Whether you are working at home, in the office, or in your car — your ability to produce results with the least amount of stress, is directly affected by your physical environment. A functional desk that is ugly can be as much of a deterrent to productivity as a beautiful desk that is not functional. I have spent over twenty years with people working in their homes, offices and cars. One thing has become vehemently clear. Your desk can be your greatest enemy or your best friend.

Take a good look at your desk. How does it make you feel? Are you comfortable there? Can you do what you need to do there easily? How does it look to other people? Does it reflect the message you want to give to the world about your work and your values?

Analyze the kinds of activities you need or want to do at your desk. If you use a computer, an L-shape desk is usually the best option. Use the short end of the “L” for your computer, and the long end for desk accessories, your telephone, and spreading out papers while you are working.

One of the major detractors to an effective and attractive desk are those pesky scraps of paper, which seem to proliferate in your absence and sometimes in your presence! In my experience, an important component of any desk is space for files. I prefer two file drawers in my desk - one for current projects and another for reference materials I use frequently. If you are an “out of sight, out of mind” person, you may prefer a file holder that sits on top of your desk. You can use Post- it? Flags with colored bars for easy-to-use color-coded labels.

Do you get lots of phone calls? If so, it is important to develop a systematic way to record all those messages. In our office, we leave an open 6″ x 9″ spiral-bound notebook by the telephone to jot them down. The top of each page is dated, and we put the initials of the person responsible for responding to the call in the left-hand column. When the action is completed, the initials are crossed out. Any pending issues are flagged with a Post-it? Flag - a different color for each person. The flag dispensers are attached to the side of the telephone.

Do you spend lots of time talking on the telephone? If so, what do you need? Is your source of phone numbers - electronic or paper — easily accessible? Do have a consistent way to take notes while you are talking? To make filing your telephone notes easier, keep Post-it? 4″ x 6″ pads nearby. Avoid putting notes from several conversations on the same piece of paper.

The greatest desk in the world will be sabotaged without a comfortable adjustable chair and good lighting. An inspirational piece of art in your natural line of vision can be a real stress reducer too!

Most people want to be able to move around in their work area, so a swivel chair on rollers is a big advantage. If there is carpeting, you will need a chair mat so the chair will roll easily.

Most desks I see are too cluttered - paper that could be filed away if you were confident you could find it when you needed it (we’ll talk more about that in future columns!), office supplies you never use, and memorabilia that has been there so long you don’t even see it!

Essential desktop supplies for most people include an “In Box” for mail you haven’t looked at yet (not a place to put postponed decisions!); an “Out Box” for the things that need to go outside your office, and a “To File Box” for the papers that need to be filed outside the reach of your desk. Caution: Eliminate any container not designated for a specific purpose or it will soon become a catchall for unidentified objects!

My definition of “organized” is very simple:

1) Does it work and
2) Do you like it? If you answer “No” to either of those questions when it comes to your desk, decide now what you can do about it!

© Barbara Hemphill is the author of Kiplinger’s Taming the Paper Tiger at Work and Taming the Paper Tiger at Home and co-author of Love It or Lose It: Living Clutter-Free Forever. The mission of Hemphill Productivity Institute is to help individuals and organizations create and sustain a productive environment so they can accomplish their work and enjoy their lives. We do this by organizing space, information, and time. We can be reached at 800-427-0237 or at www.ProductiveEnvironment.com

“Rumors about my death have been greatly exaggerated,” a famous man once quipped.

The same can be said for the business of cold calling.

By now, you’ve seen the ads, and very possibly one of them will be placed next to this very article, proclaiming: “Cold Calling Is Dead!”

That statement is like a monkey picking up a violin, mangling the strings, and concluding that this thing doesn’t play!

In the hands of a primate or a primitive, a telephone is nothing more than a blunt object, good only for knocking other dummies over the head.

In the hands of a true professional, it is a Stradivarius. It can embolden, uplift, and transport people to new understandings and lasting relationships.

Would you seek the help of a known procrastinator to teach you time management skills?

Of course, you wouldn’t.

Would you expect an ultra-shy person to assist you to become a dynamic public speaker?

Heck, no!

Then how, may I ask, can someone who so disrespects the phone, it’s power, its immediacy, its directness, cost effectiveness, ability to create give and take and real time feedback; how could we expect such a disadvantaged soul to teach us anything about SELLING?

Do yourself a favor. Check out one of my best-sellers at the library. I’d look at YOU CAN SELL ANYTHING BY TELEPHONE! Or, if you prefer, try REACH OUT & SELL SOMEONE.

Both are good, established primers on telemarketing that should help anybody, even a Doubting Thomas who tries to build his business reinforcing people’s fears instead of leading the way to overcoming them.

Dr. Gary S. Goodman, President of http://www.Customersatisfaction.com, is a popular keynote speaker, management consultant, and seminar leader and the best-selling author of 12 books, including Reach Out & Sell Someone and Monitoring, Measuring & Managing Customer Service, and the audio program, “The Law of Large Numbers: How To Make Success Inevitable,” published by Nightingale-Conant. He is a frequent guest on radio and television, worldwide. A Ph.D. from USC’s Annenberg School, a Loyola lawyer, and an MBA from the Peter F. Drucker School at Claremont Graduate University, Gary offers programs through UCLA Extension and numerous universities, trade associations, and other organizations from Santa Monica to South Africa. He holds the rank of Shodan, 1st Degree Black Belt in Kenpo Karate. He is headquartered in Glendale, California, and he can be reached at (818) 243-7338 or at: gary@customersatisfaction.com

For information about coaching, consulting, training, books, videos and audios, please go to http://www.customersatisfaction.com

Key Facts:

Size: Medium
Height: 43 - 48 cm (17 - 19 inches)
Weight: 18 - 23 kg (40 - 50 lb)
Life Span: 12 years
Grooming: Easy
Exercise: Medium
Feeding: Medium
Temperament: Fearless & dependable
Country of Origin: United States
AKC Group: Terrier

Temperament:
The American Staffordshire Terrier is bold, fearless, outgoing, confident, loyal and intelligent. The American Staffordshire Terrier loves to please its owner and thrives on praise from its family. They get along well with people of all ages, especially with children. American Staffordshire Terriers make good guard dogs and have tremendous courage. However, due to this trait some people have trained them as fight dogs, but American Staffordshire Terriers can make docile pets when properly trained.

Grooming:
American Staffordshire Terriers need minimal grooming with their short coats. A quick brush is sufficient to keep the skin and coat healthy.

Exercise:
Regular exercise is necessary on a daily basis. American Staffordshire Terriers enjoy running alongside a cycle and playing ball games.

History:
The origins are similar to the Staffordshire Bull Terrier - blendings of the Bulldog, Black and Tan Terrier and an old white English Terrier. In 1870, they came to America and quickly became invaluable to families as guard dogs. Because the breeders preferred a slightly larger specimen than the early English Staffordshire Terriers, in 1972 the American Kennel Club permitted the word American to be added to their title to differentiate them from the English Staffordshire Bull Terrier.

Physical Characteristics:

General Appearance: Broad-chested, muscular and agile.
Colour: Whole colour, parti-coloured or patched. White not to cover more than 80% of the body.
Coat: Smooth, short, dense and glossy
Tail: Moderately short and low set.
Ears: Rose-shaped and semi-erect.
Body: The heavy neck runs to a fairly short, slightly sloping back. The chest is broad and deep.

Additional Comments:

American Staffordshire Terriers are a very devoted and protective breed that can be great family pets, so long as the correct training is provided at an early age. Otherwise they can become overly boisterous as well as aggressive towards other dogs.

About the Author

This article provided courtesy of http://www.dooziedog.com/dog_breeds/american_staffordshire_terrier/

It was Schopenhauer who first said that all arts aspire to the
condition of music. What he was referring to was the abstract
qualities of music. The path between music and audience is a
direct one, without the intervention of a medium of
communication that is used for other ‘everyday’ purposes, which
is unlike many other art forms! The architect expresses himself
in buildings, which have some utilitarian purpose. The poet uses
words, which we use on a daily basis in conversation. The
painter usually expresses himself by representing what he sees
i.e. the visible world. Only the composer of music is perfectly
free to create a work of art out of his own consciousness, which
performs no function, other than to please.

A testimony to the mystical nature of music is the unknown
Polish classical composer who’s “Symphony of Sorrowful Songs”
sold more than pop icon, Madonna, in the year it was released
and more than any other classical composer in the entire history
of the world! However, this remarkable achievement only occurred
17-years after he composed it.

Polish Composer in Translation

The composer’s name is Henryk Gorecki and his success is nothing
short of a miracle. When he wrote the symphony (his 3rd) in
1976, he and his wife were declared ‘non-persons’ under the
communist regime and their passports were confiscated. His name
was unknown, and according to records in Poland, he did not even
exist. Gorecki had been born in Czernica, in the coal-mining
belt of Silesia on The Czechoslovakian border. It is 20-minutes
from the town Oswiecim, which the Germans would later name
Auschwitz. This piece of music was so inspired, as to be a
warning to future generations and to bear witness to what had
occurred there. Corecki commented: “The fact that 17 years
later, it seems young people all over the world have heard what
I said, and understood: that my warning will not go forgotten
into the world”.

Beauty and hope are firmly embedded in this piece of music that
is played by taxi drivers and royalty alike. 300 000 copies were
sold worldwide when it was released, unheard of for a classical
piece which would hopefully sell 10 to 20.000 copies in a
lifetime, and that’s about it.

A Symphony of International Value

The road to fame of the “Symphony of Sorrowful Songs” is an
interesting one. 1976, the year it was composed saw the first
performance in a Paris concert hall. After the performance a
music critic whispered ‘Merde!’ into Goreck’s ear. The first
recorded version appeared in Britain in 1987, and was basically
ignored by the classical music magazines. In 1989, the piece
reappeared; this time in concert at the Queen Elizabeth Hall,
after the London Sinfonietta decided to champion Gorecki’s work.
Bob Hurwitz, head of Warner’s Elektra Nonesuch label decided to
attain the symphony for his label. In 1990, Hurwitz recorded it
with the London Sinfonietta using young American conductor David
Zinmaan and the soprano Dawn Upshaw. In September 1992, classic
FM, Britain’s first commercial classical music station was
launched and picked Gorecki’s symphony as the station’s first
classic ’sure thing’. In October that year a sudden demand
caused chart sponsors W H Smith to stock the symphony. In
November BBC Radios 3 and 4 followed, then Radio 2, and finally,
DJ Simon Bates on Radio 1.

A Multicultural Moment

January 1993 was a watershed moment for “Symphony of Sorrows’ as
the album jumped from 71 to 27 in the Music Week pop charts. In
February that year Gorecki received a gold disc for sales of
100,000.

Fascinating to think that a symphony, 54-minutes long, scored
for a large string orchestra, would climb so high up the charts
and sell more than a contemporary musical legend. It is a true
testament to the universal language of music, the genius that
lies in certain compositions and the infinite power of music to
move people.

Despite of fact conventional food is considered safe, many parents use more and more organic food for their kids. Many are even making their own baby food from organic ingredients. Since last year, according to marketing statistics, sales of organic baby food have jumped nearly 18 percent, double the overall growth of organic food sales. Especially new parents or expecting mothers, switch the diet of their children to organic food.

The concern regarding children food is that they are more vulnerable to toxins in their diets. As children grow rapidly, their organs and brains are forming and they eat more for their size than adults do.

A study targeting kids whose diets were changed from regular to organic found that their pesticide levels decreased almost immediately. The level of pesticide detected in the children remained imperceptible until their diets were switched back to conventional food.

Eating organic is definitely not cheap. Buy fruits and vegetables known to have lower pesticide residues. Scientists say the lowest pesticide levels are found in asparagus, avocados, broccoli, bananas, cauliflower, onions, sweet corn, kiwi, mangos, papaya, pineapples and sweet peas.

On the other hand, the highest pesticide levels, meanwhile, are found in apples, bell peppers, cherries, celery, imported grapes, nectarines, pears, peaches, potatoes, red raspberries, spinach, and strawberries.

Valerian D is a freelance writer specialized in health issues aiming to direct
medical attention to elementary questions like baby food.

The subject of hair loss prevention, diligence and knowledge on proper hair care play important roles in avoiding hair loss. However, not all causes of hair loss are within our control, a good majority of the leading reasons for such a condition can be avoided with the correct regimens in caring for our scalp.

So what are the proper steps for hair loss prevention, you might ask? One step is to avoid putting too many harsh chemicals on your hair. Hair will grow healthy quite naturally. If you stick with the basics, you’ll have a healthier scalp and can avoid hair loss.

While shampooing your hair, make sure that you’ll give your scalp some good kneading and rubbing, to stimulate the follicles and promote sound hair growth.

An effective hair loss prevention technique is supplementing your diet with the vitamins and nutrients needed for healthy hair growth. Vitamin B6, vitamin E, biotin, amino acids and zinc are essential components for the continual stimulation of the hair follicles. Being able to acquire a daily recommended dosage of these vitamins and nutrients will help you correct any hormonal imbalance that could potentially damage your hair. And since heredity is one of the leading causes of hair loss, balancing your hormones would also ensure that your descendants won’t have to suffer the curse of Alopecia.

These are simple steps for hair loss prevention, but they would require some commitment from you. To keep yourself motivated, always remember the fact that no one is spared from the potential of hair loss. Doing something about it today will ensure that your hair will always remain on top, figuratively and literally speaking.

Then more and more of your closest friends notice how your hair is getting thinner. The best hair loss remedies, however, aren’t those which you could purchase over the counter. We’re talking about natural hair loss remedies that you could employ yourself, wherever you may be, whatever time of the day you wish to observe the same.

Hair loss is primarily caused by one or all of these three factors.

1. Heredity
2. Stress
3. Neglect

There is a fourth one, that is, hair loss as a consequence of another ailment or disease. For example, hair loss caused by heredity can be remedied through an intake of vitamins A, B6 and E, as well as nutrients such as zinc, biotin and some amino acids can help.

If you’re losing your hair because of stress, on the other hand, then giving yourself some time to rest and relax would be the best among the hair loss remedies available to you. Neglect is the easiest to remedy. All you need is to muster enough commitment to employ proper care for your hair. Avoid overexposure under direct sunlight. Keep your hair and scalp moisturized so that they may be fed with the proper pH level that they need to say healthy.

Hair loss does not have to be expensive if you look into natural solutions before it becomes a problem. With proper research you can avoid hair loss well in advance.

Ever joined a dating site that stated 100% free to join only to
find that you were not given access to all of the sites
features? The issue of finding totally free online dating and
personals ads sites have been a difficult task since most users
find it difficult to determine which sites are actually free and
which are not. This issue has become very time consuming for
those seeking online member interaction and other sites that
offer real free full memberships.

Many online websites offer potential members a 100% free to join
membership without detailing the extent of the certain
membership offered. The theory here is sometimes clear in the
label free to join only means making you a member with a
profile. However, the other features will be accessible only if
you become an upgraded (paying member).

In the alternative, you have those offering a free full
membership or trial membership. Free full membership offers
provides you with a chance to use all of the sites features to
interact with other members. The trial membership that let’s you
interact with others but this may have some time period or
limitations of use (for example: you could only contact so many
members a day)!

100% free to join memberships have been very troublesome for the
new members that find themselves filling out numerous online
forms to join these relationship, sex, dating, love and
matchmaking type sites only to later find out they cannot send
and/ or reply to other members’ profiles, enter chat rooms, send
instant messages, view profiles, etc.

This membership issue has also left a terrible impression on
many other online dating, personals, sex and other matchmaking
type-sites that actually offer real free full memberships. Some
sites have actually lost potential members because many visitors
become discouraged from there previous experiences with other
sites.

There are several online dating and personals sites that offer a
free full membership or free trial memberships.

• Erotic Explorers an
  adult sex and swingers personals website has made its site free
  for users looking to join. Erotic Explorers allows you to create
  your own personal profile with photos, video and audio. The
  website is also filled with amenities such as multiple chat
  rooms, private messaging, virtual kisses, daily x-rated videos,
  message boards and much more!

• Eroticy is offering visitors a no credit
  card required 3-day free trial to entice visitors to try is
  great services without the feeling of commitment. Its membership
  includes profiles with photos, video and audio. In addition,
  they offer web cam chat, chat room, x-rated home or professional
  movies, etc

• OBC
  is another great site where either person could be a paying
  member before you could contact a member. You must include a
  picture and since the site is geared towards bootycalls the
  profiles primarily pictures, so it’s a very quick sign up.

So, before you visit your next online dating site, you should
find out if its 100% free to join or does it have a 100% free
full membership offer then give it try!

If you are about to start off in business you will have no doubt heard these comments:

“So many businesses fail. Why are you doing this?”

“I hear that you need a large amount of money to get a business off the ground these days.”

“Why are you throwing away the security of your job?”

These, and more of the same, are typical of the barriers that so called friends and advisors, put in your way if you are thinking of starting a business. These barriers are built on the back of myths about the pitfalls and challenges which surround running your own business.

In this article, we’ll take a look at some of these myths and reveal them to be exactly that … just myths! Don’t get me wrong, being an entrepreneur can be tough and there are hurdles to cross, but let’s bring some common sense into the debate!

You Don’t Have a Personal Life

Yes you will! It can be hard juggling the responsibilities of running your own business and spending time with the family, but at the end of the day, you are going to have far more flexibility with your personal life, than any employee will ever have. The real issue is, do you have the time management and planning skills to get things done, thereby allowing you time to spend with your family.

You Have To Be Cunning and Ruthless To Be a Successful Entrepreneur

Ok, it may help you in the short term but this is not a sound, long term strategy. To be a successful entrepreneur you need to build relationships with both customers and suppliers who will stick by you during the rough times. Being ruthless over pricing may get you one or two good deals but you are unlikely to build a lasting and profitable relationship. Your aim should be to strike a balance between what you want and what your customer or supplier wants.

You Won’t Have To Work As Hard

Your current job may be stressful and subject you to long hours. The idea of running your own business is appealing because you can slow down and take life at your own pace. To a degree this is true but there’s no getting away from the fact that it will be hard work. Most small businesses don’t achieve profitability until year 3 and so it’s a long slog. Remember, if was easy, everyone would be doing it!

What does make the difference though, is that you are finally doing something you love and so the hours and the struggles don’t seem like hard work at all. So perhaps this myth may be true after all!

You Have To Have an Original Idea

No you don’t. Most businesses are built around a central idea. The difference is usually how it’s delivered. The core products of all fast food places are the same, as are clothes shops, newsagents etc. You can make a decent living effectively copying someone else’s idea but done in a slightly different way. Don’t be put off by the doomsayers who will gleefully point out that “it’s been done before”. Your response should be, ‘Great! That shows the idea works!”

You Will Be Your Own Boss

No way! There’s only one boss in your new business … the customer. They are essential to your success. When you were working for that large, faceless Corporation, the loss of the odd client wasn’t that big a deal - plenty more where they came from.

In your new world you have to do whatever it takes to keep your customers and keep them happy. The customer is the one who calls the tunes. You have to listen and take note, before someone else does. However, at the end of the day, when all their demands are met, then perhaps you can have some time to yourself and enjoy the pleasures of being your own boss after all!

You Need A lot Of Money To Get a Business Off The Ground

Some businesses do need a fair bit of cash to get moving but there are many areas you can go into without the need to invest in a large amount of stock, machinery or equipment. The low-capital businesses involve the use of three very cheap commodities - your brain power, your knowledge and your time.

A business where you sell your expertise, not actual goods, to other people can be cheaply set up and carry high profit margins. All you may need is a PC, a desk and a telephone line. What’s stopping you?

You Only Have To Do What You Want To Do

Unfortunately this myth is wrong. We all have areas or skills in which we excel and it’s this expertise which usually forms the basis of your business. Your dedication to paperwork, bank statements and the VAT man may not be that high, but branching out on your own doesn’t mean you have the choice to avoid these terrible tasks.

Whilst you were able to do this when you were sitting in the big corporate office, you can no longer hide. These tasks have to be done otherwise the deck of cards can start to collapse.

If you do have serious misgivings on certain areas, marketing for example, then consider taking a course to improve your skills. If it’s something you seriously can’t do, then go and find someone to do it for you - don’t hope it will go away because it won’t.

You will have seen that some of the myths not being true is good news and others not so good news! Be sensible in considering the myths which are thrown at you. See it for what they are - comments from people who don’t know what they are talking about! In the next issue I’ll have some more myth-busting ideas for you.

Small Business Success is a resource dedicated to helping small business owners be more successful. If you are looking for a regular flow of ideas and tips then subscribe to Small Business Success a free newsletter, which provides you with quick tips, ideas and articles. Visit http://smallbusinesssuccess.biz

Tips on Beating the Odds!

There seems to be a thousand ways to gamble just as are there
are thousand ways and chances to lose. But let’s face it, for
most betters gambling is not about living the
“bet-and-leave-if-you-lose” attitude. They play to win!

In any endeavor, it’s essential to know the rules of the game in
order to play it better and stay on the winning edge. Keeping
simple advises in mind and mastering several gaming strategies
before jumping into any gambling activity will help you increase
your chances of beating the bookies and eventually overpower
them.

While it’s true that this article aims to develop your winning
potential, one mustn’t forget that gambling is not all about
winning. We gamble for fun while keeping a system which helps us
defeat the percentage of losing.

I have gathered a couple of tips which you can apply when
engaging in any gambling activity. It is also important to keep
in mind that these systems are not perfect but following them
offers you a great deal of certainty in winning.

* Keep It Small - Going small time won’t hurt and is good to
your pocket. Big time better is perfect if you are sure that
your chance of winning is always 100%. You may lose your money
in the end but you may have enjoyed the activity for a long time.

* Bet With Lucky Pals - There are hands and there are hands for
gambling. Bet with lucky gamblers of the day. No matter how you
master the system operating on every game, if the day does not
favor your side then live with it. Joseph Conrad once said that,
“It is the mark of an inexperienced man not to believe in luck.”

* Eye on the Pattern - Go with the flow. Bet on the
numbers/players which gets the most wins. Predict its chances by
keeping history of their wins and loses. This helps you
formulate a decision when risking your stake for them.

* Avoid the favorites! - Good betting is impeded by unhealthy
judgment about favorite players, numbers, etc. Improve your
judgment by weighing the odds while looking at other prospects
that get the possibility of winning.

* Unleash Your Psychic powers - Confucius implied that the first
thing that comes in your mind is usually the best answer to a
question. Playing on your inner psychic power pays!

* Stop Ahead - Be in control of your winnings. Take over
gambling more than it takes over you.

* Gamble for fun - While it’s true that some people gamble to
win, we must also consider that it was originally created to
provide fun and entertainment. Investing on gambling isn’t
always good.

You should consider investing in bonds for both income and stability. In any given year equity markets could appreciate in value by 30 to 40 percent or decline in value by the same amount. Bonds fluctuate far less. Bonds also pay interest on a regular basis and thus investors will receive a cheque each month or quarter.

As with any investment, it is easy to get lost in the minutiae and with bonds the details come from some of the arithmetical calculations that determine the yields, returns, and risk of a bond. Here are the basics. Bonds offer a fixed amount of interest (the coupon rate), until a fixed period of time (the maturity date) at which point the denomination, also called the face value, is repaid and the interest payments stop. Bonds are issued by the federal, provincial, and municipal governments, and by a wide variety of corporations.

In general, corporations have to offer higher coupon rates to sell their bonds. Maturity dates range from 1 year to more than 30 years, with higher coupon rates being associated with longer periods to maturity, to compensate for increased risk. Long-term bonds tend to rise and fall in price more dramatically than do short term bonds; these bonds are more susceptible to movements in interest rates. In addition, bonds that provide higher coupon payments will fluctuate less than bonds that pay lower coupon payments. Staggering the maturity dates of bonds, which mixes bonds with short, medium, and longer periods to maturity, as well as mixing the institutions issuing those bonds (to include governments and some corporate bonds) will allow you to build a diversified bond portfolio).

Bond trading is done between dealers, which means that you won’t be able to view a complete auction market and its available quotes via the internet or even the newspaper. These same dealers will be able to supply accurate calculations of bond yields and the current price. Investors who invest in bonds directly as opposed to investing in bonds through a mutual fund will save on fee; saving 1/2 of one percent can make a big difference to your net worth. Investors who want diversification and active management could consider a bond mutual fund.

About the author: Tony Reed is the author of " Investment Basics: Don’t forget about bonds", please visit his website Bonds trading for more information.

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