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Does the tryptophan in turkey really make you sleepy?

2010-12-12T12:50:00.000-08:00

By Lisa Zamosky, WebMD Feature Reviewed by Louise Chang,MD

Every year at Thanksgiving and Christmas, most of us engage in an annual rite of passage: stuffing ourselves mercilessly with turkey, cranberry sauce, and pie. Not a bad way to spend a Thursday. But inevitably, in that hour between feeling so full you think you'll explode and gearing up for round two with the leftovers, your relatives can find you conked out on the couch.

Along comes Aunt Mildred with her armchair scientific explanation. You're tired, she tells you, because the turkey you just ate is laden with L-tryptophan. Tryptophan, she says, makes you tired.

So is your aunt right? Is the turkey really what's to blame for Thanksgiving sleepiness? The experts helped WebMD sort out the facts.

What is L-Tryptophan?
L-tryptophan is an essential amino acid. The body can't make it, so diet must supply tryptophan. Amino acids are building blocks of proteins. Foods rich in tryptophan include, you guessed it, turkey. Tryptophan is also found in other poultry, meat, cheese, yogurt, fish, and eggs.

Tryptophan is used by the body to make niacin, a B vitamin that is important for digestion, skin and nerves, and serotonin. Serotonin is a brain chemical that plays a large role in mood) and can help to create a feeling of well-being and relaxation. "When levels of serotonin are high, you're in a better mood, sleep better, and have a higher pain tolerance," says Elizabeth Somer, MA, RD, author of numerous nutrition books, including her latest, Eat Your Way to Happiness.

Tryptophan is needed for the body to produce serotonin. Serotonin is used to make melatonin, a hormone that helps to control your sleep and wake cycles.

Turkey the Sleep Inducer?
As it turns out, turkey contains no more of the amino acid tryptophan than other kinds of poultry. In fact, turkey actually has slightly less tryptophan than chicken, says Dawn Jackson Blatner, RD, LDN, an American Dietetic Association spokeswoman and author of The Flexitarian Diet.

Jackson Blatner says that if we're sleepy on Thanksgiving as a direct result of eating turkey, then eating other foods rich in tryptophan should have the same effect.

"When is the last time someone ate a chicken breast at a summertime barbecue and thought they felt sluggish [because of it]?" she asks.

Turkey is, indeed, a good source of tryptophan. Still, it's a myth that eating foods high in tryptophan boosts brain levels of tryptophan and therefore brain levels of serotonin, Somer says.

Somer says that proteins like turkey, chicken, and fish, which are high in tryptophan, require assistance from foods high in carbohydrates to affect serotonin levels.

"Tryptophan is quite high in milk and turkey, but that's not the food that will give you the serotonin boost," she says. It's a small, all-carbohydrate snack --no more than 30 grams of carbohydrates -- in combination with the tryptophan stored in your body from food you've already eaten that will give you the biggest boost of serotonin, Somer says.

A serotonin-boosting snack may include a few Fig Newtons, half of a small whole wheat bagel with honey drizzled over it, or a few cups of air-popped popcorn some time after you've eaten foods high in tryptophan. "Research shows that a light, 30 gram carbohydrate snack just before bed will actually help you sleep better," Somer says.

Amino Acid Overload
When you eat foods rich in tryptophan, as the food digests, amino acids - not just tryptophan - make their way into the bloodstream. This causes competition among the various amino acids to enter the brain.

"Tryptophan, which is a bulky amino acid, would have to stand in line to get through the blood-brain barrier with a whole bunch of amino acids," Somer says. "It would be like standing in line when the Harry Potter movie comes out and you didn't get in line early enough. The chances of getting in [to see the movie] are pretty slim. That's what happens when you eat a protein-rich food. Tryptophan has to compete with all these other amino acids. It waits in line to get through the blood-brain barrier and very little of it makes it across."

The small, all-carbohydrate snack is tryptophan's ticket across the blood-brain barrier, where it can boost serotonin levels. So have your turkey, Somer says, because it will increase your store of tryptophan in the body, but count on the carbohydrates to help give you the mood boost or the restful sleep.

"It's the all-carb snack that ends up being like a sneak preview of the [Harry Potter] movie, where no one else knows it's showing," she says.

Too Much of a Sleepy Thing
Is it possible to have too much tryptophan in the body? Not really, Somer says. "Except if you end up eating a lot of tryptophan, it means you're eating a lot of protein and Americans already eat a lot of protein. It's the only nutrient we get too much of," she says.

"If you're getting even one serving of 3 ounces of meat, chicken, or fish; a couple of glasses of milk or yogurt; or if you're eating beans and rice, you will get all the amino acids you need and in there will be the tryptophan," Somer says.

Thanksgiving Grogginess: Look Beyond the Turkey
So if eating turkey isn't exactly the same as popping a sleeping pill, why the sudden grogginess as soon as our holiday feast is over?

"It boils down to Thanksgiving being a time when people overeat," Jackson Blatner says. "When people overeat food, the digestion process takes a lot of energy. Don't incriminate the turkey that you ate," she says of post-Thanksgiving meal exhaustion, "incriminate the three plates of food that you piled high."

And let's not forget that the holidays generally mean time off from work and with family. Many people feel more relaxed to begin with (family wars not withstanding). Add alcohol to the mix, and voila! Sleep!

Speaking of sleep, Joyce Walsleban, PhD, associate professor at New York University's Sleep Disorders Center, suggests we all get plenty of it. "Coming up on the holidays and trying to get all the things done that one would normally be doing, you short cut your sleep and that's never helpful. By the time the holiday comes, everyone has gotten sick."
At least then you'll have a good excuse to lay down and take a nap.

Courtesy: WebMD.com newsletter

Can Money Buy Happiness?

2010-11-26T11:45:00.000-08:00

Dear Friends,

No, I did not forget you (since I did not post my sincere wishes for you to have a festive Thanksgiving yesterday)! I wasn't near a computer, so believe that I sent you my strongest mental greetings :o)

Meanwhile, since the "Holidays" are being thrust upon us from all sides to help our ailing Economy (reinforced by this morning's "Black Friday" call to the bargains, with some stores opening up at 3:00 A.M.!)---I wanted to share this fascinating article with you.
Enjoy and Get Happy! LOL

Jacques

_____

Money and happiness: 5 ways your spending style matters.By Katherine Kam WebMD Feature Reviewed by Laura J. Martin, MD

“Money can’t buy me love,” the Beatles once sang. But can greenbacks buy a measure of happiness? Yes, psychologists say, but many people don’t know how to spend for maximum happiness.

“Money is an opportunity for happiness, but it is an opportunity that people routinely squander because the things they think will make them happy often don’t,” says Elizabeth W. Dunn, PhD, associate professor of psychology at Canada's University of British Columbia.

As a young academic, Dunn had a personal stake in figuring out how to best spend one’s money. “I went from being a graduate student, making around $20,000 a year, to being a faculty member. While most people don’t think of professors as being wealthy, I suddenly found myself like ‘the nouveau riche,’ with a lot more money than I had previously,” she tells WebMD.

Being a psychology researcher, she sought scientifically based advice on how to spend her money -- not in terms of making financial investments, but to boost life satisfaction. “I was surprised to find out there was actually very little research on that topic,” she says.

As she delved into the subject, she discovered that people often misjudge purchases on three counts: “People mispredict what will make them happy, how happy it will make them, and how long that happiness will last.”

Puddles of Pleasure, Peaks of Presumption
Other experts agree with Dunn’s view. Purchases, such as a remodeled bathroom or a new couch, may bestow delight, but the pleasure often vanishes faster than people expect -- “like a springtime puddle evaporates under a stifling summer sun,” says Sonja Lyubomirsky, PhD, a psychology professor at the University of California, Riverside, and author of The How of Happiness: A Scientific Approach to Getting the Life You Want.

Take that remodeled bathroom, for example. At first, it’s a joy, but those positive feelings dwindle until the bathroom becomes ordinary and “completely fades into the background of one’s conscious experience," Lyubomirsky says.

Furthermore, all those sparkling, new bath fixtures may heighten expectations and desires, creating a “lofty peak of presumption” that drives people to become dissatisfied and strive for more and more, Lyubomirsky says. “After one finishes remodeling one’s bathroom, the living room and bedroom now seem drab by comparison. People’s rising aspirations render rooms eyesores that were previously normal.”

"Now, no one is saying that money and spending play a negligible role in happiness. In fact, wealthy people have better nutrition and medical care, more meaningful work, and extra free time", Dunn says.

“And yet, they aren’t that much happier than those who have less,” she writes with co-authors Daniel T. Gilbert and Timothy D. Wilson in an article to be published in the Journal of Consumer Psychology. The article’s title: “If Money Doesn’t Make You Happy, Then You Probably Aren’t Spending It Right.”
So how can you spend your money to maximize happiness? Try these tips, experts say.

Tip 1: Buy experiences instead of things.
Many people assume that filling a large house with possessions will make them happiest. So why might a cooking class or vacation getaway trump a new kitchen floor or TV?

In one recent study, Cornell University researchers found that purchasing an experience tended to improve well-being more than buying a possession, in part because people are more prone to comparisons and buyer’s remorse with material goods.

Also, objects tend to deteriorate with time, but experiences can create lasting memories. If you share lessons or dinners and vacations with others, the social connections can make you happier, too, experts say.

“Experiences are just easier to appreciate,” says Lyubomirsky, who didn't work on the Cornell study. “We are made happier by experiences. You’re more likely to recall it. It’s more likely to become part of your identity. You’re the sum of your experiences, not the sum of your possessions.”

People adapt faster to things that don’t change, such as material objects, Dunn says. But experiences offer more novelty and variety, which can extend enjoyment.

“Whereas cherry floorboards generally have the same size, shape, and color on the last day of the year as they did on the first,” Dunn says, “each session of a year-long cooking class is different from the one before.”

Tip 2: Consider that many small pleasures might be better than a few big ones.
Are you more likely to be happier if you save up for a few big-ticket items, such as a sports car, or if you indulge frequently in small things, such as lattes and manicures?

Saving up for a big purchase may be admirable. But in terms of happiness, “We may be better off devoting our finite financial resources to purchasing frequent doses of lovely things, rather than infrequent doses of lovelier things,” Dunn says. Research shows that happiness is more closely aligned with the frequency of pleasures, as opposed to the intensity, according to her.

"Since frequent, small pleasures tend to be different every time -- whether it’s a beer with friends or a new book -- we don’t adapt to them and become bored as quickly", Dunn says.

Tip 3: Spend on others and not yourself.
Some research suggests that it really is better to give.

A few years ago, Dunn did an experiment in which researchers fanned out across the University of British Columbia campus and handed students a $5 or $20 bill. The students were randomly assigned to spend the cash on themselves or others by the end of the day.

In the evening, those who had been told to spend on others reported feeling happier -- even if they spent only $5 -- than those assigned to buy for themselves.

The emotional rewards of social spending can even be detected on MRI brain scans. In a University of Oregon study, people were given a chance to donate money to a food bank. Others were forced to give to the food bank through a tax-like transfer. Volunteering the money activated brain areas typically associated with receiving rewards, but so did the mandatory giving.

As highly social creatures, much of our happiness hinges on the quality of our relationships, Dunn says. “Almost anything we do to improve our connections with others tends to improve our happiness as well, and that includes spending money.”

So the next time you buy a cookie, treat your pal, too.

Tip 4: Rent a dose of happiness.
In these lean times, it’s smart to be frugal. You can still enjoy something without having to own it, Lyubomirsky says, whether it’s a video, cabin hideaway, or a sports car.

If you love the thrill of driving a luxury car, rent one occasionally, she says. You’ll get the boost of pleasure, but not the hassles of changing the oil and tires or the burden of paying unpredictable repair costs.

Tip 5: When you buy, think about what you’re not thinking about.
Often, people make purchases the way some lovers enter a hasty marriage -- in a rosy glow of imagination, with little realistic thought of the beloved’s shortcomings.

So people who want to buy a lakeside cabin will focus on the peace and quiet, gorgeous sunsets, and good fishing, Dunn says. What they don't consider: buzzing insects, late-night calls about plumbing disasters, and endless drives home after a weekend at the cabin, with tired and cranky children scratching mosquito bites. And yet, such things will affect the owners’ happiness.

It’s a common pitfall. We simply don’t see the future in fine detail, and the further away the event lies in time, the more abstract our imaginings, Dunn says.

So before buying something major, try to consider the less obvious cost, including how a purchase might affect your time. “Happiness is often in the details," Dunn says.

Courtesy: WebMD.com newsletter

Mystery of the roast pork

2010-10-04T09:36:00.000-07:00

It has been said that "imitation is the highest form of flattery".
And it is in that spirit that I share with you one of many illustrative stories I told to my vast audiences during my years as a public speaker and seminar leader.
As is the case when a story is passed on from one person to another, this one has been somewhat changed. Nevertheless, its "punch line" of wisdom hasn't. So, ENJOY my Friend Christian Godefroy's version and comments!
Jacques
-----
As Jane serves "roast pork" for dinner, John comments on how "delicious" it looks but has been wondering for a long time why Jane cuts off both ends of the pork, so he asks her.
"Well dear" replies Jane, "I have always watched my mother do it when I was growing up and therefore cannot answer why this has to be done, however I shall ask her why when I speak with her next"

Later that evening Jane calls her mother to ask. After a short silent pause, the mother replies "Well dear, I have always watched your grandmother prepare the roast pork this way, therefore maybe you should ask her"

By this time curiosity has got the better of Jane and she calls her grandmother almost immediately.... "Grandma, why do you cut off both ends of the roast pork when preparing it" ask Jane. "is this to make it taste better?" Her Grandma replies "well Jane, as far as I can remember the reason I done that was because I could not fit the pork into my roasting pan otherwise and was too poor to afford buying a larger one."

The moral of the story is that we as a society seem to do things almost instinctively or automa-tically without knowing the actual real historical reason behind them. For example... everyone has that voice within which tells you things such as "be perfect" "hurry up" "make an effort" "please me" and "be strong".

According to the school of "Transactional Analysis" we always seem to associate such messages from our childhood days and therefore the "drivers" coming from our parents and ancestors both influence and orient our actions throughout our lives and as if it has been "thrust" into the values we all hold as "a highest priority" influence directly to these orders.

But who for example, is capable of always doing everything perfectly? No one is! So statements such as "be perfect" is therefore a message which is terribly constraining on the human mind. It creates strong internal tension in both us as individuals and society as a whole. This in turn affects the way we communicate towards each other.

THIS IS GOOD! :o)

2010-09-23T09:35:00.000-07:00

The story is told of a king in Africa who had a close friend with whom he grew up. The friend had a habit of looking at every situation that ever occurred in his life (positive or negative) and remarking, "This is good!"

One day the king and his friend were out on a hunting expedition. The friend would load and prepare the guns for the king. The friend had apparently done something wrong in preparing one of the guns, for after taking the gun from his friend, the king fired it and his thumb was blown off.

Examining the situation, the friend remarked as usual, "This is good!"
To which the king replied, "No, this is NOT good!" and proceeded to send his friend to jail.

About a year later, the king was hunting in an area that he should have known to stay clear of Cannibals captured him and took them to their village. They tied his hands, stacked some wood, set up a stake and bound him to the stake.
As they came near to set fire to the wood, they noticed that the king was missing a thumb. Being superstitious, they never ate anyone that was less than whole. So untying the king, they sent him on his way.

As he returned home, he was reminded of the event that had taken his thumb and felt remorse for his treatment of his friend. He went immediately to the jail to speak with his friend.
"You were right," he said, "it was good that my thumb was blown off." And he proceeded to tell the friend all that had just happened. "And so I am very sorry for sending you to jail for so long. It was bad for me to do this."

"No," his friend replied, "This is good!"
"What do you mean, 'This is good'? How could it be good that I sent my friend to jail for a year?"
"If I had NOT been in jail, I would have been with you."
Situations may not always seem pleasant while we experience them, but it depends on the way you see them... the choice is yours!

Your "This is good" friend,

Jacques

Courtesy: my "This Is Good!" friend Christian Godefroy

A Test of Friendship

2010-09-20T11:29:00.000-07:00

A Friend...
(A)ccepts you as you are
(B)elieves in "you"
(C)alls you just to say "HI"
(D)oesn't give up on you
(E)nvisions the whole of you (even the unfinished parts)
(F)orgives your mistakes
(G)ives unconditionally
(H)elps you
(I)nvites you over
(J)ust to "be" with you
(K)eeps you close at heart
(L)oves you for who you are
(M)akes a difference in your life
(N)ever Judges
(O)ffers support
(P)icks you up
(Q)uiets your fears
(R)aises your spirits
(S)ays nice things about you
(T)ells you the truth when you need to hear it
(U)nderstands you
(V)alues you
(W)alks beside you
(X)-plains thing you don't understand
(Y)ells when you won't listen and
(Z)aps you back to reality

OK: This Is A Test To See How Many Friends You Have!!! Pass It On To Everyone You Consider A Friend Or Would Like To Have As A Friend. See How Many Times You Get It Back!

Courtesy: Christian Godefroy

Funny quotes on marriage and life

2010-09-06T13:33:00.000-07:00

"Sometimes, when I look at my children, I say to myself,
'Lillian, you should have remained a virgin."

- Lillian Carter (mother of Jimmy Carter)

"I had a rose named after me and I was very flattered. But I was
not pleased to read the description in the catalogue: - 'No good in a bed, but fine against a wall."

- Eleanor Roosevelt

"Last week, I stated this woman was the ugliest woman I had ever
seen. I have since been visited by her sister, and now wish to withdraw that statement.. "

- Mark Twain

"The secret of a good sermon is to have a good beginning and a
good ending; and to have the two as close together as possible"

- George Burns

"Santa Claus has the right idea. Visit people only once a year."

- Victor Borge

"Be careful about reading health books. You may die of a misprint."

- Mark Twain

"By all means, marry. If you get a good wife, you'll become
happy; if you get a bad one, you'll become a philosopher."

- Socrates

"I was married by a judge. I should have asked for a jury."

- Groucho Marx

"My wife has a slight impediment in her speech. Every now and
then she stops to breathe."

- Jimmy Durante

"I have never hated a man enough to give his diamonds back."

- Zsa Zsa Gabor

"Only Irish coffee provides in a single glass all four essential
food groups: alcohol, caffeine, sugar and fat."

- Alex Levine

"My luck is so bad that if I bought a cemetery, people would stop
dying."

- Rodney Dangerfield

"Money can't buy you happiness ... But it does bring you a more
pleasant form of misery."

- Spike Milligan

"Until I was thirteen, I thought my name was SHUT UP."

- Joe Namath

"I don't feel old. I don't feel anything until noon. Then it's
time for my nap."

- Bob Hope

"I never drink water because of the disgusting things that fish
do in it.."

- W. C. Fields

"We could certainly slow the aging process down if it had to work
its way through Congress."

- Will Rogers

"Don't worry about avoiding temptation. As you grow older, it
will avoid you."

- Winston Churchill

"Maybe it's true that life begins at fifty .. But everything else
starts to wear out, fall out, or spread out.."

- Phyllis Diller

"By the time a man is wise enough to watch his step, he's too old
to go anywhere."

- Billy Crystal

And the cardiologist's diet - "If it tastes good spit it out."

5 Powerful Ways to Beat Stress!

2010-09-04T11:06:00.000-07:00

By Dr. Stephen Sinatra - a cardiologist with an integrative approach to health and healing.

Dr. Sinatra is also the author of the monthly newsletter Heart, Health & Nutrition, which includes his best advice on heart health, diet and nutrition, exercise, and much more.

Connect with me on
Facebook or Twitter

Dear Friend,

I’ve always had mixed feelings about Labor Day. It’s the “unofficial” end of summer, with pools closing, shorter days, and a return to the busy season. While there’s comfort in going back to more structured days—not to mention the cool, crisp days and beautiful fall foliage here in New England—it’s also the start of what can be a very stressful time for many people.

Not only do we have the stress of more time pressures, and impending holidays just around the corner, the change of season is also a stressful time for your immune system. So, I thought now would be a good time to give you a few stress-busting tips for fall.

1) Fortify Your Body with “Anti-Stress” Vitamins.
B vitamins are often called the “stress vitamins” because they’re quickly depleted from your body during times of stress. That’s because your body needs B vitamins to create the feel-good neurotransmitter serotonin, to boost your immune system, to give you energy, and more.

As a cardiologist, this greatly concerns me, because a deficit of B vitamins can put you on the road to a heart attack. Your body requires niacin (B3) to keep your good HDL cholesterol up, and vitamins B6, B12, and folic acid are essential to neutralize homocysteine, a widely-recognized risk factor for cardiovascular disease.

I recommend taking 250 mg of niacin three times daily and slowly working up to 1-2 grams daily in divided doses (many people notice flushing as they start taking niacin, so don’t be alarmed). I also recommend taking vitamin B6, 40 mg daily; vitamin B12, 500 mcg daily; and folic acid, 200–400 mcg daily.

2) Boost Your Immune System with Vitamin D.
I’ve been writing about the health benefits of the “Big D” for years, long before it became the subject of numerous new studies. At this time of the year especially, I highly recommend supplementing with vitamin D. That’s because beginning in the fall and continuing through winter we get less sunlight, so our bodies manufacture less vitamin D. Plus, the change of season is stressful on your immune system, and your body counts on vitamin D to keep your immunity strong.

Vitamin D works by increasing the activity of your natural killer and T-cells supporting your immune system. In research, people with higher levels of vitamin D were less likely to have poor immune health. There’s also a distinct relationship between vitamin D and the health of your cells. Plus, vitamin D promotes bone health, heart health, normal blood pressure, healthy joints, colon health, and normal blood sugar. It also plays a critical role in brain function.

I recommend taking 2,000 to 4,000 IU of vitamin D3 a day if you’re healthy, and 5,000 to 10,000 IU a day if your immune system is compromised with a chronic illness, or if you have an illness of uncertain cause like fibromyalgia. The best way to get that is through a good vitamin D supplement, and eating foods like vitamin D-fortified milk, salmon, and tuna.

3) Diffuse Your Stress with Exercise.
One of the best antidotes for stress is physical activity. Exercise not only works the stress out of your muscles, it also stimulates your body’s creation of feel-good endorphins. So, grab your walking shoes and take advantage of the crisp fall air to take a brisk walk. If you can, wear leather-soled shoes like moccasins because they help to ground you to the Earth which helps to improve your mood and mental state.

A mile of walking—at any speed—burns as many calories as a mile of running, and I’ve rarely heard of people injuring muscles, ligaments, or joints while walking. I recommend walking every day for a minimum of 20 minutes. Better still, walk for 20 minutes twice a day. If you become bored with that routine, get creative. Go to a park or try hiking through the woods. Or try an activity that incorporates a lot of walking. For example, I’m an avid fly fisherman, and I frequently must walk up and down river banks and through fields to be where the fish are.

4) Look at the Glass as Half Full.
Research has found that optimists are not only happier, they’re also healthier, live longer, and recover from illnesses better than those with less cheery outlooks. Optimists interpret events in a way that gives them hope to keep on trying. Pessimists look at an event with a negative slant.

One way to start each day on the right foot is to think about what you are grateful for. However, don’t just rattle off a list. Really take the time to contemplate your feelings about each thing and internalize how each positive feature makes your life better.

Also, as you encounter frustrations during the course of your day, try to put a positive spin on them, also known as “reframing,” to encourage an optimistic perspective. For example, if you don’t feel like going to work, be thankful that at least you have a job during this time when 10% of Americans don’t have that luxury. If you failed at a task the day before, be grateful if you have the chance to try again. If a relative has irritated you, remember good times you have had together. Reminding yourself of what you are grateful for will promote optimism and hope, even if your life has been difficult lately. You’ll feel serene as opposed to agitated and depressed.

5) Breathe! Proper breathing is one way to reduce stress.
When you find yourself under stress, focus on your breathing. The act of observing your breathing will cause feeling, rather than thought, to take over. Intense feeling activates healing mechanisms.

So, the next time you feel stressed take a deep breath and sigh deeply. Make noise as you exhale. Do this several times, as loud as you can. After several breaths, you should be aware of how much more you need to breathe and how much relief it offers you. If you continue this, you may find that you release strong emotions–sadness, fright, or a sudden desire to cry or burst out laughing. Releasing these feelings will help bring on a feeling of serenity. If they come up, just go with them.

Here’s to an enjoyable, stress-free holiday weekend!

Stephen Sinatra, M.D., F.A.C.C.,
_____

And now, few related quotes from Jacques:

"I really do think that any deep crisis is an opportunity to make your life extraordinary in some way."
- Martha Beck, Author

"When you find yourself stressed, ask yourself one question: Will this matter five years from now? If yes, then do something about the situation. If no, then let it go."
- Catherine Pulsifer, writer

Rules for being human

2010-08-29T21:40:00.000-07:00

"My father taught me that reputation, not money, was the most important thing in the world."
- William Rosenberg, Dunkin Donuts founder

-----

You will receive a body. You may like it or hate it, but it
will be yours for the entire period this time around.

You will learn lessons. You are enrolled in a full time
information school called Life. Each day in this school you will
have the opportunity to learn lessons. You may like the lessons
or think them irrelevant or stupid.

There are no mistakes, only lessons. The "failed" experiments
are as much a part of the process as the experiment that "works."

A lesson is repeated until learned. It will be presented in
various forms until you have learned it. Then you can go on to the
next lesson.

Learning lessons DOES NOT END.

"There" is no better than "here." When your "there" has become
"here," you will simply obtain another "there" that will, again,
look better than "here."

Others are merely mirrors of you. You cannot love or hate
something about another person unless it reflects to you something
that you love or hate in yourself.

What you make of your life is up to you. You have all the tools
and resources you need. What you do with them is up to you. The
choice IS yours.

Your answers lie WITHIN YOU. The answers to life's questions
lie INSIDE YOU. All you need to do is listen, look and trust.

You WILL forget this!

Courtesy: Christiam Godefroy

Effective Communication is a Two-Way street...

2010-08-21T11:25:00.000-07:00

"Communication is a skill that you can learn. It's like riding a bicycle or typing. If you're willing to work at it, you can rapidly improve the quality of every part of your life."
- Brian Tracy, Author

Procrastination Killer – A Guide to Simplicity

2010-08-08T14:14:00.000-07:00

Everyone procrastinates. We put things off because we don’t want to do them, or because we have too many other things on our plates. Putting things off—big or small—is part of being human.

If you are reading this handout, however, it is likely that your procrastination is troubling you. You suspect that you could be a much better writer if only you didn’t put off writing projects until the last minute. You find that just when you have really gotten going on a paper, it’s time to turn it in; so, you never really have time to revise or proofread carefully. You love the rush of adrenalin you get when you finish a paper ten minutes before it’s due, but you (and your body) are getting tired of pulling all-nighters. You feel okay about procrastinating while in college, but you worry that this habit will follow you into your working life.

Procrastination Killer

You can tell whether or not you need to do something about your procrastination by examining its consequences. Procrastination can have external consequences (you get a zero on the paper because you never turned it in) or internal consequences (you feel anxious much of the time, even when you are doing something that you enjoy). If you put off washing the dishes, but the dishes don’t bother you, who cares? When your procrastination leaves you feeling discouraged and overburdened, however, it is time to take action.

For those of you who want to eliminate procrastination, here are 10 simple steps:

1. First make sure you really, really, really want to do it. Seriously – don’t skip this step.
2. Keep things simple – don’t mess with tools, formatting, anything, just start.
3. Make it the first thing you do today, before checking email or anything else.
4. Clear away everything that stands in the way of doing. Including turning off the Internet.
5. Just get started. Overcome the initial barrier by diving in.
6. Tell yourself you’re just going to do 10 minutes.
7. Put something you dread more at the top of your to-do list — you’ll put off doing that by doing the other things on your list.
8. Find something about it that excites you.
9. Forget about perfection. Just start doing it, and fix it later.
10. If you keep procrastinating, re-evaluate whether you really want to do it. Consider not doing it, or putting it on the backburner.

If all else fails, just take a nap or go outside and enjoy the outdoors or do nothing. Life isn’t all about productivity.

Potpourri of wise advice and other wisecracks

2010-08-02T11:20:00.000-07:00

"Success is simply a matter of luck. Ask any failure."
~ Earl Wilson

"Success is getting what you want; happiness is wanting what you get."
~ Author Unknown

"It is wise to keep in mind that no success or failure is necessarily final."
~ Author Unknown

"The man who doesn't read good books has no advantage over the man who can't read them."
~ Mark Twain

"Those who understand interest, EARN IT. Those who don't, PAY IT!"
~ Albert Einstein

"If everything seems under control, you're not going fast enough!"
~ Mario Andretti

"Some people wanted champagne and caviar when they should have had beer and hot dogs."
~ Dwight D. Eisenhower

"The alarm bells on our nation's fiscal condition have now become a siren."
~ Sen. Mitch McConnell

"Never bite the hand that feeds you, because it will be the same hand that chokes you to death!"
~ Donluciano Reggallo

"Rich people plan for three generations, poor people plan for Saturday night."
~ Andrew Tobias

"Genius is 1% inspiration and 99% perspiration. Accordingly a genius is often merely a talented person who has done all of his or her homework."
- Thomas Edison, Inventor

"High achievement always takes place in the framework of high expectation."
- Charles Kettering, Inventor

"Only a man who knows what it is like to be defeated can reach down to the bottom of his soul and come up with the extra ounce of power it takes to win when the match is even."
- Muhammad Ali, boxer

"The greatest test of courage is to bear defeat without losing heart."
- Robert Ingersoll, orator

"You don't have to be great to get started, but you have to get started to be great."
~ Les Brown

"I have always found that if I move with 75% or more of the facts, I usually never regret it. It's the guys who wait to have everything perfect that drive you crazy."
- Lee Iacocca, executive

"The rung of a ladder was never meant to rest upon, but only to hold a man's foot long enough to enable him to put the other somewhat higher."
- Thomas Huxley, Biologist

"You can't do it unless you can imagine it."
- George Lucas, director

Courtesy: Mario Santarelli, O.C., CA. RE Broker/ Norada.com

The surest way to become a better and more confident public speaker

2010-08-02T09:43:00.000-07:00

In the late Robert B. Parker's latest Spenser novel, "Cold
Service," Spenser says to Susan this about his sidekick Hawk:
"He's nearly always right. Not because he knows everything. But
because he never talks about things he doesn't know."

This is a good tip for public speakers, bloggers, writers, and
anyone else who communicates: stick to what you know and you'll
be a more effective, more persuasive, more credible communicator.

And by "knowing" a thing, I don't mean just researching and
reading about it. I mean knowing from actual experience.

The only way to ensure total credibility as a speaker is to not
speak on a subject unless you've actually done it. If you haven't
done it and an audience member challenges you, you are completely
vulnerable ... because you don't truly know what you are talking
about.

"This article appears courtesy of Bob Bly Direct Response Letter,"
www.bly.com.

A True friend compared to An Ordinary friend...

2010-07-24T18:05:00.000-07:00

An ordinary friend has never seen you cry.

A true friend has had a wet shoulder from your tears.

An ordinary friend does not know your parents' first names.

A true friend probably has their phone number written down
as well.

An ordinary friend brings a bottle of wine to your party.

A true friend shows up early to help you prepare...
and stays late to help clean up.

An ordinary friend gets upset when you call late.

A true friend asks why you weren't able to call earlier.

An ordinary friend likes to listen to your problems.

A true friend likes to help you solve them.

An ordinary friend behaves like a guest and waits to be
served when he or she visits.

A true friend goes to the fridge and serves himself.

An ordinary friend thinks your friendship is over after a
quarrel.

A true friend knows that friendships get stronger after a
quarrel.

An ordinary friend always expects you to be there to help out.

A true friend is always there to help you out.

A true friend?
Someone who sticks with you when everyone else abandons you.

..................................................................

"A friend is someone I can be sincere with, someone I can
think out loud to."
Ralph Waldo Emerson

..................................................................

While walking along a beach at dawn an old man saw a boy
picking starfish up off the sand and throwing them back into
the sea. He caught up to the boy and asked him what he was doing.

The boy replied that the starfish would die if left exposed
on the sand after sunrise.

"But this beach goes on for miles," the old man said.
"There must be thousands of starfish stranded on the sand.
What difference will it make to save just a few?"

The boy looked at the starfish he was holding in his hand,
then threw it onto the surf.

"Well, for THAT starfish it makes a big difference!"

(Minnesota Literacy Council)

Another contribution from my True Friend Christian Godefroy :o)

Have a Truly Great weekend!
Your True Friend,

Jacques

The Blue Ribbon Story

2010-07-17T08:36:00.000-07:00

A professor was in the habit of giving his students a little
gift at the end of the school year - a blue ribbon with the
words "Who I Am Makes A Difference®" printed in gold letters
on the ribbon.

As she gave each student their ribbon she explained why she had
appreciated teaching them, and why his course had been different
because that particular student had been present.

One day it occurred to her to see what effect this little
custom would have on the community. She gave each student 3
blue ribbons instead of one, and told each of them to give one
ribbon to someone they knew who, in their opinion "made a difference."
She also told them to give the 2 other ribbons to that same
person, with instructions to hand them out to others who had
made a difference. After that the students were to come back
and report what happened.

One student who had a part-time job gave his ribbon to his boss,
a grumpy fellow who nevertheless appreciated the honor.

"I admire everything you've done," the student said to his boss.
"I think you're a creative genius and a real fair guy. Will you
allow me to pin this blue ribbon on your jacket as a sign of
my appreciation?"

The boy's boss was surprised but also pleased. "Yeah, sure,
why not?" he said.

"And will you take these 2 other ribbons," the student continued,
"and give them to someone you think makes a difference, like I did
for you? It's for a project we're doing at school."

"All right," the boss replied.

That night the boss returned home wearing the blue ribbon
on his jacket. He greeted his 14 year old son and said,
"Something strange happened to me today. One of my employees
gave me this ribbon. See what's written on it? 'Because you
make a difference.' He gave me another ribbon just like it
and told me to give it to someone who's made a difference for me,
someone who is very special and means a lot to me."

"I had a pretty hard day, but on the way home I said to myself,
'There's only one person I want to give this ribbon to.' I know
I tell you off a lot because you don't work hard enough at school,
because all you think about is going out and having fun with your
friends, because your room's always a mess... But tonight I want
to tell you that you are very very important to me. You and your
mother make all the difference in my life, and I'd like you to
accept this blue ribbon as a sign of my love. I don't tell you
I love you very often, not nearly enough, I know. But I do love
you, and I think you're a wonderful kid!"

As soon as he stopped talking his son burst into tears. His
whole body shook with sobs. His father took him in his arms and
held him close, saying, "That's okay, it's all right. Did I say something wrong?"

"No Dad." his son replied, "It's just that... I decided I was
going to kill myself. I was going to do it tomorrow. I had it
all planned out. I wanted to kill myself because I was sure you
didn't like me, even though I tried hard to be good. Now that's
all changed..."

Courtesy: My Friend Christian Godefroy

The Salesman Story...

2010-07-08T21:10:00.001-07:00

A salesman had a flat tire somewhere out in the countryside.

He opened his trunk and looked for his jack... but it wasn't
there.

"Hum, now what do I do," he thought.

Since he was stranded on a small country road on a hot summer
day, he doubted anyone would drive by to help. Seeing the
spire of a church in the distance, he decided to walk to the
nearest village and borrow a jack. It was a long way, and the
day was very hot. On the way he thought, "I hope someone in
that town has a jack they can lend me."

He walked some more, sweating profusely, and then thought,
"I know what the people around here are like. They don't take
kindly to strangers."

He walked a little further, thinking, "Since they don't
know me, I really don't thing anyone is going to lend me a jack."

And so he continued walking and imagining the worst possible
outcome to his predicament... No one in the town would be
willing to lend him a jack, people would be so suspicious
they'd even refuse to sell him one, and so on.

By the time he got to the village he was so upset he went
to the square in the middle of town and started shouting,
"All right, since that's the way you feel, you can keep your
damn jack!"

o 0 o

How often have you invented all kinds of seemingly
insurmountable obstacles and unfounded fears? Think about
it Christian, how many times have you not asked for something
because you were afraid to be refused?

Courtesy: Christian Godefroy :o)

LITTLE THINGS DON't MEAN A LOT...

2010-07-08T18:00:00.000-07:00

What is CRITICAL to understand is that your ultimate success, fulfillment and happiness will come from doing the little things that matter.

As entrepreneur and best-selling author Harvey Mackay said, “Little things don’t mean a lot. They mean everything.”

Here is a short list of 35 things you can do in less than 10 seconds that will make you a better person, enhance your self-image and improve the quality of your life.

1. Make it a point to say the words ”I love you” to the people in your home every single day.
2. Offer a friendly authentic smile- a great smile radiates warmth, puts people at ease and makes you likable.
3. Make comfortable eye contact- your eyes send messages; establishing and maintaining eye contact with people demonstrates confidence, respect, and genuine interest.
4. Use someone’s name – everyone likes to hear and see his or her name.
5. Acknowledge people- smile and say hi to the people around you.
6. Express your appreciation- say “thank you” to everyone who does something for you even if they are paid to do it.
7. Be unselfish and put others first- it could be as simple as holding the door open for someone.
8. Offer a word of encouragement- sometimes this is all a person needs to build confidence and take the next big step. This is big!
9. Accept responsibility when you are wrong- it’s the sign of a person with character.
10. Be friendly- it lifts the attitude of others and is the #1 factor in being likable.
11. Maintain a positive mental attitude- your attitude is a choice and that choice is 100% within your control.
12. Be kind and considerate- to people you know as well as strangers.
13. Be like a dog and be the first to greet people- it helps new people entering the room feel more comfortable and demonstrates your interest in them.
14. Offer people you meet a warm greeting- this will set the tone for the entire encounter.
15. Say "please"- make it a habit to use the word please EVERY TIME you ask someone to do something for you even if they are paid to do it.
16. Get up and walk into the other room to speak to someone, rather than yelling.
17. Put the toilet seat down.
18. Turn your head and cover your mouth when you sneeze or cough.
19. Improve your body posture- poor posture is an indication of low self-esteem.
20. Say goodbye- make a good last impression.
21. Offer a proper handshake- a good, firm handshake demonstrates confidence and makes a good impression.
22. Give someone a hug- a hug is a sign that you really care for the other person.
23. Proof your email, text or post- this is an important component of portraying a professional online brand.
24. Click the LIKE button on someone’s Facebook post- it’s an easy way to demonstrate interest.
25. Turn off your phone in meetings- even though your phone may not make sounds, your eyes and attention will be diverted from the other people in attendance and your lack of attention demonstrates disrespect and disinterest.
26. Repeat your phone number twice when leaving a voicemail- speaking slowly and repeating your phone number will make you stand out and considerate.
27. When scheduling appointments use the other person’s time zone- this avoids misunderstandings or missed opportunities.
28. Speak with life and energy in your voice- no one likes to be around people who are “dead, dull and lifeless.”
29. Walk with a bounce in your step- it’s evidence of an energetic attitude that ultimately leads to success.
30. Turn off the notifications that are bugging those around you.
31. Write things down- it prevents you from forgetting things that are important.
32. Say something positive to others about another person- reverse gossip.
33. Congratulate your opponent- good sportsmanship is evidence of leadership and self-confidence.
34. Be proactive and introduce yourself to people whom you have never met.
35. Look for the good in others and tell them what you see- you have the ability to bring out the best in people, especially when they may not know it themselves.

As you can see, each of these tips is easy to do. They don’t require any formal education or financial investment. We can begin to incorporate them into our lives this very minute. All we need is to be conscious of them and be willing to take 10 seconds to do them.

-----
This is the middle of the 4th of July week: contribute to and upgrade America!

Your Friend,

Jacques

Make Your Customers Feel Important

2010-07-07T12:14:00.000-07:00

By: Brian Tracy

Listening is the Key

Listening builds self-esteem. It has been said that, "Rapt attention is the highest form of flattery." When you listen intently to another person and it is clear that you genuinely care about what that other person is saying, his or her self-esteem goes up. His or her feeling of personal value increases. He or she feels more worthwhile and important as a human being. You can actually make another person feel terrific about himself or herself by listening in a warm, genuine, caring way to everything he or she has to say.

Pay Close Attention

When a man and a woman go out for the first time, they spend an inordinate amount of time talking and listening to each other. They look into each other's eyes and hang on every word. They are each fascinated by the personality of the other. The more each listens to the other, the more positive and happy each of them feel and the stronger becomes the bonds of affection between them.

Focus 100% On the Other Person

The opposite of listening is ignoring. You always listen to that which you most value. You always ignore that which you devalue. The fastest way to turn a person off, to hurt their feelings and make them feel slighted and angry is to simply ignore what they are saying or interrupt them in the middle of a thought. Ignoring or interrupting is the equivalent of an emotional slap in the face. Men especially have to be careful about their natural desire to make a remark or an observation in the middle of a conversation. This can often cause the sales conversation to come to a grinding halt.

Action Exercises

First, take every opportunity to make the other person feel important by listening attentively to what he or she says.

Second, avoid interrupting the other person by slowing down and pausing for a few moments after he or she has stopped speaking.
-----

JACQUES' COMMENT:

Brian Tracy clearly shared a potent, yet easy to learn by practicing the precious "art" and "science" of sincerely, attentively LISTENING!
My Congratulations and Thanks for this!

Dreams Into Realities...

2010-07-07T09:54:00.000-07:00

"Dreams never hurt anybody if he keeps working right behind the dream to make as much of it become real as he can."
- Frank Woolworth, Entrepreneur

"Wisdom is knowing what to do; virtue is doing it."
- David Jordan, scientist

"Courage is rarely reckless or foolish. Courage usually involves a highly realistic estimate of the odds that must be faced."
- Margaret Truman, author

"A clear vision, backed by definite plans, gives you a tremendous feeling of confidence and personal power."
- Brian Tracy, Author

"Your own resolution to succeed is more important than any other one thing."
- Abraham Lincoln, 16th U.S. president

Bad luck or good luck, who can say?

2010-07-02T22:45:00.000-07:00

There once was very poor man living in a village who had a
very fine horse. So fine, in fact, that the lord of the castle
wanted to buy it. But the old man always refused.

"To me this horse is not merely an animal. He's a friend.
How could I sell you my friend?"

One morning he went to the stable and found his horse gone.

All the villagers said, "We told you! You should have sold
your horse. Now he's been stolen instead. What terrible luck."

"Bad luck or good luck," the old man said. "Who can say?"

Everyone laughed at him. But 15 days later the horse returned,
followed by a whole herd of wild horses. He had escaped from the
stable, courted a young mare, and returned with the rest of
the herd following behind!

"What luck!" the villagers cried.

The old man and his son began training the wild horses. But
a week later the man's son broke his leg trying to train one of
the horses.

"Bad luck," said his friends. "What are you going to do now
without your son to help you? You who are already so poor."

"Bad luck, good luck, who can say?" the old man replied.

A few days later an army belonging to the lord of the land
passed through the village and forced all the young men to become
soldiers. All... except the old man's son, because of his broken
leg.

"How lucky you are," the villagers cried. "All our children
are gone to war, but you've been able to keep your son. Our sons
will probably be killed..."

The old man replied, "Bad luck, good luck... who can say?"

The future comes to us in bits and pieces. We never know what
lies in store for us. But if you always maintain a positive
attitude the doors of chance remain open, and you will be a
happier person.

-----
Courtesy: Christian Godefroy

"Luck is the sense to recognize an opportunity and the ability to take advantage of it."
- Samuel Goldwyn, entertainment executive

The $20 bill

2010-06-29T09:52:00.000-07:00

A well known speaker started off his seminar by holding up
a $20 bill. In the room of 200, he asked:

"Who would like this $20 bill?"

Hands started going up. He said:

"I am going to give this $20 to one of you but first,
let me do this."

He proceeded to crumple the dollar bill up.

He then asked:

"Who still wants it?"

Still the hands were up in the air.

"Well," he replied, "what if I do this?"

And he dropped it on the ground and started to grind it into
the floor with his shoe. He picked it up, now crumpled and dirty.

"Now who still wants it?" Still the hands went into the air.

"My friends, you have all learned a very valuable lesson.
No matter what I did to the money, you still wanted it because
it did not decrease in value. It was still worth $20.

Many times in our lives, we are dropped, crumpled, and ground
into the dirt by the decisions we make and the circumstances that
come our way. We feel as though we are worthless.

But no matter what has happened or what will happen, you
will never lose your value. To those who love you, you are
priceless.

The worth of our lives come not in what we do or who we know
but by who we are!"

-----

Today's gem from my friend Christian Godefroy.

The triple Test

2010-06-23T09:09:00.000-07:00

In ancient Greece, Socrates was reputed to hold knowledge in
high esteem. One day an acquaintance met the great philosopher
and said, "Do you know what I just heard about your friend?"

"Hold on a minute," Socrates replied. "Before telling me
anything, I'd like you to pass a little test. It's called the
Triple Filter Test."

"Triple filter?"

"That's right," Socrates continued. "Before you talk to me about
my friend, it might be a good idea to take a moment and filter what
you're going to say. That's why I call it the triple filter test.
The first filter is Truth. Have you made absolutely sure that what
you are about to tell me is true?"

"No," the man said, "Actually I just heard about it and..."

"All right," said Socrates. "So you don't really know if it's
true or not. Now let's try the second filter, the filter of
goodness. Is what you are about to tell me about my friend
something good?"

"No, on the contrary..."

"So," Socrates continued, "You want to tell me something bad
about him, but you're not certain it's true. You may still pass
the test though, because there's one filter left: the filter of
usefulness. Is what you want to tell me about my friend going to
be useful to me?"

"No, not really."

"Well," concluded Socrates, "If what you want to tell me is
neither true nor good nor even useful, why tell it to me at all?"

Courtesy: Christian Godefroy

TIME is Money...and Much More!

2010-06-22T10:05:00.000-07:00

"While it is reprehensible to cheat , "con", steal money or "stuff" from another, nevertheless if the injured party is reasonably healthy, they can always "pick themselves up, dust themselves off and start over again", as it says in the song. Perhaps even receive compensation from their Insurance Company, if the latter is honorable.

To waste or steal the Time of another, however, is totally unforgiveable as even the wealthiest person on earth could not buy a minute or a second of Time if their life depended on it.

This principle is especially valid in the case of an appointment, date or other Time-related Commitment made to another, then rudely and irresponsibly delayed or unkept without first alerting the waiting party."

The above and many other good character, moral, ethical, common courtesy, decency, consideration, and respect (re)builders of all sorts are the subject of my upcoming book, "Promises...Promises...Promises..." (for those who say "yes!" too readily: How to make Less and Keep All of them).

It is a new, challenging guide on simply treating others the way you like being treated yourself (or should), and is the Psychological Imperative of becoming a habitual, automatic Promise Keeper: one whose Word, once given, is his/her personal Universe...a "fait accompli (a done deal)..."money in the Bank"!

Just imagine living in a World of punctual, reliable, dependable Promise Keepers, with You as a shining example who Always honors the value of others' Time!

Jacques Girard, Ph.D., C.Ht.

"Don't say you don't have enough time. You have exactly the same number of hours per day that were given to Helen Keller, Louis Pasteur, Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, Thomas Jefferson and Albert Einstein."
- Jackson Brown Jr., writer

"Someone might have a germ of talent, but 90% of it is discipline and how you practice it, what you do with it. Instinct won't carry you through the entire journey. It's what you do in the moments between inspiration."
- Cate Blanchett, actress

..............................................................

The value of time:

To understand the value of a year, talk to a student who has
failed an important exam.

To understand the value of a month, talk to a mother who has
given birth to a baby a month prematurely.

To understand the value of a week, talk to the publisher of a
weekly newspaper.

To understand the value of an hour, talk to a couple in love
who are separated and want only to be together again.

To understand the value of a minute, talk to someone who has
just missed a train or a plane.

To understand the value of a second, talk to someone who has
lost a loved one in an accident.

To understand the value of a millisecond, talk to someone who
won a silver medal at the Olympic Games.

Time waits for no one. Gather all the time you have left every
moment, and it will be of great use to you. Share it with people
you value and love and it will become even more precious.

What are the Big stones in Your Life?

2010-06-15T20:41:00.000-07:00

One day, an old professor of the national School of
administration (ENA-France) was asked to give a training course on
the effective economic planning of one's time to a group of about
fifteen leaders of big companies from North America.

This course constituted one of 5 workshops of their day of
training. So, the old Prof. only had one hour to spend on this
subject.

Standing in front of this group of elite who was ready
to note everything that the expert was going to teach, the old
Prof. looked at them one by one, slowly, then said to them:

"We are going to make an experiment".

From under the table which separated him from his pupils,
the old Prof. took out an immense gallon Mason jar (glass jar of more
than 4 liters) which he directly put in front of him.

Then, he took out about a dozen pebbles roughly as big as
tennis balls and placed them delicately, one by one, in the
big jar. When the jar was filled up to the brim, and when it was
impossible to add anything to it, he raised slowly his eyes
towards the pupils, and asked them:

"Is this jar full?"

Everybody answered: "Yes".

He waited for a few seconds and added: "Really?"

Then, he bent again and took out from under the table a pot
filled with little stones. With accuracy, he poured these little
pebbles on the big stones, then moved softly the jar.

The fragments of little pebbles went between the stones
down to the bottom of the jar. The old Prof. raised his eyes again
towards his audience and asked:

"Is this jar full?".

This time, his brilliant pupils began to understand the whole
process. One of them answered:

"Probably not!"

"Well!" answered the old Prof..

He bent again and this time, took out from under the table a
bucket of sand. With attention, he poured the sand into the jar.
The sand went to fil the spaces between the big big stones and the
little pebbles. Once again, he asked:

"Is this jar full?". This time, without hesitation, and in a
choir, the brilliant pupils answered:

"No!".

"Well!" answered the old Prof. And, as expected by the
brilliant pupils, he took the jug of water which was on the table
and filled the jar up to the brim. Then, the old Prof. raised
his eyes towards his group and asked:

"Which big truth does this experiment show to us?" .

Being no fool, the most audacious of the pupils, thinking
about the topic of this course, answered:

"It shows that even when one believes that our diary is
completely filled, if one wants really wants it, one can add
more meetings to it, more things to be made".

The old Prof. answered. "It is not that".

"The big truth that this experiment shows to us is the following
one:

- "If one does not put the big stones first in the jar, one
will never be able to make all of them go in, then".

There was a profound silence, each becoming aware of the
evidence of these comments.

Then, the old Prof. Told them: "Which are the big stones
in your life?"

"Your health?"

"Your family?"

"Your friends?"

"To make your dreams come true?"

"Learning?"

"To do what you enjoy?"

"To relax?"

"To fight for a cause?"

"To take time for yourself?"

"Or any other thing?"

"What it is necessary to remember is the importance to put
one's BIG STONES in first in one's life, otherwise one encouters
the risks not to succeed in one's life.

If one gives priority to pecadilloes (the little pebbles, the
sand), one will fill one's life with pecadilloes and one will
have no more enough precious time to dedicate to the important
elements of one's life".

Then do not forget to ask to yourself this question:

"Which are the BIG STONES IN MY LIFE?

Then, put them in, first"

With a friendly gesture of the hand, the old professor
greeted his audience and slowly left the room.

What are the BIG STONES in your life, Jacques?

-----

This was today's message from my wise friend Christian Godefroy. Probably you noticed his French phrase turnings. You may reach him at:
http://www.Psoitive-Club.com

Hope you enjoyed and learned from this post. All my Best wishes,

Your Friend,

Jacques

Doors to Wisdom: A Memorial Day Gift sent me by

2010-05-31T10:03:00.000-07:00

my Friend and Master of Positivity: Christian Godefroy

A King had, as only son, a young Prince, brave, skillful
and intelligent. To perfect his knowledge of Life, he sent
him by the side of an Old Wise Man.

"Bring Light to my Path of Life", the Prince asked.

"My words will faint away like the prints of your steps in
the sand", the Wise Man answered. However, I want to give you
some indications. On your Path, you will find 3 doors. Read
the rules written on each of them.

An irresistible need will urge you to follow them.
Don't try and get away from them, because you would be
condemned to live again, ceaselessly, what you have avoided.
I may tell you no more.

You have to feel all this deep in your heart and in your flesh.
Go, now. Follow this path, right in front of you. "

The Old Wise Man disappeared and the Prince entered
the Path of Life.

He was soon in front of a big door, on which one could read:

"CHANGE THE WORLD".

"It was my intention indeed", the Prince thought, "because
if some things please me in this world, others greatly displease
me."

And he began his first fight. His ideal, his ardour and his
power urged him to confront himself to the world, to undertake,
to conquer, to model reality according to his desires.

He found there the pleasure and the dizzyness of the conqueror,
but no peace in his heart. He managed to change some things but
many others resisted to him. Many years passed.

One day, he met the Old Wise Man who asked him:

"What have you learnt on your path?"

"I have learnt," the Prince answered, " how to discern what
is within my power and what is without, what depends on me and
what does not depend on me".

"That's good!", the Old Man said. "Use your strength to act
on what is within your power. Forget what's beyond your power."
And he disappeared.

A bit later, the Prince was in front of a second door.
He could read on it :

"CHANGE THE OTHERS".

"It was my intention indeed", he thought. "The others are
a source of pleasure, enjoyment and satisfaction, but also,
of pain, bitterness and frustration."

And he rebelled against everything that could disturb him
or displease him in his fellow men. He tried to bend their
characters and to extirpate their defects.

It was there his second fight.

Many years passed.

One day, as he was meditating on the utility of the attempts
to change the others, he met the Old Wise Man who asked him:

"What have you learnt on your path?"

"I have learnt", the Prince answered, "that the others are not
the cause or the source of my joys and my punishments, my
satisfactions and my setbacks. They are only opportunities
for all of them to be revealed.

It is in myself that all these things have their roots."

"You are right," the Wise Man said. "According to what they
wake up in you, the others reveal you to yourself. Be grateful
to those who make your enjoyment and pleasure vibrate.

But be also grateful to those who create in you suffering or
frustration, because, through them, life teaches you what
is left in you to learn and the path that you still have
to walk."

And the Old Man disappeared.

A bit further, the Prince arrived in front of a door, on
which these words were written:

"CHANGE YOURSELF".

"If I am myself the cause of my problems, it is indeed what's
left in me to work on", he said to himself.

And he began his 3rd fight. He tried to bend his character,
to fight his imperfections, to abolish his defects, to change
everything that did not please him in himself, everything that
did not correspond to his ideal.

After many years of this fight, in which he met some success,
but also, some failures and some resistances, the Prince met the
Wise Man who asked him:

"What have you learnt on your path?"

"I have learnt", the Prince answered, "that there are things
that we can improve, others that resist to us and that we can't
manage to break."

"That's good!" the Wise Man said.

"Yes", the Prince went on, "but I am beginning to be tired
of fighting against everything, against everybody, against
myself. Won't there be an end to it one day? When shall I
find a rest? I want to stop fighting, to give up, to
abandon everything, I want to let go !"

"It is precisely your next lesson", the Old Wise Man said.
"But before going any further, turn round and behold the path
covered."

And he disappeared.

On looking back, the Prince saw in the distance the 3rd door,
and noticed that it was carrying a text on its back, saying :

"ACCEPT YOURSELF."

The Prince was surprised not to have seen this writing when
he went through the door, the other way.

"When one fights, one becomes blind", he said to himself.

He also saw, lying on the ground, scattered around him,
everything he had thrown away and fought against in him:
his defects, his shadows, his fears, his limits, all his
old worries. He had learnt then how to recognize them, to
accept them, to love them. He had learnt how to love himself
without comparing himself to the others any more, without
judging himself, without reprimanding himself.

He met the Old Wise Man who asked him:

"What have you learnt on your path?"

"I have learnt", the Prince answered," that hating or refusing
a part of myself, it is to condemn myself never to be in
agreement with myself. I learnt how to accept myself, totally,
unconditionally."

"That's good!", the Old Man said, it is the first rule in
Wisdom. Now you can go back through the 3rd door."

He had no sooner reached the other side, that the Prince
perceived far away the back side of the second door, on which
he could read:

"ACCEPT THE OTHERS".

All around him, he could recognize the persons he had been
with all his life through; those he had loved as well as those
he had hated. Those he had supported and those he had fought.

But the biggest surprise of all for him was that now, he was
absolutely unable to see their imperfections, their defects,
what formerly had embarrassed him so much, and against which
he had fought.

He met the Old Wise Man again.

"What have you learnt on your path?" he asked him.

"I have learnt", the Prince answered, "that by being in
agreement with myself, I had no more anything to blame in the
others, no more anything to be afraid of in them. I have
learnt how to accept and to love the others, totally,
unconditionally."

"That's good!", the Old Wise Man said. "It is the second
rule in Wisdom. You can go back through the second door."

On reaching the other side of the second door, the Prince
perceived in the distance the back side of the first door,
on which he could read:

"ACCEPT THE WORLD".

"Strangely enough", he said to himself, "that I did not see
these words on the first time". He looked all around him and
recognized this world which he had tried to conquer, to
transform, to change. He was struck by the brightness and
the beauty of every thing. By their perfection.

Nevertheless, it was the same world as before. Was it
the world which had changed or the glance he had on it?

He met the Old Wise Man who asked him:

"What have you learnt on your path?"

"I have learnt", the Prince said, that the world is a mirror
for my soul. That my soul can't see the world, it sees itself
in the world. When my soul is cheerful, the world seems cheerful
to it.

When it is overcome, the world seems sad to it. The world
itself is neither sad nor cheerful. It IS there; it exists; it
is everything. It was Not the world that disturbed me, but the
idea that I had of it. I have learnt to accept it without
judging it, to accept it totally, unconditionally. "

"It is 3rd rule of Wisdom", the Old Man said.
"You are here now in agreement with yourself, with the others
and with the World."

A profound feeling of peace, serenity, plenitude, filled
the Prince. Silence was in him.

"Now, you are ready to go past the last Threshold", the
Old Wise Man said, "the one that goes from the silence of
Plenitude to the Plenitude of Silence ".

And the Old Man disappeared.

(Text proposed by Franēoise Laurent)

Desiderata

2010-05-25T09:09:00.001-07:00

Desiderata

"Go placidly amid the noise and haste, and remember what
peace there may be in silence. As far as possible, without
surrender, be on good terms with all persons.

Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to
others, even to the dull and ignorant; they too have their
story.

Avoid loud and aggressive persons; they are vexations
to the spirit. If you compare yourself with others, you may
become vain or bitter, for always there will be greater and
lesser persons than yourself.

Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans. Keep
interested in your own career, however humble, it's a real
possession in the changing fortunes of time.

Exercise caution in your business affairs, for the world
is full of trickery. But let this not blind you to what
virtue there is; many persons strive for high ideals, and
everywhere life is full of heroism.

Be yourself. Especially do not feign affection. Neither
be cynical about love; for in the face of all aridity and
disenchantement, it is as perrenial as the grass.

Take kindly the counsel of the years, gracefully surrendering
the things of youth. Nurture strength of spirit to shield you
in sudden misfortune. But do not distress yourself with dark
imaginings. Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.

Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself.
You are a child of the universe no less than the trees and
the stars; you have a right to be here. And whether or not
it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.

Therefore be at peace with God, whatever you conceive him
to be. And whatever your labors and aspirations, in the
noisy confusion of life, keep peace in your soul.

With all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams, it is still
a beautiful world. Be cheerful. Strive to be happy."

"Desiderata" was written in 1927 by Max Ehrmann (1872-1945).

Success Is Not Bought but Built from the ground Up

2010-05-20T07:33:00.000-07:00

"The real winners in life are the people who look at every situation with an expectation that they can make it work or make it better."
- Barbara Pletcher, author

"Life is the sum of all your choices."
- Albert Camus, Author

"I don't think that once you get to one level, you can relax. You've got to keep pushing. "
- Larry Bird, basketball player

"Don't ever be afraid to admit you were wrong. It's like saying you're wiser today than you were yesterday."
- Robert Newell, humorist

"Be more concerned with your character than your reputation, because your character is what you really are, while your reputation is merely what others think you are."
- John Wooden, basketball coach

"Deal first with whatever is causing you the greatest emotional distress. Often this will break the logjam in your work and free you up mentally to complete (the) other tasks."
- Brian Tracy, motivational coach

"No matter how good an idea sounds, test it first. "
- Henry Bloch, H&R Block co-founder

"To some degree, you control your life by controlling your time. "
- Conrad Hilton, hotel executive

"Every memorable act in the world is a triumph of enthusiasm. Nothing great was ever achieved without it because it gives any challenge or any occupation, no matter how frightening or difficult, a new meaning. Without enthusiasm you are doomed to a life of mediocrity but with it you can accomplish miracles."
- Og Mandion

"Perseverance is failing 19 times and succeeding the 20th."
- Julie Andrews, actress

"You can't do it unless you can imagine it."
- George Lucas, director

"Difficulties are meant to rouse, not discourage. The human spirit is to grow strong by conflict."
- William Channing, theologian

"Without courage, all other virtues lose their meaning."
- Winston Churchill, British prime minister

"All that is necessary to break the spell of inertia and frustration is this: Act as if it were impossible to fail."
- Dorothea Brande, writer

"One of the things I learned the hard way was that it doesn't pay to get discouraged. Keeping busy and making optimism a way of life can restore your faith in yourself."
- Lucille Ball, actress

"The past cannot be changed. The future is yet in your power. "
- Hugh White, senator

"Action is the real measure of intelligence."
- Napolean Hill, author

"Problems should be solved on the spot, as soon as they arise. No frontline employee should have to wait for a supervisor's permission."
- Jan Carlzon, airline executive

"You are not beaten until you admit it."
- George Patton, general

"Successful people form the habit of doing what failures don't like to do. They like the results they get by doing what they don't necessarily enjoy. "
- Earl Nightingale, Motivational Speaker

"In a decisive set, confidence is the difference."
- Chris Evert, Tennis Champion

"Mickey Mouse popped out of my mind onto a drawing pad... when the business fortunes of my brother Roy and myself were at their lowest ebb and disaster seemed right around the corner."
- Walt Disney, producer

"A man watches his pear tree, day after day, impatient for the ripening of the fruit. Let him attempt to force the process, and he may spoil both the fruit and tree. But let him patiently wait, and the ripe pear, at length, falls into his lap."
- Abraham Lincoln, 16th President of the United States

"The true measure of a career is to be able to be content, even proud, that you succeeded through your own endeavors without leaving a trail of casualties in your wake."
- Alan Greenspan, economist

The legend of the Cracked Pot

2010-05-16T00:21:00.000-07:00

A water bearer in India had two large pots, each hung on each
end of a pole which he carried across hls neck.

One of the pots had a crack in it, and while the other pot was
perfect and always delivered a full portion of water at the end
of the long walk from the stream to the master's house, the
cracked pot arrived only half full.

For a full 2 years this went on daily, with the bearer
delivering only one and a half pots full of water in his master's
house.

Of course, the perfect pot was proud of its accomplishments,
perfect to the end for which it was made.

But the poor cracked pot was ashamed of its own imperfection,
and miserable that it was able to accomplish only half of what
it had been made to do.

After 2 years of what it perceived to be a bitter failure,
it spoke to the water bearer one day by the stream.

"I am ashamed of myself, and I want to apologize to you."

"Why?" asked the bearer. "What are you ashamed of?"

"I have been able, for these past two years, to deliver only
half my load because this crack in my side causes water to leak
out all the way back to your master's house. Because of my flaws,
you have to do all of this work, and you don't get full value
from your efforts," the pot said.

The water bearer felt sorry for the old cracked pot, and in his
compassion he said, "As we return to the master's house, I want
you to notice the beautiful flowers along the path."

Indeed as they went up the hill, the old cracked pot took notice
of the sun warming the beautiful wild flowers on the side of the
path and this cheered it some. But at the end of tile trail, it
still felt bad because it had leaked out half its load, and so
again it apologized to the bearer for its failure.

The bearer said to the pot, "Did you notice that there were
flowers only on YOUR side of your path, but not on the other
pot's side? That's because I have always known about your flaw,
and I took advantage of it. I planted flower seeds on your side
of the path, and every day while we walk back from the stream,
you've watered them.

For 2 years I have been able to pick these beautiful flowers
to decorate my master's table. Without you being just the way
you are, he would not have this beauty to grace his house."

Moral: Each of us has our own unique flaws. We're all cracked
pots.

Some of us don't grow old gracefully, some are not so smart,
some are tall, large & big, some bald, some physically challenged,
but it's the cracks and flaws we each have that make our lives
together so very interesting and rewarding.

You've just got to take each person for what they are, and look
for the good in them. There is a lot of good out there. There is
a lot of good in you, Jacques!

Blessed are the flexible for they shall not be bent out of shape.
Remember to appreciate all the different people in your life!
Or as I like to think of it - If it's not for the crackpots in my
life, it would be pretty boring.

Thank you for being my crackpot friend, Jacques. :)
-----

Courtesy: my friend Christian Godefroy

P.S.: Can't help being reminded of this Psychologists' joke/ definition of cracked pot: Psycho-ceramic! :o)

Have a great weekend, All you Crackpots!

Your Crackpot Friend,

Jacques

Are You A Workoholic? (Concl.)

2010-05-12T10:25:00.000-07:00

Workaholism is remarkably similar to alcoholism in some ways. Just as an alcoholic will hide bottles around the house and drink furtively, for example, workaholics may try to sneak in work when they think no one is looking.

"It's something that I did in the throes of my own work addiction, and when I think about it now it sounds pretty sick," Robinson says. He once hid some work papers in his jeans after his family went through his suitcase looking for his secret stash while packing for a trip to the beach, he tells WebMD.

Other key signs of workaholism are:

Trouble delegating work (workaholics tend to be control freaks and micro-managers)
Neglecting other aspects of one's nonworking life (like the dad who never has time to attend Junior's school play)
Incorporating other aspects of life into work (such as trying to turn a hobby into a new business)

Workaholics: All Work and No Play
A workaholic might seem to be every CEO's dream: an employee who comes in early, stays late, doesn't take vacations, and takes on mountains of work. But those very qualities may make the workaholic a poor candidate for employee of the month because they often have more work than they can handle effectively, don't delegate, aren't team players, and are often more disorganized than their less compulsive colleagues, Robinson says.

In addition, workaholics may refuse to take time off, even when their work performance is affected -- although here cultural expectations and financial realities may come into play.

"People are afraid to take vacations because they're afraid that with all the downsizing and the economy being what it is that they'd be the first to go," Robinson says.

"I train residents at McLean Hospital," Neuhaus says, "and I tell them, 'You have to take vacations. Go away. You're not going to be any good to me if you don't take vacations.'"

Are Workaholics Hurting Their Health?
Like other forms of addiction, workaholism can have significant health consequences, experts say, including significantly higher work-related stress and job burn-out rates, anger, depression, anxiety, and psychosomatic symptoms such as stomachaches and headaches.

Despite the symptoms, workaholics may be in deep denial about their addiction, like a severely emaciated teen with anorexia who looks in the mirror and sees herself as obese.

Montefiore's Rego tells WebMD that workaholics often need prodding from family and friends to seek help when "the seesaw of life is tilted too much toward work."

One highly effective treatment is cognitive behavioral therapy, a form of psychotherapy focused on identifying and modifying negative thoughts and thought patterns.

"The workaholic might have a set of beliefs about the value of work which are misguided," Rego says. "And if you can intervene cognitively -- not to correct or get rid of them, but just make them a little more rational -- you might see a change in the behavior and consequent stress reaction."

Robinson helps workaholics develop a self-care plan examining five aspects of their lives: work, relationships, play, self, and spiritual life."This helps them see in black and white where their lives are lacking," Robinson says.

He also helps patients understand that they don't have to go cold turkey or quit their jobs, but find a balance in their lives and identify what's most important to them, whether it's family, friendships, religion, or beliefs.

Workaholics Anonymous, a national support group modeled on Alcoholics Anonymous and other 12-step programs, publishes on its web site a list of questions that can help you determine whether you are a certified workaholic or just unusually diligent. Positive answers to three or more of the questions may signal the need for help. The group hosts meetings around the country where people with similar problems can share ideas anonymously and provide support and solutions that will help them balance their lives.

Courtesy: WebMD.com newsletter

Are You a Workaholic?

2010-05-11T11:47:00.000-07:00

You might as well face it -- you’re addicted to work. Could your workaholism be hurting you?
By Neil Osterweil
WebMD FeatureReviewed by Louise Chang, MD

On the seventh day, even God rested.

But for workaholics, the day of rest never comes. There is always one more email to read, one more phone call to take, one more critically important trip to the office that can't wait until Monday.

Weekends? Holidays? Family? As the uber-workaholic Ebenezer Scrooge put it, "Bah, humbug!"

"It used to be that I never went on vacation without my laptop and a couple of beepers," says George Giokas, who describes himself as a "reformed" workaholic. When he was starting his company, StaffWriters Plus, in the pre-BlackBerry mid-1990s, Giokas spent more than a few late nights and nearly every Saturday at the office, he tells WebMD.

As he confessed to the online edition of Business Week in 1999, "I've struggled with the weekend issue many times, trying to figure out why I absolutely have to work then. It must be ingrained in me to the point of being a kind of addiction -- like going to the health club every day. If I miss one day, I feel awful."

But Giokas has since learned that the problems that pop up when he's away from the office will still be there when he gets back, and that what happens in the office stays in the office.

"I'm not the sort of person to bring home problems," he says, "and I don't dwell on issues. I get a pretty good night's sleep."

Workaholism: A Life Out of Balance
Not every workaholic, however, is able to achieve the balance that Giokas has found.

Justin Blanton, who practices law in California's Silicon Valley, tells WebMD that he is a workaholic and that the problem has only gotten worse in the four years since he wrote the following on his blog:

"Whether I'm reading a Harry Potter book on my PDA while waiting in the deli line, checking email on my phone as soon as my date makes for the ladies room, or heading back to my computer each commercial break (no TiVo… yet) -- I'm always checking something."

"It's gotten worse in the sense that it hasn't let up at all, and I feel more compelled to be busy," Blanton says today.

In a culture that prizes work ethic, overachievement, and financial success -- where gazillionaires such as Warren Buffett and Bill Gates are household names, and Donald Trump has his own television show -- people who are addicted to working are seen by outsiders as smart, ambitious, and entrepreneurial.

"The system is almost built to reinforce workaholics," says Simon A. Rego, PsyD, associate director of psychology training at Montefiore Medical Center in New York City. "Those are the people who end up getting positive job evaluations, get opportunities for promotion, and see themselves getting bonuses or raises. It's almost like the system has a built-in model to give them free hits of what they're addicted to."

Even when out of the office, workaholics can satisfy their cravings with cell phones, PDAs, laptops, and WiFi, which ensure that work need never be out of reach.

But blaming technology for workaholism is like blaming the supermarket for food addiction or the corner liquor store for alcoholism, says Bryan E. Robinson, PhD, author of Chained to the Desk: A Guidebook for Workaholics, Their Partners and Children, and the Clinicians Who Treat Them.

Robinson and other clinicians who treat patients for work-associated stress say that working hard and having easy access to work does not automatically make someone a workaholic.

"It's important to understand the context," says Edmund Neuhaus, PhD, director of the Behavioral Health Partial Hospital Program at McLean Hospital in Belmont, Mass. "If you're working to the exclusion of your family, your marriage, other relationships, and your life is out of balance, or your physical health is out of balance -- when work takes an exclusive priority to everything else, that's the more extreme end of the spectrum where it becomes a problem," Neuhaus tells WebMD.

"The preoccupation with work is really at the core of what workaholism is," says Robinson, professor emeritus at the University of North Carolina, Charlotte, and a psychotherapist in private practice in Asheville, N.C. "I always say that the difference between someone who's a true workaholic and someone who's just a hard worker is that the workaholic is on the ski slopes dreaming about being back at work, and the hard worker is in the office dreaming about being on the ski slope."

(Continued in our next post)
Courtesy: WebMD.com newsletter

WHAT YOU THINK OF ME IS NOT MY CONCERN...

2010-05-08T13:22:00.000-07:00

...and more sayings, quotes and wise cracks about developing a Secure Attitude... ENJOY...Read and Reap! :o)

Your Friend,

Jacques

--------------

"As for worrying about what other people might think - forget it. They aren't concerned about you. They're too busy worrying about what you and other people think of them."
- Michael le Boeuf

"As a rule, men worry more about what they can't see than about what they can."
- Julius Caesar, Roman leader

"'Be at peace with your own soul, then heaven and earth will be at peace with you."
~ Saint Issac of Nineveh

"Make all you can, save all you can, give all you can."
-John Wesley 1703 - 1791

"So the greatest civilization is one where all citizens are equally armed and can only be persuaded, never forced."
-Maj. L. Caudill USMC (Ret.)

"No man or woman...can really be strong, gentle and good, without the world being better for it, without somebody being helped and comforted by the very existence of that goodness."
~ Phillips Brooks

“As we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.”
—Nelson Mandela

"Right is right, even if everyone is against it; and wrong is wrong, even if everyone is for it."
~William Penn

"Who looks outside, dreams; who looks inside inside, awakes."
-Carl Gustav Jung 1875 - 1961

"Failure is not falling down but refusing to get up."
-Chinese proverb

"If you don't like something, change it. If you can't change it, change your attitude. Don't complain."
- Maya Angelou, poet

"The most important thing is your self-respect. It doesn't matter what people think about you, but what you think about yourself."
- Robert H. Abplanalp

"When someone's character seems impossible to fathom, observe his friends."
-Japanese proverb

"As a rule, men worry more about what they can't see than about what they can."
- Julius Caesar, Roman leader

"When you dare to dream, dare to follow that dream; dare to suffer through the pain, sacrifice, self-doubts and friction from the world."
- Laura Schlessinger, talk-show host

"Forgiveness does not change the past, but it does enlarge the future."
- Paul Boese

"When you affirm big, believe big and pray big, putting faith into action, big things happen."
- Norman Vincent Peale, clergyman

"No matter how small and unimportant what we are doing may seem, if we do it well, it may soon become the step that will lead us to better things."
- Channing Pollock

"Only those who risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go."
- T.S. Eliot

"Sometimes we stare so long at a door that is closing that we see too late the one that is open."
- Alexander Graham Bell, inventor

"I believe in me more than anything in this world."
- Wilma Rudolph, Olympic runner

"Only when we are no longer afraid do we begin to live."
- Dorothy Thompson, journalist

So, Is There A Difference?

2010-05-07T08:08:00.000-07:00

A young black boy saw a balloon seller on a street corner.
His eyes sparkled as he gazed at all the different colored
balloons - red, blue, white, black, yellow...

The old man selling the balloons saw the boy hesitate, then
gather his courage and approach.

"Tell me mister," said the boy, "Do the black balloons fly
as high as the others?"

The old man felt a tear forming in his eye. He picked the boy
up, sat him on his knee and said, "Look."

He let go of all the balloons. They drifted up in a cluster,
higher and higher into the blue sky, until they were so high
they disappeared.

"Did you see that?" the balloon seller asked.

"Yes," said the boy.

"Did the black balloons fly as high as the others?"

"Yes, Mister, they did."

"You see my boy, the balloons are like people. The important
thing isn't their color, or what they look like on the outside.
No, the important thing is WHAT'S INSIDE.

And what's inside you makes all the difference in life."

Courtesy: Christian Godefroy (club-positif.com)

Socrates' Triple Test

2010-04-29T08:58:00.000-07:00

In ancient Greece, Socrates was reputed to hold knowledge in
high esteem. One day an acquaintance met the great philosopher
and said, "Do you know what I just heard about your friend?"

"Hold on a minute," Socrates replied. "Before telling me
anything, I'd like you to pass a little test. It's called the
Triple Filter Test."

"Triple filter?"

"That's right," Socrates continued. "Before you talk to me about
my friend, it might be a good idea to take a moment and filter what
you're going to say. That's why I call it the triple filter test.
The first filter is Truth. Have you made absolutely sure that what
you are about to tell me is true?"

"No," the man said, "Actually I just heard about it and..."

"All right," said Socrates. "So you don't really know if it's
true or not. Now let's try the second filter, the filter of
goodness. Is what you are about to tell me about my friend
something good?"

"No, on the contrary..."

"So," Socrates continued, "You want to tell me something bad
about him, but you're not certain it's true. You may still pass
the test though, because there's one filter left: the filter of
usefulness. Is what you want to tell me about my friend going to
be useful to me?"

"No, not really."

"Well," concluded Socrates, "If what you want to tell me is
neither true nor good nor even useful, why tell it to me at all?"

------------

"If all misfortunes were laid in one common heap whence everyone must take an equal portion, most people would be contented to take their own and depart."
- Socrates

Courtesy: Christian Godefroy

THE SECRET OF SUCCESS

2010-04-22T10:43:00.000-07:00

During a meeting of top salespeople from around the country,
the 'big cheese' himself, a man who'd consistently had the highest
sales figures for the last 20 years, and who earned more money
than even the owner of his company, got up to speak.

"I am now going to reveal the secret of my success," he said.
"I wrote it down on a piece of paper and I put it in this envelope.
But success must be earned. So I'm going to sell the envelope to
the highest bidder. You have my word that it contains what I said
- the Secret of my Success, not only as a salesman, but also
in life."

The bidding started slowly... $5, then $10, then $50, $100,
$130, $150, $200. Finally one of his colleagues bought the envelope
for $1000. The happy buyer took the envelope and kept it to
himself until he got home that night. Only then did he open it
to learn THE SECRET OF SUCCESS.

What do you think was written on the piece of paper?

Think about it. Make a mental note of whatever comes to mind
before reading the answer. Because I am going to tell you what it
was later in this e-mail. And in my opinion what was written on
that piece of paper is worth much more than $1000.

...

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...

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...

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...

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...

...

...

...

The winner of the auction tore open the envelope, unfolded
the piece of paper and read the following hand-written words:

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THE SUCCESS' SECRET IS... TO ASK.

================

"You do not succeed because you do not know what you want or you don't want it intensely enough."
- Frank Crane, Minister

Courtesy: Christian Godefroy (www.club-positif.com)

A few of Mark Twain's Words of Wisdom

2010-04-21T13:29:00.000-07:00

When you hear the name Mark Twain, you probably think of his classic American novels, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and the Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. But the man born with the name Samuel Langhorne Clemens was also a journalist, a travel writer, and a social critic with a biting sense of humor.

During this year that marks the 100th anniversary of his death, a few of his most famous quotes were collected, from the silly to the snarky, to help you remember a great American writer.

Mind Over Matter
"Age is an issue of mind over matter. If you don't mind, it doesn't matter."

Always Do Right
"Always do right. This will gratify some people and astonish the rest."

Climate Is What We Expect
"Climate is what we expect, weather is what we get."

Clothes Make the Man
"Clothes make the man. Naked people have little or no influence on society."

Mastery of Fear
"Courage is resistance to fear, mastery of fear, not absence of fear."

Drag Your Thoughts Away
"Drag your thoughts away from your troubles... by the ears, by the heels, or any other way you can manage it."

Go to Heaven for the Climate
"Go to Heaven for the climate, Hell for the company."

The Language of Kindness
"Kindness is the language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see."

Man Was Made
"Man was made at the end of the week's work when God was tired."

Necessity
"Necessity is the mother of taking chances."

Never Put Off 'Till Tomorrow
"Never put off till tomorrow what you can do the day after tomorrow."

Cheer Yourself Up
"The best way to cheer yourself up is to try to cheer somebody else up."

Reports of my Death
"The reports of my death have been greatly exaggerated."

Two Types of People
"There are basically two types of people. People who accomplish things, and people who claim to have accomplished things. The first group is less crowded."

There Are Lies
"There are lies, damned lies and statistics."

A Necessary Evil
"Work is a necessary evil to be avoided."

Laugh Lines
"Wrinkles should merely indicate where smiles have been."

Better to Keep Your Mouth Shut
"It is better to keep your mouth shut and appear stupid than to open it and remove all doubt."

One Effective Weapon
"The human race has one really effective weapon, and that is laughter."

Source and Courtesy: Beliefnet Newsletter

The Central Skill

2010-04-19T10:37:00.000-07:00

By: Brian Tracy

Time management is the central skill of success. Your ability to manage your time, to focus and channel your energies on your highest value tasks, will determine your rewards and your level of accomplishment in life more than any other factor.

Success Leaves Tracks
When I began searching for the secrets of success many years ago, I discovered an interesting principle: success leaves tracks. A wise man who had studied success for more than 50 years concluded that the greatest success principle of all was, "learn from the experts."
Learn From the Experts

If you want to be a big success in any area, find out what other successful people in that area are doing, and do the same things, until you get the same results. When I studied the interviews, speeches, biographies and autobiographies of successful men and women, I found that they all had one quality in common. They were all described as being "extremely well organized." They used their time very, very well. They were highly productive and they got vastly more done in the same period of time than the average person.

Fear Nothing. Be Both Effective and Efficient
High performing men and women were both effective and efficient. They did the right things, and they did them in the right way. They were constantly looking for ways to improve the quality and quantity of their output. As a result, their contribution to their organizations was vastly higher and therefore much better paid, than the contributions of the average person.

Action Exercises
Here are two things you can do immediately to put these ideas into action.

First, develop a study plan today to learn from the experts in your field. This can save you years of hard work.

Second, decide what is the most important thing to do, and then decide how to do it.
-----
JACQUES' 2 cents:

Third, DO IT WITHOUT FAIL---NO Excuses---NO procrastination---Experience the Joy of Achievement, of having completed what you start...Best of all: Successfully! :o)

Courtesy: Brian Tracy Newsletter

GET INSPIRED: "The greater the difficulty, the more glory in surmounting it"...and More...

2010-03-30T12:07:00.000-07:00

"The greater the difficulty, the more glory in surmounting it."
- Epicurus

"Forgiveness does not change the past, but it does enlarge the future."
- Paul Boese

"When you affirm big, believe big and pray big, putting faith into action, big things happen."
- Norman Vincent Peale, clergyman

"No matter how small and unimportant what we are doing may seem, if we do it well, it may soon become the step that will lead us to better things."
- Channing Pollock

"Only those who risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go."
- T.S. Eliot

"Sometimes we stare so long at a door that is closing that we see too late the one that is open."
- Alexander Graham Bell, inventor

"You promote yourself every time you take on a new responsibility."
- William Gore, executive

"Knowing thyself is the height of wisdom."
- Socrates

"I believe in me more than anything in this world."
- Wilma Rudolph, Olympic runner

"The superior man makes the difficulty to be overcome his first interest; success comes only later."
- William Jennings Bryan, attorney

"I don't know the key to success, but the key to failure is trying to please everybody."
- Bill Cosby, Comedian

"The value decade is upon us. If you can't sell a top-quality product at the world's lowest price, you're going to be out of the game."
- Jack Welch, Executive

"Within our dreams and aspirations we find our opportunities."
- Sugar Ray Leonard, boxer

"Resolve to perform what you ought; perform without fail what you resolve."
- Benjamin Franklin, statesman

"I never won anything without hard labor and the exercise of my best judgment."
- Theodore Roosevelt, 26th U.S. president

"The most important thing about goals is... having one."
- Geoffry F. Abert

"I always tried to turn every disaster into an opportunity."
- John D. Rockefeller, Industrialist

"All growth depends upon activity. There is no development physically or intellectually without effort, and effort means work."
- Calvin Coolidge, 30th U.S. president

"When I thought I couldn't go on, I forced myself to keep going. My success is based on persistence, not luck. "
- Estee Lauder, entrepreneur

"If you're not making mistakes, your'e not trying hard enough."
- Vince Lombardi, football coach

"What holds so many employees back is an unwillingness to pay the price, to make the effort to sacrifice their ease and comfort."
- Orison Marden, writer

"You just don't luck into things as much as you'd like to think you do. You build step by step, whether it's friendships or opportunities."
- Barbara Bush, first lady

"Our greatest enemies, the ones we must fight most often, are within."
- Thomas Paine, statesman

"Knowledge has to be improved, challenged and increased constantly, or it vanishes."
- Peter Drucker, management expert

Moderate Drinking Helps Heart

2010-03-24T10:32:00.000-07:00

One or two alcoholic drinks a day can help healthy people — and heart patients — live longer, new research confirms.

But the two new studies — one of nearly 250,000 U.S. adults, the other an analysis of eight previous studies of more than 16,000 people with heart disease and other problems related to clogged arteries — also show that drinkers who exceeded recommended limits for alcohol consumption saw no heart health benefits.

"No question, heavy or binge drinking can have adverse health outcomes," Dr. Simona Costanzo and colleagues from Catholic University in Campobasso, Italy, warn in their report.

However, they add, doctors should tell their patients with heart disease and other clogged artery-related problems, together known as cardiovascular disease, that moderate alcohol consumption — a drink a day for women, two for men — "should not be harmful to their health."

There is considerable evidence that moderate drinking helps reduce the risk of heart disease and death from heart-related causes, likely due to the fact that drinking alcohol is linked to higher levels of "good" cholesterol.

However, questions have been raised about how research on alcohol and health is done, Dr. Kenneth J. Mukamal of Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston and his team, the authors of the other study, write.

To address these issues, Mukamal and his colleagues looked at nine years' worth of data from the National Health Interview Survey from 1987 to 2000, including 245,207 people in all. Census bureau employees perform the survey in person every year, sampling a representative group of around 20,000 to 40,000 U.S. citizens.

The researchers correlated the information on alcohol consumption with data from the National Death Index up until 2002, identifying 10,670 deaths from cardiovascular causes among survey participants.

The risk of dying due to heart disease or stroke was about the same for people who had never drunk, meaning they had less than 12 drinks in their lifetime; people who drank infrequently, meaning they had more than 12 drinks in their life, but never drank more than 12 drinks in a given year; and ex-drinkers, who had more than 12 drinks in their lives and had consumed more than 12 drinks per year in the past, the researchers found.

But for light drinkers, defined as men or women who had three drinks a week or less, risk was 31 percent lower than for non-drinkers.

Among moderate drinkers (women who had three to seven drinks each week and men who had three to 14 drinks a week), risk was 38 percent lower than it was for abstainers.

Heavy drinkers, meaning women who had more than seven drinks a week and men who downed more than 14 drinks weekly, had the same cardiovascular death risk as non-drinkers.

Mukamal and his team also found that people who had two drinks on days when they consumed alcohol were "consistently" at lower risk than people who had three or more drinks per drinking day.

The study's strengths include its size, the fact that it included a broad sample of the U.S. population, and its ability to separate people who had never drunk or only rarely drank from those who had drunk previously but quit, Mukamal noted in an e-mail interview.

"Our results suggest that even in this well-designed study, the lower risk linked to moderate drinking remains," he told Reuters Health. "However, it also clearly confirms that the benefit is lost for excessive drinking."

People with cardiovascular disease get mixed messages on whether moderate drinking is OK. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration advises people with heart disease who drink alcohol to quit, but guidelines from the American Heart Association say they can drink in moderation, Costanzo and her colleagues point out in their report.

To better understand the risks and potential benefits of alcohol for cardiovascular patients, the researchers identified eight studies including 16,351 patients with cardiovascular disease. They analyzed the relationship between alcohol consumption and death due to cardiovascular disease among study participants, as well as the association between drinking and overall mortality.

The Italian team found a similar benefit pattern to the one Mukamal and his colleagues identified: Heart patients who drank were less likely to die than abstainers, and the maximum benefit was seen for those who consumed between 5 to 10 grams of alcohol a day. A standard drink — 12 ounces of beer or 5 ounces of wine, for example — contains about 14 grams of alcohol, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

But people who drank more than about 25 grams of alcohol daily had overall mortality and cardiovascular death risks exceeding those of abstainers, and the more they drank, the higher the risk.

"Cardiovascular patients should be informed that low-to-moderate alcohol consumption (1 drink/day for women or up to 2 drinks/day for men) should not be harmful to their health," Costanzo and her team say. However, patients who don't drink regularly shouldn't be encouraged to start, they add, and those who drink heavily should be encouraged to quit or at least sharply reduce their alcohol intake.

"The risks of moderate drinking differ by sex, age, personal history, and family history," Dr. Arthur L. Klatsky of Kaiser Permanente Medical Center in Oakland, California, notes in an editorial accompanying the studies. While the case for alcohol's heart benefits is "compelling," he adds, "as is often the case in medical practice, advice about lifestyle must be based on something less than certainty."

He concludes: "What is required is a synthesis of common sense and the best available facts."

Courtesy: NewsMax Health Newsletter

Make Your Life a Masterpiece

2010-03-21T10:00:00.000-07:00

March 21, 2010
By Brian Tracy

This is the age of achievement. Never have more people accomplished more things in more different fields than they are accomplishing today. More people are becoming successful at a faster rate than at any other time in history. There have never been more opportunities for you to turn your dreams into realities than there are right now.

The Seven Ingredients of Success
Your ideal life is a blending these seven ingredients in exactly the combination that makes you the happiest at any particular moment. By defining your success and happiness in terms of one or more of these seven ingredients, you create a clear target to aim it. You can then measure how well you're doing. You can identify the areas where you need to make changes if you want your life to improve.

Peace of Mind
The first of these seven ingredients of success, and easily the most important, is peace of mind. It is the highest human good. Without it, nothing else has much value. In corporations, peace of mind can be measured in terms of the amount of harmony that exists among coworkers. The wonderful truth about peace of mind is that it is your normal natural condition. It is the basic precondition for enjoying everything else.

Health and Energy
The second ingredient of success is health and energy. Just as peace of mind is your normal and natural mental state, health and energy is your normal and natural physical state. If you achieve all kinds of things in the material world, but lose your health then you will get little or no pleasure from your other accomplishments. So imagine yourself enjoying perfect health, and think of how you would be if you were your ideal image of physical fitness. Then strive for your mental goal of fitness and health.

Loving Relationships
The third ingredient of success is loving relationships. These are relationships with the people you love and care about, and the people who love and care about you. They are the real measure of how well you are doing as a human being. At almost any time, you can measure how well you are doing in your relationship by one simple test: laughter. This is true for companies as well. High-performance, high profit organizations are those in which people laugh and joke together. Examine your relationships, one by one, and develop a plan to make each of them enjoyable and satisfying.

Financial Freedom
The fourth ingredient of success is financial freedom. Achieving your financial freedom is one of the most important goals and responsibilities of your life. A feeling of freedom is essential to the achievement of any other important goal, and you cannot be free until and unless you have enough money so that you are no longer preoccupied with it. When you decide exactly what you want your financial picture to look like, you will be able to use this system to achieve your goals faster than you might have imagined possible.

Worthy Goals and Ideals
The fifth ingredient of success is worthy goals and ideals. To be truly happy, you need a clear sense of direction. You need to feel that your life stands for something, that you are somehow making a valuable contribution to your world.

Self Knowledge and Self-Awareness
The sixth ingredient of success is self-knowledge and self-awareness. To perform at your best you need to know who you are and why you think and feel the way you do. It is only when you understand and accept yourself that you can begin moving forward in other areas of your life.

Personal Fulfillment
The seventh ingredient of success is personal fulfillment. This is the feeling that you are becoming everything that you are capable of becoming. It is the sure knowledge that you are moving toward the realization of your full potential as a human being.

Action Exercise
Take the brush of your imagination and begin painting a masterpiece on the canvas of your life. It is for you to decide clearly what would make you the happiest in everything you are doing.

Courtesy: Brian Tracy Newsletter

In What Direction Are You Moving?

2010-03-06T09:51:00.000-08:00

(By popular request)---more potent Quotes to light our Way...Enjoy and Benefit!
Jacques

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'The great thing in the world is not so much where we stand, as in what direction we are moving."
- Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr., Supreme Court justice

"Be awful nice to 'em goin' up, because you're gonna meet 'em all comin' down."
-- Jimmy Durante, Singer/ Comedian

"The most common cause of executive failure is inability or unwillingness to change with the demands of a new position. The executive who keeps on doing what he has done successfully before is almost bound to fail."
- Peter Drucker, management expert

"Losing is a learning experience. It teaches you humility. It teaches you to work harder. It's also a powerful motivator."
- Yogi Berra

"The history of the world is full of men who rose to leadership by sheer force of self-confidence, bravery, and tenacity."
- Mahatma Gandhi, Statesman

"Careful planning helps us maintain a sense of perspective, purpose and ordered priorities."
- Stephen Covey, Author and Speaker

"The shifts of fortune test the reliability of friends."
- Marcus Tullius Cicero, statesman

"Success is 99 percent failure."
- Soichire Honda

"Character - the willingness to accept responsibility for one's own life - is the source from which self-respect springs."
- Joan Didion

"All great and honorable actions are accompanied with great difficulties."
- William Bradford

"Never let yesterday use up too much of today."
- Will Rogers, humorist

"In calm water every ship has a good captain."
- Grover Cleveland, 22nd and 24th U.S. President

"You have to believe in yourself, that's the secret. Even when I was in the orphanage, when I was roaming the street trying to find enough to eat, even then I thought of myself as the greatest actor in the world."
- Charlie Chaplin, Actor

"The greater danger for most of us lies not in setting our aim too high and falling short, but in setting our aim too low and achieving our mark."
- Michelangelo, Artist

"In business, words are words, explanations are explanations, promises are promises, but only performance is reality."
- Harold Geneen, industrialist

"What would be the use of immortality to a person who cannot use well a half an hour?"
- Ralph Waldo Emerson, poet

"Everything you reprove in another, you must carefully avoid in yourself."
-- Marcus Tullius Cicero, statesman

"To succeed in life in today's world, you must have the will and tenacity to finish the job."
- Chin-Ning Chu

"A smooth sea never made a skillful mariner."
- English proverb

"Nurture your mind with great thoughts. To believe in the heroic makes heroes."
- Benjamin Disraeli, British prime minister

Relax and Recharge Completely

2010-02-20T16:21:00.000-08:00

By: Brian Tracy

Regular relaxation is essential for a long life and personal effectiveness. Here are some techniques for relaxing physically that are used by the most successful and highest paid people in America.

Take Time Off Every Week
First of all, work only five or six days per week, and rest completely on the seventh day. Every single study in this area shows that you will be far more productive in the five or six days that you work if you take one or two days off completely than you ever would be if you worked straight through for seven days.

Get Your Mind Busy Elsewhere
During this time off, do not catch up on reports, organize your desk, prepare proposals, or do anything else that requires mental effort. Simply let your mind relax completely, and get busy doing things with your family and friends. Maybe work around the house, go for a walk, engage in physical exercise, watch television, go to a movie, or play with your children. Whatever you do, discipline yourself to shut your mental gears off completely for at least one 24-hour period every seven days.

Get Away on Mini-Vacations
Second, take one three-day vacation every three months, and during that time, refrain from doing any work. Do not attempt to catch up on even a few small things. If you do, you keep your mental gears in motion, and you end up neither resting nor properly doing work of any quality.

Take Big Chunks of Down Time
Third, take at least two full weeks off each year during which you do nothing that is work-related. You can either work or relax; you cannot do both. If you attempt to do a little work while you are on vacation, you never give your mental and emotional batteries a chance to recharge. You'll come back from your vacation just as tired as you were when you left.

Give Yourself a Break Today
If you are involved in a difficult relationship, or situation at work that is emotionally draining, discipline yourself to take a complete break from it at least one day per week. Put the concern out of your mind. Refuse to think about it. Don't continually discuss it, make telephone calls about it or mull it over in your mind. You cannot perform at your best mentally if you are emotionally preoccupied with a person or situation. You have to give yourself a break.

Go For a Walk in Nature
Since a change is as good as a rest, going for a nice long walk is a wonderful way to relax emotionally and mentally. As you put your physical body into motion, your thoughts and feelings seem to relax all by themselves.

Eat Lighter Foods
Also, remember that the process of digestion consumes an enormous amount of physical energy. Therefore, if you eat lighter foods, you will feel better and more refreshed afterward. If you eat more fruits, vegetables, and whole-grain products, your digestive system will require far less energy to process them.

Be Good to Yourself
Since your diet has such an impact on your level of physical energy, and through it your levels of mental and emotional energy, the more fastidious you are about what you put into your mouth, the better you will feel and the more productive you will be. We know now that foods high in fat, sugar, or salt are not good for your body. The lighter the foods you eat, the more energy you have.

Action Exercises
Here are three things you can do immediately to put these ideas into action:

First, plan your weeks in advance and build in at least one day when you will relax from work completely. Discipline yourself to keep this date.

Second, reserve, book and pay for your three day vacations several months in advance. Once you've paid the money, you are much more likely to go rather than put it off.

Third, decide that you will not work at all during your vacations. When you work, work. And when you rest, rest 100% of the time. This is very important.

Courtesy: Brian Tracy newsletter

Set Higher Standards For YourSelf in 2010

2010-02-08T16:54:00.000-08:00

"Set higher standards for you own performance than anyone around you, and it won't matter whether you have a tough boss or an easy one. It won't matter whether the competition is pushing you hard, because you'll be competing with yourself."
- Rick Pitino

"Every successful man I have heard of has done the best he could with conditions as he found them, and not waited until the next year for better."
- Edgar Howe

"Make the workmanship surpass the materials."
- Ovid, Poet

Succeeding is not really a life experience that does much good. Failing is a much more sobering and enlightening experience."
- Michael Eisner, executive

"Character may be manifested in the great moments, but it is made in the small ones."
- Phillips Brooks

"As long as a person doesn't admit he's defeated, he is not defeated-he's just a little behind, and isn't through fighting."
- Darrell Royal, football coach

"You must do the things today that others will not do so that you can have the things tomorrow that others will not have."
- Anonymous

"There's been nothing but discipline, discipline, discipline all my life."
- Celine Dion, singer

"The most critical thing I think business leaders and future business leaders need to understand is to stay focused on the things that you can control and influence, and then execute, execute, execute."
- John Chambers, Cisco CEO

"Imagination grows by exercise and, contrary to common belief, is more powerful in the mature than in the young."
- Paul McCartney, musician

"As a coach, your high standards of performance, attention to detail and-above all-how hard you work set the stage for how your players perform."
- Don Shula, Football Coach

"A man learns to skate by staggering about making a fool of himself; indeed, he progresses in all things by making a fool of himself."
- George Bernard Shaw, Writer and Critic
(JACQUES' NOTE: What with the 2010 Winter Olympics going on in B.C., Canada---the above quote is quite timely---) :o)

"Real integrity is doing the right thing, knowing that nobody's going to know whether you did it or not."
- Oprah Winfrey, talk-show host

"The moment you commit and quit holding back, all sorts of unforeseen incidents, meetings and material assistance, will rise up to help you. The simple act of commitment is a powerful magnet for help."
- Napoleon Hill, Pioneer of Personal Achievement Philosophy

Eliminate Clutter from Your Life (Concl.)

2010-01-29T09:09:00.000-08:00

De-Clutter Your Desk and Work Space
Whether you work from a home office or a tiny cubicle, there’s no way you can be totally productive in a space that doesn’t function for you. “I have never actually met anybody who is extremely successful who works in absolute chaos,” says Ellis.

Sure, everyone has a junk drawer or a messy desk on occasion, but if your clutter is taking over, it’s time to scale back.

When Nwogugu tackled her home office with a very organized friend, they compiled three separate stashes: what to keep, what to shred (sensitive information), and what to just throw away.

Follow a similar routine working from desk to files to shelves. Clear everything off and sort into appropriate stacks. Use file folders, three-ring notebooks, or magazine sorters to hold important papers. And immediately pitch what you don't need. Get creative with containers. Coffee mugs and decorative boxes hold everything from paper clips and tacks to business cards and pens.

Look toward vertical wall space as a new storage solution. “We tend to make piles,” says Ellis. But piles are hard to address and papers within them become hidden. You can’t pay a bill or return an important message if it’s hidden at the bottom of a stack on your desk.

Instead, option wall space. Set bills in a hanging bin, keys on a hook, magazines in wall hangers. Now you can see and reach items easily.

Clean Out Clothing Skeletons in Your Cluttered Closet
If closets are your nemesis and yours could rival Vogue’s accessory closet, you’ll need to spend some time getting down and dirty. The first step to cleaning a closet is to take everything out. Then you can see what you have. Often you’ll need to purchase storage boxes or organizing bins, shoe holders, or shelving. Don’t forget plastic garbage bags for trash and donations. Have a few bins or boxes for items that don’t really belong in the closet but will be moved elsewhere. Be realistic. Do you really need or want each item?

Ellis’ mantra is, “If you haven’t seen it, needed it, or worn it in one year, get rid of it.”

Nwogugu’s friend had three questions when they came to every piece of clothing: Does it fit? Have you worn it in the last 12 months? Is there some sentimental value strong enough to keep it? If the answers are no, toss it in one of three options -- in a bag for charity, to sell at a garage sale or on eBay, or for the trash heap.

Nwogugu went through the same procedure for her husband’s clothes and shoes as well as her children’s. “By the time we were done with clothing, we had over 15 hefty trash bags of stuff for Salvation Army.”

Organization Tips for Your Clutter-Free Action Plan
Here are more steps to help you clear clutter from your life:

Organize in bite-size bits:If the thought of getting organized completely overwhelms you, set a timer for just 15 minutes a day. Knowing you won't spend hours working on an organizational project might make working in small nuggets easier to manage.

Mainstream email: Instead of checking email with each ding of the inbox, read your emails on a regular basis only twice a day. When you open an email, answer it immediately and don't save it for later.

Handle snail mail only once: Create a special time and place to read your snail mail regularly. During the appointed time, open the mail and immediately take action on it. File it with bills, shred it, toss it in the trash, etc. Commit to touching each piece of mail immediately and only once.

Avoid horizontal piles: When possible, avoid putting paper in horizontal stacks in your home or office. Save time and frustration by categorizing and finding a home for paper as soon as it comes through the door.

Purge regularly: This applies to every room in the house but don’t forget the kitchen and bathroom. Check expiration dates regularly on medicines, vitamins, supplements, and cosmetics. Stick to the “when in doubt, throw it out” rule. If you can’t remember when you purchased it, let it go.

The first day after Nwogugu de-cluttered she walked around her apartment, remembering why she loved it. She no longer felt the need to escape. She looked forward to writing. "All around, I feel much better,” she says.

Courtesy: WebMD.com Newsletter

Eliminate clutter from Your Life

2010-01-27T12:57:00.000-08:00

Organize and simplify your life for better emotional health.
By Jennifer Nelson, WebMD FeatureReviewed by Kathleen M. Zelman, MPH, RD, LD

Simi Nwogugu of Brooklyn, New York, felt that her life was filled with clutter. Her drawers were filled with old notes and books from business school and years of paid bills. Toys that her sons had outgrown still littered the house. In fact, she felt so mentally cluttered that she couldn’t do the one thing she wanted: write.

To get out from under the clutter, the founder of HOD Consulting rented an expensive New York City office. Problem was, the clutter followed her. Finally, she stopped trying to escape clutter and began to organize it.

“I know where everything is and it is so much more pleasing to work from home. Most of all, I am writing again,” she says. Even her aching back and shoulders feel better.

When you can’t find things, you can feel frustrated, angry, and unproductive, says Kelli Ellis, an Orange County, Calif., design psychologist who’s appeared on TLC’s Clean Sweep television show. “You see that person who has papers flying out of files, or you see their handbag, and you say, 'I know exactly what your car looks like or what your home office looks like.'” Clutter spills over into every aspect of life.

Clutter, both mental and physical, can do a number on our productivity and eat away at our time. Think of all the minutes we waste looking for items that aren’t where they should be. Plus the sheer stress of a cluttered life means we may miss deadlines, work longer hours, and lose important stuff. Clutter equals stress. Where to start simplifying?

The Mind Is a Terrible Thing to Clutter
Between a zillion to-dos, work and family life, errant worries, and obligations, it’s no wonder you have a cluttered mind. Start by learning to let go.

“To be truly happy, sometimes you must eliminate unhealthy people and situations from your life,” says Alex Lluch, author of Secrets to Love Life and Be Happy. For instance, if you feel stuck in a dead-end job, resolve to make a change.

Or if there’s someone in your life who constantly brings you down with a negative attitude, find a way to disentangle yourself. “It may take some courage to eliminate this stuff from your life, but you will feel much more fulfilled once you are able to concentrate on the people and things that do make you happy.”

Lluch advocates clean sweeping your thoughts with a hot bath, a meditation practice, a long walk, a phone call to a friend -- whatever works for you. Spend at least 15 minutes a day in a pursuit that allows you to decompress, clear your mind, and rid your thoughts of the mental chitchat that clouds your creativity, passion, and productivity.

(To be continued)

Mac's top 20 Quotes ...

2010-01-23T10:56:00.000-08:00

"Life is not about waiting for the storms to pass...it's about learning to dance in the rain".
~Vivian Greene

"Sometimes our candle goes out, but is blown into flame by an encounter with another human being".
~Albert Schweitzer

"When we have done our best, we should wait the result in peace.
~J. Lubbock".

"Failure is simply the opportunity to begin again more intelligently".
~Henry Ford

"Inch by inch, life's a cinch. Yard by yard, life is hard".
~Unknown

"To love what you do and feel that it matters – how could anything be more fun"?~Katharine Graham

"Every thought is a seed. If you plant crab apples, don't count on harvesting golden delicious".
~Bill Meyer

"You can have anything you want in life if you just help enough other people get what they want".
~Zig Ziglar

"Most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be".
~Abraham Lincoln

"A man wrapped up in himself makes a very small bundle".
~Benjamin Franklin

"We make a living by what we get. We make a life by what we give".
~Winston Churchill

"What lies behind us, and what lies before us, are tiny matters compared to what lies within us".
~Ralph Waldo Emerson

"We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act but a habit".
~Aristotle

"You'll always miss 100% of the shots you don't take".
~Wayne Gretsky

"Progress always involves risks. You can't steal second base and keep your foot on first".
~Frederick B. Wilcox

"A journey of a thousand miles begins within a single step".
~Chinese Proverb

"The key is not to prioritize what's on the schedule, but to schedule your priorities".
~Stephen Covey

"All things are difficult before they are easy".
~John Norley

"Even if you're on the right track, you'll get run over if you just sit there".
~Will Rogers

"Three grand essentials to happiness in this life are something to do, something to love, and something to hope for..."
-Joseph Addison

"By ignoring the fact, you condone the act."
-Jacques Girard

Cortesy: Mac Anderson, Founder: www.simpletruths.com

Potent Quotes On Demand

2010-01-09T13:22:00.001-08:00

HAPPY 2010 and New Decade, All! :o)

To get off a new series of memorable and pragmatic quotes seems to be so appropriate that, without further adieu, I shall be sharing the following with you to start You off with a Powerful Bang! All my Best to You and Yours!

Jacques
-----

"It is dangerous to go into eternity with possibilities that oneself has prevented from becoming realities. A possibility is a hint from God. One must follow it. "
- Soren Kierkegaard, Philosopher

"There is no such thing as a minor lapse of integrity."
- Tom Peters, Author

"Character is the ability to carry out a good resolution long after the excitement of the moment has passed."
- Cavett Robert

"Deliberation is the work of many men. Action, of one alone."
- Charles de Gaulle, statesman

"If you want to get the best out of a person you must look for the best that is in him."
- Bernard Haldane

"We may encounter many defeats, but we must not be defeated."
- Maya Angelou, poet

"Self-esteem is like a difficult-to-cultivate flower. It requires frequent nurturing that occurs when you keep your word and follow through on your promises."
- Derrick Bell

"Whatever you can do or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power and magic in it."
- Johann von Goethe

"For the strength of the Pack is the Wolf, and the strength of the Wolf is the Pack."
- Rudyard Kipling

"The first one gets the oyster, the second gets the shell."
- Andrew Carnegie, industrialist

"Risk! Risk anything! Care no more for the opinions of others, for those voices. Do the hardest thing on earth for you. Act for yourself. Face the truth."
- Katherine Mansfield, author

"After investigating a problem in all directions, ideas come unexpectedly, without effort, like an inspiration."
- H.L. von Helmholtz

"We cannot do everything at once, but we can do something at once."
- Calvin Coolidge, 30th U.S. President

"Satisfaction lies in the effort, not in the attainment. Full effort is full victory."
- Mahatma Gandhi, Statesman

"To me success can only be achieved through repeated failure and introspection. In fact, success represents 1% of your work that results from the 99% that is called failure."
- Soichiro Honda, car executive

"If you play to win, as I do, the game never ends."
- Stan Mikita, hockey player

"Business is like a wheelbarrow - it stands still until someone pushes it."
- Unknown

"If you would lift me up you must be on higher ground."
- Ralph Waldo Emerson, Poet

The Elephant in the Room...

2009-12-22T07:45:00.000-08:00

Dear Jacques,

"The brick walls are not there to keep us out; the brick walls are there to give us a chance to show how badly we want something."
~Randy Pausch

Randy Pausch was 47 years old when he died from pancreatic cancer. He was, as the Independent of London put it, "the dying man who taught America how to live". His book, The Last Lecture, is an international best-seller and it offers many wonderful lessons about life.

Randy Pausch's "last lecture" was delivered in September 2007, at Carnegie Mellon University, where he taught computer science. The lecture began with him standing before a screen beaming down chilling CT images of tumors in his liver, under the title...The Elephant in the Room. He then said to a stunned audience, "I have about 6 months to live." He said, "I'm really in good shape, probably better shape than most of you," ... dropping to the floor to do push-ups.

He went on to say, "I'm dying and I'm having fun, and I'm going to keep having fun every day I have left." He talked about his childhood dreams and what they had taught him about life. He said, "If you live your life the right way, the karma will take care of itself...your dreams will come to you."

Randy Pausch really was a dying man who has taught America how to live.
He died on July 25, 2008, but his wisdom, his passion, and his attitude are lasting sources of inspiration for all of us.

Courtesy: Mac Anderson, Founder of "Simple Truths" Newsletter

Succcess Nuggets and Gems of Wisdom

2009-12-20T07:48:00.000-08:00

HAPPY HOLIDAYS to You and Yours!

To help reinforce the many positive writings to which we all have access, oftentimes awkward to read in view of the busy schedules to which we all seem to be subjected, I decided to offer you the following bite-size, easy and quick to chew, digest and absorb... ENJOY!

Your Friend,

Jacques

-----

"Before you begin a thing, remind yourself that difficulties and delays quite impossible to foresee are ahead... You can only see one thing clearly, and that is your goal. Form a mental vision of that and cling to it through thick and thin."
- Kathleen Norris, Writer

"We either make ourselves miserable or we make ourselves strong. The amount of work is the same."
- Carlos Castaneda, author

"For every disadvantage there is a corresponding advantage."
- Clement Stone, executive

"Each man (is) the architect of his own fortune."
- Appius Caecus, builder

"Each day we make deposits in the memory banks of our children."
- Charles Swindoll

"To achieve great things you have first to believe it."
-Arsene Wenger

"Rowing harder doesn't help if the boat is headed in the wrong direction."
- Kenichi Ohmae, business coach

"Experience is valuable only if it's imbued with meaning from which one can draw salient conclusions. Otherwise, experience becomes imprisoning."
- Barry McCaffrey, general

"Every man, however wise, needs the advice of some sagacious friend in the affairs of life."
- Plautus, Playwright

"Lost time is never found again."
- Benjamin Franklin, inventor

"Until you make peace with who you are you will never be content with what you have."
- Doris Mortman

"You have set yourself a difficult task, but you will succeed if you persevere."
- Helen Adams Keller, American Author and Lecturer

"The starting point of all achievement is desire. Keep this constantly in mind. Weak desires bring weak results, just as a small fire makes a small amount of heat."
- Napoleon Hill, author

"Managing is getting paid for home runs someone else hits."
- Casey Stengel, baseball manager

"The important thing is to learn a lesson every time you lose."
- John McEnroe, tennis champion

"Life without risk is not worth living."
- Chuck Lindbergh, aviator

"I have never known a really successful man who deep in his heart did not understand the grind, the discipline it takes to win."
- Vince Lombardi, American Football Coach

"No great performance ever came from holding back."
- Don Greene, performance coach

PROSPERITY AFFIRMATIONS

2009-12-18T12:24:00.000-08:00

"Rich people focus on opportunities.
Poor people can’t see past obstacles"
-Author Unknown

"FIRST YOU HAVE A BELIEF, THEN YOU GATHER PROOF"

All of us have questions, ideas and beliefs that we have gathered over time from what we've read, seen, or heard about family, friends, teachers and the media.

Much of what is passed along about money is negative, therefore, we need to reprogram our minds with positive beliefs and images about money and what it truly represents in every possible way.

Here are some positive statements to repeat out loud or write down each and every day - first thing in the morning and at night before you go to sleep. Other good times to repeat them are when waiting in line, driving, exercising, etc. (If saying the following affirmations out loud while in the presence of other people would embarrass you, you may mentalize them).

DO THIS CONSISTENTLY FOR 21 DAYS AND YOU WILL HAVE ESTABLISHED A NEW PROSPERITY CONSCIOUSNESS HABIT!

1. People love to give me money!

2. I am rich and wonderful!

3. I am now earning a great big income doing what satisfies me.

4. Something wonderful is happening to me today - I can feel it!

5. All my bills and dues are paid up in full and I still have all this money!

6. My affirmations work for me, whether I believe they will or not.

7. A lot more money is coming into my life! I deserve it and will use it for my own good and that of others.

8. All my clients praise me and pay me well!

9. I am a virtual money magnet!

10.Money comes to me easily and effortlessly, whether I am awake or asleep.

11.I am now highly pleasing to myself in other people's presence.

12.I walk, talk, look, act, think as if I am - and I am rich!

13.I am a winner - I win often and I win big!

14.Money is rushing to me from expected and unexpected places.

15.I rejoice that my abundance inspires others to be affluent as well!

Affirmations (c) by Chellie Campbell, used with permission.
Courtesy: Kathryn "Ryn" Deitz, Ph.D. "The Financial Chiropractor"(TM) - "Aligning your money life with the rest of your life so your money supports you instead of streses you" - Rocky Mountain Wealthy Spirit.

21 Quotes on Aging Well

2009-12-10T12:32:00.000-08:00

What’s the secret to aging gracefully? We can’t stop the clock, but we can keep our spirits young with humor, gratitude, and creativity.
The following quotes from people like Sophia Loren, Eleanor Roosevelt, and Mark Twain will help you see the upside of the golden years. They prove that love, humor, and wisdom are ageless.

------------

"There is a fountain of youth: it is your mind, your talents, the creativity you bring to your life and the lives of people you love. When you learn to tap this source, you will truly have defeated age."
–Sophia Loren
-------------

"Beautiful young people are accidents of nature, but beautiful old people are works of art."
--Eleanor Roosevelt

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"Age is an issue of mind over matter. If you don't mind, it doesn't matter."
-- Mark Twain

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"The great secret that all old people share is that you really haven't changed in 70 or 80 years. Your body changes, but you don't change at all."
-- Doris Lessing

------------
"There's always a lot to be thankful for if you take time to look for it. For example, I am sitting here thinking how nice it is that wrinkles don't hurt."
-- Author Unknown

------------
"Old age is no place for sissies."
-- Bette Davis

------------
"Aging is not lost youth but a new stage of opportunity and strength."
--Betty Friedan

------------
"To keep the heart unwrinkled, to be hopeful, kindly, cheerful, reverent--that is to triumph over old age."
-- Thomas Bailey Aldrich

------------

"We are not victims of aging, sickness, and death. These are part of scenery, not the seer, who is immune to any form of change. This seer is the spirit, the expression of eternal being."
--Deepak Chopra

-------------

"The best part about being my age is in knowing how my life worked out."
-- Scott Adams

--------------

"Those who love deeply never grow old; they may die of old age, but they die young."
--Ben Franklin

---------------
"If I'd known I was going to live this long, I'd have taken better care of myself."
--Eubie Blake, age 100

---------------
"Grow old along with me! The best is yet to be, The last of life, for which the first was made: Our times are in his hands Who sayeth 'a whole I planned, Youth shows but half; Trust God; see all nor be afraid.'
--Robert Browning

---------------
"Aging is an inevitable process. I surely wouldn't want to grow younger. The older you become, the more you know; your bank account of knowledge is much richer."
--William Holden

--------------
"I advise you to go on living solely to enrage those who are paying your annuities. It is the only pleasure I have left."
--Voltaire

--------------
"How old would you be if you didn't know how old you are?"
--Satchel Paige

--------------
"Nothing is inherently and invincibly young except spirit. And spirit can enter a human being perhaps better in the quiet of old age and dwell there more undisturbed than in the turmoil of adventure."
--George Santayana

--------------
"We don't stop playing because we grow old. We grow old because we stop playing."
--George Bernard Shaw

-------------
"It's never too late to have a fling
For autumn is just as nice as spring
And it's never too late to fall in love."
--Sandy Wilson
--------------
"For the unlearned, old age is winter; for the learned, it is the season of the harvest."
--Hasidic saying

---------------

"Growing old is mandatory; growing up is optional."
--Chili Davis

---------------

Love to you, my youthful-thinking ones!

Jacques

Honoring the wisdom of the late Jim Rohn...

2009-12-08T11:49:00.000-08:00

...who passed away on December 5 last (R.I.P.).

A mutual friend emailed me one of his seminars on video and I wish to share with you a few of its most memorable passages...

SUCCESS: ...is not something you pursue. It is something that you attract by the person you become, or by becoming an attractive person.

PROFITS are better than wages. The latter make you a living. Profits make you a fortune.

Your income is directly related to your personal philosophy, not the economy.

Don't search the exotic until you master the basic.

When things cost too much for your budget and you can't afford them, remember that life places the most valuable things on the top shelf. With every book you read, and stand upon, you are that much closer to reaching the top.

THANK YOU for gems such as the above, Jim! WE SHALL REMEMBER THEM AND YOU!

Jacques

Top 10 Stupid Things Sales People Do...(And How To Avoid Doing Them!)

2009-12-01T12:25:00.000-08:00

In real estate, it's location, location, location. In business, it's differentiate, differentiate, differentiate."
- Robert Goizueta, executive

I have been in some form of sales since I was 10 years old working in my mom's craft store selling yarn and bobbins to her quilting and knitting friends. And, since that time, I have always tried to establish myself as a leader in any sales position that I have held...and I also have noticed that there are some really good sales people out there.

The kicker is...a good portion of those people aren't good at sales. What they are good at is avoiding the things that cause sales people to falter.

Now, before we get into this...let's establish a quick and simple truth: Knowing what NOT to do is just as important when talking about sales as knowing what TO do. Make sense?

Knowing that, here is a quick "Top 10" of mistakes I have seen sales people make that are guaranteed to derail the very efforts that are being put forth by a salesperson.

1. They refuse to learn. -- I have seen more than one 'newb' burst onto the scene and run huge numbers in a very short period of time...and then just disappear into obscurity. Why is that? It is because they refused to continue to learn. It is vital to be a student of your game. Make sure you are continually learning about your product/service/industry. Read the new books that come out. Go to the seminars that are being held about your industry. Listen to audio, watch video, read blogs (like mine! hint hint) about sales and how to be better at what you do for a living. Reinvigorate yourself.

Did you know that Tiger Woods spends $1 million a year for a swing coach? He is constantly looking to be better at what he does...

2. They stay generalized. -- "Narrowcasting" is the specialization into a specific segment or part of the market. Staying generalized eliminates the ability to be considered an expert in any one specific area. Think about that for a second....Medical specialists get paid more than medical generalists. A specialist has narrowed his/her field of vision to ensure success in mastering that specific part of the market or product. They become known as specialists and people recognize that and come to them when they need that expertise.

3. They don't position themselves properly. -- The way people position themselves is the primary determining factor in how they are seen by prospects and clients. People pay attention to people they THINK are in a position of importance. Blogging, engagement and interaction with prospects and others via social media are all ways to help position yourself accordingly. The best way to sell is not to position yourself as a salesperson...but to position yourself as an expert in your field. And, one of the best ways to do that is to offer up information and assistance to those that are in need. (A Realtor might do a class on being a first time home buyer, for example. A guy that sells referrals to Realtors might write a bunch of blogs that help the agents do their jobs better...) The goal of these sessions isn't to sell anything, but to establish yourself as an expert in the field so that, as the need arises, those seeking your service automatically think of asking you.

4. They don't prospect. -- This is HUGE! The largest cause of failure in a sales position is having a lack of potential customers. You should always have multiple streams of inbound leads to work. You should never be out of people to pitch to even if that means you spend more money to get them. Take advantage of the technology that exists and use it to your advantage. Don't have anyone to pitch? Start thinking about a new career.

5. They pitch the wrong people. -- You can't get rich selling to the wrong people. You had better be in front of people that can make a decision, have a need for your services, and are willing to listen to you. If anyone you are pitching your services to doesn't meet that criteria, you are spinning your wheels. Remember, not everyone is a good prospect. Spend the time required to find good prospects and work with them rather than trying to peddle your wares to those "suspects" that don't need them, can't decide if the need is there, or are not willing to listen to you.

6. They listen to their peers. -- Listening to your peers usually means you get an earful of negative input. "This isn't the way that you sell houses." "Blogging doesn't bring any clients." "Social media is a huge waste of time." Yeah...You've heard that before, right? And, it goes on and on and on and on...ad infinitum.

Instead, listen to positive, upbeat stuff that makes you feel good and allows you to think clearly. For me, that's music. Some use motivational speech, etc. And remember...most of your peers suck at their job.

7. They don't understand economics. -- Would you sell something you bought for $1.50 for $1?? Painfully obvious, right? Yet, that is what a good portion of sales people do because they don't understand the 'back-end' costs that should be added into the equation. For example, if you spend $750 marketing a home, $300 in gas showing a home, $200 in food wining and dining clients, and then only make $1000 on the sale of a home...what have you gained?? Here is a quick lesson in Economics 101 -- If you are losing money on your deals, you can NEVER make that up regardless of how many deals you complete.

8. They spend money before they make it. -- I had a sales manager who said to me, "Clint...a sale is never done until you are eating the steak that you paid for with the money you got when your commission check cleared the bank." Why think this way??? Look at all the things that can happen that can derail a sale in today's market...if you are out buying a new TV on credit because you have a closing happening on Tuesday, you are going to lose your butt in this business. Just because you have a signed contract doesn't mean you are going to get paid anytime soon.

9. They fail to ask questions. -- More importantly, they fail to ask the RIGHT questions. And, when they do ask them, they fail to actually listen to the answers given. A prospect will always tell you what it is that they need to hear come out of your mouth. Asking the right questions based on their feedback will, more often than not, lead to a sale for you. You have two ears and only one mouth. Use them accordingly.

10. They are hindered digitally. -- "Hindered", in this instance, means they are either digitally compulsive or digitally impaired. Both are a hindrance. You can be so addicted to the technology available (Internet, sales force automation, blackberries, iphones, etc.) that they are completely paralyzed when it is not available. Or, the mere thought of being surrounded by that much technology has them so scared, they refuse to adapt to any of it. Both are career-killing impairments. In truth, it is those that have the ability to take on the technology without losing the human aspect of their jobs that will be the ultimate winners. Find your happy medium.

Sales people are a curious breed. "Experts" rarely have the open-mindedness required to accept criticism and adapt to make themselves more successful. Yet, it is exactly that which will set you up for a stellar sales career. Pay attention to the pitfalls that you can fall into that will slow your momentum and focus on those things that will increase it. Do this, and you will be just fine regardless of the market.

Courtesy: Clint Miller, Real Estate facilitator

The Truth About Frogs

2009-11-30T08:13:00.000-08:00

By Brian Tracy

Mark Twain once said that if the first thing you do each morning is to eat a live frog, you can go through the day with the satisfaction of knowing that that is probably the worse things that is going to happen to you all day long. Your "frog" is your biggest, most important task, the one you are most likely to procrastinate on if you don't do something about it.

Conquer the Hardest Task First
If you have to eat two frogs, eat the ugliest one first. This is another way of saying that if you have two important tasks before you, start with the biggest, hardest, and most important task first. Discipline yourself to begin immediately and then to persist until the task is complete before you go on to something else.

Don't Procrastinate
If you have to eat a live frog at all, it doesn't pay to sit and look at it for very long. The key to reaching high levels of performance and productivity is to develop the lifelong habit of tackling your major task first thing each morning. You must develop the routine of “eating your frog” before you do anything else and without taking too much time to think about it.

"Eat That Frog!"
Now available as an APP on iTunes!
Get the App here.

21 Great Ways to Stop Procrastinating and Get More Done in Less Time. This International Best Seller has changed the lives of hundreds of thousands of people world-wide... Now in its 2nd Edition, I've added even more time saving tips to help you get more done faster. Buy the book here >>(see: Brian Tracy.com website)

Take Action Immediately
Successful, effective people are those who launch directly into their major tasks and then discipline themselves to work steadily and single-mindedly until those tasks are complete. “Failure to execute” is one of the biggest problems in organizations today. Many people confuse activity with accomplishment. They talk continually, hold endless meetings, and make wonderful plans, but in the final analysis, no one does the job and gets the results required.

Develop a Positive Addiction
You can actually develop a “positive addiction” to endorphins and to the feeling of enhanced clarity, confidence, and competence that they trigger. When you develop this addiction, you will, at an unconscious level, begin to organize your life in such a way that you are continually starting and completing ever more important tasks and projects. You will actually become addicted, in a very positive sense, to success and contribution.

No Shortcuts
Practice is the key to mastering any skill. Fortunately, your mind is like a muscle. It grows stronger and more capable with use. With practice, you can learn any behavior or develop any habit that you consider either desirable or necessary.

Action Exercise
What is your “frog?” What is the one task that you despise doing each day? Once you have chosen your “frog,” make it a habit to wake up every morning and do that task first.

Courtesy: Brian Tracy newsletter

Thanksgiving and other excellent quotes

2009-11-26T14:23:00.000-08:00

"If you want to turn your life around, try thankfulness. It will change your life mightily."
-Gerald Good

"As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them."
-John Fitzgerald Kennedy

"Thanksgiving dinners take eighteen hours to prepare. They are consumed in twelve minutes. Half-times take twelve minutes. This is not coincidence."
-Erma Bombeck

"The unthankful heart... discovers no mercies; but let the thankful heart sweep through the day and, as the magnet finds the iron, so it will find, in every hour, some heavenly blessings!"
-Henry Ward Beecher

"Thanksgiving, after all, is a word of action."
- W.J. Cameron

"If the only prayer you said in your whole life was, "thank you," that would suffice."
-Meister Eckhart

WISHING OU AND YOURS A HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

"It's the little things that make the big things possible. Only close attention to the fine details of any operation makes the operation first class."
- J. Willard Marriott Sr., hotel executive

"It is the studying that you do after your school days that really counts. Otherwise, you know only that which everyone else knows."
- Henry Doherty

"Begin challenging your own assumptions. Your assumptions are your windows on the world. Scrub them off every once in a while, or the light won't come in."
- Alan Alda, Actor

"If you want to leave your footprints on the sands of time, be sure you're wearing work shoes."
- Author Unknown

"Keep your sense of humor. There's enough stress in the rest of your life to let bad shots ruin a game you're supposed to enjoy."
- Amy Alcott, golfer

"Giving up is the ultimate tragedy."
- Robert Donovan, writer

"Setting a goal is not the main thing. It is deciding how you will go about achieving it and staying with that plan."
- Tom Landry, football coach

"If you don't fail now and again, it's a sign you're playing it safe."
- Woody Allen, Director

"Be like a postage stamp. Stick to one thing until you get there."
- Josh Billings, humorist

"To be prepared is half the victory."
- Miguel de Cervantes

"Stay committed to your decisions, but stay flexible in your approach. It's the end you're after."
- Anthony Robbins, Motivational Speaker

"Before a person can achieve the kind of life he wants, he must think, act, walk, talk and conduct himself in all of his affairs as would the person he wishes to become."
- Zig Ziglar, Author

"Success is waking up in the morning and bounding out of bed because there's something out there that you love to do, that you believe in, that you're good at - something that's bigger than you are, and you can hardly wait to get at it again."
- Whit Hobbs

"Leaders get out front and stay there by raising the standards by which they judge themselves - and by which they are willing to be judged."
- Frederick Smith, Federal Express founder

"I've come to believe that each of us has a personal calling that's as unique as a fingerprint--and that the best way to succeed is to discover what you love and then find a way to offer it to others in the form of service, working hard, and also allowing "
- Oprah Winfrey, Talk Show Host

"Create a definite plan for carrying out your desire, and begin at once, whether you're ready or not, to put it into action."
- Napoleon Hill, motivational expert

"Never say no when a client asks for something, even if it is the moon. You can always try, and anyhow there is plenty of time afterward to explain that it was not possible."
- Cesar Ritz, hotelier

JACQUES' NOTE: This one, I happen to be totally "against", as it condones making promises casually...oftentimes to "buy time", then shamelessly deliver B.S. excuses and other lies to white-wash and save face...instead of Keeping your word(s). This sort of crass dishonesty is featured, dissected and "cured" in my upcoming, direly needed book on the subject. More soon. Have a great weekend! J.

Eating the Elephant

2009-11-23T06:54:00.000-08:00

By Brian Tracy

You have heard the question, "How do you eat an elephant?" The answer is, "one bite at a time." This metaphor applies to achieving any big goal, as well. How do you achieve a huge goal? You accomplish it one step, one task, one measure at a time.

Identify Your Most Valuable Task
Ask your boss, "What one thing do I do that is more valuable than anything else?" Whatever his or her answer, look for ways to perform more and more of that task and to get better and better at doing it. It is absolutely amazing how much you can accomplish if you break your tasks down into bite-sized pieces, set deadlines, and then do one piece at a time, every single day.

Continuous and Never Ending Improvement
If you want to increase your hourly rate and your income, look for ways to get a little bit better at the most important tasks you do, every single day. Read one hour per day in your field. Listen to audio programs on your way to and from work. Take additional courses whenever you can. These activities will propel your entire career onto the fast track. When you invest an extra one or two hours per day in self-improvement, the cumulative effect on your greater ability to get results can be extraordinary.

"Learn and Remember Faster and Easier Than Ever Before"
In the 21st Century, the only skill that won't become obsolete is the ability to learn. Nowadays, your ability to learn new processes can drastically improve your earning potential. Learning is a lot like exercising: it's an activity that must be done often to attain maximum results.

Save Your Pennies and the Dollars Will Save Themselves
If you want to become wealthy, begin to question every single expense. Set a goal to save $3, $5, or $10 per day. Put this money away in a savings account and never touch it. As it grows, invest it carefully in well-chosen mutual funds or index funds. Make daily, weekly, and monthly saving and investment into a habit, and keep it up for the rest of your working life.

Become a Learned Person
If you read fifteen minutes each evening, rather than watching television, you will complete about fifteen books per year. If you read the classics of English literature for fifteen minutes each day, in seven years you will have read one hundred of the greatest books ever written. You will be one of the best-educated and most erudite people of your generation. And you can achieve this just by reading fifteen minutes each evening before you go to bed.

Increase Your Income
If you are in sales and you want to increase your income, keep careful track of how many calls, how many presentations, how many proposals, and how many sales you are making each day, each week, and each month. Then set a goal to increase your number of calls, presentations, and proposals per day. Set a goal to increase your number of sales each week and each month. Every day, measure yourself against your own standards.

If You Measure It, You Can Manage It
In each area of your life, analyze your activities carefully and select a specific number that, more than anything else, determines your level of success in that area. Then focus all of your attention, all day long, on that specific number. The very act of focused attention will cause you to perform better in that area, both consciously and unconsciously.

Action Exercise
Set a minimum, specific amount for daily, weekly, monthly saving and investment, discipline yourself to put away those amounts.

Courtesy: Brian Tracy Newsletter

The Four Parts of Visualization

2009-11-15T09:33:00.000-08:00

By Brian Tracy

There are four parts of visualization that you can learn and practice to assure that you use this incredible power to its best advantage all the days of your life.

How Often?

The first aspect of visualization is frequency, the number of times that you visualize a particular goal as achieved of yourself performing in an excellent way in a particular event or circumstance. The more frequently you repeat a clear mental picture of your very best performance or result, the more rapidly it will appear as part of your reality.

How Long?

The second element of visualization is the duration of the mental image, the length of time that you can hold the picture in your mind each time you replay it. When you deeply relax, you can often hold a mental picture of yourself performing at your best for several seconds, and even several minutes. The longer you can hold your mental picture, the more deeply it will be impressed into your subconscious mind and the more rapidly it will express itself in your subsequent performance.

"Relax and allow affirmations to go through your subconscious mind!"
According to whole brain research, you can learn subjects quite rapidly as a result of deep relaxation and music used in a systemized, organized process. Because of this, it is also possible for you to learn new belief systems using the same techniques.

How Clearly?

The third element of visualization is vividness. There is a direct relationship between how clearly you can see your desired goal or result in your mind and how quickly it comes into your reality. This element of visualization is what explains the powers of the Law of Attraction and the Law of Correspondence. The vividness of your desire directly determines how quickly it materializes in the world around you. Here is an interesting point. When you set a new goal for yourself, your image or picture of this goal will usually be vague and fuzzy. But the more often you write it, review it, and repeat it mentally, the clearer it becomes for you. Eventually, it will become crystal clear. At that point, the goal will suddenly appear in your world exactly as you imagined it.

How Intensely?

The fourth element of visualization is intensity, the amount of emotion that you attach to your visual image. In reality, this is the most important and powerful part of the visualization process. Sometimes, if your emotion is intense enough and your visual image is clear enough, your goal will immediately come true.

Of course, the elements of frequency, duration, vividness, and intensity can help you or hurt you. Like nature, the power of visualization is neutral. Like a two-edged sword, it can cut in either direction. It can either make you a success or make you a failure. Visualization brings you whatever you vividly and intensely imagine, whether good or bad.

Action Exercise

Continually feed your mind with clear, exciting, emotional pictures. Remember, your imagination is your preview of life's coming attractions.

Courtesy: Brian Tracy Newsletter

The Law of Advance Planning

2009-11-10T09:09:00.000-08:00

November 10, 2009
By Brian Tracy

The best salespeople prepare thoroughly before every call. This principle is so simple that it is often overlooked. The hallmark of the true professional is thorough preparation, reviewing every detail, before every sales meeting. The very best salespeople are those who review their presentations and study the details of their products and their sales materials repeatedly prior to every new sales contact.

The Customer's Situation
The salesperson with the best knowledge of the customer's real situation will be the one most likely to make the sale. The more time you take to thoroughly understand your prospective customer and your prospective customer's situation, the more likely you will be in a position to sell at the critical moment.

Sales Professionals Plan their questions in Advance
There is a direct relationship between the quality of the problem focused questions that you ask a customer and the likelihood of a sale taking place. The only way of assuring that your questions are clear and penetrating is by writing them out, word for word, in advance. Some of the most successful salespeople who have ever lived have been "question experts."

Discover the new rules to ramp up your sales.

Notes
The power is on the side of the salesperson with the best notes. Plan your sales-call objectives thoroughly in advance of meeting the client. Write down and itemize exactly what you hope to accomplish in this visit. After the call, quickly write down everything that was said. Don't trust it to memory. Remember the Chinese saying, "The palest ink lasts longer than the finest memory." Prior to every sales call, and no matter how many times you have visited this same customer, take a few minutes to review the customer's file, the customer's situation, and your own notes on what has taken place in the past. You'll be amazed at how impressive you sound when you go into a sales interview having just reviewed the customer's file a few minutes before. And customers always know if you have done your homework.

Prior to Closing a Sale
The top salespeople in every field prepare exhaustively prior to selling, prior to their presentations, and prior to closing. They think everything through in advance. And they leave nothing to chance. Remember, it's the details that make the difference. The salesperson who has taken the greatest amount of time to acquaint himself or herself with the most specific needs of the customer is the one who builds the highest level of trust and the best sales relationship. Thorough preparation is the essential precondition for successful selling.

Courtesy:Brian Tracy Newletter

The Psychology of Time Management

2009-11-02T09:17:00.000-08:00

By Brian Tracy

The Law of Correspondence says that your outer life tends to be a mirror image of your inner life. Everywhere you look, there you are. Everywhere you look, you see yourself reflected back. You do not see the world as it is, but as you are—inside. If you want to change what is going on in the world around you—your relationships, results, and rewards—you have to change what in going on in the world inside you. Fortunately, this is the only part of your life over which you have complete control.

The Starting Point of Success
The starting point of excelling in time management is desire. Almost everyone feels that their time management skills could be vastly better than they are. The key to motivation is "motive." For you to develop sufficient desire to develop Time Power, you must be intensely motivated by the benefits you feel you will enjoy.

Gaining Two Extra Hours Each Day
Your productivity can dramatically change if you add to extra hours to your day. Two extra hours per day, multiplies by five days per week, equals ten extra hours a week. Ten extra hours a week multiplied by fifty weeks a year would give you 500 extra productive hours each year. And 500 hours translates into more that twelve, forty-hour weeks, or the equivalent of three extra months of productive working time each year. By gaining two productive hours each day, you can transform your personal and working life.

"Perform at Your Best - No Matter What!"

YOU Can Reach Your Goals and Achieve the Unthinkable.

The real secret to living the life of your dreams is this: learn to live at Peak Performance every day and you will be unstoppable.

Improving Your Productivity Performance
Your productivity, performance, and income will increase by at least 25 percent over the next year. Two more productive hours, out of the eight hours that you spend at work each day, is the equivalent of at least a 25 percent increase.

Increasing Your Sense of Control
When you leverage the power of time, you will have a greater sense of control over your work and your personal life. You will feel like the master of your own destiny, and a power in your own life. You will feel more positive and powerful in every part of your life.

Take Control of your Time and Your Life
One of the keys to developing a stronger internal focus of control is to manage your time and your life better. The more skilled you become at managing your time, the happier and more confident you will feel. You will have a stronger sense of personal power. You will feel in charge of your own destiny. You will have a greater sense of well-being. You will be more positive and personable.

Having More Time for Your Family
You will have more time for your family and your personal life as you get your time and your life under control. You will have more time for your friends, for relaxation, for personal and professional development, and for anything else you want to do. When you become a master of your own time, and recapture two hours per day, you can use that extra time to chase your dreams.

Action Exercise
Figure out how you can add two hours of productivity to your day. Make a schedule of your day and find where you can squeeze two hours of time out for maximum efficiency.

Courtesy: Brian Tracy Newsletter

More WORDS OF WISDOM to inspire and guide us...

2009-10-30T08:49:00.000-07:00

"It's better to light a candle than curse the darkness."
- Eleanor Roosevelt, First Lady

"It's better to hang out with people better than you. Pick out associates whose behavior is better than yours, and you'll drift in that direction."
- Warren Buffet, Berkshire Hathaway, CEO

"We must have perseverance and above all confidence in ourselves. We must believe that we are gifted for something and that this thing must be attained."
- Marie Curie, physicist

"The highest form of success... comes... to the man who does not shrink from danger, from hardship or from bitter toil, and who out of these wins the splendid ultimate triumph."
- Theodore Roosevelt, 26th U.S. president

"Determine that the thing can and shall be done, and then we shall find the way."
- Abraham Lincoln, 16th U.S. president

"Strategic advantage lies in the leverage of knowledge."
- Robert Buckman, leadership coach

"Nothing great will ever be achieved without great men, and men are great only if they are determined to be so."
- Charles deGaulle, statesman

"Never give up, for that is just the place and time that the tide will turn."
- Harriet Beecher Stowe, Writer

"We don't stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing."
- George Bernard Shaw, Writer

"Pressure is a word that is misused in our vocabulary. When you start thinking of pressure, it's because you've started to think of failure."
- Tommy Lasorda, baseball manager

"Happiness is mostly a byproduct of doing what makes us feel fulfilled."
- Benjamin Spock, Pediatrician

"We are made to persist. That's how we find out who we are."
- Tobias Wolff, Writer

The greatest conflicts are not between two people, but between one person and himself."
- Garth Brooks, singer

"The most powerful element in advertising is the truth."
- William Bernbach, ad executive

"Find something you're passionate about and keep tremendously interested in it."
- Julia Child, chef

"I learn something new about the game almost every time I step on the course."
- Ben Hogan, golfer

"If you want the rainbow, you've got to put up with the rain."
- Dolly Parton, Singer

Endorphins: Nature's Wonder Drugs for Total Success

2009-10-26T07:02:00.000-07:00

By Brian Tracy

Every time you complete a task of any kind, your brain releases a small quantity of endorphins. This natural morphine gives you a sense of well-being and elation. It makes you feel happy and peaceful. It stimulates your creativity and improves your personality. It is nature's "wonder drug."

Create the Winning Feeling
Everyone wants to feel like a winner. And feeling like a winner requires that you win. You get a feeling of being a winner by completing a task 100 percent. When you do this repeatedly, eventually you develop the habit of completing the tasks that you begin. When this habit of task completion locks in, your life will begin to improve in ways that you cannot today imagine.

The Pain of Procrastination
If you have ever had a major assignment that you have put off, you know what I am referring to. The longer you wait to get started on an assignment and the closer the deadline approaches, the greater stress you experience. It can start to keep you up at night until you finally launch into the task and push it through to completion; you feel a great sense of relief and well-being. It is almost as if nature rewards you for everything that you do that is positive and life enhancing. At the same time, nature penalizes you with stress and dissatisfaction when you fail to do the tasks that move you toward the goals and results that are important to you.

"Unlock your potential and become everything you are capable of becoming, right now!"
When you learn how to Unlock Your Potential, you will be able to visualize your future goals and turn them into reality, simplify your life and overall feel fantastic about yourself and every area of your life.
Learn more here >>

The Balanced Scoreboard
One of the most popular movements in modern management is toward a "balanced scorecard." Using these scorecards, every person, at every level of the business is encouraged to identify the key measures that indicate success and then give themselves scores every day and every week in each of those key areas. Here is an important point. The very act of identifying a number or score and then paying close attention to it will cause you to improve your performance in that area.

Close the Loop
The third C, after commitment and completion, is "closure." This is the difference between an "open loop" and a "closed loop." Bringing closure to an issue in your personal or business life is absolutely essential for you to feel happy and in control of your situation. Lack of closure—unfinished business, an incomplete action of any kind—is a major source of stress, dissatisfaction, and even failure in business. It consumes enormous amounts of physical and emotional energy.

The Key Ability
Perhaps the most important ability in the world of work is "dependability." Nothing will get you paid more and promoted faster than to develop a reputation for getting your tasks done quickly, done well, and on schedule. Whatever your goals, make a list of all the tasks you will have to accomplish in the achievement of those goals. Put a deadline on every one of those tasks.

Action Exercise
Determine a single measure that you can use to grade your progress and success in each area of your life. Refer to it daily.

Courtesy: Brian Tracy newsletter

Counterattack!

2009-10-23T06:39:00.000-07:00

By Brian Tracy
October 23, 2009

"A bold, vigorous assault has won many a faltering cause."
- Ira Eaker, General

When you-know-what hits the fan and the survival of your business is endangered, you must begin thinking like a military commander in battle. Often the situation is so serious that you have to step forward and make hard decisions, and make them immediately. No more Mr. Nice Guy.

Military Strategy
Top military leaders have been studied going back to 600 B.C. Over the centuries, several principles of military strategy that lead to the victory of defeat have been identified. They are now taught to student officers in every military school in the world. By applying these principles of military strategy to your life and your business, you can often turn the situation around and achieve extraordinary results.

Be Clear in Your Objective
The first principle of military strategy is the Principle of the Objective. It requires that you be perfectly clear about the goal (or goals) that you want and need to get through a crunch point. In business, the practice of this principle is usually focused on goals related to sales, revenues, and cash flow. You need plans, schedules, and the right people doing the right jobs to achieve your most important objectives. Everyone should be absolutely clear about what they are expected to do, and they must be committed to success, to victory, no matter how serious the crisis.

"Out-Think, Out-Market and Out-Sell the Competition"
Clear planning and goal setting are essential to seeing your business succeed.

Turbostrategy will help you revitalize your business and personal life and help you achieve the results you're looking for to make your business dreams become reality!

Take Bold Action
The second strategic principle is the Principle of the Offensive. It requires that you take action—that you move forward boldly to confront your difficulties and solve your problems. As Napoleon said, “No great battles are ever won on the defensive.” Since your natural tendency when you hit crunch time is to withdraw, cut back, and play it safe, you must resist this urge and instead dare to go forward, to seize control of the situation, and to attack your difficulties with firmness and decisiveness.

Crunch Point Mantra
Whenever one of my companies has experienced a cash crunch, my mantra is, “When in doubt, sell your way out.” You cannot cost-cut your way out of a financial crisis. You have to generate revenues, and the only way to do that is by selling something to someone. Always think in terms of generating revenues from sales. Become very aggressive and focused in this area. Every single company that has rebounded from a crisis, including companies like IBM in 1991, turned itself around by focusing single-mindedly on generating sales revenues. You should do the same.

Action Exercise
Discipline yourself to focus single-mindedly on this number-one target, resisting temptations to clear up small things at first.

"21 Secrets Guaranteed to Empower You When You Need It The Most"
Whatever you do in life...unexpected stuff is guaranteed to happen. Will you be ready? Setbacks in your life and your business are unavoidable.

What happens next will determine whether you fail or succeed in meeting your challenge.

(Another pragmatic lesson from BRIAN TRACY's Newsletter.)

The conclusion (the end?) of STDs

2009-10-19T08:01:00.001-07:00

STD 10
I've started seeing this guy I'm crazy about and, yes, we're having sex. Or we were. Now I've got these horrible symptoms. I'm having a lot of greenish yellow, frothy discharge from my vagina. I'm sore all around my vaginal area and upper thighs. My boyfriend is just fine. Is it just me or what?

Answer:

Men usually don't get symptoms of trichomoniasis infection. But if they look early in the morning, infected men may see a slight discharge from the penis. Sometimes, women get only a slight discharge.

The bug that causes trichomoniasis is a protozoon. See a doctor -- both of you. A single treatment almost always does the trick, if both partners are treated at the same time. If you have more than one sex partner, all of your partners must be examined and treated.

STD 11
OK, I had an affair. But I broke it off after just a couple of times. I feel terrible about it. I'll never do it again. Since my wife doesn't know about it, I don't want to hurt her feelings for no reason. Only problem is, about three weeks later I got this sore. Just one of them. It was on my penis, but it didn't hurt at all. I made excuses not to have sex with my wife, and it healed after about a month. I thought it was all over. But now I'm getting these rashes on my palms and soles. Any connection?

Answer:

Syphilis used to be a terrible thing. It still is -- if not treated. The sore on your penis is called a chancre. It's the sign of primary syphilis. Secondary syphilis comes next. The symptoms begin with a rash, usually starting on the palms and soles. These rashes come and go, but cover various places on the body. Mucous membranes may erode in the mouth, penis, vulva, or anus. Hair falls out in patches, leaving a moth-eaten look. And that's still not the worst of it. Untreated syphilis eventually damages the heart and brain. In fact, if you've already got secondary syphilis the germs that cause the disease may already have invaded your brain.

Fortunately, antibiotics cure the disease. You'll have to see a doctor to get diagnosed and treated. And you'll have to tell your wife. If you've had sex with her, she may be infected.

STD 12
I've got a lot of boyfriends. Sure, they get jealous that I sleep with other guys, but I'm not ready to commit to just one person -- or even just one person at a time. Lately, though, I don't feel like seeing anybody. I'm tired all the time and feel like I'm coming down with something. Usually you don't have to call me twice for dinner. Now my appetite is gone, and I feel sick to my stomach. My belly hurts and my urine has kind of a dark color. What's wrong with me?

Answer:

Only half of people who get hepatitis B infection have symptoms. On the other hand, there may other symptoms besides the ones you mention. Some people get rashes or joint pain in the early stages of infection. Some get jaundice, a yellowing of the skin and the whites of the eyes. About one in 100 people get sudden liver failure and may suddenly collapse with fatigue. Symptoms may first appear six weeks to six months after infection.

Having multiple sex partners is a major risk factor for hepatitis B infection. Also at risk are men who have sex with men, injection drug users and their sex partners, and household contacts of people with chronic infection.

The good news is that the vast majority of adults who become infected with hepatitis B will clear the infection on their own. But 2% to 6% of infected adults get chronic, lifelong infection. That's why it's important to see a doctor if you're at risk for hepatitis B infection.

The bad news is there is no specific treatment. Antiviral medications can keep the virus at bay and may even put hepatitis B liver disease into remission.

Fortunately, there is a vaccine. It's now routine for infants; since 1996 more than 80% of U.S. infants have been getting the vaccine. If your sexual behavior puts you at risk of hepatitis B infection, you should get vaccinated.
-----
NOTE: This entire informative article on "STDs": courtesy of WebMD.com newsletters.

More STDs (Continued)

2009-10-18T09:54:00.001-07:00

STD 7
I moped around for more than a month after breaking up with my girlfriend. Just when I started feeling like seeing other women again, I noticed this cluster of moist little sacs of flesh near my vagina. Since then it got a bit bigger and turned whitish. It looks like a little cauliflower! I'm very embarrassed. How can I ever have sex with anybody ever again?

Answer:

The virus that causes genital warts spreads by direct skin-to-skin contact. It's called human papillomavirus, or HPV. There are several different kinds of HPV. Some kinds are linked to cervical cancer, although these HPV strains are less likely to cause warts.

Genital warts appear one to six months after HPV infection. There's no cure, but there are treatments. These treatments must be performed or prescribed by a doctor. DO NOT use over-the-counter wart remedies on genital warts. While treatment can make warts go away, they often come back.

It's common to be upset by genital warts. You should avoid sex until all warts are removed. Condoms can prevent HPV spread, but since they do not cover all of the skin that might be affected, they are not totally effective. Having genital warts does not mean your sex life is over.

Although there is no treatment for HPV infection, most people eventually clear the virus on their own -- usually within two years. If you have HPV infection, it's especially important to see your doctor for regular Pap tests to look for cell changes on your cervix that could develop into cancer.

There is an HPV vaccine for women. It will not cure HPV infection or speed clearance of the virus. But it will protect against the strains of the virus that most often cause cancer. The vaccine does the most good before a person becomes sexually active. That's why it's recommended for girls aged 11 to 12 -- and why it can be given as early as age 9.

STD 8
My girlfriend has a few little red bumps around her vulva, but they don't bother her and they didn't stop us from having sex. We use condoms -- but a few weeks back, a few of the same kind of bumps popped up on my groin. Now it's spread to my thighs. The area is a little tender, but it doesn't bother me all that much. I keep waiting for it to go away. Will it?

Answer:

Molluscum contagiosum, once a disease of childhood, is now sexually transmitted among adults. It's caused by a poxvirus called MCV. It can be spread through sexual contact, or by contact with other objects, such as towels, used by an infected person.

The bumps are small, waxy, and round -- often with a little depression in the middle. Each lesion lasts for about six to eight weeks. But since it spreads, it can take two years or more to go away by itself. Your doctor can speed recovery either by surgical or chemical removal of the lesions.

STD 9
We didn't have sex, I swear! OK, my boyfriend and I did sleep together in his bed -- with our clothes off. We spooned a lot, but we didn't go past second base. And that was over a month ago. Now I'm back at school but I've got this itch on my waist, my groin and the lower part of my butt. It's MUCH worse at night when I go to bed. There are some short, wavy lines on the skin, but the worst are these dozens of itchy bumps. There's no way this is an STD, is there?

Answer:

Sex isn't the only way to get scabies. In fact, this skin-mite infection is hard to get from a brief sexual encounter. But prolonged skin contact does spread infection. If it took a month for symptoms to appear, this must be the first time you've had scabies. People who get it more than once get symptoms in only one to four days.

The mites that cause scabies burrow just under the surface of the skin. Females lay eggs that hatch in a few days. The itching is caused by an allergic reaction. You can't get scabies from a brief contact, such as a handshake, but it spreads in households after prolonged contact with infested bedding, carpets, or furniture.

Your doctor can prescribe treatments that will kill the mites. Even after they're dead, you'll still itch for a while. Doctors usually prescribe corticosteroid ointments to relieve this itching. And don't forget that killing the mites means getting rid of mites hiding in your bed, clothing, etc.

(More to come...)

STD (continued)

2009-10-17T13:02:00.001-07:00

STD 3
It can't be an STD -- can it? I still think of myself as technically a virgin. I did have sex -- but my lover only put his penis a little way into my vagina. And he doesn't have any symptoms. Maybe this burning feeling when I urinate will just go away. Won't it?

Answer:

Many sexually transmitted diseases can cause this symptom. The most common one is chlamydia [pronounced klah-MID-ee-ya]. Any genital, anal, or, less often, oral contact with infected body fluids can result in infection. In a way, you're lucky. Three-fourths of women -- and half of men -- don't have early symptoms of chlamydia. Left untreated, this bacterial infection can spread to the fallopian tubes. This can leave you unable to have children. There are tests. And there is a cure. If you're sexually active -- even if you don't go "all the way" -- you can still get STDs.

STD 4
Yuck. It's been about a week since I had sex. Boy, does my crotch itch. When I look down there, I've got a blue spot on the skin under my pubic hair. And there are lots of these teensy rust-colored dots. What gives?

Answer:

Those little rust-colored dots -- sometimes they're whitish-gray -- are lice. If you take a closer look with a magnifying glass, you'll see they look like little crabs. You can get crabs during sex. You can also get them by sleeping in the bed of an infested person. The little bugs have three forms: eggs, a larval stage called nits, and adult lice -- the ones that make you itch. The blue spots are a skin reaction to louse bites. Once you've identified crabs, you can get rid of them. But you'll have to get rid of all the eggs and nits that may have spread to your clothes, bed linens, and other items. After you kill off the lice, you'll continue to itch for a while. Hydrocortisone cream can help.

STD 5
I had anal sex with another guy. I put on a condom before sex, of course, but it broke. It's been a few days since then, and now I've got this yellow drip from the tip of my penis. Otherwise, I feel fine. Won't it just go away?

Answer:

There are several infections that can cause these symptoms. One of them is gonorrhea, known to many as "the clap." Many people with gonorrhea have no symptoms. Untreated, it can lead to serious infections. Anyone who finds out he or she has an STD should tell all of his or her sexual contacts so they can be tested and, if infected, treated. Antibiotic treatment cures gonorrhea. See a doctor.

STD 6
A few months ago, during foreplay, my husband noticed a cluster of blisters on the inner lip of my vagina. It turned into a sore that hurt for about a week and then crusted over and went away. Now it's months later, and I have a nasty blister on my butt. My husband doesn't get any blisters on his genitals, although once in a while he gets a cold sore on his mouth. I don't think it's an STD, do you?

Answer:

Herpes is a viral infection. It comes in two types. Herpes type 1 usually causes mouth sores; herpes type 2 usually causes genital sores. However, either virus can infect either place. Herpes can spread during sex, including oral sex. The virus that causes herpes travels up nerves and rests in nerve bundles. When it becomes active, it goes back down the nerves to the skin. The genitals connect to the same nerve bundle as the buttocks. Sometimes a person who has had a genital infection has a later outbreak on the buttocks or thighs.

Herpes outbreaks don't always look like blisters. Sometimes they look like sores, cuts, pimples, or a rash. Genital herpes outbreaks cause pain, aching, itching, burning, and/or tingling on and around the sex organs. Sometimes there can be painful urination and a discharge from the urethra, but this is uncommon.

There's no cure for herpes. But today there are anti-herpes drugs that make outbreaks less severe. They also can prevent new outbreaks and may even make it harder to give herpes to another person.

(To be continued)

Get the STD Picture

2009-10-16T09:35:00.000-07:00

By Daniel J. DeNoon
WebMD Feature Reviewed by Louise Chang, MD

Check out the first two words of "sexually transmitted diseases." If you're having sex, you may be at risk.
-----
JACQUES' NOTE:

Upon perusing this (long) article in my WebMD Neswletter, I became increasingly impressed with its high degre of importance in any individual's over-all wellness.

Although this Blog is titled "SuccessGroup7", I feel that Total Health and Peace of Mind definitely include knowledge, awareness and self-control where our sex lives are concernd.

And so, I thank WebMD.com for this incisive contribution to public and individual Health.

Sincerely,

Jacques Girard, Ph.D.
-----

Do you know as much as you think you do about STDs? It's easy to find out. Read through the list of symptoms below, then name that STD.

STD 1
It's been three weeks since I had sex with that guy who didn't have a condom. And now I've got something a lot like the flu. I'm running a fever, and my head hurts. I'm so tired I don't feel like doing much of anything. But the last time I had the flu, I didn't have these mouth sores -- or this red rash on my chest. If it's not the flu, what is it?

Answer:

It might be HIV. No, this isn't AIDS -- not yet, and maybe not ever. These are some common symptoms of acute HIV infection. In 50% to 80% of patients, HIV infection starts with these flu-like symptoms. There's nearly always fatigue, fever, and headache. Mouth sores and a rash on the trunk are a tip-off that this isn't the flu. But not everybody with acute HIV infection gets these symptoms.

If you come down with flu-like symptoms two to four weeks after sex with someone who might have HIV infection, see a doctor right away. A normal HIV test won't work. Standard HIV tests look for antibodies in the blood, and your body hasn't made any yet. But there are tests that can tell whether you're infected. If you do have HIV, you may wish to start treatment right away. Studies suggest that treatment during acute HIV infection may be much more effective than later treatment.

STD 2
On my last night in southeast Asia, my clients threw a party that got pretty wild. I had a lot more to drink than I'd meant to, and ended up sleeping with one of the women who worked in the bar. I didn't use any protection. Dumb. Real dumb. A few days after coming home, I came down with painful little bumps on my penis. Now the bumps have turned into pus-filled open sores with raggedy edges. The sores are soft to the touch. Today there's a pain deep under the skin on the inside of my thigh. I guess I'd better see my doctor. What's she going to say -- and what should I tell my wife?

Answer:

Can you spell chancroid? Chancroid [pronounced SHANG-kroyd] is a bacterial infection. It's spread by contact with the sores. Women may not notice the symptoms until the lymph glands in the thigh -- on one or both sides -- get swollen and painful. If not treated, these glands mat together and form a kind of abscess known as a bubo.

Chancroid is more common in Africa and in Asia. Fortunately, this is a curable infection. See a doctor. And you have to tell your wife. Even if a woman doesn't seem to have symptoms, she may have been infected and should get a checkup.

WORDS to Live Better By...

2009-10-12T09:09:00.000-07:00

(From BRIAN TRACY's newsletters: "Quote of the Day" gems)...

"Success comes to the man who grits his teeth, squares his jaw and says, "There is a way for me and, by jingo, I'll find it."" -- Clifford Sloan, Publisher

"It isn't where you came from; it's where you're going that counts."
-- Ella Fitzgerald, jazz singer

"The mind is its own place, and in itself can make a heav'n of hell and a hell of a heav'n." -- John Milton, poet

"Service to others is the rent you pay for your room here on earth."
-- Muhammad Ali, boxer

"Sometimes we stare so long at a door that is closing that we see too late the one that is open." -- Alexander Graham Bell, Inventor

"Accept the challenges so that you may feel the exhilaration of victory." - George Patton, General

"The most difficult thing is the decision to act; the rest is merely tenacity. The fears are paper tigers. You can do anything you decide to do." - Amelia Earhart, aviator

"Create a definite plan for carrying out your desire and begin at once, whether you are ready or not, to put this plan into action."
-- Napolean Hill, Motivational Writer

"To try and fail is at least to learn. To fail to try is to suffer the loss of what might have been." - Benjamin Franklin, statesman

"If anything terrifies me, I must try to conquer it." - Francis Chichester, adventurer

"I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel."
- Maya Angelou, Poet

"In prosperity our friends know us; in adversity we know our friends."
-- John Churton Collins, critic

"Nothing great has ever been achieved except by those who dared believe that something inside them was superior to circumstances."
-- Bruce Barton, advertising executive

"Happy are those who dream dreams and are ready to pay the price to make them come true." - Leon Suenens, Clergyman

"Freedom lies in being bold." - Robert Frost, poet

"There is only one way to make a great deal of money, and that is in a business of your own." - J. Paul Getty, oil tycoon

-----
...and, on the "lighter side" (from different sources) LOL...

"Sometimes, when I look at my children, I say to myself, 'Lillian, you should have remained a virgin.' - Lillian Carter (mother of Jimmy Carter)

"I had a rose named after me and I was very flattered. But I was not pleased to read the description in the catalogue: - 'No good in a bed, but fine against a wall.' - Eleanor Roosevelt

'Last week, I stated this woman was the ugliest woman I had ever seen. I have since been visited by her sister, and now wish to withdraw that statement' - Mark Twain

"The secret of a good sermon is to have a good beginning and a good ending; and to have the two as close together as possible." - George Burns

"Santa Claus has the right idea. Visit people only once a year. '
- Victor Borge

"Be careful about reading health books. You may die of a misprint."
- Mark Twain

"By all means, marry. If you get a good wife, you'll become happy; if you get a bad one, you'll become a philosopher." - Socrates
|
"I was married by a judge. I should have asked for a jury."
- Groucho Marx

" My wife has a slight impediment in her speech. Every now and then she stops to breathe." - Jimmy Durante

"I have never hated a man enough to give his diamonds back."
- Zsa Zsa Gabor

"Only Irish coffee provides in a single glass all four essential food groups: alcohol, caffeine, sugar and fat." - Alex Levine

"My luck is so bad that if I bought a cemetery, people would stop dying." - Rodney Dangerfield
|
"Money can't buy you happiness ... But it does bring you a more pleasant form of misery." - Spike Milligan

"Until I was thirteen, I thought my name was SHUT UP" . - Joe Namath

"I don't feel old.. I don't feel anything until noon. Then it's time for my nap." - Bob Hope

"I never drink water because of the disgusting things that fish do in it." - W. C. Fields

"We could certainly slow the aging process down if it had to work its way through Congress." - Will Rogers

"Don't worry about avoiding temptation. As you grow older, it will avoid you." - Winston Churchill

"Maybe it's true that life begins at fifty ...But everything else starts to wear out, fall out, or spread out." - Phyllis Diller

"By the time a man is wise enough to watch his step, he's too old to go anywhere." - Billy Crystal

"And the cardiologist's diet: - If it tastes good spit it out." |
-----

(Ain't that just the livin' end?" LOL)
Have a joyous weekend!

Your Friend,

Jacques

Habitual lateness exposed (conclusion)

2009-10-01T07:42:00.000-07:00

Keating says she falls into this category. "It's a case of bad planning, of thinking you need less time than you actually do."

The solution, Morgenstern says, is to "become a better time estimator." She suggests keeping track of everything you do for a week or two. "Write down how long you think each thing will take and then how long it actually took." This will help you find a pattern, so you can adjust your time estimates.

Keating says this strategy is helpful. "You have to be realistic about how long certain things take, especially things you do routinely. If you know it takes 20 minutes to blow dry your hair, allow yourself 20 minutes to blow dry your hair," she says, "and leave a little extra time for those days when your hair is uncooperative."

Learning to Say 'No'
Another technical difficulty for some people is the inability to say "no" to additional commitments when they're short on time. You might be a good time estimator, Morgenstern explains, but "your best-laid plans get waylaid when someone asks you for something and you can't say 'no.'"

The solution to this problem is to "practice catchphrases," Morgenstern tells WebMD. Learn to defer or decline requests by saying, "I would love to help, but I'm on a deadline" or "I'm meeting people in half an hour. I can help you tomorrow."

Choosing to Be Late
"If you are literally always 10 minutes late, it's psychological," Morgenstern says. "You're arriving exactly when you want. The question is 'why?'"

Sapadin says the answer depends on your personality type. "For some people, it's a resistance thing," she tells WebMD. "It's a carryover of rebelliousness from childhood. They don't want to do what other people expect them to."

Another category is the "crisis-maker," someone who thrives on the minicrisis of running late. "These are people who cannot get themselves together until they get an adrenaline rush," Sapadin explains. "They need to be under the gun to get themselves moving."

Planning for Wait Time
For most people, running late has more to do with anxiety about where they're going. "There's a fear factor in which people are anxious about going at all or about getting there too early and having nothing to do," Sapadin says.

Morgenstern agrees. "There is a tremendous fear of downtime, an anxiety associated with doing nothing and waiting." You know you're in this category if you'd rather be late to a massage than spend one minute sitting in the waiting room.

To overcome wait time anxiety, Morgenstern suggests planning "something highly absorbing to do while you wait." Try to arrive at every appointment 10 or 15 minutes early and use the time for a specific activity, such as writing notes to people, reading a novel, or catching up with friends on the phone. This strategy can help convert dreaded wait time into time that is productive and pleasurable, giving you an incentive to be on time.

Walking Out the Door
Finally, a deceptively simple tip from Morgenstern: Walk out the door on time. She says many people try to avoid downtime by "shoving in one more thing" just before they need to leave. She calls this the "one-more-task syndrome" and says it's a major obstacle to being on time. "If you really want to beat this, the minute you think of squeezing in one more thing before you leave, just don't do it. Stop yourself in your tracks, grab your bag and walk out the door."

Courtesy: WebMD.com newsletter

Help for the Chronically Late

2009-09-30T18:39:00.000-07:00

Experts explain why the key to being on time is understanding why you're always late.
By Sherry Rauh

New York lingerie designer Carolyn Keating was thrilled to land a job interview with Victoria's Secret. She knew that being on time was essential to making a good impression, but there was just one problem. "I had written down the address wrong. I meant to check it the night before on the computer, but I didn't." When Keating finally arrived at the correct address, she was 30 minutes late. "I felt embarrassed and it really flustered me," she tells WebMD. "I carried that insecure, worried, flustered energy throughout the interview." She didn't get the job.

Another time, Keating and several friends showed up 15 minutes late to a colleague's wedding. "The bride was already at the alter. She was basically saying 'I do' when we tumbled in, and it's hard for six or seven people to tiptoe in quietly. We were worried that we ruined the most important day of her life."

For some people, being on time seems nearly impossible -- no matter how important the event. They're always running out the door in a frenzy, arriving everywhere at least 10 minutes late. If this sounds like you, have you ever wished you could break the pattern? According to Julie Morgenstern, author of Time Management From the Inside Out, the first step is to make promptness a conscious priority.

"Look at the costs of being late and the payoffs of being on time," Morgenstern advises. She says it's important to recognize that being late is upsetting to others and stressful for the one who is late. "I think people's stress level is very high when they're late. They're racing, worried, and anxious. They spend the first few minutes apologizing. One of the payoffs of being on time is that you eliminate the stress of the travel time and you eliminate the time spent apologizing."

The Consequences of Being Late
The consequences of being chronically late run deeper than many people realize, according to psychologist Linda Sapadin, PhD, author of Master Your Fears. "You're creating a reputation for yourself, and it's not the best reputation to be establishing. People feel they can't trust you or rely on you, so it impacts relationships. It also impacts self-esteem."

Once you feel motivated to make a change, Morgenstern says the next step is to figure out why you're always late. The reason can usually be classified as either technical or psychological.

Technical Difficulties
"If you're always late by a different amount of time -- five minutes sometimes, 15, or even 40 minutes other times -- it is likely that the cause is technical," Morgenstern tells WebMD. "That means you are not good at estimating how long things take," whether it's drive times or routine activities like taking a shower.

(Concluded in our next post)

10 Cancer-Fighting foods

2009-09-28T10:57:00.000-07:00

By Melissa Breyer, Senior Editor, Healthy & Green Living

I’m going to put my Mommy hat on here, place my hands on my hips, look down at the broccoli you left on your plate, and tell you this: Eat your vegetables! Not because I’m a member of the clean-your-plate club, but because I care about you–and because I know this: in numerous studies following large groups of people, eating more vegetables and fruits has been linked to a lower risk of lung, oral, esophageal, stomach, and colon cancer. The thinking behind these results points to antioxidants and phytochemicals, natural compounds found in plants.

What are antioxidants? As described by the American Cancer Society (ACS), the body seems to use certain nutrients in vegetables and fruits to protect against damage to tissues that happens constantly as a result of normal metabolism (oxidation). Because such damage is linked with increased cancer risk, the antioxidant nutrients are thought to protect against cancer. Antioxidants include vitamin C, vitamin E, carotenoids, and many other phytochemicals (beneficial plant compounds).

Studies aside, it’s really a no-brainer. Eat real food, stay healthier. So now you’ve got not only a host of government programs telling you to eat your 5 to 9 servings of fruit and vegetables per day, you’ve got me hovering over your shoulder telling you to do the same! But I’ll go easy on you and offer up a few other plant-based suggestions as well. Here are ten super-duper cancer-fighting foods to add to your regime–these ten were chosen for their special cancer-kicking properties, as described on the Living Strong Living Well page of the Stanford School of Medicine Health Improvement Program.

The "Big Ten":

1. Beans
Beans contain a number of phytochemicals, which have been shown to prevent or slow genetic damage to cells. While this makes beans beneficial for helping to reduce your risk of many types of cancer, specific research has suggested they are especially potent in preventing prostate cancer. As an added bonus, the high fiber content of beans has been connected with a lower risk of digestive cancers.

2. Berries
The two most widely studied cancer-fighting compounds in berries are ellagic acid (richest in strawberries and raspberries) and anthocyanosides (richest in blueberries). Ellagic acid is believed to help prevent skin, bladder, lung, and breast cancers, both by acting as an antioxidant and by slowing the reproduction of cancer cells. The anthocyanosides in blueberries are currently the most powerful antioxidants known to scientists and are beneficial in the prevention of all types of cancer.

3. Cruciferous Vegetables (broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, kale)
Cruciferous vegetables-like broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, and kale-are rich in a variety of compounds that have been shown to slow cancer growth and development in a number of laboratory studies. Other larger human studies have shown that cruciferous vegetables can help to reduce the risk of lung, stomach, colorectal, prostate, and bladder cancers.

4. Dark Green Leafy Vegetables
Leafy-green vegetables-like romaine lettuce, mustard greens, chicory, and Swiss chard-are rich sources of antioxidants called carotenoids. These compounds scavenge dangerous free radicals from the body before they can promote cancer growth. The vegetables are also rich in folate, a vitamin shown to reduce the risk of lung and breast cancer.

5. Flaxseed
Flaxseed in the form of oil and meal contains phytoestrogens believed to reduce the risk of breast, skin, and lung cancer. Research on the potency of flaxseed as an anti-cancer food is still underway.

6. Garlic (including onions, scallions, leeks, and chives)
Garlic contains a number of compounds believed to slow or stop the growth of tumors. One such compound, diallyl disulfide, appears to be especially potent in protecting against skin, colon, and lung cancer, though it is not known exactly how it functions.

7. Grapes
Grapes and wine contain a chemical called resveratrol, which has been shown to be a potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent. Resveratrol is thought to work by preventing cell damage before it begins. Red and purple grapes are the richest sources of resveratrol.

8. Green Tea (decaf)
Green tea is a rich source of a class of flavonoids known as catechins. Laboratory studies have shown that the catechins present in green tea are able to slow or prevent the development of cancer in colon, liver, breast, and prostate cells.

9. Tomatoes
The anti-cancer compound in tomatoes, lycopene, has been shown to be especially potent in combating prostate cancer. This compound appears to be more easily absorbed if the tomatoes are eaten in cooked form-either as tomato sauce, paste, or juice. In addition to preventing prostate cancer, lycopene may also protect against breast, lung, stomach, and pancreatic cancer.

10. Whole Grains
Whole grains contain a variety of anti-cancer compounds, including fiber, antioxidants, and phytoestrogens. When eaten as part of a balanced diet, whole grains can help decrease the risk of developing most types of cancer.

JACQUES' 2 cents...
Besides my sincere thanks and acknowledgement to MELISSA BREYER and her fine publication "Health and Green Living" (CARE2)for this excellent article on Wellness-enhancing foods, I could not think of a better day than this to share the above with you.

For today is Yom Kippur (a day of fasting, soul-searching, repentance, plans for self-improvement, pleas for G-d's absolution, blessings and insciption in "The Book of Life" throughout the new year, 5770) being celebrated by Jews around the World.
L'Shana Tovah to all my Jewish friends and their families!
And, as of tomorrow, Eat Well - including the foods above!

Yours in Good Health,
Jacques!

The Butterfly Effect...An Unforgettable Story!

2009-09-17T10:59:00.000-07:00

Hello everybody!

Jusr received the following email from MAC ANDERSON, Founder of "Simple Truths" which offers inspirational and other uplifting written and filmed entities.

Today's was an introduction to ANDY ANDREWS, the author of "The Butterfly Effect", which I feel privileged to share with you. ENJOY!...and, to my Jewish Friends: SHANA TOVAH!- Wishing you and yours a Happy, Healthy, Sweet, Fulfilled 5770!
-----

Dear Jacques,

I can count on one hand the times in my life when I heard a story and...could not stop thinking about it! The Butterfly Effect story was one of those times. In a word, it's AMAZING!

Andy Andrews, in my opinion, is one of the most talented writers in the country. His books have sold millions of copies. In fact, he's had two different books on the New York Times best-sellers list. But as a speaker...he's the best I've ever heard.

When he speaks, he usually closes with his favorite story (he says it's the one that every client remembers)...The Butterfly Effect. Therefore, to say I'm honored to partner with Andy to share this wonderful, true story with the rest of the world is an understatement!

Today, I'd like to share an excerpt from Andy's introduction to The Butterfly Effect. Enjoy!

Introduction from:
The Butterfly Effect...How Your Life Matters,
by Andy Andrews

Not long ago, I finally told the story of when, at the age of twenty-three, homeless and scared, I was given guidance in a most unusual fashion by an old man named Jones. What the old man told me did nothing less than change my life and my future. He said..."With a little perspective you can live a life of permanent purpose."

When I asked what he meant, the old man answered with a question. "Do you sometimes find yourself unconsciously judging your actions by level of importance?" I frowned a bit, not certain I understood. "For instance", he continued, "the time you spend with friends is important, but the time you spend with family, is more important. You might rank an hour fishing as very important, thirty minutes visiting a sick friend in the hospital much more important than the fishing, and a sixty second conversation with a convenience store clerk as not very important at all."

I nodded my understanding and he returned to his initial point. "When you know that everything matters - that every move counts as much as any other - you will begin living a life of permanent purpose. A life of permanent purpose will make you a better parent, a better spouse, and a more valuable friend. Your productivity and financial success will soar to new heights while the old days of uncertainty, doubt, and depression fade into the past."

Of course, that conversation with Jones changed me. But even more, it became the guiding force that produced the kind of speaker and author I have become. You see, I understand fully that my very value as an author and speaker must ultimately be judged by the success you achieve. And as I consult with companies or speak to organizations and teams, I am keenly aware that much of my client's (your) ability to succeed beyond imagination depends upon my ability to prove this very concept!

When a sales organization sees proof that casual conversations in town matter just as much as an arranged meeting with a major prospect -

When the second string right-guard sees proof that his every action on and off the field, whether he plays or not, is as critical to the team's successful season as everything the starting quarterback does -

When a teenager sees and understands proof that every choice made in leisure today will affect the choices that will be available to him in more pressing times ahead -

When one lives a life of permanent purpose, sales figures soar, team chemistry thrives, and teenage decisions become wiser and more cautious. And these are just a few examples of what will happen... Simply put, when we understand that every action matters, every result of our actions immediately improves!

In these pages, I know you will find hope and direction for yourself, but I am most excited that you will now be equipped to lead others to their own life of permanent purpose! My hope for our families, our places of worship, our businesses, our nation, and our world is an incredible life of permanent purpose that can be achieved when at last we understand: Every move we make and every action we take, matters not just for us, but for all of us...and for all time.

Live with Passion,

Mac Anderson
Founder, Simple Truths

Money, Money, Money, Mo-ney, MO-NEE!

2009-09-08T18:47:00.000-07:00

Reply to: jgmakebigbucks7@gmail.com

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An excellent insight into Emotions...

2009-09-06T12:34:00.000-07:00

Hi all,

I have missed communicating with you on a more regular basis. However, I have become REALLY busy helping many people to safely enter into and benefit from the HOTTEST Real Estate market in a Century.(FYI: Real Estate Investing became a fascination with me over a quarter of a century ago---Today, it could provide for the rest of my life!)

As a matter of fact, before I get into today's post with you, let me give you my REI (Real Estate Investing) website address:
http://weprovidethecash.com/?id=makebigbucks ---
I invite you to check it out in-depth and either email and/or call me personally if you have any questions:
E.: jgmakebigbucks7@gmail.com
T.: (800) 701-1924.

Awesome incomes from REI profits are being made and built daily! In another post, I shall give you more details. Meanwhile, please check out my website and let me know..

Wishing you and yours a fun and Safe Labor Day Weekend!
Your Friend,

Jacques

_________

The following was sent me by my dear friend Yael, and deserves everyone's conscientious attention!:

One of the major questions in life is, "Do we control our emotions
or do our emotions control us?" The bible teaches that we have the ability to control our emotions. It is not easy, but it can be done.

One of the most disruptive, destructive and devastating traits is anger. It can harm us and others spiritually, physically, emotionally, and socially.

Hopefully, this piece will be of use ... if for nothing else than passing it on to someone you care about.

Q & A: WHAT CAUSES ANGER AND
HOW CAN IT BE CONQUERED?

The Sages tell us (Talmud, Shabbat 115) regarding a person who gets angry that it is as if he worshiped idols.

What idol is he worshipping? Himself! We get angry because we have expectations that everything must be exactly as we want it to be. No wonder the author of Orchos Tzadikim (The Way of the Righteous) says that a person controlled by anger denies himself happiness in life.

An angry person is out of control and at the whim of outside forces!

Let's analyze when we get angry: We trip on something, someone bumps into us; a colleague, spouse or child doesn't listen to us. In the first two cases, something happens that we aren't expecting. In the latter case, it is the frustration of having our will thwarted!

Anger comes from having a fragile ego. We interpret what happens as a direct personal attack instead of happenstance, sloth, incompetence or inconsideration. Internally, we are telling ourselves: "How can this be happening to me - I am too important for this to happen to me!"

There is a place for anger - the most appropriate place being in the dictionary.

Also, if you are physically attacked, anger focuses one's response. An angry person may be listened to (if he has the power), but he appears like a meshugenah (a crazy person); will be feared, not loved; endangers his health (through high blood pressure) and is not being maximally effective or enjoying life.

If he is trying to rebuke his children or students, they may hear his point, but they will come away with an awful role model on how to handle stress or displeasure. (A parent owes his child three things: example, example, example.)

It has been said that raising children by yelling at them is like driving a car by honking the horn. One should appear angry when punishing a child, but never punish a child out of anger!

Anger can be controlled. Imagine that someone bumps into you very hard; you start to get angry and then you turn around to see that it is a blind man - or that special person you've always wanted to meet - or a 6'6" bully.

Your perspective immediately changes and you might find that asking, "Did you hurt yourself?" is a more appropriate or judicious response.

Other tips on controlling anger:
(1) Realize that anger is counter-productive and commit to not getting angry.

(2) Appreciate how insane you look when you do get angry (perhaps carry a pocket mirror and refuse to get angry until you take it out to watch yourself!).

(3) Set up "a fine system" and pay someone (preferably someone you don't like) a large fine if you get angry.

(4) Imagine that you just won the Lottery - would you still get angry over this trifle? (If you don't get angry, you have just won the Lottery in the battle to control your behavior!)

(5) Delay getting angry - yes, count to 10 - or leave the room before exploding.

(6) If you do get angry, cut it short and be sure to apologize and set yourself to do better in the future.

Healthy BBQ - Conclusion (finally!) LOL

2009-08-18T10:56:00.000-07:00

Healthy Barbecue Tip No. 7:
Be sensible about servings.
Encourage eating smaller portions by grilling the meat in smaller portions, such as:

1/4 pound burgers (made with extra-lean ground sirloin) instead of 1/3 or 1/2 pound patties.
Filet mignon-sized steaks instead of 10- to 16-ounce steaks.
Kabobs made with small pieces of meat, alternated with vegetables.
Link sausage cut lengthwise in half instead of grilled whole.
Thin slices of larger cuts of meat (such whole pork tenderloin, roasts, etc). Let the meat rest 10 minutes after cooking, then slice before serving to family or guests.

Healthy Barbecue Tip No. 8:
Tenderize lean meats with marinades!
When grilling lean meat, use lower-fat marinades with acid ingredients to help break down the tough fibers. Marinades add lots of flavor, too.

But keep in mind that the power of marinades is only skin-deep. They can tenderize the surface of the meat only to about 1/4 inch. That's why it's important to make sure the marinade covers the entire surface of your meat. It also helps to score the meat (cut into the surface about 1/4 inch deep with a sharp knife in several places) before coating it with marinade.

Healthy Barbecue Tip No. 9:
Lower potential cancer risks associated with grilling.
PAHs (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons) and HCAs (heterocyclic amines) are substances formed on the surface of well-done meat cooked at high temperatures. The American Institute for Cancer Research (AICR) recently concluded that the evidence that these two substances increase the risk of cancer in humans is "limited but suggestive."

PAHs, in particular, come from smoke, which is formed when fat drips from meat onto the grill. "Technically, anything that spends any time around smoke will contain some level of PAHs," explains Glen Weldon, head of education and communications at the AICR. The good news is many of the grilling suggestions in the first eight tips help reduce your intake of these two substances.

But what you grill is perhaps more important than how often you grill. A recently published AICR report concluded that diets high in red meat (beef, pork, and lamb) and especially processed meats are a "convincing: cause of colorectal cancer."

Keep in mind that grilling vegetables and fruit produces negligible HCAs or PAHs. In fact, diets that are high in plant foods in general are associated with a reduced risk of several cancers.

Here are a few grilling suggestions to reduce your cancer risk:

Use a low-fat marinade. Some research suggests that marinating meat (even briefly) significantly reduces the formation of HCAs. Including garlic and onions in the marinade may also help reduce HCA formation on cooked meat.
Select leaner cuts (and trim any visible fat), to prevent dripping fat from causing flare-ups, which may deposit carcinogens on the meat.
Flip the meat on the grill often.(*) This will help reduce the amount of carcinogens that are potentially deposited on the meat.
You can also reduce flare-ups by spreading aluminum foil on the grill. Make small holes in the foil to allow fat from the meat to drain.

Healthy Barbecue Tip No. 10:
Just say no to processed meat.
The AICR report recommends limiting your consumption of cooked red meat to no more than 18 ounces per week (the equivalent of about 6 quarter-pound hamburgers). Things get more dismal for processed meats. When the AICR did an analysis of the available evidence, it found that every 3.5 ounces of processed meat eaten per day increased the risk for colorectal cancer by 42%. Processed meats include hot dogs, sausages, bacon, ham, and cold cuts, among others.

(*) (Jacques' comment). Frequently flipping meat causes vital, tasty juices to leak, thus drying the meat. This is especially true for a nice thick steak.
I recommend ONLY turning it ONCE: when the top begins to "sweat"---and, when the dark, grilled "first side" now showing also sweats, you have a perfect "medium rare".
Keeping such a steak BBQing beyond that to render it "medium" or (OMG) "well done" will dry it out and pretty much kill all flavors but "burned charcoal". Which is why I always refused to BBQ my steaks past the juicy, perfect "medium rare" stage---and offered the dry, burned meat lovers an old shoe instead. :o)---BON APPETIT! J.

Elaine Magee, MPH, RD, is the "Recipe Doctor" for the WebMD Weight Loss Clinic and the author of numerous books on nutrition and health. Her opinions and conclusions are her own.

Healthy BBQ - continued...

2009-08-17T07:47:00.000-07:00

Healthy Barbecue Tip No. 4:
Throw some vegetables on the grill continued...
The trick to grilling vegetables is cutting them into shapes and sizes that cook well on the grill. When you cook them over direct medium heat, turning frequently, they'll usually be done in 8-10 minutes (sometimes less, depending on the vegetable). Look for grill marks and some light browning to develop.

These vegetables work especially well on the grill:

Red, white, or sweet onion, sliced into 1/2-inch thick rounds.
Corn on the cob (take off the husks and silks).
Whole mushrooms. Grill portabellas like a burger or them cut into thick slices; grill small mushrooms strung on a skewer or kabob.
Eggplant, cut lengthwise into 1/4-inch slices.
Zucchini, cut lengthwise into 1/4-inch slices.
Asparagus spears. Just trim off the white end and grill the spears whole.

Healthy Barbecue Tip No. 5:
When grilling chicken, take the skin off -- take it all off!
Half the fat and saturated fat in chicken breast and thigh is in the skin, which is why so many of us enjoy our chicken skinless. Consider:

4 ounces of roasted chicken breast with skin contains 223 calories, 8.8 grams of fat, and 2.5 grams of saturated fat
4 ounces of roasted chicken breast WITHOUT skin contains 187 calories, 4 grams of fat, and 1.2 grams of saturated fat
But if you cook your chicken with the skin on, then take it off at the dinner table, you'll lose all the flavor from your marinade, BBQ sauce, or rubs and seasonings. So go ahead and take the skin off before you prepare the chicken for grilling.

Marinate skinless chicken breasts and thighs for about 2 hours in the refrigerator. Let the marinade drain off, then cook chicken over direct high heat or direct medium heat until it's done throughout. Always check the thickest part of the chicken breast or thigh for doneness. You can cook chicken over indirect heat as well; it will just take longer to cook.

Healthy Barbecue Tip No. 6:
Use the leanest cuts of beef and pork and trim any visible fat before cooking.
Just how much fat and saturated fat can you cut this way? Here's a beef example:

A 4-ounce serving of a higher fat steak (Porterhouse), broiled with 1/8-inch trim of fat, contains 337 calories, 25 grams of fat, and 10 grams of saturated fat.
A leaner steak (top sirloin), trimmed of visible fat and broiled, contains 240 calories, 11 grams of fat, and 4 grams of saturated fat per 4-ounce serving.
Here's a pork example:

A 4-ounce serving of a higher-fat pork cut (pork chop whole loin), broiled, contains 274 calories, 16 grams fat, and 6 grams saturated fat.
A leaner pork cut (tenderloin), roasted, contains 162 calories, 4 grams fat, and 1.4 grams saturated fat per 4-ounce serving.

More to come (next post)...

Tips for a Tasty and Healthy Barbecue Season

2009-08-15T09:09:00.001-07:00

By Elaine Magee, MPH, RD
WebMD Expert Column

Summer is synonymous with grilling for many American families, and why not? When the weather is warm, we spend more time outdoors and try to stay out of the hot kitchen. It stays light longer, and the evenings tend to seem a little less jam-packed with activities than usual. These are all great reasons to look to the barbecue for dinner inspiration. But before you dust off that grill, we have some tips to help you enjoy the BBQ season while keeping your dinners as lean and healthy as can be.

Healthy Barbecue Tip No. 1:
Bold ingredients add great flavor to grilling sauces and marinades.
You can add bold flavors without adding too many calories or fat grams. Here are some of my favorite ingredients for sauces and marinades:

Worcestershire sauce: 2 tablespoons contain 30 calories, 0 grams fat, and 390 milligrams sodium
Chili sauce: 2 tablespoons contain 40 calories, 0 grams fat, and 960milligrams sodium (depending on brand)
Tomato paste: 2 tablespoons contain 30 calories, 0 grams fat, and 20milligrams sodium
Molasses: 2 tablespoons contain 120 calories, 0 grams fat, and 40 milligrams sodium
Soy sauce (less-sodium type): 2 tablespoons contain 20 calories, 0 grams fat, and 1150 milligrams sodium

Healthy Barbecue Tip No. 2:
Have large resealable plastic bag, will marinate!
One of the easiest ways to marinate meat, chicken, fish or vegetables is to place them inside a large, resealable plastic bag. Set the bag in a medium sized bowl, then drizzle the marinade over the food. Seal the bag, eliminating any excess air. The food should be surrounded by the marinade. Keep marinating in the refrigerator until you're ready to grill.

Healthy Barbecue Tip No. 3:
A little sweetness is good, but more is not better.
Adding a small amount of a sweet ingredient (like fruit juice, brown sugar, honey or molasses) to the marinade or grilling sauce can be a good thing. It adds flavor and helps to balance other bold spices in the marinade or sauce. But too much sweetness can encourage the meat, fish, or vegetables to burn when they're grilled over high heat.

Healthy Barbecue Tip No. 4:
Throw some vegetables on the grill
The best part about grilling vegetables is that you don't have to worry about overcooking them as you do with some types of meat. And vegetables seem to taste better grilled than they do cooked any other way.

Marinating vegetables will help them caramelize better when they're grilled, and it's the caramelization that brings the best flavors. Just submerge the vegetables in marinade for about an hour before putting them on the grill. If you don't have that kind of prep time, just coat the vegetables ever so lightly with a little olive oil or canola oil.

Continued in our next post...Have a Yummy weekend and "BON APPETIT!" (In Memory of Julia Child).
Jacques

What works even in a recession

2009-07-21T07:43:00.000-07:00

Years ago, I discovered that with a few simple skills I could navigate through the thickest fog and magically get where I wanted to go, most of the time, much to the surprise of my friends. Now with a GPS it's so easy anyone can do it.

The same is true with your business. Once you know how to stay focused and navigate through this recession you'll amaze yourself as you see profits pouring in.

Use the following five steps:

1. Begin with an urgent and compelling goal. Pick a goal that's vital to the success of your business. It could be lead generation, referrals, increasing repeat sales, customer retention, etc. But whatever you pick, it should be so important that it motivates you to follow through.

2. Pick something you can accomplish within a few weeks, a month at most. If your goal is to write a book, identify a short-term sub goal, such as completing the first chapter.

Or if you want to get referrals, you could start by writing the sequence of questions you'd use to get existing clients to tell you how much they love your products or services. Then get them to give you 1-2 names of people they'll help you contact.

3. Pick something you can measure. Improving customer service is a nice idea, but you need a specific sub goal you can measure. Increasing repeat sales this month would be a good goal to measure.

4. Make sure the larger goal and the sub-goal you have picked is one that everyone on your team can commit to. If half your team doesn't agree that it's urgent, it won't happen.

If everyone can agree, for example, that they'll focus on adding one more sales partner each month, it's more likely to happen.

5. Pick a goal you can accomplish with the people and resources you have. That way you're not dependent on additional funds or new resources.

That's it. Now get started.

Pick an urgent marketing goal, stay focused and you'll be amazed at what you can accomplish.

Courtesy of: Charlie Cook

Give Your Blood Pressure This Daily Treat

2009-07-20T11:11:00.000-07:00

Just 30 calories per day of chocolate may be enough to help reduce your blood pressure. As far as serving sizes go, that’s about a Hershey’s Kiss worth.

But you have to eat the right kind of chocolate, according to Joseph Maroon, MD, author of The Longevity Factor. He recommends nonsweetened or minimally sweetened dark chocolate that’s at least 70 percent cocoa.

Crazy for Cocoa

Dark chocolate can also help reduce atherosclerosis and blood clotting, aid blood flow, contribute to an overall reduction in heart attacks, and improve cholesterol levels, according to Maroon. And it’s all thanks to the powerful antioxidants found in the cocoa bean. Here’s everything you ever wanted to know about this heart-smart treat.

More Good Reasons to Eat Chocolate

As if you need them . . . Maroon offers three more great reasons to indulge:

1.For better blood sugar. Chocolate enhances the effect of insulin and sugar utilization. Drop your blood sugar even further with this one painless click.
2.For a finer complexion. Yep, fewer wrinkles and fine lines. Here’s how you can help your skin with chocolate.
3.For a better mood. The taste isn’t the only reason it makes us smile. This is how you get happier with chocolate.

RealAge Benefit: Getting 31 milligrams of flavonoids a day -- like those found in chocolate -- can make your RealAge 3.2 years younger.

Courtesy of: RealAge online newsletter

Inspiring Thoughts In Courage...

2009-07-05T10:51:00.000-07:00

When things go wrong...
When things go wrong as they sometimes will,
When the road you're trudging seems all uphill,
When the funds are low and the debts are high,
And you want to smile but you have to sigh,
When care is pressing you down a bit
Rest if you must, but don't you quit.
Success is failure turned inside out,
The silver tint on the clouds of doubt,
And you can never tell how close you are,
It may be near when it seems afar.
So, stick to the fight when you're hardest hit
It's when things go wrong that you mustn't quit.

—Unknown

Have continued rest of the Fourth of July weekend!

Jacques

Watermelon May Have Effects Similar to Viagra

2009-07-04T09:31:00.000-07:00

Herbie Hancock's 1962 jazz hit "Watermelon Man" takes on a whole new meaning from this little-known fact: One of its ingredients triggers production of a chemical that works similar to Viagra.

And the millions of watermelons being enjoyed across the nation this Fourth of July weekend just might help men get their groove back.

In fact, the ingredient, citrulline, might not only treat erectile dysfunction but also help prevent it. In the body, citrulline is converted to arginine, an amino acid known to improve the heart and circulatory system and to boost the immune system.

It helps erectile dysfunction by relaxing blood vessels, similar to Viagra's effect.

“The citrulline-arginine relationship helps heart health, the immune system and may prove to be very helpful for those who suffer from obesity and Type 2 diabetes,” says Dr. Bhimu Patil, director of Texas A&M’s Fruit and Vegetable Improvement Center in College Station. “Arginine boosts nitric oxide, which relaxes blood vessels, the same basic effect that Viagra has, to treat erectile dysfunction and maybe even prevent it.”

“The more we study watermelons, the more we realize just how amazing a fruit it is in providing natural enhancers to the human body,” Patil says. “Watermelon may not be as organ-specific as Viagra, but it’s a great way to relax blood vessels without any drug side effects.

“We’ve always known that watermelon is good for you, but the list of its very important healthful benefits grows longer with each study,” he says.

-----
As out of the usual theme of my Posts as the above may seem, nevertheless it is meant to wish al of you (*) and yours a Happy, Safe and fruitful Fourth of July weekend!

(*) Although this information is good news for you guys...it can also help bring more Joy to you gals! :o)

Best of Everything!

Jacques

Post Options Labels for this post:
e.g. scooters, vacation, fall

8th Grade Education in 1895

2009-06-17T14:15:00.000-07:00

How many teachers today know the answers for this test???

What it took to get an 8th grade education in 1895....

Remember when grandparents and great-grandparents stated that they only had an 8th grade education? Well, check this out. Could any of us have passed the 8th grade in 1895?

This is the eighth-grade final exam from 1895 in Salina , Kansas , USA . It was taken from the original document on file at the Smokey Valley Genealogical Society and Library in Salina , and reprinted by the Salina Journal.

8th Grade Final Exam: Salina , KS - 1895

Grammar (Time, one hour)

1. Give nine rules for the use of capital letters.
2. Name the parts of speech and define those that have no modifications.
3. Define verse, stanza and paragraph
4.. What are the principal parts of a verb? Give principal parts of 'lie,''play,' and 'run.'
5. Define case; illustrate each case..
6. What is punctuation? Give rules for principal marks of punctuation..
7. - 10. Write a composition of about 150 words and show therein that you understand the practical use of the rules of grammar.

Arithmetic (Time,1 hou r 15 minutes)

1. Name and define the Fundamental Rules of Arithmetic.
2. A wagon box is 2 ft. Deep, 10 feet long, and 3 ft. Wide. How many bushels of wheat will it hold?
3. If a load of wheat weighs 3,942 lbs., what is it worth at 50cts/bushel, deducting 1,050 lbs. For tare?
4. District No 33 has a valuation of $35,000. What is the necessary levy to carry on a school seven months at $50 per month, and have $104 for incidentals?
5. Find the cost of 6,720 lbs. Coal at $6..00 per ton.
6. Find the interest of $512.60 for 8 months and 18 days at 7 percent.
7. What is the cost of 40 boards 12 inches wide and 16 ft.. Long at $20 per metre?
8. Find bank discount on $300 for 90 days (no grace) at 10 percent.
9. What is the cost of a square farm at $15 per acre, the distance of which is 640 rods?
10. Write a Bank Check, a Promissory Note, and a Receipt.

U.S. History (Time, 45 minutes)

1. Give the epochs into which U.S. History is divided
2. Give an account of the discovery of America by Columbus
3. Relate the causes and results of the Revolutionary War.
4. Show the territorial growth of the United States
5. Tell what you can of the history of Kansas
6. Describe three of the most prominent battles of the Rebellion.
7. Who were the following: Morse, Whitney, Fulton , Bell , Lincoln , Penn, and Howe?
8. Name events connected with the following dates: 1607, 1620, 1800, 1849, 1865.

Orthography (Time, one hour)
[Do we even know what this is??]

1. What is meant by the following: alphabet, phonetic, orthography, etymology, syllabication
2. What are elementary sounds? How classified?
3. What are the following, and give examples of each: trigraph, subvocals, diphthong, cognate letters, linguals& nbsp;
4. Give four substitutes for caret 'u.' (HUH?)
5. Give two rules for spelling words with final 'e.' Name two exceptions under each rule.
6.. Give two uses of silent letters in spelling. Illustrate each.
7. Define the following prefixes and use in connection with a word: bi, dis-mis, pre, semi, post, non, inter, mono, sup.
8. Mark diacritically and divide into syllables the following, and name the sign that indicates the sound: card, ball, mercy, sir, odd, cell, rise, blood, fare, last.
9. Use the following correctly in sentences: cite, site, sight, fane, f ain, feign, vane , vain, vein, raze, raise, rays.
10. Write 10 words frequently mispronounced and indicate pronunciation by use of diacritical marks and by syllabication.

Geography (Time, one hour)

1. What is climate? Upon what does climate depend?
2. How do you account for the extremes of climate in Kansas ?
3. Of what use are rivers? Of what use is the ocean?
4. Describe the mountains of North America
5. Name and describe the following: Monrovia , Odessa , Denver , Manitoba , Hecla , Yukon , St. Helena, Juan Fernandez, Aspinwall and Orinoco
6. Name and locate the principal trade centers of the U.S. Name all the republics of Europe and give the capital of each.
7. Why is the Atlantic Coast colder than the Pacific in the same latitude?
8. Describe the process by which the water of the ocean returns to the sources of rivers.
9. Describe the movements of the earth. Give the inclination of the earth.

Notice that the exam took FIVE HOURS to complete.

Gives the saying 'he only had an 8th grade education' a whole new meaning, doesn't it?! Also shows you how poor our education system has become, and... NO, I don't have the answers!

"BAD NEWS"

2009-06-10T18:46:00.000-07:00

Dear Jacques,

It turns out the so-called bad news is really a golden opportunity for you, my valued reader. Frankly, I need your help. More on this in a minute.

In anticipation for a busy summer season, my staff has been working feverishly to clean up our warehouse space. It's one of those things that was long overdue. They've been trying to get around to it for months now.

Things have been so busy around here nobody had time. I finally had to put my foot down and schedule a major spring clean-up.

Much to our surprise they discovered a cache of products we didn't know were buried in there. Some of my most popular products we thought had long been out of stock suddenly turned up.

Seems an over-zealous supplier shipped out an extra truck load of products.

Products like Seven Qualities of Top Salespeople, Motivating SalesPeople to Top Performance, Getting Rich Your Own Way, and Something for Nothing, just to name a few.

Now don't get me wrong, there is a limited amount of products. Some are more plentiful than others, but they all must be moved out make room for new product coming in.

Here's where I need your help. Everything must be out by June 30th. We've only got 21 days to get the warehouse space in tip-top shape.

As a result I've decided to have a 'Spring Clean-Up Event.' This is an unusual happening around here but it has to be done because we really need the space.

The good news is you can now get your hands on some of my best products at garage sale prices. This is on a first-come-first-served basis only.

The bad news is you've only got less than 21 days or until the product sells through, whichever comes first -- to take advantage of my warehouse stock overage. If you've ever wanted to own a valuable Brian Tracy product...now is your chance.

In all fairness I must tell you this message is going out to over 250,000 readers of my various newsletters.

As you can imagine the chances are slim to none of getting what you want unless you take action now. You know I'm all about taking action to achieve your goals. Consider this an exercise in action-taking.

Learn more about this sales event now.

The economy breakdown isn't anywhere near over, in fact, it may even get worse. There is no better time to get more bang for your buck than during my first ever 'Spring Clean-Up Event.' Consider it a small investment in your future which can lead to a major ROI (return on investment).

You've got everything to gain and nothing to lose here -- unless you hesitate and do nothing -- in which case I can't be responsible for your loss. You know what you have to do to win.
-----

Dear Friends,

The above was just received from Brian Tracy on whose mailing list I am---FYI: I am in no way involved in promoting him or his products and do not stand to earn a penny should you decide to order any of his merchandise.

More importantly, RE: my return on the scene after such a long silence:

This is mainly to let you know that I am alive and well---that I have Not "forgotten" or tuned my back to you!"---that, to stay in frequent touch with you has continued to be one of my top priorities, which is why I feel compelled to bring you up to date as to "why the long silence?".

The fact is: this computer has been playing tricks that even three techie friends of mine (one runs a computer business) could not figure out. So they started forcing me to "get rid of a lot of files, etc." (delete) which they found superfluous. The business owner must have gone wild as, when he returned my "cleaned up" tower, TONS of items of importance (to ME) were gone or inaccessible to this "computer moron" :0(
Not the least of which was my ability to POST to my Blogs!

FINALLY today, a long time Friend stopped by---MADE the time---patiently and effectively FIXED THE PROBLEM! :o)

It Really Feels GREAT to be "Home Again!" LOL---Be back to you SOON!

Jacques

Doctor-recommended ways to reduce stress

2009-04-09T15:37:00.001-07:00

April 9, 2009

Dear Jacques,

With our economy in such a volatile state, it’s no wonder our collective stress levels are through the roof. Anxiety is running rampant—and with good reason. You can’t open the newspaper, or turn on the TV, without hearing bad news.

While we can’t control the stock market, we can limit the impact stress and anxiety have on our health and well-being. Following these steps can help you relax, unwind, and feel better than you have in years.

Move Your Stress Out: Exercise is an extremely powerful stress reducer.
Physical activity works tension out of your muscles, stimulates the creation of mood-boosting endorphins, and helps you sleep better at night. One of the best stress busters is a brisk walk. Even if it’s cold outside, bundle up and hit the pavement—the fresh air and sunshine will do your mood a world of good. I’ve never finished a walk and thought, “I wish I hadn’t done that.” Neither will you.

Tap Into the Anxiety-Relieving Power of GABA:
Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA is an amino acid produced naturally in your brain. In addition to functioning as a neurotransmitter, fostering communication between nerve cells, GABA reduces stress by toning down “excitatory” stimuli in the brain. Plus, it boosts dopamine and serotonin levels, which helps create an overall sense of calm.

Drink Green Tea:
Green tea contains abundant amounts of L-theanine, an amino acid known for its relaxing properties. Theanine increases alpha waves in the brain, which produce a state of calm alertness—plus it enhances your body’s natural levels of GABA. So the next time you’re feeling stressed out, put on the kettle and brew a cup of green tea.

Smile:
The very act of smiling registers in the hypothalamus of your brain, where endorphins are produced. When you smile you immediately feel better. So, the next time you’re feeling stressed, bring back a happy memory—and put a smile on your face.

Get Enough Sleep:
We all do a better job of coping with stress and anxiety after a sound night’s sleep—but stress and a racing mind can keep you awake. For a better sleep, turn off the TV and your computer at least an hour before bedtime, and take a warm shower or bath. Dimming the lights also helps by stimulating your body’s natural production of melatonin, the hormone that induces sleep. And drinking warm milk or a cup of chamomile tea can also help you drift off into a relaxing slumber.

Have Fun: Finally, tap into the healing power of good old-fashioned fun! One of the best stress relievers around is to get out and do things you enjoy. It doesn’t have to cost money. Get together at someone’s home to play cards, have a potluck dinner, or start a book club. Check out free events at your local library, or start a mall-walking group. The more you get out, socialize, and enjoy yourself—the better you’ll feel.

So there you have it, six simple steps for relieving anxiety and stress. I hope these recommendations bring you some much-needed relaxation.

To your health,

Julian Whitaker, MD

P.S. Another powerful way to reduce stress is to go on a media diet. Limit the amount of time you spend watching the news, or reading newspapers (unless it’s the comics, of course). A media diet does take discipline, but once you institute it, your stress level will decline dramatically.

Simple Steps Boost Brain Function; Reduce Alzheimer's Risk

2009-04-05T15:09:00.001-07:00

By Rallie McAllister, M.D., M.P.H.

One of the most unsettling realities associated with growing older is the loss of mental sharpness. It's bad enough that you have to wear reading glasses, but constantly forgetting where you left them is even worse.

With age, everyone has occasional lapses in memory. It's not uncommon to misplace your glasses and car keys, or to forget the names of people you rarely see.

Forgetting the names of family members and familiar objects, on the other hand, isn't a normal part of aging. In some cases, increasing forgetfulness may be an indication of Alzheimer's disease, a debilitating condition that can rob people of the ability to remember, reason and learn.

Alzheimer's disease doesn't occur overnight. It is typically preceded by mild cognitive impairment -- a stage between normal age-related changes and dementia that is marked by minor memory loss and bouts of confusion.

While prescription drugs are available to treat the symptoms of Alzheimer's, these medications don't address the underlying causes of the disease. The good news is that by making a few changes in your diet, you may be able to delay or even prevent the onset of mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's disease.

The results of a recent study published in Archives of Neurology suggest that following the Mediterranean diet can significantly reduce the risk of cognitive impairment. The Mediterranean diet includes high intakes of fish, vegetables and unsaturated fatty acids, along with moderate alcohol consumption and low intakes of dairy products, meat and saturated fats.

In a study conducted at Columbia University Medical Center in New York, researchers analyzed the eating habits and brain function of nearly 1,400 older adults. Over a four-year period, individuals with normal brain function who followed the Mediterranean diet were found to have a 28 percent lower risk of developing mild cognitive impairment compared to those consuming a typical American diet.

Among individuals with mild cognitive impairment at the beginning of the study, those who adhered to the Mediterranean diet had a 48 percent lower risk of developing Alzheimer's disease compared to those whose diets were less wholesome.

If you're not ready to completely overhaul your diet, making a few simple changes in your eating habits can have a big impact on brain health and performance. Including more fish in your diet is an excellent place to start.

Weekly consumption of fish has been shown to slow the rate of cognitive decline and reduce the risk of Alzheimer's disease among older adults. If you're not a fan of finned foods, regular consumption of fish-oil capsules appears to provide similar benefits.

Eating curried foods can boost brainpower and reduce the risk of dementia, thanks to a chemical compound in turmeric, the spice used to flavor curry powders.

In a study of more than a thousand elderly Asian adults, researchers in Singapore found that individuals who ate curried foods often or even occasionally scored significantly higher on tests of cognitive function than those who rarely or never ate the spice. In India, where curry consumption is commonplace, the prevalence of Alzheimer's disease is among the lowest in the world.

Regular consumption of dark chocolate, wine and tea has been shown to enhance brain performance. In a study of more than 2,000 older adults, researchers from Oxford University in England found that those who habitually consumed chocolate, wine or tea scored significantly higher on tests of cognitive performance than those who did not.

Italian researchers recently reported that older adults with mild cognitive impairment who drank one glass of wine daily developed dementia at an 85 percent slower rate compared to those who never imbibed. In addition to drinking wine, moderate coffee consumption appears to offer a number of important perks for the brain.

Researchers at the University of North Dakota reported that a daily jolt of java can enhance brain function and help protect against Alzheimer's disease. Compared to women who didn't drink coffee, female coffee drinkers were nearly 70 percent less likely to have memory decline at age 80 or older.

If you don't enjoy wine, tea or coffee, pomegranate juice may be the ideal brain-boosting beverage for you. Scientists at Loma Linda University in California found that drinking a glass of the juice each day helps slow the development and progression of Alzheimer's disease.

Mild cognitive impairment with aging isn't inevitable, and Alzheimer's disease may be entirely preventable. Making a few simple changes in your diet can help keep your brain healthy and your mind sharp for years to come.

========

Rallie McAllister is a board-certified family physician, speaker and the author of several books, including "Healthy Lunchbox: The Working Mom's Guide to Keeping You and Your Kids Trim." Her Website is www.rallieonhealth.com. To find out more about Rallie McAllister, M.D., and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate Web page at www.creators.com.

La Vie En Rose (Life In Pink)!

2009-03-28T11:56:00.000-07:00

Dear Friends,

Recent events and traumatic upheavals of our way(s) of life have caused massive panic, depression, fears and worries. Many other gloomy reactions to the economic, employment, housing , healthcare, education, security, drugs and terrorist-related violence, natural disasters and more are cumulatively alarming people everywhere.

The following is intended to be my small contribution to help uplift your spirit.

The first thought that crossed my mind in this regard was a song from that delightful film "The King and I" starring the late Deborah Kerr and Yul Brynner. The lyrics are quite appropriate: "Whenever I feel afraid, I whistle a Happy Song...etc....for when I fool the people (around me), I find that I fool myself as well!..."

This reflects a sound psychological premise which is one of several successful ingredients in goal setting: "ACT AS IF..."...and, before you know it, you find yourself actually feeling, behaving, becoming, being and having that which you started out "Acting Like"! LOL---
---just as the scared little Siamese Princess in the song found a powerful way to chase away fears, concerns, worries. Not by going into a state of denial or an escapistic mode reminiscent of the ostriches that stick their head in the sand... hoping that whatever is frightening them may go away while the sand blinds them... not realizing that, in the meantime, their butt is up in the air...exposed and inviting bullies to kick it! LOL

ALWAYS REMEMBER that "FEAR" is but FALSE EVIDENCE APPEARING REAL ! :o)

SO, my friends, CHEER UP!...Turn All your sour lemons into refreshing lemonade...View your half glass of water as half FULL, as though through Rose-color glasses...Not half Empty, as viewed through smoke-color glasses!...and so on!

In French, we say "L'espoir fait vivre!" (Hope make you Live!")...and: "Tant qu'il y a de la vie, il y a de l'espoir!" (so long as there is Life, there is Hope!")

Make this a Happy, Optimistic, Hopeful weekend full of Inner Peace and Faith in the Fact that "And all this, too, shall pass!"---Just hang in there and Never Give Up (Hope)!---LIve La Vie En Rose! :o)

Your Friend,

Jacques

Traffic Can Bring on a Heart Attack

2009-03-27T19:54:00.000-07:00

Learn how to protect yourself on the road

According to a new German study, enduring traffic more than triples the risk of a heart attack in the following hour. The increased risk may be due to air pollution, stress or a combination of factors.

You can reduce some of the perils on the road with these road rage tips. You can protect yourself even more by quitting smoking and eating healthfully.

To your health,

Marie Karns
Newsletter Editor, YourTotalHealth

Prayer For Financial Healing

2009-03-21T03:58:00.000-07:00

"Adversity is another way to measure the greatness of individuals. I never had a crisis that didn't make me stronger."

-Lou Holtz

-----

From the deep reaches of my heart and soul,
To the highest love in heaven,
I pray for a healing of my financial situation.

I reach a hand to the abundance of the universe,
And pray that I learn to transform my fear into possibility.
Let me open to all the good that exists in this world.

I lift my head up to the sun
And pray that I am inspired to turn darkness into light.
Let me raise myself up beyond my problems.

I look toward the future and what-could-be
And pray that I can believe in myself and my abilities.
Let me know in my heart that I have great strength.

I honor the place of fear that has gripped me,
But I pray that I do not let it own me.
Let me do what I can to bring peace to my financial situation,
And trust that this too will pass.

- Rev. Laurie Sue Brockway

---------------

Dear Friends,

Regretfully, the shock and daily upheavals of recent events have kept me away for a while---yet, you have have continued to be in my mind and heart!

I shall endeavor to write more often from now on, and pass along to you some most exciting and remunerative opportunities to EARN substantially during these harsh times. As a matter of fact, I shall be using this new domain name on one of my recent websites: www,MakeBigBucksInThisEconomy.com ---more to come soon!
I wish you and yours a healthy, peaceful and comfortable weekend!
Cordially,

Jacques

5 Online Strategies That Work for Small Business

2009-02-24T14:41:00.000-08:00

By Lauren Hobson

Marketing a small business online can be both easy and effective, especially with the abundance of online marketing strategies available today. But since there are so many ways to market your small business on the web, it can be a challenge just to decide which online strategies would be right for you.

Here are five online marketing strategies that typically work well for small businesses, and are popular with web users as well:

Video Marketing - Using videos to help market a business online has become very popular, and today it's common to see videos on web sites and blogs, as well as in e-newsletters or e-campaigns sent out to subscriber lists. Users vary in how they like to "consume" information, whether it's reading text on a web site, listening to a podcast, or watching a video, so it's typically a good idea to provide them with several different opportunities to receive your marketing message.

Studies have also shown that adding video to a small business web site can increase conversion rates and sign-ups, and can also help small businesses give a great first impression when customers and prospects visit the site.

Blogs - If you haven't started a blog for your small business yet, now is a good time to consider it. Taking advantage of this technology is one of the best ways to get visibility for your business and create new traffic and inbound links to your site. Blog posts don't have to be very long to be useful, but they DO have to be added regularly, at least once every week or so. Blogs are also a great place to post news items and upcoming events.

Social Networking - Social networking is a fairly recent internet phenomenon that enables people to use the web to stay connected to each other in a variety of ways. MySpace, Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, You Tube, and others have recently gained attention for their potential business applications, and businesses have started using social networking to connect with their clients effectively.

Depending on the type of small business you have, you may be able to use these new technologies to help you reach customers with announcements, build up your customer base (or following), get direct business referrals, and gain greater overall web visibility for your business. Using social networking as part of the marketing mix for your business can really give you an edge over your competitors, since this strategy is quite new to businesses and not everyone is using it yet.

E-Newsletters - Sending out regular e-newsletters is a highly targeted online marketing strategy that can also help establish credibility and expertise with your readers. E-newsletters also give your business a chance to communicate on a regular basis with customers and keep your company's name and message in front of them. That way, the next time your customers need something that you sell, they will remember your company and may call you first before contacting your competitors! Consumers have come to rely on e-newsletters as a primary information source for the products and services they are most interested in, which makes it a great choice for small businesses that want to stay "top-of-mind" with their customers and prospects.

E-Newsletters are also easily tracked, so results can be measured and analyzed. The tracking data can tell you if your message prompted any response (such as clicking on a link), or if your message was even delivered in the first place. Tracking stats can also reveal lots of other useful information, such as how many recipients actually opened the email, or how many emails "bounced" or were not delivered to a recipient (and why).

Web Press Releases - Distributing press releases to web outlets is a great online strategy for small businesses. Web press release outlets are typically lower cost and more accessible than traditional wire-service press outlets, and carry the additional benefit of generating new inbound links for your web site in several places on the web. The benefits can carry even further if your press release is "picked up" by other sources on the web, creating even more inbound links and improving overall web exposure for your business.

Of course, there are many other online marketing strategies available today, and depending on your type of small business, some will work better than others. But typically, the five strategies listed above (video marketing, blogs, social networking, e-newsletters, and web press releases) work well for most small businesses and are fairly easy and inexpensive to implement. The important thing to remember is that as online marketing continues to become more mainstream, small businesses can consider using these initiatives to improve their marketing results while keeping their marketing costs in check.

About the author: Lauren Hobson, President of Five Sparrows, has over 15 years experience in small business technology writing, marketing, and web design/development. Her articles reach 4,500+ readers each month. To subscribe, visit www.FiveSparrows.com.

Courtesy: MANTA.com newsletter

The Chocolate Story

2009-02-15T19:14:00.000-08:00

Hello all!

It is hoped that you had a great Valentines's Day with a loved one...
And I felt that the following would be of special interest to you and yours...so, ENJOY!

Your Friend,

Jacques

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Chocolate comes of age as a health treat.

There are few foods that evoke as much passion as this decadent treat. Folklore from many cultures claimed that consuming chocolate instilled faith, health, strength, and sexual passion. Once an indulgence of royalty, it is now a treasured and accessible – and yes, even healthy – treat. So where did our infatuation with chocolate begin?

Where does chocolate come from, anyway?
The cacao tree, whose pods contain seeds that can be processed into chocolate, was discovered 2,000 years ago in the tropical rainforests of the Americas. The first people known to have consumed cacao were the Classic Period Maya (250-900 A.D.). They mixed ground cacao (cocoa) seeds with seasonings to make a bitter, spicy drink that was believed to be a health elixir.

What was chocolate's great allure?
To the Mayans, cocoa pods symbolized life and fertility. The pod was often represented in religious rituals, including marriage ceremonies, and was referred to as food of the gods. In central Mexico, the Aztecs believed that wisdom and power came from eating the fruit of the cocoa tree, and that it had nourishing, fortifying, and even aphrodisiac qualities. The Aztec emperor Montezuma even drank liquid chocolate daily to enhance his libido.

Europeans get a taste of chocolate — and fall in love.
Europeans got their first taste of chocolate in 1519, when Montezuma offered the spicy drink to Spanish explorer Cortés and his army. The Spanish conquistadors brought cocoa seeds back to Spain, where they introduced new spices and sugar to the liquid concoction. The fad drink spread throughout Europe, where it remained a beverage of the elite for centuries.

Chocolate becomes known for its powers of seduction.
Chocolate's reputation as an aphrodisiac flourished in the French royal court. Erotic art and literature were inspired by the seductive substance. Casanova, the infamous womanizer, made a habit of drinking chocolate before his romantic escapades. Even today, romantic lore commonly identifies chocolate as an aphrodisiac.

Chocolate goes global.
The first machine-made chocolate was produced in Barcelona in 1780, paving the way for the mass production of chocolate. Later, mechanical inventions made it possible to produce smooth, creamy, solid chocolate for eating – not just the liquid for drinking. The first solid chocolate bar was developed by British chocolate maker Fry & Sons in the early 1800s.

When did chocolate become associated with Valentine's Day?
"It's believed that during the 17th century, lovers began exchanging mementos on Valentine's Day – sweet treats were one of them. In 1868, the first Valentine's Day box of chocolates was introduced [by Richard Cadbury]," - says Susan L. Fussell, senior director of communications for the National Confectioners Association.

Three cheers for chocolate!
In 1875, the first milk chocolate was introduced to the market by Daniel Peter of Switzerland. Chocolate became so popular around the world that even during World War II the U.S. government shipped cocoa beans to the troops. Today, the U.S. Army includes chocolate bars in their rations. Chocolate has even been taken into space as part of the diet of U.S. astronauts.

Is chocolate really an aphrodisiac?
Not really, even though throughout its history, chocolate has been purported as one. Chocolate contains small amounts of a chemical called phenylethylamine (PEA), a.k.a. the "love drug," and it's been linked to the regulation of physical energy, mood, and attention. A tiny amount of PEA is released at moments of emotional euphoria, elevating blood pressure and heart rate. There is no evidence that PEA found in foods increases PEA in the brain – although many chocolate lovers may beg to differ!

The 21st Century: Chocolate makes health headlines.
Dark chocolate (as opposed to milk or white chocolate) contains healthful flavonoids similar to those found in tea, red wine, fruits, and vegetables. Studies have shown that small portions of dark chocolate can improve blood vessel flow and may improve blood sugar and insulin sensitivity to help reduce the risk of diabetes. But beware, chocolate candy has plenty of saturated fat and sugar, which can lead to weight gain, so enjoy small portions of as part of a healthy diet.

Courtesy: WebMD.com Newsletter

Fear And Desire (Part 1)

2009-02-12T08:41:00.000-08:00

On one end, we have to overcome our own fear, whether it be of failure or of success to breakthrough to new levels of personal success.

On the other end, we have to build the desire to break through those fears and build the desire in the minds of our prospects for what we have to offer in order to help them break through their own barriers and jump on board in our success wagon.

Mastering both fear and desire internally and externally will make you more than
a few dollars . . .

Today, let's talk about these two big pink elephants in the room in a candid way. I
must warn you. Some of the things I share will be very personal. I ask that you simply keep this between us.

First let's talk about the big bad wolf of fear and how it plays into our money and
recruiting getting efforts.

For me, when I began I had a HUGE fear of selling. Later that fear grew with each
rejection I endured trying to dial my way to millions.

It got so bad that just the thought of speaking to another lead got my heart racing.

Seemed like by the six or seventh month I had to literally psych myself up just to pick up the phone.

It was something of ritual . . .

I'd be on the drive home from work thinking about my little home business that "couldn't" and up would pop this lump in my throat.

All those thoughts of what had happened in past days trying make "it" work hurt.

Getting hung up on. Getting yelled at. Being called the lowest scum on the planet just for trying to grow a little old business.

Those things stung, and I did try to forget them, but they only seemed to lodge their
way deeper into my psyche.

If flat out scared me. I didn't want that pain any longer. Slowly but surely this lead calling thing started to loose steam, but then . . .

Up popped up good friend desire from somewhere deep down inside. He flashed visions of a fresh new future in my minds eye. He stoked the fire.

Desire picked me each time I was knocked down. Desire taught me new skills. Desire
carried me through to multiple stream of income and the promise of a new life.

But wouldn't you know it . . .

The checks started growing larger and a weird thing happened.

I got scared again. "What if this works? What then?" Again, with the same heart pumping anxiety and heavy feelings. I just couldn't figure it out.

Why the fear? I wasn't failing.

Ahh . . . This time it was not the fear of failure, it was his other face, fear of
success. How can you fear success? The the thing you had worked so hard for . . .

Less and less did I want to do the things that were working. I knew if they kept
working I just might make it out of that little old job I had, but then what?

People would look up to me. What would I say? I'd have more free time. What would I do with it?

This fear was not one of known failure, but one of the unknowns of success. And well, you want to know what happened next?

You guessed it . . .

My good friend desire showed up again.

This time he too had a different face. He wasn't the desire for more, my champion of
the past. He was different. Let me explain.

As a high school wrestler, I faced this same foe - fear.

First I feared loosing. And there my desire for success gave me the strength to win.

When I began winning, I began to fear winning big, and somehow in my largest matches I still found a way to loose.

Being a champion at that point was too scary for me. I folded, not for lack of skill, but fear of the responsibility of success. In those moments, I felt complete defeat.

Not physical, but self imposed and complete utter personal defeat. I hated myself for it.

I had betrayed myself. I told myself never again would I let that happen.

When that fear of success arose in me again in my business I remembered him from the past and . . .

I remembered my promise to myself and my desire to never let it happen again.

So I didn't.

Fear of failure was my first foe. He was defeated by the desire for a new future
at any and all cost.

Fear of success soon followed. He was defeated by my complete and utter desire to
never let myself down again.

Fear and desire have no face. They can arise in the best and worst of times. These foes are forever at battle within us.

Fear wins. We lose. Desire wins. We win.

The secret is . . . to find the desire in every situation which outweighs the fear.

You do this, and you will never be defeated.

We've spoken of personal fears and desires.

In our next meeting, we'll discuss how these titans wage war in the minds of your
prospects, so that . . .

Here's a hint. We always find a way to buy what we desire, so how do we build that desire in our in prospects?

I'll see you then with a few more pointers.

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JACQUES' REMARKS:

The above, courtesy of Daegan Smith, the self-proclaimed "King of Never Calling A Lead" is an online marketer and apparently successful. Let me know if you'd like to get in touch with him and I'll give you his contact data.

Happy Abraham Lincoln's Birthday! And All the Best to You and yours!

Your Friend,

Jacques

7 foods to NEVER eat!

2009-01-27T23:26:00.000-08:00

By Jaclyn Johnson

There will always be those fattening foods that are easy to make, easy to get, and easy to crave. You think "OK, I know this is bad but it can't be that bad!" Think again. Here are the top seven foods you should never ever feed your family or yourself!

1. Doughnuts It's hard to resist the smell of a Krispy Kreme doughnut, which is why I never step foot in the store. Doughnuts are fried chock-full of sugar and white flour and loads of trans fat.

According to the Krispy Kreme Web site, an average 3.5-ounce sugar doughnut weighs in with about 400 calories and contains few other nutrients besides fat. These sugary treats may satisfy your craving but it won't satisfy your hunger as most of the calories come from fat.

"Eating a lot of refined sugar contributes to blood sugar 'swings' or extreme fluctuations," Nutritionist Susan Burke said.

2. Cheeseburger with fries The age-old classic may be delicious but think twice before sinking your teeth into that Whopper. The saturated fat found in cheese burgers has been linked to heart attacks, strokes and some types of cancer.
"In fact, fast-food portions are gargantuan, almost double the calories per meal compared to 20 years ago," Susan says. "Twenty years ago the average fast-food cheeseburger had about 300 calories. Today's BK Whopper with Cheese has 720. To burn the excess 420 calories, you'd have to run for 40 minutes. For example, in 1985 a medium French fry had 240 calories, 2.4 ounces. Today's "medium" is 6.9 ounces and 610 calories.

"This fast-food meal of cheeseburger and fries has way too many calories and fat grams, not to mention grams of saturated fat, trans fat and cholesterol and sodium."Let's break down this meal. First, take the white-flour bun (refined carbohydrates), then add some processed cheese (saturated fat and trans fat, plus lots of additives and preservatives) and then top off with fried red meat (cholesterol and saturated fats). And let's not forget about the condiments such as the always fattening mayonnaise.

Not sounding so appetizing anymore, huh? Oh, and let's not forget about the infamous side dish. You cheeseburger will most likely come with a side of French fries, which is sadly the most popular vegetable dish in the U.S. Don't kid yourself, French fries are not vegetables, they are extremely high in fat and contain a tiny amount of nutrients.

3. Fried Chicken and Chicken Nuggets Foods cooked in highly heated oils (most notably partially hydrogenated oil) have been known to cause cancer, weight gain and other serious health risks if ingested regularly. A 10-piece chicken McNugget from McDonald's has 420 calories, 24 grams of fat and 1120 milligrams of sodium. One Extra Crispy Chicken Breast from KFC has around 420 calories and eight grams of saturated fat. So unless you want to super size yourself, it's best to make a clean break with fried foods.

4. Oscar Mayer's Lunchables Sure they are convenient and easy , but boy are they unhealthy! These kid-marketed lunches are loaded with saturated fat and sodium. They usually contain highly processed meats and cheeses, white flour crackers and sugary treats. Lunchables get two-thirds of their calories from fat and sugar. And they provide lopsided nutrition since they contain no fruits or vegetables.

"They insidiously promote obesity by making kids think that lunch normally comes in a cellophane-wrapped box," Susan says. "Parents are promoting their children's obesity by buying these items. They're expensive, too. Pack a sandwich and save dollars and health."

5. Sugary Cereal Not all cereals are created equally. And while your kids might beg for the latest cookie or marshmallow chocolate surprise cereals, it is a safe bet they are about as healthy as a dessert. Keywords to look out for are puffed, dyed and sweetened.

Most kids' cereals are so highly processed they no longer look like the grains they were originally made from. A healthy alternative is oatmeal. Although, if you are buying pre-packaged oatmeal make sure to check the label and see how much sugar it contains, you might be surprised.

"A little sugar isn't a problem but when the first ingredient on the box is sugar, then watch out," she said. "There is no fruit in Froot Loops. But the unsweetened original Cheerios or Rice Krispies are fine, and you can sweeten them naturally with blueberries and strawberries."

6. Processed Meats. What falls under the category of processed meats? Hot dogs, sausage, jerky, bacon, certain lunch meats and meats used in canned soup products. Almost all processed meats have sodium nitrite added as a preservative.

A recent study conducted at the University of Hawaii found that sodium nitrite can act as "a precursor to highly carcinogenic nitrosamines -- potent cancer-causing chemicals that accelerate the formation and growth of cancer cells throughout the body." So eliminate these meats from your diet before they eliminate you!

7. Canned soup. Sometimes regarded as a healthy food, soups can be very deceiving. You must stay on your guard because many canned soups have high levels of trans fats, sodium and artificial preservatives such as MSG. Just one serving (which is roughly one cup) can have almost 1,000 milligrams of salt. Also, steer clear of soups that are cream-based, they can be high in calories and fat.

Susan says it is important to "read labels from back to front. Ignore the health claims, and instead focus on the ingredients and serving size. Watch out for hydrogenated fat (trans fat) and sodium. If you're buying bread to go with you soup, the first ingredient should be whole grain -- either whole wheat, rye or other grain. If it just says 'wheat bread,' that doesn't mean whole wheat."

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Courtesy: eDiets.com

Negotiate Terms

2009-01-25T23:49:00.000-08:00

By Curtis Arnold (US Citizens for Fair Credit Card Terms, Inc.)

Any terms are negotiable, from interest rates to rewards. The better your credit score and payment history, the more clout you have. Start by talking with a customer service representative. If he/she can't help, ask to speak with a manager. Arm yourself with knowledge about offers from rival card issuers. CardRatings.com compares rates, fees and rewards for dozens of cards. Be polite but persistent and you can negotiate...

Interest Rates. If your credit score is 730 or above, you shouldn't be paying more than 9% in annual interest. Card issuers will frequently lower the rate by two to five percentage points immediately.

Annual Fees. Most issuers will waive the first year's fee, but always ask for another waiver in year two -- it is often granted.

Late fees. If you ask, issuers will usually forgive one or two late payments a year, especially if you make a payment immediately by phone or online. Also, if a fee is imposed for exceeding your credit limit, ask to have it waived and ask the issuer to automatically decline new charges that exceed your credit limit.

Credit Line. If an issuer lowers your credit limit, call and say "this doesn't work for me." In this tight credit environment, only the most creditworthy customers will succeed but it’s worth trying.

Rewards. If your issuer gives you cash rebates of only 1% on what you spend, ask for more. Various issuers have been known to raise rebate levels, at least temporarily.

Balance Due. If you are carrying a substantial balance and having trouble paying it off, ask whether the issuer is willing to stretch out payments. Some card issuers may even accept less than full repayment if you agree to settle within a certain time.

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Bottom Line/Wealth interviewed Curtis Arnold, founder and CEO of US Citizens for Fair Credit Card Terms, Inc., which educates consumers about credit cards, based in Little Rock, Arkansas. Its Web site, CardRatings.com, features consumer reviews of credit cards. Arnold is author of How You Can Profit from Credit Cards (FT Press).

Why Men Are Better Dieters Than Women

2009-01-21T09:50:00.000-08:00

Well, my friends... I spent most of yesterday watching the Presidential Inauguration ceremonies and happenings from Washington, D.C.: what a momentous and historical day and night it was!

Our new, the 44th., President Obama never misses his 45 minutes of morning exercise, it was brought up several times. Perhaps he will inspire and motivate us all to follow suit, and Change the U.S. into a nation of losers! :o)

And so, I felt that the following article by JEFFREY KLUGER was a fitting one to share with you! GO, U.S.A.!

Have a Great Day!
Your Friend,

Jacques
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Facebook Yahoo! Buzz Mixx Permalink Reprints Related You wouldn't think a diet would be a cause of marital discord. But it often is — at least when couples try to shed pounds together and, as often happens, the husband drops the weight a lot faster than the wife does. Well, guess what, guys? It's not your steely resolve or your trips to the gym or your superior genes that are entirely behind it. It might just be your brain.

It's hardly a secret that men and women gain weight, lose weight and think about weight entirely differently. It's also not news that body-fat percentage alone — with females naturally carrying an extra ladling of adipose tissue — gives males a head start in the slimming game. But a new study from Brookhaven National Laboratory looked deeper into the primal ways in which we react to the very presence of food — and if you like to eat, this is not a study you would have wanted any part of. (See the Year in Medicine 2008.)

Nuclear-medicine specialist Dr. Gene-Jack Wang first recruited a group of 23 male and female volunteers — none of whom were obese and all of whom were in good general health — and instructed them to fast for 17 hours. During that period, he and his team interviewed them about their favorite foods and asked them to rank each on a 1-to-10 scale. The researchers then selected one food for each subject, the only requirement being that it scored 7 or above in desirability. When the 17 hours were up, the volunteers were injected with a nuclear tracer, placed in a brain-imaging PET scanner and presented with a food they craved. Actually, they were more than merely presented with it.

"If you said you liked barbecued ribs, we'd put a big portion of them in front of you," says Wang. "We'd warm them in a microwave first so you couldn't get away from the smell, and we'd give you a cotton ball with a bit of the food on it so you could taste it. Then we'd have one of the nurses describe how the food was made."

When a hungry person is hit with such multisensory stimuli, it's no surprise that the brain starts screaming chow time, and the PET scan showed that it was screaming loudly. Appetite and hunger are processed in a lot of regions — most notably the orbital frontal cortex, which is linked to self-control; the striatum, which is linked to motivation; the hippocampus, which is linked to memory; and the amygdala, which is linked to powerful emotions. In Wang's subjects, all these regions were ringing the dinner bell.

Wang then told his volunteers to do what few mortal people could do: think about something else. For the next 40 minutes, while the PET scanner hummed, the subjects fought to close their minds to the thoughts of food in any way they could, though they were required to keep their eyes open. "We tried to make it a real-life experience. It's like being in a buffet line, only it lasts a lot longer," says Wang.

When the scans were studied and the results were tallied, it appeared that both sexes were actually able to lower the overall sensation of hunger. In most people, the brain may grow partially habituated to an empty belly over time, and all of Wang's volunteers did a good job of hastening that desensitization. What the men could do that the women couldn't was quit ruminating on food, successfully suppressing — if only temporarily — the conscious desire to eat. The women continued experiencing emotional cravings even if their hunger had subsided.

Wang is not certain what's behind the differences, though he suspects hormones may play a significant role. He did get a better sense of the areas of the brain those hormones affect most, owing to the fact that he used a long-running PET scan rather than a shorter session with a functional magnetic resonance imager (fMRI), which is how such studies are usually conducted. This afforded him a good look at the amygdala, the deepest and most primitive of the brain structures involved. When the amygdala acts up, it's exceedingly hard to bring it to heel, as anyone suffering from anxiety conditions like phobias or obsessive-compulsive disorder could attest. That the men in Wang's study had some success disciplining their amygdalas was an undeniable accomplishment, but it was one that required enormous effort.

"It takes a lot of inhibition to control the amygdala," says Wang.

That, no doubt, is why even the most resolute dieters — both male and female — so often fail, eventually pouncing on the barbecued ribs. While that does nothing for your waistline or your cholesterol count, it may, briefly, mean more peace in your marriage. At least until the next diet begins.
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JACQUES' P.S.:

As a clinical therapist, I also learned that one of women's instinctive, inborn drives is that based on eating or hoarding more food than their bodies need...as a means of building up reserves for when they have babies to grow and feed...Something like female birds, wolves, etc. tend to gather feathers and other soft materials with which to build nests to keep and protect their young.

Courtesy: MyObesityConnection.com (www.healthcentral.com)