Why is it important that your team enjoy their work? If ALL of the members of your team enjoyed their work, your team could achieve tremendous results for your organization! And, imagine the impact on your own personal job satisfaction from your team achieving amazing results…see how it’s all connected?

Ok, let’s get started. Let’s look at some specific areas that can help you see what’s possible for you and your team.

Questions to ask yourself:

1. Who is my team comprised of? This may seem silly, but it is critical that you define the team that you want to use with this exercise. So, get clear on the team you want to look at — e.g. is it a team of people that you work with daily because you’re working toward the same goals? Is it a cross-functional team that represents different departments/areas? Is it a Board of Directors? Clearly defining who is on the team is the first step.

2. On a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being the highest where your team absolutely loves the work they do, where would you rate your team’s current level of work satisfaction? Notice what number comes to mind immediately and write it down. You might be saying “that’s hard to answer because some team members clearly love their work more than others.” For this exercise, it’s important to rate the team as an entire system, not as individual people. Average the individual scores if needed!

3. If you didn’t rate your team’s current fulfillment at a 10, what would a 10 look like for your team? In other words, what would your team be doing on a regular basis if they were fully fulfilled? What would it feel like for you to work with this team that really loved their work at a level of “10″? What would be different about the individual team members if the group was at a “10″ fulfillment level?

4. What does your team currently love about their work? Get specific - think about your team as it exists today and list all of the things that you know your team loves about the work it does.

5. Why does your team love these things? What is it about your list above that brings your team joy and fulfillment? List all of the reasons why these things give your team pleasure.

6. What does your team not love about their work? List the specific aspects of your team’s work that you know they do not enjoy.

7. Why does your team not love these aspects of their work? What is it about the list above that does not bring your team joy and fulfillment? List all of the reasons why you think your team does not love these aspects of their work.

8. What could you do to help your team so they DO love their work? This is the time to get creative, have fun and start taking action so that you can have the level of joy and fulfillment that would be a “10″ for you and your team! Just because there are a couple of things your team doesn’t currently love about their work doesn’t mean you can’t help the team change those things. It IS possible for your team to love their work! Get specific for each one. For example, if your team feels like the team members don’t communicate well with each other, and then ask yourself what you could do to help your team start communicating more effectively. In this example, you might suggest that your team create some ground rules or group norms for communication so that each team member can agree to those rules and start holding each other accountable. Be specific here - this is the time to explore the different ways in which you could have an impact on your team to help them love their work AND get their desired results, so that ALL of you can love your work.

9. What will you commit to? Of the possible actions you looked at above, what WILL you commit to doing to help your team love their work? By what deadline will you do these things (note: it’s critical to have a specific deadline for each commitment to ensure your success)?

10. What support and accountability do you need to ensure that you stay committed to these intentions so that you can have the impact you desire with your team? You will have a 95% chance of achieving your goals if you commit to another person and schedule regular, ongoing accountability/check-in discussions. If you don’t have someone you can do this with who is truly committed to your ongoing success, contact us about how coaching can support you individually or to help your team stay on track - that’s what we do in coaching, is support you and hold you accountable to your most meaningful goals on a regular basis, so that you WILL achieve them!

11. Go back to questions #2 and #3 above - what else does your team need to help it get to the next level of both fulfillment and productivity? Up until now, we’ve been looking at your team from your perspective. We don’t yet know what the entire team thinks/feels about these questions.

Remember: You AND your team deserve to love your work and produce the results that your organization expects…and it doesn’t have to be a struggle! We have the diagnostic assessment to measure your team’s current productivity and level of cohesiveness with each other, as well as the team building and facilitation expertise to help your team IMPROVE its results to the level your team desires.

Are you a business leader struggling to get the results you need from your team? Despite the many challenges facing organizations today, it IS possible to take your team to the next level and get the results that you and your organization desire! Want to learn how? Visit us: http://www.goalsinsight.com

Right about this time of year, thoughts turn to bathing suit season and the ghost of the long forgotten New Year’s Resolutions to lose those extra pounds rears its ugly head. Now comes warnings of the damage we may be doing to our skin while dieting. A decrease in food intake can often come with a decrease in vitamins and good fats that our skin so desperately needs to stay healthy looking.

When the body faces a decrease in the vitamins and nutrients it needs, it tends to go into a defensive mode and will re-route nutrients away from the skin and to at risk organs. This will leave your skin looking sallow and the reduction of subcutaneous fat under the skin leaves your skin sensitive and literally thinner. A gentle exfoliator will revitalize your skin and an antioxidant rich moisturizer will assist in caring for that fragile skin.

Remember that often times, the most important outcome of a change in your diet will show both negatively and positively in your skin. While the phrase “garbage in, garbage out” may not sound too appetizing, the truth is that what you put in your body (or often times more importantly, what you DON’T put in your body) will have a dramatic effect on your skin.

The bottom line while dieting is to avoid fad diets which deplete your body and skin of the nutrients it needs and choose a balanced diet that doesn’t do away with good fats (monounsaturated fats) for the beautiful and healthy results you desire.

Kimberly Kolodzizejski

Vice President of Media Relations and Customer Service for Chella Professional Skin Care

Become a member of our newsletter and receive 20% off of your first order and also receive a free sample of our Skin Firming Serum with every order! Click here to join … it’s free and takes only a few seconds!

There are some stability ball exercises that are designed to take care of your core, or abdominal muscles.

1. Begin your abdominals-strengthening stability ball exercises by placing the ball beneath your lower torso and hips, and while keeping your knees slightly bent or fully straight. Put your hands behind your head or your back, then slowly roll down the ball as you would on a slide. Make sure that your body is straight as you do this, and that you pull in the muscles of your abdominals as you slide down the ball.

2. It can be difficult to balance on a stability ball, so increase your endurance and sense of balance by placing the ball under your abdominals and hips. Place your hands on the floor, keep your legs straightened, then lift your feet off the floor. Keep your body upon the ball, and straight, for about twenty to thirty counts. You will find that your body is most stable if you pull your abdominal muscles in.

3. Continue this part of the stability ball exercises by raising one of your arms out to your side. Make sure that you do not roll off the ball or place your feet back on the floor. Do this for the other arm. This exercise is designed to firm your arms and legs, as well as to contract and stretch your hard-to-reach abdominal muscles. It is in fact difficult to carry out, so do it slowly, and stop it if you begin to feel sharp pain in your arm muscles.

4. Continue this set of stability ball exercises by placing the ball in front of you, then laying your hands upon it, so that your arms are parallel to each other. Imagine that a string is being threaded through your belly button, and someone is pulling it backward into your spinal column. This will force you to tighten your abdominal muscles. As you tighten these muscles, roll forward slowly and roll the ball along with you. Roll the ball as far away from you as possible without bending your back or straining your back muscles.

5. To return to your original position, pull your elbows toward the surface of the ball, then squeeze your abdominal muscles inward. If you have back problems, you can substitute this exercise for a simple abdominal contraction. Lie down on your back, then place your knees, shins, and feet on the ball. Put your hands behind your head, then contract your abdominal muscles. Do not bend your back, and breathe steadily.

Stability ball exercises are ineffective without the proper diet, or without exercises accessories, such as dumbbells, resistance cords, or an exercise mat.

If you are interested in carrying out stability ball exercises, seek the advice of your nutritionist, or a local gym instructor. If wrongly carried out, stability ball exercises can be dangerous and can lead to injuries.

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After months of tedious planning and contending with logistics, your wedding day has arrived! Following is a wedding planning checklist for your wedding day, or for the days leading up to your wedding day.

Wedding Planning Checklist: Two Days Before Your Wedding

• Make sure everyone arriving from out-of-town is met by someone, knows where everyone else is staying, etc.
  
• Pack an “emergency kit” containing things like spare panty hose, sewing supplies, aspirin, etc. to take with you to the wedding.
  
• Attend the rehearsal and the rehearsal dinner. You may choose to give gifts to attendants and each other at this event or at a more private moment.
  
• Do something to relax and enjoy the company of your out-of-town friends.
• Assign responsibilities to your wedding party, such as handing out corsages and boutonnieres, greeting and seating guests, checking on vendors, etc.
• Confirm your wedding day transportation.
• Visit your beauty salon for a manicure and pedicure.
• Make sure the ushers have the final guest list.

Your Wedding Day!

• Give gifts to your parents.
• Make sure you eat something.
• Visit your beauty salon for hairstyling and makeup. Bring your veil and headpiece.
• Make sure your wedding dress is pressed and steamed.
• Bring your written vows or poems to be presented.
• Pack relevant items such as your wedding dress, veil and headpiece, shoes, gloves, jewelry, makeup, perfume, nail polish, curling iron, curlers, brush, hairspray, bobby pins, mirror, toothbrush, toothpaste, iron or steamer, garter, ring pillow, going-away outfit and shoes, undergarments, wedding night bag and honeymoon suitcases.
• Enjoy your wedding!

Use this wedding planning checklist as a guideline for tasks to complete on or around your wedding day.

Hilary Basile is a writer for MyGuidesUSA.com. At MyGuidesUSA.com (http://www.myguidesusa.com), you will find valuable tips and resources for handling life’s major events. Whether you’re planning a wedding, buying your first home, anxiously awaiting the birth of a child, contending with a divorce, searching for a new job, or planning for your retirement, you’ll find answers to your questions at MyGuidesUSA.com. Find wedding planning tips and resources at http://www.myguidesusa.com/weddings

It is always wise to shop around banks and lending facilities before you decide where you will apply for your student loan. Make sure that the loan will meet your specific needs and that you are getting the best interest rates possible. Find out about the repayment system. You need to have a loan that you only need to start repaying after graduation when you have a job and can afford the payments.

There are various government departments that have loans available for students as well as companies in the private sector. These are always a good option as the interest rates and loan cost will be low.

It is always important to remember not to borrow more money than you actually need as this could possibly be wasted and you will be very sorry after graduation when you have to start paying off the loans. Rather take a part time job in your spare time to enhance your funds so that you do not have to borrow too much money.

Try and never make use of a credit card for paying for books or tuition. It is far better to get a loan for the required amount as the interest rate is so much lower than that of the credit card. You will also have more time to pay off the loan than the credit card debt.

Luckily for students all banks and most of the money lending agencies give them loans to study. Education is very expensive and these loans make it possible for most scholars’ dreams of going to college come true.

The author writes informative articles about Student Loans
http://www.studentloanswebs.com

Every sport has its up and downs when you are learning and progressing your way through. Perhaps you’ve set a goal of a certain handicap and find yourself stuck there, locked up, unable to move beyond it. There is a law of the golf swing: paying attention to detail will improve your game.

It most instances this is psychological block we’ve imposed on ourselves that needs to be addressed before we move on. But in some cases there are other things that a golfer can do to lower his score.

Golf is a game of detail. The more attention you pay to detail, to everything, the better golfer you will become.

Allowing yourself time to practice is, of course, the most obvious path to better golf. But while you’re out practicing have goals in mind, pay close attention you what you’re doing. Practice is a time for relaxed effort, not a time to hack away at a few golf balls.

Experiment with different golf equipment if you can. Try different golf balls occasionally. Find yourself the most comfortable supportive shoes that you can find. You’re going to be spending a lot of time in them after all.

As you progress and get mechanically better at your golf swing, perhaps the clubs you once used are no longer suited for you. Don’t be afraid to try a stiffer shaft. Keep a close eye on your results. If it doesn’t work out after a proper amount of time, go back to what you were doing before.

If you find yourself locked in a self-imposed power struggle with different parts of yourself on the golf course, it is definitely time to have a talk with yourself and ask, “What am I really out here for?”

Enjoy yourself. See if a lower score follows.

But, conversely, don’t allow yourself to be thinking about an argument you had the night before with your wife either. Focus your mind to the task at hand while you’re on the course. That is simply playing an enjoyable round of golf.

Tell yourself, “For the next few immediate hours I am here, and this is what I doing.”

I developed a habit of scribbling in a notepad after each hole the things of notice, good or bad. You don’t have to write a book here: “Over compensating for slice”, “Tension on putt”, “Too much internal negative monologue”, “Executed shot from sand trap perfectly”.

Afterwards, I go over these notes and get a really good idea of what I need to pay attention to while playing golf.

I’m a firm believer in visualization and before my next practice I go over these notes and imagine myself correcting whatever it was I did wrong. If you pay this much attention to detail, it will have an amazing result on your golf score.

Trust me, the law of a better golf swing is attention to detail.

Stan Thomas has been playing golf since before dirt covered the earth. He knows he’ll never master the game, but he can’t deny the quest.

He invites you to visit his websites:

http://golfimproveswing.com/

http://www.squidoo.com/golfimproveswing/

When implementing video conferencing capabilty many businesses are more focused on the make-up of the video suite itself…..and assume that DSL bandwidth is sufficient for their network backbone. Whether this be an existing network or intended new install…..assuming that DSL is sufficient to support your requirements may be shortsighted. Beware, there’s more out there to consider.

Before “jumping to conclusions” it’s important to consider all of your options….and how each may best (or not) support your video conferencing needs.

xDSL technologies are usually deployed as “over subscribed” packet switched networks. By oversubscribed I mean that during those brief periods when the two end points are not transmitting the bandwidth to carry data from other users. In these networks the bandwidth used by connections between two ends points has the characteristics of variable bandwidth and variable delay. The resulting jitter can be very problematic for video circuits. However, xDSL technologies are usually much less expensive than ISDN/T carriers.

The “A” in ADSL stands for “asymmetrical”. SDSL, and usually VHSDL and HDSL, are symmetrical.

If your videoconferencing is two-way, you need symmetry, or the performance will be horrible on the low-speed side. A caveat: if your video codec gives sufficiently good compression that the low-speed side gives enough bandwidth, you may be all right.

You also have to check the service guarantee on DSL, Frame Relay, and even Metro Ethernet. Do they give you either constant bit rate (CBR) or near-real-time Variable Bit Rate (nr6VBR), which are generally considered necessary for full-motion video quality? Note that CBR and nrtVBR are possible through IP connections that guarantee quality of service, which usually will mean contracting for a VPN.

You really want symmetry with your video conferencing. The cheap consumer class aDSL products are great when the downstream bandwidth is significantly greater then upstream, but in video/teleconferencing, the needs are both up and downstream.

If video conferencing is something you would use regularly, and count on for your business, then go for a real SDSL line or a T1 (or a DS3 for larger businesses with frequent usage…..especially with large numbers of participants, participating locations, or excessive distant). There are vendors that can offer these at competitive costs and give business class service and support.

Many businesses are abandoning DSL in favor of Sprint’s EVDO rev A implementation of CDMA. You’ll find some carrier agnostic info at EVDOForum.com which cites rev A speeds as EVDO Rev A 450Kbps-800Kbps Download, bursts to 3.0Mbps, and 300Kbps-400Kbps Upload Speed, bursts to 1.8Mbps. Sprint is now confident that these are very conservative numbers. While your own mileage may vary…. some routinely get faster speeds than this. Sprint expects to have more than 190 Million EVDO Rev A POPs by the end of April (we’ll see though).

If your business is small, the underlying technology for video should be IPTV with any of the web-conferencing agents. The video streams would be routed via DSL service. If you’re served by cable TV, you may prefer cable internet to DSL-based internet, but cable carriers often do not serve industrial areas. Thus as a business cable may not be available to you.

If your business has a full Private Branch Exchange (PBX) system for your telephones, you probably already get ISDN service from your phone company. ISDN permits “dynamic allocation” of channels which dedicates throughput to video when it is needed and makes the same capacity available for other applications, such as voice or data, when it is needed there. There are lots of vendors who support/supply ISDN-based video conferencing equipment.

(Please note, this Primary Rate Interface (PRI) flavor of ISDN is alive and well, unlike the Basic Rate Interface (BRI) flavor of ISDN that small businesses and residential customers have either ignored or run away from.)

If your company is really large (e.g., dedicated internet access of T-3/DS3 or higher), then use IP-based solutions again.

With the limitations of DSL spelled out above….and at least the basics on options for other solutions described….you are now armed with enough information to make an informed decision. Do more research as needed……and choose wisely.

Michael is the owner of FreedomFire Communications….including DS3-Bandwidth.com and Business-VoIP-Solution.com. Michael also authors Broadband Nation where you’re always welcome to drop in and catch up on the latest BroadBand news, tips, insights, and ramblings for the masses.

Aromatherapy soap can be used in the shower or bath to create a rejuvenated or relaxed. The great thing about these soaps is that they contain therapeutic oils from plants and herbs.

A therapeutic aromatherapy soap is made from natural ingredients so it is gentle on the skin and excellent for reducing acne. It’s also excellent for dry skin. In fact harsh soaps can actually be the cause of dry skin. Aromatherapy soap is also an excellent choice for sensitive skin. Try lavender.

Rosemary mint is an aromatherapy soup with rosemary and spearmint that can be used by either women or men. It’s a nice choice if you are looking for a rejuvenated feeling when you’re done in the shower. Add a little rose for women.

If you want a sensual aromatherapy soap that’s perfect for an evening with the love of your life try patchouli, rose, and geranium. It’s also a good choice for dry skin. In fact if you want a soap strictly for dry skin replace the rose with hemp seed oil.

If you’ve managed to get a sunburn use peppermint and aloe vera aromatherapy soap. It also brings relief for insect bites too. If you want relief from your sunburn and a soap that’s calming try lemon poppy seed with peppermint. It’s a great combo.

If you want an aromatherapy soap for sensitive skin or skin eczema try a lavender or lavender and hemp oil combination. You want to stay away from floral scents if you have sensitive skin as this is likely to be an irritatant.

There are plenty of other aromatherapy soaps on the market but what’s important is that you purchase an aromatherapy soap made from all natural ingredients because products that have artificial or unnatural ingredients won’t produce the same results.

Read carefully! Too many like to advertise their soap as natural and then in the fine print you’ll find chemicals used to preserve it. That is not what you want. And if you aren’t sure don’t be afraid to ask.

You can buy your aromatherapy soap locally or for the best selection check what’s available online. There are so many great choices. Many of the soaps sold online are home made an added bonus!

You will likely pay a little more for your aromatherapy soap but it’s worth it. There is no other soap that can produce the results of these natural soaps.

If you want you can make your own aromatherapy soap. It’s really quite easy. What’s most important is that you have all natural ingredients to work with. Poor quality ingredients and your soap will crack or break. You an buy aromatherapy soap molds and ingredients online and then you can some fun making your own soap. Once you get real good you could even make some soap gifts.

Aromatherapy soap is a great way to take that boring shower and turn it into something extraordinary. It’s a great way to take that relaxing bath and make it a spa experience. So what are you waiting for?

Get all the latest information about Aromatherapy from the only true source at http://www.myaromatherapyinfo.com

Be sure to check out our aromatherapy soap pages.

Paternity fraud is once again in the news, as the state of Tennessee is on the brink of becoming a trend-setter state with proposed legislation that would allow for the disestablishment of parentage.

Paternity fraud is the popular name for the situation where a man is “duped” into fatherhood for a child that is not biologically related. The big issue with paternity fraud is that a man is forced to pay child support for these children even after DNA evidence proves that he is not the biological father. The majority of states rely on an English common law doctrine that creates a presumption of fatherhood when a child is born during a marriage or 300 days after divorce. The current purpose of this doctrine is to prevent the state welfare system from paying to support the child.

While the mother-child relationship is generally established at birth; the father-child relationship is harder to establish. When the common law doctrine of paternity was first established over 500 years ago, there was no scientific test that could prove paternity. With the advent of DNA testing, the old presumption has become antiquated. The majority of states have failed to reevaluate their paternity laws and have kept the old presumption in place.

Tennessee is currently considering a law that would allow for the disestablishment of parentage. The proposed bill would amend the current law and allow a man to escape child support obligations if he can show through DNA evidence that he is not the biological father. The new paternity law would not allow reimbursement for child support that has already been paid and would only apply to future child support payments. In addition, the law would not allow disestablishment of parentage in three situations. These are:

1. If the father legally had adopted the child.
2. If the father has entered into a voluntary acknowledgement of paternity.
3. If at the time a child support order was granted by a court, the man had actual knowledge that he was not the father.

If the paternity fraud bill becomes law, Tennessee would be one of a handful of states that allows a man to stop paying child support when he can prove he is not the biological father. Attempts to change the presumption of paternity have met with strong resistance from groups in many states. The majority of the arguments against changing the law address that if the duped dad is let off the hook for child support, it is the child that becomes the victim. Opponents to the new law submit that the child’s best interest should be the only concern.

Supporters of the paternity fraud bill argue that fraud should never be rewarded. They point out that these cases often arise because the woman has concealed a sexual relationship from her husband. They submit that the current law excuses the woman’s conduct and creates a new victim.

Scott Justice is an attorney practicing family law in Tennessee. He is the author of Tennessee Divorce and Family Law located at http://www.justiceondivorce.com

In planning for my three week Australian vacation, I was stunned to find out that Australia is one of five countries excluded for rental car insurance coverage benefits on my American Express card. Needless to say, it would have been a very rude awakening to have found that out after I had already rented a car in Australia.

Visa, however, does include Australia in its insurance coverage. According to the Visa site, it appears that any personal Visa card provides this benefit.

A few things to remember for American residents who are considering renting a car when visiting Australia:

• Your personal car insurance does not cover anything in Australia;
• You must decline the collision damage waiver (CDW) and loss damage waiver (LDW) options on your rental car agreement;
• You have to pay for the entire rental with your Visa card. Be careful with any rental using a voucher or a prepaid rental. Even if the voucher was paid for with a Visa card, that card number may not be transferred to the rental car company, and you would not be covered by your Visa card;
• Your Visa card only covers damage to the car, not your liability or damage to anything or anybody else. Check with your personal insurance agent before you leave about how to efficiently cover your liability.
• Rentals covered by your Visa card may only be up to thirty one (31) days in length; and
• Should you get into an accident, the emergency number from Australia to call Visa is (800) 125-440, or if that does not connect, you can call collect back to the USA at (410) 581-9994.

Nick Vlahos has travelled to over twenty countries in North America, Europe, and Asia. Follow along as he plans his three week Australian vacation.