Credit Repair - The Truth About the Credit Bureaus

Not a Friendly Service

In a recent blog entry I wrote, “Significant legislation has been enacted to protect you from the impact of the credit bureau’s inaccuracies. The right that you have to receive copies of your three credit reports for free on an annual basis is not a friendly public service by the credit bureaus. The bureaus have been required to provide this service as one of the protective measures included in the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act. Your credit report can have a major impact on your financial life. Give your credit the attention that it deserves and review your reports regularly.”

A Reader Responds

A reader responded by asking, “I’ve read that the credit bureaus are regulated by the Federal Trade Commission. Doesn’t this indicate a relationship with the government?” Below is my reply along with some additional thoughts on the subject.

The Credit Bureaus are Not Government Agencies

I replied that, “The relationship between the credit bureaus and the government is the same as the relationship that you have with the government. Because your actions are conscripted by law does not in anyway suggest that you are necessarily a law abiding citizen (although I’m sure that you are!). As many people live in a constant adversarial relationship with the government, so do many large businesses. The credit bureaus happen to be constantly at odds with the law. Given the potential impact that credit reporting errors can have on your financial life, I strongly suggest that you modify your opinion of the bureaus enough to be very cautious of the content of your credit report.”

Strictly For Profit

One of the unfortunate underlying assumptions that people, like the above reader, have in their attitude towards the credit bureaus is that the bureaus have some form of official status. This could not be farther from the truth. They are strictly for profit businesses. Experian and Equifax are publicly traded companies and list their revenues in the billions of dollars. Trans Union is a privately held company with revenues estimated also in the billions. The three credit bureaus have maintained a consistently adversarial relationship with the government and consumers throughout their histories.

An Adversarial Relationship

An adversarial relationship with the public is not unusual for large businesses. All activities are chosen for the purpose of producing profits. The history of lawsuits brought against the bureaus over time paint a clear picture. The office of the Attorney General of Florida is currently pursuing action against Experian relating to misleading claims, deceptive advertising, a misleading domain name (freecreditreport.com), and failure to honor cancellations to their credit monitoring service offered through this so-called free credit report website.

A History of Conflict

The type of behavior described by the Office of the Attorney General of Florida is consistent with countless charges against the three bureaus. In the 1970s Equifax was charged with rewarding its employees for collecting negative information on consumers. This charge, which resulted in a consent decree, provides an interesting hint about the corporate culture.

Experian Gets an “F”

In 2006 a leading consumer advocate website rated the customer service offered by the three bureaus. The ratings were dismal including a grade of “F” given to Experian, who was sited for not even providing customers with a customer service telephone number. Credit repair is not on the priority list at the credit bureaus!

Nothing Has Changed

The above mentioned consumer advocate site has a current post that says, “With the 2003 amendments to the FCRA, and the introduction of the FACT Act, millions of consumers will see the quality of their credit reports degrade even further. FACT stands for Fair and Accurate Credit Transaction Act, but in reality it is just our government trying to appease millions of consumer who complain about the current credit reporting industry. But they are only appeasing us in name only…”

The Forces at Work

We have been assisting our customers with credit repair since 1989 and as such have dealt with the three bureaus on a consistent basis. There are two major forces at work that shape the behavior of the credit bureaus. The first major force is the need to maximize and protect profits which may result in decisions about operating policy that are not in the best interest of the public. The second force that conspires with the profit motive is the sheer bulk of data that the credit bureaus are trying to manage and maintain. The result has been widespread and serious errors on consumer reports combined with a horrible corporate bureaucratic resistance to fixing the problem. So check your credit reports regularly.

Jim Kemish is the president and founder of Power Mortgage, a Florida mortgage broker based in Delray Beach, Florida. Power Mortgage Corp was established in 1989 and serves the states of Florida, Georgia, Massachusetts, and Virginia. Jim is also the President of Sky Blue Credit, a national credit repair business. For great mortgage and credit tips visit the Florida Mortgage Blog.

Copyright © 2007 James W. Kemish. All Content. All Rights Reserved.

Be A Part Of Panama Health Tourism Rush And Rejuvenate Yourself

Health tourism is the latest trend in the travel world and truly Panama Health tourism packages are stealing the show. Out here, it is a fantastic combination of entertainment and treatment. Panama health tourism packages offer wonderful treatment opportunities by arranging tours along with significant medical quests like surgeries and operations. This Central American country has all - picturesque beauty, cultural affluence and expansion in the field of technology. It is a terrific treasure of cultural affinity where people come to refresh their taste, health and psychology.

Why is Panama identified as the chief destination for health tourism?

–Panama is the hub of intercontinental travel for US emigrant and dollar is the official currency of the land.
–Panama is one of the most important trading centers of the world.
–Panama has always been a tourist’s paradise with picturesque view and cultural opulence.
–Panama offers you an extensive range of medical facilities like eye surgery, orthopedics, dental implants, cosmetic dentistry and cosmetic surgery ensuring a superb health tourism program.
–Airfares in Panama are quite affordable and direct flights from the city will easily connect you with places like New York, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami and others.
–Most medical practitioners in Panama have received their training in America and they are capable of conversing in fluent English. Their efficacy in English is required, as they have to deal with patients coming from different parts of the world. These doctors are not only skillful professional. In fact, they are messiahs who treat patients with concern and dignity

Visitors in Panama can afford to stay in luxurious hotels because here the lodging and treatment cost is quite reasonable in comparison to other US or European countries. A dental transplant in US or Canada costs near about US$2500. In Panama, for this transplant along with accommodation, touring, car rental services and other things will charge you a much lesser amount. Again, for surgeries like hip replacement, cosmetic surgery and vitro fertilization your cost will be almost 50% less. Therefore, who will not prefer to enjoy an inexpensive treatment along with best lodging, fooding and entertainment facilities?

Why do you prefer to choose Panama as an ideal destination for health tourism?

Treatment in Europe and US is extremely expensive and beyond the reach of the commoners because most people residing in this part of the world are without health insurance policies. Thus, such people would obviously prefer to visit a place like Panama offering immense health tourism and tax deduction options under the US law. In fact, the hospitality and the allurement of the place is too hard to deny.

Panama Health tourism facilities bring about a remarkable improvement in your psychological and physiological condition both by arranging exotic tours and also by offering first-rate medical services. Thus, it is time now you should make the best use of these opportunities and lend your mind in trying to rejuvenate your inner and exterior self.

http://www.panama-health.com

Low cost dental and surgical treatment in Panama. Health tourism and medical tourism is taking off in Panama.

Acid Reflux - A Common Occurrence Among Children

Many believe acid reflux is a condition that is prevalent among adults only, not children. However, acid reflux in children is actually a common occurrence. Acid reflux in children is a hidden problem because children who suffer from it are unable to explicitly describe their condition and how they feel when they are having acid reflux. In addition, most adults, especially those who do not suffer from acid reflux, are usually unable to tell when a child is suffering from acid reflux.

How to Tell if Your Child Has Acid Reflux

You need to make yourself more aware about the problems that come from acid reflux in children. The acid that is in the stomach that helps to digest food comes back up through the esophagus and into the mouth. The muscle at the top of the stomach (lower esophageal sphincter) acts like a gate, holding and keeping everything down. There is also another gate at the bottom of the mouth (upper esophageal sphincter) that helps to hold everything in the mouth until you are ready to swallow the food.

These two gates are the most important parts affecting children with acid reflux. When the child chews the food and swallows, the top gate opens up and allows the food to go down. The problem starts when the top gate opens and the bottom gate also opens, causing the acid from the stomach to rise up into the alimentary canal. When this happens, the child feels a burning sensation. Most adults would call this acidity.

The problem with acid reflux in children is that it is usually not detected for some time because the children are unable to accurately describe what is happening to them and the acid reflux goes away before they can even tell someone. Watch your child after he finishes a meal as well as when his stomach is empty. Talk to your child about how he feels and if he can feel food coming up again. Ask your child, too, if he feels a burning sensation in his chest after finishing his meal. If your child agrees that this is what he feels, contact your doctor or pediatrician for a proper diagnosis and treatment.

Diagnosing Acid Reflux in Children

A pediatrician may run some tests to decide if your child has acid reflux. These tests may include a Barium test and X-rays. The doctor may even do an endoscopy. The doctor will use these tests to make a diagnosis. If your child is diagnosed with acid reflux disease, he or she will undergo another test, this time to determine the amount of acid in the stomach. This amount will help the doctor find the right treatment for your child.

Find more Helpful Acid Reflux tips, advice

Click Here: http://www.acidrefluxhelpcenter.com

A Popular website that specializes in tips and resources to include Acid Reflux and Sore Throats, Acid Reflux Diet, and Acid Reflux Diet

Five Healthy Ways to Lose Weight

Losing weight is the activity of choice in today’s society. Focusing on healthy weight loss has to be the utmost concentration.

Determining the reasons for weight loss is important. Have you decided why you want to lose weight? Have you decided how much weight you want to lose? Have you decided on a time frame for your weight loss goal? Is your reason for losing weight because of underlying risky health conditions? If your answer to any of these questions is yes, then the information in this article will be beneficial to you.

There are several healthy ways to lose weight but I will only list five of them:

1.-Never skip meals in hopes of losing weight. Your body will not function properly on an inadequate supply of foods. Your body needs foods equipped with essential nutrients to give you optimal performance. To consume only one meal a day will provide adverse results to your weight loss goals.

2.-Try to avoid sugar. Sugars will promote a very unhealthy niche in your weight loss plan. You do not want to risk developing diabetes and/or heart disease. Your weight loss plan would be healthier if you substitute sugar with fruits and vegetables. Sugar and sweet staples should be consumed sparingly.

3.-Drink plenty of water. Water is needed for your body to burn fat. In order for the cells in your body to remain healthy and hydrated, sufficient consumption of water is needed.

4.-Pay close attention to your fat intake. The right kinds of fat are essential to a healthy effective diet plan. Salmon, Albacore Tuna, peanut oil, olive oil and canola oil all have fat that are good for a healthy heart.

5.-Regular exercise is an ultimate key to healthy weight loss. Consistent exercising will enhance your weight loss program immensely. Look at your everyday physical activity to see if you can see a measurable exercise regime in what you already do.

Putting these five healthy ways together to plan a weight loss program will give you successful results. Make your weight loss goal a realistic one - one that you will be able to stick to.

Mary Mason-Shields encourages this form of weight loss motivation to help you unload those unwanted pounds and help you find that little person you lost. This will also help you begin a healthy and nutritious diet plan.
http://www.divinity-mary.blogspot.com
http://www.maryreset.blogspot.com

For the Health Conscious - Send Them a Fruit Gift Basket

If you are thinking of a special gift to send a friend or family member and who is conscious about what they eat then why not think about sending them a fruit gift basket on that special occasion. A fruit gift basket will not only contain all the healthy items that they love but will show that you have thought carefully about their own personal needs and requirements. It also reflects what good taste you have as well as being a truly healthy treat that they can enjoy.

A good quality fruit gift basket is packed with the freshest fruits available at that time of the year and you will find that they will include the best seasonal fruits also. But if you want to save yourself some money then why not make your own gift fruit basket instead. However, if you do decide to go this route ensure that you only use the best quality and freshest fruit available and if at all possible use organic fruit.

However if you decide to purchase your fruit gift basket online you will find that the basket will be shipped directly from the grower and so this ensures that the fruit is as fresh as the day it was picked. Also you may well find that included with the fresh fruit in the basket will be dry fruits and nuts as well such as almonds, raisins and cashew nuts.

The great thing about receiving a fruit gift basket is that they can be decadent and luscious and yet the recipient will not feel guilty when they start eating the contents. Certainly for many centuries now the presentation of a fruit gift basket is one of the oldest traditions and is still considered to be a unique way of telling somebody how much they mean to you and how you care for them. Centuries ago it was normal for a fruit gift basket to be presented to a king of a country at special events in order to show appreciation, worthiness and the generosity of the person that was presenting it.

So if you are looking for a way to show someone just how much they are appreciated and yet will not affect their healthy way of life or even push them into leading a more healthy lifestyle then a fruit gift basket may be just what you should send them.

For more Gift Basket information try visiting http://gift-baskets-for-all.com, a website that specializes in providing helpful gift basket ideas, advice and resources to include Fruit Gift Basket and more.

Effective Nutrition – The Key To Weight Loss

Education is the foundation for any weight loss plan. Knowing the basic essential nutrients will help you to plan an effective nutritional program for your weight loss goals.

The three primary nutrients your body needs for peak performance are: fats, proteins and carbohydrates. Not all fats, proteins and carbohydrates are good. This is where education fits in. Knowing what is good will make your effective nutritional program successful.

The bad kinds of carbohydrates increase your risk of heart disease and diabetes. These carbohydrates become “bad” when you eat an abundance of them and eat them too often. Most of these “bad” carbohydrates are white in color - white potatoes, white rice, white bread and white beans. These carbohydrates should be avoided when planning an effective nutrition program for weight loss.

Carbohydrates are not all bad. They give your body energy for physical activity. The best sources of carbohydrates are fruits, vegetables and whole grain staples. These carbohydrates provide your body with vitamins, fiber and minerals for optimal performance.

Low-fat staples are best for an effective nutrition weight loss program. Eating too much saturated fat can elevate cholesterol levels and increase your risk for heart disease. Fats are good in your diet because they help to give you the feeling of being full. You just have to make sure you are consuming the right fats.

The three major types of fat are:

SATURATED - These fats are found in meats, butter, cheese and whole milk. The only milk that does not contain saturated fats is skim milk.

UNSATURATED - These fats are found in fish and plant foods. Salmon and Albacore Tuna are the best fish for unsaturated fats. These are good unsaturated fats for a healthy heart.

TRANS - These fats are found in margarine and those foods with hydrogenated oils on their labels.

Fats are needed in your daily diet for building hormones. It is important to make sure you choose the right type of fat and the right amount of fat.

Proteins are essential to a healthy diet. The best sources of protein are eggs, poultry, beef, fish, dairy products and nuts. Proteins make up your muscles, organs and immune system. Proteins are essential to making the part of the red blood cells used for the transport of oxygen throughout your body. This part of the blood is called hemoglobin.

To calculate your protein needs, multiply your current weight times 0.5. A simpler calculation is to divide your current weight by two. As you lose pounds, continue this calculation because your need for protein lessens as your pounds decreases.

Mary Mason-Shields encourages this form of weight loss motivation to help you unload those unwanted pounds and help you find that little person you lost. This will also help you begin a healthy and nutritious diet plan.
http://www.marymshields.usana.com,
http://www.maryreset.blogspot.com, http://www.divinity-mary.blogspot.com

Cell Phone Plans - When Minutes Count

Whether a consumer is new to the world of cell phone plans or simply trying to select the best plan to control their costs, understanding the minutes involved is key. Matching the number of “free minutes” in a cell phone plan to an individual’s usage is the primary factor in avoiding extra fees and in assuring that the monthly bill is not higher than necessary.

If there are too few minutes in a given cell phone plan, the user may routinely exceed the plan limit and pay a high per minute rate for the extra talk time. If all of the available minutes are not used however, a plan with fewer minutes, and potentially a lower monthly charge, could save the user significantly.

To be able to really understand cell phone plans and make comparisons, consumers need to understand the common terminology related to the all important minutes described in the plan.

Anytime Minutes: The anytime minutes in a cell phone plan cost nothing beyond the monthly fee. They include all calls received or placed Monday through Friday during the day time; generally considered peak times. The hours included in this time frame can vary somewhat by plan so reading the details of the plan can be important.

Any minutes used which exceed the allotment of anytime minutes are generally significantly more expensive. For instance, given an allotment of 500 anytime minutes the monthly fee might be $39.99 which averages out to just under 8 cents per minute. Minutes which exceed the plan however could run as high as $0.35 or $0.40 per minute. In addition, some plans charge roaming and long distance fees on minutes which exceed the plan, which may not be charged on anytime minutes within the same plan.

It is important to remember that the anytime minutes include minutes used to both place and receive calls in most cell phone plans in the US. There are some exceptions with specific plans which offer “free incoming” and free calling among a core group of frequently called numbers.

Night and Weekend Minutes: If a cell phone plan includes night and weekend minutes there is no additional cost for these minutes and they do not consume the anytime minutes. In many cell phone plans, these night and weekend minutes are unlimited while others offer a set amount of time. These minutes are used during off peak times; generally between 9 p.m. and 7 a.m. and all day Saturday and Sunday. Again, the specific hours included as night and weekend minutes are defined in the plan.

Shared Minutes: Many families share a cell phone plan. Shared minutes allow them to use a common pool of anytime minutes. In many instances, this is more economical and certainly more efficient than having and monitoring separate plans for each individual. Shared minutes are also used by businesses which can use a single plan for multiple employees.

Roll-Over Minutes: Cell phone use from month to month can vary somewhat of course. A cell phone plan that allows roll-over minutes offers the advantage of rolling over anytime minutes that are not used throughout the month. There are still limits however, as to how long the rolled over minutes will remain available so knowing the plan details is important to avoid losing unused minutes.

Mobile-to-Mobile Minutes: Mobile to mobile minutes include calls within the same network; for instance, a call from a Sprint customer to another Sprint customer. Although it is unlikely everyone a user calls will be within the same network, this can still be a significant cost savings when signing up with a cellular provider that offers a large customer base or includes many of the people an individual calls frequently.

One twist on the mobile-to-mobile concept offers free calling to a select group of numbers identified by the user. Some T-Mobile plans for instance allow users to identify five frequently called numbers and provides free calling within that group. The five numbers can change monthly and can be different for the various members of a family that share minutes within a cell phone plan.

Although there is quite a lot of detail related to minute charges within cell phone plans, knowing this information can do a lot to control the monthly cost of such services when the rules of the specific policy are followed to get the most out of “free” calling.

Christine Peppler is the webmaster of http://www.homemedias.info, a site dedicated to assisting consumers in evaluating and finding products and services which will best meet their needs. Learn more about cell phone plans by visiting her site.

Caring for Acid Reflux Babies

Infants diagnosed with acid reflux, or acid reflux babies, are in bad pain and tend to cry a lot. Acid reflux is a condition wherein the esophagus is filled with the contents of the stomach as it comes back up. In babies and infants, this happens during or after a feeding. If the child is older, it may be after or during a meal, causing pain and irritation in the throat. Some children may feel that they may vomit from it.

Acid reflux in babies are common. Infants seem to show it more. More than half the infants are acid reflux babies during the first three months after birth. Acid reflux babies tend to spit, cough, vomit, be irritable, not want to feed and have blood in the stool. A small number of acid reflux babies have more severe symptoms of acid reflux. Most babies have symptoms of acid reflux that is totally normal for a growing digestive system.

As previously mentioned, a small number of acid reflux babies have more severe symptoms of acid reflux. Acid reflux babies with severe acid reflux symptoms tend to be smaller than normal babies since they are unable to get the proper nutrition they need. These acid reflux babies have problems with feeding because of the pain they experience and blood loss from the acid in the esophagus. Some acid reflux babies even experience breathing problems. If you notice any of these symptoms in your baby, contact your pediatrician right away. You need to start treatment to stop any further damage from happening.

As soon as you recognize that your child is exhibiting any symptom experienced by acid reflux babies, contact and see a doctor right away. He or she may need to run some tests and monitor your baby’s feeding habits. You must be able to tell the doctor what you have been feeding your baby and what has been happening to him or her. Keep close watch for vomiting and other acid reflux symptoms.

Find more Helpful Acid Reflux tips, advice

Click Here: http://www.acidrefluxhelpcenter.com

A Popular website that specializes in tips and resources to include Acid Reflux in Infants, Acid Reflux Diet, and Acid Reflux in Children

Quick Turning vs Speculation in Commercial Real Estate

Understanding how specific investment strategies can affect your entire commercial real estate process. A popular topic of commercial real estate is what is known as quick turning. The media has caught on to this phenomenon and generalized it. Many of the things you may have heard about quick turning are not as simple as they make them look. The general public has confused the arena of quick turning to include simple speculation. While the differences may not be apparent at first, if we delve deeper, there are several key variations.

The first way to look at speculating is that it is performed by the absolute amateurs in real estate. This is not what an experienced commercial property investor would ever do. Now, I’m not going to say that a speculator can not make any money, because they sometimes do. However, if they do, their success is more related to luck than anything. Their success depends on which market that they invest in and the timing in which they invest. Making money to the speculator is much more a game of chance than the expert investor.

The media as a whole has made the quick turning professional look like someone who is simply shooting in the dark. They make them appear to be rolling the dice and hoping for the best. In reality, this is simply not the case. Quick turning is almost a scientific process. There are specific criteria that must be met in order to succeed. If the criteria are not in place, the deal doesn’t happen. With the speculator, they very well could make a bad deal. They may not follow the same set of strict criteria that the quick turner does. It is important not to group these two very different investors together. The big difference is that speculation works in some markets at certain times of the year. Quick turning will work in any market and at any time. There are systems in place that ensure their success.

Quick turning strongly relies on fundamentals. This is why it is successful in every market. You can’t simply buy a great property in an appreciating market and hope that it will go up in value. In order to succeed in quick turning, you must find undervalued properties. This is the absolutely critical first step in any quick turn deal. You figure in the profit from the beginning. This is before you even purchase the property. The ARV (after repaired value) is assessed before you buy the property. The repair costs are also estimated beforehand. This will help to control the costs throughout the process. With these estimates in hand, a wise financial decision can be made. There is really no guesswork involved. After these estimates are made, if the profit isn’t high enough, you move on to the next property. Don’t even get involved. The speculator, on the other hand, may decide to try it anyway.

The experienced investor will take the undervalued property and improve it considerably. They will do their research and determine which repairs are the most profitable. Don’t sink your money into repairs and upgrades that will not improve the overall value of the house. Try to add a few “sizzle” features along the way. This will help the appearance of the property. The property will be presented in an attractive manner, once it is ready for the market. These factors make it more difficult to find a good deal in an active market. You can’t just settle for any property. This is why you will have to be patient in certain markets. The property you need will eventually surface. Just don’t rush into a deal under any circumstances. Make sure that the property is priced below market value. As many investors know, the money is made when the property is purchased, not when it is sold. Keep this truth in mind while looking for viable investment properties.

After a quick turn has been performed, there are several exit strategies available to the investor. Each one can be effective in different circumstances and markets. Some investors will simply flip the title to another investor quickly and make a modest profit. This is usually the fastest way to get in and get out. However, this is usually the least profitable in the long run.

Another option is to wait and sell the property at full retail value. If you are patient and don’t mind hanging on to the property for awhile, this is a good option. You managed to take a run-down property and get it back up to par. Therefore, a buyer should be willing to pay full price for it. It is no longer an undervalued property. This will usually provide more profit that the first option, although you do have to hold onto it longer. You also will have to go through the trouble of putting it on the market. Sometimes, this can take more time than you want to get results. If you choose this approach, be patient and you will be rewarded.

The last common strategy is to simply hold the property and rent it out. Sometimes, investors get forced into this strategy by necessity. If a quick turn deal goes south, you can always rent the property out in the meantime. This can create a great cash flow for you. While you may not have been planning on being a landlord, it can pay off nicely. Another benefit of this approach is that the longer you hold the property, the more appreciation will be working for you. You can get the rent money and when you do sell, the property may be worth even more. If you need to, refinancing is also a good option in this case. You can rehab the property and then get the money out through refinance.

Quick turning is a great way to profit in commercial real estate. Just don’t confuse it with general speculation. Quick turning will work in every market. Stick to the guidelines that you set upfront and do your research. You really can’t go wrong.

Marketing Tools - Implements, Impediments or Ornaments?

They say…a bad carpenter often blames his tools.

And then things get worse, far worse than dear carpenter could ever imagine for in the hurry of assigning blame on his tools he makes the fatal mistake of losing sight f the real thing - the fact that he has tools!

By considering his implements as impediments he very effectively destroys all hope of ever using those tools profitably. In the process he causes even more harm - he loses his opportunity to learn and grow!

Marketing tools are similar to those carpenter’s tools. In the hands of an experienced marketer minimal use can produce major artistic results. In the hands of an nresponsive learner they may well be impediments rather than implements.

In network marketing - as in any other field of work - a whole array of marketing tools are available to use on the business. Every facet of marketing finds a tool specifically designed to make that task easier, more efficient, and finally, more profitable.

Many tools are available free of cost while others could cost from a few dollars to hundreds of dollars. Most of these tools come in the form of knowledge - infotools - the most common form being the ‘ebook’ (Some tools are in the form of software too but all deal with info).

Many of us have these tools (ebooks) on various aspects of marketing catching e-rust in our hard drives. To add to it many even purchase complicated shiny gadgets (new ebooks) but rarely ever use all that tool’s capability.

The reason for this is either procrastination, a lack of discipline or the absence of the one thing which does not come with the tools - the skill with which the tool should be used.

Improper use of mechanical tools can be a dangerous situation leading to serious injury even. Improper use of marketing tools leads to similar serious injury - to your marketing efforts, only this time the injury is not noticed as easily because no immediate physial pain is felt.

Are you using your marketing tools as implements or impediments. Are you reading the stuff you download? Are you applying what you read to your marketing efforts.

Are you then - taking a step back and - seeing how your handiwork looks? Maybe it needs more finish? Maybe a touch-up here and there? Or Maybe it even needs to be completely redone!

Or maybe that is all this particular tool can do and you need to find another, more advanced tool to continue?

Knowledge is a tool. Check that hard drive today. What have you got stored there that can be used to move your marketing at a faster rate. You have stuff on how to add zing to your ads? Use It. You have stuff on how to optimize your site for the search engines? Use It. You have stuff on how to leverage adsense? Use It.

You have stuff - Use It!

Then step back and survey your work. Keep the tools that make a difference. Discard those that don’t but before doing so carefully check it was the tool at fault and not your skill.

Invariably you will find it’s your skill and not the tool.

Use tools as implements - the more you use them the better you will get at using them. Using them once in a while or using them hap-hazardly will make those same tools into impediments rather than implements.

Maybe they are neither impediments nor implements; Maybe they are ornaments, stuff you like to decorate your hard-disk with. In that case I have nothing to say!

Your hard-disk, Your Style!

Cheers!

Jerome Dsouza exhorts all who look for success in any field whatsoever to first develop the ultimate primary skill on which every endeavour’s success depends - the capacity to believe and make possible! He offers a free ebook (tool) on the subject through his site http://www.freebookongettingrich.com