Free Daily Horoscope Astrology: Tips

Showing posts with label Tips. Show all posts

Monday, May 19, 2008

Seven Inside Tips to Launching Your Career as a Financial Advisor

With 77 Million Baby Boomers contemplating retirement, the employment outlook for personal financial advisors is excellent! With this massive generation being, for the most part, unprepared for maintaining their lifestyle, many are looking for the assistance of a financial advisor.

Free time, flexibility, and excellent potential income are waiting for those who choose to follow this career path.

As with many things, there is a hard way and an easy way to launch a career as an advisor. One is a more difficult trail with obstacles along the way. It begins with an MBA degree in personal finance or economics followed by intensive study for one or more NASD examinations to become a registered representative.

Then, in order to launch your career as what was known as a stock broker, you'll need to seek employment selling securities for a wire house, broker/dealer, or insurance company. Despite significant competition and regulatory compliance oversight, you'll build your "assets under management" in order to satisfy your employer and/or qualify for assistance with expensive advanced certifications.

There is, however, an alternate route that doesn't involve such life changing career moves.

For the Boomer, a fifty-something with the life expectancy of a Galapagos sea turtle but with less than two years of income saved for retirement, it's no longer about accumulating a portfolio of assets. It's about the other three quadrants of his or her balance sheet which have gone largely ignored.

1. How to get the most sustainable lifetime income from the existing portfolio of assets.

2. How to eliminate hidden and/or and unnecessary expenses.

3. How to eliminate all debt before retirement.

A true financial advisor should address these areas of concern and, to do so doesn't require a life changing career experience. There are new and innovative financial products and services which effectively address these issues, but are not securities and are not regulated by the NASD and SEC.

If you're contemplating a lucrative and rewarding career as a Financial Advisor, Here are some tips to help you down that path.

1. Be independent. No one financial entity that has all of the right solutions to all of the financial problems out there. As an Independent Financial Advisor, you'll have the freedom to choose the best financial products and services from a variety of carriers.

2. Be independent but don't walk the path alone. You need a system. Join an Independent Marketing Organization. They will, in exchange for an override commission from the carriers, provide turn-key systems including advisor training, product access, provider contracts, and assistance with licensing, marketing, and regulatory compliance. Many have spent years developing effective and predictable systems to support their network of advisors.

3. Build a professional referral network. Your clients will seek advice on a range of financial subjects including real estate, taxes, insurance, legal contracts, mortgage and consumer finance. Team up with some qualified specialists in your vicinity. Refer your clients to them and they will refer their clients to you.

4. Don't worry about your sales skills. Many successful advisors are numbers people and couldn't sell snow cones in Death Valley. It's all about positioning. The model of all successful business is the same. There is a problem. There is a solution. By positioning yourself between the two, you have value and people will recognize that value.

5. Don't talk about yourself or your business. Focus on your prospect/client and ask the right questions. How do you feel about ....? What do you plan to do about ......? If there was a way to ......, would you .....? The art of asking questions is critical to your success in attracting new clients.

6. Keep in communication with your prospective clients. It often requires six or seven exposures to build a successful client relationship. Set up an email system to keep them informed of the latest developments in your industry.

7. Test the water, first. Some new advisors run into difficulty because they get excited and spend too much money before they start making money. Keep your start-up expenses under $500. At the very least, you'll get a low cost financial education that you can apply to your own situation.

We are at the brink of the largest wealth transfer in history. There is a tremendous need for qualified financial advisors to lead this history making generation down the path to financial security. Those that choose this path will discover a career that offers an abundance of personal satisfaction as well as significant income potential.

David Haslett is Senior National Marketing Director of Freedom Equity Group. Want to learn more about this lucrative and rewarding career opportunity as a Financial Advisor? Want to know the inside secrets of Million Dollar Financial Advisors? Request now by clicking http://www.YourFinancialAdvisorCareer.net

Amazon.com Best Buy Shopping Store Discount, Cheap and Best Products guarantee.

Creating Your OWN Newsletter - 10 Tips

So now YOU are responsible for creating a newsletter. For own company or for the company you work for, it's all the same. Here are a few tips to help it run smoothly from the get-go. Start with these ten common sense rules and once you are established you can begin to tweak it a bit more with each issue.

1. Don't go CRAZY with fonts! You probably have hundreds, maybe thousands of fonts on your computer. Most people are only familiar with a few families, namely Times, Helvetica and Aerial. Use these for all body copy. Getting too creative will confuse and frustrate your readers. They want to read your material, not decipher it. For now, use only these three fonts. As you move forward you can begin using creative fonts sparingly headlines, special sections, etc.

2. Create your heading first - basically this is your newsletter logo used on the top of the front page. Once your heading is designed stay CONSISTENT with the design throughout the newsletter. Try to maintain the same color schemes, look and feel for sections, pages, etc.

3. Create sections for your newsletter and carry the size of the sections and the locations of the sections within your newsletter in each subsequent issue. Again, consistency is important for you and your readers. Readers like familiarity, and they will become familiar with sections they are interested in and where these sections are in your issues. YOU should like consistency because if you follow the rules of section space and location then your newsletter is easier to produce because it is a TEMPLATE. For each issue you simply remove the current information from each section and replace it with new information. If you follow this rule there is no need to redesign each and every issue from scratch, saving you quite a bit of time! Find a winning design and stick with it - why reinvent the wheel?

4. Be consistent not only with your newsletter design but with distribution timing. Decide in advance how often your newsletter will be issued and don't waver from your original decision unless absolutely necessary. Create a production schedule and follow it. How would you feel if your morning paper was suddenly switched to evening, or they decided on a whim to drop the Sunday paper and produce two issues on Saturday instead?

5. Balance, balance, balance. If you open a newsletter and the left side is heavy with copy and illustrations but the right has quite a bit of white space, it isn't balanced and the design becomes a distraction. Take a step back and look at it - are all sides balanced? If not, move things around until they are! And when you are moving things remember that people read left to right, top to bottom. You design should stay within this natural eye movement.

6. Use white space. White space is a GOOD thing! It helps separate sections, columns, images, paragraphs... don't try to force-fit information into your newsletter. If adding something you think is important means you need to drop the size of your text to ten points, just save the last article for the next issue.

7. Text within articles should be 11 to 12 point. You can use Helvetica or Aerial for bullet points and small paragraphs, Times for larger articles.

8. Proofread EVERYTHING. Then set it aside and proof it again. And when you are done, have someone else proofread it. There is nothing that will make your readers drop your newsletter into the garbage faster then typographical errors.

9. If you are mailing your newsletter in an outer envelope create a special envelope for the newsletter. You will put your heart and soul into this publication, you want your readers to know what's in the package.

10. Promote your newsletter. Send out a press release with a sample issue to all relevant publications and online sources.

9. If you are writing a consumer newsletter, write it as if you are communicating with a ninth grader. This is standard practice for consumer publications. If you are writing a business-to-business newsletter then you need not be concerned with this issue. Simply write your newsletter as if you are presenting it to a colleague.

And last, remember that even if you have the tools, you may not have the knowledge. If I gave you all the materials and the right tools to build a house, could you do it? If you get in a bind, call an expert or research your questions online. Arm yourself with the knowledge and learn as you go!

Neil Walsh

Daba Designs

P.O. Box 255

North Olmsted, Ohio 44070

Phone: (440)465-0744

Website: http://www.daba-designs.com

Amazon.com Best Buy Shopping Store Discount, Cheap and Best Products guarantee.

10 Easy Marketing Tips To For Your Local Hire Company

Are you looking to get more business for your local hire company?

If so, here are 10 easy marketing ideas that can help bring in more customers.

Give your customers 10% discount cards that they can pass on to their friends. It makes it easy for them to refer you to their friends.

Run a door-to-door leafleting campaign.

Give away a free hire as a prize in a local competition (ask the local paper, local festival organisers or local schools for upcoming competitions).

Give discounts to local clubs and groups or employees of local businesses. Make sure they tell their members/employees.

Run a local competition, offer free hire as prizes to the winners. Get it covered in the local paper.

Advertise in the local newspaper's classifieds section.

If it makes sense for your business, announce to local papers, etc. that you'll be offering free advice related to your business in a local cafe on a certain day.

Start a blog about your business. Write about the work you do, the challenges you face, funny things that happen, great customers you've been able to help, and about life in your local area. Make it personal and don't worry about editing it too much. People prefer blogs to be authentic.

Sponsor a local sports team, especially if there's one that is particularly relevant to your business.

Write an article for a local paper. It could be about the challenges of doing business locally, how a recent change has affected your business or what you think about the local council. Ask them what they'd be interested in before you write it.

Discover these 10 easy ways to bring in more business for your local hire company.

Matt Collins runs HireGuru, the UK Hire Directory and leading resource for owners of UK hire companies.

Amazon.com Best Buy Shopping Store Discount, Cheap and Best Products guarantee.

Digital Signage - The Top 10 Pitfalls

So, you've decided your business or institution will be well served by adding a new digital signage network. Now what?

Where to turn and what to do can be confusing, especially if you're responsible for your organization's communications or IT department, but don't really know anything about a digital sign. While there are many good companies in business to help you achieve your goals, you can make the endeavor easier and far more successful if you avoid the problems many before you have encountered when rolling out and maintaining their digital signage networks.

Having worked with hundreds of customers on their digital signage needs, we've seen a lot of difficulties that could easily have been avoided -along with the associated delays and added expense- with a little knowledge up front. As the saying goes, forewarned is forearmed. So, keep these Top 10 Pitfalls in mind as you plan your new network to make the experience smooth and rewarding.

No. 1: Lack of a clear purpose

Someone in your organization, has read digital signage can make marketing messaging more effective. It can reach potential customers at the point of purchase, promote desired behavior, target different demographic groups associated with different times of the day, and do so many wonderful things.

But what exactly does your organization need to accomplish with it? That's the seminal question. Without clearly defining the purpose of a digital signage network, it is impossible to find success in any phase of its deployment or use.

Taking the time up front to define the expectations for the system and write them out on paper for the approval of key management will provide direction and focus effort on attainable goals. Struggling to fulfill a nebulous purpose for the flat-panel sign network will rack up unnecessary expense and leave everyone connected with the project frustrated.

No. 2: Taking on digital signage as an IT project

"Digital signage network," the very words sound IT oriented. While there's a lot of IT technology involved with it, taking it on as an IT project is dangerous.

While highly skilled, the typical IT manager does not have the background nor the experience needed to roll out a successful digital sign network. There's a powerful temptation on the part of IT managers to look at dynamic signage playback as if it were a Microsoft PowerPoint presentation. It isn't.

PowerPoint does an excellent job at making business presentations, but how many TV stations rely on PowerPoint to create and playback the programs, commercials, news and promotions you see nightly? Exactly zero. With respect to playing back video, graphics, text and animation, layering multiple visual elements and building and maintaining a playout schedule, a sign network is much more like a TV station than a boardroom with a projector and a PowerPoint presentation. Keep that in mind if an IT manager volunteers to take on your organization's project.

No. 3: Lack of content

Congratulations. You have a digital signage network. What are you going to display? Having a network without content is like having a newspaper without print. There's just a whole lot of nothing and overwhelming sense of emptiness.

Communicating in some form must be part of the reason behind the decision to add a sign network. However, there is no communication without content. Fortunately, many organizations have existing resources to draw upon that can be repurposed as digital signage content. Logos, commercials, promotional video, print advertising, plans and drawings can all be reused in whole or part to communicate a message on a sign network.

Additionally, RSS Internet feeds are a tremendous resource for updating a sign network with fresh "newsy" content, weather and sports scores that can give an audience a reason to take a second or third look.

Regardless of where it comes from, content is critical to the success of a sign network. Knowing where it will come from is as important as actually having the network in place.

No. 4: No one assigned to manage the project

While it's not like designing the International Space Station, putting a digital signage network in place can be a complex undertaking. For that reason, it's essential that any business or organization taking on a sign network assign someone to manage the project. Having an individual identified to own the project will minimize the impact of the unforeseen problems that inevitably creep into any complex undertaking.

Just as bad as having no one assigned to manage the project is its closely related cousin: management by committee. Offering up conflicting directions from multiple individuals will leave your system integrator bewildered and your project incomplete.

No. 5: No one to update content

While RSS feeds and subscriptions to news wire services are two sources of fresh information for a digital signage network, where will updated content conveying your company's specific messages and current offerings come from?

A dynamic sign network that attracts attention has an insatiable appetite for fresh content. Thus, it's essential that an organization taking on a sign network assign a qualified, competent person to the task of creating that content. Without someone in charge of the network's content, the text, graphics and video being displayed will soon grow tired. Stale content will have the opposite of the desired result for a digital sign. It actually will drive viewers away and impart a sense of "been there, done that" that will be difficult to reverse.

No. 6: Taking the cheap way out

There's nothing wrong with being budget conscious about a digital signage installation; however, selecting products, including displays, controllers and software, and services like content creation solely on their price tag can result in a system that in the long wrong will cost an organization dearly.

Systems designed solely on the price of the component miss the point. Digital sign networks are about communicating information -perhaps a marketing message, maps and directions or instructions- to their intended audience. Spending money on an inexpensive system just because it's cheap could cost a business or organization far more than the money saved in lost opportunities.

No. 7: Not knowing the locations of the signs

Knowing where your organization wants to locate the flat panel monitors in its digital signage network is important for a few reasons. First, locating the digital sign media players needed depends on where the sign or signs it's controlling are located. The length of cable runs between player and sign must be taken into account. Clearly defining the location of the signs will allow you to minimize construction/renovation expense and avoid paying for "do overs."

Second, understanding exactly where the signs will be positioned will make it easier to understand what will be needed to mount the flat panels in use. Are wall studs available where a sign will be located? Or, will a freestanding structure be required? What's the condition of the wall studs? Is electrical power available? What's the status of ambient light sources? Will a window or skylight need to be shaded to reduce glare?

Third, not knowing where the signs need to located may be a symptom of a bigger problem, namely not having a clear idea about the purpose of the digital signage installation.

No. 8: Installers without general contractor capability

Installing digital signage can be messy. Drywall and plaster may need to be cut. New electrical plugs with isolated grounds may need to be installed. Beyond those obvious construction challenges, less apparent structural modifications may be required. Those can vary from relocating HVAC ducts to re-enforcing walls.

For that reason, choosing a digital signage installer without the skill and experience to serve as a general contractor for the project can be a big mistake. Depending on the specific installation, it's not unreasonable to assume carpenters, electricians, plumbers and even heating and cooling contractors might need to be involved to make necessary structural modifications. Having an installer who can serve as a general contractor to bring those diverse resources together and manage them properly can save lots of time and expense.

No. 9: Failing to allot adequate time to learn the system

Far too often, the people responsible for new digital signage installations at businesses or organizations are so excited about their systems that they can't wait to show them off to upper management. After all, a significant sum of money went in to making the digital sign network a reality. So showing it off as soon as possible only seems natural.

However, creating content for a system, scheduling it and making changes to playback along the way require some skill. It takes time to be properly trained to use a sign network. Failing to allocate sufficient time to learn how to use the system not only could be embarrassing in front of management, but disastrous to your communications efforts with the general public, if they're your first audience.

No. 10: Failing to keep future expansion in mind at the time of initial design

Designing yourself into a box when first contemplating a digital signage network can be costly. Without casting an eye towards future needs, it's possible that portions of the network might need replacement before they've been amortized to accommodate expansion.

Without exception, experience shows that businesses and organizations that fund the addition of digital sign networks express interest in expanding their systems after they're installed.

Take these lessons to heart as you proceed with your digital sign rollout, and you're much more likely to have a successful experience. More importantly, your company or institution will avoid costly mistakes that will delay the installation and prevent your communications from having their desired effect.

David Little is a digital signage enthusiast with 20 years of experience helping professionals use technology to more effectively communicate their unique marketing messages. He is the director of marketing for Keywest Technology in Lenexa, KS, a software development company specializing in systems for digital signage creation, scheduling, management and playback. For further digital signage insight from Keywest Technology, download our Six Basic Digital Signage Applications white paper and case studies. Or, visit our website for many helpful tips and examples on how digital signage can benefit your business.

Amazon.com Best Buy Shopping Store Discount, Cheap and Best Products guarantee.

Work From Home? - 7 Tips To Improve Your Data Entry Work From Home Jobs Income

Work From Home? - 7 Tips To Improve Your Data Entry Work From Home Jobs Income

Do You have what it takes to do data entry work from home jobs, here are the 7 Tips To Improve Your Income checklist you must have before applying for any of these jobs. Find out if you have what it takes to successfully work from home and create that extra income you have always needed to start enjoying the better things in life.

• Are You Self Disciplined.

Self discipline is an important personal characteristic and you must be a self starter and be able to perform daily functions without supervision.

The greater a persons self discipline, the more likely they are to do well and to behave in ways that will make success in life more likely.

A person must make a decision regarding life, as to what the priorities are and then apply self discipline to maintain or achieve those priorities.

The way to learn self discipline is to study other role models whom you know to be self disciplined and apply their techniques to your business.

• Do You Have An Eye For Detail.

An eye for detail is also important to have to ensure the quality of the end product and therefore guaranteeing yourself repeat business.

• Can You Do Repetitive Work.

You need the ability to concentrate when doing repetitive work because otherwise the mind wanders and you start thinking about everything else rather than focusing on the task at hand.

• Do You Have Basic Computer Knowledge.

People with basic computer knowledge and typing skills can excel in this type of job.

You will need to have your own computer and access to the internet and if you are able to write and send an email then you know enough to begin with.

• Are You Open To Learning.

Intelligence is a choice. Some adults are "smart" and others "dumb" simply because they choose to be. Smart people are those that deliberately seek out new experiences and are willing to experiment with new ideas.

• A Willingness To Perform Tasks Quickly.

You need a willingness to get the job done and then move on to the next one, just focus on the part of the day that you have allocated to this part time job and then get as much done as possible in that time.

• Do You Realize That Data Entry Jobs Are Not Get-Rich-Quick-Schemes.

This type of work is a real job and not a get-rich-quick-scheme like some that you see being offered on websites but if you treat it like a real job and put in the effort needed it is possible to make $300 - $2000+ per day spending just 30-40 minutes per day working in the comfort of your own home.

I hope that I have been able to help you in some small way with this report and good luck in you future data entry work from home jobs

Steven Seferi is an online marketer and entrepreneur who specializes in work from home niche websites. For more information please see http://www.data-entry-work-from-home-jobs.com

Amazon.com Best Buy Shopping Store Discount, Cheap and Best Products guarantee.

Top 7 Sales Coaching Tips to Leverage the Power of the Force

Are you of the Star Wars generation? Do you remember all of the talk about the force be with you. Why not use that force to increase sales leads?

Do you want more sales? Don't we all? Then consider using the power of the force (minus the light saber) to help you achieve your goal to increase sales. These top 7 sales coaching tips may help you do just that.

1. Construct a strategic action sales plan with W.A.Y. S.M.A.R.T. goals. You must have a plan from which to work your sales leads to goals. A plan with supporting goals will keep you focused on the results - to increase sales.

2. Make sure all of your actions are aligned to your sales action plan. Sales Coaching Tip: Within your plan, make sure you have committed your values (non-negotiable behaviors) to writing for people buy from people they know and more importantly trust.

3. Work to improve your communication skills both verbal and non-verbal.

4. Watch those who are watching you. If you see someone notice you, take the time to connect that individual. Sales Coaching Tip: Make sure you consistently use a proven sales process.

5. Keep strong positive beliefs (those subconscious thoughts) that drive your attitudes demonstrated through your actions creating those desired results. (B.A.A.R.)

6. Maintain good physical and mental health. Your energy force is directly connected to your overall well being.

7. Practice, practice tips one through six. Sales Coaching Tip: Learning is the acquisition of knowledge. Performance is the application of knowledge. Channel your actions to be performance driven for that will make the difference between sales success and sales failure.

This sales skill of leveraging your own energy force is one of the most subtle ones to develop, but probably one of the most critical ones to have.

What are your goals to increase sales? This free audit looks to your sales skills.

Do you need some additional sales coaching tips but cannot afford a sales coach? Then visit the sales coaching gym.

Leanne Hoagland-Smith with locations near Chicago & Indianapolis helps organizations through business coaching training services to return to the purpose of business that being building ravings fans while increasing productivity and profitability. Her clients quickly double results in 30 to 90 days. Call 219.759.5601 to schedule a free business coaching consultation.

Amazon.com Best Buy Shopping Store Discount, Cheap and Best Products guarantee.

Top 7 Sales Coaching Tips to Leverage the Power of the Force

10 Rules For Great Taglines

A tagline or a slogan is a phrase (for example, "Just Do It (tm)") intended to get "stuck" in prospects' heads. The tagline should be short and memorable, like a great piece of haiku. The following are my rules for creating great taglines:

1. Don't be "cute". Cute often is seen as "cheesy".

2. Do focus on the benefit to the customer.

3. Don't repeat any of the words in your company's name.

4. Do spend time with a thesaurus.

5. Don't use more than 7 words (human short term memory limit).

6. Do use short words.

7. Don't use well-worn phrases.

8. Do use an emotion word to invoke the benefit (pain, pleasure, safety, etc.)

9. Don't think a tagline replaces good marketing strategy.

10. Do ask your existing best clients what they think of your tagline.

The best way to get something to "stick" is to capture your potential customer's problem and pain and show the solution. Don't write a tagline from the perspective of how great you are - no one really cares.

Let's say I'm looking to hire the best Realtor that I can find to sell my house. I'm looking for someone who: has a proven track record, is a great listener, is a great negotiator, and can get me a great deal. Period.

I filter every Realtor that I meet against my list. Which of the following Realtor taglines would be most likely to appeal to me?

* Your Realtor With Heart

* Finding Your Dream Home

* Your Realtor For Life

* I Know Your Neighborhood

* The Hardest Working Realtor You'll Ever Meet

* Selling Homes Is All I Do

Jay Hamilton-Roth founded Many Good Ideas (http://www.ManyGoodIdeas.com) to help small businesses brainstorm, design, and implement effective marketing strategies. He combines creativity with common sense to demystify the process of getting great results. He has used his high-tech background from MIT to help him launch five businesses. He consults with companies in a wide range of industries and publishes a free monthly marketing newsletter (Creative Business Ideas) and a (daily blog). He is available for public speaking.

Amazon.com Best Buy Shopping Store Discount, Cheap and Best Products guarantee.

Using Maps In Business - 10 Tips From The Experts

This article, a prequel to my forthcoming 101 Map Uses, offers 10 productive ways businesses can use wall maps. Too often, business professionals equate maps with the online digital variety that provide directions, the nearest Home Depot, and homes for sale, all from the comfort of a computer, PDA, or cell phone. Yet, millions of businesses use printed wall maps daily. Fortune 500 companies insist on using high quality printed maps in their day-to-day operations because there is simply no replacement for maps. While the digital map has its own uses, a well-designed printed map is by no means old school. To the contrary, wall maps keep up with the modern needs of business and are in high demand.

Wall maps serve a multitude of purposes, the least of which is decorative eye candy, although this is a distinct use that has more value than you may think. We'll get to that in a minute. Printed maps are handled in the office from everyone from the CEO, sales manager, executive assistant, accountant, and truck driver. This article is less for the professionals who already use maps, but for those who want to learn what the Fortune 500 know.

1. Corporate Identity A map sets the scene and provides a sense of place. These are instrumental forces for business moral. Companies, whose stores or service area are mapped and on display, ground the staff in the here and now, never losing track of the geographic identity of the company.

2. Display A handsome or beautiful map displayed in a store or office environment is a positive reinforcement to customers and clients that the company is grounded, committed, and knowledgeable about the area. If the map reflects the company's identity; it speaks a thousand words to customers who enjoy it. One such map that I recall was prominently framed in an office foyer. Virtually every visiting client that entered the office saw that map and made a compliment. This was a compliment to the map maker, but also to the company for having the good judgment and wisdom to have it created and displayed so prominently. The map depicted the company's geographic service area in beautiful detail. It wasn't a tourist map or something from the Better Business Bureau. The point of the map was not to demonstrate how clever the company is, but how knowledgeable they are of their service base and how invested they are in the communities they serve.

3. Store Locations

As a map maker, I get requests by medium and large companies to make them a map showing the locations of their stores. This may seem a mundane point, but more often than not, the map I make is the first map these companies have ever had that depicted the geographic location and relationship of their stores. This is a powerful concept not to be dismissed. There are a variety of online map tools that allow you to cobble together such a map, but they inevitably fall disastrously short of a wall size, detailed, and well-crafted map designed for the purpose.

4. Travel Time Distance A company that makes deliveries, sales visits, or service calls needs to have some basic information handy: how long does it take to drive from the home office to a given location in the service area. A classic example is the pizza delivery service, where on the wall in the pizza restaurant is a travel time distance map. The pizza delivery drivers consult the map to understand how long it should take them to reach their designated delivery, as well as where the delivery address is located. Travel time distance maps are not exclusively posted on the wall, but folded and kept handy in service vehicle cabs, such as in emergency response vehicles. From the location of an accident, an ambulance driver can quickly lookup the fastest route to drive to the hospital, which in mileage terms may not be to shortest route. Since travel time distance maps use actual traffic data for specific streets and highways, these maps are an exceptional tool.

5. Service and Sales Area Delineation Briefly mentioned earlier, service and sales area maps are vital to certain company's day-to-day operations, but also useful in strategic planning, which will be covered soon. Each and every company strives to improve efficiency in the following categories: resources, operations, and staff time. One way to use maps to improve business efficiency is to accurately delineate the service or sales area and use this as a road map. This map will then guide future decisions and resource allocation in an informed and consistent manner.

6. Customer Demographics Demographic data have long been used by companies to know their customer base better. The United State Census Bureau routinely collects detailed census data and numerous private companies collect business related demographics. Demographic data help companies better target product and service development, customer support, and marketing strategies. Often, these data are presented with graphs, pie charts, and tables. In contrast, a wall map displaying customer demographic data within a company's service area is a much more powerful tool as it accomplishes the following functions:

• quantifies the demographics within critical geographic blocks, such as service area, zip codes, census blocks, neighborhoods, counties, etc.,

• shows the relationship between demographics and store density, service area reach, and competitor store density or service areas,

• and others.

7. Trend Analysis

Businesses always want to know what the future will hold. How will consumer demographics change? Which neighborhoods are changing? Where will there be opportunities? Maps can answer these questions when benefited from Geographic Information Systems (GIS), software that analyzes data and geography together, including demographic data, land use plans, development plans, consumer spending by city block, and with precision. Using GIS in trend analysis for businesses is a strong field, and one that has many obvious benefits.

8. New Store Selection

Most businesses plans have a geographic component inherent in them: open more stores, expand service area, develop new markets, or simply adapt to changes in demographics. All of these objectives require a wall map for definition and planning. Though most importantly, these objectives cannot be accomplished without GIS and a knowledgeable GIS analyst consultant.

9. Strategic Planning All businesses undergo strategic planning on a regular or ad hoc basis. Strategic planning involves an honest evaluation of the past, present, and future aspects of the company and it's business model. Wall maps, and especially GIS, are instrumental in informing the business strategic planning in the above mentioned ways: corporate identity, store locations, service area delineation, travel time distance analysis (operational efficiency), new store or site selection, and customer demographic and trend analysis. Often companies incorporate an entire GIS process and presentation map series in their strategic planning sessions.

10. Marketing

Knowing where to spend limited marketing budget, especially with regards to direct mail or location targeted advertisement, is a very popular use of GIS and wall maps in business. Maps are a critical starting point for geographic targeted marketing where demographic data, zip codes, mailing address locations are just some of the data used to develop location specific marketing campaigns.

Putting It All Together To receive the full value and competitive advantage of wall maps, incorporate all of the ten uses together in your business' daily practice and corporate culture. Simply stated, maps excite people's creativity and ambition. Maps inform. Maps expand our comprehension of complex relationships often missed by mundane graphs and tables. Incorporate maps into your business today. You will be glad you did.

I hoped you've enjoyed this article. To download free wall maps for businesses, visit Maponomy. For GIS consulting in these areas, contact GeoIntel.

Amazon.com Best Buy Shopping Store Discount, Cheap and Best Products guarantee.

Do You Need A Bra?

Ever since the male species became obsessed with female breasts, things were never the same. Women suddenly became conscious of them - whether they were big enough and looked right. Fashion found a way of exploiting them and pop star Madonna gave new meaning to them with her outrageous outfits. Not surprisingly, the one thing most women are afraid of nowadays is when gravity finally catches up with them and pulls their breasts down to oblivion.

Hope, however, springs eternal, more so in troubled times. When Caresse Crosby - also known as Mary Phelps Jacobs - first patented the modern bra in November 1914, women believed their troubles were over. Tormented by thoughts of drooping breasts, many began wearing bras to prevent this tragedy from happening. And if sales are a good indication of how popular bras have become, the figures are enormously encouraging.

From Crosby's initial design made from two handkerchiefs sewn together, bras now come in many shapes and sizes to suit every woman's need. The industry has grown by leaps and bounds and is now worth over $20 million.

Ironically, although many were impressed by Crosby's invention when she wore it on the dance floor, sales were slow. Crosby managed to sell only one for a dollar and for a while it seemed that the bra was doomed to be forgotten.

Things suddenly changed when she sold the idea to the Warner Brothers Corset Company of America for $15,000. When it hit the stores, the bra suddenly became the most popular thing on earth - at least to most women anyway. That attitude remains to this day.

Still, are bras really worth the attention they're getting? Can they really help the breasts and prevent sagging? Or are they just a cute cosmetic cover-up?

While a good bra can make the breasts look better, Dr. Christine Haycock, a surgeon at New Jersey Medical School in Newark, said it has no effect whatsoever on their tendency to sag which is an inherited quality. She adds that a lifetime of bra wearing does little to preserve the natural curves of the breasts.

That wrong notion began when doctors earlier thought that the ligaments that support the breasts had to be aided by a bra to prevent a pendulous profile. But the truth turned out to be much different. How the ligaments react to gravity is largely a matter of skin elasticity, experts say. And how elastic your skin is all boils down to heredity. Thus, breasts that are doomed to droop at a certain time will eventually do so regardless of how long a woman wears a bra.

"It's true that most women's breasts lose their perk with age and extremely large-breasted women will, in general, be affected earlier and to a certain degree. But the reasons aren't related to ligaments or even strictly dependent on breast size. Much more important are inherited characteristics such as skin elasticity and breast density which reflects the ratio of lightweight fat to heavier glands," explained Deborah Franklin in Health magazine.

Another common myth is that exercising without a bra can damage the breasts. This has prompted female athletes to purchase unnecessary sports bras and similar clothing that supposedly protect the breasts. Their anxiety appears to be reasonable. Vigorous exercise, after all, puts a lot of strain on the breasts, causing them to bounce up and down in unimaginable ways.

But even under this kind of torture, Haycock said breasts can manage quite well and no harm is done. So, by and large, you don't need a sports bra unless you feel pain while exercising which comes from skin stretching.

If breast size is a problem, a good bra can improve the shape and contours of the breasts. For those who yearn for bigger breasts but are afraid of surgery, the Clevastin Natural Breast Enlargement System may help. This special herbal system combines the dual power of Clevastin capsules that are packed with breast-enhancing compounds similar to the ones produced naturally by your own body, and the Clevastin accelerator gel cream that penetrates deep into the outer layers of the breasts for maximum results. For more information, visit http://www.clevastin.com.

Janet Martin is an avid health and fitness enthusiast and published author. Many of her insightful articles can be found at the premiere online news magazine http://www.thearticleinsiders.com

Do The Celebrities Live Up To Their Goddess Birth Sign?

Christina Ricci Born 12 Feb 1980 Goddess birth sign Hathor

Hathor women have the gift of shape-shifting -- reinventing themselves for fresh inspiration. And there is no better example of this energy manifesting itself than with Christina Ricci -- she has, after all, been quoted as saying "I certainly hope I'm not still answering child-star questions by the time I reach menopause."

Breaking free from the danger of being typecast as a child-star (The Addams Family and Casper), Christina ditched her cutie doll image and successfully reinvented herself into a cutting-edge vixen in risqué roles. Subsequently she has attracted new fan bases with each shape-shift.

Her image, attitude and philosophy gets a regular makeover, but with Hathor guiding her natural instincts, she will continue doing so with aplomb.

Kristin Davis Born 24 Feb 1965 Goddess birth sign Oshun

Goddess of universal love and sensuality, Oshun women are generous with their time for themselves during a tidal "ebb", and for others during a "flow". We all saw this trait in action through Kristin's character Charlotte (Sex And The City), but how true does the Oshun character ring in real life?

Kristin is a unique balance of strength and innocence - she succumbed to alcoholism before finding the strength to deal with the demands of Hollywood and facing it (sober) head-on.

She is at once innocent, batting her eyelashes and giving an enigmatic smile in the face of sauciness; and sexy, comfortable in her own skin with a 'less is more' approach to make up thereby 'keeping it real'.

Sarah Jessica Parker Born March 25, 1965 Goddess birth sign Athena

Born leaders, powerful and zesty, Athena girls are feisty and resourceful. But sometimes they are too much so and could do with directing their courage towards asking for help.

Sarah Jessica Parker is the classic Athena archetype - strong, independent and a warrior princess. The downside to this strength is she'd feel ashamed to ask for help in case it made her appear weak.

No-one is going to think any less of her if she asked for time out to look after herself for a while. In fact, she'd be doing herself a favour if she asked someone else to do it for her! After all, even Athena couldn't protect Athens 24/7 - sometimes warrior princesses need to rest their sword too!

Michelle Pfeiffer Born 29 April 1958 Goddess birth sign Juno

Juno women seek stable relationships, material security and an enriched home life. And as though it weren't enough that she has a rewarding private life with husband David E Kelley and their adopted children, Michelle Pfeiffer has worked hard to ensure that she is an entrenched part of our lives as a household name as well.

Thanks to her Juno grounding, Michelle was able to maintain her dignity when rumours surfaced of her husband having a fling with Ally McBeal's Calista Flockhart.

Rather than relying on others for her happiness, Michelle drew on her birth patroness' energy to strengthen the relationship from within, thereby ensuring a strong family unit.

Nicole Kidman Born 20 June 1967 Goddess sign Persephone

Vital and intelligent, innocent and fickle, Persephone gals have an amazing capacity for self-empowerment. They can make the most of a rotten situation and turn it around to their benefit.

This is certainly the case with Nicole who grew up lanky and awkward with pale skin prone to freckling under the fierce Australian sun. She escaped her insecurities through drama and the arts, where involvement with Jane Campion led her to understand acting was her future.

Just as Persephone married the all-powerful Hades to ease her way, Nicole married Hollywood's "king", Tom Cruise, despite a natural aversion to public scrutiny. She adopts an ice-queen facade to mask her panic attacks, which she especially suffers on the red carpet. This is where Persephone really cuts loose and lets her presence known by dancing wildly in her Solar Plexus, the chakra that Nicole needs to nurture the most.

Liv Tyler Born 1 July 1977 Goddess birth sign Diana

Powerful and protective, Diana rules over nature, fertility, children and providence. Hippy-raised Liv is the manifestation of Diana's energy with her ethereal looks and nature-loving, egalitarian approach to life.

She is well known for her off-beat roles that win international acclaim, a laid-back character and high-profile boyfriends... these attributes all stem from a deeply loyal and loving relationship with her celebrity parents.

From her first day at school as a chubby kid with braces to the inevitable rise to fame, Liv remains level-headed and grounded in the face her celebrity. Even her occasional foray into a alternative fashion is further proof of her Diana-inspired conviction to 'keep it real'.

Anna Paquin Born 24 July 1982 Goddess birth sign Pele

Full of passionate energy, Pele gals love being the centre of attention and the life of the party - when they come out of dormancy, that is.

Anna Paquin was a 10-year-old schoolgirl when her Oscar- winning role in The Piano catapulted her to fame. That she hides her Oscar in her closet out of consideration to others is an indication of the self-control and inner power that lies beneath a calm surface.

She might wear conservative clothing to industry functions, but occasionally she reveals a glimpse of a fiery nature - at the Drama Desk Awards last year her Pele side came to the fore when she unleashed her feminine power in a hiked-hem provocative dress. Watch this space for her full power to come gushing to fruition!

Cameron Diaz Born 30 August 1972 Goddess birth sign Hestia

Hestia girls are creatures of habit and organisation, purity, sincerity, sanctity and safety. One only needs to look at the tight and private relationship she has with toy-boy Justin Timberlake to know that Cameron values honesty and integrity highly in relationships.

According to industry insiders, the sweet and innocent Cameron that you see on screen is a glimpse of the real-life girl that is ruled by Hestia.

She was a sex-bomb in her early movies, but is now better known for her sweet girl-next-door roles that have become her signature.

As Cameron's inner Hestia values a fruitful home life above all, don't be surprised to hear news of her stepping across the threshold with her man in tow...

Susan Sarandon Born 4 October 1946 Goddess birth sign Venus

Venus women have a sense of style and appreciation for acts of love, pleasure and romance. In this respect, Susan Sarandon leads the way in redefining the image of 'dignified Hollywood woman'.

In true Venus style, Susan can balance her love for the good things in life with her concern that others get the chance to experience it too - ie, if everyone is happy the Venus gal is happy too. Her active support for issues that affect her fellow Americans (even leading to her arrest some cases) and her role as Goodwill Ambassador for UNICEF is proof of this.

Some of Susan's film role choices reflect her Venus core - sexy groupie, seductress, Rocky Horror tart, witch, bloodsucker, nun, fun seeker and suicidal rebel... I can't wait to see the next decadent "wild side" this Venus gal chooses to explore.

Demi Moore Born 11 November 1962 Goddess birth sign Bast

Courageous, strong and fearless in the face of vermin, Bast girls show an abiding patience in seeking vengeance for wrong doings. By far this attribute is evident in her micro-bikini clad role in Charlie's Angels -- who'd want to be at the other end of one of her weapons of vengeance?!

You don't need to be a villain to feel the sting of Demi's wrath. When critics questioned her nudity in films, they felt her snakes bite in her comment; "There's this idea that if you take your clothes off, somehow you must have loose morals. There's still a negative attitude in our society towards women who use a strength that's inherent -- their femininity -- in any way that might be considered seductive."

So watch out ;-) While she is fiercely loyal to her children and lovers, she'll be quick to show her claws if you step out of line!

Lucy Liu Born 2 December 1968 Goddess sign Rhiannon

Welsh goddess of fertility and rebirth, transformation, wisdom, and magic, Rhiannon girls seek adventure and travel. Lucy cannot be a better role model for Rhiannon gals. In her pursuit of assertive and feisty roles where she can really get her teeth into unleashing her inner adventurer, Lucy proves that Rhiannon's energy is raging within.

Patroness of voice, Rhiannon guided Lucy through her difficult high school years where she suffered an identity crisis thanks to her English and Mandarin speaking background. She taught Lucy to ask for what she really wanted, and today we see where this got her - she has risen above the stereo-typed Asian roles and is respected by Hollywood as a serious actress worth her weight in lapis lazuli, cats-eye and exotic Revlon products.

Diane Keaton Born 5 January 1946 Goddess birth sign Demeter

Just like their patroness who scoured the earth and Under World for her kidnapped daughter Persephone, Demeter gals stop at nothing to achieve their goals.

Champion of causes, Diane gained attention in her first major stage role (in the rock musical Hair) by not stripping off.

Diane's fashion inclination towards unisex clothes tells the world she is ready for action and she is going to do it her way. This Demeter attitude extends to her family situation also - she has never married but has two children, Dexter and Duke.

Find out what your own goddess birth sign is at Goddess.com.au.

Anita Revel is the creatrix of the stunning "i Goddess" meditation movie that can be viewed at http://www.igoddess.com . She is also a columnist for United Press International, and has written hundreds of articles pertaining to women's wellbeing.

Do You Use Serious Skin Care Products?

It is very important that you take good care of your skin. You may purchase a cheap skin care product, but quality may be missing. There is a wide array of skin care products on the market today: moisturizers, anti-aging formulas and firming creams.

You may see different versions and brands of these skin formulas, but do not be fooled by the least expensive price. They may not have the ingredients that are necessary for proper skin care.

Even though a product may be more expensive, it is best to go with the skin care products that contain the proper ingredients. Let's look at some important skin care products along with the ingredients you will find in them.

Acne Skin Care Products -if you have acne, then you have probably been trying a host of cheap acne skin care products in the hopes that you will cure your skin and save money at the same time. A very good product that is used to treat acne is called Acnezine and can be purchased online.

With Acnezine you take capsules and use an acne moisturizing cream as well. The capsules contain antioxidants like Vitamins C and E, and the moisturizing cream contains natural soothing ingredients such as Calendula extract, Aloe Vera extract and Goldenseal extract. Even though this product is more expensive, you should get serious results with this product. If not, they offer a money back guarantee.

Anti-Aging Skin Care Products - another product that there are literally hundreds of is anti-aging skin care products. Many people today want to reduce wrinkles or make them go away altogether. They want to buy these products in the hopes that it will telltale signs of aging and will help prevent further aging.

You want to make sure you go with a product that will provide results. Finding the product with the proper ingredients may mean that you may have to spend more money. What does that matter if you get the desired results?

One product to consider is Revitol. This anti-aging solution has a large following and is economically priced for those who want the most for their money. It is reported to reduces the signs of aging by using ingredients such as Matixyl, Idebenone and Shea Butter. You can find this product online, and if you are not satisfied there is a 90 day money back guarantee.

Moisturizers - it is very important that you moisturize your skin so you need to get a moisturizer that is able to keep your skin healthy and moisturized. A great product to go with is Olay Total Effects Moisturizer. You can pick this product up in just about any department or drug store. It may not be one of the cheapest brands on the market today, but if you are looking for a serious skin care product this is an excellent choice.

Why? Because Olay moisturizes your face and prevents aging as well. This product does not contain any oil but some of its great ingredients are VitaNiacin, Vitamin E and ProVitamin B5. Another great product to consider is one that is put out by Neutrogena and is called Healthy Skin Face Lotion. This product has ingredients such as sunscreen, Alpha-Hydoxy Acid and Vitamins C and E.

While you may understand that it is very important to moisturize every day, you may not understand how to do it properly. Here are five great tips that will see to it that you moisturize the right way:

1. Moisturize after cleansing - after you have cleaned your skin and used a toner on it, then you should moisturize. This will ensure that you skin is damp and warm and is now ready to accept the moisturizer.

2. Don't use too much - use the moisturizer sparingly. If you use too much, it may clog your pores and make you susceptible to breakouts on your skin.

3. Moisturize twice a day - it is best if you use the moisturizer twice a day - after your morning and evening cleansing just before retiring for the night.

4. Buy the proper moisturizer for your skin type - if you use an improper product, it could spell disaster. People who have oily skin are going to have to use a different kind of moisturizer than people who have very dry skin.

5. Drink plenty of water - you have to moisturize your skin from the inside out. If you drink enough water, this can help keep your skin not only looking healthy but properly moisturized as well.

Follow these tips and you will be on your way to a happier and younger looking you!

Ken Black is is an owner of many health related websites. Visit this site for more information on serious skin care products.

4 Questions You Should Ask Yourself Before Having Breast Augmentation Surgery

Breast augmentation surgery is one of today's most common cosmetic procedures. It has gained tremendous popularity in recent years. What can you expect? It's all over TV; we see it on the news, one celebrity had her boobs done! Then we see all these other stars in bikinis and wonder, how many of them are actually real? Advertising is also aggressive; there are lots of advertising about doctors and clinics and how they are the best place for you to have the procedure.

The continuing advancement of technology and the increase in plastic surgery operations indicate that these procedures are becoming more common and relatively free of risk, however, no surgery is really absolutely risk free.

If you are seriously thinking of getting a breast augmentation, first reflect on the following questions.

Why Are You Having Breast-Aug surgery?

Forget what you see on TV, set aside all the testimonials you have seen or heard about doctors and clinics. Get to the very bottom why you believe you need the procedure. Don't desire the procedure because other people say that it will improve your life; instead find out for sure if it will really improve yours. Do you really need it? And why?

If you have a good surgeon, he will be able to assist you in deciding upon it as well giving you an array of options, and even alternatives if you are not fully convinced of getting surgery. You shouldn't be pressured into it.

What are the risks?

Any surgical procedure administered under general anesthesia does have some risk to it. There is always the risk of a complication, even if your doctor has taken all necessary precautions. There is a need for a thorough physical examination prior to the surgery to ensure you are in good health. The doctor will also ask you if you are under any form of medication.

A good surgeon will sit down with you and talk you through the procedure and the possible complications and risks you face. Try not to make any hasty decisions, and carefully weigh the risks against the potential benefits.

Have you found the right doctor?

Finding the right surgeon for your procedure is not a matter of checking for accreditation. You have to find someone you can trust, some you are comfortable with, someone who can understand what it is you want to achieve.

Try to find out if you have any friends or relatives who has had the procedure and if they were happy with the doctor who performed it. If you have a trusted personal physician, ask for some referrals that you can check out. Make a list of possible doctors to check. It is important to research the doctor to ensure they are accredited and certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgeons. A surgeon with hospital privileges is a plus; this means that a hospital committee has approved the doctor's training and competency to meet their criteria for performing a similar operation in their facilities. Some surgeries can be performed in a clinic and not a hospital. If you are considering a clinic for your procedure, check if they have appropriate medical personnel on hand and that the facilities are clean and medical waste is properly disposed of.

How much will it cost?

This is the last thing you should consider, because it should be least important in deciding which doctor or clinic to go to. This should not be the basis for your choice. Your doctor's qualifications and your comfort with him or her are more important than the cost, and you are likely to pay more anyway if there are complications or if you are not happy with the results.

Lucy Starling is a Registered Nurse and Internet Entrepreneur. Lucy likes to blog about matters that concern women such as breast augmentation surgery on her Breast Augmentation Blog on http://breast-augmentation-index.com

Jogging Linked To Sagging Breasts

First it was volleyball. Now a new study says that millions of women are at risk for sagging breasts because of jogging.

This disheartening news could affect nine women in England alone unless they wear the right sports bra.

Dr. Joanne Scurr, a biomechanics professor at the University of Portsmouth, said that exercises like jogging put a great deal of pressure on the breasts. This causes them to bounce uncontrollably, causing pain and sagging in the long run. The problem was observed in both flat-chested women and those with big breasts.

"During exercise, women's breasts bounce more than previously estimated, moving a vertical distance of up to around eight inches compared with a past maximum measurement of six inches. The bouncing, in some cases with breasts weighing 20 pounds or more, can prove painful and damaging to the limited natural support system," explained Jeanna Bryner in LiveScience.com.

Scurr's study focused on 70 women, including students and faculty from the University of Portsmouth, with bra sizes ranging from A-cup to extra-large (DD, E, FF, G, H, HH, J and JJ). The subjects were asked to exercise as Scurr measured breast movements in three directions: up and down, side to side, and in and out. She found that the movements resembled a figure 8 pattern.

"During walking exercise, the women's breasts moved relatively the same amount in all directions. But when participants sped up to a jog or run, their breasts moved proportionally more in some directions than others: More than 50 percent of the total movement was in the up-down direction, 22 percent side-to-side and 27 percent in-and-out," Bryner reported.

Unfortunately, most bras don't provide the proper support, especially when it comes to exercise. Scurr said many products can't stop breasts from bouncing. They only minimize up and down motion which isn't enough to prevent pain and the stretching of connective tissues that leads to sagging.

"For all cup sizes, the so-called encapsulation bras in which each cup is separately molded provided the most support, beating out the compression bras, which limit only the up-and-down motion. The encapsulation bras limit some of the movement in the other directions as well," said Bryner.

To correct this problem, Scurr is currently working with bra manufacturers to design the perfect bra that will minimize breast movement in all three dimensions. Her study will hopefully protect female joggers and other female athletes from drooping breasts.

If bras do nothing to improve your breasts, use the Clevastin Natural Breast Enlargement System. This product contains powerful plant estrogens that will give you the breasts you want. For details, go to http://www.clevastin.com

Janet Martin is an avid health and fitness enthusiast and published author. Many of her insightful articles can be found at the premiere online news magazine http://www.thearticleinsiders.com

Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year Travelling Jewelry Wardrobe

Are you staying over at your parent's place for Thanksgiving?

Will you be attending one party after another during the holiday season?

Are you going away on a vacation?

Don't forget to bring along your jewelry wardrobe. If you are space-challenged, you might even be able to pack your entire jewelry wardrobe into a pillbox.

Get yourself cubic zirconia diamond and gemstone earrings. These are all the accessories you need to carry along with you for your travelling wardrobe.

For one thing, earrings set in sparkling gemstones enhance a woman's appearance instantly. As the light from the gemstones are reflected on the wearer's face, her skin looks more radiant and her eyes light up. Somehow diamond earrings are able to bring out a woman's innate beauty.

The best thing about earrings is that you can fit several pairs of earrings into a tiny coin purse or even a pillbox if you are talking about those tiny stud earrings. Larger chandelier earrings or shoulder dusters should fit nicely into a waist pouch or a coin purse or any spare space in your suitcase or even a CD wallet. In any case, you would be able to carry an entire jewelry wardrobe wherever you go.

Bring along diamond stud earrings for the day, larger clip on earrings (no dangles as these are distracting) for the office, hoops for glamour and shoulder dusters or chandelier earrings for red carpet moments when you want to look amazing.

Switch earrings when you go from day to night. Gorgeous drop earrings are wonderful for a romantic date, and chandelier earrings are for times when you are dressed to kill.

There is a major disadvantage with bringing around diamonds or precious gemstones with you when you travel. For one thing. you could get robbed. Or you might lose an expensive diamond earring while you are dancing, or moving from one place to another. That might mean hundreds or even thousands of dollars down the drain.

For women on the go, your best bet would be something that looks like diamonds and rubies and precious gemstones, but costs very little in comparison. I'm talking about costume jewelry. Unlike tacky costume jewelry centuries ago, today's imitation diamonds look so much like the real thing that you may need special instruments to tell the difference. The very affordable cubic zirconia is often used in place of diamonds, sapphires, rubies and emeralds in the best costume jewelry that may be made of precious silver. You can even get a look-alike pair inspired by what your favourite Hollywood starlet wore to the oscars, or which your favourite celeb wore to the Grammys. You can even get jewelry inspired by Bulgari and other prohibitively expensive fine jewelry store. These cz earrings are jewels you can wear freely when you travel.

With cubic zirconia earrings, you can afford to collect a complete jewelry wardrobe. Pick earrings in colors you normally wear to match your clothes. These should be colors that flatter you.

Also get earrings that are white and colorless (think diamonds) as these would go with all your outfits.

Take into account your size.

If you are big, go for chunky jewelry. Few women can carry them off with panache and you are one of these lucky few. These are the earrings you can wear:

1. Large clip on earrings or button earrings.

2. Chandelier earrings

3. Shoulder Duster earrings

4. Stunning earrings with large drops

5. Large, chunky hoop earrings.

If you are petite, go for dainty earrings. Tiny studs wouldn't get lost on you as they might on your larger friends. Wear earrings that look wonderful on you but odd on them.

1. Tiny stud earrings

2. Delicate filigree earrings

3. Small drop earrings

4. Single stone ear studs

5. Dainty dangling earrings

You earring wardrobe can transform any outfit you wear.

Wearing a little black dress?

You can change your look by switching the accessories.
For a fancy dinner, try that LBD with a pair of shoulder dusters and a pair of metallic stilletto sandals. Style your hair in an updo and let a few tendrils loose.

For a romantic dinner, wear that black dress with demure drop earrings and mary janes. Tuck your hair behind your ears.

For a business presentation, wear that dress with a power jacket and clip on earrings or button earrings and a pair of black pumps.

For a sexy date, wear hoop earrings with your little black dress and a pair of Manilo Blahniks.

Get the picture?

Back home, you can organize your entire collection in a pretty jewelry box or a comparmentalized box meant for fish bait. Whichever suits your needs for your jewelry collection.

Get a few little black dresses and pair them with versatile diamond cubic zirconia earrings. You can compare prices of cubic zirconia jewelry

at http://www.cheapestsale.com/jewelry/CZ.html

Discover Your Colorful Goddess Within

Goddess energy manifests in many forms. As depicted in the "i Goddess" meditation movie, she reveals herself through the elements. As represented by the Goddess-ence essential oil blends, she shows herself through smell and associated memory. And, as you will find out in the simple exercise below, she can be discovered in each of the seven major colours that enrich our Universe.

Take a minute to complete this simple exercise to determine which ancient goddess energy is inspiring you today. By being conscious of that energy, you will be able to harness it more effectively in order to attain your highest ideals at work, home and play.

Remove yourself from distractions while you think about a rainbow. See the colours: red, orange, yellow, green, light blue, indigo and purple. Take all the time you need to work out which particular colour "speaks" to you the loudest.

When you have a colour in your mind, scroll down to read about which goddess energy is working with you at this moment.

RED: The colour Red is deeply rooted in our sense of grounding and self-preservation via the root chakra. Your self-confidence may be under threat, so use Kali to energise your survival instincts.

KALI ... According to ancient Hindu tradition, Kali is the mother of us all. Kali gals have unwavering judgement, strong willpower and penetrative insight, but this is your wake-up call to be open to Kali's energy forcing you out of complacency -- she is merely guiding you to a new path that will ultimately prove to be more fulfilling than your current path. Maybe this means a new job or a promotion? Carry a red stone (such as a Garnet) or wear red underwear to give you the strength to confront the forces that threaten you and to purge the elements of destruction in your life.

ORANGE: Orange resonates in the lower abdomen, in the womb chakra, relating to creativity, self-gratification, emotions and sexuality. Draw on Hathor's energy if you are lacking fluidity and grace and the ability to accept change.

HATHOR ... Hathor was revered as the ancient Queen of Heaven, the patron of dancers, the mother of the gypsies, the generator of light and radiant power. Hathor lends you the gift of shape-shifting, the ability to transform yourself from a gal crippled with anxiety to a wondrous creature shining light and radiance. If you are feeling dark of mood, use Hathor's energy to put your chin up and shoulders back. Look inward and ask what is it that is causing you angst? Visualise the problem rolling itself into a ball. Then take the ball, and hurl it into the air as you leap into your week, light of step and glowing with supreme confidence!

YELLOW: Personal power is charged in our solar plexus chakra, allowing us to be energetic, efficient and spontaneous through non-dominating authority. If you are fighting a losing battle, use Pele's energy to recharge and revitalise.

PELE ... Pele is the Hawaiian goddess whose spirit dwells inside the largest active volcano in Hawaii. Pele-empowered gals are full of such passionate energy, but that feeling of butterflies in your solar plexus is Pele's vibrations confirming what you already know on a subconscious level -- your energy is being misdirected. Come out of denial, cut your losses and work to channel your energy in a more rewarding way. Carry a yellow stone (such as Tiger Eye) while you conceptualise what you want to happen, and repeat your vision often. A positive thought repeated becomes a positive habit until your visualisation becomes manifested reality.

PINK: Pink or Green colours are related to the heart chakra, the centre of empathetic abilities. Use Kuan Yin energy if you have issues with self-acceptance that prevent you from achieving a sense of peace and centredness.

KUAN YIN ... Kuan Yin is the Chinese goddess of love and compassion. At the moment, you just love everyone and want everyone to be happy even if this means putting their wants before your own needs. This is probably frustrating you and wearing you out. The world needs Kuan Yin gals, but never forget to look after yourself too -- your needs are just as important as others'. Carry a pink stone (such as rose quartz) near your heart to remind you to give yourself permission to take the world off your shoulders.

LIGHT BLUE: Light Blue resounds through the throat chakra which is related to communication and creativity. Athena energy will empower you to "find your voice" and overcome any self-expression obstacles.

ATHENA ... Athena was the beautiful warrior queen who stood guard over the ancient city of Athens. Athena-inspired gals know no fear, or that's the face they present to the world at least. You may be having trouble with self-expression, resorting to politics and force to coerce a project off the ground. You can be a tough, independent, clever and resourceful woman, but do not be afraid to ask for help if you need it, and more importantly, allow people to help you. Wear a light blue stone (such as Lapis Lazuli) around your neck to help you find your voice.

INDIGO: Indigo reverberates through the Third Eye chakra, related to the act of seeing both physically and intuitively. Use Isis' energy to see clearly, in effect, letting you "see the big picture".

ISIS ... Isis the Egyptian High Priestess, ruling with love and calm patience, who fosters inner wisdom and psychic power. Generally you are highly tuned into your own inner wisdom and self-confidence, but at this time you are having self-doubts. Someone is making you feel defensive or unsure about the path you are taking. Gather strength, and trust that your "gut feeling" is your inner wisdom leading you in the right direction. Use a pendulum or other divination tool to confirm what you already know, and trust that you making the right decisions.

PURPLE: Self-knowledge and pure awareness is rooted in the crown chakra. If you need access to deep understanding, wisdom and connection, use Nuit's energy today to help you rediscover your direction.

NUIT ... The Egyptian goddess Nuit is the bridge between heaven and earth, and represents oneness, bliss and universal love. Nuit gals have everything under control using calm love and understanding rather than fear or defence mechanisms, and this makes you a first-choice source of assistance from your colleagues and family. If you are feeling like you are losing control of your destiny right now, it is simply a matter of taking time to "be" -- carry an amethyst to help energise you with Nuit's cosmic energy during some Time Out. Take as long as you need in order to re-balance and find your centre again.

Anita Revel is the creatrix of the stunning "i Goddess" meditation movie that can be viewed at http://www.igoddess.com She is also a columnist for United Press International, and has written hundreds of articles pertaining to women's wellbeing.

Breaking Through the Glass Ceiling And Parting the Gender Curtain - A Quiz for Success-Minded Women

Corporate America's infamous glass ceiling is REAL. So what should all women in business know as they survey and strategically crash through that glass barrier toward the positions and salaries they deserve? Why does the centuries-strong Gender Curtain that still awaits become tougher to part the higher you go?

Whether you're a woman vying for an executive promotion, a CEO position, a board seat or the Oval Office itself, you'll want to discover how the glass ceiling and the gender curtain -- along with your appearance, your mindset and even words you use -- could be affecting your career success. Take this mini quiz!

***Where Do You Stand on The Ladder to Success?***

1. How would you respond if you disagree with a decision your boss makes?

a. Yes sir! I always agree with The Boss.

b. Understood, but please evaluate these points and reconsider your decision.

c. Hell with you! I disagree!

d. It's best to never question a decision by the boss, even if I don't agree.

2. Your choice: new title/position with your current company, 10% pay increase, same boss, no real change in authority... OR new job elsewhere, 5% pay increase, new title, lots of input on developing a new program.

a. Take the 10% raise. It's about the money!

b. Take the promotion because you might make a difference later.

c. Take the new job. Advance!

d. Discuss the promotion with your boss, explaining the need to gain real authority with any promotion.

3. Who's really in control?

a. I AM! I always evaluate how I can make my points, the same way a man would, so the CEO can accept my advice without feeling like he's "listening to Mommy!"

b. That MALE PEER! He's always getting away with making mistakes.

c. MY BOSS! He never listens, so I stopped talking, stopped participating I'm hurt because he won't take me seriously.

4. What to wear?

a. The Latest Fashion, short sassy skirts, hug-the-hips, fitted t-shirts, short jackets.

b. Fashion Plus Professional. Business clothes, fitted skirts and pantsuits, worn with nice button-down shirt buttoned to hide cleavage.

c. Comfort. Oversize skirt, big, bulky sweater, natural fabrics. I'm against corporate judgments.

d. Whatever's in the closet. People should appreciate my mind, not my clothes.

5. You're a seasoned speaker and know your topic. What are the most important things to remember before you make the big presentation to a large group of your peers and senior members of your industry?

a. Solidly know your material, but have notes, even if you think you can wing it.

b. Test your speaking and presenting equipment before the speech. No microphone or projector failures allowed!

c. Speak clearly and loudly to be heard. Speaking softly will bore the audience.

d. All of the above. A good presenter is always prepared.

Points-per-answer:

Question 1 (a 3; b 10; c 2; d 5)

Question 2 (a 2; b 3; c 10; d 5)

Question 3 (a 10; b 2; c 3)

Question 4 (a 0; b 10; c 2; d 5)

Question 5 (a 5; b 5; c 5; d 10)

37-50 total -- Wow! Glass is breaking all around you! You're ready to go all-the-way.

23-36 -- There's room to improve. Continue to work on your interpersonal skills and self-confidence.

8-22 -- Corporate America may not be your passion. You might consider taking your creative side in another direction.

Accomplished career expert Diane Dutton is a popular author, speaker, and sought-after interview guest. Her critically-acclaimed book is A WOMAN'S LADDER TO SUCCESS IS PAVED WITH BROKEN GLASS CEILINGS. Sign-up for her free newsletter, take her full quiz or learn more about her programs/advice at http://www.businesswomenspeak.com

Find the Perfect Plus Size Wedding Dress - Feel Like a Princess on Your Wedding Day

Shopping for your plus size wedding dress should be no different than any other woman shopping for her wedding dress. You still want to be drop-dead gorgeous and feel like a gazillion bucks, you still want your dress to flatter your figure and most of all you still want your dress to be as comfortable as possible.

Wedding dress designers have come a long way in their thinking in the last few years and some have finally come to realize that plus size brides are simply brides...who happen to wear a plus size wedding dress. We want the same choices as our skinnier counterparts and the bottom line is, every bride wants to feel like a princess on her wedding day.

For plus size women there are some styles that flatter us more than others. An important consideration when shopping for your plus size wedding dress is to look for one that enhances your best features. The style of wedding dress that looks best on you will depend in large part on your body shape.

Don't make the mistake of letting someone talk you into trying to 'hide' your figure flaws (and we all have them) behind bows or ruffles. This usually has the opposite effect and tends to draw attention there. Instead, take your time to shop carefully and choose wisely, and select a style that flatters your curves and focuses attention on your best features.

If you have a shapely, beautiful set of shoulders, show them off! Look for strapless styles or halter type dresses to draw attention to those sexy bare shoulders. If your legs are your best assets, consider a tea length wedding dress or perhaps a floor length style with a provocative slit up the side. Most of us get only one shot at the wedding of our dreams - be confident and daring in your choice of a plus size bridal gown.

Some plus size wedding dress styles are particularly attractive on the full figured woman, including the A-line, which features a fitted bodice and a skirt that flares out to the hem, in an A shape. If you have a plus size hourglass shape, a ballroom style may be a great choice, with its natural waistline and full skirt and a beautiful off the shoulder bodice. If your weight is carried mostly in your hips, consider a Basque waist dress; a slenderizing choice to minimize wide hips with a waistline that starts below your natural waist and forms a V shape.

As a plus size bride of long ago, I know the challenges of finding the perfect dress and I hope these tips will help make shopping for your plus size wedding dress a bit less stressful. For a site completely dedicated to plus size brides, visit http://www.curvybrides.com, where you'll find elegance in new, used and discounted plus size wedding dresses.

Maternal Body Image Assessment & Secrets

Women nearing the time to give birth or who have already given birth often understandably struggle with maternal body image issues. Being transformed physically from a young vivacious pretty young thing into a mother bearing child can be a difficult transition.

Here's a quiz new moms and moms-to-be can take to assess their body image.

1. How do you rate your body - great, good, or poor?

2. How satisfied are you with your present health - very satisfied, somewhat satisfied, or dissatisfied?

3. How do you feel others look at your body - positively, with understanding, or negatively?

4. What would you like to most change about your body?

5. What can you not change about your body?

Here are some tips for moms to improve their body image.

1. Love the woman within and remember you are not your weight.

2. Cultivate and nurture personal wellness - spirit, mind, and body.

3. Unconditionally accept and celebrate yourself.

4. Rejoice in the season of motherhood and the life you create.

5. Be free to be yourself and refuse to conform to societal and media pressure.

6. Be patient as you transition into motherhood and transform your body after birth.

7. Rid your life of stress, which burdens your soul and adds weight to you physically.

8. Befriend other mothers to find support, encouragement, and understanding.

9. Lavish love on your body with oils, lotions, aromatherapy, perfumes, and massages.

10. Dress stylishly and elegantly making motherhood sexy.

Motherhood is beautiful. When I was in Brazil, I noticed women often leave their bellies totally exposed and visible when they are pregnant as they proudly show off their bodily transformation. Pregnancy to Latin women means fertility, which was conceived with sensuality.

Women around the globe therefore should celebrate their pregnancy, fertility, and sensuality.

Paul Davis is a highly sought after professional speaker, life purpose coach, worldwide minister, and change master.

A relational expert and love coach, Paul is the author of several books including United States of Arrogance, Breakthrough for a Broken Heart; Adultery: 101 Reasons Not to Cheat; Are You Ready for True Love; Stop Lusting & Start Living; Waves of God; Supernatural Fire; Poems that Propel the Planet; and God vs. Religion.

Paul's compassion for people & passion to travel has taken him to over 50 countries of the world where he has had a tremendous impact. Paul's organization Dream-Maker Ministries is building dreams, breaking limitations & reviving nations.

Paul inspires, revives, awakens, impregnates with purpose, imparts the fire of desire, catapults people into a new level of self-awareness, facilitates destiny discovery and dream fulfillment.

Contact Paul to minister, speak at your event or for life coaching:

RevivingNations@yahoo.com

407-284-1705

http://www.PaulFDavis.com

http://www.DreamMakerMinistries.com

http://www.CreativeCommunications.TV

7 Steps To Increase Your Profits 300% or More - Guaranteed! -- Part 2

Step 3

Write a compelling headline.

Now, I can give you some incredible statistic like changing just a headline produced 700% more sales without any other changes to a website, but I'm pretty sure you already know how powerful headlines really are.

So, here are two ways to write powerful headlines that make your website sell like crazy.

You've probably heard this one before but here's a twist on it. "Don't break what aint' broke!"

You see, there are thousands of powerful headlines that have converted well for tons of different industries in the past. You probably already know quite a few of them.

All you have to do is "swipe" the headline and edit it to suit your product or service.

The second way is...

You can use my "A.C.E.S. method" for writing headlines that sell!

Here's the short and sweet explanation of A.C.E.S...

A compelling headline has these four elements in it almost ALL of the time.

A - Attention C - Curiosity E - Excitement S - Specific

In other words a compelling headline...

1. Grabs the attention of your visitor.

2. Builds curiosity about your product or service.

3. Builds excitement through the use of powerful 'news type' words.

4. Is specific to your target market's needs and your product or service.

For example...

A long-time client of mine created a software that slows down video training material so that the user can learn specific moves or techniques faster.

Here's the headline we came up with in only five minutes and STILL it can be improved but the sales results have been astounding to say the least.

"Amazing Software That Manipulates Video So That Anyone Can Learn At Least 3 Times Faster Than Normal . . . Watching The Same Video . . .In A Completely Different Way!"

Do you see the A.C.E.S. in there? Great!

Write 10 to 20 of these headlines and save them all.

Step 4

Write down a list of your key benefits and turn them into bullet points.

There are really only two main kinds of benefits.

The first one is a "functional benefit." Often called a feature, the functional benefit can easily be identified as something like, the fast, overnight delivery from a company like FedEx or all the office supplies you need under one roof at your local Staples.

The second type of benefit is the "emotional benefit." An emotional benefit can be identified as the ease and comfort you experience knowing that your package will arrive by the next business day at your desired destination or the reduced stress and feelings of happiness when you get everything you need for your office in one location and without stress.

When you look at billion dollar corporations like FedEx, Microsoft, Home Depot, Best Buy, Staples or any number of the big players in any industry, you'll find that they have an firm grasp and a perfect mix of functional and emotional benefits inherent in their product or service and in their marketing.

Once you have your emotional and functional benefits written, your next step is to add the Zeirgarnik effect into them.

"The Zeigarnik effect states that people remember uncompleted or interrupted tasks better than completed ones." - Wikipedia.org

Basically, you're forcing your prospects into a state of curiosity and the only way to satisfy this curiosity is to buy your product.

Infusing the Zeigarnik effect into your benefits will transform them into persuasive bullets.

Here's an example using the software product I mentioned earlier if you were targeting dancers or martial artists...

Emotional Benefit: Feeling of achievement. Functional Benefit: Learn difficult moves twice as fast.

Bullet: Experience the overwhelming joy of achievement when you learn difficult moves twice as fast...using this one secret feature.

Bullet: How to learn complex moves twice as fast with a single click of your mouse!

See the curiosity built into the benefit?

Step 5

Line up the social proof...testimonials and statistics.

Social proof is a very powerful form of persuasion, and after all, copywriting is persuasion in print.

In every sales letter or direct response advertisement you'll find the element of social proof.

Social proof in the form of testimonials, provides your prospect with both the reassurance that your product is good and it also triggers the "herd mentality," inherent in all human beings.

Having social proof easily provides your copy with the much needed impulse buying triggers because both real statistics and personal testimonials have the power to get past your prospects defenses and deeper into their minds.

But you know what?

Another powerful form of testimonial exists.

It holds the persuasive power of "authority."

Getting testimonials from well known experts and/or celebrities can and will make your testimonials even more powerful.

The persuasion principle of "authority" or rather compliance with an authority figure can immediately and many times drastically boost your sales.

I highly recommend you read, "Influence - The Psychology of Persuasion" by Dr. Robert Cialdini to learn more about the principles of persuasion.

Step 6

Write your lead.

This is where you begin to address your prospect directly.

It is where you set the stage for the rest of your sales copy.

To address your prospect directly, you should begin a sales letter with...

"Dear Friend," or better yet "Dear Fellow Dancer,"

The next thing you write after that should be a opening sentence that makes a "big promise" of the ultimate benefit they will receive from reading your sales copy.

A classic example of this is the "If...Then" opener.

For example using the software example...

If you've been trying to learn a new skill using 'Windows' compatible video on your computer, then you already know the value of what I am going to tell you.

If you've been trying to learn a new skill using 'Windows' compatible video on your computer, and want to learn faster, then this may be the most important letter you have ever read on learning a new skill with video.

You see the big promise in those?

You're setting the stage for the copy to follow.

Nothing more.

Step 7

Write out your copy.

Funny that this is the last step but remember each step is a tactic and adding them together with your copy will form your entire sales letter strategy.

To get pat your prospects objections and close the sale!

Now, once you have all of the above elements in line, you should sit down, pretend you are speaking to your best friend and just write out an explanation of why they should purchase your product.

Write as if you are speaking to your friend directly.

Answer the following questions within your copy and add your bullets and testimonials throughout your copy.

The questions you should answer are...

Who Are YOU?

Why should I listen to you?

What is it?

What's so great about it?

What's in it for me?

How much does it cost?

How do I get it?

Remember those headline that you didn't use?

Well throughout your copy, you can place those headlines as subheads.

Subheads break up your copy so that a person does not get tired or bored reading all your sales copy.

It's what I call "Optical Appeal" and subheads are your first line of defense against boredom and increasing optical appeal.

It also prevents "page scanners," people who quickly scan through your page, from scanning your sales page and leaving, by drawing their attention with your subheads.

As a rule of thumb I use one subhead, at least, per printed page of sales copy.

Another trick to keeping people glued to your sales copy is to use short sentences or very brief paragraphs to increase the white space on your page.

Finally, remember this...

Write as if you are "speaking" to a friend, NOT writing a college essay. If you use somewhat broken language, write it, don't leave it out or make it proper.

Just refrain from using too many bad words.

That's it.

The only other advice I have is go out and read, read, read as many sales letters as you can, and then apply what works in each of them to your copy.

Pretty soon, you'll be a master at writing copy for your market!

==> Rasheed Ali is a direct response copywriter who has written powerful sales copy -- generating millions of dollars in annual sales for his clients. Discover how Rasheed and his team can help you and your company dramatically increase your sales and boost profits. http://www.CombatCopywriter.com

Free Daily Horoscope Astrology

Monday, May 19, 2008

Seven Inside Tips to Launching Your Career as a Financial Advisor

Creating Your OWN Newsletter - 10 Tips

10 Easy Marketing Tips To For Your Local Hire Company

Digital Signage - The Top 10 Pitfalls

Work From Home? - 7 Tips To Improve Your Data Entry Work From Home Jobs Income

Tuesday, April 15, 2008

Top 7 Sales Coaching Tips to Leverage the Power of the Force

Top 7 Sales Coaching Tips to Leverage the Power of the Force

10 Rules For Great Taglines

Using Maps In Business - 10 Tips From The Experts

Saturday, November 24, 2007

Do You Need A Bra?

Do The Celebrities Live Up To Their Goddess Birth Sign?

Do You Use Serious Skin Care Products?

4 Questions You Should Ask Yourself Before Having Breast Augmentation Surgery

Jogging Linked To Sagging Breasts

Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year Travelling Jewelry Wardrobe

Discover Your Colorful Goddess Within

Breaking Through the Glass Ceiling And Parting the Gender Curtain - A Quiz for Success-Minded Women

Find the Perfect Plus Size Wedding Dress - Feel Like a Princess on Your Wedding Day

Maternal Body Image Assessment & Secrets

Friday, November 23, 2007

7 Steps To Increase Your Profits 300% or More - Guaranteed! -- Part 2

Free Daily Horoscope Astrology in your words

Free Daily Horoscope Astrology

Rolling Blog

Store By Style