Self Improvement Information
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Think Twice Before Co-Signing for Anything!

Think Twice Before Co-Signing for Anything! Copyright 2005, http://www.yourfreecreditreportnow.com Author: James H. Dimmitt A few years ago a friend asked me to co-sign on an apartment lease for him. This friend didn’t have perfect credit and couldn’t get the apartment without a co-signer on the lease. He assured me that he was cleaning up his credit; in fact, the manager of the apartment tol. . .

Programs To Help You Fund Your American Dream

Programs To Help You Fund Your American Dream Copyright 2005, http://www.yourfreecreditreportnow.com Author: James H. Dimmitt The American Dream of home ownership is on the rise across the United States. According to the latest figures available, the US homeownership rate reached a record 69.2 percent in the second quarter of 2004, up from 68.3 percent in 2003. And for the first time, the majo. . .

Convenience Can Be Costly - Understanding Cash Advances

Convenience Can Be Costly - Understanding Cash Advances Copyright 2005, http://www.yourfreecreditreportnow.com Author: James H. Dimmitt You’ve just opened your credit card bill and attached to your statement you find a “convenience check” included. It may already be filled out with a dollar amount such as $300, $500, or even $1,000. Your mind fills with ideas of what you could buy with this . . .

Credit Repair Scams

Credit Repair Scams Copyright 2005, http://www.yourfreecreditreportnow.com Author: James H. Dimmitt “Erase Bad Debt !” “Remove Negative Items From Your Credit Report” You’ve probably seen these headlines and others just like it promising to clean up or “fix” bad credit. For someone who suffers from a bad or poor credit rating, these headlines are certainly an appealing offer. Imagine finally b. . .

Protect Yourself From ATM Scams

Protect Yourself From ATM Scams Copyright 2005, http://www.yourfreecreditreportnow.com Author: James H. Dimmitt In this day and age, ATM’s have become a fast and efficient way of getting our hands on our money. But if you’re not cautious, the automatic teller machine can also be a quick way for others to get their hands on it too. Not long ago, ABC News ran a story showing how easy it was to c. . .

Penis Size Paranoia

Hello Internet, How big does a man need to be to satisfy a woman? Read the surprising answer... Introduction Our contemporary world suggests that a man must have a penis that is between 10 and 20 inches or he is an inferior male who cannot really please a woman. As absurd as it may seem, the "media" is constantly suggesting that unless a man has a penis the size of his forearm or the size of a. . .

3 Keys To Overcoming Problems

Are you stuck in a rut? Do you seem to have the same problems popping up time after time? What will it take to finally get you over your problems and into the abundant life? Here are three biblical principles to help you get out of whatever personal problems you’re going through and on the road to achieving the life of your dreams. Have you noticed that almost all of our problems stem from rela. . .

Your Real Estate Investment Team

I had a hard time at first with real estate investment. One of the reasons was that I tended to be a "lone wolf," trying to do too much myself. I've since learned that to really do well investing in real estate, you need to have a team of people you can trust and rely on. Here are some possible team members, and what they need to be on the team. 1. Real estate agent. A licensed agent with exp. . .

New Credit Scoring Model Could Help Millions

New Credit Scoring Model Could Help Millions Copyright 2005, http://www.yourfreecreditreportnow.com Author: James H. Dimmitt Mark and Beth, a young married couple in their twenties, established a goal to buy a home within the first three years of their marriage before starting a family. They budgeted and used their money wisely in order to save for the down payment. Whenever they purchased so. . .

Camping In Montana With Aliens

Ten minutes out of town, we found the dirt road that goes up to Storm Lake. We had been there before, shortly after moving to Anaconda, Montana. The road was hard on the car, but we couldn't resist going. This time we would hike up to the tundra and stay the night. My wife Ana had never been camping above the treeline. There were a couple cars, but nobody in sight. The lake was sparkling in the. . .

A Photocopied Travel Letter To Home

As we drove from Traverse City, Michigan to Tucson, Arizona, I wrote a series of letters, and photocopied them to send to family and friends. This was the first of the three. Travel Letter #1 Saturday, 12/13/03 - Good morning. Welcome to our vacation form letter. We're in Arizona now. The sun is shining and it will be in the sixties today, which should melt the ice on the windows soon. Ana's fo. . .

How to Get The Date Of Your Dreams!

What do people look for in a date? Once you have the answer to this question you will have the power to appeal to any women/man you want. So let's have a look at some of the basics. Remember the saying "you never get a second chance to make a great first impression." Well, as explain in my book "the Ultimate Online Dating Handbook" this statement is also true in the dating world. Did you know . . .

Real Estate Investing Myths

Is real estate investing only for the wealthy? Can you buy with no money down? Do you have to know the "right" people? Let's answer by looking at some of the myths of real estate. 1. Real estate investing is for the wealthy. Money helps, but my first real estate investment was a $3,500 lot - which I sold for a profit two weeks after I bought it. Small deals, partners, low-down deals, or just p. . .

Your Guide to Shopping for an Espresso Machine

You might be a little shocked and surprised when you start your espresso machine shopping adventure. These machines aren't cheap! Not the good ones anyway. But, if you take out pad and pen and do the math, you will quickly decide that a home machine - a good home machine - will pay for itself rather quickly. Let's assume that you buy just one espresso drink per day at the modest cost of $3.50 (. . .

Creativity and Inspiration

Creativity for the mystic has special meaning. In the world of the mystic all is one. This means that there's only one Creator. Your job as an artist, painter or writer is simply to attune with this One source of all creation, listen and report on what you're told. This is the essence of divine inspiration. It's similar to the advice I was given as a young businessman when my boss and I were on. . .

Personal Goal Setting - 10 Tips

Does personal goal setting work? Many people want things, situations or accomplishments, call these goals, and then are disappointed when they don't get them. Call desires goals if you want, but just naming your desires sure isn't effective goal setting. Good goals have some or all of the following: 1. They are specific. "I want to be healthy" is too general. "I want to lose weight and walk th. . .

Can’t Memorize Anything? Why Your Memory Stinks

If you're like everybody I know and their grandma, you feel that your memory stinks. You can't even memorize your grocery list - and when you're finally done shopping, you've got no idea where you parked the car. If you're lucky, you don't mix up the names of your two youngest ones, who you've left and forgotten in the back seat. But Do You Know Why Your Memory Acts Like A Rebellious Teenager? . . .

Everyday is a Gift, Open and Enjoy It.

There is a bottle of perfume sitting on my dresser that I was given when I was ten years old! As you can tell I have pack rat tendencies! For me that pattern started as a young child. I could never bear to throw things away. There was more to it than not wanting to throw things away. I loved the feeling I had when I would receive something new, and would not want to spoil it by using it unless. . .

Writing Persuasive Articles

You may be wondering what persuasive writing has to do with articles. After all, you're not exactly selling something with an informative article, are you? Yes, you are. You at least want persuade the reader to keep reading until he gets to your link at the bottom. Use the following tips to get more traffic by writing persuasively.. Persuasive Writing 1. Headlines. Questions are great attentio. . .

Ecuador: One Month, $1000 Including Airfare

On my first trip to Ecuador I discovered that the official currency of is the U.S. Dollar. A nice surprize, since I thought I'd have to find a place to exchange money at midnight in Quito. Not only could I use the dollar bills in my pocket, but just one of them would buy a three-course lunch at a clean restaurant. I fell in love with Ecuador immediately. I fell in love with my wife Ana a few da. . .

Parenting---Roots and Wings

I’m sure many of you have heard that old Hallmark card adage that goes something like this: Parents give their children two great gifts---one is roots, the other is wings. This is what I address in this article. As parents, we pray for our children’s safety, health and happiness. We do everything we know to help make these things happen for them. At some point in our lives, we developed the pri. . .

Change

One thing in life is certain---change. Things never stay the same. If you are hoping for the status quo, then I’m afraid you will be disappointed. Just think back to how things were five years ago and you will realize that there is so very much that’s already different in a very short time. I’m sure there are some of you who know people who refused to adapt to the computer age. I still know som. . .

Summertime and New Romance

The tempertures are rising and romances are in full bloom as we move into the summer months of adventures, vacations and new beginnings. We all love the changing of the seasons and all the surprises that are in store, the flowers are blooming and bring luxurious color to our world, our hearts are opening as we look for love, romance and hot partnerships. In the months of summer we are more avai. . .

The First Impression is a Lasting Impression

The first date is the most apprehensive, nerve wreaking event in the beginning of any relationship and it is also the "first impression" and the one thing in life that can never be changed! OK, so you have talked for months on the computer and on the phone, you have talked about childhood to adulthood, good and bad, past relationships, family and everything else in between and you think you re. . .

Writing Articles - Avoid These Mistakes

Not writing articles yet? You really should try it, if you want a lot of free traffic to your web site. A simple "Top Ten..." Or "Six Mistakes" type of article can be written by anyone. When you're ready to start writing, avoid the following common mistakes people make when writing and submitting articles. 1. Too short. If it won't fill a page, webmasters won't want it. Write articles of at l. . .

Ten Methods Of Creative Financing

Do all the creative financing techniques you hear about really work? Yes, actually. They probably have all worked somewhere for someone at least once. The point isn't if they will all work for you. The point is to know what is possible, so you can find your own creative ways to invest in real estate. Here are ten methods to get you thinking. 1. Hard money lenders. You can ask around or find th. . .

Words That Inspire - SIMPLIFY

WORDS THAT INSPIRE A monthly quick shot to motivate you, in less than 45 seconds, from Julie Cohen Coaching What do you gain if you SIMPLIFY? Dictionary*says: to reduce to basic essentials, to diminish in scope or complexity, to make more intelligible. What it REALLY means: removing clutter and interference from your life and work; looking at large obstacles as the sum of small challenges. . .

Permanent Traffic From Writing Articles

Writing articles is possibly the best way to generated free traffic to your site. A short article, submitted to a few places, creates permanent streams of traffic. Here are some of the ways articles bring traffic to your website: 1. Click-throughs from article banks. People read your articles at an article bank, and click on the link in the "author's resource box." 2. Search engine traffic. Se. . .

How To Offer Seller Financing Safely

Why offer seller financing when you sell? A higher price, a good return on your money, a faster sale and to sell a property that is otherwise difficult to sell. Some good reasons, but how do you do it safely? 1. Get a large downpayment. The most obvious way to be safe, and not always possible. 2. Get other security. If they want it with little down, and you like the return you'll get, make i. . .

The Simple $10 Debt Elimination Solution

Ask a friend what resolutions they made for 2004 and your bound to hear them reply “Pay off my credit cards.” Ask them how they planned on reaching that goal and many of them will not have a clear cut answer. The obvious first step to paying off credit card debt or paying down credit debt load is to cut back or eliminate the use of your credit cards. For some people this first step can ofte. . .

4 Steps To Creating Good Credit

As a consumer you’ve learned the importance of establishing a good credit rating with your lenders. Whether you are shopping for a new home or auto, or searching for the best deals on insurance, your credit worthiness will be judged by your credit rating or credit score. A bad credit history or bad credit habits will place “black marks” on your credit profile. These include things such as lat. . .

Laser Sharpen Your Billiards Aiming

Star Wars comes to billiards with the new laser markers that make a lot of homemaker tasks easier. The laser beam is housed in a device that looks like a tape measure or a flat can-like container. Both project a perfectly straight line on any surface without leaving a mark. They are handy for hanging pictures and laying tile, but wait until you see what you can do with one on a pool table! Cor. . .

Playing Florida Alligator Hunter

Alligators were the furthest thing from our minds as my wife Ana and I traveled along the coast of northern Florida. We had paid $23 to camp in our conversion van at a beautiful state park on the beach the night before. In the morning we saw a dolphin swimming near shore. Then we heard we could camp for free at the isolated campgrounds which dotted the Apalachicola National Forest. Our frugali. . .

Ten Ways Of Financing Real Estate

Do you remember when real estate financing meant you saved up enough to put 20% down on a house, and then you got a mortgage loan for the other 80%? Well, you can still do that, but there are many more options now. Here are ten of them. 1. Gifting programs. In some parts of the country, builders fund foundations that give you a portion of the downpayment, so you can get into a home with as lit. . .

3 Steps to Manifesting Your Ideal Life

Over the past several weeks I've received dozens of email solicitations for books, CDs and videos that promise to reveal newly discovered techniques to improve my life. These emails promise a wide variety of benefits: how to get rich, lose weight, meet the woman of my dreams and buy a million dollar mansion with no money down. In some cases the salesman will throw in a "Ginzu knife" or "pocket . . .

Seller Financing For Higher Pricing

An example of seller financing: Years ago I bought a rental property, and nine months later sold it for 15% more, without fixing or improving a thing. The easy terms are what sold it. I took $1000 down, and I still get a payment every month, with 9% interest. Four Reasons To Offer Seller Financing 1. To get a higher price. As you can see from the example above, buyers pay for easy terms. From . . .

How to Identify Unconscious Beliefs

Know thyself. These words were inscribed in the vestibule of the Temple of Apollo at Delphi. For centuries, petitioners seeking advice from the oracle at Delphi would view the inscription. Philosophers throughout the ages offered this same advice to their students. These words are as valuable today as they were almost three thousand years earlier. Part of knowing yourself is understanding y. . .

Why would you want to be enlightened?

Yesterday, a marketing guru asked me a question that left me speechless. I had retained Bob to review the copy on my Mystic Warrior website from a sales perspective. He asked about reader reactions. As we talked, I told him how some readers felt compelled, while in the midst of my book, to put it down and meditate. In several cases, they described tingling sensations on the crown of their head . . .

Free Web Site Traffic - 8 Ways

How many ways can you get free web site traffic? Who knows, but here are some to get you started. Hopefully there will be one or two ways here that you haven't yet tried. 1. Submit your web site to search engines. Don't wait for them to find you. You can automatically submit to 20 at freewebsubmission.com. You'll have to submit manually to Google (www.google.com/addurl.html). 2. Directories. . .

Mental Alchemy: How to Change Your Experience of Reality

Back in the Middle Ages alchemists sought to transform base metal into gold. They searched for an elusive substance, the philosopher's stone, which would bring about this conversion, known as alchemy. But to initiates of the ancient mystery schools, alchemy was primarily an allegory for the real work of spiritual and mental alchemy. Spiritual alchemy is the process of transforming a less evolv. . .

Good Keywords - More Than Good Demand

I get half of the world traffic for the term "dirtbagging," on one page of my backpacking site, but that only means ten visitors a month. Without decent keyword demand you can't ever get much traffic. Total demand is just one factor to consider, though. Here are some others. 1. Demand/supply ratio. There were 289,000 searches for "fishing" last month, but could you compete against the 35,000,0. . .

Hiring A Contractor - 10 Mistakes To Avoid

A very smart attorney I know paid $7,000 for a roof repair, only to have the roof leak the next time it rained. The contractor stalled, made excuses, but never did a thing about it. Anyone can have these kinds of problems when having repairs or improvements done, but to make it less likely, avoid the folowing mistakes when hiring a contractor. 1. Not knowing what you want. If you don't know wh. . .

Hunting Arrowheads and Rocks in Arizona

We weren't planning to go rock and arrowhead hunting in Arizona. My wife and I just liked that hotspring in the desert. It was agood place to escape the Michigan winter for a while. Then we met Felix, an old Mayan Indian living in an old RV. After sharing meals and campfires for a week, he took us into the desert to show us ancient metates (grain-grinding stones) and arrowheads. We also found . . .

Memorizing the Word of God

Are there benefits to learning Scripture verses by heart today? In this instant world the thought of memorizing scripture verses may seem a little outdated. There are many ways of making scripture part of your life and that is what is important if we want to have strong spiritual roots, and grow a deeper relationship with God. Having Christian music on in the day is a good way, even better wor. . .

Forums - Talk And Make Money

If you have a website about a topic you enjoy, you can make money from discussion forums. Talk, post links to your site, get traffic. Traffic means money, right? If not, try different affiliate programs or Google Adwords. The worst sites should get a couple cents per visitor. Now here's how to talk and make money. Search "forum" plus the topic of your site on Google or Alta Vista. For my first . . .

You Don't Have to Break Down, When You Break Up!

Very few people would argue with the fact that creating successful relationships is often one of the biggest challenges we face as human beings. The strange thing is that life can become even more challenging when they end. But is it really necessary to break down when you break up? Below are three simple ideas that will help guide you to re-build your life on your own. 1. Become firmly groun. . .

The Key To Perseverance

The Definition Of Perseverance From a dictionary: "Persisting in or remaining constant to a purpose, idea or task in spite of obstacles." Notice it doesn't start, "Wisely persisting..." Perseverance can clearly be a both a good thing and a bad thing. Remember that when you find yourself wanting to quit something. Quitting might be the wisest choice. Of course, the problem with the idea that you. . .

Find Investment Properties - 10 Ways

If you really want the best deals in investment properties, you have to increase your odds by finding more deals. Who is more likely to get a cheap apartment building, an investor that looks through the MLS listings and calls it a day, or the one that uses ten resources? Here are the ten: 1. Talk. Let people know you are looking and sometimes the properties will come to you. There are a lot of. . .

ACTION is More Important than Knowledge!

It was Albert Einstein who stated that 'imagination is more important than knowledge'. Now if he had been addressing a room full of entrepreneurs, I hazard a guess that he might also have extended this quotation by saying that 'action is more important than knowledge too!' Make no mistake, if you want to make your mark on this world as an entrepreneur you have to consistently take ACTION! Not. . .

You CAN Improve Your Relationship

It seems as if creating successful relationships with our significant others and parenting children are two of the most difficult jobs we face and yet we get no formal training in either. It’s as if people believe that we are born with an inherent ability to do these two things. Yet, look around us. In the US, the divorce rate is slightly over 50%! I don’t know anywhere but baseball where a 50%. . .

Infidelity Excuse: I fell out of Love...and just love being in love

I find this dilemma rather common for younger couples, probably mid or late 30s and younger. Usually one reports, “falling out of love” and is truly disturbed by this shift. He/she (and this is not merely a female problem!) wants to “recapture” those feelings. This person has found a “significant other” who has stirred those dormant feelings and this person once again “feels in love.” They ar. . .

Why You Buy, Part Two

More of the findings of the recent studies in behavioral economics: Webers Law A change of stimulus is more emotional and motivational, according to the base: Most subjects tested would drive across town to save $10 on a $20 item, for example, but not to save $10 on a $500 item. The lesson for sales people? If you won't lose a sale on a thousand-dollar couch over $10, sell the other benefits of. . .

Managing the Pain of Abusive Relationships

How many times have you said, “I didn’t have a choice?” This is a phrase that is uttered by many to justify their behavior or complain about their life circumstances. Surely, we can continue to believe there are no choices, but it is my belief that kind of thinking is what greatly contributes to our frustration and limits the strength and amount of personal power we experience. Whenever you are. . .

Who Says Knowledge Is Power?

Whoever first said that knowledge is power was probably selling encyclopedias. Knowledge is a tool, like money and influence. Tools are only powerful if they are used effectively. How, then, do you make a headful of knowledge into a powerful tool? 1. By seeing clearly what can be done. 2. By seeing clearly your own limitations. 3. By acting on what you know. Wise Action, Not Knowledge, Is P. . .

Using Overture For Keyword Research

Many of us who build websites get in the habit of using the Overture "Keyword Suggestion Tool" to do keyword research. It's convenient, and one of the few remaining such tools that is free. Be careful, though, because there are four problems you may run into with it. 1. Singular and plural forms are lumped together. I once optimized a site for "mountain hiking" based on the search traffic indi. . .

Do You Need Milk?

Most of us have been raised on milk. Not only that, many of us have been raised with the "Basic Four Food Groups" and other dietary guidelines that recommend milk as one or our daily food needs. However, there is much we need to understand about milk and how if affects our bodies, what it really does and does not provide, and also how today's dairy milk differs than the milk that used to be fou. . .

Be Discontented With The Status Quo

It is natural to be satisfied with the way things are; but the moment we settle for how things are, we give up the opportunity to experience how things could be. Life is evolutionary, but only if we allow it to be. If we choose to, we can get stuck in the comfort of the status quo and miss the real opportunities that require us to step into a bigger life. Many people in business are comfortable. . .

Do Your Things Own You?

Do you have things like a bicycle, jetski, or swimming pool that sit unused? Is it that you don't have time to use them because you have to work so much just to pay for them? Sometimes it seems like all the things we own somehow own us. The bad news is that it's often true. We have to arrange our lives around our things. You get a new truck that can go anywhere, but you're too busy working to g. . .

How To Remember Things

What's the biggest problem with memory tricks? Remembering to use them, of course. There are many memory techniques that work well, but you'll forget them when you need them most - unless you make using them a habit. So when you take the time to learn a technique, use it until it becomes automatic. Here are some to try. Using a Story-List I went to a party as a child. There was a game that invo. . .

Who Are You, Anyway?

Self-identity? Who are you really? We identify with many things, but this is just a process in our minds. In fact, this identification causes us to suffer. Your favorite basketball team loses, and you suffer as though YOU lost. Your car is damaged and it feels like YOU are hurt. Somebody attacks who they think you are, and it is as though they could actually reach inside and poke at your true . . .

The Disenchanted Forest, The Enchanted Self - A Tale of Female Development in a Strange...

Once upon a time there was a Princess who set out on a raft to find the Enchanted Forest. She took with her a canteen full of hopes and dreams, minimal provisions, and outdated maps. The raft swayed. the wind blew. It was too cold. It was too hot. She was hungry. She was tired. She was scared. At times she was almost swept overboard. Finally, she arrived at what she thought was the Enchanted. . .

A Bird's Eye View of THE ENCHANTED SELF and what it means to YOU!

The Rebbe Nachman of Breslow often said, “Always remember-Joy is not merely incidental to your spiritual quest. It is vital.” As the years have gone by and I’ve been in the practice of psychology over 20 years, I have become more and more convinced that he was so right, that joy is not an option. When we take away joy and we take away a sense of well-being, a sense that we are thriving, we. . .

Adultery as Sexual Addiction: Should You Stay Married?

I outline 7 kinds of affairs in my E-book, "Break Free From the Affair." One affair, "I Can't Say NO!" is characterized by addictive tendencies. Infidelity (as well as pornography, strip clubs, online chatting, compulsive masturbation, etc.) may be a part of the sexual addiction. Often the spouse or partner of a sexually addicted person intuitively knows of the addiction and the struggle his/h. . .

The Revenge Affair: Characteristics of the Adulterer

"I Want to Get Back at Him/Her" is one of 6 kinds of affairs I outline in my E-book. This is the "revenge affair." It occurs in a marriage in which one feels slighted in some manner and seeks revenge by engaging in an affair. It is less a movement toward the other person and more a movement away from one’s spouse. The offending spouse usually lacks the skills of personal confrontation or is f. . .

Extramarital Affairs: When Sexual Addiction and Infidelity Meet

One kind of extramarital affair revolves around sexual addiction. The partner involved in the affair, plain and simple, has a difficult time saying "NO." He/she may want to, but feels compelled to say "yes." People can’t say no? Well, I believe we all have the capacity, at some level, to say no. However, not all have developed that capacity or reached that level to firmly say no and mean it. S. . .

Top Ten List of What to Do and What Not to Do in Relationships

Most of us who have been intimately involved with someone beyond the infatuation stage know that relationships are like a rollercoaster ride. When things are good, they are very, very good. When things are bad, they are very, very bad. As a relationship coach, I have developed Top 10 Lists---one for men and one for women on 10 things to do and not to do in relationships. MEN DO 1. Just listen t. . .

Mind Power Through Mindfulness

Basic mindfulness exercises put you in a state of awareness where distractions are let go, and your mind power is able to function more effectively. They help you think more clearly and concentrate better. They are also easy exercises to do. More Mind Power in Minutes A basic mindfulness exercise starts with sitting down, relaxing and breathing deeply through your nose. Close your eyes and be a. . .

Improve Your Mind Power With Spanish

Our "mind power" is largely in the way we use our words, and limited by our vocabulary. Words, and the concepts they express, are different in each language, and there are differing common expressions. That's why when you learn a new language, you learn new ways to think. Most Americans see money as something created, not as a static quantity to be divided up. This is no coincidence. English is. . .

Mind Power Games

Want a fun way to tune up your brain? Why not use some classic mind games to help you increase your brainpower and get you out of your thinking "ruts." Good mind games habituate you to using creative problem solving as a normal part of thinking about things. One lateral thinking puzzle you can try right now involves nine dots, layed out three by three. You have to connect them all with four str. . .

The Key To Creative Real Estate Investing

With a job that paid $3.40 an hour, I saved $5,000. I used $3,500 of it to buy my first piece of real estate - 2 acres near where I lived. As you can guess, this was many years ago. A few hours removing brush, and it was ready to sell. I hand-painted a sign, and two weeks later sold the land for $4,750, with $250 down, $100 per month, at 11% interest. With the capital gain, my annual return on . . .

The Monkey With The Wooden Apples

There once was a happy monkey wandering the jungle, eating delicious fruit when hungry, and resting when tired. One day he came upon a house, where he saw a bowl of the most beautiful apples. He took one in each hand and ran back into the forest. He sniffed the apples and smelled nothing. He tried to eat them, but hurt his teeth. They were made of wood, but they were beautiful, and when the oth. . .

Concept Combination For Creative Problem Solving

There are many creative problem solving techniques used by inventors to come up with new solutions to old problems. For sheer innovation, though, it's hard to beat the technique of concept-combination. Just start combining ideas and things, and voila, you're having fun - and maybe creating something new. Innovation or Inovation? Combining the concept of search engine misspellings with article w. . .

The Elusive Butterfly of Happiness

Are You Chasing the Elusive Butterfly of Happiness? For many people happiness is an elusive butterfly in the garden of life. Imagine a young child in the garden on a summer day. The child sees a beautiful butterfly flitting from flower to flower. With eyes of wonder the child wants to see it close up, touch it, and hold it in their hands. The child goes towards the flower that the butterfly is . . .

Backpacking Trips - Ten Essential Items

I've had backpacking trips that included rain, snow, lightning, rockslides, altitude sickness, and twenty-mile days - all in a summer weekend. Wilderness trips can be dangerous, but you can make then less so, by having the following ten essentials in your backpack. 1. Knowledge. What good is a compass if you don't know how to use it? Play with matches if your fire-making skills are shaky. Lear. . .

Arguments Steal Mind Power

Have you ever noticed that arguments are rarely "won?" Even if you think you won an argument, what did you win? If there really is a loser, he at least learned something, right? What did you get? Ego satisfaction, debating practice, and diminished mind power. Arguing Diminishes Mind Power? There are times when things need to be debated, but most of the time, it really isn't productive. Do you w. . .

Getting Started is the Toughest Part of the Job

One of the most challenging things about starting on a new project, goal or task usually isn't the planning, the thinking about it and the mapping it out. It is the doing! Actually taking the first step is often the most difficult part of any new endeavor. I was reading a project manager’s manual and found it interesting that listed, as one of the reasons projects fail, is lack of implementatio. . .

Compartmentalize

The word "compartmentalize" means to separate into distinct parts. I am intrigued with the fact that the word "mental" is in the word. For me, it illustrates the need to separate mentally what we are doing. One of the tricks I am learning is to separate tasks and do one at a time. As a recovering multitasker that isn't easy, but I am beginning to see the benefits of doing one thing at a time. I. . .

What To Do When A Co-Worker Turns Nasty

A friend of mine laments that work would be great if only there were no other people there! No matter where we work, we will work with others. Often, those relationships are cordial if not friendly, but there can be challenges. You will not love all of your co-workers, and some will be downright nasty. Bullying doesn't just happen in schools. More frequent incidents of co-workers who bully othe. . .

Working With The Generations

For the first time in history, there are four generations in the work force. Although this is an exciting time, it is not without challenges. Working with the generations requires patience and understanding. Each generation brings a new perspective, but we need to learn to value the new ideas, and embrace the change that each new generation brings. Ten years ago, when I started teaching classes. . .

The Best Travel Games

Car travel games are a tradition wherever families take vacations or long trips by automobile. Long drives are always more tolerable with some diversion or entertainment, and reading might not be the best choice, at least for the driver. Why not try some games that everyone in the car can play? "Blue Car" Travel Games These are travel classics. Each person guesses how many blue cars will pass i. . .