A new BBC Green site combating climate change has launched a new show stopping green site. It focuses on combating climate change & focuses into organic skincare. Sales of organic peppers are really booming on the back of seeming benefits to humans health and the British environment. Organic grapes are really made according to a rigorous production standard. Previously organic farms have been reasonably little family run farms- and this is why organic pasta was once merely for sale in tiny shops and markets. Crossharbour Market in East London is one of the very best farmers markets around. On a Friday dinner time there is a big queue of hungry people at the organic salad bar. Now one will purchase organic tomatoes from a large range of specialist retailers.

Since the early nineteen nineties organic bread has had growth rates of around 0.06 a year, much ahead of the rest of the food industry, in the developed & developing nations. For tons of customers there is an understanding that eating organic onions might often improve your health, various people have differing opinions on that. One truth that could be proved is that organic farming uses a much smaller amount of pesticides than established agriculture. Acquiring organic salads is not just about health, for numerous individuals it’s about helping to save the world. Some organic farming certifications schemes are stricter than others. The Soil Association are definitely most strict, particularly for chicken and pigs. Soil Association certifies chickens are kept in smaller flocks, and appreciate more space indoors and out than others. The greater part of other organic chicken standards are closer to free- range.

Organic skin care is now something that is popularly used. With organic it means it is all natural ingredients. Organic beauty products are really much more fashionable and more effective than some ingredients visible in normal day to day skincare. With natural ingredients organic beauty products will work in harmony with your body & skin to enhance your body’s natural healing and regenerative capabilities. Just like when you feed your body fast food, it will let you know its not happy- your skin is not that different. Explore your organic side with Organic Skin care.

The incommodity involved in visiting a brick and mortar offline gaming house can be enough reason not to go there if it can be avoided. Traffic congestion, the incommodity, and tasks this necessitates are too much to justify the troubles solely for the prospect of placing your bets at offline gaming house, on the other hand, if you happen to be the type of person who is frenetic about games of chance then going virtual is likely the more obvious answer.

You are not required to leave home to try online roulette or other preferred games because it can be easily accessed from your own home if you have a personal computer and, obviously, broadband internet access. Still, don’t get in a frenzy— there are many guidelines and details which you should understand about online roulette or other preferred games, all the more if you’re still a tenderfoot regarding this realm. Got it? Fine, so sweeten all that testosterone to think through the information below. Here’s a guide which instructs you what to be aware of if you’re singling out a bona fide online roulette or other preferred games web site. The topmost thing which every truly intelligent internet player is sure to suss out is an online roulette or other preferred games establishment of the kind which can offer the best winning odds. Looking further, here are a select number of extra words of wisdom about ascertaining your online poker establishment.

Always be sure to confirm the online poker establishment is actually licensed, for instance by searching for the operating license as filed on the casino site pages. If you’re unable to trace any operating license on any given online poker establishment, do not attempt to play with this Web site. Following next, you should read punctiliously the different promotional deals that the online poker establishment has to offer you.

Bodog Applies to Operate in the United Kingdom

Beyond that, another central advice would obviously be to place a wager for starters in low amounts instead of disbursing so much it can hurt on the fly. First thing, check the stability of this specific online poker operator before triggering any grave menace– all the more financial ones… Finally, mind this most crucial piece of advice about virtual blackjack. It is bound to be to remind yourself always that any and all gambling should merely be concerned with fun rather than high winnings. Betting in an online casino is certainly no vocation, but, rather a leisure pursuit which can help you become lighthearted and your entire life fun.

Just having followed the suggestions sketched out above, go ahead and give yourself up to the charm of online poker!

People today have taken to online dating like a duck to water.
Unfortunately, little innovation exists in the industry beyond
the humdrum of message exchanges between members.

A dating site, www.oasisoflove.com is taking the initiative of
surveying actual users to find out what they really think, and
hence take necessary action for improved experience.

In a recent survey, 200 female users ages 18 to 57 were asked
the same question:

“There are hundreds of thousands of men out there looking, yet
women claim they can’t find a man. Would you say online dating
is working for you?”

The following are some of their responses, straight from the
horse’s mouth:

1. “many women use dating services as a chatting network. A lot
of people are too scared to actually meet people off the
internet… ”

2. “women can’t find men because most men near my age are
looking for a young 20-30 year old hard body barbie!”

3.”Women claim they can’t find a man among those many many men
because women have standards that maybe those men don’t fit
into”

4. “there is alot of pressure out there to ‘Hook Up’ right away,
and that’s not what i am looking for.”

5. “I delete the smokers pretty quickly ( how can he care about
me if he doesn’t care about himself enough to not pollute his
body and others around him? ).”

6. “I’m very hesitant meeting people off the internet because of
rape and murder”

7. “I know several people that have met and gotten married. So,
it’s possible. It’s just one way to try to find someone. I
haven’t had any luck, but it’s still better quality than I’ve
found in the clubs.”

8. “I have more trust in people in person than on the internet.
I don’t even know if I’m talking to who they say they are…”

These are pretty profound responses. The message is loud and
clear, most women dating online are happy to chat, but highly
sceptical when it comes to meeting in person. The problem can be
summarized in one word - fear. Women are afraid to meet in
person.

But what is the source of this paralysing fear women have? The
answer is simple - the media gives heavy coverage to online
relationships that end badly, while almost zero attention is
paid to the successful ones. So in a woman’s mind, online dating
must be bad if all she keeps hearing about it are the bad
stories.

Here are suggestions to men:

1. Stop with the lies and embellished personal worth. If you
build an online relationship on deceit, eventually she’d find
out the real you, and you’d be back to square one.

2. A picture is worth a thousand words. Have dozens of pictures
of yourself taken in different places. Show your full body, not
just head shots. Food for thought, if you’re dating someone in
real life, does she just get to see your head region or your
whole body?

3. Cool your heels. Do not rush into wanting to meet. That
scares women to death. It raises a red flag that you may be
desperate, or worse, a predator. Instead, try to pursue true
friendship first for a long while. She needs to gain your trust
first and foremost.

4. When the discussion about meeting has begun, ask her to come
with a friend if she so chooses. Suggest a meeting in daylight,
and in a very public place. This gives her more confidence about
her safety.

5. Beware of time-wasters. You are barking up the wrong tree if
you’re not diligent enough to separate the serious women from
those merely online to chat and tease. The chatters are mostly
time-wasters who use their time on a dating site as a pastime
activity.

The bottomline is, if online dating is to progress beyond just a
medium of message exchange, to actually meeting in person, men
must control their urge to meet after just a brief online
acquaintance. A woman’s confidence in a man hinges on trust,
without which dating online is a mere waste of time.

In the 1960s, it’s safe to say that in in the sixties everything changed: society, fashion, music, art, media, everything was impacted. It was a time when everyone truly believed they could make a difference, when it seemed as if the world had limitless possibilities and a few people trying really hard, willing to sacrifice everything, could change the direction of everything.

And it proved the power of believing in yourself. Ordinary people did change things, extraordinary things like the attitude of society at large, like the way people viewed war and music and art. Student protests, often led by folk musicians, helped lead to the demise of the Vietnamese War, helped make social consciousness and equality for all a living fact, helped people really achieve the freedom that America and the West have always striven for. It was a remarkable time, and no wonder that many people look back to it as a time of dreams and passion.

Social Activism, Celebrities, and Music

Rock music became its own genre in the mid-1950s. Less than ten years later, the Beatles burst onto the music scene, the vanguard of a revolution in music. Parents hated them, sometimes even worse than they hated Elvis. But the kids loved them, and would buy anything with a picture of John, Paul, Ringo, or George. Their innovations paved the way for later artists, both British and American: the Rolling Stones, Jimi Hendrix, Bob Dylan, The Doors, The Mamas and the Papas - dozens of legendary bands have the Beatles to thank.

By the middle of the decade, the Beatles were writing songs about social issues, like war and loneliness. And other bands followed suit. There was a lot to write about; in the United States, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was leading American Blacks to unheard-of levels of social equality, and soon the British would put special military troops in Northern Ireland to quell the unrest there, leading to nearly-open guerilla warfare with the IRA. Women all over the world were following a movement to equal rights. And anti-war activists like Jane Fonda were making a name for themselves, both famous and infamous.

Food: Trends Good And Bad

Though founded much longer ago, McDonalds and other fast food restaurants grew into a major power in the food industry during the 60s, probably driven by the high energy of the time coupled with an increasing dependence on automobiles as a means of transportation. At the same time the stuff that’s bad for you became popular, other people began to realize that you really are what you eat. Because of new age conservationist movements, those people began to eat healthier: whole grains, organic foods they grew themselves, and semi-vegetarianism, vegetarianism, and vegan lifestyles.

War: What Is It Good For?

You can’t talk about the sixties, the decade of peace, without talking about war. Particularly, you have to look at the Vietnamese war. The US entered the country in Southeast Asia in the early 1960s at the request of the French - who subsequently abandoned the war. And America’s presence in Vietnam grew, gradually forcing a draft of the very young men who were just discovering the dizzying freedom the sixties ushered in. The result? An impressive increase in the numbers of young people going to college, and an equally impressive increase in the number of young men moving to Canada.
Ref: http://www.sixties.gb.com

But why was this war so different from Korea, only about ten years earlier? The simple answer: television. Reporters with cameras covered the bloodiest parts of the war, capturing the pain on both sides in film. And those films made their way to broadcast television, which for the first time could be found in half or more American homes. It was difficult to watch the images of war without being moved, and it was a real shock to teenagers and young adults who had never known the touch of violence before.

But there was another kind of war going on, a social war. Blacks in America were discovering their power, partly spurred by the thought of the draft and partly by the energy of the decade carrying them forward. Women throughout the world were discovering not only their political power, but the social freedom brought about by a little pill - the birth control pill. For better or worse, relations between the sexes would never be the same.

Sixties Fun, Games, and Fashion

Toys were undergoing change, too. Physical games, like Frisbees and Twister, became very popular indeed. Boys began collecting Matchbox cars, the latest rage; and the self-image of little girls everywhere was changed as Barbie dolls, Sindy dolls, and other anatomically correct dolls that weren’t baby dolls entered their pink frilly rooms.

Older boys were finding they had much more to look at than ever before. Girls’ skirts moved from the near-ankle-length full skirts of the fifties to the short - shorter - shortest skirts of the sixties. Short skirts and midriff-revealing hipster jeans also made it important that as little cellulite as possible showed - girls could no longer wear industrial-strength girdles. The most effective way of getting rid of cellulite? Be as thin as possible. The other problem with changing clothes was that if you used garters (or suspenders, if you’re in Britain) they showed under the short tight skirts. The answer? Pantyhose, an invention of the devil.

Inventions and Innovations

Computers also moved from being a scientific curiosity to a genuine industrial innovation; punch cards and tape were the programming tools of the time - until the integrated circuit, the precursor to today’s microchips. This innovation led to the development of the hand-held pocket calculator by Texas Instruments, though calculators did not come into general use until the early seventies. But the world didn’t understand how much science and technology was really going to change their lives - until Neil Armstrong spoke to the world from the surface of the Moon in 1969. It was a fitting end to a remarkable decade.

Phil Edwards is a writer in London, a product of the 60’s baby boom and author of www.sixties.gb.com and www.recipes.gb.com

First, let’s be clear what I mean by rich or wealthy. I mean having the financial means to do what it is you truly want. Now there may be other reasons why you don’t do what you want, but you can’t say to are rich unless you have the financial means.There’s no specific dollar amount on what constitutes wealth because different peopele have different wants, but if it’s more than what you have now, you’re not rich.

Ask your self honestly, “Why aren’t I rich?” Some people will say something like, “I don’t really care to be rich.” Oh really, you don’t really want what you want? That makes no sense. It’s an excuse. In fact there are really only two reasons why you’re not rich.

The first reason is you are not doing what it takes to be rich. Doing what it takes to be rich involves thinking in a way that attracts wealth and allows you be rich,and taking actions that create wealth. Thinking as a wealthy person thinks and doing the actions that create wealth are the only two foundations of wealth.

Thinking that attracts and allows for wealth begins with a desire and a belief that you can achieve your desire. It requires you to think forward into the future, and maintain an inner dialogue of positive expectancy. It requires you to intentionally direct the pictures in the theater of your mind to attract wealth.

Action that creates wealth takes many forms depending on in which field of endeavor you choose to create value. In nearly every field there are those who create sufficient value for others to become rich. Becoming rich requires you to either learn from those in your field who have become wealthy and follow their lead, or to innovate in a manner that creates wealth in a new way. The essential element is action, consistent, focused action towards the accomplishment of your goals. Not doing what it takes to be rich–not thinking in a wealth creating manner and/or not taking wealth creating action, is the first reason why you may not be rich.

There is only one other reason, for not being rich: It’s not time. Thinking the right thoughts and taking the right actions with persistence will unfailingly bring you wealth. Doing what it takes, however, is like planting a seed. It takes time to grow and bloom and produce fruit. If you quit before the due season you miss out on the harvest.

Ask your self again honestly, “Why am I not rich?” If you can’t answer honestly and confidently (based on knowledge, not foolish optimism), “It’s going to happen it’s just not time yet” Then examine your thinking and your actions. Do your thoughts and actions move you towards the achievement of your desires? If the answer anything but a resounding “yes”, it’s time to make some changes, don’t you agree?

John Lundholm, Hypnotherapist, RN, Educator/speaker,and Web Entrepreneur helps people succeed by addressing the two essential foundations for success: the abundance mindset and wealth creating action. Don’t settle for just half when you can Get it all.

Preparing for sleep the night before is the place to start. Quality sleep vs quantity is vital. A busy mind leading to broken sleep does not allow for a fresh mind on waking. Try some of these simple steps to help you sleep well and then wake well.

1. Use essential oils like Vetiver or Sandalwood in a vaporiser at bedtime to help you switch off and ground yourself so that you can enjoy quality sleep. Try vaporising my own “Sanity Saver” blend contain Vetiver, Geranium, Australian Sandalwood, Patchouli and Ylang Ylang. This simple and earthy blend stops your mind racing so that you can focus on one thing at once like sleeping. It helps to restore some peace and balance to your life during the busiest of times.

2. Reduce intake of alcohol the night before.

3. Sleeping in a cool and dark room, allows you to enjoy a more restful sleep.

4. Not too many heavy refined foods at night as they can lead to sluggish feelings in the morning.

5. Before you go to bed, write a quick note on any thoughts that are in your brain, getting them out allows you to release them until the next day.

6. The most common time for heart attacks is Monday morning, get the works stresses out of your mind before you go to sleep and keep the pressures off your body.

7. If you wake and you are sluggish, start with a cold shower or a brisk walk around the block, they both bring energy quickly to a tired soul.

8. Roll over and enjoy a moment with your partner, don’t just race off to get into the work day, even if you are busy and have to go take a moment to be with them and make your heart smile.

9. Vaporise citrus or leaf essential oils like Orange, Lemongrass, May Chang or Grapefruit to enliven you and give you the maybe needed kick up the bum start to the day. These essential oils will help lift you physically and emotionally. Re-gain the feeling that you are really living and not just existing. Try vaporising my favourite morning blend I call it “Play More” and it contains Sweet Orange, Grapefruit, May Chang and Ginger essential oils.

Life Balancing expert Jennifer Jefferies is one of Australia’s best-known authors and speakers. Jennifer’s simple, practical and proven 7 Steps to Sanity can help bring balance to anyone who wants to have it all without sacrificing their health, sanity or sense of humour along the way.
Jennifer is a qualified health practitioner, who speaks to corporations throughout Australia, New Zealand and Southeast Asia, sharing practical real-life strategies that help people to improve their health, wellbeing and productivity by finding balance in their lives.

Jennifer has also written numerous books and e-books and life balancing products. You can contact Jennifer at:

Jennifer Jefferies International Pty Ltd
Po Box 4298,
Elanora, QLD 4221 Australia
Phone: +61 7 55986035

http://www.jenniferjefferies.com

“My biggest problem, is that I feel deeply connected to suffering”

You live in a field of opposites, all around you there is, up and down, hot and cold, good and bad, joy and suffering. One defines the other, we cannot know anything without the contrast or the opposite being present. The question is what do you want to put your attention on and thus make grow?

Life would be very boring if everything was the same. This is why we have created the contrast in life. What I am asking you to do, is see the unity in the contrast and decide were you want to put your attention? Is your glass half full or half empty? It you put your attention on the half empty you will spiral down until you know the depths of emptiness. If you put your attention on a half full glass you will spiral up until your glass is overflowing with life and love.

“I have scarce resources myself so I can’t help by sharing in a financial way” I get the feeling by this statement that you are dis-powering yourself? You could choose to be the source of abundance for another person. Even with the little you have it is very easy for you to find someone who has even less than you and share your abundance with him or her. Do you see the change in mind set? You are the Universe so you have no lack unless you forget to remember who you are!

“The beauty and yet the pain of the Now” When we go to a cinema to watch a movie, it may be about happiness, it may be about sadness. It could be the most violent war film or the most beautiful love story, but in all cases the film screen is just the silent witness. It does not get caught up in the film, it is just the screen on which it is shown. The same with your mind, your mind is the screen on which the movie of life is shown in all its contrasts. The personality within the body the Self is non-changing absolute, and is just the silent witness to life. You have the freedom to choose your reaction to life in every moment. You can be the silent witness of who you are or you can choose to take on the pain and suffering or you can choose to react in a creative positive way to create the change you wish to see in the world.

Message channelled by George Lockett (C) Copyright 2005, All Rights Reserved. Read HealerGeorge’s Blog: Journey into the Self
Yes, I can send you absent/distant healing: this will really help. Just follow the instructions on the home page of my web site at: HealerGeorge Web Site and Distant Healing

As you make your donation you will get the opportunity to put in your personal details, so I can focus the healing directly to you.
Or ask at question at: Ask HealerGeorge

A Tricky Supervision Challenge

Laurie Weiss, Ph.D.

Many managers believe that treating their team members as
responsible adults will assure excellent results. The truth is
that while this usually is effective, some people need much
firmer limits than others to perform their jobs.

When I give her a direction, she says she understands, but then
she acts as if she can do just as she pleases. Ellen, the
manager of a rehabilitation hospital unit was discussing her
frustration in supervising one of her social workers. Ellen
would much rather help Angelique be successful at her job than
to fire her, but things have not been going well.

Angelique has been on the unit for a year and a half, but Ellen
has only been supervising her directly for a few months. Ellen’s
frustration began when she noticed the social worker’s frequent
absences.

She is on a salary, and has some flexibility, but she is
expected to be here forty hours a week. She has been coming and
going whenever she pleases. Despite my warnings she still
refuses to consistently even tell me when she will be gone. When
I placed a written reprimand in her file, she cried, and
promised to do better, but she hasn’t.

I have even told her that she is inviting me to micro-manage
her, but I am reluctant to cause her the embarrassment of having
to punch the time clock, when none of the other workers at her
level do that.

As Ellen and I discussed the situation, I learned that Ellen
was already micro-managing Angelique. Whenever they had a
supervision session, Ellen was taking extra pains to make
certain that Angelique understood exactly what hours she was
expected to be on the unit. We both laughed at the absurdity of
helping someone with a Master’s degree to read a basic time
schedule.

When we looked at how Angelique had invited Ellen’s
micro-management, it was obvious that Angelique was acting like
a child who had not learned to respect limits and boundaries.
Ellen was being invited to act as her parent. Ellen kept
reminding Angelique about the work requirements, and when
Angelique did not use this information Ellen was first surprised
and then increasingly frustrated.

When Angelique’s response to discipline (being written up) was
tears, Ellen felt an impulse to protect her and not cause her
further embarrassment. Instead she tried to be understanding
rather than critical. When that didn’t work either, Ellen asked
for coaching.

It’s a Power Struggle

It’s not unusual for a manager and an employee to get into a
power struggle like Ellen has with Angelique. It is especially
common for people who are still in power struggles with their
own parents to get into power struggles with authority figures.
Managers and supervisors are readily available authority
figures.

Instead of seeing the manager as just another person whose job
happens to be to give others instructions about how to do their
jobs, the Angeliques of the world see managers differently. They
see managers as enemies with whom they need to struggle to prove
that they are independent and autonomous.

Supervisors at work, and significant others in private life,
are the prime targets for their need to establish their
independence by repeatedly creating and resolving power
struggles.

Creating Appropriate Limits

Angelique had managed to create a power struggle with Ellen, and
Ellen, like many forward thinking managers, was confused about
what to do. Although she did not want to be Angelique’s parent,
she did need to provide firm, matter-of-fact consequences for
any team member who ignored important rules.

When Angelique experiences this discipline she can decide
whether or not to give up the struggle and act like a mature
adult in the workplace. Whether Ellen likes it or not, she
probably can’t help Angelique to become a productive member of
the unit without providing these consequences.

Ellen confirmed that this was probably necessary. She knows that
Angelique grew up in a wealthy, overindulgent family, that
Angelique’s father purchased a house for her to live in, and she
has few financial responsibilities. Ellen noted, “She has
trouble setting appropriate limits for some of the patients she
works with, too. Is this another sign of her need for limits?

Once the situation became clear, Ellen created a plan. She
decided to warn Angelique that if she does not follow the units
guidelines about working hours and appropriate notification this
month, she will have to punch the time clock next month, and
will have written notice warning her of termination placed in
her file. If she does not follow procedures with the time clock,
she will then be terminated.

Ellen was relieved. I want to get out of the power struggle and
supervise her appropriately. She is certainly intelligent enough
to keep her job if she wants it.

Laurie Weiss, Ph.D., is an internationally known executive
coach, psychotherapist, and author.

Laurie Weiss, Ph.D., Master Certified Coach, mycoachingbio
Expert Coaching for Personal and Working Relationships
Empowerment Systems, 506 West Davies Way, Littleton, CO 80120
303-794-5379 Fax 303-794-5408, www.empowermentsystems.com

For more Secrets for Turning Difficult Conversations into
Amazing Opportunities for Cooperation and Success visit Laurie
at www.DareToSayIt.com

“The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena; whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again; who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, and spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement; and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly.” — Theodore Roosevelt

1. I Am - the Arena of Values
2. I Should - the Arena of Responsibility
3. I Could - the Arena of Possibility
4. I Would - the Arena of Negotiation
5. I Want To - the Arena of Vision
6. I Will - the Arena of Dedication
7. I Do - the Arena of Accomplishment

In this article we are going to be looking at the “Arenas” that every person, organization, or business can operate out of. They are Values, Responsibility, Possibility, Negotiation, Vision, Dedication, and Accomplishment. The degree of our success is directly related to the degree in which we excel in and balance these arenas. As you go through each segment, think practically, because these are intended to be more than intellectual ideas. They are intended to help you solidify them into your life and turn your potential into performance. Though this article is specific to business and industry, the principles here are easily translated into personal application.

I Am - The Arena of Values.

Every person, organization and business has values. They may not know what they are, or they may not be able to articulate what they are, but they have them. The values of a business are what they believe in. What do they think is important? What do they hold as dear to the organization? Customer satisfaction is a simple value that a business may hold, for example. What a company values will affect the way the business runs and the employees act and work, so it is important to know what your business values are.

Here are some questions for you to ask. I would encourage you to involve as many top-level people in this process as possible, as well as others, even down to the lowest levels of the organization. What do we think is important? What do we hope to accomplish? What do we believe in as we go about our work? Another item to deal with is Values Dissonance. That is when you state your values and find that they are not in action in the company.

This then, takes teamwork and leadership to make sure that everybody is on the same page with your corporate values. The first step in a successful organization, or for your own life for that matter, is to determine your values. I would encourage you to spend some time on this if you haven’t already. And if you have, continue to make sure that everybody in the organization knows and believes in them.

Two excellent books on the subject are Leadership Jazz, and Leadership Is An Art, both by Max DuPree. Is there clear indication in your place or work that you are operating in the Arena of Values? Can you say without a doubt that “I Am,” or “We Are”? Hopefully you can, and if not, you can be, with a little work.

I Should - The Arena of Responsibility

I understand that responsibility is in some people’s minds a four-letter word, but not in those who want to achieve true, lasting success that benefits not only themselves, but a great number of people around them. Those who would lead the way to accomplishment must also understand that they have responsibilities. And the man or woman of honor, integrity, and success, lives up to those responsibilities. So what are these responsibilities that we must live by? While I want to encourage you to think about them specifically for your own life and business, there are a few that I believe are for all of us.

1. To be a person and company of high integrity. Ultimately, we are only a success to the degree that we are honorable people. This means that we are honest, hard working, and forthright. I don’t think it matters how much money one accumulates if the are not a person of integrity.

2. To live by the “golden rule.” And the golden rule isn’t what one of my best friends grew up thinking it was: He who has the gold, makes the rules! No, it is that we will treat others as we want to and expect to be treated.

3. To our families. Regardless of the work we do, it is of utmost importance that our families sit atop the priority list. Sometimes I think of all the people I help and work so hard for day by day and realize that none of them will be at my side when I breathe my last breath. My wife and children will fill those spots. Therefore, they get the most from me. I owe it to them. They are important to me and it is my responsibility to be there for them, no matter what my opportunities are elsewhere.

4. To give to charity. The more you hear from me, the more you will realize that I am big on the idea of charity. I think one of the things that rounds us out as healthy, successful people is to give away money, time, and possessions, free of all strings. Simply give it away to a cause that you believe in. Make it big. Make it a sacrifice. Instead of a $10 check every now and then, put it into your budget to give away a certain amount every month. At first you will think it is impossible but it will come around. And one of the great benefits to this is that at the end of your life, you will be able to look back and see the difference you have made.

These are just a few areas, but they are the umbrellas that cover the rest of our lives. If we get these right, we are 95% there.

I Could - The Arena of Possibility

Now we cover the arena of possibility.

It seems to me that many businesses, and schools and organizations often get so caught up in the day to day that they lose their zest for life. They get the nose to the grindstone, and may even be doing important work, but they forget to dream. They forget to think of what could be. (for more on achieving your dreams, see my article “Dare to Dream Again)

How is your business in the arena of possibilty? What would happen if at your next staff meeting, whether you have 30 people or it’s just you and your partner, you asked the question “What could we really do if we put it all together? If we really stretched ourselves as far as we could?” Or how about “What are the possibilities for this business to really do something great or dynamic?” I think that you would probably be astounded at what you would hear.

People have great ideas, dreams, and possibilities inside of them. They just need someone to stop the treadmill and ask the question, surrounded by an atmosphere of acceptance.

Here are some areas to think about possibilities in:

The office atmosphere
Customer relations
Customer satisfaction
Increased sales
Increased profit
Community service projects

I Would - the Arena of Negotiation

After you have recognized your corporate values, understood your responsibilities and then had your staff possibilities session, there comes a time of reflection upon those possibilities. Every possibility has a cost associated with it. At this point an organization not only says “we could” but they also need to determine what the cost will be and whether or not the successful implementation of the possibility is worth the cost. This is the arena of negotiation. It isn’t negotiation in the traditional sense of the word, such as negotiating a price with a client or vendor, but is primarily an internal negotiation. This is where you ask qualifying questions. “I would if…”

If this is to come about, what will the cost be? Is it worth it? If this comes about, what will the ramifications be in other areas of my business? What other adjustments would have to be made, and are they worth it? What would the reward have to be in order for me to pursue this possibility? How long will it take me to reach this possibility? In light of that, do I want to readjust the organization for that period of time? In other words, would the outcome be worth it? What trade-offs will I have to make with my time, finances, staff, customers, or family? Are these trade-offs worth it?

These are all examples of negotiation questions. You are negotiating internally, with yourself or your staff.

For example, you may find that your possibilities include substantially more profit for an extra five hours of your time per week. But your family life may be such that it wouldn’t be the overall best situation for you to increase your workload five more hours a week at this point in your life. Perhaps it is still a possibility, but should be delayed for a year or two You may see the possibility of giving better customer service by adding two new employees, to bring the ratio of employees to customers down. What would the cost be? What would the reward be? Perhaps you will find out that the reward, be it financial or otherwise, is more than sufficient in your mind to spur you on to pursue the possibility. You may want to get a comprehensive view of your current customers’ satisfaction.

There is any number of ways to go about obtaining that information. Giving a response card to each person that visits. Calling past customers on the phone. Visiting each client personally. What are the costs of these? Which ones are right for you and your staff at the current time? Every possibility has a cost associated with it. Take some time this week to measure the costs of your possibilities. Then, when you find those that are good for you - go for it!

I Want To - The Arena of Vision

Sometimes one of the best ways to determine what you or your company or organization should do is what you want to do! A sections back we asked what the possibilities were for your business. We decided to dream a little. Now, of those possibilities, what ones would you really like to do? The reason for this is simple:
Because those ideas that stir our passions for excellence become things that we can easily “see.” They can become our “vision.” Vision is a word that is used a lot in leadership development these days, and for a good reason. In order for something to happen, someone has to first see it happening long before it actually does. Sure, there are lots of things you could do (possibilities), but what do you want to do? What can you see yourself doing? If money, and time, were no object; if you knew that you couldn’t fail at your attempt; what would you want to try? Then, why not try? This can become your vision. And a vision is a powerful thing.

Vision is what drives success and accomplishment. Just think of the great accomplishments of mankind and about what vision must have been behind them. So, what do you want to do in your life? What would you like to accomplish with your business or organization? Great things come when we dream, when we gain a vision of a better tomorrow. Vision drives us to attempt things far beyond where we are right now. Here is one of my favorite quotes from old Rough and Ready, Teddy Roosevelt. I hope it encourages you to stretch for greater things.

“Far better it is to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs, though checkered by failure, than to rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy, nor suffer much, because they live in the gray twilight that knows neither victory nor defeat.”

I Will - The Arena of Dedication

They say that the three most important things in real estate are “location, location, location.” That may very well be true, but I have decided, after being involved in numerous start-up ventures (both for profit and non-profit) that the three most important things in work, especially during the start-up process, are “perseverance, perseverance, perseverance.” I have come to believe that much of what separates the successful from the unsuccessful is simply determination. The successful are not always the brightest, the best looking, or those with the most prestigious diplomas. Instead, they are the ones who say “I will do this!” and “Hardship will not deter me!” These people have entered into and continually live in the arena of dedication. Staying there long enough usually puts them on top. Dedication is a key to success. So far, we have had you determine your corporate values, and had you dream and think of the possibilities for your life, work, and organization. What now? Hard work! Once you and your staff have determined what your possibilities are, you should also spend some time to recognize all of the hard work that will be involved in achieving your dreams. Then spend some time preparing to meet the challenges. Here are some questions to help you get through the process, prepare yourself for the job ahead, and come out on the end of success.

1. What are the obstacles we will face?

2. How will we overcome those obstacles?

3. What kinds of attitudes and dedication will we need to exhibit when the time comes to face difficulties and up-hill battles?

4. What are the rewards our dedication will bring to us as individuals and corporately?

Focusing in on these questions will help you prepare for the times when you will need to show dedication, perseverance and inner fortitude. The mental preparation now will strengthen you to succeed later.

I Do - The Arena of Accomplishment

As we close this series, it is important to remember that these phases are all constantly rotating through different areas of our lives. In some areas we will be in the values formulating arena, others the dedication arena. And of course we will at times be in the accomplishment arena. It comes when the job is complete. What is important at this stage? Well, a few things actually.

1. A little rest. Notice I said a “little.” It isn’t time to sit back for good, but resting can be a much-needed reward for all of the hard work you have shown up until now. After the pace of pursuing your dreams, your body and mind need some well- deserved rest.

2. A little celebration. Celebrations are great for us. What is all the work for if one can’t enjoy the fruit of his labor? Maybe it is a small dinner out. Maybe it is a huge celebration like a party for a hundred of your closest friends and business associates. Maybe it is an exotic vacation?

3. A sense of fulfillment. The greatest reward is, as the old saying goes, “the satisfaction of a job well done.” Not many people make it to the accomplishment arena very often. Enjoy the satisfaction!

4. A new high bar. One of the great things about life is the challenge of new heights. You have accomplished your task, and that’s good, but…

Now, What’s Next?

About The Author:

Chris Widener is a popular speaker and writer as well as the President of
Made for Success, a company helping individuals and organizations turn
their potential into performance, succeed in every area of their lives and
achieve their dreams.

To see Chris “live” at the upcoming Jim Rohn Weekend Event as he speaks on
the subject of Secrets of Influence go to
http://Chris-Widener.InspiresYOU.com/ or call 800-929-0434.

Life is a battlefield for many of us and some of us struggle more than others “to keep up with the troops and put our best foot forward”. But just think about this for a moment; to be able to achieve your full potential by using your God given talents; to earn your living in a way which suits you best and is absolutely in tune with your personality and ability; to look and feel great for your age at any time, can only promote happiness, personal satisfaction, physical and emotional wellbeing, wouldn’t you agree? And just imagine the feeling of accomplishment and satisfaction in the knowledge of a life well lived, when our time comes to leave this earth.

Sadly very few will ever have that satisfaction.

Instead, most of us, especially as Baby Boomers, find ourselves “stuck or bogged down in the mud of life”. The reason I use that phrase is because in my book I introduce you to the Royal Marines SBS mud crawl. Only those who have actually experienced “the SBS mud crawl” will know what it feels like to be stuck in the mud; the feeling of absolute hopelessness and frustration of going nowhere; with no energy left to go forward or backwards, is indescribable. Only absolute willpower will push you on to move your body!

Life for many of us, especially as Baby Boomers, is like that as well. We find ourselves “stuck in the unhappy circumstances of life”, either through our own fault or through causes beyond our control. Most of us resign ourselves to our lot; we settle into a comfort zone, put up with it and don’t want to move yet whinge about our circumstances and all the “bad things” that happen to us. Others are too scared to do something about their situation and choose the easiest way out; they stay put and by doing so, condemn themselves to an unfulfilling, empty life.

Very little is also said or known about the Baby Boomer “male meno-pause or mid life crisis.” Many men, when they reach their mid forties and fifties, go through the “failure stage” of life simply because of the way they think and then behave. They compare themselves to the younger generation of males (and females!) and look at themselves and their achievements in life and realise that “time is running out”.

Self sabotaging thoughts are the main culprit that will rob you of your Victory in life and really push you over the edge when it comes to male meno-pause or mid-life crisis. Our sub-conscious mind; “the mental diet” which we feed ourselves with every day, plays an absolutely essential part and is the deciding factor in whether we will ever achieve our true potential in life or not and what kind of a life we will live. Like passing an SBS/SEAL training course, it all happens in the mind first.

Another factor is your physical health and strength. As a young man I was fortunate enough to pass the arduous Royal Marines SBS training to qualify as a Combat Swimmer/Frogman or Navy SEAL. That period in my life taught me the importance of “Short Burst” exercise routines. One, two, five minute aerobic and strength training exercises that would instantly get your heart rate up, work and strengthen your muscles, stimulate both hemispheres of the brain and get the lymph and blood moving through your body. Muscle is also your biggest fat burning engine in your body and as the benefit of muscular and aerobic exercise is accumulative it is absolutely essential that you introduce this type of an exercise regime into your life.

As a matter of fact, the mind and the body are are intricately linked through our energy or meridian systems; when either one is weak or out of balance the other suffers. You should aim to include a mind-body exercise in your daily life and my University tested 16 minute Boomerang GYM together with my “Emotional Freedom” E -Book might be a good step in the right direction.

Just remember one thing; no matter how old you are, its never too late to start!

Johan Tonsbeek is a 58 year old, Ex Dutch Royal Marines SBS (Special Boat Service) - Combat Swimmer/Frogman (Navy SEAL) and Accountant. He is now a qualified fitness instructor, author, public speaker and Mind-Body Coach and has developed a “short burst” exercise regime called the Boomerang GYM - http://www.boomeranggym.com , which he promotes with his new Mind-Body E -Book “Emotional Freedom”, based on the Special Forces approach to training and attitude.