Career Change Is Not For Wimps! 3 Powerful Steps to Do Work You Love

Author : Ann Ronan, Ph.D.

Tough words?.but I truly believe that folks who make career changes should be applauded for their courage. The courage to live closer to their authentic selves. The courage to put aside all the negativity we hear about the economy. The courage to face their own fears.Most people will change careers 5-10 times in their lifetimes. Not just jobs ? but whole new careers. At the same time, we?re not taught how to go about this in the best way ?how to evaluate what careers fit us best ? how to choose work that makes our heart sing!If you are considering a career change, here are some tips to get you started:1. Know thyself. Give yourself time to really get in touch with yourself. What do you value most in your work? What skills do you really love doing? What natural talents and gifts do you have that you must use to serve others?2. Go on an exploration. Be curious. Ask lots of folks about their work. Make a list of everything you?ve ever considered doing ?even if it seems outlandish. Then make a list of questions you?d like to get answered about those careers. This website can give you some good information about skills needed, education requirements and salary ranges for many careers: http://online.onetcenter.org/. As you get your questions answered, start making commitments about what you WILL have in your next career. Narrow down your choices until you?ve settled on one to target.3. Go after it! Put together a job search campaign. Make a list of at least 5 different strategies you?ll use to go after your best work. These can include networking, making a list of contacts to call, online job seeking on specialized job boards, online seeking of specific companies? job postings, sending targeted letters to organizations you?d like to work for even if they don?t have jobs posted. Set weekly and daily goals and get a support partner to help keep you accountable to reaching your goals.Changing careers takes good strategies, courage and support. And it can be the most rewarding thing you?ve ever done. Congratulations on taking this first step! Ann Ronan, Ph.D., Certified Career Coach and author, works with professionals in career transition. If you?d like more tips, strategies and support check out the 90 Day Career Change Is Not For Wimps eCourse delivered to you by daily emails with weekly telephone support calls ? www.authenticlifeinstitute.com/CareerChange.htm©Ann Ronan, Ph.D. 2004ann@authenticlifeinstitute.com

Category : General Business and Finance

Business to Business Direct Mail Offers that Say Free

Author : Alan Sharpe
In direct mail, the offer is the incentive or reward that you dangle in front of your prospects to motivate them to respond to your mailing, either with an order or with a request for more information.Offers follow a “you do this and we’ll do that” format. For example: “Place your order before June 3 and we’ll reduce your price by 40%” or “Phone now and we’ll send you a free demo CD.”Here are some examples of offers that businesses use to sell their products and services to other businesses using direct mail. Each of these offers gives the prospect something for free. “Free” is still a word that increases response, though it is not as effective as it once was because readers are more sceptical and because spam filters often delete emails that contain the word (that’s why I’ve disguised “free” throughout this message).1. Free trial
Customers try your product or service before paying for it. Example: “Try our product risk-free for 30 days and pay only if you buy.”Pros: Increases response because it eliminates the buyer’s fear of ordering by mail what may prove to be unsatisfactory merchandise.Cons: Increases cost of processing orders. Hampers cash flow.2. Free gift for inquiry
Prospects receive a free gift when they request more information. Example: “Call now to learn more, and to receive your free 2006 Wall-Mounted Day Planner.”Pros: Effective at increasing inquiries.Cons: Respondents are usually less qualified, since some will just want your gift, not what you’re selling.3. Free information
You give prospects information that helps them make an informed buying decision. Example: Free catalog, booklet, report, white paper, video.Pros: Effective when your product is either complex or expensive, or both, and what you want is a sales lead, not an immediate sale. Also useful when you sell more than one thing.Cons: Adds to your lead generation costs. Some people collect information but never buy.4. Free demonstration
You demonstrate your product, usually at the prospect’s place of work. Example: “Call us toll-free to arrange a free, no-obligation demonstration of our new XYZ Dump Trailer.”Pros: An effective way to secure meetings with prospects. Overcomes fears and objections (assuming your product is good). Gives you opportunity to answer customer questions in person.Cons: Expensive when it involves a sales visit.5. Free analysis
You offer prospects a free needs analysis, survey, audit or check up. Example: “To book your complementary, no-obligation Network Safety Audit, call us today.”Pros: Attractive because it gives prospects value and helps them see how you operate. Helps you qualify prospects.Cons: Expensive when it involves a visit to the prospect’s business. Time-consuming.6. Free estimate
You offer prospects a free estimate of what they will pay to retain your services or buy your product. Example: “To receive a free estimate of your cost to install the new Nampro 767, call us now.”Pros: Helps you generate leads. You get a chance to meet face-to-face with prospects, if necessary.Cons: Time-consuming. Some prospects will just be shopping for best price. Others will be checking to see if they got a good deal from your competitor. Expensive when it involves a face-to-face meeting.Alan is a business-to-business direct mail copywriter and lead generation consultant. As President of Sharpe Copy Inc. (http://www.sharpecopy.com), Alan specializes in helping businesses generate leads, close sales and retain customers, using cost-effective, compelling direct mail and email marketing. Alan also uses his direct mail advertising services to help charities raise funds and raise awareness of their causes, using fundraising letters.
Category : Vacations

Should You Borrow From Your 401(k) Account?

Author : Matthew Keegan
If you have a 401(k) account, it can be very tempting to borrow from your account especially when your balance is very high and a loan could easily pay off existing debt, fund a home purchase, or pay for college tuition. Before you make the decision to borrow money, there are several things you must keep in mind to avoid risking your funds.Borrowing from a 401(k) can seem like a risk free loan, especially since you repay yourself with interest. However, there are costs involved that are not readily apparent to the borrower who elects to take out a loan:1. On the borrowed funds, you lose all tax-favored investment returns. In other words, you are effectively charged extra interest for the loaned funds.2. Any interest you pay, even though you are paying yourself, is not deductible, but will be taxable to you when the plan pays you back via future distributions.3. You may have to pay a fee to take out the loan. Add this expense to the loan costs to see if a loan is still cost effective.4. If you leave your place of employment before paying off your loan, you will be required to pay the loan back in its entirety immediately. If you do not have the funds available to pay back the loan right away, you will then be subject to IRS taxes and penalties which can eat up as much as 30% or more of your borrowed funds depending on your tax bracket. The IRS treats all loans that are not paid back as disbursements.Yes, a 401(k) loan can help fund life’s emergencies, but the hidden costs and fees involved as well as potential taxes and penalties can quickly turn a good thing into a bad move.Matthew Keegan is the owner of a successful article writing, web design, and marketing business based in North Carolina, USA. He manages several sites including the Corporate Flight Attendant Community and the Aviation Employment Board. Please visit The Article Writer to review selections from his portfolio.
Category : Clothing

Drink Green Tea for a Gorgeous New You

Author : Hazel Tan

You probably already knew that drinking green tea has plenty of health benefitsbut did you know that it can make you gorgeous, too?Okay, I might be spreading it on a little thick there. The truth is that green tea isnt going to miraculously turn you from an ugly duckling to a supermodel overnight. But it can do these things: It helps your gums stay healthy so your teeth dont fall out. It prevents cavities and bad breath. It helps you look young by smoothing out your wrinkles and by reducing damage to your skin from UV rays. And it helps you lose weight.Now, lest you think these things arent important, think about this: when was the last time you saw an overweight person with black teeth, missing teeth, wrinkles, and bad breath, and thought, Man, theyre HOT!I think Ive made my point.Its all true, though, Im not making this up. It turns out that humble old green tea can do all kinds of wonderful things for you to help keep you beautiful. Here are some of the things that green tea researchers have found: Acids and bacteria in your mouth are the main causes of periodontal disease (soft, bleeding gums). Green tea contains catechins. Catechins keep the acids in check and they prevent the bacteria from reproducing. The result: your gums stay nice and healthy and pink, and your teeth stay in. Cavities and bad breath are caused by the same things (acids and bacteria)... So the catechins in green tea fight cavities and bad breath, as well. The Vitamin C in green tea helps your gums heal. Catechins arent just for killing bacteria and getting rid of acids. They also reactivate dying skin cells! That makes them very good for smoothing out wrinkles. Green tea contains anti-oxidants (cancer-fighters) that reduce the damage that the UV light in normal sunlight does to your skin. This slows down the aging process and helps you look younger, longer. Finally, if youre like 2/3 of people in modern society, youre concerned about your weight. Well, green tea can help you keep it under control. Its those darned catechins, again. They help decrease body fat and speed up fat oxidation. Studies also show that the theanine and caffeine in green tea combine to help keep your body from making more body fat. Of course, you have to use common sense with this. You cant suck on lollipops all day long and drink a cup of green tea and expect it to protect you from cavities. Likewise, you cant eat a steady diet of doughnuts and pork products and just drink a cup of green tea and expect to not get fat.The best way to go is to take care of yourself by eating right, exercising, brushing your teeth... Yada, yada, youve heard this all before. But you might want to add a new habit to all of that.You can start drinking green tea every day. A little green tea drinking session can be your you-time. Your time to relax. Your time to refresh yourself. Not only will it help you stay sane, but it may help you stay beautiful. Hazel Tan is a green tea enthusiast and connoisseur. Having grown up with a huge variety of Chinese teas, she was shocked at the limited range available in the West. In her quest to find authentic good quality teas, Hazel decided to set up China's Secret teas for herself and other like-minded tea aficionados. Her select range can be found on www.chinasecret.co.uk. Hazels aim is to establish Chinese tea houses where people can practise the art of tea drinking and just sit and enjoy tea, conversation and life a lovely antidote to the fast paced adrenaline packed experience provided by todays coffee houses. She can be reached on articles@chinasecret.co.uk.

Category : General Lifestyle

Extreme Makeover — Small Business Edition

Author : Jeanna Pool
Have you ever watched one of those home makeover shows? You know the scenario. The homeowners have decorated or remodeled their house all by themselves. After awhile, they realize that what they did is unprofessional, it doesn't work, it's not what they want, it's not what they need, it's ugly, or they just flat out despise it. So, they hire an expert designer to help.After meeting with the family to find out their wants, needs, desires and dreams, the expert takes that information and goes to work, completely making over the house.The final results are amazing. The differences are like night and day. The homeowners are surprised and utterly astonished. Some laugh and some even cry, because right in front of their eyes, they see what they never imagined possible. It's what they want, it's what they need, it's what they were trying to do themselves, but simply couldn’t.What does all of this have to do with graphic design and marketing?Unfortunately, most small business owners, like the homeowners, do all their own graphic design and marketing themselves. They design the logo for their small business...themselves. They design the stationery for their small business...themselves. They write and design the brochure for their small business...themselves. They design and build the web site for their small business...themselves. Typically, they do ALL of the graphic design and marketing for their small business...you guessed it...themselves.It's unfortunate. Because the results of doing all of this...themselves...is similar to those experienced by the homeowners in the makeover shows. The graphic design and marketing materials they have created look unprofessional, they don't work, they don't get results, they look homemade and they aren't functional. Simply put, they're amateurish.Sound familiar?What should you do? Let's reconsider the home makeover shows, and determine what the homeowners did right. You can learn something from the homeowners and apply this to your small business.First. They realize that what they have done themselves, simply isn't working. They're frustrated that what they have done does not work anymore. They know that they need a change.Second. They realize that they are not the experts in this particular area. They know that they need expert designer help to fix what they have done to make it functional, appealing and successful.Third. They meet with the expert designer to discuss their wants, needs and desires. They express exactly what they want to accomplish. They also admit that what they have tried to do...themselves...doesn't work.Fourth. They let the expert get to work. They trust that they will get the results they want and desire. They know the finished product will far exceed what they could have ever done themselves.Fifth. They get to see and experience the finished result, which is a beautiful, functional, valuable, contemporary, awesome solution that works and gives them the results they wanted to accomplish in the first place.When it comes to creating and executing the graphic design and marketing materials for your small business, the same results can and will happen for you. But, you have to hire an expert to give your business an extreme makeover.When the expert is done, the graphic design and marketing materials for your small business will be attractive, professional, beautiful, successful, what you want, what you need and it will accomplish the goals you are trying to achieve.There is only one catch: you have to stop doing everything yourself.If you are doing or have done all of the graphic design and marketing materials for your small business...all by yourself...it's time to call in an expert.Like the homeowners, chances are you'll be surprised and completely amazed. Right in front of your eyes, you will see results that you always wanted, but could not achieve yourself.Jeanna Pool is President of CATALYST creative, inc., located in Denver, Colorado. She
helps small business owners who are really good at what they do, but struggle to
market their services effectively to attract more clients on a consistent basis. She
can be contacted at http://www.catalystcreativeinc.com or 303.380.9100.
Category : Reference & Education

EOS AirlinesÂ’ $6500 Roundtrip Airfare

Author : Matthew C. Keegan
This just in: EOS Airlines, an upstart air carrier operating flights between New YorkÂ’s JFK Airport and LondonÂ’s Stanstead Airport has slashed their fares. For just $5000 round trip passengers can now fly the premium jet carrier and save a bundle. It gets even better than this: purchase one round trip ticket and a companion can fly for free; restrictions apply. Has the airline world gone crazy, or is EOS onto something? Read on for all the amazing details.

On October 25, 2005, EOS Airlines’ “official” inaugural flight took off one week after a series of pre-inaugural flights. Directed toward the business traveler, EOS operates custom outfitted Boeing 757 aircraft with seating for just 48 passengers. EOS, which means “Greek goddess of the dawn”, is offering a level of service unlike any other in the industry.

If you book a flight on EOS Airlines, here is what you can expect, besides paying a premium price:

48 passenger lumbar support seating; every person receives 21 square feet of personal space [individualized suites] for a combined work/rest/dining area;

Convertible seats that can be easily changed into a 78 inch long bed; cashmere blanket and Tempur-Pedic® pillow included;

Extra large carry on bins;

Lighting and laptop outlets for each station;

An onboard library to peruse the latest books and videos;

On demand food and beverage service comparable to what passengers receive on a corporate jet.

While the price certainly seems steep, keep in mind that prices rival what passengers had paid on Air FranceÂ’s and British AirwayÂ’s super sonic transport [SST] Concorde before it was pulled from the market in June of 2003. In lieu of a jet that can match the SSTÂ’s speed, EOS has created a level of service and comfort that exceeds the Concorde. In other words, EOS Airlines is attempting to fill a void created when the SST was pulled from the market.

As with any new air carrier, success is never guaranteed. However, by concentrating on business travelers who frequent the NY to London “bridge” EOS Airlines just may have found a special place for itself within the business community. With no new SST on the horizon, privately held EOS has created a viable alternative to business jet travel and at a price far lower than chartering a Gulfstream 550.

5 Simple Steps For Ridding Yourself Of Back Pain

Author : Jesse Cannone

Millions of people suffer from back pain unnecessarily when there is actually a very simple solution, according to Jesse Cannone , certified personal trainer and back pain specialist. "Unfortunately, many people are led to believe that back pain is normal and were all supposed to experience it... well, thankfully, that?s not the case. Eliminating back pain is not nearly as difficult as most people think or are led to believe... it can actually be easy!" says Cannone. Here?s the simple system that MUST be followed if you are looking for real, long-term, lasting relief: 1. Identify the cause ? nearly all of the treatments people receive for back pain only focus on the symptoms and the healthcare professionals zoom in on only the problem area. The real key in eliminating back pain is to find out exactly what?s causing the problem... and most of the time it?s not even the back! 2. Address both the cause and the symptom ? the best approach is a combination of treating the symptoms for pain relief while also addressing the underlying cause. 3. Be aware ? many people suffering from back pain are not in tune with their bodies and during their treatment they do not realize what is working and what is not. In order to achieve long-term relief you have to understand how your body works, what?s causing the problem, and what changes have to be made to correct it.4. Consistent Focused Action - achieving success in anything requires consistency and focused action. Most people with back pain won't make the time to work on their problem each day... instead they take pain killers which mask the pain and allow them to cause more damage while they continue with their life.5. Don't do what doesn't work - we already know that most traditional treatments for back pain don't work.... why waste your time, energy, and money? The real key to eliminating back pain is to identify the true cause of the pain and then address it with a combination of treatments to treat both the cause and symptoms. Over 80% of all back pain is caused by muscle imbalances... NOT a lack of pain killers or surgery! Fid out what's going on in your body and take action. About The AuthorArticle by Jesse Cannone of http://www.losethebackpain.com. Jesse is a certified personal fitness trainer and post-rehab specialist and he has helped hundreds of individuals to eliminate their back pain. Visit his site now and be sure to sign up for his free email course on eliminating back pain.support@losethebackpain.com

Category : Health