If you are sitting there, surfing the web dreaming about your own business home internet work opportunity, there are some fundamental steps that are critical to turning your goals into real dollars and profit.

You must have heard the common characteristics that motivate people to seek out information and buy products online, they are the avoidance of pain and seeking of pleasure - otherwise known as the pain pleasure principle.

Ok, so that’s useful right? But how do you turn this knowledge into your own business home internet work success?

The pain and pleasure principle is fine, but what is really important is to understand what specific pain people seek to avoid or what pleasure they seek and relate that to a certain market.

Here’s a simple example.

Why would someone want to lose weight?

Pain avoidance could include…reducing impact of diabetes, avoid the pain of back or knee surgery, reduce the likelihood they will be embarrassed or not accepted in certain social circles, or they could be tremendously afraid of not being able to form meaningful relationships and therefore die lonely and ignored.

Pleasure seeking could include more sex, improved relationships, greater self-confidence leading to better lifestyle and financial success.

I’m sure you can come up with many others, but it’s important that you see clearly what it means to uncover opportunity within any market from the general pain versus pleasure principle.

If you truly are interested in moving your business home internet work plans to the next level, then it’s essential that you hit a nerve in a marketplace that taps into desperate demand.

YET ANOTHER EXAMPLE

Just before sharing this information with you, I just hung up the phone from a coaching call with someone who has worked in a niche market for 12-years as a trainer. He now wants to transition his business to the internet starting with information products - but oddly told me flat out that there were no niches or demand left in the area he worked in.

I can’t tell you the niche, but rest assured it is one of the most lucrative niches for infoproducts, so why couldn’t he see it?

In fact, he was too close to his market and had been ignoring what was right before his eyes all of these years - he had NEVER considered the real motivators or reasons people came to him for training.

I almost fell off my chair!!

But, this is common - many people ignore obvious market opportunities because they have chosen to deal with their customers at a surface level - never digging up the real motivations behind the solutions they offer. I’m convinced this is the cause of the high rate of failure for small businesses. Trust me, you don’t want to follow the same mistaken path for your business home internet work enterprise.

So - it’s one thing to say pain and pleasure, it’s another to really research your market, investigate their feelings and motivations, spy on their conversations and behaviors (in ethical ways of course), take not of what they are buying and why they are buying - that’s what will make you wealthy beyond belief.

It’s True, You Can Control Your Own High-Paid, Information Product Marketing Online Empire By Becoming An Expert At Discovering Demand and Quickly Developing High-Profit Information Reports, eBooks, Training Courses and InfoProducts That Sell Like Wildfire. Learn More Here: http://www.infomarketerszone.com

To install deck stairs you have to measure the rise exactly. If the ground isn’t level, then you will have to know the length of the total rise or the last step won’t be the same as the others. This is very important if all the steps are not equal because it could prove to be dangerous.

Once your measurements are finished, you can start building your stairs stringers. Now with the calculations you have made, you will have to do a two adjustments. As you place your stringers, to reduce the bottom riser height, the amount you should reduce from the stringer is equal to the thickness of your step, minus any kind of covering you may be adding.

You may or may not be adding a top riser board. The joist at the top of your deck will serve as the riser for the top. You now have to make another adjustment, which is to subtract off the thickness of the riser board from the top thread run. This will make everything even once they are in place. If your steps are going to be open then you don’t need to do this step.

Regardless of what size of stairs you are installing, it is always wise to add railings for safety. With this kind of stairs, you will find it a little difficult to attach them, but it can be done. Keep in mind that any stairs is suppose to stand up to the weight of a 200 pound man, so make sure your steps are good and sturdy.

The last but not least of the things to do is to always check with the local codes of your city. They will tell you exactly what can be built and the size of what you can build. They also have safety in mind so it will be an advantage for you to pay them a visit first before you start or your dream stairs could turn into a nightmare.

For lots of information on
deck
paint and other decks and patios related topics, visit Decks and Patios.com at
http://www.decks-and-patios.com

Educate yourself - Learn all you can about IBS. Are you looking for information
to help you cope with this disorder? You can go ask your doctor, or look at information
available on the Internet, which gives a lot of information about the disorder.

Observe - Observe your body and figure out what food you can eat and the
symptoms you experience as a result. Keep a diary in order to help document
your trigger foods and their symptoms.

Communicate - Having other people to share your experiences with, who also go
through the same thing would really go a long way, especially in helping you reduce
anxiety and stress. While the cause of irritable bowel syndrome is not known and
may be different in different people, all sufferers of IBS will probably benefit from
a more healthy lifestyle, better eating habits, and a cleaner colon. Lifestyle
improvements of course should include moderate exercise.

Healthy eating habits should always include generous amounts of vegetables, fruits
and legumes. Fats should be avoided, or at least not consumed in excess. These
dietary changes can bring some relief to many. Remember of course that the
gastrointestinal tract contains thousand and thousands of nerves. In fact, only
the spinal column and brain encompass more nerves in the body. A decontaminated
colon helps these nerve endings. Furthermore remember that gas is produced by
intestinal bacteria in those who suffer from irritable bowel symptoms. Studies have
shown a connection between those with IBS and larger than normal amounts of gas
production. A purified colon can help this affliction, and hopefully lead to less distress,
less discomfiture and less pain.

Phil Knaus
http://www.creativeinternetenterprises.com

Nutrition education in vocational schools can prepare students with diplomas and certificates for careers related to good nutrition. Nutrition training can qualify graduates for designing nutrition programs and preparing workout schedules for others, teaching and consulting services, and much more.

Nutrition schools address the growing field of health, and the growing concerns about issues related to food produced with fertilizers and pesticides and with the increasing introduction of genetically modified foods to market shelves. Public concern is bringing about more interest in nutrition training as people begin taking a more active role in their personal wellbeing. Lifestyle consultants with nutrition education are in demand, and healthcare professionals are showing more interest in expanding their knowledge and integrating complementary healthcare into their practices.

Nutrition schools teach management of personal health and fitness as well as changing one’s lifestyle, managing and reducing stress, and preventing injury. Students are taught about general and sports nutrition for improved health and performance. Nutrition programs cover the food sciences to teach skills of nutrition counseling, nutrition therapy, and dietetics for treating clinical conditions, health concerns, and weight loss.

Nutrition education can include subjects related to cardiovascular disease, immune systems, diabetes, eating disorders, food intolerance, food allergies, hypertension, and stress reduction. Students may participate in computerized nutritional analysis, meal planning, patient education, behavioral modification, body composition analysis, managing personal health, injury prevention, sports nutrition, the promotion of lifestyle changes, and fitness evaluation.

If you would like to learn more about Nutrition Education, or even Online Nutrition Schools, you can find more in-depth information and resources on our website.

DISCLAIMER: Above is a GENERAL OVERVIEW and may or may not reflect specific practices, courses and/or services associated with ANY ONE particular school(s) that is or is not advertised on SchoolsGalore.com.

Copyright 2007 - All rights reserved by Media Positive Communications, Inc.

Notice: Publishers are free to use this article on an ezine or website, provided the article is reprinted in its entirety, including copyright and disclaimer, and ALL links remain intact and active.

Michael Bustamante is a staff writer for Media Positive Communications, Inc. in association with SchoolsGalore.com. Find Nutrition Schools, Colleges, Universities, Vocational Schools, and Online Nutrition Schools at SchoolsGalore.com, your educational resource to locate schools.

Sold your novel? Congratulations! Now it’s time to start promoting it.

One of the best ways to do this is by getting it reviewed in as many places as possible.
If you’ve sold to a print house, you probably have six to fifteen months to get ready for a big push to coincide with the book launch. Even though the publisher will promote the book, you have to do your part to boost sales.

Success doesn’t just happen. You need to get the word out about your book so people are eager to buy it as soon as it’s available. It takes time and effort to research and line up reviewers, and starting early will produce the best results.

Your publisher will send advanced reading copies to major reviewers, such as “Publishers Weekly”, “NY Times Book Review” and “Library Journal”, but also ask you for a list of possible review places they can contact. These include newspapers of towns and cities where you are known, fraternal or corporate magazines and any radio or television contact that concern books and authors. Requests for reviews from a publisher carry more weight with major reviewers than one from an author, so don’t be shy about passing on local contacts unless you know the reviewer personally or have an influential contact to the source.

On the other hand, if you have a personal connection, such as being a member of a group or an employee of a company producing the magazine, contacting them directly will get the review more easily.

Where to find reviewers

Your main source for promoting through reviews is the Internet.
Few print publishers take the time to research reviewers on the web, yet there are hundreds of them that review print and electronic books. Some specialize in a particular genre, others accept a broader range of stories. Some are theme oriented, others appeal to members of particular groups or occupations.

Also think beyond traditional reviewers. Magazines and ezines or websites for people in the same line of work as your protagonist may publish a review of special interest to their readers.

How to ask for the review

When working on the Web, the first step is to write a blurb about your novel to include in your query letter or with a submission. This blurb is similar to the copy you read on a book jacket. Its purpose is to convince the reviewer to read and review your book. The blurb must make the story sound interesting and exciting so the reviewer wants to read it.

Reviewers don’t review everything sent to them, so it’s up to you to make your novel sound worth their time. Write and polish your blurb so it hooks the reviewer.

The second step is if you are working from a list, visit the site to make sure it is valid. The Web can change in the blink of a mouse’s eye. While there, also check their guidelines for querying or submitting a book for review and follow those guidelines. Use the submission form if there is one. Include whatever is requested with the query, such as publisher’s name, price of book, publication date, contact information, etc. and submit the book in the specified manner and format. In most cases, your submission will be ignored if you don’t follow the guidelines.

And last but not least, be patient. Reviewers receive hundreds of requests. They take time to read books carefully and write thoughtful reviews. Most reviewers don’t reply if they don’t plan to review a book. If they accept yours, it may take several months to receive the review. This emphasizes the need to plan your reviews project early so reviews will come out close to launch date.

Once you have written your blurb and query, keep records of where, when and to whom you send queries or submissions. Also track the responses you receive. If you are not getting at least 20-25% positive responses, take a good hard look at your letter and blurb. Ask a few trusted friends to read them and give honest opinions. Rewrite to improve them! These are selling tools designed to sell reviewers on the idea of accepting your book to review. If the query and blurb aren’t doing the job, redo them until they get the results you need.

A good plan for sending out requests is to begin querying three to four months before launch date of the book. Send out two or three a week, depending on the size of the list of reviewers you compile. This not only makes the job easier, it helps assure a steady supply of new reviews.

Add a review page to your website and add reviews as they come in. I also recommend taking time to send a brief “thank-you” note to each reviewer for the review. You’ll be writing another novel and this courtesy will help you be remembered.

Other sources

Writers know other writers. Chances are you know one who would be happy to do a review of your novel. Independent reviews can be posted on your site or submitted to sites that accept them. Quite a few do. Make a list of them as you research sites on the web.

One of my diligent writer friends compiled a list of more than 200 sites and magazines (print and electronic) that review books. She averaged better than a 30% response rate to her query letters using it. In the true spirit of writers helping writers, she has given me permission to share the list with you. Use the link in my signature box below to request a free copy.

Whether this is your first or fifth published novel, you can’t have too many reviews. Start building your plan to get them today.

Copyright 2006

Marilyn Henderson chose writing as a career change so she could work from home. She had no idea how hard it was to make that first sale then keep selling, but she soon learned the difference between writing a novel she hoped would sell and what agents and editors really wanted. Now after more than 60 novels published, she shares that expertise with writers who want to build careers or make those first sales.
http://www.MysteryMentor.com

Having a good balance in life is good, but we need to set your priorities right too! Sometimes, while trying to balance our lives, we forget to do the important things first =)

Have you been working or relaxing too much in trying to balance your life? Do you have any difficult or unresolved issues? What are your most frequent daily emotions? What are the things that trigger them?

Silence is a single sound… It is to focus on one single thing… If your mind is like a tree full of monkeys, you need to identify them before you can deal with them. One of the ways to deal with the many distractions life has to offer is to meditate.

You can start with 5 to 10 minutes and increase it gradually to a reasonable period like half an hour per session. Once or twice a day, best when you’re fresh in the morning and somewhere in the evening before dinner time if possible.

Here’s what you do during meditation. Identify the things that are shouting in your mind. Don’t push them away. Acknowledge them & write them down on a piece of paper after each session of meditation.

This process will provide you with insight as to why you couldn’t rest well etc. When you succeed identifying the monkeys, spend time reflecting over them, finding out why they are there and allow yourself to be open to unlimited possibilities of dealing with them… which leads to resolving issues in your life. Soon, they actually can’t stop you from focusing on anything =)

Besides meditation, you may like to try doing something that’s enjoyable & meaningful. It’s easier to focus on something you enjoy. E.g. I enjoy cycling and I cycle to unload my monkeys =)

Resolving issues would be easier with your new found wisdom, and a focused mind will usually strengthen the will to take the necessary actions! Thus, may you find this article useful & may it bless your life abundantly!

In addition, here are 3 simple steps I take all the time:

Stop - Take stock of what’s happening within & without… Acknowledge instead of Resist…

Think - Reflect, analyse, be open to possibilities, examine your options, decide what’s necessary…

Do - Take action & follow through to the very end!

I personally practise these three steps, and I’m certain they will lead you through many situations =)

Patrick Chan has been making a living online since 2002 and will help anyone to succeed in life from home via the internet. Take your first step towards insane success at http://HomelySuccess.com/sgrprogram and do visit his website at http://HomelySuccess.com …

The “emergency” diet, with seven meals per day, is an easy diet that brings weight loss without starvation and may be followed for a week. The “emergency” diet also improves metabolism and eliminate fats easier.

This diet is based mostly on carbohydrates, proteins, and low amounts of fats. During a day without too much physical activity, a woman can burn up to forty grams of fat, but the daily fat intake is of seventy percent or more.

Monday:

Breakfast includes a muffin and a glass of orange juice. A banana, an orange, or another fruit substitutes for a snack. For lunch, flat bread with salad and bacon and two glasses of water.

The afternoon snack may be a small, low-fat yogurt, and an apple. A large bowl with vegetables and two slices of bread can satisfy the hunger of those who wish to follow this diet. A salad of fresh fruits is recommended as a dessert.

Tuesday:

This diet requires that people eat in the morning a small bowl with low-fat milk with corn flakes, and drink a glass of orange juice; morning snack should be a banana, an orange, or another fruit. For lunch, dieters may have for lunch a bowl with vegetable soup, one or two slices of bread, and two glasses of water.

A slice of bread along with a small and fat-free yogurt is indicated for a snack. Dinner consists of one glass of water and two portions of rice with vegetables. A small cup of ice cream is allowed. To read the rest of this article, go to ProjectWeightLoss.com an online weight loss community featuring calorie counter, carbs counter, BMI calculator, diet planner, workout planner and nutritional information.

(c) ProjectWeightLoss.com 2007. All rights reserved.

For free weight loss tools and diets, visit ProjectWeightLoss.com, a growing weight loss community featuring calorie counter, carbs counter, BMI calculator, diet planner, workout planner, and many other weight loss tools. Visit ProjectWeightLoss.com and start losing weight today!

If you are living in Arkansas and thinking of studying massage therapy, you will find some high quality massage therapy schools in Arkansas that can train you in well-recognized massage techniques to encourage healing, recovery from injury and illness, and relaxation.

Massage therapy schools in Arkansas, and elsewhere for that matter, must initiate inspection and evaluation to gain state and national accreditation of their schools or massage therapy programs by organizations recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Students benefit from choosing accredited massage therapy schools, which ensure students of a quality education to prepare for certification examinations after graduation. Accredited massage schools provide better possibilities for placement upon graduation.

Massage students learn to develop skills for providing medical massage therapy in areas of sports, prenatal, neuromuscular, and lymph treatment. Students may be able to learn reflexology, acupressure, kinesiology, and specializations in various massage techniques. Additional courses aim to develop skills for better communications, client assessments, and client relations.

While you are taking massage training, you may develop an interest in one of the more advanced forms of natural healing, such as such as acupuncture, Chinese medicine, or chiropractic, for instance; all of these can lead to productive and rewarding careers helping others to heal naturally.

Graduates of Arkansas massage schools will be thoroughly prepared for taking examinations for certification. Students should check with all state and local governing bodies for laws that apply to the practice of massage before accepting clients, however.

If you would like to learn more about Massage Therapy Schools in Arkansas, and even Online Massage Therapy Schools, search our site for more in-depth information and resources.

DISCLAIMER: Above is a GENERAL OVERVIEW and may or may not reflect specific practices, courses and/or services associated with ANY ONE particular school(s) that is or is not advertised on SchoolsGalore.com.

Copyright 2006 - All rights reserved by Media Positive Communications, Inc.

Notice: Publishers are free to use this article on an ezine or website, provided the article is reprinted in its entirety, including copyright and disclaimer, and ALL links remain intact and active.

Michael Bustamante is a staff writer for Media Positive Communications, Inc. Find Massage Therapy Schools, Colleges, Universities, Vocational Schools, Chiropractic Schools and other Alternative Medicine Schools at SchoolsGalore.com, your educational resource to locate schools.

What to Know before you Buy

There’s no doubt about it, buying jewelry on-line can be a daunting task. Who do you trust? How do you compare the qualities from countless vendors without actually having the piece in your hands? Will you personal information remain private? The list of questions can go on and on! Knowing some of the basics about pearls, jewelers and the grading systems their monetary values are based on can help set your mind at ease about the process of selecting the perfect pearl jewelry to make on-line shopping an easy, convenient and rewarding experience.

Pearl Types- An Overview

The first step is to decide what type of cultured pearl you’re interested in, and to establish a budget for yourself based on your choice. The most popular pearls used in jewelry today are the Akoya, Black Tahitian, White and Gold South Sea pearls and Freshwater pearls. Each of these pearls exhibit their own unique characteristics that make them beloved the world over.

Akoya pearls are treasured for their breathtaking luster, traditional elegance and infinite versatility. They are the hallmark of the pearl world, exemplifying all that we prize about pearls. With their consistently round shapes, reflective luster and subtle shades of rose, vanilla and ethereal silvery-blues, they will always be the ideal for pearl jewelry. Whether you’re purchasing a new family heirloom, or just trying to find a way to express your love for the special person in your life, Akoya pearls will always signify grace, style and timelessness.

Tahitian pearls are the exotic newcomers to the world’s pearl markets, surprising the international audience with a tantalizing array of bold colors, shapes and sizes. From peacock-like hues to bronze, pistachio green to silvery greys, Tahitian pearls cover a startling spectrum. Unique, free form shapes inspire designers to new heights in jewelry and fashion, and the large sizes can always be counted on to make a bold statement! If you’re looking for something truly one of a kind, a pearl that’s as individual as her owner, look no further than these rarities from the deep.

White or Golden South Sea pearl jewelry from Australia and Indonesia is sure to capture everyone’s attention. Available in a subtle array of tones from the palest moonlight to molten gold, these pearls display soft, satiny luster that just begs to be touched! Celebrated by collectors all over the world for the amazingly large sizes these pearls attain - nearly twice the size of the biggest Akoyas - pearl jewelry made with these wonders from ‘Down Under’ are a distinctive and sophisticated choice, indeed!

Cultured round freshwater pearls are the latest addition to the pearl world and receiving the biggest nod from pearl aficionados today. Although the Chinese have been culturing freshwater pearls for centuries, only through recent technological innovations in farming techniques have these pearls begun to garner the attention they deserve. Freshwater pearls come in an assortment of soft pastel colors suggestive of spring, vibrancy and youth. Peach, lavender, pink and white shades are primary hues with dramatic black and peacock colors bringing up the other end of the spectrum. They are a fresh and very affordable alternative to the traditional Akoya pearl.

Ultimately, the jewelry you choose to purchase is completely up to you. Find out what is it about a pearl that draws you, that stimulates you. Is it a flawless surface quality? The luster of a truly fine gem? Or is it the rare and striking orient that only certain pearls possess? An interesting shape or color that catches your eye? The type of pearl you choose should be based on your aesthetics. Each pearl is a unique treasure with its own look and qualities, just like you!

GRADING SYSTEMS MADE EASY

Unfortunately, the pearl world has yet to come up with a universally accepted grading system that takes into account all the different types of pearls; the origin, shape, size, color and luster. A Tahitian pearl is quite different than an Akoya pearl, so how can they be valued or graded on the same scale? Because pearls are a very diverse group of gems, most of them need to be evaluated on an individual basis in order to determine true worth. Think of it like comparing a diamond to a rare Pigeon-blood Burmese ruby - the colors, cuts, inclusions will all be described according to what is relevant to the gem species.

Many pearl vendors have come to rely on the basic A-AAA structure with A+ and AA+ to denote slightly above average qualities in a specific class and apply that standard to all the different types of pearls. This grading system shares some similarities in terms of qualifying surface quality, luster and shape, so it can be used with some reliability. We will go into some of the details that make up the grading system, so that when you’re shopping for pearls on-line you’ll be more comfortable making an informed decision about what to buy.

Also while shopping keep in mind that pearls, like any other gem, are created by nature and as such are imperfect and will have inclusions in some form or another. The chances of finding a completely clean pearl anywhere is rare, and if you do find them, expect to pay a premium.

A/A+: “A” quality is the lowest quality that is still commercially available. Yes, you can still have the bad luck to get saddled with one of these, especially if you’re not sure of the integrity of your vendor! They will usually be somewhat off-shape, close to round but not quite, and if in a strand, only moderately well-matched. Typically these pearls will have a somewhat chalky appearance due to their thin nacre or in the case of freshwater pearls will have poor nacre deposits, and will exhibit very little reflective capability. The surface quality will have wrinkles, small cracks, white or brownish spots, dimples and other undesirable characteristics that can affect the long-term wearability of the pearl, causing the nacre to peel and wear away over time and expose the bead nucleus beneath. Even so, with an ‘A’ quality pearl the surface inclusions should not cover more than 30% of the pearls’ surface.

AA: This is a much nicer pearl. This quality is typified by less than 15% surface inclusions, and will have fair to good luster, which means that you should be able to see a hazy reflection of yourself when looking at the surface. The shape will be round or in the case of freshwater pearls, near-round and the matching job should be well done.

AA+: The luster in this quality will be slightly sharper than the AA pearl, you should be able to see your reflection in the pearl as well as some background detail. Surface inclusions will be down to 10%, and typically these will take the form of small wrinkles, flat areas or small whitish or brownish spots where the conchiolin (the organic glue that binds the crystallized aragonite platelets together) may have accumulated under the surface of the nacre. These pearls will be true rounds in shape and well-matched.

AAA: This is the ‘gem-quality’ pearl, exemplified with less than 5% inclusions over the surface of the pearl, and sometimes completely free of inclusions. Luster will vary slightly from pearl to pearl, but it will be slightly sharper than the AA+ qualities; you might be able to make out some of the facial features in your reflection. The nacre will be at its’ thickest and should present a luminescent surface that is captivating to behold. The shapes and matching of a strand of rounds should be excellent with little to no variation.

*HANADAMA PEARLS: Hanadama Akoya pearls, or ‘Flower’ pearls as they are known in Japan represent one huge leap up in the grading process. These are NEVER considered ‘AAA+’ quality, or ‘AAAA’ quality, so never trust a vendor who tries to manipulate the grading system in this way. Hanadama are simply in a class of their own. These are the cream of the crop and represent a specialized effort on behalf of the farmers to produce the most perfect pearls available on the market, and are painstakingly collected one by one until they are put up for auction to be bid over. Literally, these pearls will radiate light, usually with a silvery-rose overtone, and also display orient, which is the rainbow iridescence that shimmers on the surface of the pearl. It is considered by some to be the most valuable attribute for fine pearls. These pearls display little to no surface characteristics and their reflective properties are mirror-sharp.

*BAROQUE PEARLS: Baroque pearls are also another type of pearl that need to be graded on a separate level. Currently they are experiencing a renaissance of sorts due to their unique shapes, sizes and colors. Baroque pearls are pearls that have little to no symmetry of shape: they are free-form pearls and almost all of them display surface characteristics of some kind. Depending on quality, they can be dimpled, slightly pitted, circled and wrinkled. Some people believe that the surface characteristics are what make these pearls truly unique, and some people don’t find them aesthetically pleasing. It is all a matter of taste. AA+ quality baroque pearls will have 10-15% of their surfaces’ included and good luster. AAA quality pearls will have much smoother surfaces and their luster is considered good to fine. Another quality that is prized is the presence of orient, which can happen when nacre is very thick in various spots on the pearl.

Choosing a Vendor You Can Trust

This can be tricky! There are thousands of vendors on the Internet today selling everything from diamonds to colored stones to pearls, loose and mounted in attractive jewelry. What separates the good from the bad? Who is who? There are a few associations that keep track of vendors’ on-line businesses; who give guidelines for ethical business practices, and will give a graded report based upon their findings. Some are updated daily, while others are updated annually. Some of these associations are:

- The Better Business Bureau- The ‘BBB’ ensures that on-line advertising is responsible and truthful, and vendors have a satisfactory history of resolving any customer complaints in an ethical manner.

- The Safe Shopping Network- This is a 3rd-party, non-biased site that analyses factors such as overall shopper satisfaction, privacy controls guarding your financial information, site performance and usability. The Safe Shopping Network provides recommendations based upon a score of 1-100, and will not list any vendor with a score of lower than 70 points.

- Scan Alert / Hacker Safe- Scan Alert provides a daily site scan for viruses and on-line fraud. They boast a 99.99% prevention rate, guaranteeing your personal information safety.

- The Manufacturing Jewelers & Suppliers Association of America - The MJSA is an organization of Jewelers, Designers, Wholesalers and Suppliers that have become members for the sole purpose of bettering their businesses through education, new technology, trade shows and networking. It keeps its’ members up to date on the happenings in the jewelry industry, industry legislation such as the USA Patriot Act, and strives to promote an even playing field for American jewelers in the highly competitive international market.

- The American Gem Trade Association - The AGTA is another organization that focuses on promoting colored gemstones and pearls and its’ members are colored gemstone dealers, cultured pearl dealers, importers, designers, and lapidaries. The organization has an independent grading lab to identify new treatments and enhancements, and has a strict code of ethics regarding such disclosures to consumers. Widely regarded in the industry, the annual AGTA Gemfairs held in Las Vegas and Tucson are the most important jewelry/gemstone trade shows in America, and attended by all.

There are many other associations out there as well, but do not buy from a vendor who doesn’t have at least 3 out of 5 of these associations’ approval! They are not looking out for your best interests, and it shows.

Beyond these associations other rules of thumb when selecting a trustworthy vendor are:

–Credibility- How long has the site been doing business? What do past customers say about working with the vendor in question? Do they have any safety ratings? Do they belong to any organizations that sponsor a code of conduct in regards to gemstone treatments, financial history, customer satisfaction? Jewelers should be upfront and open about how they do business- if not, simply walk away.

–A Knowledgeable and friendly staff - preferably with a GIA (Gemological Institute of America- the foremost educational authority on gemstones in the US) graduate on board. You want to deal with a vendor who knows what they’re talking about, and is going to be available (on the phone or by email) to answer any and all questions you may have regarding your purchase.

–A flexible return/exchange policy - if the vendor isn’t willing to work with you, the purchase is probably not worth the trouble.

–An easy to understand and clearly defined grading system. Look for jewelers who use the standard ‘A-AAA’ chart for cultured pearls, and maintain compatibility with the rest of the pearling industry.

–Jewelry Appraisals- mostly for insurance purposes, appraisals establish a replacement retail value for your purchases in the event of theft, loss or damage and are also used as a way to guarantee the authenticity as well as quality of your pearls.

–Options - Options, options, options!! Look for a vendor who has plenty of stock to choose from. Yours is a special purchase, and you should be able to get exactly what you’re looking for!

Happy Hunting!

Amanda Raab is the CEO and Founder of http://www.purepearls.com

PurePearls.com is a leading internet-based pearl company that provides only the high quality pearls and customer service at affordable prices! Visit us online at http://www.purepearls.com or call us at 1(800)762-0977.

If you think you have writer’s block, it’s all in your head. Like any idea, you can accept or reject it.

The best way to handle any problem is to prevent it. Here is a proven prescription for avoiding the blank page blues

1. Develop an idea you are enthusiastic about. Enthusiasm keeps you going when the going gets tough, and it’s contagious-your reader will get it from the book.

2. Schedule regular writing time, even if it’s only an hour a day. Sticking to a schedule fosters creativity and gets the book finished.

3. Use writing time for writing. Think or plan while you walk the dog, ride the subway or bus, drive to work or do the dishes.

4. Don’t try to edit as you go. It’s counterproductive. Instead, keep notes on changes that occur to you and mark the spot with something distinctive, such as *** so you can find it easily later.

5. Set a specific time to do any editing you can’t live without: the end of your working period, Monday morning before you start work, or any other time outside your daily writing schedule that works for you. If you can hold most editing until your first draft is finished, you’ll be able to see everything in perspective and do a better job of editing.

6. Be cautious about reading your work to others or asking them to read it and comment. There are two kinds of comment: valid criticism and reader reaction. Both are valuable, but be sure you take into account the person’s background and degree of expertise in writing fiction. Don’t let your work get nit-picked to death.

These few things will help you get your book finished at least in first draft. Once you are able to read your story through, you can rewrite, make changes, edit andd fine tune until it’s as good as you can make it.

There’s nothing like practice. the more you write, the easier handling the basic stuff becomes. Practicing good habits helps build confidence, and good self-confidence banishes the idea of writer’s block and makes you a better writer.

Copyright 2005

Marilyn Henderson chose writing as a career change so she could work from home. She had no idea how hard it was to make that first sale then keep selling, but she soon learned the difference between writing a novel she hoped would sell and what agents and editors really wanted. Now after more than 60 novels published, she shares that expertise with writers who want to build careers or make those first sales.

Http://http://www.MysteryMentor.com