I am not now that which I have been.
Lord Byron

Every now and again, in my business, I come across a person or an organization who seems to “get it”, when it comes to leadership or management or achieving goals. They “get it” in the fact that no matter the circumstances, no matter the obstacles they are able to plug the leaks, re-tar the seams of their leader-”ship” and push forward. Like Captain Bartlett from the Karluk, they find a way across the frozen ice floes of stubbornness and antiquated processes to safety and sustainability, and then return and rescue their people from certain doom.

This all sounds a little dramatic doesn’t it? But sometimes, that is what is required when it comes to overcoming obstacles: something dramatic. Dramatic decisions lead to dramatic actions which in turn lead to dramatic results… if we’re willing to stay the course.

That is the case with a client that I just had the privilege to work with. When we started our work together over 6 months ago, they were in the proverbial “Rock and a hard place”. This was multiplied by the fact that certain employees, who had enjoyed a position of self declared power were doing all that they could to sink the ship, or at least to slow it down. I don’t think that they wanted to see the ship sink, they just had a bigger picture of their importance in “keeping everyone informed of the way that things should be” than they should have, and as a result, it was having a serious negative impact on the morale of the organization, and the speed of change that was imminent.

As we chatted and strategized the corporate direction, we seemed to always get bogged down by what the “company saboteurs” were doing. I could sense the frustration that they were feeling, but I could also sense their sense of “MUST”, in the fact that they knew that they must fix this situation with the saboteurs, or nothing else that they did would matter at all.

That is the beauty of the MUST attitude. When we get to the place where it becomes an absolute must, then things just naturally seem to appear that weren’t there before… it’s like the universe is just waiting for us to arrive at this frame of mind and then it says, “Well, finally, I’ve been waiting for you to get here. Here is something that you can use that will help you arrive at your goal. If you need anything else, just let me know.”

So, how do we get into this MUST frame of mind? It’s quite easy actually. First, we need to have a purpose or a goal that we feel strongly about, and then we need to have the motivation or the reasons for why it must happen. Without those first two areas, nothing of any consequence will happen. We don’t usually wake up one morning and say, “I think I’ll implement a new process at work today.” Unless we have a reason to do it that has been weighing on us. The same can be said for quitting smoking or losing weight or even getting in better physical shape, it just doesn’t work that way. We cannot become passionate about something that we know nothing about or have a strong emotional connection to.

My father in law tells of the time that he quit smoking and how it happened: He had been smoking for a few years, and the fact that his children had asked him why he smoked was starting to weigh heavily on his mind. Then one day, he was speaking with a colleague about smoking and his colleague said to him, “When you love your children enough, you’ll quit smoking.” He said that the impact of that quote was like being hit with a hammer. He immediately took out his nearly full pack of cigarettes and tossed them in the trash, and he has never smoked since. I think that he was able to quit smoking on the spot and not have withdrawal problems because when he made the decision to quit, he told himself that he was now a non smoker, and that he now saw himself that way. His instant identity was now a non-smoker. The mind is much more powerful than the habit, and in that framework, we can create our own speed of change.

You see, the most important part of achieving any MUST Objective is by having a clear picture in our mind of what it is that we want to create that connects with a part of us that is shouting to be heard. Listening to it and then creating the desires, strategies and actions will dramatically speed up the process. Achieving any goal takes the ability to see beyond the present obstacles and have a vision of what things will be like when the goal is declared completed and having the confidence that we have, or can develop, the strategy to move forward.

This week, if you feel stuck in a rut, discover your true directions and desires. Create a reason for success first, and then get busy and put the groundwork of strategy and momentum underneath them. When you do, you will discover that you can make much more of a difference in both your life and in the lives of others. Take a risk, create a vision, and craft your own success!

To all of the success that you can handle!
Paul

For 22 years, Paul Kearley has thrived in the personal development and coaching business. As a Master Coach for the past 10 years, Paul’s passion is in developing and creating increased potential with both clients and other trainers.

A columnist for two newspapers in Eastern Canada, and editor for his own weekly ezine, Paul writes articles that address the everyday challenges we all have and face in life and in business, and offers suggestions for success.

If you’d like to connect with Paul or subscribe to “E-Motion” his weekly ezine, simply goto the web site at http://www.mustfactor.com or by calling 506 433 4722.

The MLM Business model was an effective distribution network for products from a variety of categories. From vitamins, to household appliances, there was an MLM company that could gear up its band of distributors and take that product to market.

However, the MLM business model has been eclipsed by the gargantuan power and promise of the Internet. With a direct intention to enhance the progress of any business, the Internet has that has trampled, discredited and almost destroyed the MLM industry.

The promise of riches, success and wealth from MLM participation has imploded into the faces of millions of innocent business owners who are devastated financially because their MLM hopes and dreams have failed. But thousands of starry-eyed “would have beens” MLM’ers have turned their backs on the hyperbole of the MLM swan song and merged their dreams of financial freedom to the Internet.

The Internet home base business opportunity has replaced all those secret home meetings and overpriced “sizzle” products offered by those redundant MLM companies. The Internet opens up a whole cornucopia of business opportunities that offer a variety of product, services and pay. The Internet really does provide the the average person a real chance to achieve above average income that leads to financial freedom.

Online businesses like eBay provide new entrepreneurs with a ready-made customer base and storefront. These ebay entrepreneurs are a true testament to the power and promise of the Internet. Almost anyone has what it takes to make it to the upper tiers in eBay. Conversely, with the MLM business models, only 2% of new MLM distributors will ever see a profit.

According to Skip McGrath, author of “Titanium eBay” he calculates that eBay PowerSellers earn anywhere from $1,000 to more than $150,000 monthly. Even the lower figure of $1,000 per month is more than the average MLM recruit earns per year. According to their own records, one of the top MLM companies revealed that their average leaders earns less that $2,500 per year.

Consumers no longer require an MLM company for distribution of products. Walmart has created the most effective distribution channel anywhere in the world. Walmart provided low cost home care and personal care products at a cost that few MLM companies can compete with.

Using the Internet consumers are able to buy almost anything they want from the privacy of their homes. Online shopping is a billion dollar a year business. Most consumers will not jump through the hoops imposed by MLM companies to purchase their products. Customers are not obliged to pay to purchase products, the Internet provides too many options.

Customers do not want to pay to play with an MLM Company, they will just click away and find the same product at a cheaper price.

MLM cannot survive in a market that offers individuals an infinite number of choices. When MLM was the only game in town, individuals joined in droves, MLM companies sprang up everywhere and for years this industry thrived. That time has passed. The Internet is a virtual marketplace with endless possibilities for all the promises that the MLM business model failed to provide.

MLM companies cannot survive close scrutiny. The Internet is the ultimate information gathering medium. The same communication medium that the MLM giants intended to use to expand its customer and distributor base is actually the medium that has exposed the MLM opportunity as a game of cards that is falling fast. Several television expose’ have shown that MLM companies despite their benevolent claims use new distributors in an elaborate scheme to enrich itself, not its community or its distributors.

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Virginia Sanders is an advocate of “Nanas and Old People Need to Be Rich Society”. She is past president of OJA (Opportunity Junkie Anonymous). Virginia lives in Sacramento, CA. She is the mother of twin daughters and “Nana” to a precocious 8-year-old nicknamed Tre’.
Researching and writing articles is a part-time endeavor; Finding lucrative online opportunities is her passion. For a business that will earn You instant and long-term income visit: Membership has its Privileges

A catastrophic injury can leave a person suffering from permanent disabilities for the rest of their life. Catastrophic injuries are any injuries that have serious, long-term effects on the victim. If compensation is not received for catastrophic injuries, the physical, emotional and financial strains can be devastating.

“Catastrophic injuries usually affect far more than just the victim,” says Elliot Hillel Lewis, a catastrophic injury lawyer in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. “They can often put serious stress on the victim’s family because they may need constant supervision or assistance for the rest of their lives, not to mention a lifetime of rehabilitation and medical bills.”

Catastrophic injuries can be caused by any number of different circumstances, and the results of the catastrophic injury can last for weeks, months, or even years. Some of the most common catastrophic injuries include:

*-Back Injuries

*-Neck Injuries

*-Brain Injuries

*-Burns

*-Organ Damage

*-Paralysis

*-Paraplegia

*-Quadriplegia

When a victim suffers a catastrophic injury, the impact can be enormous. Not only can a catastrophic injury prevent a person from gaining any substantial income, it can prevent them from enjoying their life, and it can cause their family huge amounts of stress. Catastrophic injuries to the brain can even change a person’s personality, make remembering things difficult, and prevent them from recognizing their most loved family members.

A catastrophic injury lawyer will help you recover compensation for the damages that you or your loved one has experienced, including:

*-Lost Wages

*-Loss of Enjoyment of Life

*-Mental Anguish

*-Pain

* Suffering

*-Lost Future Wages

*-Permanent Disability

*-Medical Bills

If you believe that you or a loved one has suffered a catastrophic in Philadelphia or anywhere in Pennsylvania, as a result of another person’s negligence, you should contact an experienced catastrophic injury lawyer as soon as possible.

http://www.ppl-law.com

Can you imagine what a cancer cell looks like?

What a cancer cell is, is blockage. A bunch of cells getting together to block up your system. If you can imagine a cell, then imagine a bunch of cells all getting together to block up your arteries, your lungs, your heart, your kidneys, your gall bladder, and everything else from doing their jobs. Give them a color, a size, a shape, a texture, a smell, and a taste. Yes, a taste. Yuck, huh?

See, the purpose behind giving them an entity, which is what you just did, is so you can get rid of them. If you can’t see (imagine) them, you can’t get rid of them. Give them an entity, so that entity can dissolve or whatever you choose to happen to them in the paragraphs below.

Note: Keep in mind that nothing you visualize has to be exact. A layman doesn’t know what a heart really looks like unless he or she studies it. The same with the kidneys, etc. Just do your best to visualize whatever you can and know that that is where the work will be accomplished.

What does it make you feel like when you first learn you have this little problem?

(And yes, we must think of cancer, or any other debilitating disease, as a *little problem*, so that we can deal with it. If we think it is a * huge, unable to be defeated* problem, we will have trouble thinking we can handle it, right?)

So, what does it make you feel like? A victim? Does it give you a *I can’t do anything about this* feeling of despair? Do you have a *I know what comes next* thought pattern as you remember and visualize what has happened to your friends or family that has gone through this? Or do you think about the horror stories you’ve heard about or seen on TV?

My goodness, where does that get you? Agony, right? You don’t want to be a victim, do you?

OK. Time to do something about it! Time to get on with the healing.

But what can you do? You’re not a doctor? You don’t know anything about healing? Well, even if you are a doctor, and even if you know some things about healing, this article will give you a new lease on life. It will help get you out of the victim mentality and into an *I can handle it* attitude.

So, are you ready? Great!

Here’s a regiment for you that is easy to do, and you need to remember that you have to stick with it and be very consistent. Make sure you talk it over with your doctor, however, and let’s hope he’s a progressive doctor who knows how visualization can help bring miracles to the body.

Every morning before you take your medication, sit or lie down and relax for fifteen minutes. Start each session out by breathing slowly and counting on each exhale: 3 3 3 — 2 2 2 — 1 1 1. Then, 10 9 8, then 7 6 5, then 4 3 2, then 1 1 1.

Now that you are relaxed, visualize an outline of your body with all the cancer cells inside. Now, see those cancer cells begin to dissolve.

Note: Here’s were we can be flexible. You can either see them dissolve, or see them float away, or see them burn up, or see them turn into smoke and disappear. Whatever works best for you, watch this process happen for fifteen minutes.

Repeat this process every mid-day, maybe around 1 p.m. or so, when your stomach has had a chance to process your lunch, and you aren’t so tired. We don’t want you to go to sleep while doing this, so maybe you will say something to yourself when you start to relax, like “My body is relaxed, but my mind is alert.”

Repeat this fifteen minute process again at night, just before you go to sleep.

There, now you know what to do to help your body heal. Now, I will show you some things you can do to keep your mind healthy.

Sometimes, we worry without meaning to. What does worry bring? More worry. So, learn to be happy. What can happy do for you? Nothing bad. And that’s very important. When you find yourself worrying, stop right there and smile. Then, continue on with what you were doing.

If you feel the need to be active, every morning have a regiment of walking around the house, or outside if you like, for fifteen minutes. The first five minutes, practice good breathing that gives your body a chance to heal. Breathe in four short breaths through your nose without letting it out. Then, on the exhale, breathe out your nose four short breaths. Do this for five minutes.
Then next five minutes, start each sentence out with *I am so happy and so very grateful, I have (am, can . . . Whatever). And be thankful for all that you list. Then the last five minutes, start each sentence out with *I am so happy and so very grateful, I have (am, can . . . Whatever) and list everything you want. This last list is your projection of everything you want coming to you. Be creative. Be happy for lots of money, lots of good health, lots of new things.

There, have we given your mind enough to work with? So, now it won’t be burdened with the old *I’m sick and I’m going to die, and I have no control over my body* thought process? I mean, all this might have been true a minute ago when you had the old thought patterns. But now you have a chance to live life with you in control.

Remember this: If any thought like that comes along, chase it away with *I now release the pattern in my consciousness that is creating resistance to my good.*

Worry causes more diseased cells that cause blockages. Worry is to be avoided at all cost!

Editor’s Note: If you cannot see or don’t understand what visualization is all about, please read *What If Life Doesn’t Hand You A Lemon? Imagine It Anyway!* http://www.tameyourbrain.com/lemon.htm

NOTE: You must keep up with your doctor’s appointments. Do not, I repeat, do NOT expect this to take the place of regular doctor’s visits. Let your doctor be a gauge of how well you are doing with your visualization. Feel good about this.

Please pass this on to a friend. Help them take away the feeling of helplessness.

Thanks for reading.

Jan

P.S. If you are interested in healing phone sessions with me, check it out here:
http://www.tameyourbrain.com/healthphsessions/phsession.htm

~~~~~~~~~

Copyright 2007, Jan Tincher, All Rights Reserved Worldwide

DISCLAIMER: Jan Tincher and/or *Free Aches And Pains Tips!*
do not guarantee or warrant that the techniques and strategies
portrayed will work for everyone. The techniques and strategies
are general in nature and may not apply to everyone. The
techniques and strategies are not intended to substitute for
obtaining medical advice from the medical profession. Always
consult your own professionals before making any life-changing
decisions.

~~~~~~~~~

Have you heard the BUZZ? Why are so many
people talking about “Fr/ee Aches And Pains Tips”?
Simply put: It’s jam packed with tips to heal your
body that every family should know! Subscribe here! Mailto:freeachesandpainstips@getresponse.com

==>Publishers, you are welcome to reprint this article in its entirety provided you retain the above resource box and include this notice. If you would like other articles, go here:
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Jan Tincher, Master Neuro-Linguistic Programmer & Certified Holistic Healer, is a nationally recognized expert in Hypnotherapy & Neuro-Linguistic Programming. She teaches strategies and techniques that help people heal quickly and easily. She has written hundreds of articles that show people how to live healthier, happier lives. She is an award winning author, and you can read some of her articles at http://www.freeachesandpainstips.com/articles.htm

On your wedding day, everything should be perfect or at least, it should be as perfect as it humanly can be. After all, you don’t want anything stressing you out on your special day. The best way to make sure that your wedding day goes as smoothly as it possibly can is to hire a professional wedding consultant. With a wedding consultant by your side, you can concentrate on enjoying your special day. You won’t have to worry about anything but marrying your spouse and enjoying the festivities.

However, you can’t just go out and hire anyone as your wedding consultant. Even if she is the most celebrated and talented wedding consultant in the world, you have to make sure that her personality meshes with yours and your guest. After all, if she is cantankerous, difficult and rude to your guests that is what everyone will remember and talk about for years to come. It is as important to hire a wedding consultant based on personality as it is to hire a consultant based on skill and expertise.

Wedding consultants have a reputation for being unreasonable and snooty. Just like any creative professional, some are but most are not. In general, wedding consultants enjoy their work, love interacting with wedding parties and guests and take pride in creating special memories. Just be sure you end up hiring one of the good ones!

The best way to feel out a wedding consultant is during the initial interview process. Ask a lot of questions and gauge the responses to determine if there is a good fit. If she seems irritated by your questions or is blunt with responses, you can assume that this is how your guests will be treated on your wedding day. Find another wedding consultant and quick!

Always ask for reference and then make sure you follow up and call the clients to find out how their wedding day went with this particular consultant. Ask the reference if she was patient, friendly and accommodating. Also, ask how their guests were treated by the wedding consultant. If you do not get the positive answers you are seeking, you should consider looking for another wedding consultant.

When you interview consultants, be certain that she will be the one who will handle your event. Some larger corporations have several consultants and may send a junior consultant to your wedding unless you are specific. You do not want a stranger showing up on your wedding day to coordinate the events. You want the person that you interviewed and hired based on skill and personality. Make sure this is stipulated in your wedding consultant contract.

Remember that if you are uncomfortable or unhappy with your wedding consultant on the day of your wedding, it will show. Choosing the right wedding consultant, based on skill as well as personality, will ensure you have a wonderful wedding day and memories to last a lifetime.

Yolanda is the owner of Yolandas Wedding Favors. She sells many different types of wedding favors such as, love glass coasters, two peas in a pod salt and pepper shakers and many many more. Yolandas Wedding Favors also carries many different bridesmaid gifts such as spa slippers, photo tote bags and much more. Also if you are having a beach wedding then be sure to check out our beach wedding favors.

Why parrots stop talking is not always the problem. Some people long for their parrots to stop talking, simply because they talk incessantly once they have learned a few phrases. Parrots are very sociable, and want to communicate with other members of their “flock” - which means the people with whom they live. So a talking parrot is probably more common.

There are times, however, when parrots stop talking, and then the worried owner wants to know why parrots stop talking.

Reasons Why Parrots Stop Talking

There are several reasons why parrots stop talking. We cannot give a complete list here, but one of the following may apply to your parrot.

1. Some talking parrots stop talking for a few days when they arrive in a new home. They are adjusting to the change. They find themselves suddenly with a new “flock” in a new environment. Even a talking parrot will take time to sort things out in its mind before it feels comfortable.

2. Sometimes talking parrots stop talking when they are feeling ill. If your parrot has been talking, and stops with no apparent reason, consider health issues. You may need to take it to an avian veterinarian.

3. Talking parrots will “pout” and stop talking when they are unhappy with a change you have made. It may be you have moved the furniture in the room where the parrot spends most of its time. Maybe you are wearing an article of clothing the parrot does not like.

4. Another reason talking parrots may stop talking is the introduction of a new family member, either human or another pet. The parrot must work through the change, and stops talking while adjusting.

5. Sometimes a talking parrot has been frightened, perhaps by a prey animal. The animal may be outside, but visible from the parrot’s cage.

6. Finally, a talking parrot may stop talking if it becomes bored with its own chatter, and hears few words from you. Remember that your parrot talks to communicate with you. It is in a “foreign” land, away from those that speak its language, and is trying to learn your language to communicate.

What to Do When Parrots Stop Talking

There are several things you can do to encourage a talking parrot that has stopped talking.

If your talking parrot is in new surroundings, make it as comfortable as possible. Give it time to adjust, but while it’s adjusting, talk to it gently and frequently. As soon as it decides the new surroundings are safe, it will probably begin talking again.

If you suspect your talking parrot’s sudden silence is an early sign of illness, look at its eyes and feathers. If you detect dullness in either, you may need to have an avian (bird) veterinarian check your parrot.

Sometimes the answer is as simple as finding a change you have made in the previous few days or week. Did you move a vase that used to reflect the light? Did you move the parrot’s cage a few feet one way or another? Try to remember what may have changed and put it back the way it was. Your talking parrot may quickly speak up to thank you.

Check for predators, even though you know they cannot reach the parrot. A large, predatory bird flying past the window, or sitting in a tree outside can be the reason a talking parrot stops talking.

The best solution to helping a talking parrot find its tongue is to spend more time talking to and around the bird. Take it into other rooms with you and the family so it will feel like being a part of the conversation.

Talk to your bird as much as you would talk to a family member or very good friend, and before long, it should begin talking again.

©2007, Anna Hart. An avid reader and researcher, Anna explores many parrot species, and offers other interesting parrot information at http://www.parrots-of-the-world.com If you would like to learn more about how to train your parrot, you won’t want to miss Anna’s advice.

Living on love
From God above
Praying and believing
For supernatural help
Miraculous breakthroughs
Simply to just get through
All I have got to soon do
To pay my bills and rent
My strength is nearly spent
Joy has suddenly went
Now enduring love
That’s all I’ve got
I guess I’m not
All that smart
Certainly not rich
Yet I’m hitched
Lost in love
All I dream of
My hopes great
Aspirations many
Though I’m without
A single penny
Living on love
Trying not to shove
People around
Though I’m down
A bit disgruntled
About what I’ve
Unhappily found
Occupationally
Professionally
Would to God
Somebody
Would save me
Quickly uplift me
Out of this mess
It’s hard I confess
Nevertheless
I long and believe
For my eyes to see
What I do deeply
Go after child-likely
I’m just carefree
Pursuing my destiny
With fervor and intensity
My ongoing propensity
To always consistently
Work wholeheartedly
Labor tirelessly
Flow creatively
Speak positively
Apply myself fully
In what God’s given me
As I earnestly try to be
Persevere aggressively
Resist all negativity
Pioneer expectantly
Push on passionately
Forge ahead furiously
Following my desires
That burn like fire
Wishing to acquire
Everything possible
For my darling princess
She who I love and kiss
When apart, I deeply miss
Her touch and tenderness
Soothes and comforts me
Removes pain wonderfully
Restores the boy in me
To believe and fly again
My sweetheart and friend
Her smile resurrects again
My bruised and broken heart
Though disappointed I start
To get up again and fight
The daily fight of faith
To attain a promised place
A position and societal grace
These goals I do now taste
I’m melted by one embrace
The radiant smile upon her face
Awakened and arisen by love
Which motivates me toward
All I wish for and dream of.

Living is loving and loving is living. Either without the other is empty. Paul Davis is a love and relational coach empowering people to live their dreams. He is a worldwide minister uplifting humanity and impacting families.

Paul Davis is a life purpose and love coach (professional & relational), worldwide minister, change master, and FL real estate agent.

Paul is the author of several books including Breakthrough for a Broken Heart; Adultery: 101 Reasons Not to Cheat; Are You Ready for True Love; Stop Lusting & Start Living; Waves of God; Supernatural Fire; Poems that Propel the Planet; and God vs. Religion.

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 Dream-Maker Inc. is building dreams, breaking limitations & reviving nations.

Paul’s Breakthrough Seminars inspire, revive, awaken, impregnate with purpose, impart the fire of desire, catapult people into a new level of self-awareness, facilitate destiny discovery and dream fulfillment.

Contact Paul to minister, speak at your event or for life coaching:

RevivingNations@yahoo.com, 407-284-1705.

http://www.DreamMakerMinistries.com

http://www.CreativeCommunications.TV

You sit in your favorite recliner, the sweat running down your back as you fan yourself with the newspaper. “Blast this 100-degree heat and humidity,” you think to yourself. “If only I had some air conditioning, this wouldn’t be so bad.” This is the plight of anyone who lives in an apartment or a rental home during the height of summer. Who wants to invest money in a permanent air conditioner that you will need to leave behind when you move out? Well, there is finally a great solution to this dilemma: get a portable air conditioner. You will be able to cool off in your apartment or rental home, and then when you are ready to leave, your handy portable air conditioner can come with you, too.

One of the nice features of portable air conditioners is that you can find them in several sizes, so you can get just the right one to meet your cooling needs. If you have a small place, there are portable air conditioners that can beautifully cool 200 square feet. For larger areas, you can find great portable units that will maintain a comfortable temperature in 500 square feet, and any range in between. As the name implies, these air conditioners can move because they have coasters on the bottom that allow them to roll effortlessly from place to place. If you want to cool the bedroom at night, and an office area in the morning, you can do it all with a portable air conditioner.

If you have allergies, then air quality is a huge issue for you. Many portable air conditioners can actually improve the air circulation in rooms with poor ventilation, and can use ionizers and filters to trap impurities from the air. Dehumidifiers are also available in some units.

Some of the portable air conditioners are very small, and run very quietly, which is a plus if you have it in the bedroom and you are trying to sleep. They come in manual and remote control varieties.

A permanent air conditioner can be a big power waster. In contrast, you will enjoy cost savings due to the efficient manner in which portable air conditioners function. Many recycle the moisture captured in the room, and use that water to cool the cooling coils. This helps the unit to run more economically, because it is not over-taxed by the demands placed on it.

Probably the best part of having a portable air conditioner is the fact that when you decide to move out of your apartment or rental home, the air conditioner will be going with you. No more money down the drain–now your super-functional portable air conditioner is yours to keep.

Susan Slobac has been a home improvement and appliance professional for many years. She is featured in many publications as being an expert in appliaces such as air conditioners, portable air conditioners and home appliances

Q: Are there any types of creative wedding favors that I can make myself?

A: With a little bit of ingenuity and a few helping hands, making your own wedding favors are an excellent way to add a personalized touch to your wedding day. If your guest list is on the large side, you may want to enlist the help of friends and family as well as the bridal party to make things a little easier. Visit your local craft stores or explore the internet for a host of ideas and then think of this time as a chance to unwind in good company while creating your beautiful and unique favors.

A few simple ideas for inexpensive, do-it-yourself favors are cookies in a jar tied with a like-colored ribbons, or mason jars filled with homemade preserves along with personalized labels that are easy enough to make at home using a computer and a color printer.

Q: Are there any small but unique items that I can give to my guests as wedding favors?

A: You’re only limited by your own imagination, especially if you’re having a theme wedding, when it comes to ideas for favors. For summer nuptials try handing out sunglasses, sparklers, or small bottles of sunscreen wrapped in pretty fabrics that match your gowns. Spring weddings are ideal for giving out packets of flower seeds, bulbs, seedlings or tree saplings. Or perhaps you and your fiance met at work, you could then hand out appropriately colored post-it notes, highlighters, pencils, pens and other office-type supplies.

Other small items that can be specifically tailored to your own wedding are pretty, miniature bars of soaps, trinkets and knickknacks, wine, gourmet jelly beans or other foods such as cakes or pastries. Shot glasses, yo-yo’s or other small games along with lottery tickets are also creative ideas for fun wedding favors. Brainstorm with the bridesmaids to come up with something that is viable but that’s also uniquely all your own.

Q: What type of favors are best for personalizing?

A: While the date of the nuptials should always be included, most couples prefer to have their full names as opposed to just their initials or monograms printed on their favors. For this reason it’s important to choose an item that will allow room for all of the necessary characters without appearing crowded.

The artistically inclined can also produce a truly one-of-a-kind favor by creating a logo using favorite colors and perhaps a combination of the bride and groom’s astrological signs or initials. Mugs, wine glasses, picture frames and pens are just a few items that are commonly personalized for wedding favors.

Q: Is it acceptable to forgo the tradition of favors completely?

A: While it is a lovely and appreciated gesture on your part, it is not absolutely necessary to provide wedding favors for your guests. If you choose to eliminate favors from your reception, consider showing your appreciation in other ways such as making a donation to your favorite charity in the name of each of your guests instead. A small but beautifully decorated note card at each place setting is a great way to inform guests of your special “gift” to them.

Or, for a different but amusing twist, you could set up small games on the tables for people to keep as mementos of the day such as dominoes, checkers, chess, and cards. This encourages guests to socialize and have fun, especially while waiting for your grand entrance.

Yolanda is the owner of Yolandas Wedding Favors. She sells many different types of wedding favors such as, love glass coasters, two peas in a pod salt and pepper shakers and many many more. Yolandas Wedding Favors also carries many different bridesmaid gifts such as tote bags, robes, slippers and much more. So if you are looking for some really nice beach wedding favors then we got you covered.

Go away from yourself, and what you need will return.

I woke at about 5am on Monday morning with an “I need to refresh my life” kind of attitude. So, I crawled out of bed, got my running gear on and went for a short 6 k run to try and beat the feeling. I really look forward to my runs: This is my quiet time. This is the time where I let my mind go and just “be”, and it is also the place where some of my best ideas come from. But, no matter how hard I tried that morning, I just couldn’t shake the feeling of being trapped in an attitude that I didn’t want.

“Help… I’ve fallen and I can’t get up”… kept cycling around in my brain as a cadence that I ran to. I then found myself starting to blame my results and actions on circumstances that had been happening and on other people as well. I was really working up a good head of “poor me” steam. I don’t suppose you’ve ever found yourself in that kind of attitude where you think that your problems are caused by everyone and everything else, except you, so take it from me, it wasn’t pleasant. When I finished my run, I seemed to be more worked up than I was before I went out. I did have enough focus of mind to know that my subconscious was trying to work something out, so I did what I always do when I am trying to work out a problem; I got out my journal and just let my pencil write what it wanted to write; no conscious thinking or forcing my ideas out, just automatic writing. I can tell you that what came out of my pencil was an awakening to me. The last line that I wrote on the page before I closed the book reads: “I don’t have to look any further than in the mirror to see what is causing my discomfort. It is me. Selfishness is my problem”

By this time it was 6:30 am, so I decided to turn on the TV to catch some early morning news. As the TV warmed up and came to life, Dr. Creflo Dollar was on and he looked like he had a full head of steam going in the message he was giving. Then he paused, looked right into the camera and said “I have never seen a selfish man become successful.” Chills ran down my spine, and every hair on my body stood straight up. This message, by a pastor in Georgia which had probably been recorded a few weeks ago, was recorded specifically for me. I felt it. I knew it. I needed it.

Then he let go with both barrels. “Overcoming selfishness is done by having a consciousness of what is really important. All of your troubles have been caused by being selfish and putting your own needs before the needs of others. As a matter of fact, every marriage or every business or any relationship that has ever been broken has been broken by either one or both people being selfish in their needs, and not willing to be flexible with the other person.”

He was speaking my language! I connected to that message like none that I had ever heard before. What I heard him saying to me was “To get rid of most of your troubles, you need to get your own ego out of the way, and stop being selfish”. That was it! To get rid of my negative feelings and attitudes, I needed to stop trying to have it all my way, and actually look for ways to serve the other person… no matter who it was or what they wanted. I know that some people see this as a sign of weakness, but to me, being a servant leader is all about having the confidence to not worry what other people think of you and just do the right thing. In his book “The Servant Leader”, Ken Blanchard says “Pride and fear always generate unhealthy judgments about our own condition based on the successes or failures of others. Pride and fear always distort the truth into either a false sense of security or a lack of confidence and diminished self-worth. Taking the time to identify your fears and sources of false pride is a vital step to breaking their negative impact on all your relationships and your effectiveness as a leader”

Quality of life, no matter which way you slice it, is all about the quality of your relationships. It’s not about how much you can buy them for Christmas, and it’s not about having to buy them something because they got you something. It is about how you make the other person feel in the relationship. And a kind, genuine word of praise or acceptance is always more important to people than something wrapped in gift paper. I have seen many Christmases’ over the years (47 of them to be exact), and I have been given many gifts which I have been very grateful for, but I’m sorry to say, many of them I have forgotten. But do you know what I haven’t forgotten? Yes, that’s right, the compliments and kind words that people have spoken to me that have made me feel important. If you want to give a priceless gift to someone, tell them in a genuine, heartfelt way how much they make a difference to you, and how much you value their company: Give them a piece of your heart rather that a piece of your mind.

This week, if you are feeling a little frustrated in some of your relationships and you are searching for a way to repair them, you may want to ask yourself “Am I feeling this way because I want things my own way, or is there something else that I can do or say to tell this person how much I value them?” You see, if you do even the minimum effort to selflessly solve someone else’s need, the universe will reward you with the maximum.

Make this your best week ever!
Paul

For 22 years, Paul Kearley has thrived in the personal development and coaching business. As a Master Coach for the past 10 years, Paul’s passion is in developing and creating increased potential with both clients and other trainers.

A columnist for two newspapers in Eastern Canada, and editor for his own weekly ezine, Paul writes articles that address the everyday challenges we all have and face in life and in business, and offers suggestions for success.

If you’d like to connect with Paul or subscribe to “E-Motion” his weekly ezine, simply goto the web site at http://www.mustfactor.com or by calling 506 433 4722.