10 Tips For Promoting Through Ezine Articles

What's the most powerful marketing technique on the Web? Search Engine positioning? Perhaps. But did you know that some of the most successful web marketers don't bother much with the Search Engines?

They put most of their effort into another technique that's just as powerful and is much more under their control.

They write Ezine Articles.

There are tens of thousands of Ezines being published every month, with a collective audience of millions.

And the editors of most of those Ezines are all looking for quality content for their newsletters.

If you master this technique you can get your name and your website URL in front of 100,000 or even a million readers.

Right now there's a shortage of good Ezine Articles.

So, if you write well and you know how to do research on the Internet, there's a huge market waiting for you.

But there are some tips for writing and publishing Ezine Articles. Here they are:

(A) Writing Your Ezine Articles:

(1) Pick a topic that you know something about (however little) and then go to the Search Engines and find as many websites as you can that deal with that subject.

As well as collecting information for your article, make a note of any URLs that offer free resources dealing with the topic of your article. Include those URLs in your article.

(2) Once you've done the basic research, write the title of your article in the middle of a blank page and circle it. Then jot down your information in lines that radiate out from your title, like the spokes of a wheel. This technique is called 'Mind Mapping' and it's a very effective way of organizing your ideas.

You can find more information on Mind Mapping at:

http://www.mind-map.com/

(3) An increasing number of Ezine Publishers will not accept articles that are promoting a product you sell. So, keep your article free of affiliate links; avoid mentioning any products or services for which you receive a commission.

(4) At the end of your article, attach a 5- or 6-line 'Resource Box' that includes your website URL and/or your email address.

(5) When you have finished your article, do NOT send it off straight away. Let it lie fallow for 2 or 3 days and then come back and read it again. You'll be amazed at the improvements you can make. Those final improvements are what makes the difference between an article that gets published and one that doesn't.

(B) Publishing Your Ezine Articles:

(6) There are two ways of getting your articles published: 'Individual Submissions' and 'General Distribution'.

'General Distribution' will get your article in front of many more readers, per unit of effort expended, than 'Individual Submission', and I suggest you use this method before making Individual Submissions.

There are basically two kinds of 'General Distribution': Announcement Lists and websites.

Here are some Article Announcement Lists:

article_announce-subscribe@egroups.com free-content-subscribe@onelist.com publishinyours-subscribe@onelist.com articles_archives-subscribe@egroups.com

Here are some Websites that provide Free Content to Ezine Publishers:

http://216.147.104.180/articles/submit.shtml http://www.ezinearticles.com/ http://www.ideamarketers.com/ http://www.isyndicate.com/ http://www.mediapeak.com http://www.MakingProfit.com/articles/ http://www.web-source.net/articlesub.htm

(7) Once you've used these 'General Distribution' techniques, then submit your article to individual Ezines.

However, before making individual submissions, find out (a) if the Ezine Publisher accepts article submissions, (b) what the Publisher's guidelines are for article submissions.

My free Ezine Directory gives you this information, 'The Free Directory of Ezines':

http://www.netmastersolutions.com/

I have also produced an eBook called 'Get Published! The Directory of Ezines that accept Article Submissions' and you can download it free at:

http://www.netmastersolutions.com/getpub.html

(8) Format your article to 65 characters per line and make sure it contains no spelling mistakes. With the availability of spell-checkers there's really no excuse for spelling mistakes. If your article does contain spelling mistakes, many Publishers will just discard your article.

(9) Don't submit articles to the same Ezine Publisher more than once a month.

(10) Address the Ezine Publisher personally, and make sure that the message accompanying your article is very courteous - you're asking the Publisher to read your article and give you some of her valuable time and she probably gets dozens of article submissions a week.

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Michael Southon has been writing for the Internet for over 3
years. He has shown hundreds of webmasters how to use this
simple technique to build a successful online business. Click
here to find out more: http://ezine-writer.com/
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Building Your Dream Marketing Team

The Fantasy: Your marketing budget is packed to the brim with money to help build your dream marketing team. You hire nothing short of the best and life is good.

The Reality: Your staff is overworked, your budget's tight and you complete about half of the projects on your to-do list.

This reality is what many marketing mangers and small businesses face on a daily basis. Even so, you're still expected to consistently produce better results ? and the bar keeps on rising while you keep losing resources. It's situations like these that call for the outsourced consultants and freelancers of the world to help turn your fantasy marketing team into a reality.

What can you outsource?

You can outsource just about anything. With the layoffs and budget cuts that plague marketing departments and agencies, there are a ton of freelancers out there ready and willing to take on your projects. Everyone from designers, to copywriters, to project mangers can be brought in to help with any number of marketing communications tasks. Many times, you can find a team of freelancers that regularly work together. Look for freelancers by doing a Web search, browsing the yellow pages or by referrals from colleagues.

Wanted: good copywriting and design

If marketing communications were a building, copywriting and graphic design would be the support beams. Without these critical components, you really don't have a chance of communicating your message, making a sale or building your brand. Some of the best marketing communications pieces can come from a copywriter/design team, and most freelance copywriters and designers have a colleague they will refer to you.

A good copywriter/designer team should be able to understand your project quickly and get to work on it right away. In addition, they should be willing to work with you, your staff and any other creative partners you need involved in the project. However, don't assume that any freelancer will be able to effectively work with your staff - make sure they have the people skills to do so by interviewing them and checking their references. Often in the freelance industry, you can run across so called "hermits" that enjoy working by themselves and don't do well working with others. Not good if your project requires a lot of teamwork.

Thinking outside the box (or outside of your office)

One of the biggest benefits of working with a freelancer is getting their perspective on your projects. If they are a seasoned pro, they are used to giving advice to clients and should be more than happy to do so. Since you are so close with your industry and work with the same colleagues every day, your perspective can become skewed. Many "insiders" adopt their company's perspective rather than their customer's. A good freelancer can help you avoid this by asking questions and suggesting ideas that you might not have thought about.

No more drained resources

Your full-time employees generally have a full-time workload. Even if you have writers and designers on staff, adding more duties to their already overflowing to-do lists can cause burnout and make your department fall behind on important projects. Bringing in a freelancer can help even things out and give your staff some breathing room.

A dedicated worker whenever you need them and never when you don't

When you hire a full-time employee, it is a big investment. A salary, training, insurance and office supplies are all part of the costs. When you hire a freelancer you pay them only for the project and nothing else. It's like having a full-time professional on call 365 days a year.

You've made the decision, now it's time to hire

When hiring freelancers, don't just look for the best price and quickest turnaround times, look for someone that will be there for the long term and will become more of a partner to your company. Follow these steps and you should be on the right track to building your dream marketing team:

1. First, you need to find a freelancer. Some of the best work will come from referrals - ask colleagues and other creative partners for referrals. You can also do a Web search, browse the yellow pages and check with local business organizations such as the chamber of commerce.

2. Interview the freelancer and view samples of their work. This will help you determine if they do quality work, and if they will fit in with your company and projects.

3. Request references from previous clients. When checking the references, try and get a feel for their timeliness, teamwork and professionalism.

4. Develop a contract or a letter of agreement that details the scope of the project, due dates and payment terms. This will help keep everyone on the same page, and protect both you and the freelancer.

Most companies are looking for ways to reduce costs and keep their staff happy, while building their brand and increasing sales. Hiring a freelancer to help out with your marketing workload can help to accomplish this. You'll put your company on the right track to success and put you on the right track to having your dream marketing team. So what are you waiting for? Start building your dream marketing team with freelancers today.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Greg Quigley is a professional business writer and owner of Q-Com Business Writing. He can be reached at 414-347-0660 or via his Web site at http://www.qcomnet.com

Measuring Your Way to Success

Are you a motivational speaker who consistently gets rave reviews yet your ratio of speaking to return rate is not where you would like it to be? Perhaps you are a trainer whose delivery is complimented time and again, and yet you are only being asked by 10 to 20% of the clients you see for a repeat performance?

Are you starting to think that there is something wrong with your message or delivery despite the rave reviews? Maybe you were wondering if your fee is too steep. That may be a valid concern when organizations are faced with discretionary spending, but the rule of thumb is that you are only charging too much if more than 1 in 5 people complain about it. So, if that is not the case what else could it be?

Stumped? Well, I believe I have the answer to your questions and it has nothing to do with either of these scenarios and everything to do with metrics.

If you care to read on, I will shed some light on WHY this buzz word is so important for you to understand, and how you can use the information in this article to increase your business, get ahead of your competition and immediately raise the ratio of clients who call you back for repeat business.

Companies who have introduced performance management cultures into their organizations have been found to have higher profits and stronger market performance. Performance management is the terminology being used in industry today to measure performance against business goals and employee competencies. Is it any wonder then, that if what you are "selling" is not clearly defined in terms of measurable performance markers or proven sustainable outcomes, then your deliverables are of little use to an organization that is looking for that which can be clearly measured..

Organizations are measuring everything from employees skill levels, how many complaints they receive in a given week to how many sick days does an employee take in a given month.. Think about this for a moment. If either you or the person who hired you cannot report measurable performance outcomes for your performance or training program then this may be where the crux of the problem lies. Budgets are dearly coveted and success must be proven and measurable if the coffers are expected to open again. Do you know what success means to you and what it would look like for the organization you just left all hyped and motivated? When it comes to measuring your performance outcomes it is very important that you ask the company exactly what deliverables they are looking for and how BOTH of you are going to know if they have been met.

Before you get on stage, it is vital that you sit down with the company representative and determine what outcomes the organization is looking for, how they will be measured and what would success look like when achieved! For example, let's say you are a speaker who specializes in time management. Some measurable outcomes may look like this:

a.) Work is not piled up on desks, chairs, floors

b.) More work is completed on time

c.) employees work less overtime and you pay less overtime

d.) employees understand how to use identify what is important

e.) Less time off due to exhaustion

These are the kinds of outcomes that you and the company would decide together BEFORE you speak. They are measurable, and they are sustainable. Are you starting to understand?

If you have been following and/or embracing the industry trend for performance measurement these days, then you may be familiar with the studies that have already been conducted on the effectiveness of training with and without coaching. If not then please pay attention to this, because it is very important What you may not know, is the amazing difference that adding 8 weeks of coaching will make to your bottom line in terms of measuring the implementation of your ideas and training.

Organizations that offer training without coaching result in a 22 % improvement, but add 8 weeks of coaching on to that, and the results are a staggering 88% in overall improvement and change.

These days another industry buzz word is ROI or return on investment. In a study conducted by MetrixGlobal, they actually showed that Coaching produced a 529% return on investment as well as significant intangible benefits to the business. When the financial benefits from employee retention were added into the mix, coaching actually boosted the overall ROI to 788%... (Merrill Anderson [merrilland@metrixglobal.net])

Can you imagine being able to offer your clients a proven measurement of 88% in performance enhancement and a 788% ROI? No organization wants to spend thousands of dollars on a speaker or trainer, only to have all that great learning and enthusiasm go out the window within a few days.

For the past 25 years, I have been employed in both private and public sector organizations, working to enhance Leadership and management competencies, envision strategic direction, implement quality service standards, and introduce programs and initiatives that would advance and address organizational wellness and employee morale.

I KNOW how organizations find speakers and trainers and why they ask them to come back or not, because for many years, I was the one in charge of hiring them. My role was to decide on the learning outcomes for the organization, measure the effectiveness of the speaker and the event, and then deliver these numbers to our senior management committee. Whether or not we had this speaker back or even had a budget for another event, depended largely upon the results reported in my feedback! Let me stress this one more time "No organization wants to spend thousands of dollars on a speaker or trainer only to have all that great learning and enthusiasm go out the window within a few days"!

Not only is it time for you to measure for success but if what you are offering to your clients will enhance employee performance or ease the change process and boost organizational wellness,then don't you owe it to your clients to stick around and help them make the transition? Wouldn't it be great to know that your ideas have been implemented, institutionalized and ingrained into the corporate culture?

Challenge yourself to re-examine your business model and think about adding a 12 week coaching component to your package. If hiring you is a numbers game, and re hiring is based on proven performance metrics, then having a track record of 88% in performance enhancement will guarantee an easing of the corporate purse strings. Asking you back just became a whole lot easier, because you now have measurable proof of your successes. Your clients will be astounded by not only your metrics but more importantly the real changes that are going to take place as a result of implementing your best practices.

According to Hay Group,

"To be successful in today's ever-shifting market, people count for more -- they can make or break the best business strategy, be the driver or brake in adopting new technologies. People are not an implementation issue, nor just an operational or strategic asset. People are the raw resource around which business success revolves."

I hope that after reading this article you feel that adding "12 weeks of supportive coaching" to total package makes good business sense,for not only you but your clients as well.

Coach Frankie Picasso is a Change Management & Vision Coach who works with organizations and individuals to take the Fear out of Change and replace it with excitement and passion for a future filled with infinite possibilities. She is a member of the ICF, as a business and personal life coach. She is also a trainer with the International Coach Academy, a motivational speaker,consultant and author. You will hear Frankie ask time and again?. "So, what's it going to be -Mission Impossible, Mission Improbable or Mission Unstoppable? If you choose Unstoppable, then Coach Frankie will bring you all the way home. http://www.conversationwithmyshoes.com Frankie999@rogers.com 905 495 3699

The Power of Stories and Testimonies

As I am sure you all can tell by now, I am a big believer in sharing with you stories and testimonies of God supernaturally showing Himself in any way, shape or form. I believe that these God-stories are extremely powerful and they all help us to continue to build our faith up in the power of God and the fact that He does want to become very active in our lives if we are open to allowing Him to come in.

I'm sure most, if not all of you, have had some kind of supernatural activity with God where He has shown Himself to you in some specific way - whether it be to help get you out of jam or answer a prayer for a specific need - whether it be for yourself or someone else you had been praying for.

What I have personally found through actual experience is that God really does want to become very active in your daily life and there are quite a few times He will show Himself to you in some kind of supernatural way.

However, I have also found out that a lot of Christians are really scared of any kind of supernatural activity from God. They would prefer to keep God at a distance. It's one thing to know that God the Father is in heaven and can hear our prayers and control things at a "distance."

It's quite another thing however to have God get close to you with some kind of supernatural activity - whether it be a vision, a dream, some kind of manifestation, a visitation, a healing, a deliverance of some kind, a prophecy, etc.

As you can tell from reading some of my articles - myself and quite a few of my friends have had some incredible supernatural activity from God in reference to some deliverance situations where God really did show up in a supernatural way to deliver someone out of a dire situation.

What I have learned the hard way is that some of this heavier stuff does freak people out if they themselves have not had much supernatural activity from God.

To those of you who want to go into deeper waters with God and are not afraid of Him, I believe you will find these stories to be uplifting and encouraging. When you read about God helping someone else out in some kind of supernatural way - it builds up your faith even further because you will come to the conclusion that if God can move supernaturally to help someone else out - then He can also do the same for you since the Bible tells us that God is no respecter of persons.

The Bible says your faith is built up by "hearing" the word of God. When you read these kind of dramatic stories and testimonies, you are actually "hearing" about them - which in turn will help build up your own personal faith levels with God. As I always do, I will end this short article with some extremely powerful Scripture verses to back up my arguments that God really does want us sharing these kind of supernatural stories with others who will feed off of them. He wants us recording them, remembering them and telling and sharing them with others who want to hear about them.

However, the Bible also tells us not to give what is holy to the dogs - otherwise they will just tear to pieces with criticism and condemnation what you have just fed to them and they will then turn around and tear you personally to pieces. These kinds of God-stories are holy and I have personally learned the hard way to be careful who I share them with.

Now here are some powerful Scripture verses backing up my argument that God really does want us sharing these kinds of stories with others who are open to receiving them.

The Scripture Verses

1. This first verse tells us that God has made His wondrous works to be remembered! And the best way to attempt to remember anything is to actually record them as they happen. I personally keep a "God Journal" logging every type of meaningful activity I get from God.

I don't record every little thing that may happen with Him, but I will record the medium to heavier stuff that will make for a good story or a good teaching tool to help others out in their own personal walks with the Lord.

There is no way most of us can remember all of the things God will do with you once He starts to become very active in your life. By logging these events down in some type of journal - you will have something you can share with others to help build up their faith after they initially get saved.

This journal will also help you get through any storms that may come in your life. By going back and remembering all of the things God has done for you in the past will help get you through whatever your present predicament may be. If God helped or delivered you out of something 3 years ago - then He will help or deliver you out of whatever present storm cloud you may find yourself in now.

The Bible says that God does not change. If He helped you in your past - then He will continue to help and preserve you in your present and your future. By going back and seeing what He has done for you in your past will help keep your faith and confidence levels operating at a higher level with Him. All of your past activities with God will serve as good "faith boosters" when you need them for any present storm cloud.

Here is the verse. It is only a one liner, but I feel a very powerful statement is being made. "He has made his wonderful works to be REMEMBERED." (Psalm 111:4). 2. This next verse talks about God making a comment that His people were not "mindful" of the wonders that He had done among them.

Being mindful means you really cherish, think about, meditate on, record, share with others what God may have done with you by way of any type of "wonderful work."

One of the secrets to getting God to become more supernaturally involved in your life is to be "mindful" and really cherish and appreciate it when He does do something rather dramatic for you. In my own God journal - I not only record what He does for me personally - but I also record what He does for some of my other friends who I am sharing my God-walk with.

This way, I not only learn from what He is doing personally with me - but I'm also learning other things about God from what He is doing with my other friends.

Here is the verse. Again, it is only one sentence, but a lot is being said in this one sentence.

"They refused to obey, and they were not mindful of your wonders that you did among them." (Nehemiah 9:17). 3. This next verse gets right to the heart of this matter. It specifically talks about speaking about the glory of God and to talk about and to make known to others about any of His mighty acts. "They shall speak of the glory of Your kingdom, and talk of Your power, to make known to the sons of men His mighty acts, and the glorious majesty of His kingdom." (Psalm 145:11-12)

4. This next verse also drives home the point about making known God's "deeds" to others and to talk about all of His wondrous works.

"Oh, give thanks to the Lord! Call upon His name. Make known His deeds among the peoples! Sing to Him ... talk of all His wondrous works! Remember His marvelous works which He has done, His wonders and the judgments of His mouth." (1 Chronicles 16:8-12) 5. Here is another powerful verse telling us to speak about the might of His awesome acts and to "declare" His greatness.

"Men shall speak of the might of Your awesome acts, and I will declare Your greatness. They shall utter the memory of Your great goodness." (Psalm 145:6-7)

6. This next verse tells us that we should not be afraid or ashamed to speak about God even to "kings" if we have to. "I will speak of Your testimonies also before kings, and will not be ashamed." (Psalm 119:46)

7. Though all of the above verses tell us not to be afraid to talk about God and what He may have done personally for you - this next verse also gives us a solemn warning in that we are to be careful with who we share these kind of stories with.

This next verse specifically tells us not to give what is holy to the "dogs." This verse tells us two things will happen if we do. First, they will just "trample under their feet" what you have just shared or given to them. Second, they will then turn around and tear you personally to pieces for sharing this with them.

I believe the word "dogs" are referring to unbelievers who are not open in any way, shape or form from hearing anything about God in their present situation.

They are full of doubt, ridicule and have very judgmental and critical spirits. I have also found this to actually be true with quite a few Christians. Many Christians really do not seem to be in a real full surrender with God or have established any kind of real personal relationship with Him. As a result, they get very little, if any real supernatural activity with Him. They thus will have a hard time believing you when you try and tell them one of your God stories. They think that since none of this kind of activity ever comes their way - that there is no way that you are actually receiving this kind of supernatural activity from God.

My advice to you would be to just use your good natural common sense and rely on your leadings from the Holy Spirit as to who to share these kind of God stories and testimonies with and who not to. Most of the time, you will have an "inner knowing" from the Holy Spirit as to who to share these stories with and who not to share them with.

Now here is the verse giving us this warning:

"Do not give what is holy to the dogs; nor cast your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces." (Matthew 7:6)

Conclusion

All of the above Scripture verses tell us that God really does want us talking about Him and sharing with others our own personal "God adventures." That is why I have chosen to start up this website - not only to give you good articles about God and the Bible - but also sharing with all of you the actual stories and testimonies myself and some of my friends have had with God Himself.

If there is one thing I have personally found out about God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit is that they really want to show Themselves to you and they really want to become very active in your daily life. But they will only show Themselves to you and become very active in your life only if you really want them too.

This supernatural realm is really for "seekers" only. To those of you who may be a little scared or skittish of having God supernaturally show Himself to you in any way - the one thing that I and the others can tell you, without any shadow of doubt, is that when God does start to supernaturally communicate with you in any way - it is simply pure joy and fun. When you start to meet God "head on" in this realm - you will find out very quickly that there is nothing to be afraid of when He does start show Himself to you.

Our God is a very loving God and He is truly our one and only real Father. He has nothing but your best interests at heart and wants nothing more than to establish a personal relationship with each one of you. And in that personal relationship is a desire in Him to want to make contact and show Himself to you - so as to be able to help you along the way in your life's journey with Him.

Article written by Michael Bradley of Bible Knowledge Ministries. Their website is a resource of Bible Knowledge, articles, commentary and teaching. They currently have over 100 Bible articles.

The Bush There Or Here Fallacy and the War in Iraq

Today we wish to examine a fallacy, or error in reasoning, which we have found springing up now and again in today's popular discourse about the so-called War On Terror. This one comes straight from the top -- well, not the VERY top -- but from Washington D.C. You have heard the President say it on national teevee, and so have we: "We either have to fight them [the terrorists] over there [i.e. Iraq], or we have to fight them over here [i.e. inside the U.S. border]."

Now we have chosen to examine this particular Bushism because, here, Mr. Bush has offered quite the textbook example of what informal logic-addicts call, a "false disjunction," or simply the "either-or" fallacy. To commit this error in reasoning, you only need to oversimplify a range of many options, reducing it to a pretended range that limits them to two logically-possible options only.

For instance, isn't possible that, if the U.S. pulled its troops from Iraq, using many of them to assist with border patrol duties, that we could avoid fighting "them" here by not letting them in, and yet not fight them "there" either? Now, to be sure, many will hasten to point out that they see this as impractical, ill-advised (for whatever reason), etc. My only point remains this: the option I have mentioned is logically possible. And I could imagine quite a few others.

For instance, the U.S. could spend a handsome little sum on policing our domestic internal affairs, and arrest all terrorists before they can do any harm. We have already arrested quite a few of them here without any fight whatever. One might argue that bloodless arrests seem much better, not to mention a good deal cheaper, than national invasions where the whole countryside gets shot up.

Now, if the U.S. can act with pre-emptive success in Iraq (for the president has suggested many times that it can), why can it not do so also much closer to home? But if the U.S. cannot do so on its home turf, why should anyone think they can do it in Iraq?

Remember, I do not mean to argue here against the U.S. presence in Iraq, but only to critique one particular reason offered for it by the president. He has, after all, listed quite a few different reasons for the invasion, at different times -- which may or may not be a good thing.

For today, then, let the reader take away this lesson in the logic of popular discourse -- never reduce a range of many possible options to two only, unless you prepare well enough to show that the others do not represent truly logical options. Otherwise, you will have committed the either-or fallacy.

Carson Day has written approximately 1.3 gazillion articles and essays, many with very insightful, if alternative, viewpoints. He presently writes for Ophir Gold Corporation, and specialized in the history of ideas in college. He has been quoted in the past as saying "What box?" and remains at large despite the best efforts of the civil authorities.

You can visit the Ophir Gold Corporation blogsites at http://scriberight.blogspot.com (Writing With Power), http://ophirgoldcorp.blogspot.com (OGC's Free Web Traffic), or http://ophirgold.blogspot.com (Church and State 101)

What A 6-Month Old Can Teach Us About Our Eating Habits

Recently, I had the pleasure of seeing my 6-month old niece Rianna in Las Vegas. She has just started eating "real" baby food beyond the formula in her bottle, and I got a kick out of feeding her one of her meals of squash. Okay, so not all of it got in her mouth, but she was pretty cooperative overall.

I was curious as to what else she was eating, and my sister-in-law showed me an assortment of baby food jars containing green beans, carrots, bananas and a variety of other fruits and vegetables.

It was at this moment the following thought hit me. When we come into this world we are "NMP" (a healthy eating style) and then some! We don't start off eating meat, poultry and the various other junk food we become accustomed to later on. The craving for these items is something we learn. And if we can learn it, we can also "unlearn" it. That's what I did when I used my unique Fallback Methods to make the easy, gradual transition to my healthy "NMP" eating style. By the way, I coined the acronym "NMP" for my book "Have Your Cheeseburger And Keep Your Health Too!" to describe my healthy eating style. It stands for "no meat or poultry", but unlike vegetarian diets, includes fish, and its emphasis on converting favorite comfort foods we all grew up on and like to eat out, into more healthful meatless forms.

You can do your children a huge favor by bringing them up "NMP", or at least as "NMP" as possible, and letting them continue with the non-meat/poultry diet they naturally started when they first were introduced to solid food. You can also help the other children in your life--grandchildren and nieces and nephews by teaching them when you have time with them that good food choices are their friends.

There is an epidemic of overweight and obese kids in the United States due to poor diet and a sedentary lifestyle (too much television, video games and computer time). So diseases like Type II diabetes which are supposed to be "adult onset" are starting to show up even in teenagers. Researchers have shown that arteries can begin being clogged by poor diet from the early years of childhood on. It's never too soon to adopt healthy eating habits that can put a child in the best possible position to have a very long and healthy life.

So does this mean that as your kids grow they cannot have all the "traditional" kid fare that all of us love like hot dogs, hamburgers and chicken nuggets? Not at all! There are healthy and delicious non-meat/poultry versions of all of these foods that you can use, and feel good about giving your child. So your kids can definitely "have their cheeseburger and keep their health too!" There's even one company, Yves, that has introduced a line of "lunchable"-type meals that mimic those incredibly unhealthy, heavily-advertised meals that kids are often sent off to school with.

And, just because you're not a kid (at least in numeric age) anymore yourself, it doesn't mean that you can't asily "unlearn" and improve upon your current eating habits. "NMP" eating is designed to allow you to eat healthfully, yet still have all your favorite comfort foods. "NMP" also teaches you to avoid hidden food dangers. It's the unique combination of the two that gives you the best of all possible worlds when it comes to diet and your health. So why not make "NMP" the healthy eating style of choice in your household? It's never too early and it's never too late!

Note: Please check with your pediatrician or other healthcare professionals to determine the best way to incorporate healthy "NMP" eating in your child's diet and it's applicability to his or her particular needs.

(c) Copyright 2002 By Melanie R. Jordan E-Publishing

About The Author

Melanie is the author of "Have Your Cheeseburger And Keep Your Health Too!" This Booklocker.com print best seller uniquely shows how healthy eating achieved with favorite comfort foods is deliciously possible! Melanie also publishes a free monthly e-zine called "Have Your Cheeseburger And Keep Your Health Too! Update" (subscribe by e-mail to healthycoach@aweber.com). Visit her web site Healthy Eating Coach's Corner at http://www.healthyeatingcoach.com

healthyeatncoach@aol.com

The Marriage Test

Love should not blind a couple to the realities of their legal status of husband and wife, for they are bound by an unwritten contract of marriage governed by the laws of the federal government, the state they live in and the decisions of the judiciary. Every bride and groom must learn that the state is at the altar with them.

You would never sign a contract without reading it or seeking an attorney's advice. Those about to marry, however, have never been told how important the fine print is. No options are offered, no negotiation allowed, and no warranties extended, express or implied, when you say "I do."

If all the terms were fully disclosed, who knows if you would sign on the dotted line without further negotiations? Take the test below to evaluate your knowledge of the marriage contract.

The Marriage Test

* Do you know how state law controls the property you acquire during your marriage?

* Do you know what interest the state says your spouse has in the income-producing (i.e. interests, dividends, rents) assets you owned before marriage?

* If your spouse died without a will, do you know if your state would require you to share your marital estate with his parents or siblings?

* Do you know how debts or obligations your spouse has before marriage can impact your pocketbook after marriage?

* Do you know if your marriage is the victim, or potential victim, of the "marriage penalty tax" in the Internal Revenue Code?

* If you move into a home that one of you already owns, do you know what the tax ramifications of transferring title to a new spouse could be?

* Do you know what interest your state says your spouse has in any inheritance or personal injury award you receive?

* If you move to another state after your marriage, do you know how the assets you own can be affected?

* If you and your spouse executed a will in one state but moved to another, do you know what potential impact this could have on your estate plan?

* If this is a remarriage for either of you, do you know how benefits from a prior marriage, such as alimony, social security benefits, pensions, retirement benefits, medical insurance, will be affected by your new legal status?

* If you or your spouse have children from a prior marriage, did you know that some states differentiate between children of a current marriage and children from a prior marriage when someone dies without a will?

You may believe the idea of a premarital agreement is unromantic, but marriage itself is a contract between man, woman and the state. Often, it isn't until death or dissolution of the relationship that couples find how intrusive the state-controlled marriage laws can be.

The state's marriage contract is influenced by old-fashioned assumptions about the American family, assumptions that have little basis in today's reality. No matter how distasteful this control is, our intimate personal relationships are regulated by duties and responsibilities determined by the legislatures and the courts.

Marriage, even in the midst of the changes in our society today, is here to stay. For those whose faith in the institution of marriage remains hopeful, the secret to success is knowledge of the legal and financial ramifications of the union.

An understanding of how assets acquired in marriage are owned, both during the marriage and upon death or dissolution, is fundamental. The fifty states are divided into separate and community property states. However, within each state, the rules vary widely and are continually reevaluated as society demands.

Do you know what the laws of your state are? If not, check out loveandthelaw.com for an inexpensive and easy way to find out.

The love and the law newsletter is written by Johnette Duff, Attorney at Law*

Copyright 2004 by Johnette Duff

Ms. Duff is licensed in the State of Texas

Attention attorneys, to advertise on loveandthelaw.com contact mailto:susyjsmith@aol.com

If you would like to receive new articles please e-mail us at mailto:info@loveandthelaw.com

About The Author

Johnette Duff is the author of The Spousal Equivalent Handbook: a legal and financial guide to living together, The Marriage Handbook: a legal and financial guide to your spousal rights, and Love After 50: a legal and financial guide. Nationally, she has appeared on Today, Good Morning America, CBS This Morning and in various publications promoting information on love and the law. Ms. Duff has recently opened a web site titled, love and the law. johnetteduff@aol.com

Natural Garden Pest Control

No dig gardens essentially strive to be their own ecosystem. This is the sign of the best sort of garden, one that is in tune with itself without the need for pest or disease control. Starting with a weed free bed and clean compost, the garden should get off to a roaring start on this front.

That doesn't mean pests or disease won't ever be present, but it may be minimised under these conditions. Once your garden is underway, factors may change to alter the harmony in your garden. There is an astonishing range of things that can bring your garden plants under attack. To rectify problems, always go with the least toxic option for your garden's sake and for your sake, starting with these home recipes.

To discourage animals and some insects from eating your plants, combine one cup of water, 5 garlic cloves and 6 large hot peppers. Blend thoroughly in a blender, then strain into a spray bottle. Add another cup of water and spray away.

For red spider mites, mix 4 tablespoons of dishwashing liquid in one gallon of water. Spray plants weekly until mites are gone, then monthly to stop them from returning.

Encourage native birds into you garden with bird houses, water baths and native flowering vegetation. They will eat many times their own weight in insects.

Cucumber peels on an ant route will make them go away.

For hardshell scale insects, mix 1/4 teaspoon of olive oil, 2 tablespoons baking soda and 1 tablespoon mild liquid soap in two gallons of water. Spray or wipe on plants once a week for 3 weeks or until gone.

Put beer in a shallow pan in the garden to trap snails and slugs overnight. Vinegar in a shallow pan will do the same thing.

Salt sprinkled on snails and slugs will kill them instantly. Go out in the evening with a flashlight and salt shaker and protect your plants!

Orange or grapefruit halves hollowed and turned upside down placed around the garden will also attract snails and slugs. Go out in the morning to shake salt on those hiding under the peel.

Put a whole garlic bulb through a garlic press and let it sit in a glass jar with several ounces of mineral oil. Mix a few spoonfuls with dishwashing liquid, hot pepper sauce and water in a spray bottle. This will discourage rabbits, gophers and woodchucks from entering your garden. It will also keep beetles off most vegetable plants.

Another important method for pest control in the garden is companion planting. Some examples include: Planting garlic to deter flying insects; while mint and sage near cabbage will repel the cabbage fly. There is more information on companion planting on my site www.no-dig-vegetablegarden.com.

Judy Williams (http://www.no-dig-vegetablegarden.com) splits her time between being an executive and an earth mother goddess. No Dig Vegetable Gardens represents a clean, green way to grow your own food. The site covers all aspects of growing, cooking and preserving your harvest.

House Plans ? Research Is Key

When you think about building your new home consider your needs and your lifestyle. If you are newlyweds your choices will be different from a couple who is ready to retire and is looking for a smaller home. The lot may affect the type of house and its placement.

If your lifestyle is such that you plan to entertain frequently, you might want to consider including a formal dining and living area that is separated from the family's living area. If you just plan on having a couple of friends over for a dinner and conversation, then you might want to eliminate the formal dining area and create a simple dining area that can be used by your family and your guests.

Is your lot large enough to allow you to build your house and still be able to expand in the future? Will you need an extra room for guests or extra living space for aging parents or future additions to your family? It is imperative that you keep all of these possible concerns as you choose your lot and your house plan.

When choosing a house plan you will want to keep your privacy needs in mind. If you work from home, you will want privacy, space away from the main activity of the home so that you can work effectively. You could have a workroom or a hobby room where you and your family can gather together. The placement of your windows could also affect your privacy. You certainly don't want your neighbors to be able to peer in at you. Window treatments and privacy hedges or fences if appropriate will alleviate some those concerns.

Now that you have an idea of what your house might look like, it's time to think about the lot. I am sure you have a really good idea of what you want your new home to look like but if it doesn't fit on the lot you will have a serious problems. It is recommended that you purchase your lot before you look at plans for your home.

Some other things that you will need to consider are whether or not there is bedrock under the soil. Bedrock and clays will make excavation for the foundation difficult.

Pay attention to the weather and your house. Will your windows be placed for maximum exposure to morning and evening sun? The sun and wind can affect heating and/or air conditioning costs depending in which direction the slope is facing. Check the surrounding rivers and streams as related to your lot. If they overflow, how will it affect your property?

If you live in the flood plains be sure to find out if you can get flood insurance. If not, you may want to reconsider the place where you will build your home. Check the site for ditches or drainage issues. Soil drainage can be another serious problem as it can cause water seepage into the foundation. This can cause structural issues such as cracks and holes in the foundation.

The type of soil could also affect the foundation. Some clay soils, shrink when dry and expand when wet. This could cause cracks and make it difficult to maintain a dry basement.

Finally, check your zoning laws to be sure the type of house you want to build is within their specifications. If expansion is permissible and how much you will actually be able to do. The zoning commission also governs the placement of your home on the site. You want to keep well within their regulations.

Look at lots on which to build your new home. Check out the landscaping. Does the soil allow for proper drainage? Will you be able to plant privacy hedges or put up a privacy fence? How and where does the sun hit the lot? If you want maximum light exposure you may want to place your house to get that. The type of house you want to build could affect where on the lot your house will sit. The size of the lot will affect the type of house that you will be put on it.

Also check out the neighborhood where you want to build your home, does the style you have chosen mesh with others in the area. Will the house fit on the lot? Will the soil support the foundation? Get organized. Keep any and all information about your plans, your lot, and anything regarding your home in one place. Always check with the zoning board regarding your plans. You have many decisions to make good luck!

(c) www.1st-4-house-plans.com

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About the Author
Martin Smith is a successful freelance writer providing advice for home buyers and consumers on purchasing a variety of Dream Home which includes Cottage Plans, Beach House Plans, and more! His numerous articles provide a wonderfully researched resource of interesting and relevant information

The Myth of Undercapitalization - Six Ways Entrepreneurs Achieve Success in Spite of Start-Up Money

This year more than 17 million people will become entrepreneurs, according to the National Association of Self Employed (NASE). By the end of the year, 8 million of them will return to the corporate world because their entrepreneurial effort did not succeed. Many will say the businesses failed because of insufficient capitalization. Actually under-capitalization is not the cause of failure, but a symptom of a far more serious problem.

Many experts will say that undercapitalization is the main reason for the failure of an entrepreneur to achieve the dream of having their own business. They will point out that failing entrepreneurs did not start with a large enough bank account to offset the period it takes before a business is profitable. Statistics always back up this theory because, sure enough, the money has run out before the business is profitable. Therefore, they argue, the theory must be accurate.

Hogwash!

The fact that capital ran out before a business is profitable overlooks other factors having an impact on capital. Yes, the business failed because it ran out of money, but under-capitalization is not the culprit. Let me explain.

In 1952, an interstate highway was built to bypass the town of Corbin, Kentucky. A small motel owner saw this as potentially the end to his business so sold off his entire operation to pay outstanding debt. Penniless, he took his first social security check of $105 and decided to use it to start a new business. With no other income, no savings to draw on, this small check represented his only capitalization. He developed a product and traveled through the area looking for restaurant owners that would sell it, giving him just five cents for each one sold. Twelve years later he sold his business for two-million dollars. Twenty years later the business would be sold again, this time for $840 million, with the stipulation this entrepreneur would remain the spokesperson. It seemed appropriate because the inventor, a gentleman by the name of Colonel Harlan Sanders, had become one of the most recognized people in the world.

Dave and Lucile moved into the first floor flat of a house at 367 Addison Avenue, Palo Alto, California. Soon, Dave would begin working part-time in their garage with Bill, who rented the cottage behind the house. Together they had $538 in working capital and a used Sears-Roebuck drill press.

Bill had been studying negative electronic feedback. They tinkered together and made a gadget they called the audio oscillator which they called the 200A "because we thought the name would make us look like we'd been around for awhile," says Dave later. The Walt Disney Company ordered eight oscillators, giving Bill and Dave's company, Hewlett-Packard, the ability to grow into the corporation we know today.

These are two of the more prominent mega-companies that were under-capitalized when they started. Smaller companies share in success despite a lack of start-up capital.

Steven and Bennique Blasini started BFX Imageworks in Hollywood in 2001 without any capital. They lived off savings for six months and used their existing home computers to build their business. In a few years they grew into a multi-million dollar company, winning awards for their cinematography work. These people have proven the secret to success is not capital related. The secret lies within each of us. Let's look at what it takes to be a success.

BEFORE YOU START

Select the right business

When the entrepreneurial bug bites, many people decide to do what they have always done. Although this may seem to be a logical step, it is not necessarily the best move. When selecting their entrepreneurial venture, one must consider the lifestyle they desire, the business location, what they have to invest in their business, and how they can add value to the sea of people already in the same business in the same area.

A friend of mine, Greg Doyle, coaches people transitioning from the corporate or academic worlds into the entrepreneurial world. He helps his clients discover a business that best matches their goals. Greg finds that 95% of his clients end up discovering a business that they say they would never had considered on their own, or that they had prematurely dismissed.

Know how to turn dreams into goals

This could very well be the biggest stumbling block for new entrepreneurs, and continues to be a struggle for experienced businesspeople.

It is easy to have dreams. Young girls dream about meeting a handsome prince and having a magnificent wedding. A young boy becomes captivated by a sport and dreams about making the final play to win the championship. A new entrepreneur dreams about opening their business and then retiring on the beach in Maui. Why is it that only a small handful of people attain these, or any dreams? The answer is really quite simple; they know how to turn their dreams into goals.

Success is a matter of taking a dream and turning it into a goal. It is more than semantics. A dream is a desire while a goal is an actionable plan.

The transition from dream to goal involves four steps:

1. Assign measurable actions. Determine what needs to be done in pursuit of your dream. Be specific, listing big actions first, then "chunk" the actions into the smaller components that will make them happen.

2. Apply an element of time. Take each of the measurable actions and assign a start and end date to it. It is acceptable to have more than one activity at the same time unless the task requires your full attention.

3. Examine your resources. Even people that have mastered the first two steps falter at this step. Examining your resources requires a hard look at what you have at your disposal. Resource needs could include licensing, knowledge, office or retail space, materials, vendors, office supplies, a method to receive and deposit income, bookkeeping, referral sources, and a variety of other possibilities. Be extensive in your list of resource needs by thinking of different customers from the time you get their attention until post-sale.

4. Examine the cost. Look at both financial and opportunity costs required to achieve your goal. Financial costs include the cost of opening and sustaining your business until it becomes profitable. Opportunity costs refers to what you will have to put on hold in pursuit of attaining you goal. For example, you may find that boosting your sales will mean you forego a vacation next summer.

If resources are insufficient or the cost is too great, you need to rethink the goal. This does not mean to reject it as it may simply need to be tweaked slightly. If the goal is too soft, go back to step one and two and increase your expectation or shorten the timing. If the second phase validates that the goal is possible, you can continue the road to success!

Assess your strengths

The third component to position yourself for success is to assess your strengths. Assessments are done online by answering a series of questions to reveal your competitiveness, sales drive, persistence, and other aspects of your personality.

When I started MaxImpact, a leadership and organization development company in Rochester Hills, Michigan, I decided to take three different assessments. To be honest, I took them because they are a product offering of my company. However the information I learned was extremely valuable. For example, the assessments showed that I had a real challenge in cold-calling.

They indicated I would always be reluctant to make the first call, but once I made one call I would find subsequent calls would be easy for me. As a result I force myself into the first call by making it a "soft-call". By not allowing for interruptions, I can continue for dozens of additional calls.

Assessments are an inexpensive way to enhance your ability to negotiate, close a sale, make decisions and much more. They are a critical stop on the road to success.

WHEN YOU'RE READY TO GO

Find someone to hold you accountable

In corporate America workers always have a supervisor to whom they are accountable. On the other hand, many entrepreneurs feel they are their own boss and do not need a "supervisor". This view overlooks the fact that even a corporation's CEO is held accountable to the Board of Directors.

The reality is that entrepreneurs with a mentor, accountability partner, or one-on-one coach outperform their competitors. I gained some first hand experience when I started to work with an entrepreneur in Colorado. We had a weekly telephone meeting to share each other's goals and exchange ideas. Initially the calls were nothing more than justifications as to why we had not reached our goals from the prior week. Eventually we both tired of making excuses and began challenging each other. We developed a model that enabled us to be challenged to make real progress in our businesses. In a less than two months we had become so busy it was difficult to schedule our calls around our increased client appointments.

We both continue to use our process to help others focus on moving themselves closer to reaching their goals.

Differentiate

Robert Middleton, the author of "Info Guru", says you must "differentiate or die". He could not be more correct. Let's say you are one of the hundreds of realtors in any given area. In a game of numbers you will get a certain amount of business regardless of what you do, but not enough to thrive. If you are patient you will pick up referrals from past customers, but still fall short of real success. Now imagine that you are able to differentiate yourself. Let's assume you live in a transient area where people from another geography location, say Texans, were constantly moving. If you were able to establish yourself as someone who completely understood what a Texan was looking for in housing style, property amenities, and neighborhood assets, you would be able to shorten the time it took Texans to find the home of their desire. Now you are differentiated.

The Blasini's low overhead allows them to work with smaller Hollywood Studios that cannot budget to work with the larger competitors. This is one of their success secrets.

You need to find a significant way you add more value than your competition. Something as simple as, "I provide personal service" is not good enough. This type of statement solicits the response, "Well I should hope so." To make an impact your prospect needs to say, "Wow!"

The bottom-line: if you cannot make a compelling argument as to why someone should deal with you instead of your competitor, you are operating with a huge handicap.

AFTER YOU OPEN

Understand best-in-class customer service

Most entrepreneurs feel they already know enough about customer service based on their own experiences as a consumer. The shortcoming of this belief is that they only know the specific things they have conscientiously noticed. Best-in-class customer service is more like elevator music ? you don't notice it until it is missing.

Customer relations are vital to the success of a business. Every professional should personally understand how to deliver customer service that will not only retain their existing customers; it will create a customer base that is consistently telling others about what a great person or company you are to deal with.

Best-in-class customer service is not a one-time lesson to be learned, it is a continuous learning process taking advantage of personal ideas coupled with the experiences of others.

Putting it all together

Although it would be naive to suggest capital is not important in a business, having validated goals, as mentioned here, are much more important. These goals are bolstered if the business has a personal match to one's interests and desires, if a qualified accountability partner is enlisted, strengths are understood and exploited, and the entrepreneur is continually looking to increase knowledge and skills ? especially with regard to customer retention.

Any entrepreneur CAN succeed if they follow these six steps, whether or not they take them in order. The key is to admit to yourself that no matter how successful you have been in the past, the world of entrepreneurialism requires special knowledge and accountability. If you are entering into this very rewarding world, make sure you get the help you need.

Rick Weaver is President of Max Impact, a national leadership and organization development company based in Rochester Hills, Michigan. Rick is an accomplished business executive with experience in retail, market analysis, supply chain and project management, team building, and process improvement. He has worked with hundreds of companies to improve sales, processes, and bottom-line results. MaxImpact offers leadership and organizational development services along with employee assessments and background checks. Contact Rick at 248-802-6138 or via email, rick@getmaximpact.com. MaxImpact is on the web at http://www.getmaximpact.com.

Keeping and Wasps and Flies Away from your Barbecue

It is one of life's oddities that we take a lot of trouble refrigerating meat, keeping food sealed and washing our hands before touching it, only to throw out the rule book when we have a barbecue. The meat is left out in the sun waiting it's turn to be cooked, exposed to the elements and there is no washbasin to be seen. Another oddity is that it is men that do most of the barbecue cooking: 7 out of 10 according to the American Dietetic Association (http://www.eatright.org) in a survey. They also found that only 44% of these men washed their hands when cooking at the barbecue. Shame on us men! Why is it that, more often then not, it is women who get to do the day-in, day-out drudgery cooking, while men suddenly muscle in for those special occasions? Is this right, or am I imagining it?

Anyway, back to food hygiene. I am not suggesting that we plumb washbasins into our back yards but I would suggest that at least the following two precautions are still maintained.

The first one is that, even though it can be difficult to arrange, it is an absolute necessity that cooked meats never come into contact with raw meats either directly or via utensils, plates, bowls, trays or cutting boards. This is a very easy mistake to make, especially if you are not the usual cook of the house.

The other precaution is to try to keep wasps and flies away. You may know that their main purpose in life is to spoil your barbecue by diving at you and your guests and depositing some nasty germs - from nearby rubbish tips or animal dung - onto your food; and there is always the risk of being stung by a wasp.

A little tip is to avoid wearing yellow, as they are attracted to it. Of course, if there is someone you don't like very much, you could make a point of inviting them, but telling them to wear only yellow clothes (just say it is part of a role-playing game you have laid on). The unwanted guest can act as a decoy, attracting all the wasps and flies, while the rest of you enjoy yourself.

As this is a particularly nasty thing to do to anyone, an alternative is to lay out some yellow objects in a circle around the barbecue area. For example, you could wrap 10 bricks in bright yellow paper and place them evenly in a circle at a radius of, say, 8 feet from the picnic/barbecue area. Drop some treacle on each. They will act as decoys and reduce the threat of wasps and flies.

An even better way is to save some time by buying a few fly & wasp traps from Arkay Hygiene at www.eeeee.co.uk As well as attracting wasps and flies, they will keep them trapped at least until you have finished your feast. Then you go and release them at your old boss's house.

Please note that Vernon has a wicked sense of humour and asks that you do not release any flying insects at anyone's house! Fly & Wasp Traps for the garden can be found at this page