Posted on September 10th, 2008 — in Marketers Den, Marketing, Web Center
I am trying to find a way to make money from home, and so far the thing that seems most promising is affiliate marketing. It looks like it is possible to make money online with an affiliate program, but I am wondering if this takes a lot of time, and what exactly is involved? Can anyone tell me where I can learn more about these programs, and which affiliate programs are the best ones to use? I would really appreciate the information, since I want to find something before too long so that I can make some money for Christmas.
I am going to start trying to find a good way to earn or make online money. I know there are a lot of different things that people do, and I am wondering where I can find out more about the different systems and the typical amount of money that people earn. I want to find one that has a high rate of return if such a thing exists, since I won’t have a lot of time to put into this. I am hoping that I can find something that I can do to make a little extra money in my spare time.
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Posted on August 24th, 2008 — in Marketers Den
(But What You Need to Know if You Want to Get Fit!)
10) No, you won’t end up looking like the latest hot young model/singer/actress!
Let’s face it: your body is your body. It’s the only one you’ve got. Can you still look great? Sure! But there are some things you can’t change. You can’t make your legs longer or your feet smaller. You can’t grow five inches or elongate your torso. You have what you have, so work with it! Concentrate on making a healthy and fit you instead of wishing you looked like someone else. You don’t have to be perfect to be attractive. A strong, fit body as well as the self-confidence it brings can make any person attractive!
9) It’s better to be muscular and weigh more than to be flabby and weigh less.
I’ve said it so many times: I’d much rather be 135lbs and muscular than 120lbs and flabby. I’ve been both, and 135lbs with a lower percent of body fat was definitely better! I was smaller, stronger and had much more energy. So, don’t always seek that magical number on the scale, but look at your total body composition instead.
You can’t get fit in a week.
Okay, well, you can, but only if you’re one week away from being in peak condition and you keep working out. Otherwise, forget about it! If you want to look good for that class reunion or because you’ll be in a bikini soon, then get moving way before that. Or better yet, get moving for your own health and not for “things” like reunions and bikinis.
7) You need to put some effort into it.
You want to get fit? You have to work at it. You have to plan it, you have to schedule it, and, most importantly, you have to do it. No excuses. Sitting on the couch, telling yourself you should be doing something will not burn up a lot of calories. If nothing else, get out there and start walking. And while you’re out there walking think about a plan of action for a healthier you and get started on it today - not tomorrow!
6) You need to exercise.
Can you lose weight just by diet alone? Sure, you can! But if you want to get fit, you need to exercise those muscles, including your heart. And that heart won’t get any exercise if you’re sitting on the couch, eating broccoli. Lose the weight that you need to lose and you’ll just end up with a thin, but flabby, body. Get moving! Weight training is ideal, but if you’re really not into weight training, find an activity you like to do that work all your major muscle groups.
5) You need to eat properly.
Putting aside any low carb/low fat/high protein controversies, the simple fact is, if you want a fit body, you need to nourish it. Protein, carbs and fat are important, but vitamins and minerals are key elements that your body needs, too. No matter what way of eating you’re following make sure you’re getting enough vitamins and minerals. Add a variety of fresh vegetables and fruit to your diet. The next time you go grocery shopping, linger around the produce section and not only pick out some old favorites, but experiment a little by trying something new!
4) You can’t lose weight overnight.
You didn’t gain it overnight — or in two months — and you’re not going to lose it overnight — or in two months. Think of getting fit as a train leaving the station: you start off slow, gather speed and then off you go! Patience is the key here. Look for consistent trends. If you’re really not losing fat and getting stronger after a couple of months, then you need to sit down and honestly analyze what you’re doing. Keep a journal to help you know how you’re really eating and exercising.
3) You can’t spot reduce.
Genetics will decide where the fat will come off. Doing 1000 crunches won’t reduce your belly fat. Nor will 1000 leg lifts get rid of the fat on your inner thighs. Your body does not burn the fat it needs from the body part that you’re exercising. Your body will burn fat much like an onion is peeled, a layer at a time, if you will. So, don’t overdo it on the exercise for one specific body part and look to getting your whole body in shape.
2) There are no quick fixes.
That’s right, you heard me. There are no quick fixes. None. Put all those pills, potions, contraptions and miracle diets in the garbage where they belong. Learn the basics about how your body gains muscle and loses fat, so you won’t get sucked in by another scam again.
1) Fitness is a lifelong commitment!
So, you faithfully work out and eat properly and you’ve reached your goals. Now what? Well, now you’ve got to keep doing it for the rest of your life, that’s what! You can’t just work your way to being fit and then stop, because you’ll end up exactly like you were before. Fitness is a lifelong commitment. And, you want to know a secret? It isn’t easy! And anyone who says it is easy is trying to sell you something. Make fitness a lifelong ambition and you’ll reap the rewards of a long and healthy life, filled with energy, strength and an overall sense of well being.
Suzanne Hiscock has been interested in fitness and nutrition for over 16 years. She is the owner of FitWatch Inc. and developer of theFitWatch Fitness Tracker, an online food and exercise tracker. You can visit the site athttp://www.fitwatch.com for a variety of fitness calculators and tools.
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Posted on August 24th, 2008 — in Marketers Den
From our deconstruction of hundreds of Hollywood blockbusters and an overview of Steven Spielberg’s material - from Schindler’s List to Jurassic Park, this man sticks to the Hero’s Journey Template….
The Hero’s Journey is the template upon which the vast majority of successful stories and Hollywood blockbusters are based upon. In fact, ALL of the Hollywood movies we have deconstructed are based on this template.
Understanding this template is a priority for story or screenwriters.
The Hero’s Journey:
a) Attempts to tap into unconscious expectations the audience has regarding what a story is and how it should be told.
b) Gives the writer more structural elements than simply three or four acts, plot points, mid point and so on.
c) Interpreted metaphorically, laterally and symbolically, allows an infinite number of varied stories to be created.
and more…
Below is one of Spielberg’s stories; our deconstruction of this and his other works shows that he uses the structure rigidly.
The Color Purple (1985); basic deconstruction
FADE IN: Loop: the two sisters playing in the field of purple flowers.
Meeting the Hero in her Ordinary World: Celie and Nettie playing together.
Antagonism in the Ordinary World: father makes Celie pregnant.
Elixir: having a baby.
Developing Antagonism: ain’t you done yet; father takes the baby away.
Developing the Hero: Dear God…mama dies; two kids by her father etc.
Need to escape the Ordinary World: Father’s attention turns to little sister.
Foreshadow of Antagonism [2]: Albert’s eyes on the girls.
Call to Adventure: I got to marry your daughter.
Refusal: I can’t let you have her; you can have the ugly one.
Journey to the First Threshold: following Albert on the horse.
Obstacle / Not Welcome: she ain’t my new mami.
Developing the Antagonism: Albert having sex with Celie.
Foreshadow of the Transformation: the picture of Shug.
Fish out of Water: Celie entering and cleaning the kitchen.
Rules of this World: Albert hits Celie.
Foreshadow of the Elixir: Celie sees her daughter; in the store; she holds her.
Meeting the Mentor: Nettie arrives.
Threshold Guardian: please can Nettie stay?
Guided by the Mentor: Celie being pushed around; you got to fight back Celie.
Foreshadow of the Belly of the Whale: Albert looks at Nettie with bedroom eyes; Albert harassing Nettie.
Foreshadow of the Physical Separation: You are going to have to leave here soon.
Guided by the Mentor: Nettie teaches Celie to spell.
Antagonism: ain’t you got nothing better to do.
Developing Characters and Relationships: Nettie and Celie on the swing.
Foreshadow of the Physical Separation: Me and my sister will never part; playing games; Albert eyeing up Nettie.
Belly of the Whale: Albert pursues Nettie on the horse; she fights him off.
Resisting the Physical Separation: Albert throws Nettie out.
Physical Separation: why? Nothing can keep me from you.
World of the Transformation: Celie shaves Albert; you cut me and I’ll kill you.
Foreshadow of the Atonement: mailman arrives; Albert rushes to see the post; nothing for Celie.
Block to the Atonement: Albert will fix that mailbox so I can see if it’s been messed with.
Marker: Celie reads in the shadow; Celie grows up into Whoopi Goldberg; Albert old; Harpo is grown up.
Road of Trials and Transformation:
New World / No Longer a Fish out of Water: Albert gets dressed; Celie knows exactly what Albert wants; Albert dresses in the suit; Celie makes sure he’s perfect.
Foreshadow of the Transformation: the picture of Shug Avery.
Time Pressure: Albert leaves in a rush.
Elixir: Celie remembers Nettie; she say she’ll write, but she never write; maybe she dead.
Trial and Transformation 1:
Harpo is in love with a big girl - Sofia.
Harpo introduces Sofia to Albert.
Albert insults Sofia; Sofia gives as good as she gets; Sofia takes control.
Sofia and Harpo get married.
Sofia wears the trousers in Harpo’s house.
Harpo seeks advice from Albert; he advises he hit her.
Celie advises Harpo beat her.
Sofia confronts Celie; can’t live with someone that beats me; girl you ought to bash his head open and think about heaven later.
Harpo and Sofia keep beating each other and in between the children keep coming; Sofia leaves.
Mailman arrives; nothing in the post again.
Trial and Transformation 2:
The storm; something is coming.
Albert brings home Shug Avery.
Celie opens the door for Shug; you sure is ugly.
Albert tries to take care of Shug; I need me a man you hear, a man; Shug orders Albert around.
Albert tries to cook; in the kitchen.
Shug throws Albert’s efforts out the door.
Celie cooks for Shug, gives her the food and hides; Shug eats Celie’s food.
Transformantion Mentor’s Challenge:
Celie with Shug; what you staring at; never seen a naked woman before; Shug in the bath
Mentors Inner Challenge; my pa loves me.
Antagonist’s Challenge:
Albert’s pa arrives; Celie spits in the glass of water; pa puts down Shug Avery.
Trial and Transformation 3:
Harpo et al building a Juke Joint.
Shug Avery sings in Harpo’s Juke Joint.
Celie sitting meekly in the bar; looks like Albert brought his maid.
Shug’s father is a preacher and is against Shug and the new bar.
Shug sings and gives Celie some attention.
Sofia arrives with a new man; everyone calls him “buster;” Harpo dances with Sofia.
Harpo’s new woman and Sofia fight; the fight in the bar.
Shug drags Celie away.
Celie dresses in Shug’s outfit; Celie smiles; Celie tells Shug he beats her “for not being you.”
Celie don’t like sleeping with Albert; climb on top of me and do his business; it feels like he going to the toilet; that mean you still a virgin.
Shug says “I think you beautiful”; they kiss; inferred sex.
Seizing the Sword:
Journey to the Sword: Celie starts to follow Shug.
Mentor’s Inner Challenge: Shug visits her Daddy; spurned.
Outer Chamber: Celie wants to go to Memphis with Shug; this my only chance to break from jail.
Guardian of the Sword: Albert blocks Celie.
Inner Chamber: Celie follows Shug and Albert as she leaves.
Seizingt hw Sword: Celie doesn’t speak up; Shug leaves; Celie falls over.
Near Death Experience:
Sofia says “hell no” to the white lady; punches the white man; Sofia knocked out; goes to prison; comes out of prison.
Sofia becomes a maid for the white lady; teaching her to drive.
Sofia in the store; Celie there and does the shopping for her.
Reward: Sofia gets to go home and see her children.
The white lady can’t put the car into reverse; Sofia has to drive her home.
New Self : Celie and Albert sleeping together.
Atonement with the Father : Shug arrives; she is married.
Shug’s father still ignores her; I’m married now.
Apotheosis:
Shug picks up the mail and finds a letter for Celie.
Shug takes Celie upstairs.
Celie opens the letter from Nettie and reads; Albert has been hiding the letters.
Olivia and Adam are alive and being taken care of.
Ultimate Boon: Celie finds all the old letters under the floor board; Celie reads the letters.
Denial / New Self: Shug runs to prevent Celie from cutting Albert with the razor; the tribal marks of the African boy.
Rebirth:
Around the dinner table; Celie stands up for herself around the dinner table.
Sofia laughs again; everyone is going away with Shug.
Magic Flight:
Celie goes away; stops Albert from hitting her; Albert pursues her.
Saying goodbye to the Old Self Behind / Celie on the train.
Antagonist’s Challenge Conquered: Albert sends his father away; happy that Harpo and Sofia together again.
Hero’s Outer Challenge Conquered: Pa is dead but he is not Celie’s pa.
Reward: Celie gets the house.
New Self: Celie becomes a seamstress.
Crossing the Return Threshold: Albert waves to Celie.
Mentor’s Challenge Conquered:
Celie and Shug walking through the purple flower fields.
Shug’s singing competes with the church gospel singers.
Shug et al walk into church.
Challenge conquered: Shug confronts her father.
Master of Two Worlds: Albert arranges for Celie’s kids to immigrate.
Elixir: Nettie arrives back with Celie’s children.
Freedom to Live: Albert watches as the kids arrive.
Loop: the two sisters playing in the field of purple flowers.
Learn more…
The Complete 188 stage Hero’s Journey and other story structure templates can be found at http://www.managing-creativity.com/
You can also receive a regular, free newsletter by entering your email address at this site.
Kal Bishop, MBA
**********************************
You are free to reproduce this article as long as no changes are made and the author’s name and site URL are retained.
Kal Bishop is a management consultant based in London, UK. His specialities include Knowledge Management and Creativity and Innovation Management. He has consulted in the visual media and software industries and for clients such as Toshiba and Transport for London. He has led Improv, creativity and innovation workshops, exhibited artwork in San Francisco, Los Angeles and London and written a number of screenplays. He is a passionate traveller. He can be reached at http://managing-creativity.com/
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Posted on August 21st, 2008 — in Marketers Den
Planning a baby shower is one of the nicest things any person can do for their friend, coworker or family member when they are expecting a baby. Having a baby is an exciting time in any woman’s life, and celebrating this wonderful milestone is a great excuse for a party.
==The Things You Need To Take Care Of==
Of course, if you are the lucky one planning a baby shower, there are lots of things you will need to take care of, including choosing the best place to buy your baby shower supply.
There are many kinds of supplies that go into the planning of a successful baby shower, including the invitations, the party favors, the games, the food, the drink and the decorations. It is important, therefore, to get the best deal on the baby shower supply you need.
==Choosing The Best Place to Buy Your Baby Shower Supply==
That is because the prices on those baby shower supplies can vary quite a bit from store to store.
There are many places that sell baby shower supplies, from department stores and discount retailers to internet retailers and party supply stores. It is important to shop at all these places in order to get the best deal you possibly can.
==Coming Up With A Perfect Baby Shower Theme==
It can of course be hard to come with a theme for the baby shower, or to know what kind of baby shower supply is right for the celebration you are planning. Of course, the most important element in all this is the guest of honor herself.
After all, the baby shower is her party, and it is important to choose a theme that best suits her needs and tastes. If you are the one planning the baby shower, chances are you already know the mom to be pretty well. This should make it a bit easier to find the baby shower supply you need.
==Knowing The Gender Of The Baby==
Knowing the gender of the baby to be can make it a bit easier as well.
If you know the baby will be a girl, of course you would want to look for the best pink baby shower supplies, where the upcoming birth of a boy would call for baby shower supplies in shades of blue. Finding the right baby shower supplies is never easy, but the rewards of a great baby shower are many.
Shaunta Pleasant is a professional writer and editor on baby shower topics. Visit my site to learn more about planning the perfect wedding at http://www.baby-shower-gala.com/baby_shower_supply.html
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Posted on August 16th, 2008 — in Marketers Den
Let me begin by saying that I am not an herbalist. I do not recommend using herbs as internal medication for your pets unless you have consulted a holistic vet and/or have done extensive reading and research and feel safe treating your pet. There are a lot more holistic veterinarians practicing today than in the past and you should have no trouble finding one if you live in or near an urban area.
The information I share here is strictly a minimalist take on the use of herbs as a natural way to help you and your pet with daily care and common conditions. Herbs can be substituted for many of the topical medications and household chemicals we use with animals. Besides using herbs, be sure that your pet is getting a good overall natural diet and plenty of sunshine. Sunlight is necessary for good health and helps their bodies convert food nutrients. If a regular dose of the outdoors in not possible, use full-spectrum lighting such as Vita-Lites. These are ideal for indoor pets such as birds, reptiles and amphibians.
But back to herbs. Irritated eyes are a common ailment and can be treated with eyebright used as a wash. It can also be administered as a strong tea taken internally to boost the immune system. Or you can make a saline solution for the eyes of 1/8 teaspoon sea salt in cup boiling water. Once the solution has cooled, add 1 drop of goldenseal per tablespoon of the saline solution. It shrinks swollen tissues and disinfects.
Itching: A common cause of itching is fleas and flea bites. Brewer’s yeast can be sprinkled on food, 1 teaspoon per day. BUT, some animals are allergic to Brewer’s yeast, so watch for dry skin that can itch as much as the flea bites. An alternative to Brewer’s yeast is adding a capsule of garlic oil in the food once a week. It helps keep biting insects away and is good for the immune system.
A good herbal flea dip can be made as follows: 2 cups packed fresh peppermint, pennyroyal or rosemary; 1 quart boiling water; 4 quarts warm water - pour the boiling water over the herbs and allow to steep for 30 minutes. Strain the liquid and dilute it with the warm water. Saturate the animal’s coat thoroughly allowing it to air dry. Use at the first sign of flea activity. You will probably need to repeat this treatment every three or four days but it is totally safe.
If you would rather use a dry flea treatment, try an herbal powder made of one part each of eucalyptus, fennel, rosemary, rue, wormwood, and yellow dock. Put this mixture in a shaker (like the kind used for parsley flakes). Apply sparingly to your pet’s coat by brushing the hair backward with your hand or a comb. Sprinkle the powder at the base of the hairs, especially on the neck, back and belly. You may use this several times a week. Put Rover outside after the treatment so that the unhappy fleas may disembark in the backyard, not the house!
To rid your carpeting of fleas, after removing the pet, sprinkle Borax over the carpet and rub it in. Wait a while and then vacuum. This is a good, non-chemical alternative flea control. Use once a week until the problem is gone.
For itchy, dry skin, use tea tree oil anywhere except near the eyes or genitals. Aloe is also good for itching. Itching may be caused by the shampoo or flea collar you use. Bathe the animal in all natural shampoo, (available at Barker and Friends, www.naturalbarker.com) and find a natural alternative to that flea collar!
Another skin treatment will control mange and overall skin conditions. Thinly slice a whole lemon, including the peel and add it to one pint of near-boiling water. Let it steep overnight. Sponge the solution on your pet’s skin and let it dry. This may be used daily if needed.
Cuts: Use fresh aloe and scrapes and cuts. It is a natural antiseptic and moisturizer. You can clean the wound with a wash of goldenseal before applying the aloe.
Carsickness: Try a few drops of ginger root extract prior to setting out in the car. For long trips, try an additional dose halfway through the trip. Another herb good for carsickness in dogs is peppermint tea or capsules. It will settle his stomach. Cats don’t tolerate peppermint well, so use only for dogs.
Anxiety, Stress: Our pets live in the same stressful world we do. They also suffer anxiety. Try a combination of extracts of Oats, Valerian and Chamomile or rub a little lavender oil near the muzzle or place some on a cotton pad in his bed or sleeping area. It works on humans, too!
Diarrhea, vomiting: Try powdered slippery elm bark.
Shiny coats: one teaspoon cod liver oil sprinkled over food one or twice a week will improve the texture and shine of your pet’s coat and will provide valuable nutrients.
Vitamin C: 500mg to 1000mg daily can ease arthritis in dogs and cats.
I hope this bit of information will help you realize that there are natural alternatives to over the counter, chemical treatments for ordinary conditions in your pet. Contact your local health food store for herbs and herbal extracts. For more in depth information, read All You Ever Wanted to Know About Herbs for Pets by Mary & Gregory Tilford. It is currently out of print, but I had no trouble finding a copy at my local library and there are used copies available through my Amazon.com link at www.naturalbarker.com. See my Favorite Links page.
Please check out the natural shampoo bar available on my website. It is chock full of herbal herbal oils and promises a safe, natural way to bathe your pets without the risk of irritating, toxic ingredients. It’s called the Critter Bar!
Encouraging Word:
God is our refuge and our strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore, we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake…Psalm 46: 1-3
Published by Sherry Massey, owner of Barker and Friends, http://www.naturalbarker.com, a natural dog treat bakery and distributor for Flint River Ranch, the best all natural dog and cat food on the market. Try PET FORCE, all natural enzymatic pet stain and odor remover found under Pet Products at Barker and Friends, http://www.naturalbarker.com.
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Posted on August 15th, 2008 — in Marketers Den
A credit card is an agreement between the issuer (a financial organization or a bank) and the cardholder (you). The agreement becomes a binding contract when you sign it, indicating to the credit company or the issuer that you will pay them in future for the credit lent to you. The issuer or the bank lends you the money that you need and it expects you, the cardholder, to pay back the money within a stipulated period of time.
Credit cards are being widely used in the US and across the world as a convenient financial mode to make purchases and payments. It is quite comfortable to carry a credit card rather than carry wads of cash. It is easy for people to manage their expenses with a credit card. Suppose you need to book a flight ticket urgently, you can book it with a credit card. You can use the cash that you have presently to take care of expenses you need when you reach the destination. You can always pay the credit company later. As a card holder, you can get the right to avail of consumer protection under federal law. You can return an item that is not upto the satisfactory standards, damaged or delivered late. Your credit company comes to your rescue and sets up a dispute with the trader or merchant and gives you credit till the case is pending. If you lose the dispute, the credit applied to your account can be reversed too.
You have to be atleast 18 years of age to apply for a credit card and also have a regular source of income. The credit bureau runs a check through your credit profile to ascertain if you have any outstanding loans or bills on your account. If you already have a credit card to your name or are applying for a fresh one, your credit history makes the credit card issuer as to know how much credit can be lent to you. If your credit history is not good, then you may get a credit card with a high interest rate. Lenders however, perceive you to be a low credit risk if you live in a particular residence or are in one profession for atleast two years.
The prospective cardholder should look for low interest rates on the credit card. When shopping for the credit card, he should also look for annual fees. There are some issuers who charge annual fees, while there are others that do not. Many credit card issues aspire to offer the credit card with a zero or a lesser promotional rate of interest. Till the promotional period lasts, the credit card holder does not have to pay anything as interest or pay negligible rate of interest on the outstanding balances.
If you are prompt on your payments and do not go over the limit, you can even call the credit card company and bargain for a lesser interest rate. Most credit card issuers oblige because they want to retain you as their valued customer. You can even have a late fee waived or credit given to you as a good will gesture if you have been incorrectly charged. Use your credit card judiciously. Experts say that your credit card payments should not exceed 15 percent of your takeaway home salary package. Also discard the cards that you do not use. It is not good to have too many unused credit cards because it can affect your credit rating. The cardholder has to contact the credit-reporting bureau and ask it to remove the discarded cards from your report. It should be mentioned in your credit file that the cancellation and closure of the card was initiated by you and not by the issuer or the credit card company.
Daniel Cohen recommends Find Credit Cards for comparing different Advanta business credit cards.
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Posted on August 13th, 2008 — in Marketers Den
There are people that think that a realtor is not necessary to represent them in purchasing a home. The power of the Internet allows someone to visit various homes for sale from the comfort of a desktop in the den. Many homes listed have virtual tours that give a real feel of the home. But there is more to buying a home. You should consider working with a realtor that you pick.
The realtor who has listed the property works for the seller not the buyer. This is because the seller will be paying the commission to the realtor upon the sale of the home. When you retain your own realtor to help find a home the agent works with you but for the seller. It comes back to who is paying the commission. Still the buyer’s agent will try to meet your goals.
If it allowed by state law, some realtors will want you to sign a buyer’s agreement. This document basically states that you will retain the agent exclusively to find a home. In consideration for this the agent’s duties will be spelled out. The reason the agent might want this is that there is a lot of time and effort that goes into finding you a home. This will bind you at least in good faith to stick with the one that is helping you. It would be up to you if you want to sign the document.
So with that in mind, you need to take certain steps so that you can find and work with a realtor that will locate for you the home you want and need. You should talk to several realtors, including any that may have been referred by friends or relatives. Make a list beforehand of what you want. You should have a wish list of neighborhood, type of house, square footage and lot size. Nearness to schools, churches, medical facilities and major shopping malls may play a part in your decision.
The realtor should be able to assess your needs and fit you with a group of homes to consider. The realtor should be meeting your goals by only showing you homes that you can afford and want. An important part of this process is for you to get pre-approved by a lender in the beginning. This will allow the realtor to focus on homes you can afford. It will give the realtor strength in presenting an offer to the seller’s agent when the time comes. If there is more than one offer going on at the same time it shows you are ready to close.
There may be rejection of your offer or a counter offer made by the seller. These should be carefully explained to you at the time by your realtor. Any counter needs to take into consideration whether you can perform what is asked, You will consider whether it is worth it to get the home or move on to looking for another opportunity.
Once you have an accepted sales agreement the realtor will assist in providing closing arrangements, entry for the appraiser and ongoing communication with all parties involved until funding. A realtor who is honest, knows the business and is someone who you can get along with will be a real asset for you in completing your home transaction.
Bill Wehr has been in home loan origination for over 25 years. He is the owner of Great Pacific Northwest Mortgage http://www.billwehr.com, a residential mortgage company serving Oregon and Washington.
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Posted on August 12th, 2008 — in Marketers Den
Holiday shopping overloaded your credit cards? Worried about the finance charges you’ll soon start paying? Fortunately, you can use a bunch of different tactics to save money on credit cards. Some suggestions follow:
Leave Home without It
If you’re like most people, you spend more money if you carry a credit card around. Some studies show that credit card holders spend 23 percent more on average even if they don’t carry a balance on the credit cards. No investment pays an instantaneous 23 percent rate after taxes. Even business investments. Despite what one credit card issuer says, you’re really better off if you leave home without it.
Cancel Unnecessary Credit Cards
If you don’t carry credit card balances, cancel credit cards that charge an annual maintenance fee. Lighten your wallet by canceling all the cards you don’t use, for that matter. You’ll only spend more if you use them, anyway.
Ask Your Bank to Waive Its Annual Fee
Call your bank and explain that, because of the annual fee, you might cancel your credit card. Tell the bank you think it should waive its annual fee. Your current credit card issuer will probably gulp and then waive the fee. For a two-minute telephone call, you’ll be ahead by $20 or $30. (By the way, most credit card issuers don’t waive the fee on a gold card.)
Consider an Affinity Card
If you travel on business a lot, you can easily run up $10,000 or more on a credit card as you pay for airline tickets, hotels, and rental cars. In this case, it’s well worth it to pay $50 for an affinity card. Once you have the card, charge all your personal and business purchases on it ().
Cancel Credit Insurance If You Have Any
Credit life insurance is usually a big waste of money. You only need credit life insurance if you know your estate will collect and you can’t get a better kind of insurance.
Credit disability insurance is usually another big waste of money. But, as with credit life insurance, you may need this insurance if you require disability insurance and you can’t get better insurance.
Cancel Credit Card Protection Insurance If You Have It
Credit card protection insurance is another waste of money. If some nefarious type steals your credit card and runs up huge charges, you are probably only liable for the first $50 or so as long as you immediately tell the credit card issuer that the credit card was stolen.
Never Make the Minimum Payment
Pay more than the minimum payment. Paying off high-interest-rate credit cards is one of the best investments you can make. (The others are typically investing in a profitable business and contributing money to a 401(k) plan in which the employer matches a portion of the contribution.) If you make minimum payments only, your credit card debt quickly balloons. Very quickly balloons, I should say. Soon you are paying massive monthly finance charges.
Get Rid of Your Gold Card
You’re paying for the privilege and prestige of that gold card. But you knew that, right? You can probably save yourself at least $40 or $50 just by having an old, boring, regular Visa or MasterCard.
Kirkland WA certified public accountant Stephen L. Nelson CPA has written more than 150 books. His bestselling book is Quicken for Dummies, which sold more than 1,000,000 copies. His books have sold more than 4,000,000 copies in English and have been translated into more than a dozen other languages.
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Posted on August 6th, 2008 — in Marketers Den
War rugs are aptly named. These are rugs that express themes of war in their
patterns. They break from the more traditional patterns of seasons, plants, or the
boteh and instead use representations of tanks and bombs. These are forms of
expression from a foreign culture. A rug can depict a tank moving into a town or
dark planes standing out against a bright sky and dropping small yet potent bombs.
Like poetry from an airman or the diary of a young Jewish girl hiding from the
German forces in world war two this should be a form of expression that we not
only recognize but also appreciate.
Many of my clothes come from India, I have computer parts that come from china
and South Korea, I have jackets that come from Sri Lanka, and coffee that comes
from Colombia. But it is not that simple. I have clothes that come from many more
places than India and my computer is such a mosaic of pieces that it is as if the
entire world gave birth to my computer. Our species has become impressively
dependant upon each other. I depend on an amazing amount of people to keep me
clothed, warm, fed, and working.
While we may depend greatly on each other, most do not really understand the
many other cultures aside from our own. I don’t believe this is out of disregard or
lack of respect, but that there are barriers that slow down our communications.
There are language barriers, geographical barriers, political barriers, economic
barriers and barriers in artistic mediums.
When Americans think of art they often think of things like movies, book, murals,
pictures and so forth. Because these are the forms of art that come to mind these
are the forms of art that we seek out. However, other cultures use different
mediums. In much of the Middle East and parts of Eastern Europe rugs and weaving
is an extremely important medium of expression. There are traditional forms of
weaving such as pile rugs with geometric designs about the seasons or rugs with
floral designs representing plants (you can learn more about traditional patterns at
www.hazaad.com). However, like any form of art rugs are not stagnant. Over time
what a culture expresses, and how they choose to do so changes. Presently there
are an increasing number of war rugs being woven. There are rugs that repeat an
image of a war plan or express some level of hope with bright colors.
Help bridge this one cultural divide by looking at these rugs as one would other
forms of wartime art. In this art form one can find the expression of many people.
One can find a unique expression that cannot be found in other media.
John Geer runs the small online rug import business www.Hazaad.com from Davidson, North
Carolina.
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Posted on August 4th, 2008 — in Marketers Den
Just like there are reverse dictionaries, there is a reason to create a count down calendar. A count down calendar starts with Franklin Covey’s philosophy, “start with the end in mind.”
The biggest advantage to a countdown calendar is that it makes you think and focus harder as well as makes the planning easier.
First, you write down the exact results you want or expect. Let’s say you have a teleclass, seminar, speaking engagement you are delivering on X date. This becomes your D-day — sort of speaking. It may be end of the event planning, however, it can also be the beginning of your follow-up plan. For simplicity sake, let us stop at the D-day point.
Now you can prepare a count down calendar in several ways. One way would be to use a calendar with the days of the month filled in. You mark down the D-day and then you back track from there to today.
Count down the days until __________. Number of marketing days to go until __________.
Example: Count down days until seminar. 20 marketing days to go until seminar.
Any doesn’t matter which calendar method you use, you will need to write down your measurements or your mini-results that will deliver the end results you want. I use the pivoting question, “What is it going to take to…” to get my thinking moving in the right direction. I like to think through and write these on the back of my calendars. This gives me a bird’s eye view for that particular commitment that my software does not provide.
Another way would be to use a blank form like this with the appropriate number of days in between. Then cross out the days that you will do any marketing — say Sundays or days filled with other requirements. For my teleclass programs, my D-day back to Day 1 is always 3 weeks, so I have created a regular calendar for these. In fact, I use green color paper to print out the calendar.
If you don’t want to create your own, visit your local office supply store, they have countdown calendars available for purchase (blank planning books).
A third way to complete a countdown calendar would be to complete it in a linear form.
Day 21: Speaking event results I desire — describe those results.
Day 20: Get handouts printed at Kinko’s.
Day 19: Write and send out reminder e-mail to organizer.
To Day 1: Today.
Again, if you have a reoccurring countdown, like teleclasses, you can create a linear countdown calendar like the one above. Eventually you will see a consistent pattern of to-dos.
At that point, don’t stop doing this with the thinking you have it down pat and you don’t need to. This will jump up and bite you in the assets fairly quickly by bogging down your mind and making you wonder if you are missing something. If that occurs, jump back into the habit, it is a great one to have. Even if it is frustrating because it takes thinking time.
Once you have your count down calendar completed then you can enter it into your automatic reminder calendar, like Outlook or Act. This will track all your deadlines, goals, and projects. You will have a separate count down calendar for each one.
Catherine Franz, a Certified Professional Marketing & Writing Coach, specializes in product development, Internet writing and marketing, nonfiction, training. Newsletters and articles available at: http://www.abundancecenter.com blog: http://abundance.blogs.com
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