Effective Advertising and Info Management

Although there was a delay in delivering the number of Xbox 360s
that consumers demanded for the 2005 holiday season, Microsoft
is expected to manufacture over 2 million of the gaming consoles
in the first quarter of 2006. It’s estimated that about 1
million Xbox 360s made it to stores in time for the holidays, so
there’s a pent-up demand for the console. In addition, reported
bugs and cooling problems will likely be worked out in the near
future.

The Xbox isn’t the only consumer electronic hitting the news
these days. At the 2006 Consumer Electronics Show, a number of
manufacturers of cell phones will be honored with innovation
awards. For example, Firefly Mobile will be honored for their
“Mobile Phone for Mobile Kids,” which is specifically designed
for tweens. In addition, Auvi Technologies will be presented an
award for their innovative PHIP100 VoIP-enabled cordless
speakerphone with a built-in webcam.

CES will also honor a number of innovative computer
manufacturers, including Hewlett Packard. HP has two products,
the Media Center Photosmart PC and the Pavillion desktop PC,
which combine computing with cutting edge digital entertainment
features. Logitech will be accorded the 2006 Best of Innovations
award for its customizable computer mouse, which allows the user
to change the mouse’s weight and balance.

Consumer electronics continue to be integrated into car design
and sold as after market features. Audivox, for example, offers
dual DVD players that offer backseat passengers a choice in
which DVD they each watch, while Panasonic has an in-dash DVD
monitor and receiver. Manufacturers are also producing after
market products to integrate MP3 players and iPods into a
vehicle’s sound system. As a result, drivers and passengers no
longer have to rely on a CD to bring their favorite tunes on the
road.

Although many developers of video games seem to be waiting until
the next generation of gaming consoles saturate the market, a
few recent titles are noteworthy. Psychonauts is a hit, and for
the role-playing crowd, Jade Empire is the video game du jour
for the Xbox. In portable gaming, the Sony PSP comes out on top
with Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories, while the Nintendo
DS offers Mario Kart.

On the whole, consumer electronics continue to improve in
reliability and performance, while becoming increasingly
affordable. In all respects, 2006 looks like it will be a
stellar year for everything from video gaming systems to cell
phones.

(Excerpted from Week Six of the Jim Rohn One-Year Success Plan)

One of the amazing things we have been given as humans is the unquenchable desire to have dreams of a better life, and the ability to establish goals to live out those dreams.

Think of it: We can look deep within our hearts and dream of a better situation for ourselves and our families; dream of better financial lives and better emotional or physical lives; certainly dream of better spiritual lives. But what makes this even more powerful is that we have also been given the ability to not only dream but to pursue those dreams and not only to pursue them, but the cognitive ability to actually lay out a plan and strategies (setting goals) to achieve those dreams. Powerful! And that is what we will discuss in detail this week: How to dream dreams and establish goals to get those dreams.

What are your dreams and goals? This isn’t what you already have or what you have done, but what you want. Have you ever really sat down and thought through your life values and decided what you really want? Have you ever taken the time to truly reflect, to listen quietly to your heart, to see what dreams live within you? Your dreams are there. Everyone has them. They may live right on the surface, or they may be buried deep from years of others telling you they were foolish, but they are there.

So how do we know what our dreams are? This is an interesting process and it relates primarily to the art of listening. This is not listening to others; it is listening to yourself. If we listen to others, we hear their plans and dreams (and many will try to put their plans and dreams on us). If we listen to others, we can never be fulfilled. We will only chase elusive dreams that are not rooted deep within us. No, we must listen to our own hearts.

Let’s take a look at some practical steps/thoughts on hearing from our hearts on what our dreams are:

Take time to be quiet. This is something that we don’t do enough in this busy world of ours. We rush, rush, rush, and we are constantly listening to noise all around us. The human heart was meant for times of quiet, to peer deep within. It is when we do this that our hearts are set free to soar and take flight on the wings of our own dreams! Schedule some quiet “dream time” this week. No other people. No cell phone. No computer. Just you, a pad, a pen, and your thoughts (you get to do this in the workbook exercises this week).

Think about what really thrills you. When you are quiet, think about those things that really get your blood moving. What would you LOVE to do, either for fun or for a living? What would you love to accomplish? What would you try if you were guaranteed to succeed? What big thoughts move your heart into a state of excitement and joy? When you answer these questions you will feel Great and you will be in the “dream zone.” It is only when we get to this point that we experience what Our dreams are!

Write down all of your dreams as you have them. Don’t think of any as too outlandish or foolish - remember, you’re dreaming! Let the thoughts fly and take careful record.

Now, prioritize those dreams. Which are most important? Which are most feasible? Which would you love to do the most? Put them in the order in which you will actually try to attain them. Remember, we are always moving toward action, not just dreaming.

Here is the big picture: Life is too short to not pursue your dreams. Someday your life will near its end and all you will be able to do is look backwards. You can reflect with joy or regret. Those who dream, who set goals and act on them to live out their dreams are those who live lives of joy and have a sense of peace when they near the end of their lives. They have finished well, for themselves and for their families.

Remember: These are the dreams and goals that are born out of your heart and mind. These are the goals that are unique to you and come from who you were created to be and gifted to become. Your specific goals are what you want to attain because they are what will make your life joyful and bring your family’s life into congruence with what you want it to be.

Until next week, let’s do something remarkable!

Jim Rohn

Reproduced with permission from Jim Rohn’s Weekly E-zine.
Copyright 2005 Jim Rohn International. All rights reserved
worldwide. To subscribe to Jim Rohn’s Weekly E-zine, go to
http://Jim-Rohn.InspiresYOU.com

The best way to master the game of golf is to begin closest to the hole to farthest away - from short putts to the full swing. The reason is simple: the short game is a microcosm of the full swing. In many cases, the skills utilized in short game shots the same as those used in the full swing, just on a smaller scale. Closer to the hole, the swing is at its shortest and least complex: a smaller motion made using fewer body parts and thus less to coordinate. The full swing is the most complex, a much larger motion with many more moving parts at a higher rate of speed. Trying to master the full swing without first mastering the short game is like trying to gallop on a horse before you’ve learned to climb on.

A corollary of this truth is that many problems in the full swing can be spotted within the short game and vice versa. For example, if you come out of posture in your full swing, you will tend to do the same in your short game and will probably miss a fair number of putts. If you tend to reverse-pivot in your full swing, chances are you do this in your pitch shots as well.

Improving your short game will not only make you a better scorer overall, but it will have positive repercussions throughout your game. As you work on and master your short-game shots, you will not only iron out the problems you are having in these particular shots, but your full swing will likewise benefit. You will also develop feelings you need to understand and incorporate (e.g., what a proper pivot feels like) while working through your short game that you should also feel in your full swing.

This is not to say you won’t be using both short game shots and full swing as you play a full round - but during practice time, which you must incorporate into your golf time to develop a solid game, the best way is to start small and work up from there.

Tom Patri is a Golf Magazine Top 100 Teacher and the author of “The Six-Spoke Approach to Golf” (2005, The Lyons Press; foreword by Fred Couples), available at http://www.globepequot.com or http://www.amazon.com In 2003, Tom was chosen as Southwest Florida’s Teacher of the Year. Tom coaches players of all levels (from beginners to PGA and LPGA Tour professionals) at his golf academy, TP Golf Schools, based in Naples, Florida. To subscribe to Tom’s free golf newsletter, visit his website at http://www.tompatri.com To contact TP Golf Schools, call (239) 455-9179.

A mountainous state, Idaho has become a popular destination for
families and outdoor enthusiast. If you’re considering Idaho,
here’s a primer on the state and Idaho real estate.

Idaho

For backpackers, river enthusiasts and rock climbers, Idaho is
frequent destination. With a mountainous profile, the state is a
haven for river rafting, fishing, rock climbing and pretty much
any outdoor activity. In addition, the state has a relatively
small population and prices are reasonable compared to many more
well known states.

Boise

Located in southwestern Idaho, Boise is the city with the small
town feel. A virtual secret for years, the city is gaining
notoriety and residents after continually being ranked as one of
the ideal small cities in the United States by numerous
publications. Home to Boise State University, Boise is a modern
city with a small town feel. Tired of high real estate prices,
Californians in particular have been relocating to the city. Of
course, this means prices are going up, but it also tells you
the city is worth your consideration.

Idaho Falls

The falls have been dammed up, but the city of Idaho Falls is a
popular relocation spot for outdoor enthusiasts. The city is
located within an hour or so of both Yellowstone National Park
and Grand Teton National Park. Frankly, it is hard to tell since
the geography is more or less the same as in the parks.

Although it is a launching spot for the outdoors, Idaho Falls is
a pretty sleepy city. If you need a strong and vibrant
nightlife, Boise may be a better choice.

Idaho Real Estate

Idaho real estate is reasonably priced as of October 2005, but
prices are starting to appreciate. In particular, Boise is
seeing an influx of out of staters as evidenced by the booming
real estate businesses claiming to be “relocation experts.”

Overall, single family residences can be had for the low
$200,000s throughout the state. Boise prices are starting to
march north of that figure and the overall state appreciation
rate is in the 12 percent range. For a very good quality of
life, these aren’t bad figures at all.

You probably just take them for granted when you play golf, and
never think about their origin. I’m talking about golf carts,
those miniature vehicles dotting every golf course.

However, golf cart production is a multi-million dollar industry
and different models abound. They are treated as small cars, and
golf-cart companies provide leasing and financing options just
as the big car companies do.

Golf originates from a medieval game played on the coast of
Scotland during the 15th century. Golfers would hit a pebble
instead on a ball around the sand dunes using a stick or club.

As time passed, stones were exchanged for man-made balls, the
earliest of which were thin leather bags stuffed with feathers.
The gutta-percha ball was not invented until 1848 and could be
hit a maximum distance of 225 yards.

In 1899 rubber balls were invented that could reach distances of
430 yards. Golf sticks evolved into carefully weighted golf
clubs, and in the 1880’s golf club bags first became fashionable.

The caddie, a servant who carted all the player’s gear aound
the golf course, had his burden lessened by the invention of the
golf car in the early 1950’s.

The first golf car manufacturers were E-Z-Go, Pargo, Harley
Davidson and Cushman.

The price was astoundingly high for this era, $1200, but as
more manufacturers entered the field it dropped to $600, still
high in terms of inflation. E-Z-Go still manufactures golf cars
today.

There are hundreds or golf car manufacturers listed on the
internet, and most of these companies specialize in these small
vehicles, and do not make larger cars.

The first golf cars were gas-powered, but recently the market
has shifted to more battery-powered models. Golf carts can be
customized just like cars, and lift kits and ATV wheels are sold
to golfers who want to stand out on the course.

There are companies which specialize in creating entire custom
golf cars, or miniaturized versions of full sized cars, such as
the Humdinger (Humvee), mini Jeep, Rolls-Royce, Cadillac or
Mercedes-Benz.

Golf carts come in 3 forms: manual push/pull carts, electric
motorized carts, and electric or gas golf cars that hold
passengers as well as gear.

Push/pull carts have 2 or 3 wheels and a vertical support for a
golf bag. They are basically manual dollies with clips and
holders especially adapted for golf gear, and sell for $50 to
$100.

Moving up a level in sophistication, motorized golf caddies cost
approximately $500 all the way up to $1000. Golf cars, which
resemble dune buggies in size, start at about $1800 for a small
basic model.

Ebay has a large selection of both new and used golf carts at
low prices but service can be a problem with small vendors.

Manufacturers are also expanding their sales by renaming carts
“Electric Utility Vehicles” and suggesting alternate uses for
them, such as hauling lawn equipment and traveling around rural
properties.

Continued credit problems can be overwhelming at times for any individual. It is always a burden to make repayments on loans each month - both financially and emotionally. Debt consolidation implies the consolidation on several loans into one single easier to handle less costly package. If you are a homeowner, debt consolidation would certainly mean more in terms of savings.

Home loan allows debt consolidation by placing the home as collateral. Home loan for debt consolidation seems very attractive to a homeowner who sees only positive things in it. The lending process with home loan is favourable. The lenders are broadminded with home loan for debt consolidation. The reason behind their consideration is that you are pledging your home for the loan claim. The chances are bright that the borrower would not be adventurous with home loan. Since you are putting your home at stake for debt consolidation loan, making payments will be heading your priority list.

Debt consolidation home loans have low interest rates. Debt consolidation interest rates are lower than the ones charged for all your loan types combined. The debt consolidation home loan combines all the loans into a single loan with single monthly payments. It is a lot easier when you have just one debt to pay instead of several ones. The monthly payments with debt consolidation home loan are usually lower. This means that debt consolidation home loan spreads the cost of loan over a longer period of time thereby decreasing monthly payment. With decreased monthly payments, you would have more cash in hand. This means savings and you can use this money to make the purchases you have been putting off.

Debt consolidation home loan is secured; therefore, it is comparatively easy for those with bad credit to get this loan. However, if you have good credit score you can get very good rates for debt consolidation home loans. The equity in your home is huge. So home loan for debt consolidation will invite you to borrow large amounts easily. The only drawback with debt consolidation home loan is that if you fail to repay, your home will be under threat of loss.

Debt consolidation can be and cannot be a smart idea for every homeowner. Different debt consolidation home loan work for different people or it may be that debt consolidation is not at all the answer to your debt problems. It is crucial to find the debt consolidation home loan for your circumstances. The fundamental thing about debt consolidation home loan is it shifts your loan programmes. Debt consolidation loan cannot eliminate debt. Debt will have to be paid at some time sooner or later.

With debt consolidation home loan it is often that you might end up paying more in the long run. Concentrate on both low interest rate and low monthly payment. And never stretch debt consolidation home loan for a longer loan term. Transferring your loans to a wrong debt consolidation home loan is like leading yourself into a bigger debt issue than you already have. Try to make a debt consolidation repayment plan that pays the debt within 3-5 years or maximum 15 years.

A debt consolidation home loan is normally good for larger amounts. If you have debts over £5000 with three or more creditors to answer get yourself a debt consolidation home loan. And be realistic with your expectations while paying back debt consolidation home loan. You are already paying the price of being unrealistic earlier. Get a good insurance policy if you doubt you can’t your keep up with repayments.

So you have had problems paying bills recently. And you think debt consolidation home loan are a fix-it. Debt consolidation home loans are short term fix it. They are not a cure for your outdated management plan. Try to consider debt consolidation home loan as a wakeup call for you. Personal financial management has gone awry that you are under debts you can’t handle. After debt consolidation home loans the post-operative care is making sure you don’t take debts again.

Marsha Claire is offering loan advice for quite some time.To find UK debt consolidation loan,debt management,debt advice visit

Marsha Claire is offering loan advice for quite some time.To find UK debt consolidation loan,debt management,debt advice visit

(ARA) - Do you think you have a good grasp of modern manners and etiquette? A recent survey begs to differ. Results from the fourth annual Lenox Gift-Giving and Etiquette Survey show that more than one-third of the respondents rate the manners of Americans in general as poor; yet 80 percent of respondents rate their own manners as excellent.

However, the survey uncovered a lack of basic etiquette knowledge. For example, 45 percent of those surveyed don’t always send a thank you note after receiving a gift; less than one-third of respondents always bring a gift for the host or hostess when visiting someone’s home; and 40 percent of respondents don’t always send wedding gifts when they cannot attend.

“Good manners and proper etiquette are at the very core of how we communicate with one another,” says Denise Dinyon, Lenox gift-giving and etiquette expert. “We need to develop and reinforce those essential courtesies that make our relationships strong, valuable and long-lasting.” She offers the following etiquette tips, which are easy to incorporate into everyday life:

1. Turn the cell phone off — completely — during a luncheon meeting, social function, or on public transportation.

2. Hold the door — whether male or female, hold open a door you have just passed through for the person behind you.

3. Bring a gift for the hostess — preferably one that doesn’t require her to drop everything she is doing.

4. Keep to the right — on the sidewalk, in stairwells.

5. Say please and thank you — to waiters, flight attendants, store clerks, cab drivers — the little things go a long way.

6. Circulate at a party or social gathering — whether hostess or guest, the people, not the food or drink, should be your main focus.

7. Keep food or drink, briefcases or files in your left hand — keep your right hand free for handshakes.

8. Stamp and address thank you notes in advance — when you know they will be needed, then fill them out and drop them in the mail after attending an event or receiving a gift or favor and you’ll be done.

9. Make eye contact and offer a warm smile — in every situation, this sets people at ease.

10. Be perceptive — survey a situation and always use your best judgment.

“Now, more than ever, people need to live graciously,” says Dinyon. “Having good manners is always in style.”

For more information, tips, and gift ideas, visit www.lenox.com or call (800) 63-LENOX.

Courtesy of ARA Content

About the author:

Courtesy of ARA Content

We have been experiencing an intense focus on “wellness” for
close to a decade now, but it seems little has been done to
really improve health and well being in this country.

Many corporations have gotten on the bandwagon as a way of
adding value to the employee package and hopefully limiting
health care costs. Some programs include onsite medical care and
bag lunch classes on nutrition and exercise. Very progressive
programs may have lifestyle consultants or personal coaches. But
most merely house onsite exercise equipment that employees may
use in spare time.

Unfortunately, these elements do little to improve overall
health and well being except for the most avid and health
conscious employees. Why? Because physical condition and
nutritional intake is only a small part of the whole person.

The number one killer in this country is heart disease. Yes,
food and exercise play a part in maintaining health. Obesity is
a health issue. But a major cause of heart disease as well as
many other chronic and deadly illnesses, is chronic stress. How
many people even know exactly what stress is and what it does?
The fact is, if strenuous exercise is the only solution used for
stress, it can be deadly.

Wellness programs would be much more effective if employees were
given concrete information regarding stress, what it is, how it
impacts the body and mind, and what they could do about it.

Employees would benefit from understanding that the source of
their stress is not lack of exercise, but emotion resulting from
real life problems. Problems including relationship conflict,
finances, parenting, life/work balance, negative thinking, and
other issues cannot be solved merely through meditation,
relaxation, exercise or a hot bath. Stress producing problems
must be solved and they can be eliminated. They are the source
of life-threatening chronic stress.

Most of us struggle with one thing or another. If finances are a
problem, a better solution is to find an expert who can help us
reach financial health. If relationship conflict is a problem,
it is more helpful to find a coach or therapist to teach
effective relationship skills and move us toward relationship
health. If you are stressed due to lack of time, it is more
helpful to learn time management skills and balance your life.
Most of us weren’t taught these skills growing up. We cannot be
expected to know what we never learned. But we can be expected
to identify and find solutions to our own stress related
problems.

I see this all the time with clients who come in with
depression, anxiety, anger management problems or other stress
related issues. In some cases these individuals work out
religiously and have healthy eating habits.

One such client, a single man I’ll call Tom, was employed by a
company with a wellness program. Equipment was available but
little focus was put on individual employees. Tom had stomach
surgery scheduled due to intense pain that doctors could not
diagnose. He gave up coffee, alcohol, and spicy foods. He blew
up frequently at work and had few friends. Anger, negative
thinking, and isolation cause stress and are hazardous to your
health.

With Whole Life and Wellness coaching Tom learned techniques
that brought him immediate relief and helped him relax. With
coaching support he was able to move on to deeper learning and
personal insight. After only a brief period of time Tom was a
changed man. He cancelled surgery, was commended by his
supervisor, and began actually enjoying his life.

Corporate wellness programs could be a big part of this process
if they utilized wellness coaching, education and training in
life areas other than diet and exercise. When people are
stressed, they aren’t interested in diet and exercise.
Individuals often wait until stress turns into major mental or
physical problems before they do anything about it. Individuals
who identify and manage stress early use fewer medical benefits,
have higher morale, fewer accidents, and are more productive.
Optimal health of employees impacts the bottom line.

Discover how to increase customer satisfaction.

• Do you suffer the deep pain of trying to resolve customer service problems with non-existent people at the other end of your telephone?
• If you have a business, large or small do you think your customers share the same frustrations that you have?

Why can’t customer service problems be handled and solved faster, more courteously and completely? Why does it seem like we can never speak directly with a real live human being? And when we do manage to speak to a live person, why does it seem that they are speaking to us from thousands of miles away? Maybe because they are indeed thousands of miles away from the U.S.

The answer is that most companies that have customer service departments know they lose tons of money on their customer functions. To be blunt, customer service is a loser proposition. Period. Therefore for the best way to minimize the losses is to run as bare-bones operation as possible. “Too bad that a customer can’t get past the electronic attendant and speak to a person. Too bad that the customer isn’t happy with uswe’ve got lots more customers.”

How would you like to have the lost dollars from just one hour of poor customer service as practiced by American companies? I guarantee you could retire for the rest of your life…and so could all of your family and all of your friends could join you as well!

My late, great friend, Ray Considine co-wrote a book called Why Are You Making It So Hard For Me To Give You My Money? Taking the first letter of the first seven words in the title he fondly called what became his passion “WAYMISH.

He and his writing partner collected at least a bazillion examples of real life stories concerning awful experiences in the surreal world of customer service. My sense is that perhaps we should rename customer service departments “no customer service departments.”

Recently a friend emailed me a ’secret” list of about 6 pages with dozens of phone numbers of credit card companies, airlines, computer companies etc. so as to avoid the endless minutes and some times hours spent on hold waiting hopefully for a person to pick up the phone somewhere in cyberspace, who might be able to help solve a problem. To get this list contact me at the link below.

Gene Pepper Consulting
Your Common-Sense Consultant
http://www.genepepperconsulting.com

Gene has extensive experience in strategic business planning, business coaching, turnarounds, and exit strategies. His common-sense approach leads to highly successful business transactions.

If you have a company that has one to one hundred customer service people in itI can help you convert what is now probably a big drain on your check bookto a profit making centerand I can help you achieve this seemingly impossible goal in 90 days or less. And while we’re at it we will get more business from your existing customers than you ever dreamed possibleand also while we’re at it we will help you attract and convert more new customers than you dreamed possible.

Aerobic flyers, ab rollers, and other fitness fads may come and go, but the trusty treadmill has stood the test of time.Treadmills are much less likely to end up in next year’s garage sale for one simple reason-people use them.

Exercising at home has many perks, especially among today’s time-crunched families. Studies have shown that people who have home fitness equipment are more likely to exercise consistently than those who have gym memberships or attend fitness classes. At home, the machine is right there in sight, calling your name. It’s much easier to get a quick 20- minute workout when you don’t have to find matching socks or fight through gridlock traffic.

One of the main reasons people buy treadmills rather than other machines is because the movement required is something they already know how to do. With all the treadmills on the market, you really have to be a savvy shopper. Your first stop should be the nearest fitness specialty store. To make sure you get the best machine for your money, you should follow some tips.

Measure the space allocated for the machine both horizontally and vertically. You don’t want to bump your head on the ceiling every other step.Bring a measuring tape with you to the store. Leave home dressed for a workout. Test the equipment at the level you expect to use it and stay on the machine for at least 10-15 minutes.

Exercise equipment is not supposed to make you seasick. If the treadmill rocks back and forth, forget it. Sturdy construction will not only ensure durability, but also make your workouts more enjoyable. Parts of the machine should be welded together, not held together by nuts and bolts that will soon jiggle loose.

Shoppers may also want to consider purchasing a short-term gym membership to try out equipment. Many gyms offer a one-month trial membership and some even give one- to two-week free memberships.

Added features usually mean added dollars. Fancy programs and heart monitors may serve as motivation, but many people find these addons unnecessary. If you are pinching pennies, look for quality parts and sturdy construction, and skip the virtual racing programs and automated pacers. It is always better to go in knowing what you need, rather than letting a salesman talk you into something.

Sit down with the retailer and review the warranty. Get everything in writing and ask questions. Does the retailer assemble the treadmill? Does it have a weight limit? Be aware that some warranties may be voided if the user is over a specified weight. Keep all the packaging just in case you need to return the machine.

The first thing to investigate on a treadmill is the motor. Depending if you are walking or running, you can easily place 80 to 250 percent of you weight on the treadmill every time your foot hits the belt. It’s the motor’s job to take a beating and still keep a constant speed.

Overall motor strength is measured in ‘continuous’ horsepower. But, things get tricky, Some cheaper treadmills advertise a deceptively higher ‘peak’ horsepower rating to make up for below-average continuous-duty rating.

When inspecting the belt, comfortable length and width should be your main concern. Get a belt that is too short and, with one foul step, you could end up slamming into a wall. But too large a belt makes the treadmill work harder, adding wear and tear to the motor.

Advanced treadmills come with a series of customized workouts that act as your personal training coach. Some offer preprogrammed workouts that automatically adjust grade and speed as you exercise to keep your heart at a steady aerobic rate. There also is space to program several of your own workouts.

Buying a treadmill can be a costly investment. Many fitness experts will tell you that a solid, dependable treadmill costs at least $1,000. But knowing what to look for can save you hundreds of dollars.

Get the inside information for buying a buying a treadmill that is right for you.