How to Resist the Con Artist Trying to make a “Yes Man” out of You through Mind Games.

The skilled con artist knows how to rig the game to make the players think they are winning. Every time you put a quarter into the slot machine, out come 2 more. In setting you up for the big con, this formula is altered a bit, to nothing more than ace-high salesmanship. They know they must get you in a good mood, very positive thinking, in every respect, in order to get you over to their side.

Thus, you are subjected to the preliminary “Yes / No” test. In it you are being set up, softened, conditioned to saying “yes” to that final (when it comes) “closing” question, “Would you sign here, please?” Their means? A long, introductory series of questions that you, in complete control of your mental faculties, can only say “yes” to. Examples: Would $2,000 a week in additional income be helpful to you? Would your wife appreciate the extra luxuries? Would it be easier to set up a fund for your children’s college education? Would holding a mortgage-burning party early make you happy? Would you breathe easier knowing that your retirement is secure?

Yes, yes, yes, yes, and yes–to all 5 questions. Of course. Is there any doubt, really, as to what your logical reactions to such questions would be?

Now the con artist has you in the habit. You are being led, inexorably, like a sheep, to the slaughter, toward the desired end-result, the “kill.” This would be your final head-nodding, agreeable acceptance of whatever crackpot scheme or product this
artist is trying to sell you.

How do you break the rhythm, keep a full handle on your conscious objectivity in reviewing his sales presentation? You almost have to play a little game on yourself, a form of self-hypnosis combined with some amusing musings on answers.
For example, mentally–as you go, as he is talking–pose to yourself a mythical “no” answering routine. To demonstrate how this might work, let’s go through those leading questions again:

“Would $2,000 a week in additional income be helpful to you?” (No, I enjoy being a struggling paycheck-to-paycheck working slob.)

“Would your wife appreciate the extra luxuries?” (No, she enjoys home canning, making her own clothes and soap, and all the other joys of care-free poverty.)

“Would it be easier to set up a fund for your children’s college education?” (No, I’d only have more time to blow the money, like I might be doing right here, now, by listening to you.)

“Would holding a mortgage-burning party early make you happy?” (No, I don’t want to incur any prepayment or other back-end costs. And, besides, my banker’s got to eat, too.)

“”Would you breathe easier knowing your retirement is secure?” (No, this whole concept challenges my Vow of Poverty.)

In sum, beware of stories with happy endings. Often they have unsettling postscripts. Thus, going through some such mental gymnastics–as you go through this person’s “Yes Man” routine–might a little better hold your feet to the fire, keep you focused on objective analysis. This, so you will be better positioned for the end-game: when you must ponder the only yes / no question that counts, whether on not to sign on the dotted line.

Jack Payne is the author of the legal thriller, Six Hours Past Thursday, a fictional book about real legal scams. For more information visit http://www.sixhrs.com

Myth #1: “Public schools aren’t as good as private schools.”

First off, this is rather a meaningless assertion to begin with, since there’s no such thing as a “typical” public school. Because the American public school system is decentralized, quality varies tremendously. The fact is, however, that, depending on what indicator you choose to use, many public schools outperform private schools.

It is important to understand that knowledge has no address. Knowledge does not “reside” in one location or another. In fact, now that the internet has broken down nearly all the barriers that once limited information access, this reality is more true than ever. Your child can get a first class, quality education from your local public school.

Saying that private schools are “better” than public schools is a lot like saying that books you purchase from Barnes & Noble are “better” than those you obtain from your local public library. The knowledge, the access is the same. It’s what you (and your child) do with the books that matters. Likewise, it is what you and your child do with your public school that will determine his or her educational outcomes.

Frankly, we think that blaming your child’s public school if your child is not achieving academically is a lot like blaming your gym if you’re out of shape. It’s not the fault of the institution; it’s what you do there that makes the crucial difference.

Your child can absolutely still obtain an Ivy league-worthy education from the public school system. That’s assuming that he or she is willing to work hard in the top level classes, of course.

Myth #2: “Private schools have better teachers than public schools.”

Let’s address this one head-on. Recent data from the National Center for Education Statistics indicate that public school teachers are better educated than private school teachers with more experience, on average. For example, public school teachers are more likely to have a master’s degree than private school teachers.

Public schools experience less teacher turnover, mainly because public school teachers are much better paid. This means public school teachers are more experienced. Also, Public schools require professional credentials for teachers and administrators. Many private school teachers work there because they lack the required credentials for a public school job.

It is undoubtedly true that public schools have their share of teachers who are duds, so you are going to have to be proactive about seeking out the best teachers for your child. Stay alert and stay in touch with guidance personnel to steer your towards the most talented teachers.

Myth #3: “My child will meet bad influences in public school.”

It’s true that public schools have to serve everyone, including students who have no interest in learning. But they don’t have to serve them all equally. Because of tracking, every public school of sufficient size has “schools within the school”—subsets of high achieving students who take classes together. The environment within this subset is entirely different from what exists in lower-achieving classrooms.

It’s also a mistake to assume that private schools are filled with high achievers. Many children in private school were placed there precisely because they failed to do what they needed to do to achieve in public school. Some even go to private school because they were expelled from public school! This is certainly not the minority, but it does happen.

Don’t kid yourself into believing that private schools somehow insulate your children from bad influences. Depending on the student culture, the environment in a private school can be extremely decadent, anti-intellectual, and drug-fueled.

Remember: the higher tracks are the “inside track” to higher achievement and high-performing peers within public schools.

Myth #4: “Public schools lack academic rigor.”

It used to be true that a student who didn’t care much about learning could slide through high school in low-level classes and “earn” a diploma without learning much. Recent changes in accountability and exit-testing have largely eliminated this option, and public schools now face the predictable problem of large numbers of low-achieving students not graduating.

On the other end of the grading scale, however, more public school students than ever are now taking advantage of high caliber learning opportunities such as AP and Honors courses, which—at their best—rival what is available in the most exclusive private schools.

There are multiple realities in a typical public school, but students who are motivated to challenge themselves with the highest level of classes are apt to find that intellectual challenges are abundant in public school. (Your typical public school teacher is more likely to complain that too few students rise to the challenge than that too few challenges exist for motivated students.)

Consider this factoid, as well: 64% of admitted Harvard students went to public school. If there were enough challenges for these students in public school, there are enough challenges for your child, as well.

Myth #5: “My child will have better extracurricular activities in private school.”

This one is a no-brainer. Public schools, due to their sheer size both in terms of budget and student numbers, have the competititve edge in offering a wider array of extracurricular opportunities. This is definitely an area in which the public schools excel.

Public schools clearly have the advantage in terms of being able to offer more competitive athletic programs and a full selection of band and orchestral choices. Small private schools just don’t have the numbers to support the same breadth of offerings—at least not at a competitive level.

The reality is, some extracurriculars may become so competitive at the public high school that it is difficult for a casual participant to make the teams or achieve distinction. In this case, a private school might provide greater opportunities for involvement. It is important to point out that programs wax or wane within public schools, depending on personnel and the quality of student involvement.

Myth #6: “I have to live in a rich neighborhood to find good public schools.”

This myth seems to make sense on its face. It seems logical to assume that the public schools in the more affluent areas would be “better” than the public schools in less affluent areas. Because the tax base is stronger, you would expect to find increased support for school funding, as well.

Don’t assume that this is necessarily the case, however. The fact of the matter is that people living in affluent communities tend to have fewer children. (Or, none at all. Sometimes people decide to focus on earning money instead of rearing children, or affluent communities may include many older adults with grown children.) Hence, support for the public schools may be lacking.

Also, affluent families may not balk at the cost of private education, so the public schools may find themselves left with only the students from the lowest socioeconomic sectors. The children of affluent families also tend not to be “upwardly-mobile” and the schools in affluent areas are prone to taking on a cultural sense of entitlement. This is not a helpful environment for those seeking academic advancement for their children.

The reality is that public schools tend to excel in areas with a strong middle class. Public school teachers tend to come from the middle classes and to be drawn to these types of schools. So, as long as you are avoiding severely under-funded schools in impoverished areas, do not worry that your child is not attending the “posh” public school in your area.

Myth #7: “I have no choice but to send my child to my local public school.”

This has traditionally been the case, but is no longer necessarily true. Options are expanding. For one thing, many public school districts are willing to accept “out-of-area” students. Usually, this depends on enrollment numbers. Some school districts may impose a “tuition” fee; others may not. It never hurts to ask. Also, within your own district, you may be able to request permission for your child to attend a different school than the one he or she is “zoned” to attend. Again, the amount of flexibility possibility may depend upon enrollment numbers. Sometimes, a district may be happy to honor this type of request, if it helps to relieve crowding in one school.

“School choice” has been a hot-button political issue for some time. Despite the fact that it has never really officially caught on, it does seem that there is a trend towards increased school options. This probably also has a lot to do with basic demographics in many districts. When the numbers are down, schools are more likely to allow transfer students in from other districts. The homeschooling option has drawn off a certain percentage of students in many districts, leaving spaces in some classrooms. Bear in mind, if you choose this option, thast you will probably have to provide your own transportation. Obviously, they are not going to be willing to send a bus to come and pick up a child who lives “out-of-area.”

Also, there are increasing school options within districts. Magnet schools and Governor’s or Honor’s schools are examples of this. These are public schools that cater to students with specialized interests and students may have to apply to qualify for admission. There are increasing opportunities for online public K-12 education. Some of these schools are for-profit; others are operated as public magnet schools and your child’s public school “allotment” may be used to pay for enrollment. Finally, the No Child Left Behind Act includes a stipulation that basically says that students in so-called “failing” Title 1 schools need to be offered expanded transfer options. The law has been in place long enough for these consequences to apply, so that will increase school choice options for more students. The bottom line is, be sure to do your homework and research all options available to you and your child.

Dr. Bonnie Kerrigan Snyder, D.Ed. is the author of “The Public School Parent’s Guide to Success: How to Beat Private School and Homeschooling,” available at http://www.publicschoolparent.com. A Doctor of Education, she has worked as a public school teacher, guidance counselor, and teacher educator. She is public schooling her own children in Lancaster, PA.

“Curse God and die!”
That is what Job’s wife
Had to say with her life
Job 2:9 may encourage
Men with wayward wives
Who twist and torment
Their devout spiritual lives
She sought to discourage
The meek man of God
To whom she was married
She claimed God tarried
Denied the poor old soul
As he laid in a bed of illness
Waiting to be healed and whole
Job’s wife defiantly thought to
Get him to give up all hope
Doubt, vacillate, and struggle
Be overwhelmed and beyond
The stability that anchors
The tranquility that subdues
The faith the quietly conquers
Silencing nasty gnawing negativity
That tries to sink you devilishly
Job would not join her pity party
Job dared to believe unashamedly
Job continually worshipped happily
Job endured trials wholeheartedly
Refused to waver with hostility
Stood firm, abiding faithfully
Encouraging himself inwardly
Always arising expectantly
Awaiting God to miraculously
Wipe away his hurt and pain
Shut the accuser’s mouth
Bind every evil adversary
Provide and give prosperity
Fill him with divine ability
To lift up his head proudly
Concerning God Almighty
Who He knew in victory
Inwardly and outwardly
Job’s faith produced fully
Proved timeless and truthful
God showed Himself powerful
Vindicating Job suddenly
Against every lying enemy
Sadly his wife was among
That pathetic critical company
Nevertheless Job withstood
Such cruel hurtful mediocrity
Holding fast to his destiny
Job received double suddenly
When God turned his captivity
Slapped success on Job mightily
Giving him double for his trouble
Lifting him far above the rubble
Of his dreadful, difficult past
Job greatly showed humanity
That pain doesn’t always last
Truth does forever remain
The pure will always endure
Therefore be tender and true
No matter what we go through
Uphold God and not disdain
Challenges and deep pain
Because God can rearrange
Change all in Jesus Name!
The God of the resurrection
Blesses the weak and lame
And the critic’s tongue tame.

Paul Davis is a worldwide minister, change master, turnaround specialist, and life purpose coach.

Paul is a poet and author of several books including Waves of God; Breakthrough for a Broken Heart; Are You Ready for True Love; and Supernatural Fire. Paul is a popular speaker, creative consultant, adventurer, mediator conquering conflict, liberator, and dream-maker.

Paul’s compassion for people & passion to travel has taken him to over 50 countries of the world where he has had a tremendous impact. Paul has served in many war-torn, impoverished and tsunami stricken regions of the earth. His organization Dream-Maker Ministries is building dreams, breaking limitations and reviving nations.

Paul inspires, revives, awakens, impregnates with purpose, imparts the fire of desire, catapults people into a new level of self-awareness, facilitates destiny discovery and dream fulfillment.

Contact Paul to speak at your event or for life coaching:
RevivingNations@yahoo.com, 407-284-1705

For additional info:
http://www.CreativeCommunications.TV
http://www.DreamMakerMinistries.com

I recently was halfway around the world, meeting a new business partner, and found myself in the midst of a seller’s nightmare: I had to do an in-person prospecting call on one of the world’s largest banks, with an unfamiliar business partner, with no idea of the reason behind the cold call, or the people who would be there.

When I was picked up from the airport I was told of this meeting, and there was no one available to discuss anything with me until we were at the client site. Nightmare.

As we entered the building, I quickly asked the history of the prospect relationship, the expected outcome, and the level of the folks we were meeting with. The news wasn’t good: this was the first prospecting call and they weren’t sure who would be attending, but they hoped I could help them open the account by using my Buying Facilitation model to encourage a working relationship.

Great. Just great. Unprepared. No data. No strategic planning. The prospect would see an unknown vendor, coming for an unknown reason, dragging along a very tired – and unknown – foreigner. They’d most likely know nothing about my work, models, or books. They wouldn’t know how to differentiate me from the competition, or how to choose me.

What would success even look like? And other than what I’d read and heard about this Middle Eastern country I didn’t even understand the cultural norms of vendor/client communication, not to mention if my being a woman would be a negative.

THE NEED FOR FACE MEETINGS

When Dale Carnegie introduced the need for face meetings, face time was vital due to the difficulty in getting broad exposure for products. Now, we can take it for granted that the next seller who stands in front of our prospect – if we can even get an appointment! - will be just as charming, caring, well-dressed, smart, and professional. And if a personal relationship is the only criteria for a prospect choosing a vendor, then the seller has a truly long slog here, to find only those buyers with buying patterns and personalities that match the seller’s selling patterns and personality.

I don’t believe in using my body as a prospecting tool. I believe that if it’s important to a seller to have a face meeting, they should first become part of the prospect’s decision team and have already decided collaboratively, with the prospect, how they plan on working together and how best to use a face meeting. Then, a face meeting cements the relationship and brings together the rest of the decision team, even on the first meeting. Otherwise, the only prospects who will agree to a face meeting are those already in the market, and interviewing untold others. Not to mention that when several things seem the same, the only differentiator is price.

But I didn’t have much choice in this instance, and there was no agreement, action plan, or stated outcome that a prospecting call using Buying Facilitation would have ensured.

I realized that I would be out of control during this call, even if my training would solve their business problem: there was no prior decision on who should attend the meeting and an untold number of people from the decision team wouldn’t be present (and would need to be managed afterwards somehow); and if they were willing to see us on a cold call, they were certainly seeing others.

CASE STUDY OF A FACE-TO-FACE PROSPECTING CALL

Given that my choices were limited, our meeting proved interesting. I believe I made a difference in our ultimate outcome, but I’m not sure that a face meeting was any more successful than if I had used Facilitative Questions on the phone.

I’ll describe the face visit conversation, and then offer a mock Buying Facilitation conversation as to a phone call I might have had prior to the meeting.

Meeting

At the prospect’s site, a large man with a gentle persona, followed by a smaller, local, man, came out to bring us to a small office in which sat a very professionally attired woman. The large man sat down in a tiny chair, and the smaller man went behind a very large desk. As they introduced themselves, I barely had time to peruse the 2 business cards handed to me – the men gave me cards, but not the woman.

I addressed my first Facilitative Question to the man behind the desk: “How are you currently adding new sales skills to the ones you’re already offering your

staff?” I realized that I had addressed the question to the wrong man, as I noticed everyone looked to the large man in the small chair for an answer. I quickly glanced down at the business cards and noticed this man was the big big boss. He began telling a charming story of how he was just in the country for a few weeks, and newly brought in to head up this division and bring in new thinking. He said he was delighted that I asked that question.

OK. I was on the right track but there was a major problem: the local man at the big desk had been at the bank for a long time, and was the sales manager for 5 years. If he had been doing a good job, the new man wouldn’t have been brought in! Not to mention that the smaller man most likely had a team of loyal followers (in countries outside the US, folks stay at their jobs for decades) who would have some strong feelings about a new man, from another country, coming in with big ideas that would certainly change their status quo.

The problem was much, much bigger than needing new sales skills. All of the brilliance I offered would be moot if they couldn’t manage the internal politics that this problem created. And, obviously, I couldn’t manage the internal politics for them: while their Identified Problem was something I could solve with my product, until they could manage their internal politics, they weren’t going to take any action.

The internal problem

Once I recognized the elephant in the room, I decided to ask a tactical Facilitative Question to help my prospects begin to make sense of their main issue:

“Since you (the man at the desk) have been around for some time and have a loyal team behind you, how can you bring in new thinking (which he obviously had failed to do) that might represent change, and have the team remain loyal?”

The man behind the desk nodded:

“No problem. No problem. We can handle this. We are very excited to have someone new join us with new ideas. We look forward to change and hearing how you could help us.”

Right.

The boss quietly said:

“That is why I’m here: to bring in new thinking, and manage implementations. I’m sure that we can all get on board here and there shouldn’t be a problem. I’ve done this sort of thing in other banks, and we’ve been successful. I have met the folks here and they are great. It will be fine.”

OK. Now I had a larger problem. They were either really going to be fine, they were doing denial, or just giving me, the outsider, the company view. I had no way of knowing. I turned to the woman (turns out she was the training manager) seated, quietly, next to me and said to her:

“I’m so glad that everyone is getting on so well, and I’m sure that it will work out fine. I’m wondering what you would need from a vendor to ensure an easy implementation?”

She briefly opened her eyes wide, and quickly returned to her very very composed, professional behavior.

“Thanks for bringing that up and caring. I’m sure that there won’t be a problem, like the gentlemen said (smart woman). In case there is, maybe you could explain to us what you have done in the past when bringing in new material? And possibly give us a run-down on what you have that might be interesting to us to help us differentiate ourselves from our competitors, as I saw on your website (Ah. The woman had done her homework.)? If what you have has value for us, maybe you and I could have further conversations about the content. Along the way, if any internal issues come up – which I don’t think there will be – we can discuss them at the time.”

Good. I just got onto the decision team.

“Great. It seems to me there are several issues here. One: how will you all decide on the specific type of new thinking you would be willing to bring in; Two: how you’ll know that one specific set of skills would work better than another since you wouldn’t have a way to understand the outcome before you start; Three: how you could ensure, before you start, that a new skill set would work comfortably with that your folks are already using; Four: how will you know when it’s time to address implementation issues; Five: how would you know we would be the type of partner who could help you manage all of these issues?”

Follow-up action

The boss nodded vigorously and smiled. He asked me to write down the points I’d just made, email them to him, and contact him in two weeks to move the conversation forward. Sounded great – until I called him at the appropriate time, and he told me that he had handed everything over to the training manager. I had to ask permission to speak with her as no one had given me her number. I have left a message for her and have gotten no response yet.

I believe my ‘relationship’ with them all is as good as their memory. Did they like me? Appreciate me and my questions? Yes. Did that move the sale along? Not convinced – they still have too many internal issues to manage. And now I have to find ways to maintain the relationship and conversation, while living half-way around the world.

Because there was so much going on in the room, I’m not convinced they understood the difference between Buying Facilitation and a more conventional selling model. I have started a conversation, and we have developed some rapport. I believe they trust me a bit, and might consider a pilot – but I’m also sure they will pilot other programs as well.

Since I teach that it’s not necessary to make a face-to-face visit until the internal decision team has agreed to change and has a model for the specifics of how to bring in a new idea/product/vendor, I was curious if what happened in this interaction could have been managed better on the phone. I think so.

MOCK CONVERSATION OF TYPICAL BUYING FACILITATION SEQUENCE

I’ve never had a face meeting prior to signing a contract with a major corporation, and yet on a second or third conference call, I’ve met with the entire decision team and made collaborative decisions involving a great deal of buy-in and change. I will create a similar conversation here, much like I’ve done (literally) thousands of times before. Note the difference with the absence of the political issues, and how far I can get using these Facilitative Questions on the phone:

SDM: How are you currently offering new selling skills to your sales people?

Boss: We haven’t been. I’m just here a few weeks, and I was brought in to help us differentiate ourselves from the competition. I’m actually seeking new material to trial now as part of my purview.

SDM: That sounds exciting. What fun! What has stopped your group from achieving this until now?

Boss: The past manager was very good at keeping the status quo and managing the office politics. My job is to find new thinking and bring it in. Do you have something new for us?

SDM: Well, I’ve got a new sales model, but let’s discuss that in a few moments as I think there are other issues we’d need to manage first. I suspect you’ll have to manage some internal, personal issues with the old manager and his team with whatever material you choose. How would you need to work with a new vendor to ensure that you, the decision team, and the vendor, would all work well together while implementing a trial?

Boss: We’d all have to get on board here, make some team agreements, and monitor the implementation from the beginning. I would bring in the training manager to help with this as I believe her to be very committed to success. I’d also have to understand that your material, over the more conventional material, would bring me the new skills that I’m seeking while not creating too much confusion for our sales folks who have been using SPIN for a long time.

SDM: So as we move forward, we’d have to ensure that there is buy in from the decision team, and be aware of any danger signs. We could work that out between us. Before I give you data about my Buying Facilitation Method®, can you tell me what would new skills give you that you don’t have already?

Boss: We’re having great difficulty differentiating ourselves in this market: our products appear similar to our competitors, and clients don’t know how to buy us. We’ve tried educating them, but that doesn’t seem to make much of a difference in our numbers.

SDM: My model, Buying Facilitation, helps buyers know how to choose you over the competition. It’s a collaborative decision making model, rather than a product placement or problem solving model – it gives sellers the tools to teaches buyers how to buy, rather than approaching it through the product sale. How would you know, before we were to do a pilot, that you and the rest of the team would be willing to consider a model this unusual?

Boss: I’d have to understand it better, and the team would have to agree to consider it. How can we get a hold of material that would help us learn more about it?

SDM: In addition to sending you some reading material, I’m actually coming to that part of the world in a few weeks. I would love to stop in and meet with all of you. What would be the best use of our time together once I’m there? And, given all of the political issues you’re facing in your new assignment, who should be at the meeting, what would you need to see from me, and what sort of an outcome would we be seeking? I think it would be best to plan all of this before I get there.

Different outcomes

In my estimation, had I been able to use Facilitative Questions on the phone prior to our face meeting as I did in the mock conversation above, I could have helped the Boss recognize the internal issues (politics, relationship issues, and management issues, etc.) that needed to be managed outside of the purview of the Identified Problem and accelerate his decision cycle accordingly. I would have become his decision partner and eschewed the uncomfortable relationship issues that came up during our meeting. By the time it was relevant to discuss and pitch my product, he and the team would have been in a position to make a purchasing decision - or not, and I would have known that prior to making a face visit. [Note: Buy the book that breaks down the decision segment from the product sale segment: Buying Facilitation: the new way to sell that expands and influences decisions, at www.buyingfacilitation.com]

Use face-to-face meetings to cement the decisions the entire decision team needs to make with you; use the phone to help the early decisions get made and the decision teams coalesce and start taking the action they need to take anyway. It’s the internal, unique, and idiosyncratic systems end of the buying decision that’s been hidden from us for so long, but is now able to be managed with the Buying Facilitation Method®.

The time it takes buyers to come up with their own answers is the length of the sales cycle, whether it’s a decision to buy an insurance policy or a company-wide implementation. By leading the buyer through the entire range of necessary decisions, you can reduce the length of the sales cycle by 75% and you can do much of this on the phone. By sticking to Dale Carnegie’s belief that sales calls need to be face-to-face, you’re 1. helping delay the sales cycle, 2. not getting to partner with the decision team in a truly supportive way until farther into the sales cycle than necessary, 3. wasting unnecessary time on prospects who won’t buy, 4. keeping yourself solidly in a price, product, and service competition, and 5. waiting in the dark as the decision team figures out the decisions they need to make that you could have sequentially walked them through much more quickly.

Use the phone as a smart business tool. Save the face visits for when it will actually support a closed sale with a ready prospect. Do you want to sell? or have someone buy?

If you live in an apartment, you may not think you need insurance or you may think your landlord’s policy covers you. Think again!

Your landlord’s insurance covers only the building, not your possessions. You need to find cheap apartment rental insurance to protect your belongings.

Apartment rental insurance also covers you if …

* Your apartment is damaged and you need to temporarily live somewhere else for a while.

* Your property is stolen someplace else, such as if your laptop computer is stolen while you’re at the library.

* You damage the landlord’s property and have to pay for repairs.

Decide How Much Coverage You Need

Your first step to get cheap apartment rental insurance is to decide how much coverage you need. Make a list of all your personal possessions and estimate how much it would cost to replace them. This will give you an idea of how much coverage you need.

You also need to decide how much of a deductible you can afford to pay. The deductible is the amount you pay on a claim before the insurance company pays. The higher your deductible, the lower your insurance premium. Just make sure you can pay the deductible if you ever need to make a claim.

Check with Your Car Insurance Company

To find cheap apartment rental insurance, first check with the company that insures your car. You may be able to get a discount for having both policies with the same company.

Other discounts you might be able to get include:

* Non-smoker’s discount if no one in your residence smokes.

* Security discounts if your apartment has deadbolts, smoke detectors, or other safety features.

* Senior’s discount if you’re a retired senior.

Look on the Internet

Search online for companies that offer cheap apartment rental insurance. You can go to insurance websites, fill out a single form, and get fast quotes from several insurance companies (see link below).

Make sure you use the same coverage limits, deductibles, and discounts for each company so you can compare them fairly.

Visit http://www.LowerRateQuotes.com/renters-insurance.html or click on the following link to get cheap apartment rental insurance quotes from top-rated companies and see how much you can save. You can get more insurance tips in their Articles section, and get answers to your insurance questions from an insurance expert by using their online chat service.

The authors, Brian Stevens and Stacey Schifferdecker, have spent 30 years in the insurance and finance industries, and have written numerous articles on getting cheap apartment rental insurance quotes.

I was speaking with a friend of mine yesterday that I hadn’t seen in 5 years. I was amazed when I ran into him; if he hadn’t had such a distinctive voice I would have never recognized him. I would like to first point out that the reason I didn’t recognize him is because he had lost over 300 pounds. He looked amazing! I had to know what his secret was because I am a regular at my local gym at least 2-3 times a week and he actually had built a body that looked better than mine. He told me that he had been tired of being over weight, tired of doctors telling him he would have knee joint problems if something wasn’t done and done quickly. My friend said that he had tried many different celebrity diet programs and they just didn’t seem to work. He had just about given up when he happened to stumble across an e-book titled Burn the Fat, Feed the Muscle written by natural bodybuilder Tom Venuto. If you don’t know who Tom is, just pick up almost any bodybuilding magazine and I’m sure you will find him.

My friend allowed me to have a copy of the book and at first glance I was very intimidated. This thing packs over 300 pages. It was by far the largest e-book on health I had ever seen. But don’t let its vast size turn your head elsewhere, it’s the type of book that is very easy to read unlike books that are hard to finish. Be assured that this book contains all the essential information needed to achieve your health and fitness goals.

Let me start off by telling you that I enjoyed this book so much that in under a weeks time I was finished with it. But don’t think for a second that just because I read it the one time and then let it collect digital dust in a file folder on my computer somewhere. I constantly “on a daily basis” refer back to this book for tips and fitness exercises. Just to give you a free taste of what’s in the book I will list the chapters.

Chapter 1: Goal Setting

Chapter 2: Why 95% of all conventional Diets Fail

Chapter 3: Body composition

Chapter 4: Charting your progress

Chapter 5: Metabolic individuality and your body type

Chapter 6: The law of calorie balance and the mathematics of losing body fat

Chapter 7: Secrets of meal frequency & timing

Chapter 8: Macronutrient ratios

Chapter 9: Good fats vs. bad fats

Chapter 10: Protein

Chapter 11: Clearing up carbohydrate confusion

Chapter 12: How to get as lean as a bodybuilder or fitness model using a new twist on the old low carbohydrate diet

Chapter 13: Why water is essential for fat loss, how much you need, and what else you should (and shouldn’t) drink

Chapter 14: The “Burn The Fat Feed The Muscle” eating plan

Chapter 15: Supplements

Chapter 16: Cardio training secrets for maximum fat loss

Chapter 17: Weight training for fat loss

What Burn the Fat, Feed the Muscle does differently than the conventional diet program is 1. The lack of individualization and 2. Too much push for supplements and other products that are completely unnecessary. Burn the Fat is the first program to take the best of all the programs, compile the good information into one detailed resource while tossing out the un-needed and over hyped junk. This leaves us with universal principles that apply to everyone. The great part about Tom’s program is that instead of prescribing one generic program for everyone, this program has room to be personalized for the individual. This is an absolute necessity for any kind of long term success.

You’ll find that this book will start you off with the basic fundamentals (which it should, and you will have to master) Then you will simply have to adjust your personal program to your individuality. Burn the fat offers not 1 but 4 different training programs. Each of these four training programs comes with 2 schedules for those who have little time and those who are aggressive and really want to go for the goal. It’s the same with cardio, one program wont work for everyone so there must be a variety for the different shapes, sizes, and bodies that we all have.

What I personally liked about Burn the Fat, Feed the Muscle is that through out the book it wasn’t trying to promote something or sale me something. It was pure information (great information) resource and a complete fat loss program that is meant for life, not just 12 months like other short term plans.

I highly recommend this book, the only possible way you will not have success is if you’re looking for the quick and easy way. This program requires dedication like most things that succeed. The program requires a time investment and a real commitment to follow the principals in the book. Long term fat loss and muscle gain is NOT quick and easy. Set your goals high, work hard and learn the RIGHT way to burn fat.

I personally enjoyed reading this book and using it on a regular basis. It comes as no surprise after reading this article about Burn the Fat, Feed the Muscle that this book is one of the most recommended fitness books on the internet. I hope you enjoy yours as much as I did.

For a wide variety of the best weight loss programs, exercise programs, and some of the best FREE fitness information on the web visit http://www.flexyourhealth.com/index.html

Super Teas Part 3: Kombucha

Some say kombucha originated in Russia, others in ancient Manurchia. Wherever it’s from, its contents are yeast, bacteria, and enzymes. While bottled Kombucha tea is available, it can cost upwards of five dollars a bottle. The cost is why many people decide to brew their own. If you decide to do this you will need your own starter culture, various bottles, and cloths.

Kombucha tea is made by combining the culture with green, black, or oolong tea with sugar. The culture sits on top of the tea for a approximately a week and the yeast cultures consume the sugar to make more organic goodness.

Kombucha tastes a little like tart apple vinegar, and the fermenting process adds a little carbonation to the beverage. Finessing the fermentation time and the amount of sugar in the mixture will allow you to make it suit your own taste.

Breakdown

Herbalists familiar with kombucha say it works to bring the body back into balance. Some of the claims made about kombucha are that it fights cancer, supports good digestion, metabolism, appetite control, weight control, liver function, detoxification, body alkalinity, anti-aging, cell integrity, healthy skin & hair, and strengthens the immune system.

Pause for breath.

The final beverage contains B vitamins, enzymes, probiotics, and acids found to move toxins out of the body. Most people experience a feeling of well being immediately upon drinking it. Kombucha is said to aid better digestion, clearer skin, and reduction in joint and body pain.

People report a wide range of health benefits from drinking kombucha including conditions such as cancer, hypertension, and arthritis.

There are many more teas that have a host of healthy benefits to drinking them. The three discussed in this series are only the tip of the iceberg. Visit Mind-Mart.com for more information about great teas.

Note: Some statements in this article may not be approved by the FDA. This article is for informational purposes only and should not be taken as professional medical advice.

© 2007, Clara Myers. Visit the tea category at
Mind-Mart.com for a variety of herbal tea and accessories.

Disasters can be easy to deal with, or seem like an overwhelming task. We can’t always avoid disasters, but with planning and preparation we can control disaster response. Right now most companies have a No Recovery strategy which equals no data restored. After surveying 50 companies located in Los Angeles with 20 to 30 employees we found that they did not have any type of recovery past a Tape Backup. In most cases they had the office manager put in the tape. In some cases the backup was not running and thus they had NO backup. Frighten as this may sound your company may be one of them.

Does your company have a good disaster recovery plan?

Let’s see what is a disaster recovery plan to begin with. First there are all types of disasters. A hacker can cause data loss on your server. A computer virus can cause data loss to flat files as well as databases. I know most of you are saying sure I have Norton anti virus to protect me. Are the virus definitions up to date. Is is properly configured? if you do not have some outsourcing firm or in house IT staff then how do you know?

Power failures are the way we meet some clients that need our Data Recovery services. They begin us their burnt out drives and expect miracles from us. Of course we deliver but the costs are very high.

Natural Disasters are another way we meet clients. The building has has water damage or power damage and their server(s) where not properly backed up and connected to a UPS device.

The most common type of data loss is System Administration Errors or lack there of. Mainly because the tape backup unit or perhaps the new and improved disk based backup was not working? No one took the time to read the event logs of the system, application and backup system. Now it is time to restore and you are left with a puzzled face. I thought I was doing backups.

So as you can having your online data being hosted offside is important security measure and disaster recovery prevention.

For more information you can visit http://www.evault.com/solutions/

For more information on this and other areas of Information Technology
contact Network Installation Los Angeles

Super Teas Part 2: Pu-erh

During the Ming and Qing dynasties of China, Pu-erh (pronounced poo-air) tea became so popular it was used as currency. Compressed into cakes for easy transport to places as far away as Burma, transporters discovered the tea tasted better when it arrived at its destination, and today aged Pu-erh is still preferable.

Pu-erh is a true tea, as it comes from a genus of the Camellia plant. Pu-erh is loosely divided into two types–sheng (green or raw) and shu (ripe or aged). If you’re new to Pu-erh tea, try the shu first as sheng is hard on the stomach of a newbie.

Breakdown

The traditional culture around Pu-erh says it’s good for curing hangovers. In the West it’s said to aid in weight loss and is used in many diet formulations; however, it’s one verifiable health benefit is a big one. Chinese doctors reported clinical experiments in the 1970s in which drinking pu-erh was shown to lower cholesterol levels. French scientists were able to duplicate these results. As late as 2002, a study published in Preventive Medicine shows that drinking Pu-erh measurably reduced cholesterol levels.

The tea is still sold in traditional cakes, but you may be able to find it already cut to suit Western tastes. I suggest you buy some quality loose tea from a reputable vendor. That way, if you don’t like it, you’re not stuck with an entire cake. If you do like it, you can always start buying it in cakes.

Pu-erh is an acquired taste for many people. Often people trying it for the first time say the taste is earthy or reminds them of mushrooms. As I said, it’s an acquired taste so give it a few tries. Pu-erh is normally brewed in the same small kettle over and over. The tea is known to last for many infusions and each one tastes slightly different. You’re wasting tea if you only brew it one time.

Note: Some statements in this article may not be approved by the FDA. This article is for informational purposes only and should not be taken as professional medical advice.

© 2007, Clara Myers. Visit the tea category at
Mind-Mart.com for a variety of herbal tea and accessories.

Calling Morocco can be an expensive proposition especially if you are using a cell phone. Cingular charges $2.69 - minute from the US to Morocco (that is over $160 for a one hour call!) on their regular plans to a land line and $2.80 to a Moroccan cell phone. Using a World Plan can ease your pain (56c & 67c respectively to landlines and cell phone calls) but then you will lose other features such as additional minutes to your rate plan. Sprint’s international rate is 77¢/minute with a monthly charge of $3 for an international plan.

If cell phones are not bad enough, Bell South’s landline “Basic Rate” is $4.67/minute and can go as low as 52¢/minute with select plans. Other landline carriers are comparable. So what is one to do?

There are a few options to consider when calling overseas to Morocco and each person will find they will have different needs than others therefore there is no one perfect solution. There are, thankfully, some solutions that make the pain easier.

“World Plans” – as discussed earlier, choosing a world plan is a great way to cut the rates of your calls – in some cases as much as 75% or more. With the savings of a world plan comes higher domestic rates and at times premiums added to your bill (that should be factored in to find what you are really paying per minute).

VOIP (Voice Over IP) – the best-known VOIP is Vonage, but there are more and more companies everyday that are coming out with VOIP. VOIP uses your high-speed internet (cable or DSL) and a special router and telephones to make calls instead of using traditional phone lines or cellular service. Using Vonage and an example, you can call to Morocco for only 25¢/minute. The downside to VOIP is quality of service and the need for a broadband connection. Additionally, you will need to purchase special equipment and your choice of telephones is severely limited. If you are calling FROM Morocco to the United States, you can get a U.S. telephone number and pay the base monthly rate ($24.99/month for unlimited and $14.99/month for 500 minutes). Again reception is only as good as the internet connection you have, and in Morocco, internet reception is generally very poor and therefore VOIP is not an option if doing anything more than calling home to family and friends.

Calling Cards – the best known way to call to Morocco (and Morocco to the world) is by use of a calling card. One purchases a calling card with a specific amount of dollars attached to it (ie. a $20 calling card) and then like a regular phone in reverse, your money on the calling card goes down for each minute you use the card*. This is by far the most convenient way to call and the least expensive. It is also the most convenient. Unlike VOIP, you can call from anywhere (another person’s house, a cell phone, etc…). The calling card comes with a toll-free number to call and a PIN-number** to activate the call. You dial the 800-number, enter your pin, and then call the number you want to connect. Although this can seem like a hassle, the 800-number can be programmed into a telephone or cell phone so there is quick access to the number.

Just like traditional calling plans, there is a wide variety of calling cards and all of them have their plusses and minuses. Most calling cards will carry some type of fee. These can include: monthly fee, per-use fee, and inactivity fees. In addition, calling cards round off their minutes differently. One calling card can have a low per-minute fee but have a connect fee and round their calls to 3 minutes (if you talk for two minutes you are charged for three). Other cards (often called flat-rate cards or no-fee cards) don’t charge any additional fees but have a higher per-minute charge. Cards typically round to the nearest minute (typical with cell phones and most landline phone companies) but can be as high as three minutes and as low as one second.

A card that has fees but low rates/minute are great for long conversations whereas those who make shorter and more frequent calls may want to opt for a flat-rate phone card. There is also the issue of what phone card to use. Again, depending on the country you are calling from and the country you are calling to this is going to vary.

C. Thomas Wright is owner of http://www.bestmorocco.com. He is married to a Moroccan woman and frequents the country often.

http://www.bestmorocco.com

A great place to find what card to use for your individual use can be found at http://www.bestmorocco.com (click on the PHONES link). different companies charge differently newer phone cards are pinless