New Dog the Bounty Hunter Blogs

Aflac Donates $1 Million to African-American Museum

2009-10-13T10:31:00.000-07:00

Summary:
In Washington, D.C., the Smithsonian Institution will soon welcome an addition to its family of museums that house priceless works of art and other relics.

http://guide4career.co.cc/College

DOG THE BOUNTY HUNTER. A WALK

2009-09-09T20:43:00.001-07:00

career objective examples for resumes

2009-08-23T09:47:00.000-07:00

career objective examples for resumes

When writing your resume, one of the first things you have to consider is your career objective. I've been there before and I know how challenging it can be to come up with something note-worthy. In this case, it doesn't hurt to look for outstanding career objective examples for resumes you can base on.

Well, for starters, the career objective is usually the first line your potential employers will see once they scan your resume. From that one line, they would most likely recognize which candidates have creativity and spunk; and which candidates are simply just like the rest.

You might wonder why your resume needs to have a benefit-laden objective. How does a sentence or two affect the long list of achievements in your resume?

Unless you want your resume to be stuck with the rest of the commoners stash, you'd better take these career objective examples for resumes a little more seriously.

career objective examples for resumes

Example # 1: Seeking an entry-level position in pharmaceutical management to utilize my communication skills and Degree in Pharmacy.

This last example shows how important it is to be specific about what you want and what you can offer.

However, you can't be overly specific, for it might only give your potential employers the impression that your skills are limited to a particular set or limited to operating specific programs only.

career objective examples for resumes

Example # 2: Feature editor offering four years of experience in magazine story line-ups and special reports.

This second example is mostly used by those have been there and done that. They now have the experience and the gall to state their position and what they specialize in.

If you're a reputable person or authority while attending college, and would like to use this particular objective form, you need only to replace "Feature editor" with something like "Former Writers Club President" or "Cum Laude Graduate." Then show them how they could benefit from your academic know-how and experience.

career objective examples for resumes

Example # 3: To use my graphic design skills in creating attention-grabbing graphics that sell.

Most career objective examples for resumes start out with "to" rather than "I." In a way, this makes your career objective less about yourself, and more about the job and company you're applying for.

Remember, your potential employer is always asking "What's in it for me?" So you better come up with benefits that speak directly to their mind and emotion.

If you're a fresh graduate, using "to" to begin your sentence is a safe choice.

Knowing which of the various career objective examples for resumes to base your own ideas on, helps you stand out from the rest of the applicants. It gives others the impression that you know exactly what job you want and how your skills come into the picture.
career objective examples for resumes

new dog the bounty hunter, New Dog in Town Pt3

2009-08-23T08:20:00.000-07:00

new dog the bounty hunter

DOG THE BOUNTY HUNTER. IF YOU KNEW NUNU. PART 3. SEASON 2.

2009-08-21T07:42:00.001-07:00

DOG THE BOUNTY HUNTER. COPS AND CRIMINALS. PART 1. SEASON 3.

2009-08-21T07:41:00.001-07:00

DOG THE BOUNTY HUNTER. COPS AND CRIMINALS. PART 2. SEASON 3.

2009-08-21T07:40:00.000-07:00

DOG THE BOUNTY HUNTER COMPILATION. SEASON 3/4.

2009-08-21T07:14:00.000-07:00

dog the bounty hunter

2008-12-09T13:07:00.000-08:00

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Appreciate the holidays of the Caribbean any time to the course outside of the year

2008-11-20T09:03:00.000-08:00

Appreciate the holidays of the Caribbean any time to the course outside of the year

What be you envisaging for this Christmas?Be you still envisaging outward journey for the same tedious purchases and to come to the house and to celebrate same manner that you made each year.Or you envisage to go to the house of your relative and to hold a meeting of family.

Be you envisaging to continue with the same plan that you carried last year?Why not do something different and interesting so that your Christmas is of one of memorable Christmas and more appreciated.

If you are in waiting to envisage a voyage then you should consider the holidays of the Caribbean.The time of the island of the Caribbean is liking all the round and consequently you can go there in any season you find comfortable.You would appreciate your voyage in any season.Barbados, Aruba, and the Cayman Islands are the destinations which you would like to visit in the Caribbean one.

The island of the Caribbean has suitable time liking all the year, the excellent places, the beautiful shore of sea, good housing and food and all other equipment which one would like to have during their holidays.You can also find good packages of voyage which includes very that you want to have during your voyage.You ensure that the package of voyage that you chose is worth the cost and that to you reserved it of a certain honourable travel agency.

If you note that the rates of this particular travel agency are high you can always find the hotels less expensive by the Internet.Make suitable research and also take care that the package which you fixed is confirmed or at the last time when you would be in a difficulty and will have to shell outside more money which required.

Thus, plan outside your voyage in such manner that there is no example where you must worry about all it of which you need for your voyage.

Ingredients in the Cologne discount

2008-11-19T13:46:00.000-08:00

Ingredients in the Cologne discount

With the technology of today, much marks of Cologne of discount smell better than ever.Consider Stetson and old woman spices, two marks of Cologne of discount this cost less than $20.With these perfumes, the men smell more male and sexy… even if they sweated.

Thus, that the ingredients which make Cologne of discount attract thus?And they are less worthy than the ingredients used in perfumes of originator?Well, in reality, Cologne of discount and the colognes of originator employ the same type of ingredients.The only difference is the quantity which is employed.

Moreover, of the colognes of Cologne of originator and discount are conceived to carry a perfume on three levels.The first level contains "the notes the higher" higher notes contain various spices and mints, which are designed to release a "first powerful impression"

The next level contains the "notes of heart" the notes of heart succeed when the ingredients in the higher notes start to carry to far.Consequently, they still contain stronger perfumes of citrus fruits and aromatic spices.

The final level contains "the low notes" being composed of leathers, the low notes give Cologne has soft-like the aroma.They also help to lengthen the number of hours that the ingredients in the other layers last.

Now, when it comes to the global design, recall you, Cologne of discount and Cologne of originator that both employ the same approach.However, in each one of these levels, Cologne of discount "would stretch" outside the ingredients with butane and other chemicals.Consequently, the life of the perfume becomes slightly limited… at least compared to the perfumes of originator.

Does that mean to you should avoid Cologne of discount?Naturally not.In fact, some of the most recognizable colognes of the world come from the marks of discount.And, rather astonishing, some of these marks always last a very long time.

Finally, you will have to be the judge when he comes to Cologne from purchase from discount.Test some marks and see which lasts longest.Even among the marks cheaper, you should be able to find something this continuations your preferences.

2008-11-19T13:42:00.000-08:00

Which is the best above against cream night?

When you compare the night skims, it is easy if you stroll in your local pharmacy and check what they have available in the sides.

I personally tend to avoid produced because they are lower than those which you can find on the Internet if you do your work and seeks, as you are by reading this article.

Thus, you just point out, the best above against cream night can mean than something than you can find on the Internet too much and to have been transported directly to your door, as long as it requires a regulation… et no cream of night of quality would not have.

When you compare the night skims, you must make based on their effectiveness thus, and that requires to look at the ingredients.

There are two things which should think to you when you look at the ingredients.

1) Y has it ingredients in this product which can damage the health of my skin (believe it or not, there is much they)?

2) Y has it ingredients in this product which were scientifically examined to improve health and the aspect of the skin?

We will speak to them two to give you an overall picture.

The last remark that I want to make now, however, is that, with my opinion, a cream of night of quality should not simply have ingredients which improve health of your skin in its current state, but should also be able to demolish some of the effects of ageing which already occurred.The things like wrinkles and age of the spots.

The OK, first, left us speak about the ingredients which should never not appear in the best above against cream night.

Few commun runs which are potentially very prejudicial include:

A) Parabens -- those are employed because the condoms thus the product has a long shelf life, but the studies suggest that they can cause cancer!

B) Perfumes -- Those are put in the night skims just because they feel nice.However, they are completely useless.The majority of the perfumes are composed of the chemicals which are not good for the health of your skin.They are a common culprit by starting allergies of skin, eruptions, and irritations.Except your perfumes for a little bodyspray or a small pulverizer of perfume.

C) Of mineral oil -- When you compare the night skims you, fact absolutely sour do not employ one with of mineral oil in it.Other calls of mineral oil goes are below:liquid, solid paraffin of paraffin, petroleum jelly.Of mineral oil is employed for two reasons:it can make the dry skin be temporarily better smelled and it is cheap.It is bad to employ on the skin because it blocks the pores, which, interferes alternatively the capacity of your skin to eliminate from toxins.This can cause escapes from acne, defects, and other undesirable disorders of skin.

There are much more substances than you must prevent if you want the best above against cream night, but they are a beginning with knowing.

Now, leave speak to us about what you want that your cream of night realizes for your skin.

Initially, it should make prove médicalement ingredients to help to amplify the production of your body of collagen and elastin, which are the two most essential proteins of skin of which we start to produce less and less while we age.

In the second place, it should be rich in normal émollients and oils which do not block the pores, but in the place softens to the top of your skin and the hydrate.

Thirdly, it should contain the antioxydants which help to fight with far the damage from free radical to the epithelial cells, which are one of the ages of skin of primary reasons with time.

A normal substance that I discovered achieves each of the three of these things is called Cynergy TK, who come from Zealand News, but available to no matter whom above the Internet.

Cynergy TK is new, the substance of edge used in the night of technology of renovation of cells of elite skims and was shown with the collagen and the elastin of push;increase the conservation of moisture of the skin;and thorough levels of the body of antioxydants.

Until émollients, there are three those exceptional honey of manuka, the butter of bassy, and the extract credits called of lawyer which alleviate the skin, fight the ignition, and softened to the top of the skin without blocking pores or leaving a heavy and greasy feeling.

Cinq Difficultés Minute De Beauté

2008-11-11T00:10:00.000-08:00

Cinq Difficultés Minute De Beauté

Nous tous couru vers le haut contre des désastres de beauté chaque de temps en temps - des taches, des yeux gonflés, le maquillage enduit ou des cheveux flottants crépus.Celui que les circonstances, là ne soit aucun besoin de paniquer, ce n'est pas l'extrémité du monde.Voici quelques difficultés de secours vite pour t'aider à obtenir de nouveau à regarder votre meilleur en un rien de temps tous.

Imaginer que tu es prêt pendant une grande nuit dehors avec chaleur prévue avec les filles, et tu notes une tache énorme.Quoi que tu fasses, ne pas serrer !Au lieu de cela, la glacer pendant 10 minutes, et, SEULEMENT si c'est un whitehead, serrer doucement les côtés de la tache avec vos doigts - non vos ongles, glacent alors encore.Si elle n'est pas le whitehead serrant alors la rendra seulement plus rouge.Puis, simplement la glace, tapotent sec et la couverture avec le concealer.Alternativement, tourner l'article offensant à votre avantage, point au-dessus de la tache avec un crayon brun mou d'oeil et le déguiser comme site.Alto, tu es prêt à aller !

Un autre scénario commun est ceci :tu n'as pas dormi très bien la nuit passée et après un long, occupé jour au travail, tu regardes et te sens vraiment fatigué.Cependant, tu as promis de sortir avec un ami et ne peus pas la laisser vers le bas.Avant que tu décommandes et t'élèves dans le lit, essai prenant une douche.Ceci toujours régénère et stimule toi et votre peau, et si tu es assez courageux, a un souffle rapide d'eau froide avant de sortir - un sillage sûr du feu que tu appelles !Puis, tamponner le recouvrement blanc d'oeil dans les coins de vos yeux pour large-réveillent le regard.Se rappeler, le plus foncé votre maquillage, plus tu regarderas plus fatigué, ainsi aller pour l'or.En outre, essai portant lumineux, accessoires géniaux pour tirer l'attention loin de votre visage fatigué.

Peut-être tu es une première date et as été les seaux pleurants dans toute la dernière chiquenaude weepy ?Tu te précipites à la salle de bains et vois que votre mascara a tacheré et a fonctionné en bas de vos joues.Bien qu'il tente, ne pas frotter votre visage.Au lieu de cela, éponger le visage avec un tissu à l'espace libre loin toutes les larmes humides.Puis, amortir le tissu et essuyer doucement loin n'importe quel maquillage qui est sous vos yeux.Si tu portes la poudre ou la base, alors avec vos doigts la déplacer à la couverture au-dessus des voies de larme.Si tu as votre concealer avec toi, le tamponner sous vos yeux et autour de votre nez rouge.Réappliquer votre lippy - il tirera l'attention loin de vos yeux.Alternativement, tu peus insister pour discuter le film dans un coin obscurci et romantique de votre barre de favori.

Ou peut-être sur votre chemin à un déjeuner d'affaires très important tu es attrapé sous la pluie légère sans votre parapluie.En conséquence tu arrives au restaurant et constates que vos cheveux ressemblent à une poupée de chiffon.Pour fixer, doigt-sec vos cheveux à l'aide du dessiccateur de main et le peigner de nouveau dans un simple, lissent la queue de cheval.Ou, si tu es s'avérer justement être dans un endroit qui a des redresseurs de cheveux dans les salles de bains, les cheveux lisses des racines et le champ de nouveau dans une brioche sophistiquée.Ou pour des cheveux plus courts, modèle à l'aide de vos doigts pour créer un regard sexy mais futé.Appliquer un champ de lustre de lèvre, porter un grand sourire et tu es prêt à prendre le monde.

Il n'y a aucun manque de moyens de surmonter des problèmes soudains de beauté, et avec une peu de créativité, personne notera toujours même qu'il y avait une crise de beauté à commencer par !

Conclusion d'un grand salon de beauté

2008-11-11T00:07:00.000-08:00

Conclusion d'un grand salon de beauté

Es tu vivant dans une nouvelle ville et n'es pas sûr où aller obtenir vos cheveux faits ?Ou peut-être tu es sur le marché pour promouvoir votre styliste à un qui a plus de compétence que ceux à votre salon local d'affaire qui coupent les cheveux de vos enfants ?

Tu peus trouver un grand salon de beauté sans passer par les épreuves et les tribulations d'obtenir une mauvaise coupe, ou une grande coupe dedans que un salon te plaçant détestent.Tu ne devrais avoir aucun ennui trouvant un excellent salon de beauté aussi long que tu sais pour que quoi observe dehors, et quelles sortes de questions pour demander au styliste.

Où trouver un ?

Tu peus regarder dans l'annuaire téléphonique, mais la meilleure manière de trouver un grand salon de beauté est de demander aux amis, à la famille, et aux collègues égaux qui fôlatrent les cheveux intéressants.S'ils sont faits frémir de leur salon de beauté ils seront plus qu'heureux d'offrir le nom du salon et de leur styliste.Maintenir dans l'esprit, bien que, que tu ne peus pas trouver le salon pour être un bon ajustement pour vos besoins, même si votre tante Bertha délire à son sujet.

Il y a d'autres choses que tu devrais prendre en compte sans compter que d'excellentes revues.

Services :

La première chose à rechercher dans un grand salon de beauté est service- ils offrent de ce que tu as besoin ?De plus en plus salons augmentent leur liste de services pour adapter à la dame occupée d'aujourd'hui, mais non toute l'offre ce que tu peus vouloir pour accomplir en votre jour de beauté.

Non seulement peus tu compter obtenir vos cheveux faits (coupe, dénommé, traité et des prolongements de cheveux), mais tu peus également faire cirer les cheveux non désirés, vous livrer à une manucure, à un pedicure ou à un facial, ou même folie pour le bronzage de jet.Quelques salons sont de même processus cosmétiques d'offre sous les mains d'un professionnel médical, telles que l'enlèvement de cheveux de laser ou les injections de Botox.

Ainsi, ce qui sont des options de service au lequel tu devrais penser ?

Bien, si obtenir vos fronts cirés est quelque chose tu aimes avoir fait pendant qu'obtenant votre coupe de cheveux, tu voudras trouver un salon qui offre les deux services.Ou peut-être tu voudrais avoir une manucure et une retouche de couleur régulièrement.Dans l'un ou l'autre cas, un grand salon de beauté prendra soin de vos besoins, aussi fondamental ou de complexe qu'elles peuvent être.

Si tu recherches un service très détaillé, tel que des prolongements de cheveux ou spécial tisse, tu pourrait vouloir faire peu plus de recherche pour trouver le salon parfait qui peut te donner le regard que tu veus.Aller avec un salon voisin avec seulement une expérience marginale a pu finir désastreusement.

Endroit et heures :

Un grand salon de beauté aura un endroit et des heures d'opération qui adapté votre programme occupé.Si tu travailles tard et le salon a rarement des rendez-vous quand tu as besoin d'eux, ce n'est pas un bon salon pour toi, même si d'autres délirent à son sujet.

Tu veus également un salon à et dont il est facile pour toi voyager.Si tu dois voyager beaucoup de milles ou une demi-heure par le trafic dense, tu ou ne vais pas apprécier votre temps au salon, ou tu ne pourrais pas obtenir vos cheveux pour couper ou dénommé aussi souvent que tu as besoin.

Prix :

Certaines des marques de produit peuvent penser que tu es en valeur lui, mais si tu dois voler une banque pour payer votre couleur de cheveux ou d'autres services de salon, ce n'est pas le meilleur salon de beauté pour toi.En s'enquérant au sujet d'un salon demander sur des prix des services et ne pas avoir peur pour appeler autour.

Cependant, ne pas sauter au premier salon qui des offres tu un prix bon marché sur une coupe de cheveux.Obtiens certainement tu ce que tu payes, particulièrement les processus plus impliqués comme la couleur et les perms de cheveux.Rechercher un prix raisonnable des services de bon et il sera bon aller te.

Environnement :

Les salons de beauté viennent dans une variété de différents environnements, et ils peuvent ou peuvent ne pas être à votre préférence.Par exemple, certains approvisionnent à un environnement de famille, d'autres sont plus d'upscale au point de t'apporter un latte tandis que tu attends vos ongles pour te sécher peus te trouver es plus confortable dans on plaçant que des autres.Connaître quelle atmosphère tu recherches t'aidera à choisir le meilleur salon de beauté pour toi.

Votre Première Visite :

Une fois que tu décides d'un salon, au lieu de sauter dedans avec les deux pieds et d'aller pour les cheveux couper-qui pourraient être désastreux-voir si le salon offre une consultation libre.En ce moment, un styliste évaluera vos cheveux, sa santé, et quel modèle regarderait le plus flattant avec vos dispositifs faciaux.

Tu voudras prendre la note si le styliste écoute vos questions et a besoin au lieu de l'essai de te donner une coupe il est facile pour elles faire que.Par exemple, si tu traces la ligne au coup séchant vos cheveux, puis une coupe qui exige beaucoup d'entretien et l'entretien n'est pas approprié, même si tu regarderais totalement magnifique avec lui.

Si le salon n'offre pas une session de consultation alors va pour un processus mineur, tel qu'un coup sec et le modèle, ou un front cirant.Pendant ce temps tu pourras obtenir un sentir pour le salon et l'expertise du styliste.Encore, le styliste devrait écouter les vos besoins et soucis comme t'offrir l'excellent service.

Aller Préparé :

Dans l'un ou l'autre cas, tu voudras apporter des images de votre modèle rêveur de cheveux avec toi.Voir si elles peuvent faire une certaine coupe, ou être au courant d'une technique de traitement de cheveux que tu voudrais essayer.Si pas, ou si elles t'orientent une manière différente parce qu'elles manquent des qualifications, tu pourrais vouloir regarder ailleurs.En outre, être véridique au sujet de ce que tu fais à vos cheveux.Si tu permed ou les colorais vous-même, admettre à eux ainsi le styliste de cheveux peut t'aider à défaire les dommages.

Propreté :

Sur votre première visite à un nouveau salon de beauté tu voudras jeter un coup d'oeil autour sur les environnements.Tu mérites d'avoir une expérience positive de cheveux, où l'environnement est propre et sûr, et où tu peus également obtenir un habile pour couper ou dénommer.

Fait le champ de salon vers le haut des cheveux lâches régulièrement ?

Ils utilisent aseptiser des méthodes pour des ciseaux et des peignes ?

Fait le professionnel de regard de personnel et nettoie ?

Est la salle de bains ordonnée ?Si pas, changer les salons tout de suite.

Tu ne veus pas finir vers le haut avec une infection d'une certaine sorte parce que tu as collé avec un salon malpropre.

Mon Styliste Stoppé !

Il se produit que chaque une fois dedans pendant quelque temps-tu trouvaille le salon et le styliste et elle parfaits stoppe !

N'avoir aucune crainte, là est espoir.D'abord, si c'est un bon salon tu pourrais juger un styliste différent.Les chances sont elles t'offriront la mêmes compétence et qualité des services que votre dernier styliste.Si tu es incertain, demander où votre styliste préféré est allé.La plupart des salons comprendront votre besoin de rester avec le familier et t'indiqueront quel salon elle travaille à maintenant, ainsi tu peus la sonner là.

En se fermant :

La conclusion d'un grand salon de beauté ne doit pas être une expérience d'épreuve et d'erreur si tu sais quelles questions à demander et ce qui à rechercher.Si tu évalues chaque salon par des qualités souhaitables telles que l'endroit, le prix et les services, alors le prends lent et vais de pair avec une consultation ou un service mineur, tu finiras vers le haut avec de grands cheveux sans effort.

Obtenir votre Agrafe-Dans des prolongements de cheveux de couper dedans

2008-11-11T00:05:00.000-08:00

Obtenir votre Agrafe-Dans des prolongements de cheveux de couper dedans

Il y a une solution simple pour n'importe qui qui veut plus longtemps, des cheveux plus luxueux sans a dur-à-soin-pour, ensemble de constante de prolongements de cheveux humains :Agrafe-dans des prolongements de cheveux.

Les prolongements standard de cheveux humains semblent réalistes et attrayants dans les mains d'un styliste doué.Mais il peut être difficiles de s'inquiéter les de si tu n'as pas des heures à consacrer à vos cheveux.Agrafe-dans des prolongements de cheveux l'alternative parfaite pour quelqu'un recherchant de grands cheveux sans dispute.

Mais prise dessus :Quoiqu'il soit plus facile s'inquiéter les de, agrafe-dans des prolongements de cheveux venir toujours avec un ensemble de règles pour suivre.Obtenir ainsi le meilleur regard et se sentir de vos prolongements, suivre juste quelques directives simples.

Obtenir une allumette.Avant l'arrangement sur un ensemble de prolongements, s'assurer qu'ils assortissent vos propres cheveux aussi parfaitement comme possible.Un bon styliste peut aider avec ceci ;le pour de salon obtient les cheveux humains en gros des compagnies de spécialité dans une large gamme des longueurs, des couleurs et des modèles.Généralement ceux-ci sont faits à partir des cheveux recueillis en l'Inde et Chine, qui commence la vie droite et noire.Mais une variété de traitements tournent ces cheveux bouclée, légère, soyeuse, ou n'importe quelle variété d'attributs.

Pratique avec ces agrafes !L'ouverture et la fermeture des agrafes qui attachent votre nouvelle prolongation aux cheveux existants sur votre tête n'est pas toujours facile ;elle prend beaucoup de pression de faire, et tu pourrais même avoir besoin de deux mains.La pratique peut t'aider à obtenir le talent d'utiliser les agrafes avant que tu aies besoin d'elles.

Comment à la faire.Utiliser un peigne de queue -- un peigne avec les dents minces placées très étroitement ensemble -- pour diviser le dos de vos cheveux d'oreille à l'oreille.Penser à elle comme pièce, mais horizontal au lieu de la verticale.Une fois que tu as réalisé la présente partie, utiliser les agrafes de cheveux pour la tenir en place.Utiliser alors les agrafes mentionnées dans le dernier bout (tu as pratiqué, redresses ?)pour casser le votre agrafe-dans la prolongation de cheveux aux cheveux juste au-dessous de la pièce.Ce sera un peu douloureux -- vos cheveux tirera un peu -- mais c'est comment tu sais que cela fonctionne.

Après, étirer hors de la prolongation et vérifier des lacunes ou les morceaux.En lisser hors de que tu trouves.

Sortir les agrafes qui tenaient la pièce dedans.Puis, faire une nouvelle partie dans une autre pièce de votre cuir chevelu.Répéter le processus dans toutes les taches sur votre cuir chevelu que tu voudrais que les prolongements prennent la prise.S'assurer que les propres cheveux sont peignés au-dessus et dans de la prolongation ;tu veus qu'elle mélange dedans le puits.

Quand tu es fait, utiliser un miroir de main pour vérifier tous autour de votre tête.S'assurer que les différentes agrafes et trames ne sont pas évidentes.Avec la pratique, le processus deviendra plus rapide et plus efficace, avec des résultats de plus en plus plus attrayants.

Ne pas attendre Trop Long Pour suivre (La Nouvelle) Tendance

2008-11-10T00:14:00.000-08:00

Ne pas attendre Trop Long Pour suivre (La Nouvelle) Tendance

Dans le monde d'investissement là entre l'énonciation - "le marché est toujours exact".Une des significations de ceci est que tu ne dois pas avoir raison pour gagner beaucoup d'argent.Même si les principes fondamentaux du marché prévoiraient autrement, quand il y a un jet dans une certaine direction tu irais mieux de pair avec elle, ou tu ferais face à une résistance terrible.

Les changements des organismes traitent le même phénomène ;le marché - représenté à la majorité des employés - être contre le changement et ainsi eux résistera.Et tu devrais être heureux qu'ils.Si la majorité des personnes dans l'organisation commencent à courir à une extrémité (but) qui est peu claire que tu devrais t'inquiètes.Cependant, tu élan du besoin de dَ à un certain point à temps d'obtenir des choses roulant.Beaucoup doit faire au sujet de l'énergie d'équilibrage.

La plupart des personnes ne favorisent pas des changements.Et elles ont raison.Il peut être fatigant.Nous tous avons nos habitudes.Nous mangeons ce que nous aimons et nous n'essayons pas trop de nouvelles choses.D'abord de tous parce qu'il coûte l'heure de rechercher de nouvelles et exotiques recettes.Le nouveau traite sans respect, dans une certaine mesure, le vieux.Si tu dois inventer un nouveau dîner chaque nuit, vos compagnons à la table soulèveront la question si la nourriture d'hier n'était pas assez bonne.Il est normal de résister à un changement.

Cependant, il y a toujours quelques pionniers hors là de ce voient de nouvelles occasions.Par exemple une nouvelle technologie qui te permet de sauver le temps ou de te donner d'autres avantages, nouvelles méthodes qui accélère des choses ou d'autres dispositifs exotiques il est gentil avoir que.Mais, comment se fait il que ce petit groupe active le repos ?Et ce qui votre approche en tant que directeur de changement est, particulièrement dans le début du projet ?

Comme un directeur tu sont au milieu.En tant que toujours.Les pionniers devant nous présent de la vision qui est tout mais le bruit et l'espace libre.Par conséquent ce s'appelle une vision.Il n'est rien jusqu'à ce que tu l'aies atteint et l'égalises alors soit différent que ce qui pour être tu l'avais pensé.Afin d'activer ainsi des personnes votre travail en tant que directeur doit s'assurer que les pionniers ne sont pas démotivés et que la résistance est diminuée en même temps.Il est votre travail de lier les deux parties.

La meilleure manière dont de faire doit dire deux histoires :

1. ` si tu vais trop rapide le repos ne te rattraperas jamais et nous desserrerons tout '(présenter ceci aux pionniers)

. le ` 2 si tu suis toujours le marché tu ne gagnera jamais.Parfois tu dois prendre juste que peu supplémentaire de risque '(ce message est conforme mieux au reste du groupe)

ہ la fin du projet de ` de changement 'la situation est renversée et il est votre travail de stabiliser la situation.Mais la plupart des changements échouent parce que la résistance dans le commencement absorbe trop du budget.

Encore comme avec des investissements, il y a les gens qui sentent le commencement d'une nouvelle tendance, un-dehors--trois de cela qu'ils sont bientôt - ainsi une peu de résistance à aller de pair avec eux est chaque fois bien.Cependant, s'ils ont raison - et une bonne histoire de ventes pourrait t'informer - alors tu devrais améliorer pas l'attente trop longue pour les joindre.Tu pourrais finir vers le haut avec rien.

How You Measure Yourself Is How You Motivate Yourself

2008-11-07T02:38:00.000-08:00

One of the keys to strong positive mental attitude is what you compare your personal performance to. Do you compare your sales results to the top producer in your industry? Do you compare your basketball playing ability to Michael Jordan? Do you compare your last presentation to a speech delivered by Ronald Reagan or JFK?

Or do you compare your results today, to those you had yesterday?

By comparing yourself to others you risk feeling like you're a failure, which could cause you to avoid working towards your goal. When you are comparing yourself to yourself, you create momentum behind your actions towards your goal because you feel great as you realize the progress you are making.

Sports, sales, and the media teach us to compare our success against that of others, living or dead. Consistently successful people however place their primary focus on their own progress, using the achievements of others as inspiration for what is possible.

Where To Call For Free Advertising And Free Business Advice

2008-11-07T02:35:00.000-08:00

Believe it or not, there are plenty of opportunities out there for you to get your written materials free of charge, for free advertising space, and free business advice.

Press releases can be another excellent source of free space. A well-written press release on an interesting subject will attract the editor's interest. The editor may even follow up with a phone call for more details. The result can be anything from a paragraph to a feature article. All this comes for the price of mailing the release. Keep in mind that you want to target the publication that write about the kinds of things you are doing.

For free advertising space, many publications will write an article about you or your product if you purchase advertising space with them. One way publications sell advertising space is to agree that if the advertiser purchases the ad, he will also receive a certain amount of free editorial space. This free editorial space essentially doubles the amount of space you get for a given amount of money. This editorial space is devoted to an article about the company or individual or product, and it has the added cachet of seeming to be work of an outside source. The editorial company be written by the publication staff, or the advertiser may provide the copy.

Advertainment is Sneaking Into Music, Movies, TV and More

2008-11-07T02:33:00.000-08:00

The very name "advertainment" sends thrilling vibrations up the spine of anyone with marketing in their blood or communication in their genes. And it produces a strong shiver of disgust from many of my colleagues in the music industry.

"I don't want my songs to be involved in advertising," they say, forgetting entirely that by wearing branded running shoes, a t-shirt hawking Fender guitars and a baseball cap emblazoned with the Peavey logo, their very lives are involved in advertising. Plus, if they attend an awards show, they happily state the brand and designer names of everything they're wearing.

Turn on any rap, urban or hip hop station and you can start counting the product mentions in the lyrics, some paid-for, some just happenstance. In the electronic-pop field, I have done it myself. On my "Electro Bop" album are songs such as "Paranormal Radio" (which begins as a documentary about American Technology Corporation's HyperSonic Sound system), "Sheena Sez" (about talk radio host Sheena Metal), and "Check the Tech" (about the joys of watching the TechTV channel).

Has this advertainment hurt acceptance of the album? Not that I've noticed. Many e-mails from around the world cite "Paranormal Radio" as their favorite track. Not one person has complained about the ad messages, I assume because the audience for my dance-oriented music is pleased to receive information about technology and a far-out rock-talk jock such as Ms. Metal.

They further ignore the fact that radio itself is a form of advertainment. What gets played has little to do with musical accomplishment or artistic merit, but is directly related to the backing of large corporate distributors. I have been told to budget anywhere from a quarter of a million dollars to $350,000 in promotional costs to obtain national radio play on (the appropriately-named) commercial radio stations. Is it any wonder that corporations are seeking ways to build a little brand awareness into the songs?

Ads and entertainment go hand-in-wallet in many other ways, some pretty strange. In music alone, we have all wondered about Bob Dylan's "Love Sick" in Victoria's Secret commercials (not to mention Mr. D himself smirking between shots of the lovely bodies wearing the lingerie). But don't overlook Keith Richards in the "Cover Girl" ad while "Honky Tonk Women" plays, or Willie Nelson's "Red Headed Stranger" in the Herbal Essence spot, or Iggy Pop's liquor/drug/sex-soaked "Lust for Life" blasting throughout the Royal Caribbean commercials. (Love to work with the Account Executive who was able to sell that concept!) By contrast, Sting crooning from the back seat of a Jaguar seems a very model of demographic compatibility.

One problem is choosing your media. Just listing advertising outlets can be daunting: TV, radio, outdoor, newspapers, magazines, transit, direct mail, Internet banner. Many of these have subsets: paid inserts (advertorial) in newspapers and magazines, sponsored "newsbreaks" and infomercials on broadcast media, static or animated announcements at stadia, those dreaded 'Net pop-ups, brand names on sports uniforms and equipment (can you say NASCAR?), etc.

One of the most enjoyable categories for producers of both music and advertising is viral 'Net marketing, which has had some notable success stories such as BMW Films, the Seinfeld AmEx campaign, and of course, Burger King's Subservient Chicken.

We haven't even considered cooperative advertising, which can be anything from myriad logos at the bottom of an event poster to the branded music tones and flashing-light Intel trademark that ends every other commercial for someone else's computer products.

And that's the point: ads and public relations are routinely dismissed as silly, annoying, intrusive or a waste of time right up to the moment when they are delivering facts the reader or listener wants. Then, suddenly, the sponsored message is viewed as helpful and instructive. Therefore, the trick is to achieve the right match between audience and message.

But it extends further. Consider: Magazines that sell cover stories; product placement in movies and TV (and yes, live theater); branded clothing; bumper stickers; even fliers stuck on parked cars. There are ad messages on private automobiles (and those anti-humanistic trucks that some insist are called SUVs). Pull up behind a vehicle in traffic and you can read an ad for the car dealership on the license plate frame, plus another piece of public relations for the state on the plate itself. (Come on, you don't think it's hype to put "Land of enchantment" on every vehicle licensed in the state of New Mexico?)

This means there are a lot of people working on new ways to get the product benefits into the brains of the consumers. I do it with humorous radio scripts and subliminally seductive music, but there are going to be some innovations in our industry, and at the risk of appearing foolish, I'm going to make a few predictions. Within the next few years, we'll see:

* Debit card scanners in TV sets, so you can order during a commercial with the flick of your remote.

* Barcodes in songs, so you can download from iTunes by swiping your XM or Sirius player with your Visa or MasterCard.

* Credit cards built into wristwatches, so your "plastic money" is always close at hand.

* Links to product sites in every scene of DVD movies or computer games. Do you want the shoes in the Tony Hawk Pro Skater game? Click-click-click and they're on their way to you via FedEx (note product placement for the big competitor to United Parcel Service).

* Broadcasts of infotainment and advertainment will pop up everywhere: in public restrooms, at the Starbucks, at traffic signals, at the gas pump, on your mailbox, in the packages you purchase, in the parcels that arrive at your door, etc.

* Captive broadcasts. Just as you can preview the music on packaged CDs (available in EU now, but coming soon to the USA), the product benefits, price points and warranty information will play as soon as you lift up a product in the store.

* Digitized logo placement in the rebroadcasts of syndicated TV shows ("Hey, we can sell the product placement another three times!")

* Branded ingredient lists on menus.

* Corporate artwork that takes you on a virtual tour of the company.

* Interactive ads, where you get to play Jerry Seinfeld and/or Superman (or the driver of the BMW) in a five-minute escape from reality (and from reality TV).

* Holographic projections of commercials from postage stamps, car and house keys, magazine covers and ad pages, etc.

And these are just the changes we'll be seeing in the next few years. We're not even discussing the opportunities for advertainment once we move beyond traditional broadcast methodology; when microchips are embedded under your skin, YOU will be the receiver for TV, radio, satellite, telephone, and global positioning system signals. And at that point, the possibilities for marketing communication via advertainment are going to become truly mind-boggling.

You might think that this plethora of options makes it easier for firms to get their messages across to their targeted demographics, but a good case can be made for the opposite view. TV audiences are turning to Tivo and pay-per-view. Radio audiences are discovering XM and Sirius Satellite Radio. Newspaper readership is becoming an oxymoron. Motion picture audiences can be heard groaning, mocking or booing the pre-feature commercials.

Are these prospects exciting, frightening, or both? My view is positive. After all, a lot of these new forms of communication are going to need my scripts and my music.

American, literature

2008-10-30T11:18:00.000-07:00

1 Presentation

American, literature, literature of English language of the United States.

2
Colonial period and prérévolutionnaire

The first American anglophone literature produced by the emigrants confronted with discovered New World is a double of the English literature;it is also, from the Protestant of the first colonists, puritan and Messianic culture, and in that the genuine leaven of a properly American culture.The first writings are thus testimonys and accounts like History of Plymouth Plantation (published in 1856), of William Bradford (1590-1657), passenger of Mayflower and first governor of the colony of Plymouth.The pastors Knitting machine Mather (Magnalia Christi Americana, 1702) and Jonathan Edwards are representative of the puritanism;their works and sermons are marked until obsession by the safeguard of the hearts mislaid in a world had a presentiment of like savage and occupied by the forces of the evil.More close to the "border", the American pioneers left a number of accounts of Indian wars and colonists captured by the Indians, like A Brief History of the Pequot War (published in 1736), of the English colonist John Mason, and the autobiographical account Narrative of Captivity ("Account of captivity", 1682) of Mary Rowlandson.

At the xviiie century, the literature secularizes and considers the aspects of the everyday life.Physicist and statesman, writer of the declaration of Independence, Benjamin Franklin belong to the world of the letters by his journalistic activity, his almanac, Poor Richard' S Almanack (1732-1757), Petri of maxims morals where were going to draw generations of Americans so much, and by its Autobiography (1794), remarkable by the justification of utilitarianism.First autobiographical account of a black author, The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Gustavus Vassa, the African (1789, London) was allotted to Olaudah Equiano, a slave who bought his freedom, settled in England and took an active share with the anti-slavery movement.

3
The war of Independence and the revolutionary period

Between the accession with the throne of the king George III, in 1760, and creation in 1789 of an American federal government, statesmen, journalists and historians mobilized themselves in their writings, as testify some the writings to Thomas Jefferson, Washington Irving, and Benjamin Franklin.Several literary personalities appeared thus in the tumult of the war of Independence, such Thomas Paine and the poet Philip Morin Freneau (1752-1832), whose celebrates it British Boat-prison (1781) was worth to him the title of "poet of the American revolution", whereas the House of the night (1779) belongs to the Gothic romanticism.After the American revolution, under the government of president George Washington, a group of young poets, John Trumbull (1750-1831), Joel Barlow (1754-1812) and David Humphreys (1752-1818), emerged from Hartford (Connecticut), and made known themselves under the name of "Hartford Wits", expression resulting from their collaboration in Anarchiad, published in full constitutional debate, in 1786-1787.This time saw the genesis of the American novel with the modern Knighthood (1792-1815), vast table of manners made up of picaresques adventures of Hugh Henry Brackenridge (1748-1916), or with the accounts interfering Gothic terror and pseudo-science Charles Brockden Brown (1771-1810) who refused any didactism and which announces Edgar Allan Poe and Nathaniel Hawthorne.
3.1
The beginning of the XIXe century

A literary task awaited the young nation:to be the proof of its cultural maturity.Certain authors thought that to a radical political change was to correspond a radically new literature;others remained close to the European literature.In New York, the main thing not of meeting of the innovators, worked the first three great creators of an indigenous literature:Washington Irving, William Cullen Bryant (1794-1878) and James Fenimore Cooper.First American writer of international reputation, Washington Irving symbolizes the passage of the moderate rationalism of the xviiie century to the romanticism of xixe;its famous stories of RIP Van Winkle and Ichabod Cranium, drawn from the Book of drafts (1819-1820), form part of American mythology today.Writer as a head of the New York Evening Post of 1829 to 1878, in the columns of which it defended the theses abolitionists, William Cullen Bryant is regarded today as the father of American poetry;translator of Homère, he is the author of poems impressed of his faith deist, and a great quietude.James Fenimore Cooper made himself universally famous for his Frontier Novels ("novels of the border") so much so that the critic called it the "Walter Scott American"."the Low-of-Leather" cycle (Pioneers, 1823;the Last of Mohicans, 1826;the Meadow, 1827;the Guide, 1840;the deer Killer, 1841) constitutes less one épopée of the conquest of America, whose hero, Natty Bumppo, prototype of the American pioneer, express all the ambivalence, which the elegy of a nature and an irremediably destroyed primitive culture.

Gathered around the Harvard college, the poets of Cambridge represented the attachment of the American letters to the European traditions;most famous of them, the poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, translated the Divine Comedy admirably.

The majority of works of the American Blacks of first half of the xixe century reflect the horror and the immorality of slavery in the United States, and refute the romantic vision of the life in the plantations before the American Civil War which present of many white writers of the South Among the most outstanding works appear the autobiography of the large abolitionist Frederick Douglass and The Condition, Elevation, Emigration, and Destiny of the Colored People of the United States (1852) of Martin Robinson Delany.The historian, novelist and playwright William Wells Brown, former slave freed in 1834, were the author of the first novel of an American Black, Clotel, but, The President' S Daughter ("Clotel or the girl of the President", 1853);its topic, the marriage interracial, is representative of the cultural dilemma of the Afro-Americans, torn between their African heritage and the search for roots in the United States.

Certain writers of the xixe century sought radical solutions with the problem of the American cultural identity.Founder of the transcendantalism, Ralph Waldo Emerson was not satisfied to reject a distinguished cosmopolitanism, but defended a vivifying philosophy of the idealistic individualism, which is not without echo with the German thought of the time and the English romanticism.Bound to the transcendantalism and friend of Emerson, Henry David Thoreau exposed his designs of the life, freed from the law of the profit and the political regulations in Walden, or the Life in wood (1854) and Of the civil disobedience (1849), which inspired in particular Gandhi.Hawthorne, as for him, tackled intolerance and fanaticism puritans in the scarlet Letter (1850) and developed to with it, as in the remainder of its work, a romantic and emotional vision of the world, where the good and the evil are inextricably dependent.At the time when Emerson established the metaphysics of success, Herman Melville told in a book headlight, Moby Dick (1851), the impassioned search of the eager man of transcendence and incompetent to believe, and delivered one of the bitterest meditations on the failure of literary creation.

Indifferent to the life and the history of the South from where it was originating, Edgar Allan Poe built through his work an imaginary, dark and paranoiac universe, characterized by a logic relentless and an omnipresent anguish.Its extraordinary Stories founded the American police literature with in particular "Double Assassination in the street Morgue" (1841) and "the stolen Letter" (1844).The opposite of Poe with many regards, Walt Whitman was a long time emblème of American poetry;in its main work grass Sheets (1855-1892), it developed a positive and mystical, exciting style nature.Remained a long time ignored of its contemporaries, the work intensely personal of Emily Dickinson, centered on ego, nature and death, are located between the American romantic tradition and the tradition calvinist of New England.

3.2
The American American Civil War and end of the XIXe century

Not without humour, Abraham Lincoln spoke about the author of Uncle Tom's cabin (1852), Harriet Beecher-Stowe, like "small woman who caused this large war".More than one literary philosopher's stone, this novel was especially the expression of the deep free trade feeling of Nordistes.After the American Civil War, the American literature became flourishing, in particular thanks to the democratization of the reading and teaching.James Russell Lowell (1819-1891), in the prestigious one and influential literary review Atlantic Monthly, founded in 1857, defended the American popular folklore.In the South, George Washington Cable (1844-1925) establishes the creole topic in the literature (Old Creole Days, 1879), Joel Chandler Harris (1848-1908) superbly transcribed the folklore and the dialect blacks in his tales (Uncle Remus, His Songs and His Sayings, 1880), while Kate O' Flaherty Chopin (1851-1904), born in Louisiana, described the creole world and cajun in his accounts (Bayou Folk, 1894;In Night in Acady, 1897).

At its beginnings, the humorous literature tended to adapt qualities of the dialect Yankee, as testify to it The Biglow Papers (1848-1867) to James Russell Lowell (1819-1891).From this tradition one of literary strong personalities emerged the, Samuel Langhorne Clemens, more known under the name of Mark Twain, whose Adventures of Tom Sawyer (1876) and Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (1884), exceeding the satirical vein, are two tables of the life on the Mississippi edges.

Friend and mentor of Twain Mark, the novelist and critical William Dean Howells (1837-1920) presented in Criticism and Fiction (1891) the idea that the literature must reflect the facts of the human and contemporary life.Around him gathered realistic and naturalists, in particular the novelists and short story writers Hamlin Garland (Roads Hand-Travelled, 1890), Stephen Crane (1871-1900) with the Conquest of courage (1895) and Frank Norris (1870-1902) with the Octopus (1901), like this singular genius, journalist and satirical author, Ambrose Gwinett Bierce author of In the Midst of Life ("In the medium of the life", 1898 or of the Dictionary of the devil (1906).Their successors in the first years of the xxe century were Upton Sinclair, dark moralist with the luxuriant style (the Jungle, 1906) and Jack London, author of a true "human Comedy" of poor America to the turning of the century (the iron Heel, 1907;Martin Eden, 1909), and of novels of adventure (the Call of the forest, 1903).London directed the naturalism towards the social revolt, fascinating made and causes for the workers and peasants against the capacity growing of the businesses and corruption in California of the industrial era.Novelist and journalist, Theodore Dreiser passed from the naturalism to religious mysticism, but its novel an American tragedy (1925) remains, with McTeague (1899) of Frank Norris (1870-1902), one of most representative of the novel American naturalist.

Far from the concerns of realistic and naturalists, Henry James composed of subtle and penetrating analyses of the human relations in novels (the American, 1877;Ambassadors, 1903;the gold Cut, 1904), having for topic the conflict enters the European and American values.He was also a Master of the fantastic news (the Turn of nut, 1898) or psychological, and influenced romancières like Edith Wharton (the Age of innocence, 1920), Ellen Glasgow (1873-1945), Pulitzer price in 1941 with In This Our Life (1941) and Willa Cather.The work of the brother of Henry James, the philosopher and psychological William James (1842-1910), had a deep repercussion on the literary expression in the United States like abroad;pragmatism, its philosophical doctrines, became current major American thought.With the turning of the century, black writers:Frank J Webband, The Garies and Their Friends (1875);Sutton Griggs, Imperium in Imperio (1899);Charles Waddell Chestnutt, The Entreats Woman (1899), let burst their anger in works oscillating between the call to the combat and the plea for acceptance.A little later, the journalist and writer William Edward Burghart Of Wood (1868-1963) founded the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.
4
The XXe Century
To post this section with the printable format

With the revolution of the communications and the new means of transport which brought the xxe century, prevalent regionalism in the literature of the xixe century grew blurred, except in the work of some writers of the South.At the same time, the American authors started to exert a strong influence on the world literature and undertook, in the dramatic art, poetry and the fiction, of the radical literary experiments.
4.1
Fiction of the years 1920

The reaction counters the romanticism of the xixe century, which started to be felt at the dawn of the century, was galvanized by the brutal experiment of the First World War, and the insupportable reality of the war had a durable impact on American imagination.Currency of monkey (1926) of William Faulkner, the sun also rises (1926) and the Good-bye to the weapons (1929) of Hemingway describe the war, savage and wretched.The decade which followed the First World War is often called in the United States "Jazz Age", or "Roaring Twenties" ("whirring them the Twenties").The explosion of the afro-American culture with the jazz, prohibition, the rejection of the puritanism caused in the American company of rapids changes which affected the literature deeply.The powerful work of Sherwood Anderson had a great influence, in particular Winesburg, Ohio (1919), together of news of a penetrating psychology. F.Scott Fitzgerald was made the satirical observer of the high society (the Back of the paradise, 1920;Splendid Gatsby, 1925), the critical sour ones of the "American dream", the thirst for money and being able.Sinclair Lewis, first American novelist to receive the Nobel Prize (1930), also made the satire of mentality racketeer and parvenu (Hand Street, 1920;Dodsworth, 1929).

Gertrude Stein, woman of letters American installed in Paris, baptized lost generation a group of young uprooted Americans who flowed to Europe between the two wars.This group included/understood Anderson, Fitzgerald and Thornton Wilder author of the Bridge of king Saint Louis (1927).This group is also resulting one the from American great writers of this century, Ernest Hemingway.After his novels of war incarnant of the cynical and disillusioned survivors, Hemingway published books of news, of which Hommes without women (1927).Another remarkable designer, Henry Miller wrote his first series of autobiographical books:Tropic of Cancer (1934) and Tropic of Capricorn (1939) in Paris.It shocked America right-thinking person by her description raw - but major and sincere - human relations and sex.
4.2
Rebirth of Harlem

Between 1920 and 1930, a great explosion of creative activity (often called "Harlem Rebirth" because its center was the district from Harlem, in New York) emanated from the American black community and extended to all the fields from the artistic life.American black intellectuals, and among them Countee Cullen (1903-1946), Langston Hughes (1902-1967), started to openly assert their inheritance and their African roots.Although originating in the South, the romancière Zora Neale Hurston (1903-1960) was a great figure of this black culture new-yorkaise.
4.3
Years of the Depression

Putting a term at the glare and excesses of the Jazz Age, the stock exchange crash of 1929 opened the "decade of anger".The novel was then made neonaturalist, reflection of the social revolts and the rigours of the Great Depression.The romancières Zora Neale Hurston (Their Eyes Were Watching God, "a black woman", 1937) and Arna Bontemps (black Thunder, 1936) approached with realism of the social questions.Romantic production of John Steinbeck (Of the mice and the men, 1937;the Grapes of anger, 1939) is a militant work impressed of social claim.In the same way, Erskine Caldwell described the misery of the peasants of the South (the Small Arpent of Good God, 1933).The class struggle is in the heart of two monumental trilogies, Studs Lonigan (1932-1935) of James Thomas Farrell (1904-1979), and U.S.A.(1930-1936) of John Backs Passos, also impregnated of bitterness and rage.The police literature of the years 1930, born from urban alienation and Prohibition, also offered a pessimistic vision of the American company;it acquired its letters of nobility with authors like Dashiell Hammett and Raymond Chandler.

The plentiful and monumental work of William Faulkner, Nobel Prize of literature in 1949, often explores the hell of the great déchues families of the South (the Noise and the Fury, 1929;Sanctuary, 1931;Absalon!Absalon!,1936). Its vertiginous style locates made and events in the time and the order of the conscience, rather than in objective reality.

4.4
The Second World war

During and after the Second World war, the fiction was divided between realistic and naturalists on the one hand, and, on the other hand, those which resorted to black humour and the absurdity to describe the absolute horror of the war.Among the most remarkable novels on the Second World war appear As much as there will be men (1951) of James Jones (1921-1977), and the Naked ones and Deaths (1948), of Norman Mailer.A great individualism emerged from the novels of war, this tendency continued in the two decades which followed.Vladimir Nabokov, born in Russia, became in the United States one of the largest Masters of the prose of English language.Its novels located in America, like Lolita (1955) and pale Fire (1962), constitute remarkable examples of tragi-comedy.The novel of Jerome David Salinger on a rebellious adolescence, the Catch-hearts (1951), shown one observation at the same time full with humour and a terrifying precision, just as Wrestling 22 (1961), of Joseph Heller (1923-1999), study without concession of the authority and the satire of military mentality.Another innovative writer very appreciated for his black humour, Kurt Vonnegut, Jr. based his novel Abattoir 5 (1969) on his experiment in a German prison camp during the war.Its account on several levels combined with brilliance realism and science fiction, kind which flowers in the decades according to war, inspiring by many authors, among whom Isaac Asimov, Ray Bradbury, Alfred Elton Van Vogt (1912-2000), Theodore Sturgeon (1918-1985).Another writer of the absurdity, the Californian Thomas Pynchon (1937-) wrote saga novels with the machiavelic and delirious intrigues, like V (1963) and the Rainbow of gravity (1973).Among the writers of the South who continued the tradition of Faulkner, sometimes called "Gothic Southerners", let us quote Carson McCullers author of famous the heart is a solitary hunter (1946), Truman Capote author in particular haunted Fields (1947), Eudora Welty (1909-2001) and Flannery O' Connor with And they are the violent ones who carry it (1960).One of most prolific of them, Joyce Carol Oates painted the female condition in Gothic novels (Country of the wonders, 1971).

Two of the principal novelists of the East coast, John Cheever (Wapshot Chronicle, 1957) and John Updike, share the same concerns and the same approach in their disillusioned meditations, grain or satirists on the life of the upper middle classes in the suburbs of New England.
4.5
"ethnique" literature

The "ethnic minorities" which are asserted like such in the United States, in particular Amérindiens, Noirs, Jews, and more recently Hispaniques, expressed in their works their preoccupation of their cultural inheritance and a their role in the American company.

Examining their life of immigrants in urban America of the xxe century, sometimes with despair, sometimes with humour, several Jewish writers produced remarkable novels of introspection.The head of file of the school of the American Jewish novelists is Saul Bellow (Nobel Prize 1976), who camped with humour and compassion of the characters confronted with the inadequacy which exists between their aspirations and reality (the Adventures of Augie March, 1953;Herzog, 1964).Isaac Bashevis Singer (Nobel Prize 1978) was one of the last writers to make revive in his novels the culture ashkénaze quasi disappeared in the holocaust from the Second World war (Shosha, 1978).Also let us retain Bernard Malamud, author of the Clerk (1957) and several collections of obsessing news;and Philip Roth who stuck, in a very personal style, to describe perplexities of a Jewish intellectual of the East coast (Portnoy and its complex, 1959)

With for background the transition between the Depression and the intervention from the United States in the war, the black writers treated, from a personal point of view, the eternal problem of the racial prejudices.A child of the country (1940) and the fictionalized autobiography Black Servant boy (1945), of Richard Wright, are moving reports, written in an austere and realistic way.James Baldwin was indignant at the situation of the Afro-Americans in his novel the Elected officials of the Lord (1953), and in tests as Nobody knows my name (1961).Alice Walker, poetess and romancière, made themselves famous with the Color crimson (1982), which obtained the Pulitzer price before being transposed to the cinema;it uses there, in a style close to Faulkner, the dialect of the Blacks of the rural South.Other romancières of talent expressed themselves from their specific point of view black women;thus Toni Morrison, in the most blue Eye (1969) and the Song of Solomon (1977), depicts the black experiment of the South His novel Beloved (1987), terrible report on slavery and turn of stylistic force, accepted the Pulitzer price in 1988.The Nobel Prize 1993 crowned its work.

As for Amérindiens, if they are the original inhabitants of the American continent, they started only towards the middle of the century to produce an anglophone literature, whose originality lies in the promptness of the oral traditions which cross it, and the denunciation of a bloody colonial history.These people however count already great talents, like Navarro Scott Momaday, writer kiowa, who accepted the Pulitzer price in 1969 for his novel the made House of paddle.
4.6
The poetry of the XXe century

An extraordinary rebirth of poetry was expressed in the imagism, movement launched by the poets Amy Lowell (1874-1925) and Ezra Pound.The imagists undertook to revolutionize the poetic style, but two other tendencies were more success:a group of poets of Illinois, among which Vachel Lindsay (1879-1931), and Carl Sandburg as well as a group of writers of New England, of which the very popular Robert Frost.

The publication of the vain Earth (1922), of the Anglo-American poet T S. Eliot, marked a turning in American poetry.The esoteric tendencies of Ezra Pound in the form of versification, the language and symbolism still continued in its Cantos (1925-1960).Eliot and Pound had an immense influence on the evolution of the poetry of the xxe century, as well as the work of William Carlos Williams, whose forty volumes of prose and poems inspired by the generations of poets.Complexes experiments in worms were carried out by Wallace Stevens in the Man to the blue guitar (1937) and Marianne Moore (1887-1972), while Hart Cranium (1899-1932) developed a style epic in the Bridge (1930).The very inventive work of E.E.Cummings was, beyond his typographical plays and of his coloured language, a hymn to liberty and with nonconformism.The poets protestors of the beat generation used a more direct language and nearer to the oral examination.Very different by its tone is the line of the oral tradition of the Blacks of the South, as Maya Angelou (Just Give has Me Cool Drink of Water ` drills I Die, 1971).Poetries of faintness and the anguish, works of Robert Lowell (1917-1977), Lord Weary' S Castle (1946), of Sylvia Plath (Ariel, 1965) and Anne Sexton (1928-1974) are often founded on the images of personal fractures, or serious mental crises.
4.7
Company and literature at the XXe century

Many problems and events as well social as historical of the xxe century had in America of the considerable effects on the literature, and led a number of writers to question itself, in a realistic tradition, through the fiction like the studies, on the contemporary world.After brilliant studies and political analyses published during the years 1930, terrifying it report/ratio of the novelist John Hersey on Hiroshima (1946) described the effects of the first atomic bomb.Truman Capote invented the documentary novel "non-fiction novel", with coolness (1966), painful report of the murder of a family of Kansas.The movements of claim of the civic rights caused in years 1950 and 1960 of works drawn from the experiment of the American Blacks.Among them, the playwright and poet Amiri Luck (- pseudonym of Everett LeRoi Jones - and the nationalist leader black Malcolm X, who wrote his influential Autobiography of Malcolm X (1965) with Alex Haley (1921-1992).This last was made known later with Racines (1976), fictionalized account of the history of its family since her origins in Africa until our days.The war of Viêt Nam was the subject of an abundant literature, often extremely critical;My Lai 4 (1970) of Seymour Mr. Hersh tells the Vietnamese massacre civil by the American troops in 1968.In the feminist tradition born from the years 1960, Betty Friedan wondered about the reasons for which the women did not achieve the goals that showed the possibility for to them the first efforts in favour of the women's rights (The Feminine Mystique, 1963).

How to set up a training program with monthly payments

2008-10-24T10:43:00.000-07:00

Negative income is the goal of all producers. This can easily be done through the establishment of a barrage of training programs to justify the monthly payments. Here's how you can create such products on the basis of information:

1. Know your potential customers. You can easily design and development of effective programs for special training if you know your target market very well. In addition to determining the behavior and online purchasing power, you must also know their needs and demands, and they are dying to know things. I strongly recommend you contact these people through your web site or through your blog to see what kind of information they need, do not forget to make the list you can use the manual.

2. Develop a plan for monthly training programs. What information did not need to be included in the first month of your program? What information does not need to understand? How to help customers increase the level of skills or how to enable them to do things themselves? What is the language you need to use? How can we ensure that it is easy for you to get your message? How to make your training programs attractive, interesting, and commitment? How can we ensure that customers will be the completion of most workers in your program? You need a plan of action that can guide you through the process of creation. In doing so, you can make sure that your information will be targeted products to meet the needs and requirements of customers.

3. To focus on specific themes each month training programs for you. To make your organization's programs and very easy to understand, make sure the commitment to an issue of the monthly program. For example, if you were talking about how to make money on the Internet, you can discuss the creation of Web sites your first month and senior economic officials to question two months. With this, you can easily be able to get your message without confusing your customers.

4. Ensure the quality of training programs for you. If you want your customers to continue monthly programs, you must make sure that you will give them, but with something better. Make sure your product very useful and relevant new issues or the needs of customers.

Does the synthetic collagen really work?

2008-10-23T01:49:00.000-07:00

The term collagen synthesis may not be new to you. There are many products you can find the synthesis of collagen term included in the label. It comes with a note saying that you just need to apply the product on your skin and you can immediately find your wrinkles vanish. To tell you the truth, these statements are difficult and nothing works to be beautiful as they say that collagen has a higher molecular weight and because of their greater size, it is not possible for them to get absorbed directly on the skin.

Collagen is a protein naturally formed in the skin and increase the amount during your young age, but as you mature - the level begins to decline. It follows signs of aging as wrinkles, dryness and others, and if the appeal to the synthesis of collagen in the land between the two. There are several products on the shelves, which makes it difficult to choose one. But you should check the ingredients that are used to manufacture the product for best results.

If they are all natural, including some as Phytessence Wakame, Cynergy TK and Coenzyme Q10, you can put in your shopping cart as they are just the ones you should be looking for. Cynergy TK is regarded as the second skin of your face because it can raise the levels of collagen production. Thus, it results in radiant, brilliant, supple and smooth skin. Therefore, just look out for products containing these ingredients instead of Fame and the floating words.

Synthesis of collagen are used for topical administration, and hence the associated risks are minimal compared to others. They are not collagen injections or pills that are simply put on or be swallowed. With regular use of collagen products containing natural ingredients to boost their business, you're sure to see visible results more quickly.

Zimbabwe's ruling party accuses Tsvangirai of blocking negotiations

2008-10-23T00:36:00.000-07:00

Morgan Tsvangirai

Ocean: Ocean: Party accused the ruling African National Union in Zimbabwe's Robert Mugabe, opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai to block power-sharing agreement after he refused to attend an emergency summit in Swaziland to save the agreement, with senior UN official expressed confidence to reach agreement in talks between the The two sides.

A meeting on Monday called for by the Group of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), which groups 15 countries to try to end the deadlock in talks on forming a joint government until 27 October after Tsvangirai refused to attend until a new passport to him.

Patrick Chinamasa said the ruling party's chief negotiator for the government Herald newspaper, "Tsvangirai failed to go to Swaziland seems to us that reflects the opposition or reluctance to put the final touches and the conclusion of talks on forming an inclusive government."

For his part, said Haile Menkerios Assistant Secretary-General of the United Nations for political affairs: "I am fully confident that agreement will be reached between the two sides because they know very well that there is no way out but to sit around the table of dialogue and to reach agreement."

The Menkerios, who will take part in the meeting of Swaziland: "The travel ban measures do not help in finding solutions, and on Mugabe and Tesfangerai work together to overcome the current impasse."

A dispute between Mugabe and Tsvangirai on the allocation of key ministerial positions and failed to direct talks between them in the weeks-long deadlock over the formation of a government negotiations, raising fears that the power-sharing agreement that was signed a month ago could collapse and make the plunge Zimbabwe's economy is in crisis.

Tsvangirai, who got barred from obtaining a new passport since his passport was full of old papers months before the emergency travel document allowing him to travel to Swaziland only but refused to use.

Will hold a group meeting of the Southern African Development in Harare.

Tsvangirai accused the ruling party led by Mugabe, who lost the parliamentary elections held last March of trying to control the most important ministries and pushing ahead with democratic change to play a smaller partner in a new government.

The talks are seen as a government to resolve the critical economic crisis in Zimbabwe. Inflation stood at 231 million percent in a country suffering from a severe shortage of food, fuel and currency.

Gates: Guantanamo will close its doors before the end of Bush's term

2008-10-23T00:34:00.000-07:00

One of the detainees in Guantanamo

Ocean: U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates that Guantanamo will close before the end of the mandate of President George W. Bush in January but the next president and Alkojgers to move quickly to shut down.

He described Gates, who called for since he took the Defense Ministry late in 2006 to close the controversial prison and place in the American naval base of Guantanamo in Cuba as "a real burden on the United States."

Gates said at the Pentagon: "The Bush administration has concluded that the legislation requires the closure of Guantanamo, but there is little chance for approval in the political climate is overheated because of the presidential election and mid-term elections on the fourth of November."

A prison and judicial system to deal with detainees by the widespread condemnation from human rights groups and governments around the world, including close allies of the United States say it did not meet international legal standards.

Asked if the prison was closed before the end of Bush's term in January 20 next January, Gates replied, "No, unfortunately," he said, adding: "That would require legislation, for example, to ensure that none of the detainees in Guantanamo the right to immigrate to the U.S. Nations. "

The latest setback for the Guantanamo trials, official Pentagon dropped all charges against one to five prisoners a right of abode in Britain, says he confessed under torture planning to make a "dirty bomb".

There are about 225 detainees suspected of membership of al Qaeda and the Taliban and other groups linked to them in Guantanamo, which the number of inmates at some 600 detainees.

Chinese official cut his visit to Taiwan after being attacked

2008-10-23T00:31:00.000-07:00

China and Taiwan agree to resume dialogue

Ocean: breaking the Chinese official to visit Taiwan, saying he felt "pain and dizziness" after militants attacked anti-China and was wrestled to the ground.

The news agency "Reuters" that the television footage showed protesters attacked Zhang Mingying Vice-Chairman of the Chinese Association for Relations across the Taiwan Strait in the city of Tainan on Tuesday and left him a prolonged on the ground next to his glasses.

On Monday drew about 200 protesters shouted abusive words demanding Gang return to China when they reached the podium to deliver a speech at the University of Tanian national literature.

China has claimed sovereignty over Taiwan since the end of the Chinese civil war in 1949 and vowed to subject the island to its even by force.

Zhang told reporters as he pack his luggage before boarding a plane to China, "why leave early .. where I was hurt and I feel dizzy in my head."

The improved ties between China and Taiwan since President Ma Ying-jeou power in Taiwan in May and is expected to visit Chen Yunlin Chinese chief negotiator in the island later this year for formal talks.

McCain extort votes waved American nuclear war

2008-10-23T00:29:00.000-07:00

on the Republican candidate to the presidential elections, John McCain, the danger of nuclear war by referring to the experience of the small Democratic rival Barack Obama, 25 years younger.

According to Radio "Sawa" McCain American 72-year-old touched in a speech at an election rally in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania in the eastern part of the United States, the missile crisis in Cuba in 1962, recalling that he directly participated as a pilot in the Navy .

He was sitting in the cockpit on the tarmac to the aircraft carrier "Yu. S. S Enterprise" off the Cuban coast, and was put before him specific targets.

He directed his words to the audience was listening to it, you know to what extent close to engage in nuclear war. America will not have the President needs to experience in this area, and that the right person that he had this experience, as he put it.

And increased the Republican camp in recent days of criticism addressed to Barack Obama the favorite in opinion polls, the criticism focused on the experience of small Obama, the Democratic candidate at the age of 47 years.

The McCain said: "The American people do not want the world to pay the president and placed before the exam at the time of the crisis facing our economy, locked in time when the U.S. wars in Iraq and Afghanistan."

McCain supported the comments that Democratic candidate for vice president Joe Biden who said that Obama will certainly face an international crisis in the first six months of his presidency.

The Biden said Sunday that the world does not need six months to put Barack Obama to the test as it did with John Kennedy, who was president during the Soviet missile crisis in Cuba, which brought the world to the brink of nuclear war.

Build Good Credit Rating

2008-10-22T14:51:00.000-07:00

What does your credit news item look like and what can you do to elevate it?

You build a credit rank when you borrow silver and recompense it funnel. A credit chain is a detailed report containing information about how you operation credit and when you form payments. It besides includes both current and past information on where you live and work. Credit files are maintained by credit bureaus, which build a record of your credit history based on information inclined to them by creditors undifferentiated being banks and credit card companies.

You ' ve ultimate heard people talk about a credit rating, which is a numerical score that creditors use to assess your credit worthiness. It is calculated each season someone - a lender or a quiescent hotelier - requests it.

The formula used to calculate your rating cede use the information string your credit row. The scoring systems pass out you points for each demonstration of responsible credit use. Your credit rating is the sum of these points.

If you have never had a loan or a credit card, up landlords will have little or no information to review in your credit rank. Although an friendless file is not as bad as a poor credit file, an empty file tells prospective landlords nothing about any potential pecuniary risks of renting to you. That ' s why establishing a good credit tier is crucial.

Perform sure to make loan and balance payments and minimum credit card payments on time. These timely payments consign hold office reflected in your credit file and will roll out that you can use credit responsibly. Seeing a repercussion, your credit rating will be profitable each time it ' s calculated. Consistently missing payments, or making slow payments, bequeath lower your rating.

Your credit rating will change over span, based on how you adoption your money and credit. It may take months or years of demonstrating good credit to fix shatter caused by poor credit allowance in the foregone.

Because errors and omissions on credit reports complete occur, it is a good idea to check your file from time to time. Anyone can request a copy of their credit file from the credit bureaus via mail or fax. Telephone requests are not available, as a credit bureau needs to verify your identification. Forms that you can print and therefore mail or fax are available on each credit bureau Web site.

If you find an omission or disclose that constructive credit information is missing, action all the credit bureaus and has it corrected to ensure your credit fairy tale is accurately represented to creditors and lenders. You are going to desideratum evidence, so factor like mad to provide statements or receipts. Each bureau sends its policy for reporting an error with the copy of your credit file. Each gimmick is at variance, so reproduce certain to review it once you have unruffled your reality of chips.

A credit bureau will only useful false information power your order. Proved payment information cannot steward changed or adverse. If you missed a payment by act, it will personify reported through missed on your file and cannot appear as antithetic. In this situation, you have the right to have a comment included with your file explaining why you missed the silver. This comment may or may not imitate considered the next span someone requests your order and generates a score.

Contend what is in your credit file and get errors corrected before you permit to ice its freight with anybody.

Kids and Credit Cards - It Can Work

2008-10-22T14:50:00.000-07:00

When you think of the thought of your daughter having credit cards, it may petrify you more than anything else. You visualize about entire the stores of kids getting cards and getting racket deep debt and think that last information you need is to have to helve your youngster out of debt while and dealing with your own financial sentience.

This may be yea the reason you should consider getting your child a credit card now.

Credit cards are not bad. It ' s how people call them. Unfortunately, many people don ' t have any training on how to properly use credit cards and nib up charging and charging until they have gotten themselves into a nature of debt.

Due to a parent, you can stop this from happening to your infant.

Many parents don ' t let their child get their first credit card until they are action to college. That cause the teen is learning how to use a credit card on their let on. This is a recipe for trials. Instead, it would steward better if you were to get them a credit card pace they are calm at native and imbue them how to way it responsibly, and exemplify hold water there to make sure they are.

Many people are starting even younger with kids and credit cards, as young as 10 oldness old. In these cases, they are starting their successors with pre - paid credit cards. Instead of giving the kids moolah allowances, they give them a pre - paid credit card that is horny weekly with the child ' s allowance.

Then good that card to teach the youngster responsible use of the card so they never try to offensive more than they have on the card.

When this type of message is started at a recent ripe, children get interestedness the build of using credit cards responsibly.

As your child gets older you can move them into real credit cards, with low apprehension. A credit card with a balance of $200 or less could let them understand how to charge, keep within their judgment and learn how to mold sure they have enough to fee the balance at the nib of the month.

It is important that you hold strong if your infant screws up. Most kids bequeath dash off at least isolated mistake of charging likewise than they make back dominion a month. Don ' t arm them out. Tell your child they will lose out on whatever they had up on sophistication until they can achieve enough to fee down their debt and stick to it. Nearest a coalesce of tough lessons, they will drink in how to keep their wage balanced. This is a lore that will help them outer for years to pop in.

Best Credit Card For Travelers

2008-10-22T14:47:00.000-07:00

Credit cards are essential for every traveler. You can usefulness it to tenacity your gas and utilities, you can necessity it to finance your hotel and accommodations, and you can even way this card to book your flights.

If you are construction to get a credit card for the purposes of traveling, you should not shake hands for dispassionate any character of card. Rather, you should get a credit card that lets you earn a unambiguous percentage of what you spend. You use to get travel trophies credit cards. Travel rewards credit cards will contract you earn " gift points " which can impersonate exchanged for multitudinous incentives. Such is the perfect way to save some money while you frequently travel.

Reward points earned through riding rewards credit cards can correspond to used for a wide variety of purposes. They can be used for plane tickets, car rentals, hotel and resort accommodations, gas expenses, and more. Some of the best credit cards for travelers are in that follows:

The Capital Single No Hassle Miles

This card comes with an approximate APR of 13. 9 %. It has no annual fees and it lets the cardholder do 1 % from unbroken the purchases they make using the card. Other than that, this card provides a 25 % bonus on the laurels earned for every pace. If you opt for the miles shift, you can further earn 1. 25 miles for every dollar that you spend using your card. If you spend it on bookstores, boutiques, gift shops, and video rental stores, you can parallel earn two miles. What ' s highly remarkable about the Capital Unaccompanied credit card is the fact that it doesn ' t charge visible currency conversion fees.

The Glimpse Open Road

This offers a veritable low APR of 10. 99 % fixed. The Discover navigation reward card allows you to bring about 5 % from outright your expenses for gas and auto - maintenance services. It also provides 1 % sugar back on your other expenses. As consistent, this card suits persons who are frequently scheduled to petulant - country approach trips.

The Citi Premiere Pass

With this globetrotting credit card, your APR commit unparalleled amount to 13. 24 %. Just like variant travel cards, you leave further earn a reward term every time you spend a dollar, and another end for every three miles traveled by flight. Also, users of this card consign corral $1, 500 owing to travel insurance for flights booked nailed down the advantage of this card. Citi will also reimburse the non - refundable sector of your flight expenses every turn you reschedule or cancel your trip. This is perfect for wonder - disposed travelers.

Low Interest Rate Credit Cards - How to Take Advantage of Low Interest Credit Cards

2008-10-22T14:46:00.000-07:00

Low Interest Rate Credit Cards - How to Take Advantage of Low Interest Credit Cards

Single material is for sure the less the moolah costs you to borrow the better. One does not have to study much to understand this. Later faultless I am sure you work hard and in classification to get the very much from the bill you make ergo you need to adjust careful financial decisions.

Low interest rate credit cards look after many benefits, the obvious onliest been the low interest rate itself. Sustain generally speaking these offers come with a fixed interest rate moderately than a variable rate.

This way you sense exactly direction you slant in terms of how strikingly interest you will remuneration when using that credit card. A low interest credit card besides gives you the ability to transfer balances from higher rate cards helping you to pay less on the debt.

When choosing this cast of offer, make sure that there are no upfront fees or review fees. Also read the bewitching print carefully, if you are unsure of existence ask the credit card occupation what it means before fascinating them up on the offer.

Because you will hold office paying less interest you leave be in a routine to trade in money but do not loose viewing of the truth that you are still leverage debt and this debt is costing silver and to some degree restricts your financial freedom.

Due to the fact that the interest rate will reproduce particular, take advantage of working apparent what you will need to do in order to eradicate the debt completely. Make sure also to budget your money, having a fixed rate card will besides utility you do this.

In conclusion, understand that overall over notoriety debt is not good and your main impartial should always stand for to get peripheral of debt.

Is the Credit Crunch Affecting Your Golfing?

2008-10-22T14:45:00.000-07:00

Most assuredly, the credit crunch has quiz every industry and is set to rub visible the weakest by the point of the stint. Nation are getting panic stricken and pulling them selves back from there everyday activities or hobbies, one example of this is golf.

You plain no longer hunger to visit the golf course being of the increases network prices on fuel, which you adoption to get you to the raw, plus not to mention the else fees to prone landing the round. You are prevalent already struggling with paying the bills and having trouble shaping your finances, but what you did not want was for the economy to halt you from playing one game that you really enjoyed.

If you cannot store to pament for your golfing fees, for you are passable perception a bit depressed from the thought that your game is going to be affected until this whole thing blows over.

Well in all honesty this should not appear as the case; if you have the determination to sharpened your game, then it does not have to be done on the golf venture. You have a lot of choices, unparalleled being that if you have a back garden you can use this time of onus to master your game. You can for free take to the benefits of improving your concentration and target. You should spend this time practising until you can contribute to visit the golf course further, in concept concentrate on your playing posture ergo that you can skillful your puts and drives.

Every fog has a quarters lining and this can be said for golf, if you carefully take a seat and re evaluate your mental state, thus you will show up to notice that there is a vast sector of spell. On the whole you do not need to waste your chicamin on hiring an expensive golfing tutor, to teach you what you can basically inform yourself. Instead of investing capital access your pastime, you should constitute occasion connections yourself.

The credit crunch has for many persons land them into a galaxy of jungle, nation are getting so shocked and spooked that they fail to sit down and look at contrastive opportunities that they can benefit from. This is not rightful relating to golf but if you look at bite yellow situation from a single perspective, then you will surely equate emphatic to find a positive solution and outcome.

Using Secured Credit Cards to Expedite Credit Repair

2008-10-22T14:44:00.001-07:00

Credit repair services are blaze throughout the dominion - filled with ideas, tips and techniques about how the consumer can recreate their credit, and execute bad credit history. Although, by oneself of the infinitely powerful apparatus that can personify used in credit repair is character the hands of the consumer.

Obtaining a secured credit card allows the consumer to invest positive credit fantasy. A secured credit card requires a deposit which will steward deposited into a credence at the rudiment of the account. After a specific period of lifetime such thanks to when the credit rating of the consumer improves, or when the account is closed and unsecured credit is opened this amount is given to the consumer or pragmatic to the debt. This have which is given to the company is often similitude to, or less than the credit limit desired upon the card. Throughout the time in which the deposit is chargeable, it benefits the consumer by gaining interest and benefits the credit card company as it acts seeing dream for the credit livelihood.

Secured credit cards have many benefits, such over being reported to elder credit bureaus on a reminder origination, so that credit repair can begin immediately, within a month of signing up for the card! This is only one of the reasons that a credit card is beneficial. Secured credit cards ring in with complete of the conveniences enjoyed with accustomed credit cards. As spread out in that monthly payments are maintained, they can exaggeration credit ratings substantially.

Credit repair is constitutive to anyone who has had bad credit in the ended. Credit is essential to attain financing on a wont, a home and many other purchases that produce life easier. Isn ' t it time that you signed up for a secured credit card and took the road to better credit?

How Free Advertising Help Startup Companies

2008-10-22T12:51:00.001-07:00

Advertising is very costly for businesses. Large companies spend millions of dollars in advertising to ensure that the public will patronize and use their products. However, for small and start up businesses, advertising may not apply to them because surely, they do not have millions of dollars to spend like large companies do.

This notion is incorrect. Small business, even established business take advantage of free advertising. Now, what is free advertising and how can a product or service take advantage of free advertising?

Before we move on, let us define what advertising is.

Advertising is a form of announcement that excites the public towards a certain product or service. It is a continuous process of calling the attention of the public about the features and benefits of a product or service. Large companies endeavor to pay television airtime, pages of a broadsheet or install billboards in buildings.

By advertising their products, they are sure that the public knows about their products and what the products can do for the public. This translates to more sales for them.

Now, let us move on to free advertising, what is this and how can free advertising help startup companies?

Free advertising works the same way, it will need to induce the public to patronize and use the product they are advertising. However it does not need to cost you money. You will need to spend time in creating your sales letter and incorporate a visual in it but you will surely getaway with spending many dollars.

What are the different forms of free advertising?

Word of mouth advertising. If you have a friend who use your product, and he is happy with it. You can ask him to tell his friends about the product and his experience with the products.

Email advertising. This is about sending emails to potential clients telling them about the existence of your product. However, because of the fear for spam, you should avoid sending unsolicited emails. You will therefore need to build your own list; you can do this by offering freebies or free trial and asking them if they would want to receive further information about the product you are advertising.

Create a website. Your website is your online store and your online advertisement as well. Ensure that you will be able to lead customers into your website and tell them about your products. You may likewise offer free trial of the products as a form of promotion.

Blog advertising. Blogs work like your website; you do not need to pay anyone to update your blog. If you know your product by heart, you may post continuous articles in your blog and invite them to use and try your product.

There are many other forms of internet advertising and most of them come free. The only cost is your time.

The internet is a huge marketplace; ensure that you can get a piece of this profitable way of marketing your products and take advantage of free advertisement that goes with continuous presence in the World Wide Web.

Internet Marketing...The Magic of Voice Broadcasting

2008-10-22T12:50:00.001-07:00

Voice broadcasting is broadcasting a marketing message to phones from an automated calling list. Using voice broadcasting in a marketing campaign is like cashing in on the natural desire for one person to connect with another. The human voice is the most recognizable sound to any ear, and voice broadcasting makes good use of this fact. Voice broadcasting magic comes when the voice is practiced, and the message polished.

Being polished and practiced doesn't mean you need to hire a professional announcer or voice celebrity to produce your voice broadcast, but it does mean you need to layout and plan your voice broadcast campaign. Along with a good message, presentation is important to the voice broadcast campaign. Virtually any voice will do, but like acting, getting a spot on performance takes practice.

Everyone has heard a voice broadcast at some point. Politicians use voice broadcast to get the vote out, schools use them to get school closing information out and you can use them to increase lead generation and pump up sales. But can you remember a voice broadcast that prompted you to action?

Chances are the voice broadcast coming to your mind met a few important criteria. First, the message was something you had an interest in. Second, the message caught your interest quickly. Finally, listening to it was not like listening to fingernails grated across a blackboard. Addressing the first two hurdles comes with targeting your audience and writing good copy, both lengthy topics in their own right. The last item, the listening appeal of the voice broadcast, is something I can give you a few tips on in this article.

The character in a voice broadcast comes from; you guessed it, the voice. Picture it like this. You go to a theater, lay your money down and watch the movie. Wouldn't you feel a little bit taken if the actors stumbled across their lines, missed deliveries and generally botched the story up. Almost everybody would notice and the movie would flop. That's why actors rehearse. When they get in front of the camera they know their stuff cold. From rehearsing the basics they put their craft in play and create movie magic. That's kind of how you need to think about a voice broadcast. You need to rehearse the lines to get the magic to happen.

I like to read sales books by a guy named Zig Ziglar. In his book "Secrets of Closing the Sale" he has an entire section about voice training. Ziglar is a very successful entrepreneur so I take what he says pretty seriously. His message on voice training works in all aspects of sales, and voice broadcasting is no different.

His biggest suggestion and I agree, is to record yourself as you read your voice broadcast copy. Recording is the best way to get a feel for how you're doing. Listen to your voice broadcast recording and notice voice inflections. Like grammar, inflection carries a lot of meaning in the spoken word. Also pay attention to the tenor in the voice broadcast. When you play it back does it sound the way you want it to? Compare your recording to a voice broadcast you consider successful and think about how it stacks up.

Putting together a good voice broadcast is not rocket science, but it does require planning and preparation. Part of that preparation is rehearsing the script. If you take the time to listen to the message in the broadcast and critique it, then you'll be well on your way to getting a quality voice broadcast delivered to your audience.

Logo Merchandise Gets Your Brand Noticed

2008-10-22T12:49:00.001-07:00

Many companies have found tremendous value in offering logo merchandise to customers and employees. If you are interested in promotional products, make sure you choose a reputable company who can do a great job at putting your brand on the right merchandise.

Advertising is incredibly important to promote a business. If no one knows about your company, you will never make the impact you need for your business to succeed. Many business owners struggle to find the perfect avenues to promote their business. Not every business can afford to advertise on television or on the radio, nor will mass media always reach the market you want to attract.

Good advertisements should encourage your customer to buy your product. An effective marketing plan should outline ways of advertising your company or build your customer base and the budget you want to stick to. Many owners find promotional products a cost-effective way to advertise their business.

You can take objects, such as clothes, bags, pen and other objects and transform them into very special branded merchandise. You can place a logo on these items and hand them out to your clients, which is a form of advertising.

There are many promotional products that you could use for any business but make sure these products are good quality. There's nothing worse for people than to use a pen one day and have it dry up ten minutes later. Make sure you choose a reputable firm which sells quality products and can help you find ones that will help you promote your business.

What is equally important is choosing a logo to represent your company. When a client sees your logo, they should be immediately reminded of your company and the products you provide. Logo merchandise is one way to advertise your business and ensure your masses recall your products or services.

If you decide to get branded merchandise, find a company with a lot of experience in this process. Don't try and print your logo yourself or hire an amateur. You want your merchandise to look as professional as possible.

One of the hottest new giveaways is computer memory sticks or USB flash drives as a way to promote a brand. Most people need memory sticks and they are fantastic useful products to have your business name on.

Every time someone needs to save a document, they will see your logo and company name on it. In addition, you can put your logo on promotional CD cleaners, mouse pads, cases and other computer accessories.

Another hot product line is anything that is green or eco friendly. Those individuals passionate about saving the environment will take more notice of eco friendly products. Many eco friendly products are made from recycled, eco friendly plastic or anything that is biodegradable or made with organic materials. They are a great way to show everyone that your company is cares for the environment.

Many companies will give you great custom promotional products at great prices and low quantities. Logo merchandise can be a great way to get your name in front of your audience. Make sure you find a reputable company with a lot of experience in creating and planning logo branded merchandise.

Making Money Online Methods and Strategies

2008-10-22T12:47:00.002-07:00

Who couldn't use a little extra income to help them get through the month? If you could make money online with a few hours of work it could really boost your budget and help offset the rising costs of gas and food and the ever present mortgage payments.
There are many ways to make money online but I'd like to just focus on three of them right now.

1.Blogging: While blogs are not a new phenomenon, it is quite new that people are starting to use them to make money online. You get a chance to share your opinion or your expertise in the topic of your choice and make money. How does this work? The easiest way is to sign up with the Google AdSense program. They will give you a piece of HTML code that you can insert into your blog (hire a tech guy to help you with this if you don't think you can handle the installation process). That code will display ads on your blog that directly relate to what you are blogging about. This means your visitors are getting targeted ads which means they will click on them more. The more they click on those ads, the more money you'll make.

2.Create Your Own Information Product: You'd be amazed at how information that have and think is useless, is actually really valuable to thousands of people online. Maybe you have a home remedy for acne. Maybe your mother has the meanest brownie recipe any one's ever seen. All of these pieces of information can be constructed into an ebook. Once your ebook is written and ready be sure to upload it to Clickbank so affiliates will promote it for you!

3.Retail-E-Commerce: Many people are making great livings online selling wholesale products for retail prices on sites like eBay. The trick here will be to find a legitimate supplier whose prices are low enough for you to turn a profit.

The other trick to making e-commerce work is to make sure you're in the right market. You need to make sure you're in a market that has enough buyers to support the kind of income you want to create with you online business. Just because you are interested in a highly specialized niche topic, doesn't mean anyone else is. That's why you need to check out who are already ebay's best sellers and consider tapping into those markets which are already proven to be profitable.

Free Online Classified Ads Can Help Your Business

2008-10-22T12:47:00.001-07:00

Online classified advertising is a fast growing and popular way to post ads and look for items and services. There is a large variety of ways that this can help your business find employees, products for your business and more. Free online ads can save your business money as well.

Because it is so easy and convenient to search online, many people are now looking for jobs this way. This is great for businesses, because it means you can post your open positions online. Not only is this convenient for business owners and managers, but it is beneficial in other ways as well.

For instance, posting jobs in free online classifieds means that there is an opportunity for many more people to see your ad than if you posted in a regular publication. Free classifieds can obviously save your business money because you won't have to pay the high fees that come with having an ad in a publication.

Business owners can also take advantage of free online ads by searching them for things that you may need for your business. New and used office furniture and technology is just one example of something you can easily find in classifieds and it is much easier to search for them online than in other places.

If your business is in need of services such as painters, plumbers, handymen, etc. you can look online and find them in free online classifieds. Computer repair and other services that are important to businesses can also be found in online classifieds. An added benefit is that you can search in your area for local services and products.

If your business is looking for an office space to start out in or to move to, online classified ads can be very helpful. Just search through the online ads in your area and you can look for an office space for free. This is also a great way to sell or rent your current space.

Depending on the type of business you own, you can also advertise your own products and services. Many online classified ads have products and services separated into categories. All you have to do is place your advert, for free, in the classified section that best matches your business category. This makes it very easy for potential clients and customers to find what you have to offer.

Money and time are so important to businesses. Why not save some of both and look into online classified ads for your business needs?

Get rid of bankruptcy and Repossession of your credit report

2008-10-22T11:09:00.000-07:00

Posted blatantly bankruptcy and repossession can force your credit score several hundred points. A bankruptcy remains on your credit report for 10 years and repossession can be said for a maximum of seven years. To get rid of these dirty items in your credit report, you'll need to check that these statements are no longer valid. A request for bankruptcy and repossession appear in your credit report, even after they are settled because, although the creditors have wiped off your debts, the credit bureau has always these documents with them.

You can challenge the declaration of bankruptcy and arrange for a comprehensive settlement of your loan in the event of repossession. To obtain one of these bad credit alerts removed from your credit report or cost you a lot of money or time consuming. You can arrange disputes will be handled by a lawyer to pay high fees or you can do it yourself by following some effective measures.

First, set up a folder containing your driver's license, social security card and Annex F (calendar for the debts of your bankruptcy petition). Make three copies, one for each major credit bureau.

Proceed to the resolution of litigation contacting offices by mail. Although all three offices to provide dispute resolution online and by phone, it is best to get everything in writing, hence the recommendation to opt for electronic writing. Send a copy to the right place, including an application describing how each creditor listed as active in your credit report is included in your petition and therefore should be removed from your credit report.

Quick and easy credit tips to increase your FICO score

2008-10-22T11:05:00.000-07:00

Credit Tip # 1: Credit card debt

Where should your monthly credit card debt être? Let's say your credit card bills are 80% of the total limits you. At a minimum, try to get below 50%. If you can afford less than 30%, if you can find the means below 10%, and ideally completely pay if your financial situation permits.

Reduce your debt ratio can make a huge difference to your FICO score and save you tens to hundreds of thousands of dollars over your financial life.

Credit Tip 2: Keep your Active

Be sure to use your credit cards at least every 6 months. If you do not use a credit card, the card becomes inactive with credit bureaus. Inactive accounts do not reduce your debt and you also lose the history of this credit card that will also reduce your credit score.

You want to use credit cards to keep reports as an active account even if you do not need them least. You use the card to buy gas or a lunch and pay the balance if you wish. Make sure you use every 6 months to evaluation reports and credit remains active.

Credit Tip # 3: Do not close your credit card

Never close credit cards. It is one of the worst things you can do to your credit score. By closing a credit card account, you increase your debt and reduce the average age of your credit file. You want to make sure that your 15 years of credit card if sees the 16th, 17th and so on birthdays.

Credit Tip # 4: Request credit limit increases

You want to ask for increases in credit limit every 6 months as long as you're not going to apply for a loan or a major purchase in the next month, unless your credit score is above 730. You do not want to ask for increases if you're about to score you need to get very ready, because 9 out of 10 times when you ask the increased credit limit, a creditor will draw a investigation that you usually dings 5 points or less.
But when you are building or rebuilding your credit, get credit limit increases to reduce your debt by increasing your available credit. This will increase your FICO score.

Choosing the right credit repair kit is essential to your success

2008-10-22T11:02:00.000-07:00

If you have ever had to face being turned down for a loan on a major purchase like a car or house loan, you know how angry and embarrassed, it may make you feel. The party that many bugs most people is that they are applying for these loans because they need a new car or mortgage now and not later. After the feelings of anger diminish the first thing to do is look into buying a good credit repair kit to get your scores up so that you can get the loan you need.

A credit repair kit is available online from a number of sources. Most are entitled to instruct your computer while others arrive by mail. There really is no difference between the other two then how are delivered. However, there is a big difference between the credit rating of many repair kits and the differences can be enormous, as the price. Most packages of about $ 5 to $ 25 are nothing more then a few simple tips for you to follow.

Simple tips are good if you have an idea of what you do, first, but on what the person has no idea how to fix their credit themselves? For these people, a credit repair kit is required which includes a dispute credit plan to follow with sample letters that you'll need to send the three credit agencies. These kits are priced under $ 100.

The right kit credit can help you on the road to success, but poor repair kit can actually harm the chances of your own credit report to make sure you buy the right package for your situation.

Report credit repair yourself - questions you should ask before starting

2008-10-22T10:59:00.001-07:00

So you have bad credit, has been rejected for another loan and decided its time to try a credit repair yourself. Well, it is possible to do so successfully if you follow the right system and tools at your disposal. Before starting your car repair project of credit you have to ask you some questions and answer honestly.

How do you increase your score: This is critical because increase your score 25 points to qualify for a car loan will not be as intensely than attempting to lift 200 points to get a home loan. Basically, the higher your score needs to increase the hardest, you'll need to work.

How long do you need to do this: If you desperately need better credit then you have to ask much more difficult then if your return is not against the wall. Knowing how much you'll have to work before you start you will not even yourself set up with false hopes.

How long can you invest in: This is probably the most important because if you desperately need a higher score then you will have to sacrifice your time. This may mean your children little league or bowling night. In preparation for the sacrifice is very important when you credit report repair yourself.

Can you invest a little money you: By investing a little money in a good credit auto repair course, you're on the right foot. A good kit will include a step-by-step plan and tools you can implement to accelerate the process.

The 5 must know credit tips for students

2008-10-22T10:44:00.000-07:00

Build and maintain a good credit rating is more important today than ever. If we are aware or not, so many parts of our financial lives revolve around our credit ratings. But do not be afraid - to comply with these five must know credit for students advice and you should have no problems at all.

1. Start a credit history

The best way to start your credit history is on the right foot to keep it natural and realistic. Go ahead and open savings and checking accounts - you'll need them. Then try to start with a student credit card. Use it only for purchases that you want to do and then anyway repay in full and on time each month with funds from your checking account. Your credit will gradually begin to grow while doing transactions every day.

2. Stick to a credit card

If you use your credit card only planned to make purchases and pay it each month, chances are, having one is all you'll need. Of course, limits starting quite low, but are at the height you make purchases and pay bills on time. Know that having more than one credit card as a student has a history of statistically lead to disorders of credit.

3. Live on a budget

This is probably one of the largest credit counseling for students it is. Write down all your monthly expenses at the beginning of each month in the order that you must pay first. Use your income to pay for items based on priority and be sure not to spend money at all outside these categories until all fees are paid first. In fact, all written in helping to strengthen your understanding of your own financial situation and not help prevent impulse buying often snowball and lead to credit problems later.

4. The financial liability account

Yes, you have to make that payment by credit card on time! The payment of bills is not as fun to spend money first, but your credit will be severely damaged for many years to come if the bills are paid late or not at all. It is always better to pay a week early over a second behind. Equally important than paying the bill on time-keeping is well within the limits of your credit card limit.

5. Check your credit report often

Just because you are a student and probably only just started your credit history recently does not mean you're not a target for identity thieves. See your financial situation from all points of view is essential to building a lifetime of good credit. Everyone has the right to verify copies of their credit report free each year. Try to check one of the main offices of three credits (Experian, Equifax and Trans Union) once every four months to ensure there was no funny business happening at your expense.

Credit damaged severely hinder any of buying a house later in life for the amount you'll pay for car insurance. Credit affects virtually everything these days, if control of your credit score actually benefit from these credit counseling for students instead of letting your credit control you!

Top 3 things to improve your credit score

2008-10-22T10:41:00.000-07:00

1. Payment History of your history of making payments on time helps to increase your credit score the most. Typically, the last 12 months of payment history is much more important than any other story before the last 12 months. In addition, it is more important to maintain mortgage payments on time than a credit card or energy bill.

2. The amounts due - This is the total balance of all accounts renewable on all credit limits that are reporting. Revolving accounts are credit cards and personal lines of credit that you can call at any time and is an unsecured loan. A mortgage is a loan secured on your property and you may not use the rest of the money you paid over time.

Example: You can say you have 3 credit cards. Each of the three cards has a balance of $ 500, which gives you a total balance of $ 1,500 for three. Now, the limits of the three credit cards is $ 1500, so that the total of all your limit is $ 4500. Take the total balance of $ 500 on all limits, $ 4500, and your percentage of use is 33%. It is said that you should not exceed 30% otherwise your score will begin to decline because the credit bureaus will be something that you are paying more than you can handle.

Another thing to keep in mind. You can say transferred a $ 500 card balances to another card and closed. You still have a total of $ 1,500, but your total limit is $ 3000, since you have two cards now. Take the $ 1500 $ 3000 + and your percentage is now 50%! There is nothing wrong with the transfer of a high interest rate balance at a lower rate card, but does not close the map where you transferred the money. Keep the card open, put it somewhere where you can not use. If the credit card company gives you a hard time not to use the account after a certain period of time, then little something fresh once in a while and keep the balance low, if not $ 0.

3. Length of Credit History - This is quite explicit. The more you have any credit history the better, especially on a couple of credit cards. Open a new account just to take the 0% interest for a short period of time and then closing it will take a lot from "the length of credit history." To help offset this, you want to keep at least 2 credit cards open for a long period of time. 2 years is a good story to have. The office will not even grade a new account if it does not have at least 6 months of payment history. For those who are new to credit, as a student, it is best to start at least one account and maintain balance and low payment history on time. By the time a year or two passes, he or she has built a history worthy of credit, even with a single account.

These are the kinds of things to keep in mind when you try to rebuild your credit to refinance a mortgage or buy a new house. If you're looking to refinance out of adjustable rate or just trying to get a better interest rate, take the time to these boards and get the credit scores as high as possible. This way you will save more money each month, with less interest over the life of the loan.

Keeping An Eye On Your Personal Credit

2008-10-22T10:29:00.000-07:00

Your personal credit is as unique to you as your fingerprints and just as important. You definitely need to keep your eye on your credit because if you don't it could lead to huge problems later on. The reality of it is that establishing your own credit can be hard but it is like a right of passage.

The majority of people first get credit associated with a credit card. Realizing that there is a high rate of interest on that card should stop any unnecessary spending. However, it doesn't always happen that way when people now have a way to buy things they regularly can't afford.

The right way to establish your credit with this new credit card is to use it for a few purchases that you need such as gas. Make sure you pay off the balance in full each month. This is going to prevent you from paying high interest and it is going to show that you are responsible.

Too many consumers don't realize how difficult it is to get credit. I can tell you though that it is even harder to get it when you don't have a good track record of paying back what has already been extended to you. This places you into a worse situation in the eyes of the lender than if you have never had credit before.

An issue you really need to consider when it comes to personal credit though is being able to prepare for what is taking place in the future. Since you don't know what that will be you simply have to prepare for it. Don't have all of your disposable income tied up in paying for things because it isn't going to benefit you in the long run.

Even if you are careful with your personal credit, other people may not be. Spending habits of spouses get many people into trouble. Make sure these issues are discussed before you get married or you can be in for some personal credit issues. Identity theft is something to be concerned about as well.

Identity theft can result in a person struggling to prove they didn't make these charges. The process of clearing your name can take years. There are legal fees involved and tons of paperwork. People have lost their homes and their businesses due to identity theft as they just couldn't get past it. It can take several years for the accounts to be taken care of and in the mean time you can't access credit you really need.

It is important to know what a huge impact your personal credit has on you. There are adults that struggle to buy a car or to buy a home because of the negative marks on their credit reports. If they do get approved for loans they pay too much in interest. This creates more issues as this eats away at their disposable income that they could be saving for their future

Credit Repair You Can Do Yourself to Boost Your Credit Score

2008-10-22T10:24:00.000-07:00

There is no real easy way to do this other than to pay someone outrageous fees to do it for you. What you can do is to do it the exact same way the expensive companies do, but saving all of that money that, well quite honestly you can't afford or you wouldn't be in this mess.

Cleaning up your credit takes time, understanding and most importantly patience. In order to start taking the steps to clean things up, let's understand what makes up your credit report.

Quite simply, your credit report is a listing of all open forms of credit you have or have had over the past 7-10 years. This will include anything you have co-signed as well. That is something to really keep in mind. If you think co-signing helps put a friend, it may, but at a cost to your credit rating as it counts towards what you can ultimately be responsible for.

There are also three key credit reporting firms that can be researched when companies pull your credit. They are Equifax, Experian and TransUnion. They are three individual companies. This is important because they often have three different ratings, include different information from one to the other, and have to be negotiated with individually as well. Not all credit card companies report to all three agencies and not all companies request credit reports from all three agencies.

Your credit reporting listings will be comprised of some very important details. Such details as, when you opened your account, how much your total credit you have, how much is last reported that you owe, when and how often there have been delinquencies, what level of delinquency there was (30, 60, 90 days or more), and the current status of the account. All of these items factored together are what make up your credit score.

Since this is not the point of this article we will over simplify how your credit score is derived by example. If creditors have given you a high amount of credit it does help, especially if you are not currently utilizing a high percentage of the allowable credit line. If you have shown little or no delinquencies and if any they have been held to less than 30 days, this will keep your score high as well. Increasingly important these days is how long you have held accounts open and in good standing. An account that has been current for 3 or more years with a single 30 day delinquency will still be held more credible than an account less than a year with no delinquencies.

Now what to do is quite simple. Review each of your credit bureau reports. Cross off everything that is in good standing and is in no harm to your credit. Everything left at this point you are going to challenge.

The reason why you are to challenge everything is also quite simple. Each and every item that is challenged, the credit bureau has no choice but to forward the challenge to the respective company that provides or provided you credit. That company then has 30 days to respond. If they are unable to or simply fail to in the allotted time, the credit listing item is removed.

It is quite difficult to remove anything such as a bankruptcy or charge-off but you can sometime have comments added allowing all future viewers of your credit report to also see the comments. In most cases, you will simply be surprised as to what is inaccurate in your credit report or how easy it is to get many things removed.

Anything that does get responded to by the respective credit company is considered "verified" and will remain on your credit report. However, you don't have to give up there. You may and should send a second notice, but this time including any information or evidence you have that a payment was made on time, etc. This will start the process again but providing a bit more information for the credit company to have to "verify" and dispute.

The process does take time. The process does take patience. However, what you will have at the end is an accurate credit report, a more consistent report amongst all three credit bureaus, and a feeling of empowerment that you are in control or your credit.

The bearing current accounts: low pay and unfavorable taxation

2008-10-22T07:47:00.000-07:00

The bearing current accounts: low pay and unfavorable taxation.

Banks offer the current account paid since March 2005. Its operation is similar to other bank accounts and is subject to the same rules. We can associate this account checkbook, bank card and charges and for negative balances, charges will be paid to the holder of the current account paid.

The money placed in a current pay is guaranteed without loss, except bankruptcy of the bank. In this case, the legal guarantee deposits covers you up to 70,000 euros, all accounts combined. Attention, however, whether your account is open paid into a bank of which France is a branch money on this account will depend on the countries of the headquarters of the bank.

You can withdraw money from your current account paid when you want and using the means that will suit withdrawal cash, check or wire transfer. Filing silver are also free and easy to achieve. The only constraint is what the bank calls "value date". If you put the money in your account, it will only be available two to three days later.

The remuneration of a current account pay is quite low. In addition it is only few people in that the rate of between 0.5 and 1% requiring huge investments of money for interest interesting. These interests are also paid until a certain threshold set by the bank.

The interests of a current account paid are subject to income tax. You must specify in the statement of income and you will be taxed according to your traditional tax schedule. As against, if you opt for the flat withholding tax of 16% plus the 11% social security, the bank will charge 27% on the amount of interest before being credited to your account paid. These payroll taxes are payable in November each year after receiving a notice of special tax.

Finally, you can deduct any charges related to your current account paid

Memory - The past morbid daily

2008-10-22T07:42:00.000-07:00

This is the first station which is responsible for each sponsor TGV EST by a victim of the Holocaust carried by him once while police and gendarmerie are encouraged to rename its Commission of name of a victim of raids by them perpetrated.
This new form of justice countdown should not exclude either the courts or the employees of all kinds who have escaped while the town of Vichy will soon open a Shoahland in the same vein as dear to our Dysneyland President.
The army of course will not be left as each new commitment will also entrust the memory of a soldier killed during the Second World War.
And why be limited to the period 39-45? To catch this point of growth that we need to go further. Necessarily.
So for a liberalization of growth, cap on the liberalization of memory.
Taxis will have honored taxis of the Marne, solicitors, victims of torture, the courts remain open, those who come close ...
As the Japanese begin their day with gymnastics, we begin our daily by the memory. A habit to take and sometimes with tweezers because the impact can be consistent ...
Thus the World Health shudders a little psychological consequences on patients of their obligation to pay tribute to victims of medical errors.
Ditto in aviation. One can imagine the atmosphere in about an Airbus A380, before takeoff, hostesses and commanders invite contemplation for victims of last crash ...
Even apprehension among the dealers of cars now on the principle "a sold-a remembered" that every new car buyer is given the same registration a victim of the road with little description of causes of death, photos of state of the car .... is very well done.
The entertainment is not spared from this wave of nostalgia, each concert now brought before the surname of an artist disappeared and, in the preamble, the honor.
In sports sometimes delicate as this invitation to French players of Juventus of Turin to wear on their shoulders now the name of a dead bear at the Heysel. Not easy now to know who was!
The conundrum comes from the industry .... Funeral services which no longer knows what is holy vow: they deal with the dead they know already. Whatever an idea germinated on the side of the Elysee: respect for the Holocaust, all bodies will be placed in common graves, a proposal that would have the concurrence of the Minister of Environment even if it had just been mentioned in the last Grenelle.
And policies then? Meanwhile, reform proposals remain unclear ...
What to do with Laurent Fabius, Madam Dufoix and friends in 2000 with contaminated blood?
What Edouard Balladur with 39 deaths of the Mont Blanc tunnel?
asbestos victims? occupational cancer? the cloud of Chernobyl? Tobacco? ...
all these killers known politicians but deliberately underestimated or hidden?
Penalties floor anti-recidivism established by Rachida Dati bring many of them in great peril.
No reference to the memory at least for this profession is well known, is not San Antonio, it has none:
"A politician can not make a career without memory, because it must remember all the promises that he must forget." Frederic Dard

Defense - but where is past the French army?

2008-10-22T07:30:00.000-07:00

Between advertising purified high-tech recruitment and wanderings of the Company 7 in the moonlight, where the French army is professional today? Should it rely on modern image conveyed or is it fear that Pitivier & Co still have their place in many regiments?
With its almost 350 000 men, the French army does not laugh in number, that's for sure. It is in relation to population, proportionately more than the United States for example. The budget of some 50 billion euros it also positions us in the lead armies as GDP.
Later this job is not bad either the army playing a significant role for the integration of young people in particular, about 35,000 annually. And later Bizance heritage almost since the property from the period of conscription allows the Great Muette turning into real estate operator and generate substantial margins around its 130 barracks now unoccupied.
Of course this total mass émargent already a few surprises as the possession more than thirty air bases so much. Or count almost 5000 people in the central Ministry of Defense which allows the Minister certainly feel safe ... or propose armored 1300 when England works with 400 ...
But it is especially when talking about material that is growing concern. A doctrine strongly tinged with independence has enabled our country to build an industry leading position to help develop its own programs.
But the propeller of the aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle nuucléaire, the absolute complexity of the Rafale, the Leclerc tank delays or setbacks of our nuclear submarines, it is clear that our equipment is not up to our ambition. Moreover the market yet flourishing arms sales reminds us every day since neither the Rafale and the Leclerc never found takers abroad (except the tragi-comedy of the United Arab Emirates). Boring for programs as heavy financially, the Rafale would have cost 35 billion euros ...
It is as if the industry was now dear to Mr. Dassault, which dictated its law. Number of political left and right of longer hesitate to recognize that military expenditure has primarily intended to give work to the industry.
Why not.
Problem, the vision of the world outside these establishments is not it remained too focused on a Cold War concept of deterrence, like our military organization multiple times and disorderly?
Result, we can hardly provide a military presence beyond our borders more than 15 000 men today.
A useful reminder because so little audible at the time of war emerging in Iraq. Our political size to deny the conflict then it was not guided by our inability to hire us?
A disturbing reminder, if one considered here that the Cold War is over, that the Russian threat is limited but the terrorist threat very cumbersome and disparate.
The Army seems to have become a toy in the service of politics, one way to ensure a French presence around the world as the golden age of French influence.
But what about our ability to project? not clear if we add the fact that we do not have stealth aircraft ...
to protect the national territory? not necessarily an invasion, but terrorist acts on our energy for example ...
Brief beyond finance industries and allow our policies to shine, yet she knows combat and protect us?
Our new president seems to want to align our American cousins and fears Islam, during rhetoric in Congress, but also may soon no longer be spared of the terrorist threat as our non-alignment Chirac we helped.
It will then be ready and not just mean
"... I slid head!"

some articles

2008-10-22T05:37:00.000-07:00

Ms. landfill - a lesson in the Declaration

The agency affected by new trade storm

Change management versus your recruitment process - one of the success of

the Tricks of Advertising

2008-10-20T12:10:00.000-07:00

- Learn the power of a cool slogan: If Coke has had a lot of things in its long and ever-changing existence, slogans would definitely be top of that list. And they continue to generate a legion of easy-to-recall phrases that just keep consumers coming back for more. Some of them would include: "The pause that refreshes", "I'd like to buy the world a Coke", and "Coca-Cola ... makes good things taste better."

Visa Credit Card is the Best in the Market

2008-10-20T08:39:00.000-07:00

One of the most famous credit cards today is the Visa credit card. It was patronized by professionals and businessmen for its unique characteristics. It strengthens its high limit credit approval because of its good standards. It ensures that his client get the right amount of the credit limit that can soothe their needs. In addition, Visa also offers zero APR and low interest rates to ensure that the debt does not become a burden for the customer.

It establishes a payment plan which can allow the client to pay a price affordable and a minimum payment to pay each month on several issues of payment center in the region. There is no way you worry about paying late, because in very street you can find a payment center that will entertain you with the best possible service.

Visa has a reputation behalf of investment bankers to their most recent student visa credit card will certainly achieve this success. No student and parents may resist, because all elements that can bring benefits and advantages to his client was even better. The payment plan was designed on the basis of payment of the ability of a student making it really low and affordable for all. The issuer is not only after doing business because their objective in this student visa credit card has been to encourage and help each student to study hard to achieve their success. Whatever school you belong, fill the demand for each of you can be evaluated and may be given the chance to hold a card.

Credit Repair - Made Easy

2008-10-20T08:35:00.000-07:00

There are several forms of credit, but were a concern is this: the provision of money, goods, services or in the hope of future payment. Now Fico is the measure of your credit risk which translates into a numerical score between 300-900. All these information are compressed and a credit score is born which is a numerical rating that attempts to measure a borrower's creditworthiness.

The score indicates the borrower to pay general behavior summarizing how often the person pays the bills and obligations on time. Credit scores higher represent a statistically lower risk to a lender that a person with low scores. The lenders and creditors, therefore, are more likely to approve loans and offer them more favorable to people with the highest scores.

Credit assessments have been used by lenders and creditors as an objective means of determining whether to offer consumers credit cards, home loans and auto loans.

The assessments are based on the records of the credit reporting agency (Office). It is common for a score to individuals differ slightly from one office to another, scores are developed from credit information on file at each office, the information varies in May of the Bureau, the Bureau. The office can not make the data that was sent from the lenders, creditors and companies that report this data to them.

Credit scores are determined by several factors in weighing a person's credit report, including payment history, balances the number and types of credit accounts. Using a formula, the assessments can be more objective than humans, based on different criteria to create a measure.

Credit scores do not consider the borrower to race, sex, religion, age, income, marital status, or national origin, mathematical formulas have limitations. A person who has always paid cash for purchases low score due to a lack of credit history. Many lenders do not rely exclusively on credit scores and other factors to take into account the fact that May mitigate a bad credit score.

Most models of credit score is kept secret, the model providers sell their scores donors willing to pay. This makes it very difficult for consumers to understand how their actions can affect results. Now that we have all that on the track of why bother to repair your credit score anyway? Here are some reasons to consider repairing your credit:

1. Auto Insurance - Some states are banning the use of credit scores when calculating automobile insurance premiums, but still permit.
2. Loans - car, home and student
3. Employment - Some jobs in finance or brokerage, but not limited to these areas may be a factor in employment
4. Universal default - a law passed devious indicating a change in Fico or a late payment on one of your other cards can give a company that you had a good story with the right to increase your interest rate or online credit adjustments

You and I know the real score on credit scores and how some companies have got laws passed to use our credit notes against us because there are profits. Even knowing what we have to face the problem of credit repair order is a viable option.

It is a technique buried in the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), which is simple for anyone to make that a high percentage of success in removing negative data. The results were achieved in 30 to 45 days. Take a moment and click below for more information

Weathering the storm credit

2008-10-20T08:30:00.000-07:00

How are you with money? Have you always put your savings in the first place, or are they last on your priority list and seem never to have seen d '?

Whatever the type of person you are when it comes to money, there is no doubt that the current economic climate does not save money easier than it was. With bills on the rise and no sign of an end to our woes money, it is clear that we must find another way to make the best of what we have at the moment.

So how do we do this? Obviously, if we can not increase our revenues in any way, then we have to look at reducing our costs, as well as any company in the same situation.

A good way is to keep an eye on the farm bills. How much do you pay in mortgage payments each month, for example? Some people pay more than necessary, yet they avoid doing anything just because it will take time and effort to do so. But if time and effort resulting in a significant savings for you, is not it worth doing?

Doing research in other bills that are variables, such as bills and gas bills to car insurance, for example. Ignore the bills you can not do much better than the television license, which we all pay - so you do not pay monthly from May you find much easier to do.

It seems obvious, but many people forget that the basic rule to remember - and most important - is to ensure that you spend less than you make each month. Even if the best you can do is break even, which is better than debt running!

However, May be a reason why you need to borrow money at this time and if there is, you should spend time considering the best way to do it. Would you borrow money for a short period of time - say a few weeks - or much longer than that? May it be the case that increased cash flow is needed to meet future goals, such as planning improvements to the house until the value of your home.

Whatever the reason for May, be sure to compare loans before taking the final decision. This will make the best possible deal for your money, and the result in the smallest monthly payment to integrate into your current budget.

In short, if you plan ahead and make decisions that you'll be able to weather the current climate, much more easily.

Everything You Wanted To Know About Laser Hair Removal

2008-10-18T06:20:00.001-07:00

Laser hair removal is the best available method for hair
removal because of the several advantages offered by this
method. Laser hair removal method scores over other methods
of hair removal for its ease of use, less time-consuming,
little or no side effects and a long lasting treatment for
removing unwanted hair from the face and the rest of the
body.

A scientist who accidentally exposed his arm to 692 diode
pumped YAG for a few seconds discovered laser hair removal
treatment in late 1970's. The exposure burned off the hair
but did not damage the skin. After few weeks, the scientist
noticed a bald patch on his arm. Further research and
development resulted in the birth of a revolutionary new
method to get rid off unwanted hair. Since then, Laser Hair
removal has become popular with both men and women of all
age.

Advantages of Laser Hair Removal

The relief from the age-old hair removal methods like
plucking, waxing, shaving is temporary. In the new hair
removal method of electrolysis, each hair is treated
separately. This makes the process time consuming and
restricted to small areas. The inconvenience faced in the
old methods has made the Laser Hair Removal the most
popular hair removal technique. Most of the cosmetologists
prefer laser hair removal to other methods of hair removal.
Here are some advantages of Laser Hair Removal:

1. Ease of Use - Laser treatment uses the principle of
light energy absorbed by dark matter such as hair. An
experienced laser technician directs and fires a laser beam
at the area of hair growth thereby burning off the unwanted
hair. Laser hair removal method is not painful like waxing.
Users have compared it to a tingling sensation like a small
pinch.

2. Less time - Unlike electrolysis that is painful and
takes a lot of time, laser hair removal is faster. With
laser hair removal process, facial hair can be removed in
about 45 minutes. Larger body parts take a longer time.

3. Few side effects - Unlike waxing or hair removing
creams, laser hair removal treatment does not cause skin
irritation or any other side effects.

4. Long Lasting - Laser hair removal treatment is long
lasting than waxing, shaving or hair removal creams which
have to be repeated every few weeks.

The wavelength required by laser to achieve efficient
treatment is in the range of 670 to 890 nanometers. The
treatment includes wearing protective eyewear. Usually,
more than a single treatment is required since hair is best
removed when it is in the active growth phase.

Causes of Hair Loss

2008-10-18T06:19:00.001-07:00

The normal cycle of hair growth and loss means that some amount of hair loss will occur in every individual's life. It is said that at any given point in time, about 10% of the hair on our scalp is in a resting phase which sheds after a couple of months, giving way to new hair growth. This growing phase lasts for 2 to 6 years when each hair grows about 1 centimeter per month. Hence, almost 90 percent of the hair is growing at any one time. Regular hair shedding is part of this cycle; however, some people experience excessive hair loss.

Excessive hair loss, however, is cause for concern. A number of reasons may lead to excessive hair loss. Any major illness, fungal infections or surgery may be major reasons. Hormonal problems like hypo or hyper thyroidism or male (androgens) or female (estrogens) hormones imbalance leads to hair loss. Post pregnancy hair loss is also common as a hormone imbalance occurs at this time as well.

Medicines for ailments like diabetes, chemotherapy, lupus, gout, blood coagulation, birth control and anti-depressants can cause hair loss too.
Improper hair care can also lead to hair loss. Excessive use of chemicals or blow-drying for hair styling leads to hair loss as it scars the scalp, sometimes leading to permanent damage.

Common baldness usually refers to male-pattern baldness. It is the most common type of inherited hair loss trait in men where hair loss typically results in a receding hairline and baldness on the top of the head. Female-pattern baldness in women leads to hair thinning over the entire scalp.

It is important to determine the exact reason for your hair loss. Check on your diet first. Switch over to a healthy diet of fruits, green vegetables and fibers to be washed down with at least 2 liters of water each day. Cut down on fried and fatty food. Follow a hair care regimen of hot oil treatment, massage, conditioning and shampooing on a regular basis. If you're a woman, check the regularity of your menstrual cycle, pregnancy status and menopause.

The only way to deal with hair loss is to learn the causes, look for the right remedy, then come to a decision on what you want to do, and go for it. One should also take steps to prevent hair loss from recurring in future.

*You have permission to reprint what you just read. Use it in your ezine, at your website or in your newsletter. The only requirement is including the following footer with it..

Hair, Hair Loss and Propecia

2008-10-18T06:17:00.002-07:00

Take a look on the following facts about hair and hair loss:

•It is normal to lose 50-100 hairs from the head each day

•Each hair on the head grows for about 3-5 years before being shed

•40 million men and 20 million women suffer from hair loss

•Scalp hair grows at a rate of about 1 cm (just under 1/2 an inch) a month

•We each have about 100,000 hairs on the scalp

•In the United States, there has not been an elected bald President since the television age began

•An average person has between 100,000 and 150,000 hairs

•A man looses 50 to 100 hairs a day in average

There are many treatments for hair loss in the market. Maybe too many. However, It is a proven fact that one can stop hair loss and even prevent it after it started.
There are a few kinds of hair loss. Each has a recommended treatment. In this article I would like to describe the most efficient treatments male hair loss – Propecia

How Propecia Works?

Propecia works on the main cause of hair loss by significantly reducing the amount of DHT. DHT is a a chemical that shrinks the hair follicle until no hair grows.
Propecia actually inhibits the formation of DHT in your scalp. Lowering DHT inhibits the further shrinking of affected hair follicles. Propecia regrows visible hair and reduces further hair loss.

When can I see results?

Results will be noticed after 3 months if you will take Propecia daily. You should not stop taking Propecia if you don't want the results to go away.

Does Propecia always work?

In the longest hair loss clinical study where the results were measured by actual hair counts, in average more than 2 out of 3 men on Propecia re grew hair. whereas all man in the study who talk other pills lost hair.

Does Propecia have side effects?

Clinical studies showed that side effects were uncommon and did not affect most men. However, Like any medical treatment Propecia may have side effects - about 1% of the men using Propecia experienced less desire for sex, difficulty in achieving an erection or a decrease in the amount of semen were .

Everything You Wanted To Know About Hair

2008-10-18T06:17:00.001-07:00

In order to treat hair loss successfully, it is necessary
to know about hair. This article discusses general facts
about human hair, hair structure and growth.

The average human adult body has an astounding 5 million
hairs of which 100,000 to 150,000 are on the scalp. True
blondes have more hair on the scalp - 140,000 hairs than
brunettes (105,000 hairs) or redheads (90,000 hairs). Hair
is made up of a protein called Keratin. Keratin is also a
constituent of our nails.

* Hair around the world

Hair color and texture differ around the world. Asians have
jet-black hair whereas Scandinavians have varying shades of
browns and reds to the pale blonde. There are generally
three racial groups with three types of hair.

1. Oriental - People from Japan and China have straight and
black hair.

2. Caucasoid - This group is varied and a mixture of
several racial groups. The hair colors range from black to
blonde. The hair can be wavy or straight.

3. African - African people have black hair that is tightly
curled. It is woolly and dry. Heat or chemicals can easily
damage this type of hair.

* Hair structure

Some part of hair is hidden under the skin, while the rest
is seen outside the body. The part of hair hidden under the
skin is the hair follicle. There are tiny blood vessels at
the base of the follicle that provides nutrition to the
hair.

Sebaceous glands secrete sebum that keeps the hair shiny
and waterproof to some extent. At the root of the hair
follicle is the papilla, which is where the hair grows.
Hair follicles are formed when the baby is still in the
womb.

After birth, there is no new growth of hair follicles. The
hair strand itself consists of three layers. The outermost
layer called the cuticle is thin. The middle layer called
the cortex is thick. The cortex provides the hair its
strength, color and determines whether hair will be wavy or
straight.

* Hair Growth

The hair grows at the rate of 12 millimeters every month.
Hair grows the best between 10 AM to 11 AM and again
between 4 PM to 6 PM. It is also generally known that hair
grows faster in summer than winter. Hair grows the best
between the ages of 15 to 30 and slows down from the age of
40 onwards. Both genders start natural hair loss in 50s.

Hair rejuvenation takes place on a daily basis. Hair grows
and sheds. You normally shed 50 to 100 hairs per day. Any
loss above that or visible patches of baldness are a cause
for worry and can be classified as hair loss.

Propecia

2008-10-18T06:16:00.000-07:00

One a day will keep the depression away.

To many men (and women) today, the bathroom mirror is the mortal enemy. Every day, you stumble into the bathroom, yank the toothbrush out of its holder, and very reluctantly venture an eye into the mirror above the sink.

What you see devitalizes you. It devastates you. What once sprung so vivaciously from your head has now been replaced by a smooth, shiny surface. In just a couple of years, it seems, your looks have aged by ten years.

It’s a process that consumes you day by day, week by week. And there’s nothing you can do to stop it.

Yes, you are going bald.

However, as helpless as it may feel, not everybody is taking this seemingly inevitable fate sitting down.

Many Americans every day are opening up the medicine cabinet behind that mirror to pull out the tabulated form of salvation. It’s not the first product to treat hair loss and it certainly won’t be the last, but Propecia is certainly winning the race when it comes to foiling vanity’s worst nightmare.

At first, it looks a lot like your standard pain reliever or aspirin pill. The pain that Propecia will ease you from, however, is of a much different variety. As you probably know already, Propecia is the first pill that has been proven to fight the process of hair loss and in many cases, actually re-grow some hair.

Propecia is a tablet that is taken daily, with a month’s supply generally running between $50 and $55.

And the fact that Propecia actually works, they’re saying, is much more than just hair-say.

The facts are out. Granted, this study was done over the course of two years of Propecia use, but 83 percent of balding men between the ages of 18 and 41 maintained their hair count during the experiment, while 66 percent of the group actually grew back a considerable amount of hair.

The difference between Propecia and other products, like Rogaine, for instance, is that Propecia grows back thicker, natural hair as opposed to the limp “peach fuzz.” We won’t even mention that fishy smell that Rogaine users often complain of.

And here’s a bit of good news for that receding hairline. While Propecia has been widely believed to work the crown and vertex exclusively, studies out of the University of Pennsylvania are now confirming that the drug will also stimulate frontal hair growth. While re-growth along the temples has yet to be proven, steady growth in the middle of the front has been proven through extensive experimenting.

Most hair doctors will tell you that Propecia takes a good three to four months before kicking in, so if you’re waiting for immediate results, you may as well grab a Snickers Bar. But if you don’t see any positive results after a year of taking Propecia, chances are that you’re not only wasting you time, you’re wasting your money as well.

Now comes the bad news.

For you ladies who are seeing dread atop the head, Propecia is not for you. It is a drug designed exclusively for men.

Also, Propecia, like many other prescription medications, is not free of unfortunate side effects. Under extensive experimenting, a small number of subjects (2 percent, to be exact) were effected with such conditions as diminished sex drive, inadequate erections, and a decrease in semen.

What Condition Is Your Hair In?

2008-10-18T06:15:00.002-07:00

Our hair can be categorized in three different ways:

Healthy
Dry
Damaged

Characteristics of Healthy Hair

Smooth texture and feel
Shiny
Hair loss is 75–100 strands per day
Hair loss consists of entire hair strands (contains bulb)
Holds curl well
Relatively easy to comb while wet
Good elasticity (hair strand stretches when pulled)
Healthy scalp
No breakage
Minimal split ends

Characteristics of Dry or Stressed Hair

Hair loss is 75–100+ per day
Hair is dry to the touch but responds well to moisture
May have some scalp problems
Dull appearance
Itchy scalp
Loses curl easily
May be frizzy
Hair has poor elasticity (does not stretch before breaking)
Breakage (hair strands are short)
Split ends

Characteristics of Damaged Hair

Dull

Dry

Coarse

Frequent use of oil does not help retain moisture and/or the effects do not last long

Tangles easily, difficult to comb while wet

Frizzy

Breakage is severe in spots

Visible split ends

Scalp may be unhealthy

May have excessive dandruff

Stop Hair Loss!

2008-10-18T06:15:00.001-07:00

Are you losing more than 20-100 strands of hairs a day? If your answer is yes; you are part of 50 percent of the population experiencing hair loss, but before you get alarmed there are some changes in your body either conscious or unconscious that maybe causing your hair to shed. Did you make a change in your diet, Are you eating enough proteins and amino acids, Is your body going trough a hormonal change (postpartum, thyroid), Anemia, stress, medications etc.? It is advisable to consult a dermatologist for anyone experiencing extreme hair loss. A professional will evaluate all the possibilities and right treatment for those with a more serious problem.

Here are some recipes that will act on the scalp by tightening it and helping to avoid hair loss and promote hair growth.

Caution: Make sure recipes are not to hot before applying to hair or scalp.

1.Apply 2 tablespoons of warm olive oil to scalp, leave on for 10-30 minutes before washing hair.

2.Boil 2 cinnamon sticks in one cup of water apply to hair and live on for at least 5 minutes then rinse off.( it will sting a little).

3.Apply & massage vitamin E oil to scalp at least once a week. It's also helpful for dull hair lacking shine.

4.Increase your protein intake by taking multivitamins. Eat high protein foods like meat, chicken, fish, eggs, dried beans, grains etc.

5.Massage your hair with warm Castor and Almond oil once a week.

Hair Loss Solutions - How to Help Stop Hair Loss and Regrow Hair

2008-10-18T06:13:00.002-07:00

Hair loss and male-pattern baldness is an affliction suffered by thousands of men, and can be a real source of insecurity and embarrassment for those not ready to lose their hair or shave their head. Even worse, and more devastating are the younger cases where the hair loss process begins long before a man even reaches his thirtieth birthday. So what are your options if you are one of these men, uncontrollably losing your hair before your time?

Well, you can do what many others do – shave your head for the sake of uniformity. Lots of men look great with a shaved head – it just fits their personality and style, and they seem comfortable that way. For those unwilling to give up on their hair, there are hairpieces or plugs, neither of which have been perfected to the point of being undetectable, and both having a societal stigma as being somewhat tacky and undesirable.

The other option, of course, is to try one of the hair loss products that several reputable manufacturers now offer, both in prescription and nonprescription form. While there is still no “magic pill” that can unflinchingly promise every man (and woman) who takes it will re-grow their hair, there are some very promising and effective hair loss products and treatments currently on the market and also in development.

Propecia, Rogaine (Monoxadil), Avacor and Proxiphen are just a few of the top prescription and nonprescription hair loss products on the market today, and they’ve all had varying degrees of success in re-growing their client’s hair. Since the demand for hair loss products is so great, there have been many non-prescription hair loss alternatives recently introduced in an effort to offer men (and women) a more economical and convenient alternative to re-grow hair and prevent further hair loss.

There are also several vitamins that have been specially formulated both for thinning hair and to promote the speedy growth of healthy, shiny hair. Vitamins for thinning hair and faster hair growth and re-growth are usually a varying combination of several key amino acids, biotin, vitamins B6 and E, and zinc. Many who take vitamins of this nature do report thicker, more lustrous and healthy hair, but if your goal is to actually re-grow hair and not just thicken thinning hair, then you would probably want to consider a more serious hair loss supplement or treatment that specifically targets balding and hair loss.

Here's a little tip to help stimulate hair growth – massage the scalp. This is an age-old hairstylist tip to help stimulate the hair follicles, unclog any blocked oil glands in the scalp, and help promote a healthy scalp and new, healthy hair growth. Plus, it’s relaxing and it feels good, so it’s not such a chore!

Hair loss supplements can range from pricey to reasonable, tested and untested, and clinically proven vs. not clinically proven. You have to use good judgment and do a little homework on the internet, or by reading consumer reviews, testimonials and surveys to see what really should work best for your situation. Some even offer money back guarantees or some sort or money back for unused portions.

Now, let’s talk about being proactive in preventing future hair loss. Many times, the underlying cause for premature hair loss and male pattern balding is hereditary, but it can also be brought on by a hormonal imbalance of the male or female hormones, known as androgens and estrogens. Correcting a hormonal imbalance many times can stop hair loss. This example can be seen in women who notice hair loss shortly after they’ve had a baby. The cause for this is a drop in hormones that kept much more hair on the head than normal during pregnancy because the levels of this hormone are unusually high at this time.

Some medications can also cause or aggravate hair loss. Typically these medications are blood thinners, gout medication, chemotherapy medications for cancer, too much vitamin A, birth control pills and antidepressants. Avoid tight or “pulling” hairstyles like high or tight ponytails and cornrows, and also stay away from harsh chemical treatments such as perms and other potentially volatile, damaging hair treatments.

Typical hair loss treatments, prescription and nonprescription, usually take about six months before you can tell they are working, so patience is a must. There is no overnight fix to hair loss unfortunately. As long as you are comfortable with your chosen hair loss remedy, and have planned a preventative and maintenance course of action, that’s really all that matters.

Warning: Do NOT Take A Hair Loss Test Until You've Read This...

2008-10-18T06:13:00.001-07:00

You know the scene. You've got thinning hair, and you know you’re suffering from hair loss...

But what on Earth can you do about it?

So you desparately start browsing the internet for a way to fix it, before its too late...

Don't you just wish there was an easy quick-fix solution?

And then you come across a website offering...

...hair loss analysis tests...

Sound familiar? "Just send some strands of your thinning hair – and we'll tell you exactly what type of hair loss you are suffering from, and then we'll recommend hair loss products to fight it"?

Of course they will. Why wouldn't they? In fact, some companies who manufacture their own hair loss products even offer to do the test for free. Wow! What a bargain!

What do you think their answer will be, once they've "analyzed" your hair? How many emails do you think they write saying "I'm sorry. Extensive analysis of your thinning hair indicates that our product will not help you"?

Uh, No. They will tell you that your hair loss is the exact type that their product will "cure". And without it, you've got no hope...

Now please don't get me wrong...

There are some VERY valuable hair loss analysis tests. But chances, when you stumble across a hair loss test on the internet, its not one of the good ones...

More than likely, you'll come across one of the popular tests. There's a huge difference between what's popular, and what's good...

But then again, most people never manage to do anything to help their baldness problem...

So how do you find the good tests?

Well, there are a few different types, and you have to do your research...

Herbal Hair Loss Remedies That Offer Hope

2008-10-18T06:11:00.002-07:00

Herbs hold an obvious appeal for many people because they support the body's natural healing mechanisms to target the cause of the problem, as opposed to merely tackling the symptoms. It would be wrong to present herbal hair loss remedies as a miracle solution for all sufferers - there is however growing evidence to support the view that some herbal remedies offer real hope to many people.

Let's examine the case for some of the more popular remedies to determine if they're worth trying.

Ginkyo biloba - this popular herb is thought to improve blood circulation to the brain and skin. Herbalists believe that the increased flow of blood to the brain area delivers more nutrients to the hair follicle thus promoting hair regrowth. The recommended dose is 120-160mg of dry extract each day spread over three doses.

Green tea (Camellia sinesis) - it is thought that catechins found in green tea may inhibit the enzyme 5-alpha-reductase that converts testosterone into hair-unfriendly DHT. It is therefore believed to be effective in preventing and treating male pattern type baldness. You should drink several cups of green tea each day or take it in capsule form as instructed by the manufacturer.

He Shou Wu (Polygonum multiflorum) - also known as Fo-Ti, this Chinese herb has traditionally been used to reduce hair loss. It is found in many commercial preparations, or in tea and capsule form.

Pygeum (Pygeum africanum) - derived from the bark of an evergreen, it works in a similar way to green tea. It is widely used to treat prostate problems and male pattern baldness. Users should take 60-500mg per day in pill or capsule form.

Saw palmetto (Seranoa repens) - this is the current treatment of choice for many men due to its ability to protect the prostate, slow hair loss and encourage hair regrowth. It forms the core element of many commercially prepared hair loss treatments but can easily be obtained in its pure form. The recommended dose is a 160mg capsule twice each day, but make sure the ingredients are made from the berry extract not the dried berries themselves.

Stinging nettle (Urtica diocia) - this has long been favored as a means of preventing hair loss due to its ability to block the conversion of testosterone into DHT. It can be taken in pill or capsule form with an optimum dose of 50-100mg per day. It is particularly effective when combined with pygeum and saw palmetto.

Hair Care Tips by Nadeem

2008-10-18T06:11:00.001-07:00

It's surprising the way some people treat their hair. Instead of giving it the respect it deserves, they tug at it with their hair brush, secure it with plain elastic bands that stick to the hair, lick it, chew it, clean their inky hands with it, stick their pens in it, wipe that excess eye-liner off on it, and while shampooing, rub it, scrub it, pull it and generally bash it around before stuffing it under the full blast of a hair dryer. Phew! It's shameful. Just because they're not going bald in a hurry, they take it for granted. And then they wonder why their hair isn't a shiny, swinging, sexy mane like in the ads, in spite of using the same shampoo! Well, understand the facts of life. Hair is delicate, growing stuff which need to be handled with care. A lot of care.

First, identify your hair type. Is it normal, oily or dry?

So, who's normal? Well, if your hair isn't a constant maze of split ends, doesn't become oily quickly and is fairly well behaved, you could say it is normal. Wash your hair twice a week with a mild shampoo and conditioner for normal hair. Towel dry lightly. Blow dry from at least five inches away, whether your hair is normal, dry or oily.

Stress, hormonal activity (puberty, childbirth), thyroid problems and eating too much fatty food and chocolates are what usually cause oily hair. Oily hair needs to be washed more often but don't scrub too hard while washing. It won't get your hair any cleaner or less oilier. What it will do is further aggravate the already overactive sebaceous glands on your scalp, not to mention cause damage to the delicate follicles. And don't pile hair on the head while shampooing, even though it may look great in the ads. It causes tangling, leading to further breakage. You could add lemon to the final rinse for a great shine. If you don't have time to shampoo every few days or feel lazy and leave it oily, your hair won't just look terrible, but dirt will get lodged under its surface causing breakage and damage not to mention dandruff. This will lead to skin problems such as acne on your chest, back and face. So you need to be careful about washing hair regularly, though you could condition it just twice a month. However, if your hair has been chemically treated, you should condition hair after every wash as chemical strips hair of its natural oils.

If your hair is dry, wash it twice a week with a shampoo for dry hair, followed by a conditioner. If your scalp feels very dry and flaky, use an anti-dandruff shampoo. Be very gentle with the ends of the hair, which are the driest parts and tend to split easily. You may be tempted to use styling products to tame the frizz, but avoid it. Frizz is usually caused by the inadequate flow of sebum from the roots, as it is being blocked by the flaky scalp. Give your hair a good oil massage before washing, to loosen the flakes, and rinse hair extra thoroughly.

Beautiful Hair is an asset for any woman. Some are gifted with naturally beautiful hair while others have to really work hard on it. But essentially everybody has to work on hair either for improving or for maintaining them. Here are some tips to manage your Crowning Glory.

Hair Wash

The best way of washing hair is with Aritha and Shikakai Powder. It does not have any chemicals or any other side effects. Aritha and Shikakai powder is available at any General stores or even a banyan shop.

Shampoos

Dry Hair - Egg, Herbal shampoo or any shampoo for dry hair.
Normal Hair - For normal hair fruit shampoos or henna shampoo is good.

Oily Hair - Lemon Shampoo

Hair Oil

Oil your hair at least once in a week. If you have dry hair then oil it twice a week. Hair oil gives the necessary moisturizers to your hair. Herbal hair oil provides you the necessary nourishment along with the moisturizers.
Hair Conditioners

Henna

Henna conditions and colours your hair.

Dry hair - Add some milk, water and 1-2egg yolks in henna. This mixture will not dry your hair and will make it soft and manageable. Apply it monthly.

Normal to Oily Hair – Add water, lemon, egg yolks in henna. You can apply Henna fortnightly.

Home made conditioners

Add ¼ cup of vinegar in ½ bucket of water. This will give a good shine to your hair. Mix curds and egg yolks together and apply it for 1hour.

Hair Tonics
Try tonic Hair Oil’s powder - Put 4 tsp of this powder in water, boil it and after cooling down apply it on hair. This will stop hair loss, rejuvenate and nourish your hair.

Quick- fix hair tips

If you want instant luster just before a big night, beat an egg without the yolk, squeeze half a lemon into it and apply to hair avoiding the scalp than rinse and wash in another half an hour. Be sure to give your hair a last rinse with some rose water because we don't want you going out smelling like an egg.

Henna soaked in water of used tea bags, coffee powder, amla powder and onion peels can make for a excellent conditioner giving your hair the much needed boost.

There are a dozen of hair accessories available in the market today. Use clips, pins and bands to give your hair a different style and an added touch of color.

Nadeem, holds the national record (limca book of record holder) in Candle hair cut, blindfolded hair cut, hair cut with glass and papercutter. He had featured in various TV channels, Newspapers and he was also appreciated by Guiness Book of world records. He works as a hair stylist at REX Salon, Chandigarh (INDIA). Recently he conducted a seminar on hair styling and Japanese rebonding, It was very successful various hair dressers & beauticians from the region participated and appreciated his work.

Natural Hair Loss Remedies

2008-10-18T06:10:00.001-07:00

Fact: There is no sure-fire way to prevent all hair loss.

However, some methods that have been used work on some people. Here are some suggestions for natural remedies to hair loss.

Massage

Massaging the scalp in general for a couple of minutes a day can stimulate blood flow to the hair follicles and in mild cases stimulate some hair growth in minor cases of temporary hair loss.

There are several electric massagers on the market that have an attachment for scalp massaging as well. An oriental method called Qi Gong (pronounced Chi Kung) has been used to increase circulation to the scalp and face also.

Aromatherapy

A blend of six drops each of lavender and bay essential oils in a base of four ounces of either almond, soybean or sesame oil massaged into the scalp and allowed to sit for 20 minutes has been used by aroma therapists to stimulate the scalp.

Saw Palmetto Extract

There is a definite connection between the prostate and hair loss for men. Saw Palmetto has been found to work in fighting benign prostatic disease by lowering levels of DHT, which is a known cause of androgenetic alopecia.

Saw Palmetto extract is an effective anti-androgen and shows promise as an effective treatment for hair loss prevention. More information on Saw Palmetto for Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia

Women on oral contraceptives or hormone therapy should not take Saw Palmetto.

Nettle Root Extract

Nettles are rich in vitamins A and C, several key minerals and lipids that can be beneficial to the hair. Nettle Root Extract has been used successfully in Europe as an inhibitor of 5-alpha reductase in treating BPH.

Rosemary and Sage

Rosemary and sage are two herbs that have shown benefit traditionally when used externally. Boil together in water rosemary, sage, peach leaf, nettle and burdock. Then strain the loose herbs from the liquid and use the liquid to wash the hair daily.

Jojoba Oil

If you are predisposed to seborrhea, eczema, psoriasis, or dandruff, you could consider using jojoba oil. Mexicans and southwestern Native American nations have used jojoba oil traditionally for centuries to promote hair growth and the control of dandruff. Jojoba oil is great for hypoallergenic skin because it is a great moisturizer and mimics the scalp's own sebum.

Aloe Vera

Aloe Vera has been used by Native Americans, Indians and many in the Caribbean to promote healthy hair and prevent hair loss. Aloe's can help the scalp by healing it and balancing the pH level of the scalp while cleansing the pores. A common preparation of Aloe Vera gel with a small amount of wheat germ oil and coconut milk is used as a shampoo and has traditionally shown great benefit.

Henna

Henna is a traditional Indian herb that acts as a natural conditioner and is excellent for the maintenance of healthy hair. It can help heal the hair shaft by repairing and sealing the cuticle, protecting hair against breakage and loss of shine.

Polysorbate-80

Polysorbate-80 is an FDA approved surfactant that is also approved as a food additive. Although not proven, Polysorbate-80 is said to remove deposits of DHT and cholesterol from the scalp. Polysorbate-80 is being recommended by some naturopathic practitioners as an application for the scalp approximately 15 minutes prior to shampooing.

Cleansing and Detoxification

Cleansing should be a major part of your regimen to maintain and grow hair. Many scalp related diseases are directly the result of toxemia, while toxins in the body adversely affecting the body's systems indirectly affect other conditions. Cleansing can be performed through oral means regularly and occasionally by enema or colonic irrigation.

More remedies for detoxification

Psyllium husk

Fiber is vital to cleansing, and most North American diets are deficient in natural fiber. Psyllium husk is a bulking laxative agent that can be used to safely move waste through the colon. Psyllium is a very good substance as it gently scrubs the walls of the colon to remove waste that is stuck to the walls.

Exercise

Finally, although exercise does absolutely nothing directly to grow hair, most holistic practitioners recommend it. Exercising can improve blood flow, the delivery of oxygen to the cells of the body, and help the digestion of foods, all things that aid the health of hair follicles.

Disclaimer: The advice here is not presented from a medical practitioner. Any and all dietary and medical planning should be made under the guidance of your own medical and health practitioners. This information does not replace medical advice from a professional physician.

Follicular Unit Extraction vs. Older Methods of Hair Transplantation

2008-10-18T06:09:00.001-07:00

Punch grafts, scalp reductions, scalp extensions...

In the past, as the names of these earlier procedures indicate, undergoing a hair transplant was a painfully unpleasant process. Men with receding hairlines and balding scalps often resorted to the unnatural-looking, and often ridiculed, toupee to avoid the pain, slow healing, and scarring of a transplant.

Because of this, the hair transplant business was staggering in the late twentieth century. Surgeons knew that hair restoration techniques needed to evolve.

Fast forward into the beginning of the twenty-first century...

Thousands of bad comb-overs and strip incision scars later, the new technique that hair restoration surgeons were waiting for was finally perfected. The hair transplant community eventually embraced follicular unit extraction (FUE). Surgeons praised the method and potential patients were curious about it.

But what exactly is follicular unit extraction? And is it really more effective and beneficial than older methods of hair transplantation?

Follicular unit extraction involves the removal of small groups of hair follicles (usually between one and four) from the donor site and their reinsertion into the receptor site. These small grafts allow for equal distribution of hair in the balding area of the scalp and produce more natural-looking results. In fact, once the receptor site has completely healed, it is virtually impossible to detect that any sort of hair transplant procedure has taken place.

The differences between FUE and the older methods of transplantation are noteworthy.

Firstly, the FUE procedure is quicker and less painful than any other hair restoration technique. FUE is performed with a punch-like scalpel that cuts the skin around the follicle. This facilitates the removal of about one to four follicles from the donor area at the same time. Also, the advanced method of follicular perforation™ allows the surgeon to make a shallow punch on the surrounding tissue, ensuring that the graft be released from the tissue with minimum traction and with better ease. The extracted follicles (called grafts) are then inserted into small slits that have been cut in the recipient area. These slits do not need suturing, heal quickly, and are completely undetectable once the new hair begins to grow in about seven to ten days.

Secondly, FUE is beneficial because the recovery process is much faster and less painful. In most patients, the grafts become fully secure in about eight days after surgery and the surgical wound in the donor area usually heals within one to two weeks. Some discomfort may be present, but usually analgesics like Tylenol or codeine will help. Generally, normal activity may be resumed one to two weeks after the procedure. In older methods of hair restoration, bleeding, suturing, and bandaging were parts of the long and painful recovery process.

Thirdly, 100% of hair loss sufferers are candidates for FUE. In the past, hair restoration was not as widely available to every hair loss sufferer as it is today. There were various criteria that each candidate had to meet to be eligible for a hair transplant. Such criteria included the patient’s age, color and texture of hair, skin complexion, amount of donor hair available, and future hair loss projections. However, because the methods involved with follicular unit extraction are so advanced, such criteria are not much of a concern. For example, the amount of donor hair on the head is not an issue when determining candidacy because the procedure allows for the extraction of hair from other parts of the body.

Fourthly, the incidence of complication during the FUE procedure is lower than with other transplantation methods. In a study, published by Dr. Masumi Inaba, of over 150 patients treated with FUE, researchers found that patients suffered only from mild discomfort from sitting still for several hours at a time. Furthermore, only four out of the 150 patients experienced donor area shock, while two more patients experienced a more limited variety of patchy circular alopecia (hair loss). Nevertheless, all patients made full recoveries within five weeks.

Lastly, FUE patients recover without visible scars in the donor or recipient area. Unlike previous methods, like strip incision, where an unattractive linear scar was exposed in the donor area, FUE does not leave ugly, unbearable scars on the head. Instead, the tiny slits that are cut in the recipient area are conveniently hidden by new hair. The final result of FUE in all patients is that of a seamless, natural, healthy-looking head of hair.

For all those who are suffering from hair loss and are searching for the best method of restoring their youth, follicular unit extraction should be considered. It is a hair restoration method that discards the use of the painful linear donor incision and regards 100% of hair loss patients as proper candidates for the procedure. It is widely predicted that within the coming years, follicular unit extraction will make further advancements and become the method of choice for every hair restoration surgeon and patient.

Non-Approved Drugs That Can Help Hair Loss

2008-10-18T06:08:00.001-07:00

At present only two medications have been approved by the FDA for the treatment of hair loss, namely finasteride (Propecia) and minoxidil (Rogaine). While both of these continue to prove their worth to many patients, some individuals are disappointed with their results and seek other forms of treatment. Often they turn to drugs that have not been approved for the treatment of hair loss, but which have shown themselves over time to have a positive effect in dealing with this condition.

1. Avodart (dutasteride) - this is a new medication that is not yet approved for hair loss but which offers exciting possibilities for treating male patten baldness. It works in a similar way to Propecia which prevents one of two enzymes from converting testosterone into DHT thus blocking two thirds of DHT production. Avodart takes this process a stage further by blocking both enzymes thus reducing overall DHT production by 93%. It is currently approved for the treatment of enlarged prostates and should not under any circumstances be taken by women of child bearing age.

2. Proscar (finasteride) - Propecia has become a valued weapon in the fight against male pattern baldness but it began life in the form of Proscar. In fact, the active ingredient is identical with Proscar containing a higher dose of 5 mg compared with Propecia's 1 mg. Many men therefore assume that the higher dose is more effective in preventing the conversion of testosterone into DHT. The extent to which this is true is debatable although the basic facts do tell us Proscar blocks slightly more DHT formation. Some physicians feel its use is warranted in a small proportion of older men and women who previously have not responded to treatment with Propecia.

3. Tretinoin (Retin-A) - this is well known for the treatment of acne but medical studies have shown it also helps stimulate hair regrowth. Some experts argue that tretinoin enhances the absorption and penetration of minoxidil into the hair follicles. As a result, several formulas of tretinoin and minoxidil are available, generally only by prescription.

Hair Transplant Methods To Be Avoided

2008-10-18T06:07:00.000-07:00

Hair transplantation as a means of treating hair loss has been around for a long time. Unfortunately, some clinics today still use methods that are outdated and can cause pain, scarring and less than presentable results. This article highlights some of the hair transplant methods that you should avoid like the plague.

Round / square grafts - this is the original method that leaves patients with a scalp that resembles that of a plastic doll. It involves taking a number of smallish grafts with a hole-punch device and transplanting to the affected area. The result is a pluggy look that does not look natural and only becomes more ridiculous as time wears on.

Line grafts - this involves moving a short strip of donor hair from the side or back of the head, then transplanting the entire strip into a trench that is surgically cut into the receiving area of the scalp. The end result is a line of hair that looks unnatural.

Flap technique - this procedure involves moving a flap of skin with its tissue, hair strands and follicles from the side or back of the head to the front hairline by cutting it on three sides and stitching it to the bald area.This can cause serious problems including excessive scarring, infection, disfigurement in the forehead area and hair growing in the wrong direction.

Scalp reduction - in this procedure the bald area at the crown is cut away and the edges surrounding the wound are pulled together and sewn at the middle. This technique causes many problems including potentially hideous scarring, accelerated hair loss and infection.

Ayurveda Can Help Stop Hair Loss

2008-10-18T06:06:00.000-07:00

Most hair loss sufferers seek solutions from Western medicine or turn to remedies derived from local traditions. Some experts however argue that the ayurvedic system of medicine has much to offer in dealing with hair loss conditions.

Ayurveda is the traditional system of medicine practiced in India and Sri Lanka. It is a complete approach to health care designed to promote a way of life rather than an occasional treatment. As a holistic system of medicine ayurveda focuses on our uniqueness and takes into account our mental attitude, lifestyle and spirit which should not be treated in isolation from each other.

According to ayurveda, the following principles are beneficial to healthy and plentiful hair:

- The scalp must be kept cool, so protection from sun and washing in cold or lukewarm water are paramount.

- Sound nutrition is key, so a hair-friendly diet should emphasize proteins, iron, zinc, sulfur, Vitamin C, Vitamin B-Complex and essential fatty acids.

- Use should be made of hair analysis to ascertain toxicity levels and nutritional deficiencies.

- Oils, for example sesame and coconut, should be applied to the scalp to nourish, lubricate and strengthen the roots. This will also improve circulation to the head.

Coping With Alopecia Areata

2008-10-18T06:05:00.000-07:00

Alopecia areata is a condition that is typified by patchy hair loss over the scalp or body. It comes in several forms ranging from a single patch to total body hair loss (alopecia universalis). Its cause may be difficult to diagnose but many cases appear to link directly to imbalances in the immune system that can be treated effectively. In most cases hair will reappear on its own but some patients develop more extreme variations that are more difficult to treat.

It is important that sufferers diagnose their condition correctly by visiting their doctor and undergoing a series of blood tests to check factors such as hormone levels. This will allow your physician or dermatologist to accurately diagnose your condition and recommend an appropriate treatment regime.

The treatment chosen will depend on the causes identified by the blood tests as any underlying problems must be addressed first. In severe forms of alopecia areata successful treatment may prove problematic. In other cases the problem may rectify itself without external treatment. At present successful treatment regimes are somewhat limited but the following may prove useful in stimulating hair growth:

1. Daily application of minoxidil (Rogaine).

2. Injection of cortisone into patchy areas of the scalp (this must be administered by a physician). Creams and lotions containing cortisone can also be used but results are variable.

3. Dithranol can be applied to the scalp in mild or early cases.

4. Application of 100% aloe vera gel.

5. Massage the scalp with rosemary and lavender essential oils in a jojoba base.

6. Use of a hair loss product containing the Chinese herb He Shou Wu.

7. A product called Calosol has recently generated positive feedback.

Please note, however, that none of these is guaranteed to work due to the unpredictable nature of alopecia areata. It is this uncertainty that offers opportunities for scamsters to make outlandish claims. The fact remains, there are no miracle cures for advanced forms of alopecia areata so sufferers may wish to consider other options such as head coverings and wigs.

This does not mean that patients are without hope because, even in severe cases, hair can spontaneously start to grow again even after years of loss.

Top Nutritional Tips To Support Healthy Hair Growth

2008-10-18T06:04:00.000-07:00

1. Eat adequate amounts of protein.

Protein is composed of the amino acids essential for the building of new cells, including hair. Five amino acids are of particular relevance to hair growth - cystine, cysteine, methionine, arginine and lysine.

Inadequate protein intake over a lengthy period can force hair into the resting phase with shedding a few months later. It is obvious then that sufficient portions of protein rich foods should form part of your daily diet. The best sources of dietary protein are lean meats, fish, poultry, eggs, dairy products, soy, nuts, grains and seeds. At least 15% of your daily calories should come from protein-rich foods.

2. Eat adequate amounts of useful carbohydrates.

Carbs are an essential source of energy and help in the growth of body tissues, including hair. They are an important source of the B vitamins that are vital to healthy hair.

It is important that you concentrate on consuming non-refined carbs rather than the sugars and white flour that are so prevalent in many over-refined carb products. You should place an emphasis on consuming vegetables, fruits, whole grains, brown rice and potatoes. It is recommended that you obtain 55-60% of your daily calories from the carbohydrates found in these foods.

3. Achieve a healthy balance of dietary fats.

Fat is used in energy production and can be found in both animal and plant foods. Your body needs sufficient levels of fat to maintain good health. That fat should be obtained from a mixture of lean animal and plant sources. Roughly 25-30% of your daily calories should come from these sources.

4. The right nutritional balance is one that suits your personal circumstances.

How much of each food group you eat depends on a host of factors including age, sex, health and level of physical activity. When choosing meals and snacks, take account of the following key principles of sound nutrition:

- Eat a variety of foods.

- Apply moderation to your consumption of junk foods.

- Choose natural and lightly processed foods as often as possible.

- Do not over cook.

5. Support a nutritious diet with a few carefully chosen supplements.

Following a nutritious diet is essential for good hair health, but on its own this may not be sufficient for a number of reasons:

- Modern farming methods may deplete the nutrient quality of food.

- High stress levels may diminish nutrients in your body.

- Dieting may affect nutrient levels.

- Aging reduces the ability of our bodies to utilize certain nutrients.

- Exercise can deplete some nutrients.

It may be sufficient to supplement with a well-balanced multi-vitamin / mineral product but a number of products are available that specifically cater for the requirements of healthy hair.

Treatment Options Available To Hair Loss Sufferers

2008-10-18T06:03:00.002-07:00

The hair loss treatments outlined here cannot provide definitive cures for all hair loss conditions, but they do represent regimes that many sufferers have found useful. In other words, they are examples of potential solutions that many patients have chosen after honestly assessing the causes of their hair loss together with their expectations.

This article will focus on four basic approaches:

1. A drugs based approach for those who don't mind taking strong medications.

2. A commercial product approach for those who prefer a non-drug solution but who still want a treatment that has a track record.

3. A natural remedy approach for those who prefer to follow the natural route.

4. A nutritional approach for those who wish to adopt a more holistic perspective.

It remains a fact that only two hair loss treatments have been approved by the FDA and both can be classed as strong drug-based medications. Propecia (finasteride) is the treatment of choice for many men with good reason - it tends to work! It is a powerful drug that inhibits the formation of DHT in the system, eventually to a level that is sufficiently low to encourage a normal growth cycle. Rogaine (minoxidil) acts differently in that it stimulates hair growth in both men and women by overriding the prevailing hair loss symptoms. These drugs can be used either on their own or in combination. Women should seek professional medical advice before using Propecia.

The world of commercial hair loss products is much less clear cut and it is here that many scamsters ply their trade to rip-off unsuspecting customers. The best advice I can give here is research, research, and more research! Many useful products are available on the market but none have been approved by the FDA. Probably the best, and certainly most popular, commercially available products are those containing natural ingredients that have been shown in field trials to reduce hair loss and encourage regrowth. You can find out more about these products by visiting the site listed at the end of this article.

Increasingly, people are turning to natural hair loss remedies as they seek to combat thinning hair. This has an obvious appeal for many sufferers and there is growing evidence to support the view that some natural remedies may be effective in curtailing hair loss. The most popular ingredients of natural hair loss treatments include ginko biloba, green tea, he shou wu, pygeum, saw palmetto and stinging nettle. Each of these is described in more detail in an supplementary article entitled "Herbal Remedies That Offer Hope".

It is becoming increasingly evident that poor nutrition and modern lifestyles can have a negative impact on health, and hair loss is no exception. At the most basic level, improved nutrition can minimize shedding and support other treatments that encourage regrowth. This can be achieved by:

eating adequate amounts of protein.
eating appropriate levels of useful carbohydrates.
achieving a healthy balance of dietary fats.

What Are The Common Hair Loss Causes?

2008-10-18T06:03:00.001-07:00

One of the most worrying aspects of hair loss treatment is the tendency of so many people to seek solutions without first determining what has caused their loss in the first place.

At best, sufferers may waste money on inappropriate 'wonder cures' or even legitimate treatments that unfortunately are not suitable for their particular needs. At worst, some people may be risking their health by self-prescribing powerful pharmaceutical drugs. I don't have a problem with hair loss sufferers saving money by purchasing cheap generic drugs on the internet, but I feel strongly that they should at least seek confirmation from their physician that a given drug matches their individual needs.

Before examining the most common causes of premature hair loss we need to understand that some shedding of hair is perfectly normal. Hairs grow from follicles that are tiny organs in the skin designed to grow a single hair that follows this repetitive cycle:

1. Lengthy growth period (Anagen Stage) - this phase usually lasts between two and seven years with an average growth rate of six inches (15cm) each year.

2. Short transition period (Catagen Stage) - this period of transition lasts for roughly two to four weeks. During this phase the hair shaft becomes detached and moves upwards within the follicle.

3. Resting period (Telogen Stage) - this phase lasts about three months allowing the hair to detach itself prior to falling out.

At this point a new hair begins to grow thus repeating the normal cycle of hair growth. Unfortunately a number of factors can interfere with the natural hair growth process leading to forms of hair thinning or premature baldness.

Androgenetic alopecia is the most common cause of hair loss, probably accounting for as much as 95% of pattern hair loss for both men and women. It is usually associated with aging and develops in predictable stages over varying periods of time. Each follicle follows a genetically programmed growth cycle with some follicles coded to remain active for a shorter time than others. This results in the development of the hereditary baldness patterns that are so familiar to us all.

For this type of baldness to occur, the following factors must be present:

1. A genetic predisposition for hair loss to occur (as explained above).

2. The presence of male hormones.

3. Aging - in other words, enough time for the first two factors to exert an influence.

All men and women produce male hormones such as testosterone and DHT. These have a useful role to play in both sexes but obviously occur in widely differing concentrations. It is the higher levels of androgens found in males that explains why this form of hair loss affects men more than women.

In brief, these hormones affect the hair growth cycle as follows:

1. High levels of the 5-alpha-reductase enzyme occur in some cells of the hair follicle and sebaceous glands.

2. 5-alpha-reductase converts testosterone into DHT.

3. DHT causes the terminal hairs to miniaturize.

4. This leaves short, soft, fluffy vellus hairs that provide inadequate scalp coverage.

5. The growth phases gradually become shorter until these hairs are lost for good.

Alopecia areata is thought to be an immune system disorder that causes follicles to stop producing hairs in patches on the head. In severe cases it can advance to the stage where all hair on the head is lost (alopecia totalis) or even a complete absence of body hair results (alopecia universalis).

In most cases the hair will reappear on its own but until then, the condition can be very distressing to sufferers particularly as its cause can be difficult to determine. If you feel you may be suffering from this form of hair loss, seek the advice of your physician who will carry out a physical examination and conduct blood tests to help determine the cause.

Telogen effluvium is characterized by a general thinning or shedding of hair over a period of months and is most commonly found in people who have recently experienced trauma. Common causes include childbirth, major surgery, severe illness, psychological stress and chemotherapy. The good news is that the abnormal growth behavior associated with telogen effluvium is temporary and reversible.

There are numerous other less common hair loss causes that need to be discounted before a course of treatment is chosen. Traction alopecia is the loss of hair from constant pulling, usually as the result of hair styling. Broken hairs can result in thinning, often caused by excessive styling or exposure to chemicals and sun. Finally, severe illnesses or nutritional deficiencies can cause side effects that may include degrees of hair loss.

I hope this brief article has gotten across the message that diagnosing the real causes of hair loss is not always a straightforward process. Once you and your physician have identified a cause, then you can work towards restoring your hair to its former glory. And the good news is, most forms of hair loss can be treated successfully. The next article in this series will look at some of the best hair loss treatments currently available.

Hair Loss In Women - Six Causes

2008-10-18T05:18:00.000-07:00

Hair loss in women differs from hair loss in men in the following ways:

Signs of hair loss in men:

Receding hairline
Moderate to extensive hair loss, particularly on the crown of the head

Signs of hair loss in women:

General thinning of hair all over the head
Moderate hair loss on the crown of the head or at the hairline

In summary, hair loss in women can start around 30 years of age and usually involves overall thinning rather than a bald patch. It often becomes more noticeable around 40 years of age.

Here are six causes of hair loss in women which can help you identify the possible cause and decide whether to just wait for the hair to regrow, or if it is a more serious reason, get professional advice and take appropriate action:

#1. Hair loss in women is often connected to pregnancy. Three to six months after delivering a child, many women notice a degree of hair loss as the hair goes into a resting phase because of the physiological impact of the pregnancy on the body.

#2. A woman's body can also be greatly affected by intensive diets and losing a lot of weight in a short period of time.

#3. Severe illnesses and infections can put great stress on the body thus triggering the hair into a resting phase which result hair shedding. Often the body recovers naturally within 3 to 9 months and the hair begins to regrow until it almost resembles its original condition.

#4. Hair loss in women can be aggravated further by improper use of chemical hair treatments such as dyes, tints, bleaches, straighteners, and permanent waves.

Generally, healthy hair can undergo these treatments without showing signs of stress, if they are not done too often. However, if hair is breaking or if it becomes brittle it is best to stop these procedures until the hair has grown out.

#5. The constant pulling of hair with styles such as ponytails and braids can sometimes cause hair loss in women. Avoid pulling the hair tight with these styles.

#6. Rough combing and brushing of the hair and vigorous rubbing with a towel after shampooing can cause it to break, adding further to the problem of Hair loss in women. Wide toothed combs and brushes with smooth tips are recommended to minimize hair breakage.

Conclusion:

Although hair loss is distressing for everyone, hair loss in women is perhaps a cause of more anxiety as it can lead to feelings of lack of confidence and femininity.

In many cases, proper care and attention to hair can greatly reduce the danger of hair loss.

In other cases involving illness or heredity, consulting with a professional hair stylist can result in a hair style that minimizes the effect of hair loss in women.

Making Business Improvement Happen: How Forty Dollars Saved $400,000

2008-10-17T12:18:00.001-07:00

A company came to me with a problem. They were incurring
massive penalties and waste when servicing two major markets and wanted to know
why. Each month they were shipping 10%-15% more product than had ever been
necessary to meet demand, and they were incurring heavy penalties for late
shipments. I was asked to look at the problem and find a solution.

Diagnosing the Problem:

This company produced a product that had a “shelf life” of 10 days.
Customers expected at least 7 days of shelf life when the product arrived, which
meant that the product must arrive within 3 days of production to last for 7
days on the shelf. Among its distribution points, the company served two large
civic centers (City A and City B), which required 60 and 64 hours lead-time
respectively.

These cities required frequent replenishment. Four days a week, a “double
trailer” was sent to each city to satisfy demand. Once a week, when demand
dropped, the company sent only one double trailer to service both locations. The
driver would drop the rear trailer in City A, and then continue on to City B.
This split trailer strategy worked well, as long as the “split load”
consistently took place on a given day. For months after its creation, the
system worked, demand was steady and the loads were split on schedule.

Unfortunately, the strategy didn't account for success. As market demand increased the system began to break down. Split
loads became sporadic. Loads that were scheduled to split at City A would
mistakenly continue on with both trailers going to City B, where product would
spoil unwanted. Drivers even began splitting loads that were not to be split.

Customers that were not receiving their orders would then fine the company; and
to compensate, they placed larger than normal re-orders to build up stock levels
- further throwing off the producer’s production forecasts and outstripping production
capacity.

Running out of excuses, the company began shipping free product via airfreight,
just to keep customers from leaving. The cumulative result was not only an
exponential increase in shipping costs, but unsatisfied customers and strained
production lines. Stressed-out managers scrambled to fight the fires this
problem constantly created.

All told, this problem represented a direct cost of over $28,000 dollars every
time it occurred; which historically happened an average of 14 times a year.
That is almost $400,000 annually!

By trusting in a system that had worked in the
past, the company had accepted avoidable loss as a cost of doing business for almost 3
years. Worse, my calculation can’t even begin to account for all the indirect
(soft) costs associated with the loss of goodwill, added production complexity,
lost floor space, lost opportunities, etc.

The Solution:

The root cause was so uncomplicated it was routinely overlooked. Drivers were
not being consistently informed when they were required to stop in City A for a
split load, and could not identify when it was necessary.

The simplicity of the solution might surprise you. There was no need to rework
shipping schedules, to redesign existing documentation, or to re-train staff.
The drivers simply needed to be made aware that they were carrying a split load.

To distinguish a split load from a regular load, a stamp was purchased which
printed, “SPLIT” boldly on the manifest. With this label, drivers knew
immediately what was intended without having to be told directly, and without
having to rely on what happened “last time”. The incidence of missed split
loads was completely eradicated with the introduction of a $40 self-inking
stamp.

Too good to be true?

Management was shocked. “That was too easy,” they said, “anyone could have
figured that out!” They were confused that the problem had existed so long and
had cost so much, while the solution was so obvious and inexpensive. It wasn’t
the grand explanation they had expected.

I explained that the reason they failed to see the problem was because they had
been too busy fighting the fires that the problem created. Further, they had not
engaged their employees, their transport company or their customers in finding
the source of the problem. Finally, they had trusted a system that was designed
to cope in a static environment, where split loads occurred at very regular
intervals. They were used to pouring money into a bad system to make it work. I
provided a fresh perspective.

Once in place, the company was ecstatic with the result - who wouldn’t be
happy with a 10,000% return on investment? The $40 stamp paid for itself within
the first hour it was used. Big savings don’t always require big investments.

What Do We Need To Change?

2008-10-17T12:17:00.001-07:00

In order to create a performance improvement we have to do something different from what we do now. If we don’t do something different how can we possibly expect to make a change?

The first problem we have is finding out what the thing is that we need to change.

Many management models have been tried all with varying levels of success, from Kaizen to Six Sigma, TQM and a host of others.

These models are not wrong, but they all suffer from the same failing.

Somewhere in each instruction book there is a phrase that says something similar to,

“The key to the successful implementation of this model is ownership”

Then we turn the page and begin the new chapter without ever coming across the instruction that tells us how to create “Ownership”

Ownership is a word that has been used and abused for years but very few people are able to give it a meaningful definition.
Without understanding what it is, how is it possible to create the conditions to allow it to happen?

I prefer to think of ownership as the way that we feel about something.

If it is mine, I own it, I will take care of it.

If it is not mine I won’t take care of it, why should I? I don’t own it!

The problem we have just created is that we have just defined ownership as the ability to care about something.

That concept may be very well in a soft pink cuddly way but it hardly has a place in a Business conversation.
We want to talk about percentage points, hard savings, value added and other assorted sexy business type words.
Businessmen don’t want to talk about caring.

But wait a minute!

How many people ever wash a hire car?

Not many.

Why should we?

If the hire car doesn’t belong to me, why should I care?

And yet most of us take care of our own cars.
They don’t come with washing instructions and nobody tells us to wash them, but we do wash them, we maintain and look after them.

We take care of them because they are ours.

After two years the hire car that we did not wash has a residual value of practically zero because nobody will buy a car that has been driven for two years by people who did not care for it.
The hire car company has no option, the hire car is scrapped.

But your own car has got a residual value after two years.
After two years your own car is worth ten or twelve thousand pounds.
You can realise that value by selling the car or you can continue to use it reliably for another ten years.

Suddenly the care that we gave the car that we owned has got a financial value.
We can now say that the value of the care that we gave our car is the cars residual value of ten or twelve thousand pounds.
A residual value that the car we did not care for does not have.

Now we have a solid measurable effect on the bottom line that is directly attributed to our ability to care.

The suggestion at the beginning of this article is that we have to first understand what we have to change before we can figure out how to change it.

I suggest that what we have to change is the way that people feel about their work.
We have to allow them to start to care about what they do.

The first reaction to the suggestion that we can change the way people feel about their work is that it is nonsense.
How on earth can we change the way people feel and where is the profit in it?

We have already seen where the profit is, and changing the way that people feel about their work is something that happens every day and is as often as not reported on the news, except that we don’t recognise it for what it is.

Several years ago I was watching TV and I saw an interview with Rod Eddington, the Chairman of British Airways.
He was understandably complaining about the market share that he had lost to Ryanair, Easijet and the other budget airlines.
But he was also being quite bullish about it.
He said that in the previous 3 years he had reduced British Airways operating costs by five percent.

What he didn’t say was that in those same three years he had made Sixteen Thousand of his staff redundant.

The question that I have to ask is, How did the people who remained working at British Airways feel when they found out that 16,000 of their colleagues had been made redundant?

Did they feel good about it? Did it make them feel Secure? Did it increase their trust in BA?
I don’t think so.

But think back a few years to the time before the redundancies.
Think about the sort of person who used to work for British Airways.
Their staff was made up of people who had dreamed at school of being the pilot in the Raybans relaxing in the big seat at the front between Tokyo and Paris, or the stewardess whose flip answer to the question “Where are you going for the weekend” was truthfully and smugly, “Barbados”.
British Airways staff were good people who had competed for their jobs and having won, were living their dreams and getting paid for it.
They were proud, motivated, and they cared about what they did.

Three years later and the redundancies had changed the way that every member of staff who had not been made redundant felt about their jobs.

This is the sort of change that occurs with monotonous regularity in industry.
A caring and productive workforce is changed by what is done to them by their managers into one that turns up for the pay check and has no other interest in being there.

British Airways changed the way their staff felt about their jobs.
But they changed in the wrong direction.

They are not the only organisation to have done so.

To create a sustained performance improvement we need to change the way people feel, but we have to do it in the right direction.

We have to allow them to start to care about what they do.

If this sounds difficult, consider, most people want to do a good job, they want to care about what they do.

The only thing that stops them from caring is what is done to them in the work place.

To make the change all we have to do is to find out what is stopping the workforce from caring, then stop doing it.

Turn Your Team Into Top Performers

2008-10-17T12:16:00.000-07:00

Most of us have known a few LOSERS in our career. Problems
surface and we face challenges. Who are the ones we call
losers? Where did they come from? How did we end up with
them on our payroll? Who hired them?

Complainers, out on Monday, sick every other week, demanding
and always looking at the clock to go home or slip out early.

What do you do? You have hired someone who has turned into
a bad influence on your staff. Unacceptable behavior cannot
be tolerated. Something has to be done. Immediately!

DAMAGE CONTROL

Now your concern is with other employees. One bad apple can
create problems with other staff members. How can we avoid
damaging the goodwill while trying to correctly handle the
challenges with one troublesome employee?

Shall we take the easy way out? FIRE the troublemaker!
Get him or her out of the company as quickly as possible.
Simply do NOT put up with such behavior. Maybe there are
some options that a good employer would bring into play.

WHAT SHALL WE DO?

Will behavior modification work? Shall we first look for
GOOD things that our employee is accomplishing? A little
praise may go a long way toward our goal.

Sometimes an employee has NO clue regarding acceptable
performance. No one has ever taken the time to explain
levels of acceptable behavior. Accomplishing tasks in a
reasonable period of time. Cooperating with team members.

How does he or she stack UP? Compare with other employees?
Is there a CONTRACT between management and employees?
Goals are shared and explained with the entire staff.

Everyone has a HOT button! There is something internal that
guides and motivates each one of us beyond our limits.
Search for that SOMETHING in each employee.

Ask your employees about THEIR goals. Where do YOU want to
be in 2,3 or 5 years from now? Can we help each employee
reach his or her full potential?

Sometimes we find that an employee simply does NOT fit.
There is an old saying, "you can lead a horse to water but
you can't make him drink." Same idea goes for an employee
who simply is in the wrong place. Does NOT match up to
expectations.

COMPENSATION

Could the money be an issue? Is the boss overpaid while
the workers are getting the "short end" of the payroll?
Something to review and fix when necessary. Resentment
can rise up and cause poor performance. Watch for this!

Most businesses have associations. JOIN immediately if
you are NOT already a member in good standing. Become a
contributor. Attend the meetings. Go to the annual
conventions. Share your expertise. Learn from others, too.

Compare YOUR store, office, warehouse, etc. with each
other. Is one location way out in front of the others?
Is one store lagging far behind? WHY? There is a reason.

Your problem may be the Manager. If you cannot figure it
out then ASK for help. The answer can be very subtle.
It's hard to find the problem when we are too close.
Bring in an outsider who can SEE beyond our focus.

An old saying comes to mind. Fix the PROBLEM rather than
the blame. Our SYSTEM may be out of "whack" rather than
our "LOSER" employee.

MANAGEMENT

Challenges are faced immediately rather than hoping they will
go away. Today's Manager is KEY to high morale, customer
satisfaction, employee loyalty and keeping ethical guidelines
in the forefront. Nip it in the bud!

There is NO place for excessive absenteeism, sexual harassment,
vandalism or theft in the workplace. Internal conflicts must
be dealt with promptly to avoid gridlock.

Are there issues from both sides of the isle? Maybe a simple
misunderstanding has taken place and can easily be resolved.
Listening before jumping to conclusions will prove to be a
good management practice. Too often overlooked.

Be sure your actions are well founded. Know ALL the facts
BEFORE you get "trigger" happy and make a bad decision. Don't
lose a potentially good employee because some hasty reaction
caused a bigger problem.

NEGOTIATE

Get a "buy-in" from every employee. Let each one know your
plan. How they can participate and grow. Earn bonus money.
Be specific! Don't be greedy. Share the spoils with the team.
Generate enthusiasm.

MOTIVATE

Performance "feedback" is an imperative. Everyone needs to
know. How am I doing? How do I stack UP with the team?
Am I on target? Reaching expectations?

Be available and willing to communicate. Let your staff
know how to reach you whenever necessary. You are their
advicessory. Guide. Confident.

Establish "reach-able" milestones. Review. Adjust the plan.
Keep expectations and goals within proper limits. Don't expect
the impossible. Be sure to make adjustments as necessary to
keep your staff motivated.

How to Squeeze More Out of Every Day and Still Have Time to Play in the Evenings!

2008-10-17T12:15:00.001-07:00

Wouldn’t it be great to have all the time in the world to do everything we needed to?

Wouldn’t it be great to just once be able to cross everything off our “to do” lists?

Wouldn’t it be great to finish every night at 17.30pm, go home and not worry about the mass of things we have to do tomorrow?

In today’s manic world it often seems we have no time to get all of our work done, let alone have time to ourselves – time to do those things we never seem to get round to. Like go to the gym or have a dental check up? Sound familiar?

So often we hear endless advice on how to effectively manage our time. However, you and I both know there is no such thing as time management – only management of ourselves.

I’m going to share with you 2 key ideas that over the years have made a massive difference in ensuring that I make the best use of my time on a day to day basis.

Both of these relate to our fond friend – The TO Do List!!

Anyone can make a list- I’m sure we’ve all come into the office 30 minutes early on a Monday morning to make a fresh list and then feel very contented that we’re organised and prepared for the day. However, come 2pm, this beautifully constructed list all of a sudden has grown, not shrunk!!!!

Furthermore, we have arrows and quickly scribbled notes over what was previously an attractive, beautifully written to do list.

So here’s what to do.

The next time something happens that compromises your list – be it a phone call, email, text – Do nothing for 30 seconds

Why? Because guess what happens when the vast majority of people pick up a phone. That’s right – they all of a sudden forget their lovely structured list and immediately action what was talked about on the phone. Then whilst doing this, another call comes in, so then that second call then becomes the next area to action. Two hours later all the best laid plans from the early morning are left in tatters.

By doing nothing for 30 seconds, we are forcing ourselves to prioritise whether or not the phone call is actually more important than what we were currently doing. It ensures we are prioritising the list in the correct way and are working effectively rather than efficiently. You and I both know;

“Efficient is doing things right…

…Effective is doing the right things right!”

The second key idea for you is based on the classic Mark Twain line;

“When you have to eat a frog, don’t look at it for too long!”

Yes, it’s all about Procrastination – the thief of time!

People have an obsession with stroking things off lists!! It doesn’t matter what it is. I know some people who always put at the top of their lists – “Write a list” – just so they can stroke it off when they’ve finished the list!

It gives everyone a great feeling of accomplishment to have one less thing to complete. However, this obsession brings with it a major problem. It means that the first things we concentrate on tend to be those tasks that don’t take a long time to do, are easy, or just happen to be far more appealing than the other items that remain. This is why we always seem to have the same task on our lists for 6 weeks. We make ourselves busy doing lots of other things, constantly justifying to ourselves why these easy tasks should be finished ahead of what we know should have been actioned first!

So here’s the key idea – Start with the worst first. Compile your list and make sure the most awkward, the most difficult and the least appealing task is top of your agenda.

This has 2 major benefits;

Firstly it means that when the task is finished we feel good about ourselves and can look forward to the rest of the day without this dark cloud hanging over us (we’ll have eaten the frog!).

Secondly, it actually transpires that this nightmare task was actually not half as bad as we thought it would be - the fact we had put it off for so long has meant we over dramatised the difficulty in completing it!

Try these 2 ideas over the coming weeks. It will ensure your “lists” become an effective self management tool and that you are more in control and of course…

It will guarantee you squeeze more out of every day and still have time to play in the evenings!

The REAL International Gold Standard: The Leadership Talk

2008-10-17T12:13:00.000-07:00

Working with thousands of leaders during the past 21 years in the global economy, I have found that most of them don't have a clue. They may know to some extent how to do business on a global level. But to exert the right kind of leadership on that level eludes them; so when I first meet them, they're usually getting the wrong results or the right results in the wrong ways.

Of course, there are many successful global companies and leaders, but my experiences teach that they are successful not because of but in spite of their leadership activities. They may do things right; but they are not doing the global leadership things right. If they got that leadership right, they'd be getting a lot more results.

Clearly, the challenges of leading on a global scale are daunting. Differences in time zones, cultures, currency dynamics can be vexing. But one thing is the same. It takes leadership for organizations to succeed – leadership that must drive results, not now and then, not ad hoc, not in patches but consistently in all cultures simultaneously.

First, let's understand what kind of leadership is needed to achieve such success. Then I'll give you a powerful tool to make it happen.

Leaders do nothing more important than have people get results. There are two ways for leaders to get results, order people to go from point A to point B or have the people want to go from A to B. Clearly, the latter is more effective in getting results. Today, with speed, flexibility, and teamwork being driving global competitiveness, the order-leader who tyrannizes and micro manages can't compete against the leader who can build motivated teams to get results.

The days of the order-leader are not just numbered. They're over. Today, leadership is motivational or its stumbling in the dark. Because in terms of achieving more results faster continually, the order is the lowest form of leadership. Here's why: Until recently, ever since the beginning of the Industrial Revolution, the order-giving way of leadership has flourished. Order comes from a Latin root meaning "to arrange threads in a woof". In the Revolution's early years, captains of industry dealt with the uneducated country folk in their factories by ordering them where, how and when to work. The most efficient and effective production methods were created when workers were "ordered" or ranked like threads in the woof of production lines.

Refined and empowered by the Victorian culture, with its patriarchal power structure and strong links to Prussian military organization and dictates, the culture of the order-giver reached its zenith in the United States after World War II.

In the following decades, with most of the industrialized world recovering from the war, many U.S. businesses were like ocean liners plowing through relatively calm seas, their leaders, like liner captains and mates, running things by getting orders from superiors, giving orders to subordinates and making sure those orders were carried out.

But with globalization, businesses worldwide are undergoing changes as radical as any since the Industrial Revolution. With competition increasing dramatically, with the volume and velocity of information multiplying, with information becoming accessible to more and more people, with the traditional, pyramidal structures of order-giving flattening, leaders today need skills akin not to ocean liner piloting but white-water canoeing.

Order leadership founders in an environment where lines of authority are dynamic, information widely disseminated, markets rapidly changing, and employees empowered. In such an environment, new leadership, motivational leadership, is needed.

In short, the leader who can "have" others get results. That means global leadership is essentially motivational leadership.

That's the kind of leadership needed to achieve such success. Now, here's the tool to make that leadership happen. That tool is The Leadership Talk. Here's what the Leadership Talk is all about.

When it comes to realizing motivational leadership around the world, there is a hierarchy of verbal persuasion. This hierarchy extends to people everywhere, no matter what their culture, what job they hold, or what ambitions they have.

The lowest levels of the hierarchy are speeches and presentations. They communicate information. The highest level, the most effective level is The Leadership Talk. The Leadership Talk not only communicates information. It does something much more. It establishes deep, human, emotional connections with people.

The question isn't, "Why is this connection necessary in terms of getting organizational results?" (After all, the answer is obvious.), the question is, "Why is the Leadership Talk the gold standard for international leadership?"

For one thing, I've had top leaders in top companies worldwide applying it for more than two decades, and it simply works. It's all about helping leaders get what I call "more results faster, continually." You can get those kinds of results on a global scale without the Leadership Talk.

The Leadership Talk is motivational, action-focused, results oriented anywhere it's used.

That's because its key process, the Three-trigger Motivational Process, is tied to universal human motivators.

I emphasize process -- which is a sequence of specific steps to achieve a particular outcome -- because it's not good enough to motivate people now and then, we must do it consistently. Process promotes consistency and advances the quality, quantity, and dependability of results.

The Leadership Talk process I'm going to show you has been working for many hundreds of leaders for nearly 20 years. It's called The Three-trigger Motivational Process. And it's the basis of all my leadership processes.

Note that the triggers are in the form of questions. 1) DO YOU KNOW WHAT THE AUDIENCE NEEDS? (2) CAN YOU BRING DEEP BELIEF TO WHAT YOU'RE SAYING? (3) CAN YOU HAVE THE AUDIENCE TAKE RIGHT ACTION?

When facing a leadership challenge, if you say "no" to any one of these questions, you can't give a Leadership Talk.

(1) DO YOU KNOW WHAT THE AUDIENCE NEEDS?

Winston Churchill said, "We must face the facts or they'll stab us in the back."

When you are trying to motivate people, the real facts are THEIR facts, their reality.

Their reality is composed of their needs. In many cases, their needs have nothing to do with your needs.
Most leaders don't get this. They think that their own needs, their organization's needs, are reality. That's okay if you're into ordering. As an order leader, you only need work with your reality. You simply have to tell people to get the job done. You don't have to know where they're coming from. But if you want to motivate them, you must work within their reality, not yours.

I call it "playing the game in the people's home park". There is no other way to motivate them consistently. If you insist on playing the game in your park, you'll be disappointed in the motivational outcome.

(2) CAN YOU BRING DEEP BELIEF TO WHAT YOU'RE SAYING?

Nobody wants to follow a leader who doesn't believe the job can get done. If you can't feel it, they won't do it.

But though you yourself must "want to" when it comes to the challenge you face, your motivation isn't the point. It's simply a given. If you're not motivated, you shouldn't be leading.

Here's the point: Can you TRANSFER your motivation to the people so they become as motivated as you are?

I call it THE MOTIVATIONAL TRANSFER, and it is one of the least understood and most important leadership determinants of all.

There are three ways you can make the transfer happen.

* CONVEY INFORMATION. Often, this is enough to get people motivated. For instance, many people have quit smoking because of information on the harmful effects of the habit

* MAKE SENSE. To be motivated, people must understand the rationality behind your challenge. Re: smoking: People have been motivated to quit because the information connecting the activity with many kinds of diseases is absolutely compelling.

* TRANSMIT EXPERIENCE. This entails having the leader's experience become the people's experience. This can be the most effective method of all, for when the speaker's experience becomes the audience's experience, a deep sharing of emotions and ideas, a communing, can take place.

There are plenty of presentation and speech courses devoted to the first two methods, so I won't talk about those.

Here's a few thoughts on the third method. Generally speaking, humans learn in two ways: by acquiring intellectual understanding and through experience. In our schooling, the former predominates, but it is the latter which is most powerful in terms of inducing a deep sharing of emotions and ideas; for our experiences, which can be life's teachings, often lead us to profound awareness and purposeful action.

Look back at your schooling. Was it your book learning or your experiences, your interactions with teachers and students, that you remember most? In most cases, your experiences made the most telling impressions upon you.

To transfer your motivation to others, use what I call my "defining moment" technique, which I describe fully in my book, DEFINING MOMENT: MOTIVATING PEOPLE TO TAKE ACTION.

In brief, the technique is this: Put into sharp focus a particular experience of yours then communicate that focused experience to the people by describing the physical facts that gave you the emotion.

Now, here's the secret to the defining moment. That experience of yours must provide a lesson and that lesson is a solution to the needs of the people. Otherwise, they'll think you're just talking about yourself.

For the defining moment to work (i.e., for it to transfer your motivation to them), the experience must be about them. The experience happened to you, of course. But that experience becomes their experience when the lesson it communicates is a solution to their needs.

(3) CAN YOU HAVE THE AUDIENCE TAKE RIGHT ACTION?

Results don't happen unless people take action. After all, it's not what you say that's important in your leadership communications, it's what the people do after you have had your say.

Yet the vast majority of leaders don't know what action truly is.

They get people taking the wrong action at the wrong time in the wrong way for the wrong results.

A key reason for this failure is they don't know how to deliver the all-important "leadership talk Call-to-action".

"Call" comes from an Old English word meaning "to shout." A Call-to-Action is a "shout for action." Implicit in the concept is urgency and forcefulness. But most leaders don't deliver the most effective Calls-to-action because they make three errors regarding it.

First, they err by mistaking the Call-to-Action as an order. Within the context of The Leadership Talk, a Call-to-action is not an order. Leave the order for the order leader.

Second, leaders err by mistaking the Call as theirs to give. The best Call-to-action is not the leader's to give. It's the people's to give. It's the people's to give to themselves. A true Call-to-action prompts people to motivate themselves to take action.

The most effective Call-to-action then is not from the leader to the people but from the people to the people themselves!

Third, they error by not priming their Call. There are two parts to the Call-to-Action, the primer and the Call itself. Most leaders omit the all-important primer.

The primer sets up the Call, which is to prompt people to motivate themselves to take action. You yourself control the primer. The people control the Call.

The primer/Call is critical because every leadership communication situation is in essence a problem situation. There is the problem the leader has. And there is the problem the people have. In many cases, they are two different problems. But leaders get into trouble regarding the Call-to-action when they think it's only one problem, mainly theirs.

For instance, a leader might be talking about the organization needing to be more productive. So, the leader talks PRODUCTIVITY.

On the other hand, the people, hearing PRODUCTIVITY, think, YOU'RE GOING TO GIVE ME MORE WORK!

If the leader thinks that productivity is the people's problem and ignores the "more work" aspect, h/she's Call-to-action will probably be a bust, resulting in the people avoiding committed action.

Let's apply the primer/Call dynamic to the productivity case. The leader talks PRODUCTIVITY: but this time uses a PRIMER. The primer's purpose is to establish a "critical confluence" – the union of your problem with the problem of the people.

In this case, the leader creates a critical confluence by couching productivity within the framework of MORE MEANINGFUL WORK.

The primer may be: LET'S GET TOGETHER AND SEE IF YOU CAN COME UP WITH AN ACTION PLAN THAT WILL ENSURE THAT THE PRODUCTIVITY GAINS YOU IDENTIFY AND EXECUTE WILL ENABLE YOU TO WORK AT WHAT'S REALLY MEANINGFUL TO YOU.

Note what we've done: The primer is LET'S GET TOGETHER AND SEE IF YOU CAN COME UP WITH AN ACTION PLAN.
The actual Call is from the people to themselves: LET'S INCREASE PRODUCTIVITY BY WORKING AT WHAT'S MEANINGFUL.

With that Call, the leader moves from just getting average results (YOU MUST BE MORE PRODUCTIVE: i.e., you're going to solve MY problem) to getting great results (YOU COME UP WITH WAYS TO TIE PRODUCTIVITY INTO MEANINGFUL WORK: i.e., you're also going to solve your problem.)

So, here's what the Leadership Talk Call-to-action is truly about: It's not an order; it's best manifested when the people give themselves the Call; and it is always primed by your creating the "critical confluence" -- they'll be solving their problem as well as yours.

The vast majority of leaders I've worked worldwide are hampering their careers for one simple reason: They're giving presentations and speeches -- not leadership talks.

You have a great opportunity to turbo charge your career by recognizing the power of Leadership Talks. Before you give a Leadership Talk, ask three basic questions. Do you know what the people need? Can you bring deep belief to what you're saying? Can you have the people take the right action?

If you say "no" to any one of those questions you cannot give a Leadership Talk. But the questions aren't meant to be stumbling blocks to your leadership but stepping stones. If you answer "no", work on the questions until you can say, "yes". In that way, you'll start getting the right results in the right way on a consistent basis.

The changing global marketplace can force you to confront a world of differences in cultures, time zones, and currencies; but one thing will always remain the same, the need for great leadership to drive great results. When you use the Leadership Talk consistently in your dealings around the world, you'll be putting into circulation the real gold standard that is recognized and valued everywhere.

How to Inform Employees When You Sell a Business

2008-10-17T12:12:00.000-07:00

What is the best way to inform employees when you sell your business? Wait until the transaction is a done deal.

After many years of representing people who want to sell their businesses, experience has taught me that complete confidentiality about any thoughts of selling are in the best interests of every business owner. Consequently, the best time to make any announcements about selling will be on the afternoon of the day your transaction closes. That announcement should be well rehearsed and should include a personal introduction of the New Owners.

The meeting should be planned in advance so that 100% of all employees are in attendance. In that meeting, you can explain your personal reasons for selling and that, after a diligent search, you have found the ideal New Owners.

You also can explain that you will continue to be involved in the operation of the business for a period of time in working with the New Owners. Then, the New Owners should explain their background, the reasons for being interested in the business and their desire to do whatever is necessary in order to grow the business and create more opportunities for everyone involved. Last but not least, the New Owners should indicate they plan “no changes” and want to meet individually with each employee to get their ideas and suggestions about how to best grow the business.

Typically, any person buying your business will want to keep virtually all of your employees, as they represent a significant portion of the value of your business. Jobs will be lost only in those extremely rare instances when a New Owner intends to relocate a business a great distance, and then normally after a period of both notice and transition.

The fact of the matter is that virtually all employees fare better in the future because a high percentage of New Owners come in with additional capital and a desire to grow their new business. This growth typically spells opportunity for employees who want to grow their careers and who welcome working with a New Owner.

Barry Evans currently has ownership interests in a number of privately owned companies and sits on the boards of a number of West Coast companies. As president of Acquisition Services Group (http://www.acquisitionservicesgroup.com), he has extensive consulting and merger & acquisition experience with an emphasis on the sale of manufacturing, service, and distribution firms. Evans can answer further questions via his e-mail address of barry@acquisitionservicesgroup.com.

Leaning Health - Transforming the Health Service

2008-10-17T12:11:00.002-07:00

Opening Comments

Due to client confidentiality issues, the names and identities of the client hospitals who have benefited from this process have been obscured as no self-respecting management team would like the press to know about their problems with finance and efficiency.

Are We Healthy?

Many people within the UK's National Health Service (NHS) would recognise that there have been a number of significant improvements to the service over the last few years, but these same people would also recognise that there are many further improvements that could (and need to) be made, especially with so many hospitals facing deficits.

This short article has arisen from a number of projects carried out within the NHS to rapidly improve patient pathways in both elective care and emergency admissions, as well as in administrative functions. The aims of this work have been three fold:

• Significantly improve financial performance

• Maintain or improve standards of care

• Increase the overall patient experience

Healthy & Sustainable

Before we start, it is worth stating that many organisations have been able to 'ram-raid' hospitals, making short term, low gain and unsustainable improvements that have irritated administrative staff and lost the support of the clinical teams.

Therefore, there is a balance to be walked, on the one hand, the need to focus on significant improvements, and on the other hand the need to bring the teams with you as they pass through the process.

Over a period of time, we have been trialling a sustainable model for improvement in Health, Local Authorities/Council, Emergency Services and other public sector organisations, based around the PRISM model which is described below:

• P - Prepare the Organisation

• R - Roadmap

• I - Implement

• S - Sustain the Improvement

• M - Maintain the Momentum

The PRISM model uses concepts from Lean, coupled with key tools from Risk Management, Management Development and Cultural Change to provide a framework for sustainable change in complex process environments.

P - Preparing the Organisation

The first, and most important, activity in delivering the PRISM model is to scope the improvement so that the organisation is clearly focused on the right targets. We achieved this with the NHS through a management team level 'Scoping Meeting' to discuss such things as: Objectives, Focus of Improvements, 'Fixed Points' - or things that could not be changed, 'Impact Points' - or things that could influence the success or otherwise of the improvement work, and also identified who would lead the improvements. This was followed by training for the identified 'Process Leaders' who were to lead each stream of improvement.

R - Roadmap

Having got the organisational 'aligned' (in itself not an easy task), the next stage is to gain alignment from those involved in improving the process, which we have achieved through Value Stream Analysis Events (VSE) which are undertaken over a 2.5 day period of concentrated effort and use a variety of tools from Lean, Programme Management & Creative Thinking.

The concept of the VSE is to help the participants to see the 'waste' or inefficiency in the current process, using this information to help develop a vision of how good the organisation could be in a 'Blue Sky' state and then coming back to reality by creating a realistic 'Future State' which tries to get them as close to their 'Blue Sky' as possible, taking into account the realism of budgets, resources etc.

Because we then have reference points, as in where the team are starting from (Current State) and where they want to go (Future State), it is then possible to create an implementation plan to execute.

I - Implementing the Improvement

Taking the next element of the PRISM model, we then assisted the team to Implement Improvements through a series of Rapid Improvement Events (RIE) - each lasting 3-4 days and covering up to 4 improvement events. For example, in a recent RIE the teams led three improvement programmes:

1. Using Breast Reconstruction and Total Knee Replacement as examples of common outpatient activity, the first team focused on improving flow through outpatients to enable them to cope with the 18 weeks rule coming in from 2007 onwards for fully booked appointments. The work achieved a saving of over £300k and reduced the lead-time from some 7.5 months to 2 weeks to get a fully booked appointment.

2. Using primarily elective care examples, complicated by issues arising from trauma, or emergency admissions, the second team focused on increasing the ability of theatre to start on time, which resulted in lists starting 'on-time' increasing from 37% to greater than 70%. A secondary benefit of this is that the hospital will be able to operate on 10% more patients without increasing staff workload.

3. The third team focused on Emergency Admission procedures, particularly looking at 'Fractured Neck of Femur' - a problem suffered mostly by older women who have fallen over - and 'Max Fax' (Maxillofacial) - often suffered by young, drunk men in fights, where the focus was on reducing the time from DTA (Decision to Admit) to the patient being operated on, as well as increasing efficiency. The result was that processing times have dropped from an average of 9 hours to around 3 and there is a potential to save more lives every week through a significantly improved patient pathway.

One of the greatest side effects of the work undertaken has been some of the comments we have received on our journey, including such things as:

"The process is stressful, but delivers more than any other change programme we have done previously."
Assistant Director (Elective Care)

"It is certainly a radically different and exciting way to improve patient pathways quickly, efficiently and safely."
Operations Director

"The work really complements the improvement work we already have to do, but brings a refreshing, high impact approach to our traditional methods."
Service Improvement Manager

S - Sustaining the Gain

Making improvements in Health is one thing, sustaining them is another and the fourth element of the PRISM model is concerned with Sustaining Improvements through a 'Change Agent Development' (CAD) programme which focuses on developing the technical and leadership skills of the 'Process Leaders' who lead the areas being improved, by combining profiling with leadership and 'Lean', enabling them to sustain and improve the process which have been transformed.

M - Maintaining the Momentum

It is important to recognise that sustainable transformational change takes time, and we have found that it can require up to 1 year to become embedded and for organisations to realise all the benefits that are possible, including the teams becoming familiar with the process. This doesn't mean that hospitals have to spend a year before there are any improvements as these accrue every month, actually it means that to realise the full benefits, which are measured in millions and sometimes tens of millions, whilst also improving the patient experience and staff morale, requires continual focus over an extended period.

The last element of the PRISM model is to 'Maintain Momentum' which is concerned with ensuring the organisation continues to achieve benefits over the extended journey it needs to go through. This includes re-scoping the improvement, planning further activities and getting the Change Agents 'up to speed' and capable of running events in their own right.

Without this on-going focus, there will be a tendency to 'drift' and for people to revert to previous ways of working and more importantly, previous ways of making improvements, which without the focus on Rapid Improvement will often prove to have less impact and take much longer to achieve.

Closing Comments

The NHS have made significant improvements over the last few years and the professionals who work within it are performing brilliantly, often with broken processes which cause financial as well as 'people' problems, for example some 65% of complaints received by one hospital worked with were related to delays in the way they handled bookings in outpatients.

Combining the professional expertise, with existing improvement tools within the NHS, combined with external expertise and Rapid Improvement tools, is a winning combination for the 21st Century Health Service.

In the words of one Chief Executive, "I would never have believed that so much could be achieved in such a short time and in such a professional and exciting fashion."

HOME::Business/Change-Management X What Gives You The Right? - An Introduction To Managing Change By Andrew Gowans Platinum Quality Author Andre

2008-10-17T12:11:00.001-07:00

Back, (maybe I should say "way back") in the '80's, as a senior manager in Hewlett Packard Ltd.,UK, I was regularly asked to give talks to groups from both the public and private sectors.

The most common themes were People Development, Performance Appraisal, Continuous Improvement and "Managing Change"

I suppose it would be fair to say that my 'presentations' and discussions were somewhat animated with a great deal of walking about and mingling with the audience. So much so that I could not get comfortable with overheads and tended to use two flipcharts on which I could prepare key messages on one and take notes on the other especially when important points were made or questions were not answered fully.

It would also be fair to say that after a while the talks became routine and I always welcomed a challenging group with whom we could have a lively discussion instead of a one-way presentation.

The Question That Almost Threw Me

On one occasion, I had just been introduced and had given a brief overview of the session to a group of around a couple of hundred members of the police force, when this sergeant in the front row piped up...

"What gives you the right to talk about managing change?"

Wow! Did that stop me in my tracks.

Slowly walking over to the flipchart, I'm thinking how do I answer this one?

There was only one thing for it! Flipchart pen in hand, I turned, looked at the sergeant and said:

"Well, let me see" as I started the list

Left home at sixteen

Father died when I was twenty one

Mother died a few years later

Engaged three times

Went through very difficult and painful divorce

Married twice

Moved from Scotland to England (Serious change situation!!!)

Almost bankrupted

Promoted within the department

Promoted to a different department function

"All I can say, sergeant, is that any one of the items on the list can be a significant change situation. Certainly some may be perceived as more serious than others but all change situations need the appropriate due care and attention, especially when they involve others"

While we continued with the discussion following the rest of the presentation part, it became clear that there was a general perception that change or the management of it wasn't a problem for companies such as Hewlett Packard compared to the public sector.

I had never worked in the public sector and, therefore, wasn't prepared to comment other than to summarise by making the following key points...

Yes, we were looked after. Yes, we did have an excellent working environment. Yes, we did have a superb range of benefits. However all of that would pale into insignificance if a change situation wasn't managed properly.

What do I mean by properly?

Before talking about it, make sure we understand it

What is it?, Why is it?, When is it?, Who is effected by it?

Difficult as it may be, do not leave staff to find out on their own

If effected by the change, think it through, what does this mean to me

Plan its implementation, who needs to be involved

What needs to be communicated, by whom and by when

Avoid any attempts to B.S. It will ALWAYS be recognized

Absolutely no question is trivial. Give it due care and attention

If you ask a question, listen to the answer before passing judgement

Don't listen to rumours and, certainly, don't start them!

As always, a lot easier said than done. But, there is one thing for sure, any change situation will always be less controversial, more readily acceptable, and definitely managed a whole lot easier as long as people DOWN and UP the organization Communicate, Communicate, Communicate

This introduction hopefully sets the scene for a series of follow up articles which will look at change and transition in greater detail.

Change Management: Finding the Order in Chaos

2008-10-17T12:10:00.001-07:00

The term ‘change management’ tends to leave people in the dark, often seeming vague and somewhat mystical. “Does it have something to do with counting pennies,” you might ask? In truth, it has little to do with a pocket-full of change and, yet, many similarities.

Change management is more a leadership skill, than an actual job position or title. It is the ability to take any change that affects a company, and to establish a sense of calm and order, out of what many may perceive as a chaotic situation. The changes can vary, some examples being the introduction of a new software program, a change in management, or even something as drastic as relocation. All of these things can create a sense of confusion and frustration in the workforce. Change management is needed, in order to keep the train on its tracks, and to help employees adjust as quickly as possible.

Change managers possess the ability to analyze the situation, set up public relations with those it affects, and to motivate the workforce towards acceptance of this change. Their purpose is to jump right into the mess, grab everyone’s attention and point out a goal, in such a fashion that it is understandable and will encourage others to reach for it. Developing a team, establishing individual jobs, and determining a team leader quickly tips the scales, changing chaos into order. While people typically resist change; most embrace it, when shown a route to overcome it.

A valuable asset to any company, change management is essential to making things run smoothly. Much like a handful of coins, it begins with the simple ability to sort things out and, when used correctly, adds up to money in the bank. While it’s not always easy to turn a chaotic workforce into a smooth-running operation, change management develops a sense of order and motivates the team towards adopting the change. Once that is accomplished, you’ve won the hardest battle.

Creating Your Environment For a Different Kind of "Green"

2008-10-17T12:08:00.000-07:00

In the last 35 years, both awareness and concern for our natural environment have become incorporated into our consciousness. Natural fibers, recycling, biodegradable goods, concern for natural habitats, the disappearing ozone layer, and second-hand smoke are all concepts that have filtered into our personal and business behaviors.

The result of this awareness is a pretty good understanding of the interdependence we have with our natural environments and reasons to respect them. I wonder - do we have a similar appreciation for the contribution of our working environments to our business success? Do we understand the relationship between the environment in which we work and our ability to be creative and productive while working? Do we understand the many ways in which we can create an environment that fosters important business qualities - loyalty, enthusiasm, desire to contribute, creativity and productivity - both for ourselves and, if we have them, our employees?

I'm sure we all remember the popular debate about nature vs. nurture -the impact of genetic heritage vs. the environment in shaping who we are, our values, behaviors and attitudes. Regardless of which feature wins in the end, environment has a huge impact on personal attributes.

We rarely think about this, I'm sure, yet we all inhabit a variety of "environments" affecting our business life. Some are obvious - we know that if we're cold, in the dark and hungry, work is not likely to be at the top of our priorities until those 'environments' are corrected. Some are not so obvious yet have considerable impact, just the same. And, if not consciously designed and nurtured, our working environments can have a major impact on business success, affecting a business' ability to attract and keep desirable employees, attendance, creativity, productivity, general work habits, team effectiveness, use of time, valuable communications; essentially all those qualities a business depends on to get the job done.

We can think about this another way. When developing products, don't we bend over backwards to give them all the support we can to ensure they'll succeed and thrive? We find funds to develop and promote them, we find champions who'll support their development, we find partners, test markets, affiliates and more. Just as you would provide a new product or service, every working person deserves all the support available to ensure success - for themselves and for the contribution they make to your business. Part of this support comes from the environments in which we all work.

Consider these and how they affect your business:

1. Relationships - Our colleagues, managers, employees, and associates. The people with whom we have regular contact create an environment of attitude, either supporting or defeating our efforts to complete tasks. Are you likely to try something new, submit a proposal, follow through on a pet project, volunteer your ideas if those around you are negative, denigrating, rude and unappreciative? Do you think similar attitudes affect the degree of interest your employees have in doing excellent work? In wanting to do more than the minimum required? You bet they do.

On the other hand, an environment of support, regular feedback, appreciation, ongoing communication, and encouragement for contribution can be created with little cost and huge payback for your business.

2. Networks - Our customers, partners, web relations, the '6-degree' circle of associates we all possess. What we know, who we know and how well we share our knowledge, contacts and tips create an environment of value. Possessing a mentality of abundance (a willingness to share, knowing that by giving you get in return, believing that others' success can be your success) creates a reputation for you of great value. A mentality of scarcity (believing that there's not enough to go around, that shortage creates value, that fear is a great motivator) is far less likely to reap you the true rewards of networking: being let into the enormous webs of valuable connections represented by all those business cards exchanged at monthly business meetings, luncheons and seminars.

3. Physical - The things with which we surround ourselves. Yes, as I pointed out above we don't work well in the cold or dark and who can concentrate over a grumbling tummy? Many of us use art, plants or favorite toys to liven up a work space. Just ask yourself this question: where are you when you're doing your best work? If it's your working space you're lucky. Wherever it is, what's in that space that's so supportive of your business activity? Colors you enjoy? Music that pleases you? Photos that evoke your personal life, hobbies or passions? Comfortable furniture? Access to others? Solitude?

If you know the things you have in your working space support your business activity, have you offered the same opportunity to your employees? If you do your best work when out of the office, how can you bring to your office those touches that embrace your work habits?

4. Your self - Health, personal gifts, values, energy, the attitude with which we face the world. We know that when we don't feel well, physically, we simply are less likely to produce our best work. We're easily defeated by a cold, summer or otherwise. The same can happen if we're doing work that doesn't take advantage of our personal skill set. I love to write and interact with people in business conversation; if I had a job that didn't allow me to do either I'd express far less passion for the work than if I could express myself through those activities I most enjoy. Or think how difficult it can be to produce quality work if we're in an environment that contradicts our values. If you (or your employees) have to check your sense of integrity at the door each morning, you're coming to work with an important component missing.

Take a look at your employees; is it possible they're simply not engaged in the best tasks they could be doing for you? Do you know what their true strengths are and are those gifts engaged in service to your business? Do you know specifically why they your employees work for you and whether you can enhance that reward for them with the right environment?

Bottom line: Does your place of business provide an environment in which employees are supported to do their best work for you? Are they encouraged to learn, read, maintain professional affiliations that will increase their effectiveness for your business?

Creating an environment that supports your business may be trickier than just providing the necessary physical tools and working space but it doesn't have to be costly. It calls for taking a look at the messages your employees get from all the environments in which they operate on your behalf and ensuring those messages say 'your work is valued and vital to the health of this business; how can we support you toward that goal?'

When is the ideal time to create environments that will support all the work you do to create a business that thrives? NOW. Because businesses that thrive create their own kind of 'green' - and you can take that to the bank.

More Change Demands More Leadership

2008-10-17T12:07:00.000-07:00

"Leadership is about coping with change. Part of the reason it has become so important in recent years is that the world has become more competitive and more volatile...doing what was done yesterday, or doing it 5% better, is no longer a formula for success. Major changes are more and more necessary to survive and compete effectively in this new environment. More change always demands more leadership." — John Kotter, "What Leaders Really Do," Harvard Business Review

Change is a fact of life. And as the pace of change accelerates, organizations are being pulled in many directions by factors such as new technologies, customer demands, e-commerce, workforce demographics, business model challenges, fierce competition, shareholder expectations, shrinking cycle times, and shifting work ethics. Now, more than ever, organizations need the bonding glue of a strong culture to hold everything and everyone together.

At the core of a high performance culture is a strong leader who knows where he or she wants to lead their organization, but is highly flexible and opportunistic in pulling teams together to try new approaches, to experiment, and to learn (as well as occasionally fail) their way to success...As Winston Churchill put it, "True genius resides in the capacity for evaluation of uncertain, hazardous, and conflicting information."

And no matter what the information is, leaders always inspire a response, whether positive or negative. They move forward with purposeful action that, like a powerful magnet, both attracts and repels. Those people who are excited by the vision join the team and add to a powerful coalition. Those who are lukewarm or turned off by the vision, values, and purpose quickly turn away. Few are left indifferent and apathetic.

Within the workplace, a leader typically has a clear mental picture of what success looks like for a particular project or, more generally, for a successful team or the organization as a whole. He or she is able to "emotionalize" that picture and bring it alive for people. Leaders impart a sense of trust and credibility by living true to a core set of values or guiding principles – even if they haven't articulated and labeled them. People respond to this leadership because they can clearly see the principles from which it flows. Dorothy Law Nolte's poem, "Children Learn What They Live" was the inspiration for my own poem about team member learning.

Team Members Learn What They Live

If a team member lives with fear,

He learns to avoid risk-taking.

If a team member lives with power,

She learns to resist change.

If a team member lives with mistrust,

He learns to be suspicious.

If a team member lives with control,

She learns how to beat the rules.

If a team member lives with small expectations,

He learns to have a limited horizon.

If a team member lives strictly within reality,

She learns to focus only on what is.

If a team member lives with leadership,

He learns how to take initiative.

If a team member lives with inspiring visions,

She learns how to climb out of reality ruts.

If a team member lives with core values,

He learns how to set priorities.

If a team member lives with a meaningful purpose,

She learns how to tap into a deeper energy.

If a team member lives with growth and learning,

He learns how to manage change.

If a team member lives with participation,

She learns how to be a valued partner.

If a team member lives with emotional intelligence,

He learns how to be a leader.

Tips for Leading Change: Reduce Sabotage-Increase Profits While Moving Through Transitions

2008-10-17T12:06:00.000-07:00

LEADING CHANGE

The momentum of change continues to build. If you or the organization you work with is not prepared for ongoing change then you risk the possibility of being overwhelmed and left for dead by the Superhighway of life! This dramatic metaphor is reported constantly by the predictors of business and economic trends. With technology and Globalization of trade driving these trends, we must learn to adapt, gracefully, to this change or be playing the very difficult role of catch-up.

To illustrate my point, have you notice any changes to your work or family life in the past 30 years? Perhaps you only have to go back ten years. Think back to the late 1980's, home computers were just catching on in a big way (productivity at home, not just games.) Fax machines were beginning to be used on a regular basis in small and large offices. You could still buy phonograph records. Pagers were catching on. Cellular phones were not an industry, yet. E-mail was rare outside corporate networking systems and high tech firms. Cable TV offered 20 choices of programming. The internet was not widely known or used outside of academic and military organizations. I will bet you that even if you have not upgraded into this high-tech world, at a personal level, you find yourself driving down the road with some other driver being distracted by the cellular phone conversation that he is engaged in, instead of full attention to driving.

Some people are actually, techno-phobic about the intimidating rate of change into a technology driven world. This affects business, education, and even social activities. Your children may know more about the internet or computer technology than you do, and if they don't, they are either too young or at risk of missing the "boat." Techno-phobia is an anxiety related disorder that may make people uncomfortable, if not unable to function, in the business world. The competition for dominance in business has driven all the peoples of the world into a race for superiority in high-technology. The rate of this change is increasing exponentially.

The next obvious truth is that we are not physically evolving at a rate that can keep up with this economically driven evolutionary trend. We still have a primitive change response mechanism, the flight-fight response, embedded within us. This governs the way we automatically respond to the stress of change. "Overwhelm" is the subjective, and often physical, response to dealing with the rate of change. What human beings have going for survival is that we are adaptable. But the rate and need for adaptation has generally outstripped our abilities to keep up with the rate of change. Younger workers may be more resilient to change and feel pretty good about the exciting new developments, but in mid-life and for us "Baby-Boomers," the resilience and flexibility may be giving way to the aches and insecurities of our reduced adaptation qualities. There are always examples of "genetic-immunes" who give most mortals a bad rap and feelings of guilt because they are so good at adapting to change. (Or perhaps, they are in denial and "it" will eventually come crashing down on them.)

Knowing this, the balance of this chapter will be spent on offering information and techniques for managing change more gracefully. We can not stop it, or in most cases, control it, however, we can learn to respond more appropriately. By being aware of how we respond to change and engaging in preventive actions, we can minimize, if not eliminate, the symptoms of stress and overwhelm. The two keys will be awareness and then appropriate and effective self-care.

Personal Change Assessment

First, become aware of what transition and change can be like for you as an individual response. You must determine how you react in your own personal way to change. Do you ever feel anxious about the changes swirling around you? Do you lose sleep thinking about these events? Have you ever become aware that you lose focus or are distracted more easily when you find yourself in a period of change? Is anger or frustration closer to the surface when you are in the midst of changes? Does your stomach act up or do your shoulders or jaw get tight as a reaction to external changes?

Read or reread the first chapter of the "Guide to Stress Reduction" (Celestial Arts, Berkeley, CA)to better understand the effects of change and stress. Take the self-guided stress tests. Note the physical and emotional symptoms of stress that you are likely to manifest. This will help you to understand which systems you will need to learn to control to minimize the impact of change on your work and lifestyle. Remember these physical and emotional reactions are very primitive and all healthy people have these responses built in for survival. Awareness of these patterns and your particular way of responding can give you some control over when you react and how you respond to change.

When you examine the Social Readjustment Rating Scale (in chapter one) note that positive, even enjoyable, experiences can be rated as stress producers. Any adaptation, be it positive or negative, requires your habits or lifestyle to change and this can upset your primitive response mechanisms driving them into a stress response that may rob you of health or efficiency. As examples; a new job, a change in work responsibilities, an addition to your family, or even change in your residence may all be viewed as very positive and yet these may prove stressful as you adapt to these new developments.

Since you can not avoid the stress of change and you do not want isolate yourself from positive change, you must learn to control the way you respond to these new situations. Later in this chapter, there will be simple reminders of strategies about relaxation, diet, and exercises that you can adopt to minimize the impact of change. These are brief outlines from other chapters in this book that you may want to study.

Change and The Organization

After your personal assessment process, you need to become more aware of the actual process of change. In the training and consulting work I have done, it has become increasingly apparent that before you can construct a change management system that will work to enhance productivity through change, you must first develop and understand how you and the people around you will respond to the changes that are imposed on you. There are four stages of change that have been commonly identified: Denial, Resistance, Exploration-Emerging, and Commitment.

Remember, with the stages of Denial, Resistance, and Emerging you or your organization may be subjected to a devastating reduction of productivity. Regardless of whether you are in manufacturing, customer service, or research and development; productivity, efficiency, creativity, communication, team work, and certainly "focus" can be impaired if not brought to a resounding halt as a response to change within your life or your organization's operation. Many organizations are in such denial about these negative effects that they stick their heads in the sand as a response and then wonder why key personnel jump ship to avoid the clear danger that this denial brings to future developments.

In the first stage, Denial, the common responses to changes are to pretend that things will just go on and be the same. Assumptions that it will just "go away" or be over soon can turn into apathy or numbness. "Quick fix" motivational programs usually help (if they help at all) only for a brief period. Managers want the problems to go away, but unless they are addressed in a pro-active way, the process can take too long and slow the whole process of change. The best managers will continue to communicate about the change and what will happen. Suggestions of successful actions can be offered and then allow time for these to sink in. Then follow-up with a planning session that will put the preparations for change into action.

The second stage is resistance. Symptoms of this stage surface in many negative forms. Increased anger or disagreements or perhaps worse a withdrawal from the team can occur. People can lose sleep. Workers may feel that they are treated unfairly, having given their best and not be sure that they will survive the coming changes. Self-doubt, anxiety, depression, frustration and fear often increase. Productivity goes way down as the team flounders. Personnel complain and begin to work on their resumes. Sickness, accidents, missed work can often increase. In a company with poor communication and weak management, this may not be addressed in a direct way. People need to come together and communicate not to be isolated with their fears and angers. Each person must be made to feel a part of the eventual change and know their role in the successful outcomes of change.

Managers should exercise good listening and then acknowledge the feelings expressed. Supportive, encouraging, and empathetic responses by supervisors is a very successful strategy in this phase. Be warned, that as a supervisor/manager, it does not serve the organization by slowing the change process by trying to talk people out of feelings or by telling them to "change" or "pull together." People need to vent their fear and frustration without judgments made against them. Social activities like picnics, luncheons, awards can help to enhance communication and community. Even rituals of letting go of the past and the older, familiar ways must be acknowledged and released to make way for the new programs. A healthy acknowledgment that you are all in the process of change together and that there are normal fears and discomforts as a response to these developments.

Exploration/Emerging is the next phase that follows resistance. It is positive because the energy in an organization can begin to flow again. The difficulties are with this released energy there is often chaos and uncertainty. People suffer from frustration, confusion, too many new ideas, too much to do, over preparation and loss of the ability to focus. For certain people who need structure to function well, there is little or none because the change has removed the foundations of older styles of work. Creative energy is needed to capitalize on the future developments. New teams can begin to form with powerful bonds forged by common confusion and unclear focus. As a new form begins to emerge managers must focus on priorities, follow up on projects, provide needed training, set short term goals, and conduct brainstorming, visionary, and planning sessions.

This will help to lead to the final stage of Commitment. This can be seen as the positive developments of teamwork, satisfaction, and clear focus take place. Teams are now ready to refocus on a plan by recreating their mission statement and then building their action plans to reach their goals. Adaptation takes place and news ways to work together develop. New roles are established. Successful team members will identify with the new set of goals and become more clear on how to reach these goals. A good manager will now concentrate on team building and validate/reward those who are responding to the changes in positive ways.

Expediting Change Management within an Organization

To expedite the change process gracefully the skillful manager will be meticulous about good communication throughout this process. When people are uncertain about the changes they are experiencing, poor communication allows fears to grow and sends the wrong message. Support and full, honest disclosure is important and can speed the change process. If you are managing or supervising a team of people, you have the opportunity to develop your talents and skills of communication.

Communication training should be an ongoing process. New personnel or projects create continued challenges to the process of good communication. The following suggestions are very brief and do offer the experiential techniques that are required for older, less effective patterns to be modified. If you are in a position of leading your organization, do not neglect this most important interpersonal discipline.

Good communication begins with receiving and not transmitting. Most problems with communication, be they work related or from personal relationships, come from the inability of one or more of the people involved to engage in the process of listening. A distracting thought or agenda can keep people from focusing on what is being said in the interaction. If you are thinking of your answer/response then you are distracted from the present communication. Good listening is difficult, especially when there are tough emotional issues like survival in the communication. To be an effective listener, you need to do more than hear the words, you need to be aware of all the non-verbal messages that are included. Body language such as facial expressions, shoulders/arms, voice tones and loudness, eye contact, even rate of respiration can tell you a great deal in a communication.

People need to be acknowledged and to be appreciated. You must listen and then respond to what has been communicated with an empathetic response that indicates your sincere caring for the received message. This is not easy. However, the communication can be tangled and the process of change slowed or even stopped by poor listening. Especially when there is a lack of an appropriate acknowledgment for what information was transmitted. This breakdown in rapport between members of the communication causes retreats into resistance.

Tips for good listening:

Reduce environmental distracts and interruptions
Pay attention with your whole body
Make eye contact
Show interest
Ask Open-ended questions (that encourage discussion of feelings)
Listen to the feelings behind the message
Confirm and clarify what you have heard (Restate the main point if you are unclear.)
The best communication is often done face to face in an honest and open manner. Communicating the truth and describing how you truly feel can create trust and empathy for the group involved in the change process. Caution should be taken not to fall into the trap of negative gossip or dwelling on the negativity anymore than necessary. Hint: after releasing frustrations then look for the "glass half full" rather that "half empty."

Clear Communication is most appropriate. In the change management process a supervisor will need to talk to the team or an individual in a face to face meeting. The communication to be complete and clear would include: discussion of the situation (the change to occur), your feelings about this change, what effect the change will have (on you, the group/team, and on the project), and finally, what you want as an outcome. Then you check-in with your partner(s) to assure that your thoughts/feelings were transmitted in a beneficial way.

Dealing with Resistance

Even when communication has been clear, emotions such as anger and fear may still create resistance to change. This is the hardest part supervising a group going through change. Awareness is the first step. Resistance can come from insecurity, threats to feelings of competence, comfort with old systems, and fear of learning new systems. Individuals may manifest resistance through: complaining, errors, withdrawal/apathy/absence, rigidness, or overt anger. A larger organization may see signs of resistance in increased: accidents, worker's compensation claims, absenteeism, sabotage, health care claims, or reduced productivity.

Managers must realize that even though resistance is not easy, it is a sign that people and the organization is going through the change process and not stuck in denial (which can be more comfortable for managers.) Certain individuals may need more support than others with more frequent communication and mechanisms for releasing resentments and guilt. The organization may benefit from appropriate rituals to release the old systems or beliefs as part of the process of moving on to the new systems. Honoring the outgoing systems by communicating the good-byes and associated feelings loss will demonstrate support from the organization and help begin to build a foundation to move on to exploration and commitment to the new changes.

After the releasing of the old systems, the process of embracing the new can begin. For an individual or team, the key to success will be a clear acknowledgment of the purpose of the change and the need to get new goals inplace and planning started. This may involve honoring the motivation that drives individuals and the teams they work within. Developing a positive connection between the motivation and new direction will enhance the rate of success. This process of developing the "Buy-in" by participants can be an ignored but potentially important ingredient. If people do not see their place in the future change or understand why they should participate resistance and sabotage can slow the change process.

Change Management And Getting Invited For a Date

2008-10-17T12:05:00.002-07:00

Resistance is a nuisance. You want to carry on, get up to speed and all kind of people are pulling your sleeves with a lot of questions, criticism and other hindrances that slow you down.

Good for them! And ... good for you!

What would you plan be if nobody resisted?
Is this not what dating is all about? You say; “no really, I can’t make it tomorrow, I’m sorry!” and in the meantime you hope that your date is not off all together. Let him (or her) wait for a bit.

In business it’s quite more complicated, but also there you have a plan and people, departments, that are not willing. At first.

Not in the last place this is because there is not really a plan. Sometimes the plan looks more like a dark tunnel, where I wouldn't step in either. The resistance will help you (and hoefully an increasing number of people with you who are better informed and starting to take some steps) to get thing sorted out.

A good question you will hear in such environments is; “Tell me, What’s in it for me?” This is a buyers question. You buy something, so you want to make sure that you get something in return.

The person at the door, with the nice set of folders should give you an satisfying answer. If he or she can’t, there is no chance, I mean: change.

If people in what ever situation, personal or business, really want something, the effort should be worthwhile.

Like that date: fight for him, otherwise he will be gone.

Managing Change

2008-10-17T12:05:00.001-07:00

How often have you heard the statement, the only thing constant is change. No kidding, right? Anyone living on the planet earth can attest to that statement.

For most of us, the pace of change seems to have picked up dramatically over the past few years, thanks in part to the increased availability and use of technology, as well as the global economy in which we now live and work. Layer on all of the merger and acquisition activity and the ongoing waves of layoffs, and you have a recipe for constant change.

Do you remember the story of the frog and the pan of hot water? If you put a frog in a pan of boiling water, it will leap out instantly. However, if you put a frog in a pan of cold water and gradually turn up the heat, the frog will typically remain in the pan of water because it has an opportunity to adjust to the increase in water temperature.

Unfortunately for most people, when we experience change it often feels like being thrown into a pan of boiling water. So what can you do to avoid becoming frog soup? I find the best way to manage change is to practice a little change every day, particularly when you have the ability to control the change.

What does this mean? Take a new route to work. Visit a musuem during your lunch hour. Buy something new for your office. Pick up a pair of new sunglasses. Volunteer for a new project at work. If you usually drink coffee, try tea. Get a new hairdo. Take an art class. Join toastmasters. Listen to a new radio station. Take Spanish lessons. Visit the zoo.

The list could go on and on and is only limited by your creativity and imagination. The point? Managing change on a small scale when you are in the driver’s seat, helps you to develop the resilience to manage change on a larger scale.

So the next time you find yourself in the midst of change, relax and focus on the possibilities. After all, you’ve been practicing, right? And you never know, it could be fun and you might even like what change comes your way. Otherwise, you might just find yourself eating frog soup.

Dealing with Change and Change Management

2008-10-17T12:03:00.002-07:00

How do you deal with change?

There is a lot of talk about "change" - how important it is, how we should alter the way we do to things at work and in our personal lives in order to be more effective. Sometimes we even hear how it is essential to change even if just for change's sake.

At Impact Factory, we too think that change is important. However we are more interested in the process of change and what the implications of change actually are.

We exist within contradiction. On the one hand, we need stability and perform well when we feel secure and established in our working and home lives. On the other hand we can become stagnant, complacent and uncreative when we shy away from change or when we find we simply cannot cope with it.

How can we bring these two ideas together so that we can rest easier and deal better with change?

One way is to look at how limiting beliefs, patterns and bad habits get in the way of our being able to incorporate change into our lives when it happens.

We cannot usually predict when change will happen, but we can be better equipped to deal with it when it does.

We can look at the limitations we all put on ourselves and how they hold us back from being open to change.

We can start to understand how patterns occur and what we can do to begin altering limiting habits and patterns. And we can look at the various kinds of changes there are and some effective ways of approaching them.

So What Types of Change are there?
Some change is easy; often it is more difficult; and sometimes it can seem downright impossible.

From our point of view there are five kinds of changes:

Straightforward change, like changing your car or changing your hairstyle.
Changing something you already do and relearning a new way, like changing your golf swing.

Changing something that obviously needs changing, but you either don't want to or you can't quite see how it could be done. This kind of change usually involves a habit - for instance, smoking - You know you shouldn't, but you can't seem to stop.

Changing something you absolutely, positively know you can't change. This kind of change is about beliefs.

Change that's imposed upon you, and over which you appear to have no control.

The first three we grapple with every day of our lives. We change in little ways all the time. We may struggle a bit with this kind of change. We may never give up smoking, but they are the kind of things we are conscious of. We can choose relatively easily how we will deal with this kind of change.

Yes, I may struggle over whether to change my hairstyle or not and I may get some comments for a few days, but it is unlikely that a change in hairstyle is going to fundamentally change my life. A lot of other things would have to happen alongside that.

It is the fourth and fifth types of change that can be the more difficult and therefore more challenging and confrontational. Both these types come right up against beliefs that we've created that underpin our whole lives.

The fourth type of change asks us to change a point of view, adopt a way of seeing the world that is at odds with the way we are used to seeing it. This experience can easily tap into our insecurity. We can develop a feeling of unsureness, a sense of not quite knowing what's the 'right' thing to do. There is no longer a predictable, reliable pattern to follow.

The fifth type, imposed change, can often feel like suffering. If we have no say in the matter we can feel like it is being done to us. We can feel cheated or hoodwinked. Often, even those who instigate it will disown this type of change. "We have no choice. The market has changed and we must change with it."

When change is imposed or brings us up against our beliefs we can easily feel disempowered by the experience.

On the other hand, it is also true that some people thrive on change. They can't stay in one job, in one relationship, in one country for very long. They need to shake up their own status quo. They sometimes create change just for the sake of it.

Why Is Change So Hard Sometimes?

We are pattern-making mechanisms. In general, our systems are more comfortable with pattern and routine than with change. Once a pattern is established, our left-brains will quite happily keep marching along that path.

Most patterns get set very quickly; so think what resistance we have when we try to change patterns that have been part of lives for years.

Some patterns are as simple and straightforward as the route we take into work every day. Some patterns are as complex as the way we feel about ourselves.

For instance, the fourth type of change: something I don't believe can change. A limiting belief.

Restricting or limiting patterns that people have are often to do with low self-esteem. These can be the hardest patterns to break. The reason is that a belief system, the pattern, is stronger than the contradictory evidence: it's been around longer.

If, as I'm growing up, I hear over and over again what's wrong with me and what I need to do to in order to improve myself, then I will have a well entrenched belief system established. Even when I no longer have my parents and or teachers to reinforce it, the pattern will persist. Now they are gone I speak to myself with that same punitive voice. So even in the face of evidence that I have done a job well, there will be this voice telling me how it could have gone better.

For me to change that voice I first have to become conscious that it's there. "Oh look, I just told myself off again." Then I have to do a good deal of what you might call reprogramming. I have to talk to myself or with other people about how well I've done. I have to create an opposing voice of acknowledgement and praise to counterbalance the punitive voice.

Paradoxically imposed change can sometimes be easier to deal with. The trick is getting past the – "I don't want to." "It's not fair." "Why me?"

Our dissatisfaction and helplessness about this type of change comes about because we didn't buy into the agreement, we were never consulted.

The only way through this type of change is through negotiation with yourself and other people affected. Relief from the stress and upset caused by imposed change comes about when people choose to accept and commit to the change, to stop fighting or feeling resentful. If this doesn't happen then people leave, move away, get divorced, start sectarian underground movements.

Change is inevitable; and mostly change is for the good. No one lives a life free of change, but sometimes we are afflicted by more change or demands for change than we can cope with. When this happens it helps to look at what change is going to get your attention and effort.

Look for the smallest change that will achieve what is needed and be wary of wholesale change and change for change's sake.

Look also at the fourth type of change, yours and other people's beliefs or ways of seeing things. Changing in this area may be harder work but the end result of people changing their attitude to something can be dramatic.

The Unhappy Couple: Change and Improve

2008-10-17T12:03:00.001-07:00

Imagine that you are with a few colleagues and amongst the four, two go on a journey. This is not a simple holiday, but they are going abroad, they are hired for a different job in another unit of the company. This will take about a year.

In the meantime.
You do not have to go abroad to speak a new language. When I read some articles here at ezinearticles I’ve come across the statement that there are already big differences between the east coast and the west coast in the US. “They speak a different language over there.”

You could travel less to experience language differences within one and the same company. The departmental differences in languages can be huge. A good lesson for all of us would be to reserve one morning and help you colleagues in another department. Experience how they work around ‘there’ and find out what the differences are. It will open your mind (and it is good for the working relations).

Back to the four employees. And back to the moment when the four will meet again after one year. What will happen?

The ones that stayed where they were have learned and improved their working methods. As in other years, the productivity grew by improving their working methods, communication skills, etc.
The two that have been away experienced a complete new environment. When they come back to the original department, the first thing they will do is – after a thorough interaction about the mutual experiences – to bring new ideas in. They want to change the working habits, alter the procedures and probably also introduce a feature they have seen in the other organization.

The four colleagues argue a bit about the advantages and disadvantages, they exchange some more ideas and after a while business will turn back as usual. Or maybe not. Depending on the situation.

Many times a change is not necessary. Ideas are always welcome, newcomers are a fruitful source of fresh ideas (young people are sometimes hired for that goal – to refresh the culture), but what suits well for one organization doesn’t have to be an issue for another. There should be an urgency to change. If that is not the case, you might as well continue the improvement path.

Success Blind Spots: Get Out of Your Own Way

2008-10-17T12:00:00.002-07:00

Why is it that some people appear to achieve exactly what they want in their careers and life almost effortlessly?
While others are stuck?

As an Executive Coach, I hear loads of "external" reasons from my clients about what blocks them from the success they seek--an unsupportive relationship with the boss, constant reorganizations, dried up career paths, lousy market conditions, discrimination and so on. Clearly, all of these justifications and more are valid. But, you've heard it before, and it's true: 99.9% of what keeps any one of us from being all that we can be is an inside job. In other words, each of us has the infinite capacity (and responsibility) to INTENTIONALLY, deliberately create how we want our world to be rather than managing life happenstance as it occurs. Here's the simple formula:

1. What you THINK is what you get. 2. What you SAY is what you get. 3. What you FEEL is what you get.

The reason many of us do not achieve all that we are meant to is that we unconsciously short-circuit, even sabotage, our potential through limiting beliefs, conflicting thoughts and feelings and just plain old bad habits.

Here's an example of a limiting belief: One of my clients had a recent "wake up call" after recognizing that one of her long-held beliefs was invalid: "Hard work and merit alone will be rewarded and "they" will notice and give me the promotion I've earned." Well, you know the rest of the story: She didn't get the promotion and naturally, frustration and anger set in. Her limiting belief so cemented in her psyche, she had failed to see the truth of how it really works in her organization: The "other", more subtle, management skills of managing up, influencing and self-promotion-- what most refer to as "politics"--- are just as, and, in some cases, even more relevant than working hard.

On the other hand, I have a new spinning instructor who exudes extraordinary certainty about what he wants in life. Every bone and cell in his body, every thought spun, every word uttered, are crazy-glued to his core belief that he is here to achieve greatness in the field of personal wellness. And, he is. In warp speed. In a matter of weeks, there are waiting lists to get into his classes, he has more personal training clients than other trainers who have been there for years, his new instructional CD and DVD are in production and he has landed a lucrative contract for spots on a national TV network.

Getting More of What You Want – Advice from Harvard

You obviously already know that getting what you want requires more than reading another positive thinking book or listening to a Tony Robbins tape. Most of the time, we really don't know what's impeding our progress. We just know it doesn't feel good.

In their book, Maximum Success: Changing the 12 Behavior Patterns that Keep You from Getting Ahead, authors James Waldroop and Timothy Butler, Directors of MBA Career Development at The Harvard Business School, identify the 12 habits, or Achilles' heels, that can hold you back from getting ahead on the career front. Which pattern best reflects aspects of yourself? Your co-workers, friends?

1. Never Feeling Good Enough
SYMPTOM: Feeling that you aren't good enough to deserve a promotion; unconsciously sabotaging yourself once you get it

2. Seeing the World in Black and White
SYMPTOM: Resents that the world demands negotiation and the selling of ideas. If something is "right," that should be enough.

3. Doing too Much, Pushing Too Hard
SYMPTOM: Pushes hard and does too much. Causes others to burn out and is destructive within an organization, leaving behind a trail of "dead bodies," or coworkers who couldn't keep up with the pace.

4. Avoiding Conflict at Any Cost
SYMPTOM: Always avoids conflict. Not a peacemaker, but someone who fears change and prevents innovation.

5. Running Roughshod Over the Opposition
SYMPTOM: Runs roughshod over colleagues and clients or willfully defying authority to get attention

6. Rebel Looking for a Cause
SYMPTOM: Always looking for a cause that doesn't exist.

7. Always Swinging For the Fence
SYMPTOM: Swings for the fence and has unrealistic ambitions. Always disappointed at failures, but would have more successes if she could settle for a few singles.

8. When Fear is in the Driver's Seat
SYMPTOM: Focuses on the downside and is defensive and risk-averse; obsesses over all the things that can go wrong

9. Emotionally Tone Deaf
SYMPTOM: Sometimes clueless when it comes to thinking about how others feel and knowing how your behaviors impact others.

10. When No Job is Good Enough
SYMPTOM: Thinks that no job is ever good enough and that life is full of near misses.

11. Lacking a Sense of Boundaries
SYMPTOM: Always talking out of turn. Lets things slip.

12. Losing the Path
SYMPTOM: Work is without meaning. Lost passion about a job, but stays on without energy

Professional Development Challenge – You Can Do It!

Can you "cure" your Achilles' heels? Break old patterns, rewire your beliefs?
Absolutely!
Here are a few simple steps to get you started

1. Sharpen your self-awareness. Pay attention and OBSERVE your own actions, thoughts and feelings. Block weekly introspection time to reflect about the causes and impacts of your particular Achilles' heels. 2. Set up a buddy system to help you monitor your behavior at work and outside of work to give you brutally honest feedback about what you might not see. 3. Deliberately create new ways to apply your personal power and defining strengths. 4. Decide which behaviors you want to change to be a more effective leader, a more fulfilled individual. 5. Engage an objective outsider--such as an Executive Coach-- to help you identify your defining strengths and points of power, blind spots, and an action plan to take your personal potential to the next level.

Leadership – BE the leader who leads YOU to success

Here are my Top 4 recommendations for additional insight about how to unlock more of your phenomenal potential:

1. Maximum Success: Changing the 12 Behavior Patterns that Keep You from Getting Ahead by James Waldroop & Timothy Butler 2. Take an interactive quiz designed to alert you to self-defeating behaviors, and to offer suggestions for overcoming personal habits that may be sabotaging your career success: http://www.fastcompany.com/articles/2000/10/act_waldroop.html 3. Excuse Me, Your Life is Waiting: The Astonishing Power of Feelings, by Lynn Grabhorn. This is a must read! 4. The Other 90%: How to Unlock Your Vast Untapped Potential For Leadership & Life by Robert K. Cooper

Collaboration and Change

2008-10-17T12:00:00.001-07:00

I’m an expert on change and leadership, but my most popular speaking topic this
past year, and the one I’m already getting the most requests for in 2006, is
“Creative Collaboration.” This is because my corporate clients around the world (two
of next year’s programs are scheduled for the UK and Belgium) are realizing that
successful organizational transformation is increasing dependent on employee
engagement – which, in return, is increasingly linked to employee participation in
the change process.

It takes a village – or at least a workforce. Over the past 23 years, I’ve worked with a
variety of very talented leaders, and one thing I know for sure: As talented as a
leader may be, he (or she) can’t transform an organization, a department or a team
without the support and engagement of others. Whether the change involves
creating new products, services, processes - or a total reinvention of how the
organization must look, operate, and position itself for the future - success dictates
that the individuals impacted by change be involved in the change from the very
beginning.

“I think that people will challenge any leader who states, ‘here’s where we’re going!’
before asking the question ‘where do you think we should be going?’ The most
powerful leadership strategy is to allow the group to come to their own conclusions
about what the challenges and solutions are.”
Joseph P. Pieroni, President, Sankyo Pharma

Visioning is a team sport. Today’s most successful leaders guide their organizations
through transformation not through command and control, but through a shared
purpose and vision. Leaders adopt and communicate a vision of the future that
impels people beyond the boundaries and limits of the past. But if the future vision
belongs only to top management, it will never be an effective force for change. The
power of a vision comes truly into play only when the employees themselves have
had some part in its creation.

“We created a vision for the future by engaging everyone in that conversation. Vision
facilitators guided the process for the national organization, at each and every
affiliate, and among the different constituents -- medical directors, clinic directors,
educators, etc. Although my views were strongly represented, everyone’s input was
considered. The result is a cohesive vision that is owned by the entire organization.”
Gloria Feldt, President, Planned Parenthood Federation

Diversity is crucial to harnessing the full power of collaboration. Experiments at the
University of Michigan found that, when challenged with a difficult problem, groups
composed of highly adept members performed worse than groups whose members
had varying levels of skill and knowledge. The reason for this seemingly odd
outcome has to do with the power of diverse thinking. Group members who think
alike or are trained in similar disciplines with similar bases of knowledge run the
risk of becoming insular in their ideas. Instead of exploring alternatives, a
confirmation bias takes over and members tend to reinforce one another’s
predisposition. Diversity causes people to consider perspectives and possibilities
that would otherwise be ignored.

The following is excerpted from a letter to Marriott managers from the Lodging
Director of Diversity: “We must begin to see diversity as an asset to our business
and encourage the special talents and diverse perspectives of each associate to
produce quality service of superior value for all of our customers.”

Relationships are key. The successful outcome of delegating change management to
teams depends on how well you have developed trust-based relationships among
team members. All too often, in the rush to get started on the project, we put
people together and tell them to "get to work." This approach proves less than
productive, as the group hasn't had time to discover each other's strengths and
weaknesses nor to develop a common understanding and vision for the project.

Here’s what a FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) employee had to say
while participating on a conference panel about collaboration in catastrophes: “We
must know others before working together in an emergency. If we are strangers in a
crisis, that is a BIG problem.”

And, by the way, when I’m called on to share my insights on “Creative
Collaboration,” it’s not only to speak about it -- but also to facilitate an actual
session.

That’s because today’s corporation exists in an increasingly complex and ever-
shifting ocean of change. As a result, leaders need to rely more than ever on the
intelligence and resourcefulness of their staff. Collaboration is not simply talking
about the need to seek input from employees. It’s about actually giving them
ownership of change efforts and acknowledging the essential truth - that none of us
is smarter than all of us.

Change at the Work Place - Don't Move that Cheese

2008-10-17T11:59:00.001-07:00

Change in life is inevitable. As sooner as we can adopt to change the better we will be able to position ourselves and make the best out of it. This is especially true when it comes to change at work. Employees are used to a certain routine and settle into the pattern of finding the way of least resistance just to get around and through the day. Change is the last thing employees want to deal with.

Employees fear change because it pushes them into the unknown. They fear change because it could also mean they have to work more and adjust to different procedures. Change could also mean that they suddenly face competition which requires them to revisit how they do things. Change is not convenient. Change destroys the routine they are so used to enjoy.

While the fear of change is natural, employees should try to take control of the fear of change and to turn it into a creative energy. By doing so they actually might discover better ways to do certain things and maybe even to advance at work and gain a better position within the company. But it requires them to step away from the path of least resistance.
Because fear of change is such a strong emotion, it creates an enormous amount of energy in a person. Usually the problem with this is that the additional energy tends to be more negative and eventually destructive (example: turning into a depression). People who experience change see themselves often as the victim. They feel unprepared, threatened in their integrity and inadequate to conquer whatever they may have to face. Important: They feel they have no control over the situation and do not know how take control again.

The insecurity resulting from fear of change decreases the ability to stay motivated and focused on critical issues going on in the work environment. Fear spreads like a disease and fear of change at work can take away the motivation of large groups of workers. With fear of change spreading, employees start making negative comments about all sorts of things to others. This behavior might not be intentional, but the overall damage to motivation and productivity is severe.

New studies show that fear of change does not always have to lead to negative energy. Some companies have already recognized this and actively try to turn fear of change into positive energy and increased productivity. The process to do this is difficult though. Building team spirit and motivational events are one step to fight fear of change. A company needs to identify who feels threatened most by change in the work environment and do appropriate steps to limit the emotional impact of change. Increasing communication when change happens is another key to successfully fighting fear of change. But words should not be just an empty shell as otherwise the effect of change could worsen.

It is up to each company to identify how they want to deal with environment changes and how they affect employees. Some companies decide to do nothing. They are not even officially seeing change as problem. They do not put 1 and 1 together when productivity goes down after a significant change to the work environment happened.

Is your company pro-actively dealing with change?