Happiness cannot be traveled to, owned, earned, worn or consumed. Happiness is the spiritual experience of living every minute with love, grace, and gratitude.
One of the best ways to find inspiration in business is to take advice from people that have made it. I've found that successful business people are usually always willing to share their experiences, you just have to ask.
1. Goals are the first step to business success. Jim Rohn believes that "If you go to work on your goals, your goals will go to work on you. If you go to work on your plan, your plan will go to work on you. Whatever good things we build end up building us."
2. Action should follow your goals. "Don't be too timid and squeamish about your actions. All life is an experiment." says Ralph Waldo Emerson.
3. Persistence is also important after your initial burst of action. "You have to put in many, many, many tiny efforts that nobody sees or appreciates before you achieve anything worthwhile." Brian Tracy
4. Good questions will keep you on the right track say Anthony Robbins.. "Successful people ask better questions, and as a result, they get better answers."
5. Change with your business or be left behind. "It is not the strongest of the species that survive, nor the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change." Charles Darwin
6. Luck and timing will ensure success, so be prepared for luck. "I feel that luck is preparation meeting opportunity." Oprah Winfrey
7. Success comes when everyone profits. "I have found no greater satisfaction than achieving success through honest dealing and strict adherence to the view that, for you to gain, those you deal with should gain as well." Alan Greenspan.
Whether you’ve been single for a while or are just getting back into the dating scene, you probably have a few ideas about what your love life should be like at this age. Maybe you’ve even joked to yourself, “What love life? Aren’t I too old to act like a hormonal teenager?” But the truth is, these years can bring on your very best sexual experiences. To show you how, I’ve laid out some of the most common misconceptions about sex at this age, and explained where faulty logic may lead you astray. Keep these reality checks in mind and plenty of satisfying experiences await.
Myth #1: If you’re having sex with someone, you can assume it’s serious
You may remember back in high school when, after three dates, you were officially a committed couple. But times have changed. Today, even if you’ve been dating and/or sleeping with someone for months, you can never assume you’re exclusive—or, for that matter, that your one-and-only is dying to find a life partner and settle down. Many 50-somethings want to date around, especially if they’re divorced and experiencing single life again for the first time in years. So, don’t get so caught up in the excitement of your new romance that you let this crucial detail slide. Many people find that the best time to pop the question is once it becomes clear that you may soon start having sex. If that’s your case, consider saying it this way: “Before we sleep together, I need to know this relationship is exclusive.” Or if you’ve already crossed that line, it’s completely fine to pull back and say, “I’m not comfortable continuing to sleep with you unless we’re in a committed relationship.” That way, you’re both clear on your expectations and won’t be blindsided by surprises.
Myth #2: You’re too old to worry about STDs
Just because the risk of pregnancy is gone after menopause doesn’t mean you’re in the clear when it comes to having unprotected sex. Sexually transmitted diseases can be passed from partner to partner at any age and aren’t merely something younger generations need to worry about. According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 23 percent of the total diagnoses of HIV in the past year were in men and women who were 45 or older. Overall, about 10 percent of all people with AIDS in the U.S. are age 50 and older. And that’s not all there is to watch out for—herpes, HPV, Chlamydia, and other ailments are all surprisingly common in this age group. So make sure to use condoms and consider both getting tested before you jump into action.
Myth #3: Your aging body is no longer as attractive as it once was
Sure, many of today’s most prevalent sex symbols — Paris Hilton, Lindsey Lohan and Justin Timberlake — are young. Still, there are plenty of celebrities over 50 — Goldie Hawn, Susan Sarandon, and Sean Connery, to name a few — who prove that people can be hot at any age. So stop worrying about your wrinkles, gray hair and less-than-youthful assets and revel in the ways age has made you even more seductive: Now, more than ever, you’re in touch with your turn-ons, turn-offs, and what makes you tick. And that’s very attractive! Plus, take a cue from some of those older hotties I mentioned by staying fit, getting a new hairstyle, or splurging on a new outfit or two to feel fabulous and up-to-date. Also, if you are meeting someone, forgo the sedentary dinner date and ask this person to go on a walk or dancing instead. Revving your energy like this can boost your body image and pave the way to a lustier post-date encounter.
Myth #4: Sex should feel the same as it did when you were younger
It’s a fact of life: Sex is going to feel different as you age. Post-menopausal women lubricate less, which can make sex uncomfortable. Men over 50 may find that their erections are not as firm or frequent as they were when they were younger. This is all normal, and in no way means you can’t enjoy yourself by making some adjustments. Consider getting a water-based lubricant (many are available at drugstores) to help out where nature has left off. Men, see a doctor to find out if Viagra or a similar medication will give you the boost you may need. But products and prescriptions are not the only solutions. When the action’s lagging, consider switching from intercourse to oral sex or asking each other, “What can I do to make you feel good?” Keep the lines of communication open, and you’ll easily adapt to your body’s changes and those of your partner.
Myth #5: By this point, you know what you like—and should stick to it
Think you’ve been there, done that with all things sexual and have a good handle on what floats your boat in bed? Guess again: People’s tastes and turn-ons change through the years, and sometimes, the only way to figure out what works is to try it—or, if you already did decades ago, give it a second chance. Maybe sex toys seemed silly or embarrassing to you during your younger years. Now, however, there is an array of cute, non-threatening products available in non-sleazy stores and online sites (like Goodvibes.com). Or, maybe you were never a fan of a certain sex position (like woman on top) or activity (like talking dirty). Well, now’s the time to reconsider. It sure beats doing the same old, same old for the next few decades. Treat sex like the ongoing adventure it should be, and the fun will never end!
I just receive a new project yesterday. However the requirement of this new project is very tight. One of the requirement is I need to setup my own technical lab. Therefore I have been quite busy setting up the lab accordingly. Workbenches, tables, cabinets and chairs are basic technical furniture that needed. Thankfully Formaspace one of the leading technical furniture manufacturer able to meet my needs. Whoever would like to purchase such funitures, I would recommend Formaspace to them. Formaspace can be a great help to you.
Whether it's time to negotiate for a mortgage, a car or even insurance, preparation is the key to victory. When you know what you want and how you intend to get it, you’re much more likely to come out of the appointment smiling.
Let's go through the different phases of a deal and prep for each one. Skipping one of these will most likely hurt your chances so don't slack off on any of them.
Before the appointment…
Know what you want. Sit down and work out exactly:
- What you need and what want. Secure the needs first and negotiate with the wants (aka the extra stuff you can do without)
- How much you can afford
- How far you’re prepared to compromise on both (afford vs. spend)
If you’re looking at a long-term deal, look beyond the immediate price and make sure you can afford the payments without stretching your budget to its breaking-point.
Find out what’s available. Do some research to find out how realistic your goals are versus what the market is offering. You probably weren’t expecting to find a mortgage rate at 1% or a luxury car for 50 pounds / dollars a month, but you should never assume that the price you are willing to pay is the floor for the market. You could still be surprised by the deals offered if you look hard enough.
Re-evaluate your goals: If you had seriously underestimated the price, you may need to re-think. Ask yourself:
- Do you want a cheaper car (house, TV, holiday, etc.)?
- Can you afford to pay more? Where does this item fall on the need/want spectrum?
- Should you wait until prices come down / you’ve saved up?
If you’d overestimated the price, you’re free to raise your expectations, lower your budget or (ideally) both.
‘Arm’ yourself. Knowledge is power, so make sure you understand:
- Which professional bodies oversee the industry
- The technical / legal terms involved
- What costs the seller really amassed in order to offer you this product
Find out if the product / industry has been in the news recently. This might tell you who to avoid, or if the industry’s about to go through some changes which could cost you time, money, emotional stress down the road.
Ask around to see if anyone you know has done something similar recently. If not, see what case studies / testimonials you can find. Mouse Print, Consumerist, and other sites report on shady dealings out there so once again, do your homework!
Select your supplier. Shop around. The bigger the deal you’re looking at, the more time you should invest: with a mortgage, for example, a tiny difference in the interest rate can save you thousands.
It’s often a good idea to start with a company you're currently doing business with. If you’re looking to refinance your mortgage, for example, talk to your current mortgage provider – if they don’t want to lose your business, they may offer you a good deal.
Understand how the company works. Do they offer their own product(s) or are they simply reselling something? Do they work with a range of partners, or will they check the entire market for you? How do they decide which partner gets YOUR business? That is an absolute key question. If your business goes to the highest bidder, I'd steer clear.
Arrange your appointment. This should give you some insight into how they do business. If they’re unprofessional, unhelpful, or hard to get hold of, maybe you should choose a different company. Remember, a company works it's hardest when they're trying to win you as a customer. If they are terrible at that, imagine how terrible the service will be once they get your money.
In the appointment…
Remember who’s the customer. As a (potential) paying customer, you are entitled to the person’s time and expertise. Tell them what you want and let them explain your options. Have a calculator and notepad ready, and take the time to do whatever calculations you find necessary.
Show what you know. Depending on the type of company you’re dealing with (and the amount of leeway the person has), showing that you ‘know your stuff’ could put you at a psychological advantage. So tell them what other deals you have been offered / seen advertised. Show them you understand the technical terms, and the pros and cons of the most common options.
Admit what you don’t know. If you need something explained, ask.
Don’t let them ‘blind you with science’. Any specialist can use technical terms to gloss over drawbacks – or to sell ‘benefits’ you don’t really want or need. Make them repeat themselves in layman’s terms, then take a good look at what they’ve just said.
Give and take. Don’t be too inflexible.
- Compromise – if you’re being offered a good deal, don’t turn it down because there’s one tiny thing missing.
- Consider new ideas – just make sure you understand the pros and cons, and find out if you can ‘mix and match’ elements of various options.
Don’t be rushed into anything. If you’re happy with the deal, get them to draw up the paperwork and tell them you’ll be back in a day or two.
- At the very least, you should read the small print – and ‘sleep on it’.
- If it’s complex / full of legal terms, you might consider taking it to an independent specialist.
- Don’t feel pressured. You can always walk away from the deal. If you’re not impressed with their ‘final offer’, thank them for their time and say you need to look elsewhere. (If they offer you a better deal at this point, so much the better.)
After the appointment…
The end? If you’ve found a product you’re happy with, great. If not, think about the appointment you’ve just had, make some notes and use the experience to prepare for an appointment with another company. If you have enough of these haggling sessions, you just may elicit a bidding war for your business.
So what do you think? Is this something you can do when it comes time to negotiate or are you going to take the first offer thrown your way?
Because sex involves interaction with other human beings, it will come as no surprise that we don't always treat one another well in bed.
Human beings are assailed by bad habits and selfish behavior in every area of life. When it comes to sex, sometimes we just get lazy.
Do you recognize yourself below? If so, you may be sexually lazy.
The Me, Me, Me Lover
Sometimes it can be exciting when one person kicks back and lets another give them pleasure. But all the time? If one partner dominates in a relationship, the temptation might be to dominate in bed as well, calling the shots and determining every move. Whatever form it takes, sex is a two-way street where both participants need to decide what is going to be served on the "love menu" on any particular night.
The Only On Saturday Lover
I think there are many benefits to keeping a regular schedule but it can also lead to a stale love life. The danger for many busy people is that the weekend is the only time they indulge in personal pleasure.
Sex can become relegated to Saturday night in the way that laundry is saved for Sunday afternoon. Whenever sex happens, it should not be a chore. Try changing up the sex schedule to break your routine.
The Wait For It Lover
It would be wonderful if we could read one another's minds in a relationship and know the perfect moment for sex. But, generally, one person needs to instigate romance, and it is easy for that task to always fall on the same person.
It is much fairer, and more exciting, if both partners in a relationship initiate sex from time to time. Aside from fairness, more equality in this area helps to create variety, as we all have different times and places we find exciting.
The Not In The Mood Lover
Sexual excitement doesn't always just happen. If we wait until we are fully revved-up to initiate sex in a relationship, it may never happen.
There are a variety of ways to help your partner become excited or to get turned-on yourself. But if we shut down the possibility of sex unless our mood is perfect, we lose the opportunity for real interaction in our relationships. Not in the mood? Maybe you will be in 15 minutes if you give it a try!
Sex is a wonderful gift that can help us stay physically, emotionally, and spiritually healthy. But like all health matters, sex requires work. So don't be a lazy lover.
The road to $1 million starts early, but there's hope, and help, for late bloomers.
Check your age category below to see how much you need to save each month to accumulate $1 million by age 65. You'll also find strategies to fit retirement saving into the rest of your life.
At age 25, you're starting from scratch. At ages 35, 45 and 55, we assume you already have money in savings on which you're earning 8% annually. Even if you can't save quite this much now, our step-by-step guide will help you set priorities for every stage of life.
How to save a million at age 25
If you've saved zero, to reach $1 million by age 65 you need to save $286 a month.
Successful savings strategies:
- You're just starting your career, so this is your chance to build a solid financial foundation. Time is on your side.
- Contribute enough to your company 401(k) plan to capture your employer match. If you don't have a retirement plan at work, fund an individual retirement account.
- You'll be investing for 30 years or more, so you can afford to keep 100% of your account in stocks.
- Pay down credit cards and other high-interest debt. That will free up money to save for a house.
- Set up an emergency fund equal to three to six months of take-home pay. Stash it in a readily accessible account in an online bank that pays interest of 4% or more.
How to save a million at age 35
If you've saved zero, to reach $1 million by age 65 you need to save $671 a month. If you've got $50,000, you need to save $304 a month.
Successful savings strategies:
- You may be starting a family or preparing to buy a home. Balance your short-term needs with long-term savings goals.
- Although you have added responsibilities, don't neglect retirement.
- Aim to save 15% of your gross income, including an employer match in your 401(k). If one parent leaves work to care for the kids, consider opening a spousal IRA.
- Shift your assets to 90% stocks and 10% bonds.
- Invest in a 529 college-savings plan. Many states offer a tax deduction for your contribution, and qualified distributions are exempt from federal taxes.
How to save a million at age 45
If you've saved zero, to reach $1 million by age 65 you need to save $1,698 a month. If you've saved $50,000, you need to save $1,298 a month. If you've saved $100,000, you need to stash away $861 a month.
Successful savings strategies:
- You may be juggling the needs of a growing family and aging parents, but don't take a break from retirement savings.
- You can contribute up to $15,500 to a 401(k) or similar workplace-based retirement plan this year or $5,000 to an IRA. Roll over retirement savings from previous jobs into an IRA.
- Adjust your asset allocation to 80% stocks and 20% bonds.
- Your kids can get grants or loans for college, but there's no financial aid for your retirement. Don't put your kids' college costs ahead of retirement.
How to save a million at age 55
If you've saved zero, to reach $1 million by age 65 you need to save $5,466 a month.
If you've saved $50,000, you need to save $4,859 a month to reach $1 million by 65. If you've saved $100,000, you need to save $4,253 a month. If you've saved $200,000, you need to put away $3,040 a month.
Successful savings strategies:
- Take advantage of your peak earning years to top off your savings.
- Add $5,000 in annual catch-up contributions to your 401(k) savings and an additional $1,000 to your IRA.
- As you near retirement, reallocate your portfolio to 70% stocks and 30% bonds.
- Estimate your retirement expenses and your projected income. If you're coming up short, consider working a few more years.
Put your blow-dryer on cold and make your lotions do more
Use your blow-dryer on a cold setting to dry your lotion and sunscreen, says dermatologist Fredric Brandt, MD, author of 10 Minutes/10 Years. Allowing skin care products to set makes your makeup go on more smoothly and last longer.
Apply mushrooms
The newest age erasers? Fungi-filled face products. "Antioxidant-rich mushrooms decrease inflammation that leads to wrinkling and a loss of firmness, and they don't cause irritation," says Marta Rendon, MD, of the University of Miami School of Medicine. Some 'shrooms also contain enzymes that speed cell turnover, slow collagen breakdown, and improve tone and texture.
Use coffee bean berry extract
Dermatologists are rolling out the red carpet for CoffeeBerry, a new skin care star that promises a younger complexion. The extract, which comes from the berries that house coffee beans, packs polyphenols, antioxidants with the most free-radical fighters. "You're protecting against cellular damage, a main cause of aging," says David McDaniel, MD, assistant professor of dermatology at Eastern Virginia Medical School.
Get a moisturizer that multitasks
By the time you hit 40, you'd learned to juggle more than three things at once (um, try 30 things). Now some moisturizers are catching up to your speed. Besides containing a hint of self-tanner that allows skin to slowly darken, the newest daily glow lotions are packed with potent hydrators (like ginkgo biloba) and tightening ingredients (including caffeine and ginseng) that make jiggly skin look and feel firmer, reports Mary Lupo, MD, a Prevention advisor and a clinical professor of dermatology at Tulane University.
Use a sleep-time moisturizer
If the number of night creams coming onto the market is any indication, the right time to pamper your skin is when you hit the sack: Last year consumers spent about $56 million on nighttime moisturizers alone. Although no scientific studies have been published comparing nighttime with daytime products, there may be some advantages to treating your skin while you slumber.
Cosmetic chemists know, for example, that many anti-aging ingredients stay active longer when they're not exposed to sunlight. Retinoids, which speed cell turnover, "can break down chemically with light exposure and become ineffective," says Julian Omidi, MD, a dermatologist in private practice in Los Angeles. Other "anti-agers"--such as topical vitamins, including C and E--don't hold up well in sunlight or air. They're in both day and night products, but you probably get more antioxidant bang for your buck when you apply them before you go to sleep.
Sleep flat on your back
Smashing your face into a pillow creates fold lines that eventually become permanent if they're repeated every night. Spending time on your back also helps counter the effects of gravity that accumulate during the day. In a recent study of 38 women and men, Japanese researchers found there was greater wrinkling in the afternoon than in the morning; they concluded that the face literally falls with gravity as the day progresses. At night, you get a chance to reverse that.
Japanese professor Yoji Kimura believes laughter is a weapon that in healthy doses can end the world's wars. The only problem is finding a way to measure it. And so the expert on communications has invented a machine to chart out laughter -- and a new unit of "aH" to calculate it.
"We have found that children laugh more freely, releasing 10 aH per second, which is about twice as much as an adult," Kimura, a professor at Kansai University in the western city of Osaka, told AFP on Friday.
"Adults tend to calculate whether it's appropriate to laugh and under those restraints they eventually forget how," he said.
"Laughing is like a restart function on a computer. Laughing freely is very important in the course of human evolution," he said.
Kimura, who believes in "a shift from a century of wars to a century of humour and tolerance," has studied the science of laughter for decades in Osaka, the hub of Japan's stand-up comedy scene.
In his theory, human laughter is produced in four successive emotional stages -- letting loose, then deviating from the norm, followed by freely laughing and then having the laughter overflow.
"I believe there is a circuit in the human brain that creates laughter through these steps to the stage of overflowing," Kimura said confidently. "Understanding this mechanism is the door to resolving one secret of human beings."
To measure laughter, he attaches sensors on the skin of a tested subject's stomach, particularly the diaphragm, and detects muscle movements. The machine looks 3,000 times a second at electric elements normally produced in the body.
"I have a theory that humour detected in the brain gets directly discharged through the movement of diaphragm," he said.
By checking the movement of the diaphragm and other parts of the body, it will be possible to see if a person is only pretending to laugh while also distinguishing different types of laughter such as derision and cynicism, Kimura said.
Kimura wants to make the measuring device as small as a mobile phone and possibly market it as a health and amusement gadget.
Kimura said he planned to present his findings this summer to the US-based International Society for Humor Studies, adding that he looked forward to looking at differences in laughter internationally.
We've all heard it before, "Exercise is good for you because...."
Nowadays you can't check out at the grocery store or do much of anything without being reminded that us mortal humans need to exercise. Still, we persist, procrastinate and eventually complain that we're overweight, sick, dying, etc.
Listen. Some exercise is better than none, more exercise is generally better than less, and no exercise can be disastrous. No one is asking for you to start a rigorous daily regimen, just do something. If you need motivation, here is a list of scientifically proven health benefits that regular exercise brings.
Longevity. People who are physically active live longer. According to a 20 year follow-up study, regular exercise reduces the risk of dying prematurely.
New brain cell development, improved cognition and memory. Exercise stimulates the formation of new brain cells. Researchers found that the areas of the brain that are stimulated through exercise are responsible for memory and learning. For instance, older adults who engage in regular physical activity have better performances in tests implying decision-making process, memory and problem solving.
Improved sexual function and better sex life. Regular exercise maintains or improves sex life. Physical improvements in muscle strength and tone, endurance, body composition and cardiovascular function can all enhance sexual functioning in both men and women. Researchers revealed that men who exercise regularly are less likely to have erectile dysfunction and impotence than are men who don't exercise.
Exercise is a powerful antidepressant. Study after study has shown that exercise promotes mental health and reduces symptoms of depression. The antidepressant effect of regular physical exercise is comparable to the potent antidepressants like Zoloft. It may take at least 30 minutes of exercise a day for at least three to five days a week to significantly improve symptoms of depression.
Cardiovascular health. Lack of physical activity is one of the major risk factors for cardiovascular diseases. Regular exercising makes your heart, like any other muscle, stronger. A stronger heart can pump more blood with less effort.
Cholesterol lowering effect. Exercise itself does not burn off cholesterol like it does with fat, however, exercise favorably influences blood cholesterol levels by decreasing LDL (bad) cholesterol, triglycerides and total cholesterol and increasing HDL (good) cholesterol.
Prevention and control of diabetes. There is strong evidence from high quality studies (e.g. Finnish Diabetes Prevention Study) that moderate physical activity combined with weight loss and balanced diet can confer a 50-60% reduction in risk of developing diabetes.
Blood pressure lowering. The way in which exercise can cause a reduction in blood pressure is unclear, but all forms of exercise seem to be effective in reducing blood pressure. Aerobic exercise appears to have a slightly greater effect on blood pressure in hypertensive individuals than in individuals without hypertension.
Reduced risk of stroke. Research data indicates that moderate and high levels of physical activity may reduce the risk of total, ischemic, and hemorrhagic strokes.
Weight control. Regular exercise helps to reach and maintain a healthy weight. If you take in more calories than needed in a day, exercise offsets a caloric overload and controls body weight. It speeds the rate of energy use, resulting in increased metabolism. When metabolism increases through exercise, you will maintain the faster rate for longer periods of a day.
Muscle strength. Health studies repeatedly show that strength training increases muscle strength and mass and decreases fat tissue.
Bone strength. An active lifestyle benefits bone density. Regular weight-bearing exercise promotes bone formation, delays bone loss and may protect against osteoporosis - form of bone loss associated with aging.
Better night sleep. If you suffer from poor sleep, daily exercise can make the difference. The natural dip in body temperature five to six hours after exercise may help to fall asleep.
"It's not you, it's me." Most of us have been on the delivering side of this statement. Unfortunately, we've also been on the receiving side more than we like to admit. Bad news is, by definition, bad. Unless you are a soulless monster, you probably dislike the process. To avoid the pain of delivering bad news, leaders often strategize on the best method to use. Here are seven tips to consider when preparing for the bad news meeting.
No Sandwiches: Avoid putting the bad news between good news. The old good-bad-good combination only confuses people. Many victims of this approach walk away remembering the good news and forget the bad. The value is lost and you will likely have to deliver the bad news again! If the news is especially bad, such as a written warning, limit the meeting to the warning. You can always cover good stuff later.
No Dancing: Just get it over with. If the person is about to get blasted, he won't benefit from a discussion about his weekend. If he knows something is coming, he will be annoyed you are stretching it out with fake conversation. Needless chatter may also make you appear unsure of yourself. This can lead to an employee pushing to change your mind.
No Demeaning: Use some tact. Be direct, but don't be a jerk. Donald Trump says "You're Fired!" on The Apprentice every week. In real life he admits he is more likely to say "hey, it isn't working out." Jerks make good T.V. - but they make lousy leaders.
No Grouping: Separate the person from the problem. Even if the bad news is a termination, it does not mean the person is a loser. Make sure to stay focused on behaviors, not personalities. The person may be a bad fit for that job and can be valuable to another organization. Your job is to judge performance, not people.
No Rushing: Allow some time for discussion. The person may need to clarify what the bad news means. If you don't allow her to do this, you will likely see her again for the same issue. Provide enough time for the person to learn from the experience.
No Defending: Say it and be quiet. Leaders sometimes feel a need to go on and on about why they had to discipline someone. The leader thinks it is making him not look so mean - when in reality it makes him look unsure and defensive. If you believe you made the right decision, state your reasoning and be done. You give away your authority by justifying yourself too much.
No Sharing: Avoid telling people the whats and whys. Don't make bad news worse by telling people who don't need to know. Sure, it may make you feel better to have a colleague say "you had no choice." Is feeling supported worth the news spreading to unwanted areas? If buddies didn't say anything...your organization wouldn't have the rumor issues you have now. Hire a coach if you feel a sounding board will help you.
How often do you find yourself wishing there were 48 hours in a day? Do you find that your to-do list is frequently left untouched? Managing time effectively is one of the key challenges for a successful entrepreneur.
Break it up: Break up your large tasks into small and manageable ones. Start by estimating the effort needed to accomplish a particular job. Write out a sequence of activities that are needed in order to complete it, along with an estimate of how long each will take. Now take them on one at a time, and periodically monitor how much time you’re actually taking, compared to the plan. This is a very important part of time management, and with practice you’ll be able to get it right!
Prioritize your work: List out all the tasks you must carry out to achieve your goal and put them in order of importance. This enables you to tackle the most important and beneficial jobs first. If there are too many high priority jobs, you’ll either have to rearrange your schedule or delegate some of the work. This helps you focus on doing things that are really critical.
The 80:20 rule says that 80% of unfocused effort generates only 20% of results and the remaining 80% of results are achieved with only 20% of the effort!
Plan the unplanned: Things rarely turn out the way we intend them to. Time management teaches you to keep aside some time for those inevitable crises. Often not budgeting for those extra hours might itself create a crisis!
Keep an activity log: We already talked about the need to monitor progress. You can do this by maintaining an activity log, which helps you track the way you use your time - how much time are you actually spending in productive work and how much are you wasting? Are there some tasks that could be done in a more efficient manner? The goal of time management is to answer such questions. Analyze the log at the end of each project to identify possible areas of improvement.
Make reminder lists: Unless you have the memory of an elephant, it’s not likely that you’ll remember everything that you need to do. Make a to-do list for the day or week. This will ensure that you don’t forget to do something, or worse, miss that all important customer appointment!
Do the unpleasant bit first: Procrastination is our biggest obstacle to effective time management. We all have our pain points, and it’s only natural to put-off those jobs for as long as possible… or when they’ll probably blow up in our faces. Discipline yourself to do at least one “unpleasant” task each day, and watch the results.
Ease your work plan: Hey, good time management isn’t only about work. Make sure you’ve set some time aside for your personal life as well. It’s amazing how you can improve your effectiveness at work by striking the right balance.
Productivity systems, if properly implemented, give us the opportunity not only to do more but to do it with more intelligence. Projects become manageable, goals are attainable, and our larger life purpose and vision are places we live from, not places we fantasize about. However, if used incorrectly, productivity systems also present a danger in terms of becoming unbalanced, or skewed, towards constant doing and busyness.
How can we make sure that our productivity remains in the service of our larger purpose, rather then becoming yet another distraction that clouds the mind and drains our vital energy?
With all this focus on doing, on being productive, I often find it useful to remind myself that it’s great to also spend time just being. Being is a state of non-doing, of non-striving, one where we can be attentive to the body and mind and focus only on present-tense experience. Another word for this process is meditation. There are many ways one can learn to meditate, but here are some good recommendations to get started:
- Check out Eckhart Tolle’s The Power of Now. It’s an extremely popular book, the reason being because he has some great down-to-earth suggestions on the power of being.
- If you’ve ever found yourself thinking that you are probably half-Buddhist (maybe in a past life?) you may find Mindfullness in Plain English a good primer for learning the Buddhist form of mindfulness meditation.
- If you find yourself leaning toward the Christian tradition, then check out Father Thomas Keating (a gnarly old Benedictine monk) and his teachings on Centering Prayer a Christian form of meditation.
- Finally, if you really don’t like to leave the comfort of your computer (hey, who does?) you might enjoy listening to some binaural beats. Binaural beats use slightly different tones in each ear to actually induce a slight change in the listener’s brainwaves. In other words, they help you get into some of the same states that meditation provides! Holosync and Hemi-sync both provide high quality binaural beat technology.
The value of meditation, or of being, is that it provides a true rest from the constant busyness of life, and the sometimes overwhelming demands of the modern world. Personally, I have used the practice of Buddhist insight meditation to be extremely helpful in this regard, and find that developing a calm, clear mind allows me to balance out all of the action I end up taking.
Mark Hurst, author of Bit Literacy, talks about productivity in terms of attaining an “emptiness of bits”, and the GTD master David Allen speaks of a “mind like water”. Both of them are referring to the fact that the more organized and clear one is about what one is doing and how, the easier it is to let things go when they arise in the mind. In that way productivity can actually be a great support for relaxing into a more meditative state of mind. Likewise a clear and focused mind will be helpful in staying on point with one’s personal efficiency.
What the gurus of both productivity and meditation know, is that when one has truly mastered doing, but can also relax into just being, there can be an ebb-and-flow between these states that makes both more enjoyable and enriching. Listen to the productivity gurus and work on mastering the core aspects of productivity, but also spend some time listening to the inner guru and learn to enjoy the simple feeling of being.
Low energy really puts a drag on your day, keeping you from enjoying your daily activities. The causes of low energy are numerous, but it usually points to the stress of living in this modern world.
Coping with stressful situations requires a lot of energy, leaving the average person drained and even depressed. Discover six amazing ways you can restore your energy below.
1. Energize with a Blockbuster Breakfast
We have all heard that "you are what you eat," but it's also true that you are when you eat. The human body follows a circadian rhythm, and because of this, the same foods eaten at breakfast and lunch are assimilated differently than when they are eaten later. Start the day right with a breakfast that gives you the energy you need to function strong all day long.
Studies have shown that when you eat your daily protein and fat at breakfast, you tend to lose weight and have more energy; conversely, eating the same things at dinner increases your tendency toward weight gain, increased blood pressure, and heart disease.
2. Sustainable Energy with Snacks
Most people eat too many foods that supply a rapid burst of energy in the form of simple carbohydrates and sugars - which burn out fast, leaving us depleted - rather than foods with a more sustainable energy content.
Eat a snack at mid-morning and another one at mid-afternoon. Good ones to choose are nuts, seeds, fruits, or protein-rich foods like hummus made from beans; these will help you sustain your energy and prevent low blood sugar from setting in. Make your own trail mix with almonds, pine nuts, walnuts, dried cranberry, raisins, or any other combination.
3. Ginseng Restores Failing Energy
The most famous of energy tonics, Panax ginseng has been prized and used for 5,000 years in Asian medical traditions. Ginseng's popular uses include increasing physical and mental endurance, decreasing fatigue, and gently boosting energy. Unlike coffee, which stimulates the central nervous system, ginseng elevates energy gently. People taking ginseng often report overall improvement in wellbeing. Available as powder, capsule, and tea, you can find ginseng in your local health food store.
4. Flush Out Toxins
One cause of low energy is a buildup of toxins in the system. Water is very important in properly flushing the system and hydrating the cells to prevent buildup of toxic waste products. Drink at least eight glasses of water per day at room temperature. Better yet, drink teas made with herbs such as peppermint, chrysanthemum, and dandelion that gently cleanse your body.
5. Proper Posture Promotes Energizing
Your mother was looking out for your health when she told you to stop slouching. Slouching not only makes you look older than you are, it also leads to a huge drop in energy by decreasing your oxygen intake. When you compress the diaphragm and ribs, full respiration cannot take place and the blood flow is slowed to your brain and extremities. To get proper posture, pull your chin inward and pretend there is a string pulling straight up from the top of your head.
6. Raise Your Energy with Exercise
Getting enough exercise is crucial to maintaining a high energy level. Exercise helps us deal with daily stresses; without it, the body is rapidly depleted of vital energy. There are many opportunities throughout your day to be active. Take the stairs instead of the elevator. Park a few blocks away from your destination. Walk briskly, run, or ride your bike instead of driving. Sweep the floor with a broom instead of a vacuum. Cut your lawn with a manual mower. Take a break from sitting to stretch or do a set of squats.
To really jumpstart your energy, try this: Jump rope for five minutes every hour throughout the day and drink a glass of water afterward. This will increase your circulation, get more oxygen in your body, and remove toxins from your body.
A licence plate with nothing but the number 1 on it has been sold for a record £7m. It was auctioned for charity in the United Arab Emirates, beating the previous record of £3.5m for a plate featuring the number 5.
The successful bidder said he bought it because he "wants to be the best in the world". Saeed Khouri, a member of a wealthy Abu Dhabi family, added: "I bought it because it's the best number."
However, he would not say which of his many cars would carry the record-breaking single-digit plate. The oil-rich UAE began auctioning off so-called vanity licence plates last May.
Proceeds from the auctions go to a rehabilitation centre for victims of traffic accidents. On Saturday, 90 licence plates were auctioned off, raising a total of £12m.
The previous five such events raised more than £25m.
Weekends were made for fun and relaxation, a moment for you to take a break from work to spend time doing something you enjoy. On your weekends, are you actually having fun and relaxing or are you stressed out and working?
Reclaiming your weekends is the first step to realigning your work/life balance - yes, they should be balanced. It requires a little effort, a bummer I know, but think about it, with a little planning you can get your free time back.
Ask yourself, what do you want to do, but haven't had the time for? Maybe you want to visit that new museum downtown, the cafe across the street or read a book from your growing list of "must reads." Think of one activity that makes you happy, then make time for it. Boundaries will prevent you from working during your weekends by removing or reducing work related tasks.
Boundaries are the key to keeping things separate - work and life in this case. When your weekend starts, take off your "work hat", don't answer your phone, email, Twitter, etc. unless you have to. Even when I’m home, I catch myself responding to work emails during my free time. These messages needn't be answered until Monday, but there I am, slaving away. For those who can establish boundaries, it's important to do so. It's time to break our "work all the time" attitudes.
Get Outta The House - If you work with technology, as I do, being at home is half the problem because all of my gadgets and toys are there. They just sit on my table, begging me to check my email, traffic stats and web pages. Find an activity that gets you out of your house so you can separate work from your weekends. The following tips will do the trick.
1. Exercise - Exercise is essential for a healthy lifestyle. You'll feel and look great, plus you'll be out of your house. Download a new exercise video to your iPod and rock it the next time you go to the gym.
2. Explore Your Neighborhood - Going to a restaurant or cafe will surely get you out of your house. Without the computer as a distraction, you can catch up on your reading or enjoy a friend's company.
3.Movies- The movie theater is a simple and enjoyable option for reclaiming your weekends – just sit back and relax.
Cook A Meal - Cooking and eating meals is a great way to bring people together. Find a new recipe and try to cook it this weekend. You can develop a new skill and impress your spouse, friend(s) or roommate(s).
Hobbies - Hobbies will make your free time exciting. Before the weekend starts, make sure you have everything you need. I sometimes shy away from my hobbies because I'm unprepared. Nothing kills a guitar jam session like the lack of picks or strings! Be prepared and you'll be enjoying your hobby this weekend.
Find An Activity - I know you're excited to take back your weekend. Here are some cool resources to help you find activities. If you live in New York, visit Free NYC for free activities. Don't worry if you don't live in NYC, Yelp, CitySearch, DailyCandy and Thrillist will all help you find something for you to do this weekend.
Remember, the important point is that you claim your weekends for you and your loved ones. Whatever makes you happy is a great weekend activity. The goal is to work to live, not live to work.
Wealthy people share common traits. That's why they are wealthy. If you want to be extremely wealthy, learn and own these traits:
PERSISTENCE
On your way to achieve wealth, you will definitely face some obstacles. Overcome the obstacles and move on. Do not give up and be persistent. Wealth is achieved only by removing a series of stumbling blocks along your way to riches.
INVEST OR BUILD A BUSINESS
Extremely wealthy people are either businessmen or investors. Look at some of the richest people in the world. They all own companies. To create wealth, you must involve yourself in business or investing. This is where the money is. Start your own business and grow your wealth.
INNOVATIVE
To be very wealthy and to stay wealthy, you need to be very innovative. Being innovative ensures that you always come up with new ideas to create wealth. Look around you for some opportunities that can make you rich. Be observant and critical.
DO WHAT YOU LOVE
If you are not doing what you love, forget about getting rich. Wealthy people get wealthy because they do what they love. They love what they do so much that they forget that they are actually working. Find something you love and create business around what you love.
GIVE IT BACK
Donate some of your income to charity you believe in on a regular basis. Some extremely wealthy people even have their own foundations. They donate a percentage of their wealth to the cause they believe. The more you give, the more you receive. Do not hoard wealth, share it with people around you.
CONTINUOUS LEARNING
Keep learning to improve yourself. Extremely wealthy people believe that the greatest asset in the world is your mind. Your mind shapes your destiny. Invest in your greatest asset by reading books, listening to
audio tapes or attending seminars.
LEVERAGE
Extremely wealthy people do not do everything themselves. They know when to let go. They hire the right people to do it. Bill Gates doesn't write software, he hires programmers to do it. To be very rich, you must know how to leverage. Hire people and use tools to do some of your work. If you do not leverage, there is so much that you can do, and this puts a limit on how much money you can make.
Once an unhappy young man came to an old master and told he was very sad and asked for a solution. The old Master instructed the unhappy young man to put a handful of salt in a glass of water and then to drink it. "How does it taste?" the Master asked. "Awful," spat the apprentice. The Master chuckled and then asked the young man to take another handful of salt and put it in the lake. The two walked in silence to the nearby lake and when the apprentice swirled his handful of salt into the lake, the old man said, "Now drink from the lake."
As the water dripped down the young man's chin, the Master asked, "How does it taste?" "Good!" remarked the apprentice. "Do you taste the salt?" asked the Master.
"No," said the young man. The Master sat beside this troubled young man, took his hands, and said, "The pain of life is pure salt; no more, no less. The amount of pain in life remains the same, exactly the same. But the amount we taste the 'pain' depends on the container we put it into. So when you are in pain, the only thing you can do is to enlarge your sense of things ..... Stop being a glass. Become a lake!"
Blogging is getting more and more popular. Everyone can blog almost everything. What's even better is that blogging can become an additional source of income. In order to transform your blog into money making machine, first of all you need to drive traffic to your blog. Now this is a challenge that every bloggers need to face. Of course it's not difficult, provided you apply the right technique on it. I'm going to share with you several secrets of seducing traffic into your blog:
Give people a free subscription to your e-zine. Almost everyone is publishing a e-zine nowadays so it's important to give something extra with the free subscription. You could offer a free gift or advertising when people subscribe.
Provide your visitors with free content. Your content will be more attractive to your visitors if it's up-to-date or original. You could also offer people the option to reprint the content in their e-zine or web site.
Offer a free online directory. The directory could be full of interesting ebooks, e-zines, web sites etc. If people find your directory to be a valuable resource they will visit it over and over.
Give your visitors a free ebook. You could also include your own ad in the ebook and allow other people to give it away. If you don't want to take the time to write one, you could ask other writers permission to use their articles.
Hold free online classes or seminars. They could be held in your web site's chat room. The idea of "live" information will definitely entice people to visit your web site. You will become known as an expert on the topic.
Give visitors a free entry into your contest or sweepstakes. The prizes should be something of interest or value to your visitors. Most people who enter will continually revisit your web site to get the results.
Let visitors download free software. It could be freeware, shareware, demos etc. You could even turn part of your site into a free software directory. If you created the software, include your ad inside and let other people give it away.
If you ask most people what the opposite of talking is, they will say it is listening. The truth, though, is that the opposite of talking is waiting to talk. Pay attention to conversations and you will see that there is very little listening going on. Each person is waiting to speak their mind, nearly heedless of what the other person is really saying.
Learning the art of listening can help you become more successful in business and in your personal life. You can develop deeper friendships, keener professional awareness, and a more meaningful understanding with your partner. You can experience greater fulfillment in your relationships due to conversations holding a deeper meaning.
Honing your listening skills is not difficult. Once you make the conscious decision to become a better listener, and practice a few simple exercises, you will develop a greater insight into what people are really saying.
Words do not Convey the True Story: If you are only listening on a superficial level, you may hear the words another is saying, but you likely will not gain the true understanding behind the story, or the hidden truths that are being concealed.
When you speak with someone on the telephone, you can hear the different voice inflections that give you indications of the other person’s emotional state, or even to their truthfulness. If you listen closely you will be able to tell if the other person is nervous, afraid, sad, depressed, or elated. Combining these verbal clues with the spoken words helps the listener decipher the emotional undertones behind a story. They may allow the listener to make preliminary judgments as to the truthfulness of a story.
When engaged in a telephone conversation, the listener is probably more likely to notice voice inflection than if the two were talking in person. The lack of visual clues makes the ear more aware of verbal inflections.
Most of the Story is Silent: The majority of communication takes place in the form of body language. Just by watching a person you know whether they are telling the truth or a tale, are angry or afraid, are happy or sad. Fidgeting hands, pacing, shifting eyes, tears, and visible shaking are all examples of possible behaviors you may witness that give clues as to the speaker’s emotional state.
Paying attention to the eyes can give you a good indication as to the honesty of what is being said. A person who looks at the ground or shifts the eyes off to the side is hiding something and could be telling you a lie. It is extremely difficult for a person to look someone else directly into the eye and tell a lie without flinching.
Listen to the Whole Story: Whether you are speaking with an office colleague or a trusted friend, pay attention to visual and auditory clues as well as to the actual words being spoken. Noticing non-verbal language will tell you as much or more than the spoken word and will help you to gain understanding of the innuendo behind those words. There may be a whole lot more being said than originally meets the eye.
In addition to watching body language, lean in toward the speaker and offer your undivided attention. Do not interrupt, but rather allow the speaker freedom to let the words flow unrestrained. When you have the opportunity, summarize what you were told and repeat it back to the speaker. This will reinforce that you are not only listening, but understanding as well.
Demonstrating interest in the conversation and summarizing the conversation back to the speaker reassures the other person and forms an intimacy between you. This is an important step towards building rapport. Once you have come to familiar ground, the speaker very well may continue with the conversation and reveal details they never intended.
If this begins to happen, keep in mind the context of your conversation and the nature of your relationship. You may suddenly be hearing intimate details that you would prefer not to have knowledge of, or a colleague could be giving you some very useful information about an upcoming deal. You then need to decide whether the conversation is beginning to eclipse your level of comfort or if continuing to listen will compromise your integrity. From there you will have to decide to either continue to listen or politely excuse yourself. Some conversations may provide crucial details to helping you achieve your goals, while others may begin to cross the line into confidential territory.
With a little practice and self-discipline, it is easy to learn to be a better listener. You can develop a deeper intimacy with your spouse, gain a greater understanding of your children, and achieve a better working relationship with your boss or colleagues. Learning the art of listening can enhance all areas of your life, providing you with greater understanding of the people around you. Just remember that you are supposed to be listening, not waiting to talk.
Being a wage earner is good. At least we do not have to worry about our monthly income. However sometimes when we think it over, there are times we might find regular 9 to 5 job a quite boring with the very same daily routine. On top of that, with all the uncertainty there is still hope and ways of creating security for the future. The key is finding your passion in life and investing in your self. Starting your own business is one of those ways that can create many benefits. Here are the top reasons to be a business owner.
Job Security. Business owners have job security. They never lay themselves off. As a matter of fact if business slows they have the option of doing what it takes to increase sales.
Maximum Pay. Business owners choose their wage. They can create more business when they need or want more money. Employees work to make the business owner rich.
Flexibility. Business owners can choose their work schedule. They can plan around family events such as weddings, ball games and school programs. Vacations can be incorporated into business trips.
Control. Business owners are free from being told what to do and when to do it. There is no supervisor to answer to, judge them or look over their shoulders.
Tax Benefits. Business owners have the advantage of more tax savings than employees. There are things that are deductible such as a home office which includes deducting a portion of utilities, insurance, taxes, interest and improvements. These expenses you would be paying for anyway, but if you have a business they can become tax deductible. This is just one example - there are many more.
Retirement. In today's world, retirement is unsure and risky. People who have worked for the same company plan on a good retirement and then one day it is gone. Creating a business that you love can last long beyond retirement age. Business owners can train others to run their business and when they choose to retire, it can be with a good passive income.
Product flexibility. An employee has to push whatever product the company says to. Business owners have the flexibility to change products and services according to the market. If a product or service becomes outdated or unpopular it is exciting to move on and keep up with the times.
Have you ever noticed how some people speak fluent English but at the same time, they don't really speak your language? They don't talk with you or to you, as much as they talk at you, over you and around you - in your general direction. They speak a language which is largely meaningless to you. Sure it's English, but overall, it doesn't really make sense. There's no connection, no real understanding and the outcome of these conversations is usually confusion, frustration, anger, boredom and occasionally, conflict.
Over the years I have employed hundreds of people in my businesses. And while I always look for a range of preferred qualities, attributes and personality traits in a potential employee, the one non-negotiable skill that's always at the top of my shopping list is the ability to be able to communicate effectively. If someone ticks all the boxes - academic, appearance, experience, knowledge - but they don't tick the communication box, then they probably won't get a gig with me. The reality is that a person who isn't a great communicator won't make a good trainer (teacher, coach, mentor), unless of course, they can find a way to develop those skills.
That's the good news; these skills can be developed.
Without doubt, communication is the single most important life skill, yet amazingly, the majority of us don't consciously work at developing it. Better communication equals better relationships, and better relationships equal a better life. So why wouldn't we work at it?
While we all speak English (readers of this site anyway), the reality is we all have our own unique language. The problem is that in typical conversation we mostly speak our language, and not necessarily the language of the person/s we're trying to communicate or connect with. And it doesn't matter how much talking we do, if we're not speaking the same language we won't find common ground or mutual understanding, and we won't create desirable outcomes. When Johnnie (my tech-guy, business manager and resident smarty-pants) talks to me about tech stuff, he has to totally modify his language so that Mr. Technophobe Ignoramus (me) can understand what the heck he is trying to tell me. He often tells me something in 'Johnnie-Speak' and I just stare at him blankly.
The question I always ask myself whenever I'm about to get involved in a meeting, confrontation or general chat is, "How do I need to communicate with this (specific) person, to be understood, to understand them, and to maximize my chances of creating a good outcome?"
Just like we don't all respond optimally to the same diet, the same exercise plan or the same lifestyle philosophy, neither do we all connect with, understand, or respond well to, the same communication style.
Yet that's what most of us do. We use the same communication style in a range of settings, with a bunch of different people; different personalities, attitudes, backgrounds, beliefs and values. If I'm talking with a seventy year-old lady about an exercise plan for her and I communicate with her in the same way that I would with a twenty year-old professional athlete, she's gonna think I'm speaking some foreign language. There will be no understanding, no learning and no connection.
I need to be able to communicate my thoughts and ideas speaking her language, just as you need to periodically speak the language of your boss, kid, spouse, parent or neighbor in order to create a desirable outcome and to experience meaningful communication. This doesn't mean that you shouldn't say what you think. No, it means say what you think using language which is meaningful to that person.
Imagine if I wrote an article today on weight-loss and in it I used completely over-the-top scientific language and jargon (being that I am an exercise scientist). You wouldn't be educated, motivated or inspired; you'd probably be confused and think I was a big tool - because I'm not speaking your language. Even if every word was true and relevant, it wouldn't have the desired effect because there would be lots of talking (okay, writing) but no real connection or communication. No understanding.
Effective communication is about a few things:
Understanding - It's about genuinely trying to understand the other person and to be understood (rather than shoving your thoughts down their throat and waiting for a gap in the conversation). "Do I understand her and does she understand me?" If there's mutual understanding, there will be good communication.
Listening - Ironically, some of the best communicators don't actually talk that much. Some people mistake verbal diarrhea for effective communication. We know that the vast majority of communication is non-verbal (93%), so why do we feel compelled to talk so much? I've had many productive one hour meetings with people where I've said literally fifty words, while they've talked non-stop.
Making the effort to understand different people's communication style. Learn new languages. Years of working with a wide range of people has taught me that what will motivate one person (a verbal kick in the pants perhaps) might devastate and de-motivate the next. Some need a smack around the head and some need an arm around the shoulder. Pity I'm so good at the head smacking thing. Oh well, arm around the shoulder it is.
Emotional Investment. This simply means caring about the person that you're communicating with. Caring about what they think, feel, want, need, believe. If people sense that you are genuinely interested in what they have to say, you will create instant rapport and connection. You don't need to 'love' or even agree with them, just respectfully consider their perspective.
Even with my writing and speaking, I get a broad range of responses to the same article / presentation; the same words. One person will get inspired, one will get enlightened, one will get challenged, one will be indifferent and one will get offended. Why? Because I'm speaking one language (communication style) to a bunch of different people who all speak their own language and all live in their own version of reality. This is one of the reasons why I frequently change the type of articles I write (educational, humorous, philosophical, motivational) and the communication style that I use (conversational, academic, inflammatory, provocative).
So, if one of your goals is to become more effective at work, at home, at school, in romance, in conflict, in business, in your relationships - in life, then perhaps it's time for you to learn another language and to master the skill of communication, rather than the habit of talking.
You wanted to sell a product. However you have no single idea of what to sell. The catch is that of cause you doesn't want to sell something that everybody is selling. That is why new products is often seen as a key selling point for enterpreneurs. I'm here to share with you on how to get new product ideas.
1. Solve an existing problem for people. There are thousands of problems in the world. Create a product that can provide a solution to one of those problems.
2. Find out what the current hot trend is. You can find out what the new trends are by watching T.V., reading magazines and surfing the Net. Just create a product that's related to the current hot trend.
3. Improve a product that is already on the market. You see products at home, in ads, at stores, etc. Just take a product that's already out there and improve it.
4. Create a new niche for a current product. You can set yourself apart from your competition by creating a niche. Your product could be faster, bigger, smaller, or quicker than you competitor's product.
5. Add on to an existing product. You could package your current product with other related products. For example, you could package a football with a team jersey and football cards.
6. Reincarnate an older product. Maybe you have a book that's out of print and is no longer being sold. You could change the title, design a new front cover, and bring some of the old content up to date.
7. Ask your current customers. You could contact some of your existing customers by phone or email and ask them what kind of new products they would like to see on the market.
Overseas vacation is one of the most common activities during holidays comparing many years back. Travelling is ever so convinient with reasonable cost. You can do your very own internet reseach on your preferred travelling location, within minutes, you can have numerous vacation packages as far as flights to Canada. What's even more interesting is that you can also customized your own travelling packages such as choosing your own hotel, pick your own car rental and even schedule your own agenda. I'm starting to plan my very own trip. Targetted date should be somewhere March to April. Of course I still believe that with a limited budget, it's not a reason why I couldn't visit my favourite destination. By hook or by hook, I have set overseas travelling is a must before first half of the year!
The following are seven guidelines to help you sell your products faster and more efficiently.
1. Give people a deadline to order. Tell people if they order by Jan 28, 2000, they will get a discount or free bonuses. This will create an urgency so they don't put off buying.
2. Offer people a money-back guarantee. The longer the guarantee, the more effective it will be. It could be a 30-day, 60-day, 1-year, or lifetime guarantee.
3. Offer a free on-site repair service for products you sell. This is convenient for people because they won't have to send it away for repair and they won't have to be without the product for a long period of time.
4. Publish testimonials in your ad copy. They will give your business credibility and you'll gain people's trust. It's important to include the person's full name and location with the testimonial.
5. Give people free bonuses when they order your product or service. The free bonuses could be books, jewelry, reports, newsletters, etc.
6. Allow people to make money reselling the product or service. Tell people they can join your affiliate program if they order. You could pay them per sale, per click, per referral, etc.
7. Offer free 24-hour help with all products you sell. Allow customers to ask you questions by email, by toll free phone, by free fax, etc.
Stumble It!
