The Hurbicide Guru

Good sports coaches work on The Wheel of Success. There are four arcs to The Wheel of Success:

1. Hard Work makes teams more Confident.

2. Confidence enables them to Win.

3. Winning is Enjoyable.

4. Enjoyment makes Hard Work easier.

And so the wheel goes round and round and success comes more and more often.

The point is that Winning starts with Hard Work.

In this day it is fair to say that most business people work long hours. In many cases the hours seem to be exhausting and perhaps somewhat over the top. But the fruits of their labors do not always lead to success.

So, what is going wrong? Why does the Hard Work not lead to the desired results?

The answer is that their work is not Well Directed.

Have you ever watched a football team where all the players are working their socks off, running around like demons and getting nowhere? Such teams do not have a plan, they have no direction.

Good managers excel at directing the efforts of their teams. But there is a paucity of good leaders in the business arena. Why is it that when more money spent on training than at any time in previous history a proportionate number of good leaders are not emerging?

I think that there are two reasons. The first is the criteria that is often used for selecting leaders. In working with many large corporations I find that by far the most common practice is to promote the person who is currently doing the best job at their current level. This is a classic case of promoting the best salesman and hoping he’ll turn out to be a good sales manager.

The problem is that the newly promoted individual is often given little or no mentoring in their new role and no specific training in either the tasks they need to perform in their new role or in leadership. The result is that they go on doing the things they’re good at, the things which have brought them success and they do more and more of those things.

Hence they work longer and longer hours doing more and more of what they have always done. And this does not help either them or the colleagues whom they are supposed to be managing.

A lot more care needs to be taken over the selection of leaders. Good employers select people for promotion based on leadership criteria rather than on the ability to carry out tasks.

The second reason why employers do not get the leaders they need is because they do not give their newly promoted managers appropriate support. Promotion brings with it a great deal of stress. The individual knows that more is expected of them. They know that they need to deliver more to justify their new position and their new reward package.

We are working in an age when Redundancy can strike at any time and where failure is frowned upon, even vilified. The fears of redundancy and failure hang over all managers like the sword of Damocles.

These emotional issues are always hidden by the mangers, but they go on churning around inside them and hinder decision making and output. No-one wants to make a mistake, least of all a newly promoted manager. In such circumstances outside coaches are often highly beneficial.

Why specifically are outside coaches?

Because the last thing that a newly promoted executive wants is to admit to his colleagues or his new boss that he/she does not know what to do. You have no idea how many times newly promoted executives have said to me that they find it an enormous relief to be able to talk in complete confidence to someone about their fears and concerns.

At the end of a recent coaching program a client wrote to me: “In 18 years at (name of his company) this is the most useful exercise as a manager I have undertaken. It has opened doors, taught me a lot and clarified a huge amount.”

Good coaches know a lot about business. They have been there and done it. They know and understand the pressures. They are good at helping managers and leaders plan how best to direct their hard work so that it improves their confidence. And once their confidence is up, they can start winning. Then they will enjoy themselves and the hard work will become a whole lot easier.

David Ferrers is the Chief Coach of Personal Performance Coaching Ltd. The company has a very successful track record in developing managers in corporations of all sizes. They believe that most managers are under-achieving because they are not using anything like their full potential. The release of that potential is the objective of their coaching. Learn more about how they operate at http://www.Performance-Coaching.com

Various types of topical treatment for acne are to be found in the drugstores. After buying them, one should glance through the tips that are inscribed on it. It is really important because proper usage should be made of these medicines.

Benzoyl peroxide

The three key functions of this ointment is to kill bacteria, reduce skin irritation and open the clogged pores. A doctor’s prescription is not necessary. It is available at various levels of concentrations i.e. 2.5%, 4%, 5% and 10%. The following concentrations should be applied to the skin as per your suitability. Try using the lowest level at first and use it only once a day and then gradually increase your usage.

Antibiotics

It helps fighting the bacteria present in the skin and also cures inflammation that occurs, but it is not useful in treating the blocked pores. A doctor’s prescription is necessary. It may cause you mild side effects. The drawback of this medicine is that it does not heal your blackheads and whiteheads.

Retinoids

It is mainly useful in unplugging blocked pores of the skin compared to the other mentioned medicines, but otherwise it has nothing much to yield. The few set of disadvantages are that, they do not cure inflammation nor scrub away blackhead or whitehead. But you may feel a weird sensation after applying such as skin redness, irritation, dryness, burning and even peeling of skin.

Azelaic acid

It unplugs the pores that are clogged, and also rules out blackheads and whiteheads like retinoids. It is also useful in stopping inflammation but does not work as effective as antibiotics.

A team of acne experts has found that combinations of treatment work out quickly when compared to the other treatments. Till today there is no such topical treatment that is listed as a priority when compared to others. Each of them have their own significance depending upon the nature of disease and how an individual reacts to the therapies.

To be fairly cured, it is better to continue the treatment for about 4-6 weeks, or else extend it for 3-4 months. Do not stop the treatment if you are not satisfied after completing half the course. Even if you feel quenched do not discontinue because the flares may surge up again. On the whole, it is advised to continue the treatment for several years.

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/qn1525.html

Electric fireplaces are growing in popularity amongst homeowners. Does that mean one is right for you? Let’s take a look at the benefits (don’t worry, we’ll hit on the cons too):

They are great for people who want to add the warmth and style of a fireplace without building a permanent unit (whether wood-burning or gas), which includes the labor and cost of installing a chimney or venting to the outside. Because the electric units are not actually burning anything (they only simulate flames), they do not steal CO2 or vent potentially toxic fumes. With an electric fireplace, you simply plug the unit into a standard 120-volt outlet and flip the switch.

These units can be built into a fireplace surround with mantel and the whole works or they can simply stand against a wall, a scenario that means no tools are required for installation. Many electric fireplaces come with surrounds and mantels to give them a realistic look with no effort. This simplicity and ease is what attracts many homeowners to these appliances. Also, they can be installed in places traditional fireplaces or wood-burning stoves cannot. For example, it’s no problem putting an electric fireplace into a trailer or a high-rise condominium.

Ok, let’s talk about the cons of electric fireplaces, lest I start to sound like a smarmy sales person. For one thing, these fireplaces are basically just glorified space heaters. If all you want is warmth, and you don’t mind paying an electricity bill to get it, you could buy a simple heater for much less. The reason people buy electric fireplaces is more for the ambiance and the focal point they can create in a room. They do certainly work as heaters though. Most new models come with a built-in thermostat, so that when the room reaches the desired temperature, the heater automatically flips off.

One con of these fireplaces is that they have a bad reputation in that they do not look realistic. After all, nothing is really burning in there, so it’s not going to look like a snapping and crackling wood fire. However, the technology is improving, and a lot of today’s electric fireplaces use randomized filtering of lighting to simulate glowing embers and flame patterns that are reminiscent of the real deal. The best thing to do is visit a dealer and see a number of units turned on before you make a decision.

Now that we have touched on pros and cons, let’s take a look at options. Today’s electric fireplaces have such perks as built-in fans to distribute the heat more thoroughly, air filtration systems to clean the air as it is heated, a heatless setting in case all you want is the look of flickering flames, and of course most of these units come with remote controls (heaven forbid, we have to get off our couches to turn on the fireplace).

Ok, but what about the price, you ask? Electric fireplaces are cheaper than gas fireplaces, and you can get a pretty decent model for about $500 (even cheaper models are available, though they tend to have fewer perks and less realistic flames).

TC Thorn owns a number of web sites on home improvement. This article originally appeared on Fireplace Lowdown at http://sicarius.typepad.com/fireplace_lowdown/ and may be reprinted so long as a link to that site is provided.

I am going to write to you about a time-tested great way to start your New Year. You guessed it - making your list of monthly and yearly goals.

The business philosopher Jim Rohn said that, “The major reason for setting a goal is for what it makes of you to accomplish it. What it makes of you will always be the far greater value than what you get.”

The process of reaching your goal changes you forever. It brings you the confidence and motivation to pursue further, loftier aspirations.

Writing down your goals is imperative. You will activate and create new cells in your brain by writing your goals on paper. These cells would otherwise remain dormant if you just type them on your computer or think about them.

After Andrew Carnegie passed away, they found a sheet of paper in his home. Carnegie had handwritten one of the major goals of his life - to spend the first half of his life accumulating money and to spend the last half of his life giving it all away. Guess what. He did!

Go write down your goals now. Challenge yourself to new heights while not making your goals unreachable. In the same way, if you set your goals too low, you won’t make much of yourself.

Look at your list often, every day. You can never tell what you can do when you get inspired by reading your goals. And, most importantly, you can never tell what will happen when you put them into action.

Inspiration leads to activation and equals triumphant success.

Yes, everybody has short-term obstacles to overcome. And, that is the very reason why we need a lot of powerful long-range goals. They keep us focused, on track. They provide us with a powerful target. They remind us about the life we want to live.

The critical reason for goal-setting is to lure and persuade you to become the person that it takes to reach them. By activating the process that leads to the accomplishment of your goals, you change your outlook, your brain cells, your thought process in such a way, that you feel like a different person. A much evolved person.

You can liken this activation process to that of a snake shedding its old skin. Or, a salamander. Did you know that one of the great symbols of the ancient schools of wisdom is a salamander. You can cut off its tail, and the salamander can grow a new one. A carnivorous animal can bite the salamander in half, separating its stomach from its intestines and its lower colon cutting off its stem cells, cutting off its spinal column, and guess what. The salamander crawls away on its arms. It knows how to change itself to look like sand and rocks - like a chameleon. While its lying there, it exudes no fragrance. It grows back from its spinal column a new intestine, a new spinal column, new legs and a new tail. Then it emerges again.

The next attack on a salamander may bite off its body right under its neck - only a head and one arm is left. It can lay in a catatonic state as it grows back a new body. But if its head is bitten off, the salamander is history.

The reason I am telling you this is to show you how incredibly powerful your mind is. It is the crowning glory of who you are and who you can become. Its creative power is simply limitless.

And setting goals is an incredible way to use your beautiful mind.

“We all have two choices: We can make a living or we can design a life.” -Jim Rohn

So design your new life. Allow every moment to renew your life anyway you want. Make this year one the one you want to remember forever.

Copyright 2006 Tania French

Tania Gabrielle French is a composer who has enjoyed performances and radio broadcasts of her music worldwide. Her new CD “Renewal” (released January, 2006) will feature a rejuvenating fusion of new age, classical, and world songs.
Subscribe to her popular newsletter at http://www.prosperousartist.com

© 2005 Tania French. All Rights Reserved.

Writing copy has sometimes been compared to an “art.” While it
does take creative skill to write great copy that generates
results, there are some mistakes that you should avoid to make
sure that your copy is read and acted upon.

1.The copy is boring. Great copy will never be boring and will
always get the reader to read the entire message. It is engaging
and written in a conversational tone. It bypasses the readers
mental resistance to being sold and will always generate
results. That’s why the best copy that you read, is always the
ones that read like a good book. They tell a story and bring the
reader along your sales process. 2.The copy is all about you.
Copy that is all about the features of a product, or all about
your service will fall flat on its face. The reader will not
finish reading the copy and will in all likelihood toss the
letter in the trash. There goes your marketing budget to the
landfill. It would be more profitable to donate the money to a
deserving charity and have a press release written about how you
or your company is concerned about people’s welfare. No, your
copy must tell the reader “what’s in it for me,” WIIFM. You must
show the reader what the result of using your product of service
will be of benefit to them. They could care less about you, so
keep yourself out of it. Now, there are times when you must tell
about yourself or your company. And that is used to generate
credibility, not to make the sale, and it must come after
telling the reader the benefits of using your service or
product. Only then will the reader be interested in hearing
about you or your company. 3.Has no clear “call to action.” You
must spell out what you want the reader to do. If you want to
reader to fill out your order form, give them specific
instructions on how to do it. Tell them exactly what to do.
Don’t dawdle around and say, “Just fill out the order form to
get your…” No, no, no. Rather tell them that they need to give
you their name, address, etc. on the order form, and make sure
you tell them to “print” on the order form, that way it will be
easier for you to read. I’m not saying that prospects are dumb,
but you must give them specific instructions on what action you
want them to perform. 4.Has a week P.S. The PS is the second
most read part of your sales letter. Restate the benefits the
reader will enjoy by ordering your product or service. Throw in
an extra bonus here as well. For example, “Order in the next 5
days and you will also receive (fill in the blank).” And if you
want to make sure that you have a strong PS write it before you
write the body of your letter. That way you won’t be tired of
writing and scratch out a hurried PS. 5.Has no testimonials.
Without testimonials (and we’re not talking about the “Oh I just
loved your service” kind of testimonials) your copy has no
credibility. Why should someone believe what you are telling
them if there is nothing to back up your claims? Without
testimonials your reader will assume that you are hyping them.
That you are claiming to be something that you are not. You must
have testimonials to help your reader/prospect believe in you.
Survey your customers to get good specific testimonials so that
you can sprinkle them throughout your copy. These are just a few
mistakes that I’ve seen people make when trying to write their
own copy instead of hiring a qualified copywriter. A really good
copywriter will avoid these mistakes like the plague. Examine
the copy you have on your website or in your sales literature.
Does it make any of these mistakes? Chances are if it is making
any of these mistakes then it is making others that will jump
off the page to a well-trained copywriter’s eye. Don’t make
these mistakes yourself if you decide to tackle writing your own
sales copy. If you do, you will be doomed to fail at the outset
and you will be wondering why your copy isn’t converting more
prospects.

“Christmas Time, Mistletoe and Wine” How many times have you heard this so far and its only November? A few I’ll bet, but with Christmas seemingly becoming earlier to us each year, we will no doubt feel the need to get ahead with our present and food buying. This though only leads to us spending more than we should. This is because with the shops full of decorations and Christmas tunes, the stores are dictating to us that we have to buy our gifts now, which will mean by the time December has come and gone. We would have spent more over the 2-month period that the shops have been full of Christmas cheer.

This is not all bah! Humbug.

Personally for the occasion alone and seeing the kids faces when they open their presents on Christmas morning, as Christmas is a special time of year that for the day makes all the preparation and spending all worth while.

But that doesn’t mean that it comes without cost and in some cases more of a cost than folk can ill afford. For all of its pomp and occasion, Christmas can come at a heavy price to bear for a lot of people who, rather than let their children and family down, will turn to the promise of riches that credit cards and store cards offer.

Don’t get me wrong, credit cards and even store cards, have their uses. This is only true though, if you only use them to your advantage, to get the best out of them. If you are thinking of taking one or the other, then the only suggestion that I can make is to plump for the credit card, over the store card.

We all want to enjoy this time of year, so by getting all that you want to do this and in doing so, save cash and not to fall heavily into debt, will make the festivities all the more enjoyable. So by giving you a few advantages and disadvantages, which credit cards and store cards entail, will hopefully go a long way on helping you make the right decisions.

Firstly the advantages of credit cards:

• More favourable interest rates than a store card.
• Many offers on the market, which are giving you an interest free period.
• Some come with money back schemes that give you a percentage of your expenditure back to you. (Usually between 0.5%- 2%)
• Will protect your gifts, as soon as you have bought them.
• Lets you buy now and pay at a later date, only on what you have spent without incurring any interest charges.

Now the disadvantages:

• Can lead you to spend more than you can afford to pay back, which in turn will lead to the interest being charged to your account.
• They can come with a heavy hit in the pocket, with charges for late payments and going over your credit limit.

Advantages of the store card:

• Can use them as soon as you are accepted for the card.
• Initial discount (normally 10% off you first purchase) will give you a saving straight away.

Disadvantages:

• Overly high interest rates, which are well above those of a credit card. Some can be as much as 30%.
• Can lead you quickly to debt, if they are not cleared at the end of each month.
• Sold to the customer, by assistants who know absolutely nothing about what they are selling.

Peter Kenny is a writer for creditcards-gb.co.uk. For additional articles and an extensive resource for everything about credit cards, please visit us at www.creditcards-gb.co.uk and www.creditcards2go4.com For credit card advice please visit here www.creditcards-gb.co.uk/creditcardadvice.html

Most new homebuyers are unfamiliar with how mortgage loans work. Because of this, several people accept bad loans. This results in homebuyers paying more than necessary. If you have bad credit, accepting a mortgage with good terms is a must. Many lenders prey on those with bad credit. Their objective is to charge higher fees and boost their profit. Before applying for a mortgage loan, consider the following factors.

What is the Mortgage Interest Rate?

The interest rate that a homebuyer accepts on a mortgage loan is very important. Mortgage rates can be as low as 3.9%, and as high as 9% or 10%. Obviously, those with a high credit rating will pay less interest.

Having bad credit does not always mean getting the highest rates. Thus, it is important to research various lenders, and keep an open eye on current mortgage rates. Many lenders have wonderful loan programs designed for bad credit people. The rates are reasonable, which means affordable mortgage payments.

Which Mortgage Loan Term to Choose?

Because of the varying home loans available, homebuyers have several choices in regards to loan terms. If you are hoping to payoff the mortgage quicker, a 15-year or 20-year mortgage term may be suitable. These terms do involve slightly higher payments. However, if you can afford a higher mortgage, a shorter term is ideal.

Traditional mortgage loan terms are 30-years. However, many lenders also offer 40-year mortgage loans. This is a plus in areas with a high cost of living. Keep in mind that shorter terms have lower mortgage rates. Thus, homebuyers save money when selecting a shorter mortgage term.

Be Prepared to Pay Closing Costs

Getting approved for a mortgage loan and shopping for a home is the fun part. However, before the loan is finalized, homebuyers must pay their closing fees.

All mortgages involve closing costs. The fee varies depending on mortgage lenders. Yet, you can expect to pay a few thousand dollars. This covers the cost of title search, appraisal, home inspection, points, loan origination, and so forth.

If a homebuyer is unable to pay such a large amount, having the closing fees included in the mortgage loan is doable. In fact, many homebuyers choose this option. This approach makes it possible to buy a new home without additional expenses.

Carrie Reeder is the owner of http://www.abcloanguide.com. View her recommended sources for poor credit mortgage financing.

View her recommended bad credit mortgage lenders online. Also view her recommended online companies to help you with personal debt consolidation loans online.

An Inmate’s Daughter
By Jan Walker

Raven Publishing, Inc. (2006)
Reviewed by Kim Peterson for Reader Views (2/06)

Jenna MacDonald didn’t mean to do anything wrong when she plunged
into Puget Sound to save a little girl from drowning. She just reacted on
instinct. She had been rescuing her rather hyper younger brother in their
neighborhood swimming pool for years without her mother knowing.

But Jenna’s mother is upset because her actions have called attention to
their family. The rescue occurred at McNeil Island boat dock during a
visit to Jenna’s father who is serving time in prison. Now, the paper
wants to run a story and the McNeil Island Corrections Center wants to
investigate how it happened.

When her dad was transferred to this site, Jenna’s family moved, too.
Now they live with her grandparents and Jenna is adjusting to a new
school. She feels confused by her mother’s anger and insistence that
they keep her dad’s situation private. Jenna wants to talk to someone
about it. She wants to feel like she belongs to a whole family.

Jenna’s grandparents encourage her to make friends and to enjoy life.
But junior high is tough and Jenna, who is half Native American,
struggles to find her niche. When she tries to join one of the racially-
mixed “in” groups, they ask questions about her family bringing the
tensions between Jenna’s need for acceptance and her mother’s desire
for secrecy to a head.

More than two million American children wrestle with the stigma of an
incarcerated parent. Few of these children receive the assistance they
need to cope with their situation. Walker’s book takes on a tough topic.
Her book informs and encourages young adult readers so they can

Kim Peterson is a reviewer for Reader Views
http://www.readerviews.com

The Forgotten Benefits of the Gold Standard

One of the benefits of the gold standard, long forgotten, was that it acted to regulate imbalances in trade. Under the gold standard, trade imbalances between countries were unsustainable because they would self correct over time. Here is an example of how that worked: When a country would export more than it imported, it would accumulated more gold. That is because it could take the surplus foreign currency received in trade and convert it to gold.

As you have learned, when gold entered a country from outside its borders, it always caused inflation. That is because the surplus of gold (money) relative to the goods and services available for purchase always bids up those prices. When a country’s goods become more expensive, they also become less attractive to its trading partners. As a result, the country cannot export as much as it once could.

Back in the days of the gold standard, more gold would then flow out of the country than would come in, because imports would exceed exports. Because of less gold in the country, prices would eventually decline to where they had been originally.

World War I began in 1914, although the United States did not enter the war until 1917. In the early years of the war, England and France depended heavily on the United States to provide them with arms. As a result, gold flowed into the Unites States, while arms flowed out. The incoming gold allowed the banks to loan more money, causing the money supply in the U.S. to increase by nearly 50 percent during the period 1914 -1917.

When the U.S. entered the war in 1917, England and France had all but exhausted their supplies of gold. As a favor to England and France, the U.S. suspended the gold standard and began providing armaments on credit. Additionally, the U.S. printed money to provide for its own troops. During the next three years, the money supply again increased by almost 50 percent. When the war was over, the Allies looted Germany. With the spoils, England and France paid back their loans to the United States. As a result, even more gold flowed into the United States.

Curtis Arnold is the country’s leading authority on inflation and a best-selling financial author. His latest book, HONEY, WHO SHRUNK OUR MONEY? is due out in 2006. Please visit http://www.curtisarnoldreport.com for continuing coverage of the perfect financial storm and investment updates. The author is also available for speaking engagements. Contact: curtisarnold@hotmail.com

1. Plan Plan Plan

Most weight gain over the festive season is due to “impulse eating” - i.e. snacking and eating impulsively; and also because many feel that it’s normal to over-indulge over the festive season. The key is to think ahead and plan. For example: If you have an end-of-year office celebration, then plan around it. Similarly, if you know that your main Xmas celebratory feast is on Xmas Eve - then plan to go easier on Xmas day. If you have several celebratory meals, then plan to make one of them your “main” feast - and eat less on the others.

2. Identify the “Triggers”

Identify your key “trigger” foods - those foods that you know you may overeat and either carefully plan them into the season’s festivities; or limit them. Examples may be: Fruit Mince Pies; Xmas Pudding/Cake; Roasted Meats and other general “sweet & treat” foods. The objective is not to deny yourself these treats during the festive season, but to adequately prepare in advance by being more aware. Don’t just eat them because they’re there.

3. Watch the Starch & “White Foods”

Over the festive season, we usually tend to eat more starch and foods that are usually “white” in appearance (i.e. potatoes, rice, bread, cakes, biscuits). Many traditional Xmas treats are also starch-based (e.g. Fruit mince pies, Xmas Cake, Roast Potatoes), and these can cause havoc with weight gain. Aim to limit the portions of these foods, and instead, try to increase the balance of non-starch foods (e.g. Protein; Salads, Vegetables) at each meal.

4. Shift Starch to Evening

If you are going to indulge in the starch or “white” “sweet & treat” foods, then try at least to shift them to the evening, and avoid or significantly reduce eating them during the day. This is a good way to plan if you intend eating 2 large celebration meals on the same day (e.g. Lunch & Supper). Eat mostly protein, salad and non-starch vegetables for lunch, and enjoy more starch foods in the evening meal.

5. Exercise

As far as possible, maintain your exercise regime throughout the season. Not only will this keep your metabolism active and burn calories, but it will also ensure that you don’t lose too much fitness. Also, where possible, try to plan your exercise sessions BEFORE a celebratory or related meal occasion (particularly resistance or weight-training type exercise). Also remember, if you lose fitness AND also gain weight through overindulging, it will be TWICEas difficult when you resume training after the festive season

Ted Frazer has been dedicated to the weight loss and “Wellness Revolution” for 20 years. He is a nutrition consultant and has written a fast selling e-book titled “The Total Diet Solution”. Visit http://www.total-diet.com and download the 1st chapter for free. Also, e-mail him at: info@total-diet.com for an online consultation (put “Diet Advice” in subject box)