO CONSIDER

THOUGHTFUL GEM

"No one stands taller than when he

is on the shoulders of one who cares."

Just a Thought

     One day not too long ago I gave my son this long eloquent speech about the need to be more responsible in his life.  He had just turned 15 years and 9 months old and was about to get his temporary permit for driving.  After I had finished what I thought must have been paramount to a Pulitzer Prize acceptance speech, my son looked at me and asked, “Day, what the heck are you talking about?’

     Sometimes we become so concerned about “how” we’re going to say something that we forget “what” it is we’re trying to say!  I know I’ve done that, even when I sit down to write one of my articles. After I’ve put words to paper, I stretch back in my seat, take a deep breath and read what has emerged from my keyboard.  You read over a point and then that little voice inside your head says “What!”  It’s almost as if your fingers have been running across the keyboard at random and not with any of your control over the words that pour across the screen.

     When you’re giving instructions to someone, how often do you have to repeat yourself?  And how often, even after they have convinced you that they know exactly what you said, do you find the job has been done wrong or at least not exactly the way you wanted it?

    The problem is twofold.  First we often have a difficult time in explaining to someone what it is that we really want or what we want done.   We let them guide our requirements.  Does the following conversation sound familiar?  You’ve just taken your “pride and joy” to the printers:

     “I’d like to get this printed in booklet form.”

     “Oh yes,” the printer says looking over your papers.

     “What I’d like ---.”  The printer quickly has analyzed your needs. 

     “This would look great collated, saddle stitched, bound with an attractive vellum cover.”

     “Well, yea, that’s good.”

     Now don’t get me wrong.  I’ve used various printers and I’ve accepted many of the suggestions that have been offered.  But making the final decision has always been left up to me.  My point is we need to express ourselves better.

     The second point is we need to learn to listen better.  Really understand WHAT is being said instead of hastily jumping to the conclusion.  Remember conversation is a two way street.  Maybe the good Lord was trying to tell us something.  We have TWO ears and only ONE mouth.  Maybe we should practice listening TWICE as much as we talk!

QUOTE TO CONSIDER

THOUGHTFUL GEM

"Sometimes the only way to truly 

help someone is to LISTEN to them."

E-books are Promotional Powerhouses

    According to MY opinion (that and a couple of bucks will get you a cup of coffee?) e-book writing is one of the easiest and most profitable means to gain a part-time career and make money in the process.  The topics are so numerous that you would basically have an unlimited number of subjects that you could produce in written form.  Today let’s consider how you can use this powerhouse within your promotions.

      E-books are part of the new frontier of cyberspace.  They are a fairly new medium for sharing marketing information, ideas, techniques, and expert knowledge.  Each day the number of people accessing the Internet grows, causing the exposure of your e-book to increase incrementally. It's obvious why electronic self-publishing has become so popular so quickly.

     The publishing industry, I hope, does not intend to forever banish the printed word to the dustbin of history. Books in print have their own special qualities and merits, and the world would be diminished by their disappearance.  Sometimes you just want that joy of running your fingers down the binder of the printed book, holding it within your hands, and letting your eyes gaze upon that page for as long as you can.  But, before I digress too far.

     Having said that, let's look at what makes e-books so important and so unique. E-books have certain abilities and qualities that other mediums do not possess.

     For example, e-books are fairly easy to produce, and their production cost is inexpensive. Just think about it: you don't need a publisher, an agent, a printing press, offset film, ink, paper, or even a distributor.  You just need a great concept, the ability to write it or to hire a writer, and the right software.

     Additionally, e-books are easily and rapidly distributed online. They are also easily updated; they do not require a second print run. All you need is to go into your original creation and modify the text or graphics. Because of this flexibility, e-books can change and grow as fast as you can type.

     E-books are also immediately obtainable. You don't have to go to a bookstore or search through endless titles at an online bookstore. All you have to do is download it from a website, and presto! It's on your computer, ready to be read.

     E-books are interactive. This is one of the most unique and specific qualities that e-books offer. You can add surveys that need to be filled out, order forms for customers to purchase your products or goods, sound and video that draw your reader into the virtual world of your e-book, even direct links to relevant sites that will expand your e-book outward. The potential is virtually limitless.

     E-books have a particular kind of permanence that other mediums do not possess. Television shows and radio shows air once, and then may rerun a few times. E-books remain on your computer for as long as you choose, and they can be read and reread whenever you choose to. They can even be printed out and stored on the shelves of your traditional home library.

     Another wonderful quality is that e-books have no barriers in terms of publishing. You don't need to go through the endless process of submitting your manuscript over and over again, and then once you land an agent, having the agent submit your manuscript over and over again. Nor do you have to shell out thousands of dollars for printing a self-published book. All e-books require is a writer and appropriate software.  Figure out your market, write your book, post it on your website, and with the right business savvy, your audience will come to you.

     Finally, you have creative control over your e-book.  You don’t have to compromise with an editor or the publishing trends of the time. You don't have to haggle with a designer or wait for copyedited galleys to arrive by snail mail. You are in complete control of the design and the text.

How to Use E-books for Marketing and Promotion

     There are innumerable ways to use e-books to promote your business and drive quality traffic to your website. Once posted on your site, you can turn them into a daily course, which brings your customer back to read the next chapter. You can use them as a free gift for making a purchase or for filling out a survey. Put your e-book on a disc, and you will have an innovative brochure. Blow your competition away by inserting the disc into your sales packages.

     The most effective marketing products are those that are unique. Copyright your e-book, and immediately, you have a powerful tool that you, and you alone control, and can offer to the public. People will have to visit your site to acquire your e-book, which increases the flow of quality traffic and the potential of sales and affiliate contacts.

     Make sure that you keep your e-book current. Update it frequently as the market and trends change. Add new advice and techniques to show your prospects how your goods or services can enrich their lives. By constantly keeping abreast of new trends and techniques, you can continue to see profits from your e-book for years after your original creation.

     Another phenomenal advantage of e-books is that you can test their marketing potential without putting out hardly any cash at all. You can even produce an e-book one copy at a time, each time you receive an order, eliminating the need for storage and inventory. By this method, you can gauge the salability of your e-book, and make adjustments as necessary until the orders start pouring in. E-books allow you to learn about your market and customer habits and motivation over a period of time, without risking your precious financial resources. They also provide you with an invaluable way to gather marketing information, which you can use in many different facets of your business.

     Use your e-book to discover what the specific goals and problems are in your specific industry. Then figure out how to solve these problems, and publish an e-book with this invaluable information. This will increase the value of your business, upgrade your reputation, and get you known as an expert in your field.

     You can extend the value of single e-book by breaking the book down into chapters for a serial course, into special reports available on your website, or into audio or visual tapes. E-books can be broken down into several different promotional materials by accepting some of the articles and using them to promote your product. You can include a catalog in your e-book to promote all the products or services you sell. You can include a thank-you note for reading your book and an invitation to download a trial version of your product. Or you can include a form for your audience to contact you for further information or with questions, thereby building your business relationships and your mailing list.

     Using e-books in this manner helps to cut the cost of individually producing separate promotional materials. You can use a single e-book to entice new prospects and to sell new products to your current customers.

     No other medium has this kind of flexibility and ability for expansion. Think of your e-book like a spider spinning a beautiful and intricate web. Now go and create that web, and see how many customers and prospects you can catch!

     You may surprise yourself with the great advantages of E-books.  You may even learn to like writing them for yourself and FOR OTHERS!

PS
     Maybe you'd like a little assistance in getting your e-books produced.  Check out this great e-book on how to get yours written in only 7 days:  Write Your Own E-Book in 7 Days!

QUOTE TO CONSIDER

THOUGHTFUL GEM

"Let your heart bleed the words onto the page, 

then you will have a something worth reading."

Caring

     We all face decisions in our lives.  Some are small and perhaps will seem very insignificant in the overall stream of things.  Some are large and may have a major impact not only on ourselves, but upon all those around us.  Perhaps for generations to come --- some decision WE make could have major repercussions.

     Think of the life of Christ.  For almost 2000 years the things he taught and spoke have been affecting the lives of millions of individuals.  Of course, there are none of us that would have that type of effect from what WE do.   But think of other individuals within the past hundred years: Albert Einstein, John Kennedy, Martin Luther King, and so many others, including many women.  True WE may never achieve the status or caliber of one of these individuals, but can we make decisions in our lives that will have the potential for greatness?  WE CAN!  And those around us or in the future generations will benefit also.  But this will require a SPECIAL decision.  That decision will be “not to be so self centered.”

     I recall a “test” which was related to us in my sociology class when I was in college.  I know some of you will think that I am presently unable to think that many years back, but I assure you I am.  There was a “special” lecture that was given concerning Jesus’ account in the Bible about the “neighborly Samaritan”.  In the lecture it was clearly explained WHO could be constituted as being “our neighbor” and how one should show true interest and concern in others --- even if they are not the same nationality, skin color, or believe the same as we do. 

     The “test” [that is the real test as to whether the students in the audience had in fact learn the lesson which was being taught that day] came AFTER the lecture was over and everyone was leaving.  It had been intentionally arranged that a “sickly bum” would stop various ones of the students asking for help.  Sadly, the clear majority “didn’t have the time” or compassion to extend a helping hand --- even though they had just left the lecture on the “neighborly Samaritan.”

     Sadly for many we are still “failing” that test even today!  We “pass by” so many individuals who are in need of some type of assistance, but we are “too busy” or “unconcerned” to put forth the helping hand.  This type of thing goes on many times over in the everyday world.

     We don’t have to be that way.  Just remember: A big man (or woman) is not measured by how many people they are STANDING ON so as to appear tall, but how many people they are SUPPORTING by their efforts and lifting them above the crowd.

     And the beautiful thing about caring and compassion is that it doesn’t depend on what you have as much as it depends on how much you care.  Rather it depends on your willingness to do something if it is within your power to do it.

QUOTE TO CONSIDER

THOUGHTFUL GEM

"If you ever think of yourself as a loser ---

watch 'It's a Wonderful Life.'"

The Quickest Way to Your Customer's Wallet

     Who doesn’t want “something” for “nothing”?  Most of today realized that to the fullest extent this is not completely possible.  However, one way of promoting your website and product can be achieved for free. As an additional bonus, this “free” method can boost your sites and sales, doubling and even tripling your income.  Do you want to know how to do this?  One of the easiest ways to promote your website in order to generate traffic and increase your earnings is by the use of articles.

How does this work?

     Write articles relating to your website and submit them to “free content” submission sites. It’s easy to do, but it takes little time and it can increase your website traffic, sales and of course, your income.

How can article writing boost traffic and income?

     An article on the free content site contains a link to your own website. Readers, after reading your articles, may choose to click on the link and pay you an unexpected visit. Having them on the free content sites is also making these articles available to other webmasters who may wish to publish that article on their site.  Now you can reach millions (literally) after your link gets repeated and repeated and repeated.  Get the point?  Your article will include a link back to your site. And anyone who reads the article on that site can still click on the link to visit your site. 

     As the list of your published articles grows larger, and more and more of them are appearing on different websites, the total number of links to your site increases also. Major search engines are placing a lot of significance on incoming links to websites so they can determine the importance of a certain site. The more incoming links the website has, the more importance search engines attaches to it. This will then increase your website’s placement in the search results.

     If you site is into promoting a product or service, the links that your articles have achieved will mean more potential customers for you. Even if visitors only browse through, you never know if they might be in need of what you are offering in the future.

     There are also those who already have specific things they need on their mind but cannot decide yet between the many choices online. Chances are they may stumble upon one of your articles, gets interested by the contents you wrote, go to your site and became enticed by your promotions. See how easy that is?

     Search engines do not just index the websites, they also index published articles. They also index any article that is written about your own website’s topic. So once someone searches for that same topic, the list of results will have your site or may even show the articles that you have written. 

     And to think, no additional effort on your part was used to bring them to your site. You’re your original published articles and the search engines.

     It is no wonder why many webmasters are suddenly reviving their old writing styles and taking time to write more articles about their site than doing other means of promotion.  And all you have invested is the small amount of time it took you to write the article.

     Getting their site known is easier if they have articles increasing their links and traffic and making it accessible for visitors searching the internet. Since a large percentage of people are now taking their buying needs online, having your site on the search engines through your articles is one way of letting them know about you and your business. 

     The good thing with articles is that you can write about things that people would want to know about. This can be achieved in the lightest mood but professional manner: with a little not-so-obvious sales pitch added. 

     If you think about it, only a few minutes of your time is spent on writing one article and submitting to free content site. In the shortest span of time also, those are distributed to more sites than you can think of. Even before you know what is happening, you are getting more visitors than you previously had. 

     If you think you are wasting your time writing these articles, fast forward to the time when you will see them printed and wide-spread on the internet. Not to mention the sudden attention and interest that people are giving your website and your products or services. 

     Why don’t you try writing some articles and you will be amazed at the sudden surge in site traffic, link popularity and interest. Before you know it, you will be doubling and even tripling your earnings. 

     There’s nothing like getting benefits for something you got for free.  Just “Google” “free content submission sites” and see what results you have available to get started.

PS

     An even easier way to gain traffic from article writing, even if you don't think of yourself as a writer, is to use the "Content Professor".  Check it out and give it a try.  You can get started for FREE!

QUOTE TO CONSIDER

THOUGHTFUL GEM

"If plans aren't working out the way you thought ---

pause and re-plan!"

Growth

     In this complex and often very confusing world it’s always nice to know that we have that select few individuals whom we can turn to when things don’t always go right.  Those few whom we love and cherish are our friends and family.  Throughout the unforeseen occurrences of our life we can always turn to these few for comfort and support.  They’re always there to lend a helping hand whenever needed.

     But why is it when we decide to do something a little different form our “normal” routine --- like start our own business or “sideline” venture --- it is these same “FRIENDS AND FAMILY” who tell us that we are going to fail?  Perhaps they are merely concerned with our futures and don’t want to see us make fools out of ourselves.  Or maybe they’re jealous, thinking that we are going to accomplish something they have been unable to do.  Whichever the case may be, this “dampening” of our spirit is very often the thing that makes us hesitate about our venture or maybe not to try at all.

     Have you ever watched a child about the age of 9-15 months?  They’re learning to walk, to talk, and they are getting into everything.  But WHY are they doing this?  They WANT to explore new areas.  They WANT to learn.  Their mind is like a sponge --- absorbing everything around them.  Sure they fall.  Sure they get bumps and bruises.  And true, sometimes there may be a serious injury.  But, they learn --- they expand --- they grow.  They become better people because of their experiences.

     Now I’m NOT saying we should act like children and hastily dart from one venture or the next.  Or continually change jobs just for a NEW experience.  Children do these things because they are encouraged to do them.  They are expected to succeed.  So have a little faith in those around you who want to start that new business or strike out I the new venture.  Support them and encourage them. You may be truly surprised at what they can accomplish.

     You may need to become the “wind beneath their wings” to help support them while they are learning to “fly”.  You may become a better person yourself and it’s possible that you will learn a few things also.  Maybe by helping them enough you’ll find out that you too want to strike out on your own and have your business or venture that you can grow to maturity.

QUOTE TO CONSIDER

THOUGHTFUL GEM

"Call a rose by any other name ---

but still watch out for the thorns!"

Use "Tell-a-Friend" Script

     You have written an e-book or you have made a decision on what merchandise you are going to market.  You have built yourself a web site.  What’s next?  More and more web site owners have the recurring dilemma of how to increase the flow of traffic to the web sites. Or maybe the problem is how to get traffic STARTED on your web site.  During the past few years many methods that been developed to solve this predicament. While most of them would work there are those that would not make even a small impact.

     One of the methods that have spawned many success stories in driving traffic to web sites is viral marketing. What is this?  Viral marketing makes use of the tendency of a person to share something to find informative, entertaining or amazing.

     Many companies bank on this behavior to spread their products and increase the popularity of their company or their web site. Viral marketing makes use of many mediums in enticing this behavior. It might be in the form of an interesting story, an addicting flash game, an amusing video and many other techniques that may catch a person’s fancy.

     This ingenious form of marketing is typically low cost and is a wonderful tool for any company to utilize. The benefit greatly overshadows the cost or efforts to initialize this marketing scheme. Any web site would greatly benefit from viral marketing.  How can you take advantage of this method?

Tell-A-Friend Script

     One of the easiest methods in viral marketing to use is a tell-a-friend script. This is a simple programming script that you can attach to the programming of your web site. Generally, tell-a- friend scripts are installed in pages where a media is placed so that a person can easily send the media to any of his friends or his family members.

     The basic concept of a tell-a-friend script is you provide a script wherein a person may input his name, e-mail address, the recipient’s e-mail address and send the media to the intended recipient much like an e-mail with an attachment. As the recipient receives the e-mail he wouldn’t think of the mail as spam mail because he would see the sender’s name as someone he or she knows and trusts.

     Tell-a-friend script eliminates greatly the chances of being blocked because they use the information inputted by the sender. This allows for wider spreading of this marketing method. It can be quite sneaky but it is very effective.  

     With the e-mail sent and opened the sent media will either be read, viewed or played. Also along with the e-mail there would be a brief description of the company or site that sponsors the media sent. This allows for the introduction of either the site, company name or its products. Then along with it is another request to tell-a-friend and pass along the media to another group of recipients.

     Then the process begins again. As more people use the tell-a-friend script, more and more people will know of the existence of the sponsoring company or site. This is YOUR company or web site!  People who read the ads inside the e-mail who like what they see would go and click on the link and visit the site. This drives traffic to YOUR site resulting in a great number of potential customers.

Tell-A-Friend Script Availability

     A tell-a-friend script is very simple and does not require a complicated method of programming. In fact, you can copy and paste a script and simply put it on an intended page. Finding one is even simpler. All you have to do is go to a search engine, type in the search box “tell a friend script”, then press enter.  When I did this recently there were over 14 MILLION results returned for the search.

     In the search results page you will see many links that will direct you to a site where you can get a tell-a-friend script. It would just be a simple matter of looking and searching for the script that fits best with your requirements, then copying it to your intended web page.

     With a tell-a-friend script viral marketing strategy you can drive traffic to your site which could potentially spell big profits. This is a simple harmless script that offers great benefits for low cost paired with great creativity and foresight.

     It is imperative that you have patience in using a tell-a-friend script. If your chosen media doesn’t get the mileage that you expect of it, it may take some time before it gets spread or shared. But surely many people will see your ads and there is the great probability that they will visit your site thereby increasing your traffic flow.  This is the whole purpose of your site.  You want more visitors, more customers, and ultimately MORE SALES!  All of this means more profits!

PS

     Are you active on Twitter?  Here’s a way you can use that platform to make yourself some extra money and it's completely automated.  Visit:  Make Money on Twitter.

QUOTE TO CONSIDER

THOUGHTFUL GEM

"Before the internet the fastest means of communications where:

Tell-a-Phone

Tell-a-Graph

Tell-a-Friend"

Life

     If you ask most people if they wanted something better in their lives, they would all say “yes”.  Ask for a show of hands of those who want to make more money, live a better life style, enjoy the “good” life, and you probably couldn’t count the hands that would be raised.  Most people have these desires and that’s good.  You’re no doubt scanning the pages of various publications or surfing the internet in hopes of finding “THE” opportunity that will turn your life around.  I hope you do.  The problem however, is that most people still think you can “get something for nothing”.  IT JUST DOESN’T WORK THAT WAY!  ANY opportunity --- if it is legitimate --- is going to require that you work your tail off to make it work.

    It’s going to require some time and effort --- yes, some sacrifices on your part to make it work.  Most people don’t want to do that.  If they can’t become an “overnight” success --- they’re not interested.  Some will always want to be “gimmes”.  Then they demand their families --- “gimme”.  And they always want the government to “gimme”.  But they rarely ever want to give in return.

     As you seek that “special” opportunity that’s just right for you --- and IT IS OUT THERE SOMEWHERE --- don’t just look at it as a “gimme”.  Ask, “What will this opportunity allow ME to do for others?”  I’m sure you’ll find this makes you more appealing to others also.  And you’ll like yourself a lot better for it.

     If you go through this world only taking and never giving back you’ll find yourself becoming a very lonely person.  Others will not want to be around you.  You will isolate yourself to your own detriment.  You only have to look back at the life course of Howard Hughes and see that to be true.  You would have thought with what that man had he could have an extremely satisfying life, but history shows that just the opposite was the case.

     Unfortunately most of the things that we feel are VERY important to us are not that important when we get to that point in life where we realize that our bottle of life force is more empty than full.  When we have considered that we are on the down-hill side of life and the years are moving more quickly than we want to admit.

     This time becomes one of reflection and thought.  What have we really done with our lives?  What have we provided for others that we have made an improvement in their lives?

     These are the things that will matter to us the most when we find that the hands on the clock are running down in our case.  No one could have greater joy that to know that they have enriched the lives of their fiends and made them enjoy your company for the few years that we have been allowed to be here on this Earth.

QUOTE TO CONSIDER

THOUGHTFUL GEM

"If your circumstances become heavier ---

look for the lighter side."

Business Decisions

     You know your craft and you’ve prepared yourself for the product purchasing, vendor choices, pricing structure, and other paperwork needs for your business concerns, but regardless of your business operations the BIGGEST headache you are going to have is when it comes to making decisions!  As the business owner you’re going to be faced with all types of decisions.  What can help you get through this necessary aspect of your business?

     Let’s look at six areas that can help you in making necessary decisions and having positive results.

1.       Know the Facts.  Do your research.  Make an effort to look at all the data available so you can illuminate what obviously doesn’t apply to your business needs and keep only the relevant information that you can use.  In contrast to the often thought adage: “If it’s on the internet it must be true!”  You are going to need to analyze any found data and determine if it is true or not.  Only by having the most current and relevant data can you make an acceptable conclusion.  You must also use a bit of common sense and restraint.  In today’s electronic age you can collect an enormous amount of data in a very short time period. However fascinating that data might be, is it really needed in your decision making process?  And don’t “cut off’ a valuable source of information concerning your business by not considering the opinions of your employees.

2.      Be Results Focused.  What is your ultimate goal to be based on the decision you need to make?  You will need to look at both the short-term and long-term effects.  You can’t focus on merely ONE aspect of your decision.  As an example:  You may be considering how to improve the bottom line of your financial statement.  However, you must also consider the relationship with your vendors and your employees.  To merely achieve one aspect of your business needs by making a decision that will cripple your operations in other areas will prove to be a very unwise decision.  Or to consider only your shot-term goals without any evaluation of long-term effects may once again prove to be ultimately disastrous.

3.      Consider the Viewpoint of Others.  You may have worked long and hard building your business.  Today you may be very proud of what you have accomplished.  However, never forget, your business should not be run as a dictatorship, but you must always consider the viewpoint of others.  Think of your business colleagues, your managers, and your vendors (even to some extent your competitors) as a vast source of needed reference material.  You would probably have to pay a fortune for the knowledge and understanding these individuals can contribute in the operations of your business.  And many times this knowledge can be available to you for the cost of lunch!

4.      Stop --- Breathe!  Don’t feel that every decision has to be made “in that moment” or the world will come to an end.  There will be plenty of situations which will require a “snap” decision, but not all.  Especially is this true with the really important (and expensive) ones.  Let yourself relax.  Take a deep breath.  Listen to some music.  Maybe even do a little exercise.  You’ll find that once you’ve relaxed you’ll gain a new, fresh perspective to the situation and your thinking process will flow more smoothly.

5.      Never Give Up.  Once you have examined all the available applicable data, discussed the matter with others, allowed your thinking proves to ponder the goals you desire to achieve, and then make your decision accordingly.  Don’t procrastinate.  Once this is done: Stay the course.  Don’t let anything derail you and your business from achieving the ultimate goal that you have decided upon.  As you “never give up” don’t be so hardheaded that you can’t realize that the course you laid out is not achieving its purpose.  Adjustments may become necessary to alter the route of your plan while maintaining the idea of obtaining the proposed results.

6.      Learn from Mistakes.  Let’s face it:  As much as we’d like to think that all our decisions will be the correct ones, we are going to make mistakes from time to time.  The real tragedy is not learning from those mistakes and making corrections where necessary.

     There are many different decision making tools available.  You will need to research them and use the ones that work for you.  Always remember that the decisions you make for your business can be a good foundation from which to move your operations forward.  But those decisions are never solidified in concrete so much that they cannot be changed  Your decisions should be more like a flowing sea upon which your business “ship” navigates its way to safe harbors.

PS

     Scheduler 123 is an excel-based production scheduling program for practically any industry.  Check it out.

QUOTE TO CONSIDER

THOUGHTFUL GEM

"Don't move until you know which way to go ---

then don't hesitate to move!"

Scam

     I have long heard it said that there are two things you can never avoid --- death and taxes!  However, today there seems to be a third --- the scam artists.  I have certainly run into my share over the years of my life.  And unfortunately I have fallen victim to some of their deceptions.  And it just doesn’t matter whether you are dealing with business, politics or religion --- there’s always someone out there trying to rip you off.

   The scam artist preys on the hopes that people have and the fact that they (we) are gullible, selfish, and wanting to get something for nothing.  And for the most part they are right.  The majority of people fall into one or more of those categories.  But we don’t have to.

     If a deal sounds “too good to be true” just remember --- IT PROBABLY IS!  If  it “can’t wait” for you to think it over, you’d better pass it up.  If you “have to act right NOW” because it won’t be available tomorrow --- watch out!  And who hasn’t been continually surprised by the antics of TV evangelists or shaken their heads in disgust at the broken promises of politicians?

     But, I’m mainly reflecting my thoughts on the business scams.  Most of us have ordered items, information, etc. through the mail (or over the internet) and were very disappointed when it arrived --- IF it did arrive.  I recall a television program that reported on a mail order scam about a “portable solar powered clothes dryer” for only $50  When their order would come in, the person received a piece of rope and some clothes pins with instructions on how to “set-up” this clothes dryer --- outside in the sun.  This and many others like it go on every day.  But, WHY?  Well, there is an additional reason besides the ones I’ve already mentioned --- SHAME!  Scams play on the fact that most people will be ashamed to let others know that they have been “stupid” enough to have been taken.  That’s how we can help stop the scams in the mail order (and internet) business.  If you’ve been “ripped off” let someone know.  There are now locations (websites) that make a point of alerting others to the antics of scam artists.  Two very good sites are: https://www.consumerreports.org/consumer-protection/scam-alert-dont-be-duped-by-fraudsters/ and https://www.consumeraffairs.com/scam_alerts/scam_alerts.htm.  Soon the scam artists will have no more “pigeons” to pluck and hopefully the scams will stop!

     However, don’t let the fact that you have fallen prey to some scam artist.  It has been reported that P.T. Barnum once said:  "There's a sucker born every minute" (although it has never been documented when and where he supposedly said it.)  Add to this is the fact that WE’RE ONLY HUMAN!

QUOTE TO CONSIDER

THOUGHTFUL GEM

"Just remember:

You can't coast uphill!"

5 Easy Ways to Get Creative

     I’ve said for some time now that writing is one of the easiest ways to produce a product that you can sell online for a nice profit.  But writing an article doesn’t just mean putting down your thoughts into words as if they were falling out of a sack. You have to capture the interest of your readers and get them to keep on reading. You must have a firm grasp of their interest and pique their curiosity.

     The main ingredient in baking up an article is a large dose of creativity. While creativity may come natural to many people, some just get into a block (that crazy fear of writer’s block) or something to that effect that can drive a person crazy. Many writers have literally torn their hair out when they get writers block and just can’t seem to get their creative juices flowing.  Watch some times at award shows.  Most of the writers (if they are men) are bald.  [This is not a verified fact.]

     Putting words into images in the readers mind is an art. A clear and crisp depiction requires a certain flair that only creativity can provide. Similes and metaphors help a lot, but the way an article gets connected word for word, sentence by sentence then paragraph by paragraph into a whole article develops the essence of the article.  Don’t forget, your article is like a short story.  You must captivate your readers as their eyes flow across the “script” from word to word.  You must help them visualize your events within their minds.

     So just what do you have to do when nothing comes to your mind? There is no surefire ways to get the perfect ideas but there are easy ways to get your creative juices flowing. No one can guarantee you of having the perfect mindset but many methods may aid you in achieving that state of mind. Here are five easy ways which may be helpful.

     1) Keep a diary or a journal with you always. Ideas can be triggered by anything you may hear, see, or smell. Your senses are your radar in finding great ideas. Write all of them into a journal and keep it with you for future reference. You may also write down anything that you have read or heard, someone’s ideas could be used to develop your own ideas and this is not stealing. Remember that ideas and creativity can come from anywhere; it’s the development of the idea that makes it unique.  So if your mind is in a galaxy far, far away, or you are dwelling within the bowels of the inter Earth, write down your adventure because when you return others will want to share everything that you have experienced.

     2) Relax and take time to sort things out. A jumbled mind cannot create any space for new ideas. Everyone must have a clear mind if one wishes to have their creativity in full speed. Get rid of all obstacles that can be a hindrance to your creativity. If you are bothered by something, you cannot force your mind to stay focused.  Many people will tell you that in the world of today you must have the ability to “multi-task”.  However, for creativity you cannot do this and be successful.

     Try to relax every time whenever you can and think about your experiences and interactions with others. Your experiences are what shape your mindset and your opinions which could be reflected on your writings. Try to discover yourself, find out what triggers your emotions. Discover what inspires you and what ticks you off.  Did you ever read a book of adventure and feel the thrill of going under the ocean with Jules Verne?  Or perhaps joined the crew on the Journey to the Moon?  Did you feel REALLY threatened?  Probably not.  Besides, you were only READING a book!  In the future REALLY make the journey, experience the trials, and let your heart reach the brink of destruction before you are drawn back by the hero or heroine.  Then you will feel the force of the power of words and the experience they can make you relive.  You can use these emotions to help you in expressing yourself and your ideas, with this you can grow creatively.

     3) Create a working place that can inspire your creativeness. Your working place can be quite a hindrance if it doesn’t make you feel happy or relaxed. Creativity comes from being in a good state of mind and a messed up workplace that causes distraction won’t be conducive in firing up your creative flow.   Surround your working place with objects that make you happy and relaxed. You may put up pictures, or scents, objects that inspire, or anything that can get your creativeness cranking out page after page. A clean and well organized workplace also rids of distractions and any unwanted hindrances. With a good working place, you can work in peace and never notice the time pass by.

     4) Set the mood. Setting the mood requires you to just go with the moment or to induce yourself to feelings that make your mind work best. Finding out what makes you tick could help you find ways to get your creative juices flowing. Set the pace and tempo for your mood and everything else will follow.  There are many ways to set the mood. Some writers have been known to use alcohol, a little sip of wine to stir up the imagination. Some would like some mood music while others let the lighting of the environment create the mood.  You have to find out what works for you.  But use some caution here.  You don’t want your writing sessions to become an excuse for having “another” drink.

     5) Go on a getaway and just do something really crazy. Letting yourself go and having fun produces adrenaline that can make your imagination go wild. Take an adventure or a solemn hike. Whatever it is that is unusual from your daily routine can take the rut out of your schedule. In no time at all, your creativeness will make use of that experience and get your imagination to go on overdrive.

     Using these tips you should be able to at least start the flow of those creative juices.  With time they will begin to flow more easily and more fully.  Before you realize it you will have a river of ideas at your disposal.

PS

     Another way to make some nice money writing is in Writing Training Programs.  Check it out today.  You get instant digital access to create training programs for your own company or for others.

QUOTE TO CONSIDER

THOUGHTFUL GEM

"When the situation becomes sink or swim ---

Swim as hard as you can!"

Procrastination

     I often stop and wonder --- WHY?  Why does it take two hours to get a certain job accomplished if you only have two hours to do it?  If you have two WEEKS to get it done, guess how long the job takes?  You’re right, TWO weeks!  Why do most people procrastinate about almost everything in their lives?

    Have you ever received a magazine in the mail, flipped through its pages and thought: “That’s an interesting looking article, I’ll read it later?”  We ALL have.  But for many “later” never gets here.  We never (if only occasionally) get around to reading that “interesting” article.

   Or have you received a brochure, pamphlet or another item and thought: “I’ll send for that tomorrow”?  It does sound familiar.  But I’ve got a surprise for you: TOMORROW never comes!  It’s always going to be today as far as we are concerned.  And it’s only today that we can get anything done.

     Not reading magazines or not requesting information may not have a drastic effect on our lives.  But procrastination can.  Have you ever had a good relationship with someone ruined because of procrastination?

     You meant to send that thank you card.  But you never got around to doing it.  You wanted to give them a personal invitation to your party instead of sending them a printed one.  But the right time just NEVER came up.  I’m sure you’ve been in these situations or others very similar.  WE ALL HAVE!  Our not taking the moment and acting when we should --- our procrastination --- can make life very difficult, or even disastrous.

     Some who have been in earthquakes, floods, hurricanes, or other natural disasters have forfeited their lives because they hesitated for the moment, losing out because they procrastinated.  They may have thought they had plenty of time or they could escape without harm, but the facts proved to be otherwise.  Remember the TITANIC!  (Do some researches if you have no clue what I’m talking about.)  It was thought to be unsinkable.  But on its maiden voyage in 1914 it was struck by an iceberg and SANK!  It has been reported that many, even after the ship started sinking, felt there was plenty of time to get off safely, but they didn’t.

     Sadly we do this in so many situations.  Have you ever been to a funeral service and heard all the great things people had wanted to say to the deceased?  Why didn’t they do it when the person was alive?  Why did they have to wait until it was too late?  Don’t put things off in your life.  Do them while it is today.  Make every moment count.  You are the only one who can stop your own procrastination!

QUOTE TO CONSIDER

THOUGHTFUL GEM

"When you feel you've taken your final step ---

take ONE more!"