Archive for May, 2008
May 27, 2008 at 6:04 am · Filed under Relationships Parlor
If you thought the Wedding Speech was only the best man’s
responsibility, think again! Contemporary weddings expect a
speech not only from the best man, but also the maid of honor,
the bride’s father and even the groom himself. Given that public
speaking is the #1 phobia that people suffer from it can be
quite an uphill task to write out and orate a speech for a
wedding.
Here are 7 tips on how you can prepare to give a perfect wedding
speech.
1. Write down your speech and break it into parts - the opening,
middle and the closing. Not only will this make it easier to
remember, but it will also help you organize everything you want
to say in a coherent and logical manner.
2. If you are not sure of what you should include in your speech
think about buying some ready made wedding speeches. You can
find some great best man and maid of honor speech ebooks and
handbooks. Invest in a good one that will guide you through what
you need to say in your speech.
3. Use humor to keep your speech interesting and light. The only
way to ensure that you have the guests attention is to keep them
laughing and asking for more.
4. Any stories that you include in your speech must be about
people that most of the guests know. Talking about your high
school girlfriend and her best friend’s wedding is not going to
win you any brownie points. Keep the story short and preferably
about the bride or groom. Also, skip any racy stories from your
speech that might cause potential embarrassment to anyone in the
wedding party. Any and all mention of ex-girlfriends and
boyfriends is a strict no-no.
5. Practice, practice and more practice. The best speakers are
those who practice what they have to say. They may look like
they’ve been giving wedding speeches all their lives. The fact
remains that to look spontaneous, fluent and a great orator you
have to put in some effort. It is important to practice your
speech before the mirror or an audience at least 7-10 times
before the actual D-day.
6. Be comfortable. Remember this is not a job interview. It is a
wedding and an occasion to celebrate. Most people wish you the
best and will receive the wedding speech well. So there really
is no reason for you to be nervous or worry.
7. A wedding speech generally closes with a toast to the bridal
couple.
Use these tips to ensure that your Wedding Speech brings a smile
to everyone’s face and a tear to some eyes!
May 27, 2008 at 5:08 am · Filed under Management Center
Negotiations are comprised of small groups of people struggling to accomplish a mission. Such groups can be viewed as teams. Teams are management challenges. When viewed collectively, the two opposing negotiating forces actually comprise a potential team populated by competing forces. This discord threatens the team environment.
If you are expanding your team, you are adding the management challenge of having to manage the people on your team. You assume responsibility for your team’s preparation, pre-engagement research and the role each co-negotiator will play. You need most importantly to establish a global goal for the team and strategy for the pending session. If you are part of a negotiating team but not the team leader, make sure you know the team’s goals and objectives. If they are not clear, ask for clarification. Success is being part of a winning team; not knowing why your team failed. Worse yet is to not know why!
If the other side brings in a team of negotiators, You need to take steps to engage and manage their team.
If you are facing a team of negotiators, welcome the opportunity as a management challenge. Apply basic team building tactics to begin to merger the two teams:
- Welcome the other team to the negotiation.
- Observe the other team’s pecking order and note who your prime opponent defers to, if anyone. This may tell you who the real decision maker is.
- Don’t assume the primary speaker is the actual team leader or decision maker.
- Pepper random members of the other team to uncover latent leaders or issues that need to be addressed.
Interview each new member of the team as to their role, qualifications and specific area of expertise.
- Establish your role as the overall discussion leader stating clearly and concisely the objective of the day’s discussions.
- Look for areas of disagreement or conflict between the other team members. Typically non-verbal communications reveal such discord.
- Take time to fully debrief the other team, individually, before launching into the issues of the day.
Negotiating is small group management challenge. Seek to engage and involve the other team as part of the collective team. This will predictably come as a surprise to them. Confusing your opponent is often a viable negotiating tactic.
The group is dysfunctional at the start. Their are conflicting goals and objectives. You can establish an informal leadership role if you are able to establish a common goal for the collective group. This is not as hard as it sounds. You have all invested the time and money to attend the meeting. That presumes a common goal. Try to find a way to establish that goal as the primary purpose of the meeting in a fashion that addresses the needs of both sides.
The author is an assistant editor at How-to-Negotiate.com, a site featuring articles about corporate team building required in the dispute settlement process and how people negotiate everything in their daily lives be it personal issues, parenting matters, social conflicts, or business or work related challenges. The site promotes the fact that conflict is a natural aspect of everyone’s life and we should all work at improving our ability to negotiate the curves life throws our way.
May 27, 2008 at 3:51 am · Filed under Home Improvement Parlor
Feng Shui is the Chinese art of placement of objects. The objects are placed in such a way that it radiates positive energy all around. Feng Shui is used and practiced by not just Chinese but millions of people throughout the world.
For a prosperous business and a happy home, you need to follow certain Feng Shui guidelines, some of which are outlined below:
The energy (chi) that enters the house or office should not leave immediately, it should stay in the house and flow without any impediments and hence the front and back doors should not be in a straight line. If the front door and back door are in a straight line, place a few objects or place curtains to impede the view.
Never keep a mirror in front of your bed as it will cause restlessness and you will not be able to sleep properly and this will affect not just your home but your business life as well.
In the office you should have a wall behind your chair and you should face the door, this will bring good luck and success in your chosen profession.
The bathroom is also important, always keep the toilet lid down and if water is leaking from taps, get it rectified as it is considered to be bad chi.
Consult a Feng Shui practitioner to get finer details regarding the placement of objects.
Paul has been providing answers to lots of queries through his website on a wide variety of subjects ranging from satellite phones to acne. To learn more visit http://www.askaquery.com/Answers/qn1627.html
You are welcome to republish the above article only if you add our hyperlinked URL.
May 26, 2008 at 12:14 am · Filed under Gender Issues Portal
I recently did some research on the ‘net. I found tons of
information written by lots of guys giving an advice to other
guys on “how to pick up girls.”
Some of the methods were pretty good, some were so-so, and some
methods sounded desperate and even ridicules. I couldn’t help
myself but laugh.
To make it even more interesting, some guys even wrote books on
how to pick up girls. I didn’t buy any of the books because I
was expecting pretty much the same or similar information as the
information available for free.
So, I thought I was going to write an article on how to pick up
girls from my experience. I never had problems dating the girls
that I wanted to date. But then, I changed my mind at the last
minute.
Instead, I want to ask all single women and even married and
engaged, to tell the guys their darkest secrets.
Girls, tell us (the guys) what does it take to win your heart?
What kind of a guy are you looking for? Tell the guys so they
don’t have to guess any more.
I put a survey together for you to tell us your desires. Also,
free gifts are waiting for you - including a secret bonus - just
for sharing your darkest secrets.
Survey location: http://www.thebestsurvey.com/tbs1-singlew.html
Steve
**************************** Webmasters: You have a permission
to reprint this article in it’s entirety as long as you don’t
change it.
May 25, 2008 at 12:23 pm · Filed under Sales Tips + More
If you are a loan officer or mortgage broker looking to
purchase mortgage loan leads, you may be considering what type
of mortgage loan lead to purchase, and which company to purchase
them from.
There are a few different types of leads to choose from and
literally hundreds of lead companies to buy them from.
A few different types of the mortgage loan leads you can
purchase would be “real time” leads, which are only seconds old
by the time you receive them. There are also the old or recycled
leads which you can receive relatively cheap and usually in bulk.
Be careful with the recycled leads because you can guarantee
that they have been through many loan officers before they have
reached your desk, so don’t be expecting much on the quality end
of these leads.
Than there is the live transfer lead where the prospect is
transferred to you from a representative of the lead company
once they have made contact. Just make sure you are available to
take the call.
Once you have decided which type of lead is best for you, it
comes time to decide on which lead company to invest in.
My suggestion to you would be to call and speak with someone in
customer service. Get a feel for how they obtain their leads and
how they deliver them, as well as gathering information on their
return policy.
If you are unable to reach anyone in customer service, or they
are not clear on their answers to your questions, than it is
time to move onto the next lead company.
Remember, you work hard for your money, and if you feel as
though the quality of the customer service is not good or
meeting your expectations, than most likely the quality of the
leads will not be good or live up to your expectations.
May 25, 2008 at 1:48 am · Filed under Living With Medicine
Imagine yourself in the future, say six months time from now. How good is it going to be when someone offers you a cigarette and you find yourself saying ‘no thanks’?
Well,to break free from smoking, you need to break free from nicotine.”Just like that” i hear you say!I wouldn’t insult your intelligence by saying it is easy…..in fact it is a well-known that withdrawal from nicotine is very unpleasant. In fact, it is the single thing that causes even the most committed quitters to go back to smoking.
However consider the benefits of quitting smoking,after all aren’t you tired of being a slave to cigarettes? Below is a list of health benefits you can receive from quitting smoking for good:
Stroke risk is reduced to the level of a person who never smoked after 5 to 15 years of not smoking.
Cancers of the mouth, throat, and esophagus risks are halved 5 years after quitting.
Cancer of the larynx risk is reduced after quitting.
Coronary heart disease risk is cut by half 1 year after quitting and is nearly the same as someone who never smoked 15 years after quitting.
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease risk of death is reduced after you quit.
Lung cancer risk drops by as much as half 10 years after quitting.
Ulcer risk drops after quitting.
Bladder cancer risk is halved a few years after quitting. Peripheral artery disease goes down after quitting.
Cervical cancer risk is reduced a few years after quitting.
Low birth weight baby risk drops to normal if you quit before pregnancy.
Clearly the list is endless so why not make it your mission to become tobacco-free, pure and simple.
For more tips on how to quit smoking why not visit:
http://www.curemenow.net/
May 24, 2008 at 10:29 pm · Filed under Business Opps
Virtual Assisting/ Web Designing/ Etc. Whats Right For You?
On your mark-Get Set-Go!!! Youre ready. Youve finally got it, the top of the line, latest and great computer that moves at the speed of sound and has everything you need, plus some. But will it make you money! Absolutely!!! Were going to show you how!
There are numerous ways to utilize your computer for a home-based business. The key is finding the right one for you. First, consider your skills and expertise and most importantly what you enjoy doing. Remember, its a combination of the three that make for a winning business. Those with good secretarial and Internet skills might want to consider virtual assisting, whereas those with a flair for figures might prefer accounting or bookkeeping. For those who live on the web and have the creative touch, how about starting a web designing business or desktop publishing? Then, theres computer tutoring, resume consulting, real estate transaction coordinators, etc. The possibilities are limitless and with the growth of the Internet, and the advancement in technology today, it just keeps getting better.
As an example, virtual assisting businesses are constantly in the media today and businesses are taking note and looking for VAs to assist them. For example, it was recently noted in Time Magazine, other top books and magazines that VA businesses are considered among the top 10 home-based businesses to start. Entrepreneur Magazine rates it as one of the top 5 home-based businesses.
Whats a Virtual Assistant? A virtual assistant provides service from a home office to anywhere in the world using their high-speed access, e-mails, fax machines as well as many web-based applications. They can handle your typing, scheduling, e-mails, real estate transactions, legal briefs, medical transcription, your website, and more. The virtual revolution has truly begun and businesses are taking full advantage of the expertise of these professionals.
Once you decide on a business, then youre ready to make it happen. The first thing youll want to do is to write everything down. All your thoughts and dreams and how you plan to achieve them. Decide on the hours you want to work, the price you want to charge, the marketing you plan to implement, the equipment and supplies required, and your goals and visions for the business. This is your plan for success. This is essential! Too many leave this vital step out and then dont have a clear focus for their business.
Next, research and read everything you can on starting your business. Find out how the pros have done it and gain from their experience. Dont just limit yourself to reading booksothats only one avenue, although a good one. (Do check out my book on starting a Virtual Assisting business– see below!) Look to the Internet. Find message boards and chats that relate to the area that you want to go into. Often times these are managed by people who have been in business for years and are willing to share their experience. Not only will you gain their expertise, but also that of those who frequent the boards. These will be others who are starting a business, or who are succeeding in business, and willing to share their knowledge with you.
One of the best sites that Im finding now for virtual assistants is VAnetworking at http://www.vanetworking.com. Tawnya Sutherland runs this forum and has boards with tips on every aspect of starting a virtual assistant business. Also, youll find many of the VA pros there who are successful and willing to help other virtual assistants get started.
Also, do a search on the Internet for the type of business you want to go into. Look to their sites. Find the common denominators. What associations do most belong to? What services do most offer? This is just research, but it will help in providing you ideas for what you want to do with your business. Look to their links page and check out their links. This is especially true for the organizational websites. Again, write down all your findings.
Sign up for newsletters! The knowledge is tremendous and the motivation well worth it! If you go to Publicity VA, http://www.Publicity-VA you can see a complete listing of great newsletters that will provide tips and suggestions on starting a business and other marketing ideas.
Get additional training if necessary. Once you decide what you want to do, then find out exactly what other skills you will need to make it possible. For virtual assistants, I highly recommend Virtual Assistance U for additional training.
With the knowledge that you have now, and with it all written down in your plan, youre ready to take the next steps in starting a businesso your business. Your dream! Enjoy and remember nothing is impossible as long as you give it your all. Success happens when you make it happen. Good luck!
Diana Ennen is the author of numerous books including Virtual Assistant: the Series, Become a Highly Successful, Sought After VA, Words From Home, Start, Run and Profit from a Home-Based Word Processing Business & the Home Office Recovery Plan. She specializes in publicity and book marketing and is president of Virtual Word Publishing http://www.virtualwordpublishing.com and http://www.Publicity-VA.com. Articles are free to be reprinted as long as the author’s bio remains intact.
May 24, 2008 at 11:01 am · Filed under Buyers + Consumers, Shopping Info
With the current trends in internet technology you can expect a lot of shoppers to be more savvy and choosy when it comes to shopping; both offline and online.
It is very common to hear ladies complaining that their boyfriends or husbands are terrible at picking the right gifts for them, and then spending too much money! I’m not being biased, but in all seriousness there is no excuse for men not to know how to buy gifts for their girlfriends or wives if they have an web connection at home or in the office.
Just do a simple search and sites like Discount Shopping UK will present you with many great gift buying ideas and ways to save more money on those gifts. Hair care, fragrance or personal care items can be found with big savings if you take time to find out more about what is worth your hard earned cash and what isn’t.
Actually, I myself have found the site pretty good and uptodate as it offers lots of pages with discount codes for many gift retailers, thus inturn making him a more savvy and frugal shopper. Check out the site to save more money on those gifts: especially gifts for Father’s day!
May 23, 2008 at 11:32 pm · Filed under Technology Stuff
Self-power or empowerment does not happen by riding on the top of the hierarchical heap as a pseudo-man. It comes from a sense of appreciating, and knowing at the deepest level possible that we are truly worthy because we are an image of the highest power that exists.
Having a job since I was 13 years old has entitled me to make a few specific observations about women in the workforce. The first is we’ve denied the feminine side of ourselves for too long, in that we do not realize the qualities we inherit as women are equally as sacred and important as the men in our lives. We can conceptualize ourselves as both male and female spirit, both God and Goddess, equally divine and beloved. The feminine side of God has been diminished for so long we’ve come to believe that we are something less important because we can’t see ourselves in images of God. And when we don’t acknowledge ourselves as a spark of that collective essence, both Mother and Father God, it can make us feel unworthy and flawed. It translates into low self-esteem, because we believe our true self is somewhat less important. It permeates into relationships and before we know it, we have claimed an unworthy state of mind, and then begin to create that in our immediate experience. In the workplace, it has affected our overall confidence level when we compare ourselves to men doing the same type of jobs.
Since Henry Mintzberg’s observations in his 1973 diary studies of executives, management styles have drastically changed. Old ways, as well as the old boy’s network, has steadily been dismantled in favor of organizational structures that encompass more female friendly policies and ideas, with the idea of empowering the female through equal opportunity and culture change. Throughout this process, women stumbled on the rocky road to empowerment, adapting in public and private realms encumbered by unspoken, old fashioned and traditionally bureaucratic parameters. Women thought power would arrive by managing exactly like men because they slid into the workforce in a fairly dominated male environment and needed to adapt.
But now, as a body of research is beginning to develop on this demographic, we’re learning that we were barking up the wrong tree. Our own woman-culture, or our entire system of shared meaning and knowledge, is uniquely intact. Our 20-year take-away value: self-power or empowerment does not happen by riding on the top of the hierarchical heap as a pseudo-man. It doesn’t even come from manpower disguised as womanpower. It comes from a sense of appreciating, and knowing at the deepest level possible that we are truly worthy because we are an image of the highest power that exists. We are beginning to realize what constitutes our beingness is as equally divine as a man, because we are the same soul substance. Although we love God, and we are God, we are also the Goddess. And we’re beginning to love ourselves for who we are, which includes both aspects of a divine equation, because self-love is about demonstrating that which is within, our spiritual power. Female qualities and values that are precipitated from this spiritual composite will someday be demonstrated at the highest levels of organizations with great success. However, for now it seems we first must be more comfortable in our own skin and finally acknowledge that what we contribute has tremendous significance, both to society as well as the bottom line.
My second observation about women in the workforce is that once we define, and embrace the feminine side of our spiritual composite, we will re-embrace the masculine principle in a more balanced fashion. The result will be the institution of a set of values that correspond to who we are and what we do well. If we allow it, our feminine side will begin to reconceptualize leadership roles that include affirming, dynamic views of our self-development process. Work will be viewed as a unique service to the larger community. This will be done through new policies we set, reflected in our decision styles, and by outlining the long-term objectives of what our organizations need to accomplish in order to make sense from the act of working.
At a very deep level, the glorious aspects that make up the Yin side of us is our core competency - and we’re seeing evidence that harnessing those energies in ways that assist one another in our spiritual evolvement can make us better in our work. In the future, knowing how we co-create with spirit will become the mission and vision for organizations that will finally permit everyone, not just women, to fabricate meaning from doing.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Charlene M. Proctor, Ph.D., author of Let Your Goddess Grow! 7 Spiritual Lessons on Female Power and Positive Thinking and The Women’s Book of Empowerment: 323 Affirmations that Change Everyday Problems into Moments of Potential (2005) provides guidance through everyday complexity with female imagery and positive thinking. Please visit www.thegoddessnetwork.net and register for her many self-help and inspirational programs, which include The Divine Woman, a free monthly newsletter!
May 23, 2008 at 4:52 am · Filed under Car Transport
An extended auto warranty is considered to be an insurance policy made on your vehicle as a safeguard against expensive and unforeseen repairs. The warranty covers repairs and/or maintenance over an agreed length of time. Since extended auto warranties cost extra and are sold separately, they are also considered as service contracts.
Buying an extended auto warranty ensures emergency road service so that you need not dread dead batteries and blown tires. Towing services are also provided, if necessary. Some extended auto warranties also provide fuel to spark ignition engines for the needy. In the event of an accident, ambulance services are provided if the vehicle covered by the extended auto insurance is involved in the accident. So buying an extended auto warranty gives one the peace of mind of knowing that if there are any repairable malfunctions to the car, it can be taken to the repair shop of one’s choice and the cost of the claim will be covered by the extended auto warranty company. There are even some companies that provide a free rental car in the event that the car needs to go to the repair shop.
When buying an extended auto warranty, make it a point to negotiate on its price with the car dealer. This is because car dealers make a great profit with extended warranties, sometimes as much as the profit they make on a car. So don’t pay more than two-thirds of the car dealer’s asking price. It is not necessary to buy the extended warranty immediately after buying a car, as you have twelve months’ time to buy a warranty. The extended warranty can be bought not only from the car dealer, but also from a credit union or auto insurance dealer.
However, before buying, make it a point to shop around for the best price and coverage you can get. Make sure that on buying the extended auto warranty, you don’t end up buying a double warranty, which is coverage for items covered by the manufacturer’s warranty. Make sure that the extended auto warranty that you buy from the dealer is the car manufacturer’s warranty. Remember that the warranty begins on the day the warranty was purchased and not on the date the car is purchased.
Extended Warranty provides detailed information on Extended Warranty, Extended Auto Warranties, Used Car Extended Warranties, New Car Extended Warranties and more. Extended Warranty is affiliated with Extended Warranties.
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