My birthday is coming and the standard questions I always ask
myself, how is my life going, could I be more successful and
make more money? Could I be a better Husband and father? Could I
be a better friend? Could I do more in my work life? When my
birthday rolls around I question everything. Dr. Phil says,”Is
it working for you?” Good question. I ask myself can I do more.
I think it is the more part that is always challenging. What
more could I do for everyone in my life? What more is there?
What is real and what is smoke and mirrors? So many questions.
Maybe it is a good time to just slow everything down and take a
hard look at one’s life.

My business is a very important part of my life. I spend more
time at the office than anywhere else in my life. This article
is about my work, so I ask the question, could I re-invent
myself so I get the maximum results possible from all my lifes
experiences and all my business experiences.

I think, this being Super Bowl week it reminds me that these
two teams have done their very best to get into this years Super
Bowl. For these two Super Bowl teams, Pittsburgh and Seattle I
know they gave it there all to get into this supper sports
event. Being an athlete I know that athletes re-invent
themselves every year. It starts with spring football or the
spring of any sport. With my birthday coming it feels like
spring time and I need to re-invent myself too.

The Bankcard industry is the industry that I have chosen to make
my business mark in life. The Bankcard industry provides the
freedom I want in life to make choices for me and my family. The
Bankcard industry also provides the standard of living that
allows me to live in a safe neighbor and enjoy the little
niceties of life. I drive the car I want and live where I want.
I have a nice life. Could I have a more productive life from the
business point of view? Could I make more money so I could do
more for my family and could I someday make the super bowl of
business? The answer is yes, yes and yes.

The big question is how could I do better in business? The
answer is a little more complex, but here it is. Re-invent
myself. I must re-invent myself in so many ways. Where do I
start? Just like an athlete who must get into shape for the new
season ahead. I must take the same approach. I must look at
everything that could affect my work life and look at the things
I need to do and improve on so I can get to the super bowl of
business.

The Super Bowl of business for me means having NO worries about
money for me and my family for the years ahead. It means having
the respect of your business peers and it means enjoying the
many fruits of one’s labor. The Super Bowl of business is
different for everyone. Personal rewards and goals are unique to
the individual. If I am going to improve, then I must make some
changes and I must being willing to try new ideas and venture
out of my comfort zone. I must understand that rewards carry a
price of commitment. I know that I must put a lot of sweat into
my re-inventing of myself.

Where do I start? I must take a step back and observe the
leaders of my industry. What are the leaders doing to get to the
top. I must review the things that might make be less effective
in my daily life. I must examine the little things that really
waste my time and are not productive. I must shake things up and
look under every rock to make sure that my personal audit is
done with all the facts. I want to look at relationships, both
family and friends. I want to ask me close to me what ideas they
have to help me be a better family person and friend. I want to
ask my business peers what they observe. I figure if I am going
to audit my self then I better do my home work. To get to the
Super Bowl of life I better find out now, what the issues are.
What do I know that I do not know? What are the fears that are
holding me back? When I do my research and get the facts, then I
will need a plan to go forward. I want to build a plan to get me
to the Super Bowl of Business and Life.

According to a survey conducted by Franklin Covey 83% of people want to be organized. To begin your quest for organizing it is best to start with organizing your home. Closet organizing should be considered to be the very first step towards getting organized. There are lot of items in your closet and breaking them in to categories and then arranging the accordingly is a nice way. First of all get rid of all those dresses that are out of fashion now, there is no need to keep all this stuff so it will be able to get rid of them.

The next step in organizing closet is sorting out your remaining stuff. Arrange all these things by hanging them and dedicating a specific space for them. There will be stuff that has to be kept in baskets and draws. Identify what you need, do you need draws or shelves? Do you need racks for belts or tie? Do you need more space for hanging your clothes? If you are able to sort thing out and arrange them well then you will notice that you have more space than before. Your closet will look much tidy now and you can easily find stuff that you need to wear.

More about closet organizers

Good Speakers need good listening skills to become
Great Communicators

Speakers spend a lot of time developing speaking skills and often don’t focus enough on the equally important communication skill of listening. As a Speaker trained in the art of listening I have put together the tips below.

1. What Speakers want most of all is to be heard, so does everyone else! Hence listening is the perfect gift to give to others

2. Never make assumptions about what people are thinking and feeling. Take time to listen and ask questions. Most people will be only too happy to answer. Why guess what people are thinking when they will tell you!

3. Remember silence can be as powerful as Speaking, when used skilfully

4. In conversation, repeat in your own words your understanding of what is being said. This communicates to the listener that they are really being heard.

5. Make eye contact that is not too fleeting, actually try to see the eye colour of the person/s you are communicating with.

6. When people speak, let them finish their own sentences, no matter how intuitive you are, you never really know what people are going to say.

7. Resist the urge to interrupt, and avoid planning your reply while the person is speaking; instead focus on fully hearing what is being said. This is the real skill of listening

8. Listening is a whole body experience; listen under, over and between the words spoken. Feel what your audience is saying.

9. Check your ego. When you try too hard and ‘Ease Genuine Out’- EGO, what remains can appear false. Listen to yourself and be yourself, people will love you for it.

10. People will be more prepared to listen to you, if you take time to really hear them.

Written by, Shola Arewa, Coach, Speaker, Author.

Contact: shola@creatingease.com

www.creatingease.com

www.successwithoutstress.net

Caroline Shola Arewa

Creating EASE is an energy-based approach to work-life balance. We work with individuals and organisations on achieving more Success and less stress in our ‘I need it yesterday’ world. Shola is a Health and Success Coach, Motivational Speaker and Author.

Visit our website http://www.creatingease.com and sign up for your free 7-day e-course on Creating EASE and excellence in your work and personal life. Working with you to achieve Success without Stress.

Choosing the right flowers can be difficult at the best of times
but when selecting funeral flower arrangements it is made more
difficult. Particularly if this is the first time you are buying
funeral flowers or even if this is the first time you will order
flowers online when you are still trying to come to terms with
your loss. It can be both momentous and trivial at the same time
when deciding how to best reflect your feelings towards your
loved one. We hope this simple guide can help make choosing
sympathy flowers an easier process.

Consider the Sentiment: Sending the right message is perhaps the
most important consideration when choosing a funeral
arrangement. Funeral flowers honor the departed, comfort the
bereaved, and express your personal feelings of loss. Think
about the interests and hobbies of the person who has passed
away and how you will always remember them. You can pay tribute
to the patriotic with a strong display of red, white, and blue,
or let the bereaved know that their loved one was a ray of
sunshine in your life with an arrangement of yellow blooms.
Religious sentiments can be expressed in a number of ways, from
the form of the arrangement to the message on your card, but
should only be sent if you have knowledge of the family’s
religious affiliation. Casket sprays are only appropriate when
requested by the person responsible for the funeral
arrangements. Be honest with your selection — don’t go
overboard just because you can. Unless you are sending as a
group, large arrangements should only be selected if you are a
close friend or family member. If you are true to your feelings
and consider the wishes of the departed and the bereaved, your
arrangement will always express your sentiments appropriately.

Consider the Setting: Wakes, visitations, and funerals happen in
a number of different locations. If you intend to send flowers
to a service, consider the size and style that would work best
for the setting. Large, elaborate displays like funeral wreaths
and funeral sprays are ideal for funeral homes, churches, and
outside services, but might look out of place at the home of the
bereaved. For arrangements delivered to a residence, flowers in
a vase or basket are an excellent choice. Be aware that some
vase arrangements might be quite large and therefore better
suited for churches and funeral homes.

Consider the Source: Generally, flowers delivered by a local
florist are the best choice for funeral arrangements, because
they can be delivered same day and arrive ready for immediate
display. Local florists often work with funeral homes in the
area to ensure arrangements arrive on time according to the
location’s specifications, and are usually on familiar terms
with their policies. However, if you are sending your flowers to
the home of the family, flowers delivered fresh from the grower
are also a suitable choice, particularly because arranging these
flowers can be a soothing activity. Grower fresh flowers are
also generally lower in price and will tend to last longer than
arrangements from a florist if given the proper care.

Frequently, we get the request in our office for a “partial”
inspection. This is another of those things that truly escapes
my logic. While I am sure that the basis for this request is the
desire to reduce the expense of the inspection, partial
inspections are often a high-risk event for everyone concerned.
Let me explain by way of example.

The most common partial inspection request is the roof
inspection. This is due primarily to the high replacement cost
of the roof and the probability of extensive damage to the
interior of the home should the roof fail.

Here’s where the problems begin. Most folks assume that the roof
inspection takes place on the roof. It is true that walking on
the roof is an important element of the roof inspection. But, to
really judge the past history and future performance of the
roof, the interior of the home as well as attic space should
also be inspected.

More often then not, roofs leak for quite some time into the
attic before the leak is detected in the interior living space.
Some leaks begin so small that for years the wood roof sheathing
is kept wet and rotting. The water my also have dripped onto
wires causing corrosion and ductwork causing mold! How are these
additional discoveries disclosed in the context of the “partial”
inspection?

To ignore them is clearly irresponsible; to disclose them is to
surely expand the inspection beyond its requested partial scope.
In either scenario, it is certain to create confusion and
consternation. Had these initial symptoms of problem been
discovered and disclosed in the context of a full inspection it
would be a much simpler and more professional process to provide
a clear and complete picture for integration into the contract.
Seldom are partial inspections good for anyone in the
transaction other then follow-up to the initial full home
inspection.

Copyright © Florida HomePro, Inc. and Wallace J. Conway. All
rights in all media reserved.

The best way to understand the zodiac signs is to think of them
as twelve separate energy fields in space that consist of either
fire, earth, air, or water. This is easy to understand if you
think of what happens when you pour water on fire. Obviously,
you know that the fire goes out. In a sense, water has
eliminated it. We all know that fire and water are not
compatible.

It is helpful to know that all of us are made up of various
combinations of fire, earth, air, and water energies. Our
particular combination of these elements are revealed in our
astrological birth chart. They reveal who we are as a human
being.

For example, if you have a lot of fire signs (Aries, Leo, and
Sagittarius) in your nature you would not get along with a
person who was born with a lot of water signs (Cancer, Scorpio
and Pisces). You would feel that the water person is too
emotional, sensitive, and incapable of facing reality.

On the other hand, the water person would view you as blunt,
impulsive, arrogant, and insensitive to their feelings. People
encounter these kinds of dramas every day of their lives, but
are not conscious of what is behind the conflicts they have with
other people.

To be more specific, if you have your Moon in Cancer and your
co-worker has his Mars in Aries, he will always be seen by you
as a real jerk because his impulsive reactions irritate you
emotionally. If you knew that these are the signs that are at
the source of your problems, you could find a way to work with
them. You would be able to talk about these differences and work
out a solution. You might even find it humorous!

It is helpful to know that there are three fire signs, three
earth signs, three air signs, and three water signs. When
planets are found in these signs, they activate the energies of
the signs. This is the valuable information that a skilled
astrologer can find for you. He can even tell you what your
relationship would be like with any other person BEFORE you even
get to know them.

If you practice looking at your relationship problems in this
way, you will find answers that you never thought imaginable.
All you need to do is explore these secret realms of
consciousness and you will be well-rewarded with great insights
into human nature.

(c) 2005 Randall Curtis

There is 100s of options for grub in our capital, this is probably down to the various populations London comes with, so just about anything you desperately need should be astonishingly close at hand. If by chance one is not looking to shop & you feel you want to do things, excluding drinking and eating at excellent restaurants, then you’ll discover tons of art galleries, museums & attractions to enjoy.

The following is a good list of several of the ones we like:

The Millennium Wheel really should be seen when on a trip to the city. Their 32 modules lugs its visitors about and, down to the way that it is put together, it permits folk to spy a 360 panorama, providing you are at crown of the ride. Visitors could organise tickets for this online which is probably a good bit of advice since this saves people lots of time. The London Eye is probably 1 occasion when people should not forget to pack video cameras.

The city’s Natural History Museum deals with contemplating the fantastic nature around everyone and is in large something that could seduce all the varying ages. Save the complete day for the Natural History Museum as it’ll often eat into a lot of your day-out, just to walk around & view the rooms. Time Out London have an excellent guide to what’s going on in London.

The Tate Modern is based in an old electric plant & it comes with an imposing seat opposite St. Paul’s besides the River.

People can visit the wheel again and again because it’s free entry. The artists are changed often and so it is similar to going there for the 1st time, each respective time you visit. Visitors can normally come across immense installations in the principle space. Right outside the building can be found the Millennium Bridge which is sensational.

Choosing an online Florist - what to look out for to ensure you
get the flowers you want, when you want.

Ordering flowers is a fickle business and it’s easy to part with
your cash expecting a beautiful bouquet only to be disappointed
by the reality. Here at Flowers 4 Online International we pride
ourselves on the quality and value of Online Flower Delivery and
have created this checklist to help ensure you can choose a
reputable Florist.

How long have they been in business? Do they have experience in
the type of event you have in mind? Can they work in your price
range? Our experience includes a range of events; we can quickly
“size up” what you have in mind.

Are the pictures you see on the site, pictures of Flower
Arrangements they have created themselves? Is there a wide price
range of Flowers, and do you have the option of sizes of bouquet
ranges?

What guarantees do they offer for delivery? Can they offer same
day and next day flower delivery? What about international
orders, can they also deliver these at short notice? Do they
have a large number of international florists they work with to
deliver anywhere at short notice? Is pricing totally
transparent? Can you see the prices you pay including delivery
charges before you pay?

Flowers4 has enabled thousands of customers to send flowers
online for over five years through its own Flower Shops,
affiliates and website. It is a name you can trust for quality
Flowers at good prices with an excellent reputation for timely
delivery.

After being in the bookkeeping and tax field for nine years, I still remember how nervous I felt when meeting a client for the first time. If you are a new freelance bookkeeper, fresh out of training, you may feel the same way. Here are some things I’ve learned over the years that I’d like to share with you. I didn’t include a few obvious things, like dressing or grooming appropriately, or getting good quality business cards. These tips are born from practical experience and I hope you find some benefit from them.

1. Be confident. Don’t let your lack of on-the-job experience make you feel unable to handle a particular client’s job. At times you may feel as if you are on a tightrope without a net, but it’s not true. If you have had proper training, it will support you.

2. You know more. Do you ever fear that the client will easily find some “hole” in your knowledge? In reality this rarely happens. Generally, potential clients don’t know enough about bookkeeping/taxes/etc., to ask those types of questionsif they did they probably wouldn’t need you! Similarly, if an unknown question does arise, don’t be afraid to say, “I don’t know, but I’ll find out.” Then, be sure you do find out and promptly deliver the answer.

3. Always verify. You may meet clients who act like they know a lot about accounting and taxes. In reality, many of these people know very little, but it may take some time to realize how little they know. I recently had a client who insisted that certain information from a tax form be handled in a certain way. He spoke very authoritatively on the subject, as if he knew exactly how it should be handled. Since it was an unusual and rare tax topic, I had to do a lot of research to verify his statements. Guess what? He was wrong, and I am so glad I did not take his “advice” at face value.

4. You don’t need props. As a new bookkeeper, you may feel the need to bring brand-specific items or special presentation materials with you to meet potential clients. I’m not saying, “Don’t bring them.” I am saying:

• Your potential client will not base his/her decision upon them.
• Too many props say, “I feel insecure.”
• The client wants your knowledge and your care, not your props.

I bring a pen and a spiral bound notebook to new client meetings. Listening attentively, I take lots of notes and ask lots of questions. This has worked quite well, and communicates exactly what I want: I’m confident and can take care of things!

5. Let them talk. Many clients want to do most of the talking during the first meeting. Try to listen very carefully. Are you familiar with the term empathic listening? It’s a specific method of listening to people and is extremely effective when meeting new clients. Learn how to empathically listen if you don’t yet know how.

6. Don’t take bad clients. You will probably be tempted to take any client, just to get your business off the ground. Resist this urge! If you have a bad feeling about somebody, or if your gut is telling you something about somebody, listen to it. The money bad clients bring is not worth the headache they cause.

7. Remember your aim. Why did you get into this field? To serve people, or only to earn money? When difficult situations arise, remember that a service oriented aim will always serve you better than a money oriented aim.

About the Author:

Jennifer A. Thieme, owner of Solid Rock Accounting Services, is a Certified QuickBooks Advisor and a Registered Tax Preparer. She has been in the bookkeeping and tax field for nine years. She considers the diagnosis and resolution of accounting-related problems her specialty. Her articles have appeard in the Intuit ProConnection Newsletter. Contact her via http://www.jenniferthieme.com with your accounting related questions.

There is a saying that goes something like this: The person you
are today is a direct by-product of the books you read and the
people you hang out with. If you are not where you want to be in
life, it might be time to upgrade your friends. Take this simple
quiz to see”

1. Are your friends generally on time for get-togethers? 2. Are
any of your friends on the road to financial independence? 3. Do
you have any friends who own their own business (or have
aspirations to do so)? 4. Would you ever consider trading lives
with any of your friends? 5. Are your friends “happy”? 6. Do any
of your friends have clear goals they are working towards?

If you answered “no” to most of those questions, the time has
come to stop hanging out with people who have less going for
them than you do. Think about your goals, dreams and
aspirations; make new friends who can support you in those. If
you have plans to own your own business, befriend a business
owner. If you dream of financial independence, find some
like-minded individuals to add to your circle.

No one says you have to ditch our old friends, just make room
for the new ones.