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By Rev. James L. Snyder

Normally, I am not one to complain about the weather. Okay. Maybe I complain a little about the weather. All right, have it your way, I complain a lot about the weather. Are you happy now?

Actually, it is important for me to complain about the weather. It is either that or politics, and you know what that does to my blood pressure. If I had my rathers, I would rather complain about politics. It is so much easier to do, and there is always something to complain about. After all, sometimes the weather is perfect.

I have always felt that complaining about politics is part of a very good health plan. First, it gets your blood boiling, which has the effect of cleansing your blood. You know what dirty blood can do for your health. Then, it clears your head of all the nonsense collecting up there for days or weeks on end. It is the only political health plan that actually works.

There should be some kind of a plan, maybe a lottery system, to select the politician of the day to complain about. With so many politicians, I am concerned I may forget to complain about some politician who actually needs to be complained about. Some congressional committee needs to be put together so that they can select the politician of the day to grumble. After all, I do not want to miss an opportunity to make a complaint about some politician. Read the rest of this entry »

by Melissa McCreery PhD,ACC

As you start the New Year and a new decade, it’s a good time to give your business success skills a quick check up. Do you have what it takes to get you where you want to go? As you review your tools and strategies, I’d like to suggest an area that many savvy business women overlook—and this error of omission costs them big. One of the most crucial skills for any thriving solopreneur or professional is the ability to take excellent care of herself. After all, aren’t you the most important asset your business possesses? I know what you may be thinking. Many of us entrepreneurs have so much on our plates that it’s impossible to get to it all, and often, self care or “me-time” is one of the first things to go. It’s not essential. It may feel self indulgent or you think it’s rather a luxury. You tell yourself you can get to it later. Not true.

Here’s what THRIVING business owners know (and many of us learned it the hard way). The way you care for yourself counts and it counts big. You can’t show up powerfully in your business or your life unless you are showing up powerfully for yourself. Taking care of YOU is not a luxury, it’s an essential part of a successful business plan. Read the rest of this entry »

by Leah Grant

You’ve been talking about pursuing your dream since high school. You’ve been stuffing a file with places you’d like to travel since you got your first job. You’ve envisioned what your boutique store would look like for years, even driving around searching for the perfect location, yet you’ve never taken that next step.

So, what’s stopping you?

In my coaching with clients they regularly share the obstacles that are stopping them from moving forward. At least fifty percent of the time, these items are perceived, not real.

Here’s a list of the most popular ones I’ve heard and how to avoid them:

1. I’m too old.

Years ago I heard the story of a 70-year-old woman who lifted a car off her grandchild and saved his life. When she was interviewed, instead of being ecstatic, she was melancholy and admitted that if she could lift a car to save a child what else might she have been able to do that she never tried. The interviewer asked her what she’d always wanted to do, but hadn’t tried. The grandma replied, “Go to college.” The interviewer challenged her, “So why not do it now?” And so she did. Read the rest of this entry »

by Denise Willms

Have you been dreaming of working at home for a long time now, but still haven’t figured out how to make it happen? The old saying is true, if you want your life to be different, you have to do something different.

Here are some things you can do to take positive action and make this the year you really do start to work from home.

1. Make a choice. What are you going to make money from home? A lot of people get stuck on this very first step. I think they’re overwhelmed by all their choices, and afraid of making the wrong one. The worst choice you can make is not to choose anything! If you choose to follow a work-at-home path and later on decide it wasn’t the right one for you, that’s not a mistake. It’s a learning experience, and an important part of learning how to work from home.

2. Start saving. Very few people who work at home make a profit immediately. Start saving now so you can afford to invest the time you need to get your work at home business up and running. You may even want to take a part time job so you can afford your startup expenses.

3. Build relationships with others who are working at home successfully. They may be in your community or online. Ask them what they’re days are really like, and for any advice they have for you. Knowing how others make it work may give you the kick-start you need.

4. Seek out quality information about working from home. Make sure your information comes from reliable sources, and has actually worked for the people who are giving it to you.

5. What has been keeping you back from working at home in the past? Do you have a fear you need to address? Are you lacking confidence? Or do you need to develop a skill? Evaluate what has held you back from making this move, and come up with a strategy to overcome it.

Let’s make this the year you start working from home too!

About the Author:
Denise Willms is a Publicity and Marketing Virtual Assistant and work at home mom of two teenagers. Do you want to know more about how you can work at home too? Visit www.wahm-articles.com and search for work at home articles on the topics you’re most interested in. While you’re there, go ahead and subscribe to the weekly WAHM Tips newsletter. You’ll get new WAHM expert articles delivered to your inbox each week!
Article Source: http://www.wahm-articles.com

by Jennifer May

Many who are already in the work from home industry know most of these terms but those who are just searching and have not understood all that is involved in working from home yet… will not know most of these. This is where educating yourself before searching for work from home is necessary to find what you are looking for. Especially if you want to avoid scams and wasted time on your search.

Below are a list of terms to know when you are searching for work from home or already work from home. This will make it much easier for when you need to disect a word you do not understand in the industry.

Affiliate – An Individual who partners to a product / service and promotes/markets it to others for a commission.

Article Writing – Someone who writes articles online to earn an income or build their opportunity.

Blog – A place where individuals can write and share anything they desire (similar to a journal). You can utilize blogs for personal, promoting, earning an income and/or growing on the internet.

Downline – People you recruit or those under you recruit into your Home Business, Network Marketing, Direct Sales or MLM Company whom are in your organization. Read the rest of this entry »

by Denise Willms

The Problem with Clutter

Did you start your workday with an already cluttered desk? If so, a recent survey conducted in the UK by Avery Dennison Worldwide Office Products indicates you weren’t the only one. More than half of the survey participants couldn’t remember the last time they saw their desks. But, does all this clutter really pose a problem? Sometimes it seems that cleaning up the clutter is more time consuming than working around it.

Clutter interferes with office productivity on a few different levels. First of all, clutter is a time waster in an already full day. Think of the wasted minutes and extra frustration spent sifting through piles looking for that document you had in your hands just yesterday. Secondly, a disorganized environment can leave your mind feeling cluttered too. Being surrounded by so many tasks all requiring your attention makes it difficult to focus on one task or to prioritize your projects properly. And finally, a job doesn’t feel finished until it’s cleaned up. Putting away a finished project provides a feeling of closure, freeing you to fully concentrate on your next task.

The Real Reason Your Desk Is Cluttered

Take heart! Despite your messy desk, you’re not lazy, nor are you a slob. Habit, time management, and your office furniture are all culprits when it comes to desk clutter.
Read the rest of this entry »

by Rev. James L. Snyder

When it comes to gibberish, nobody appreciates it more than Yours Truly. If the truth were fully known, and let’s hope it isn’t, I have engaged in more than my share of gibberish.

Just last week the Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage accosted me on this very subject. I was trying to explain to her why I did not do something she asked me to do when in the middle of my explanation she stopped me and said, “I wish you would stop all of this gibberish and just tell me the truth.”

I did not point out to her at that time – there were other priorities – but later on I mused on what she said. In her statement she made an assumption that I’m not quite sure is absolutely the truth. Her assumption, plain and simple, is that gibberish and truth are not synonymous. According to her, it is either gibberish or it is the truth, and neither shall the twain meet.

I feel, however, that this is not fair.

Undoubtedly, everybody would agree that there are plenty of times when the truth is absolutely essential. The higher up the chain of authority the more essential that truth is.

For example, if I am driving down the road speeding and a police officer stops me and asks me if I was speeding, the truth will set me free. Especially, when the nice police officer has irrefutable evidence that I was in fact speeding. There is absolutely no good that can come from lying in a situation like this.

Then there is the other side. If your wife asks you if the dress she is wearing makes her look fat, believe me, the truth will not set you free. This is where gibberish comes in.

There is a place for everything in life, and I am happy to say that there is a place for gibberish.

Now the question bears asking, what is gibberish?

According to the dictionary, gibberish is “rapid and incoherent talk; unintelligible chatter; jargon.” That definition covers a vast territory of human experience.

Nowhere in that definition does it even suggest that gibberish is the opposite of truth. In fact, gibberish at its best is truth disguised in order not to hurt somebody. That somebody may be yourself or in my case, my wife. I employ the fine art of gibberish so as not to hurt the one I love. And I am sticking with that story.

First, gibberish is “rapid and incoherent talk.” Many a time this has been my salvation. When I am caught, for example, with my hands in the cookie jar and someone catches me and inquires, “What are you doing?” this level of gibberish is employed. And the faster the better. Of course, if your mouth is filled with cookies at the time, all the better.

Then there is the “unintelligible chatter.” This is harder to master. Not the “unintelligible” part. For many of us, especially husbands, this is almost a natural thing. Regardless, it becomes quite easy for us. The chatter part sometimes slows us down. After all, any man who has been married for any length of time rarely gets the opportunity to practice his chattering skills. This is why most husbands talk in their sleep.

Last, but not least is “jargon.” This calls for a specialized language requiring the employment of words that do not mean anything whatsoever. Words like, “thingamajig” and “whatchamacallit.” For those who are going to master the skills of gibberish these kinds of words are absolutely necessary.

When my father was working in the garage, he used to tell me, “Go get me that thingamajig next to the whatchamacallit.” I always brought him the hammer. He always invited me to go outside and play.

Gibberish is a present help in time of trouble.

Nobody has raised gibberish to the high art standard as the humble politician. (The word “humble,” is gibberish and I can’t tell you what it means.) The average politician can say more gibberish in five minutes than the average husband can in a lifetime. And I know they mean well, they do not want to hurt our feelings and so they employ the tactic of gibberish. (The gibberish union must have strong lobbyists in Washington DC to get all this employment).

Some of the gibberish used in the past has been, “I feel your pain.” Certainly you feel my pain. You caused it. And the famous one, “No new taxes.” Of course not, it will be the re-employment of the old taxes. (Again, here is a strong lobbyist representing old taxes union.)

However, in light of all this, there has been an old gibberish that I never quite understood what it meant until lately. I think it was Harry Truman who said, “The buck stops here.” I thought I knew what it meant until lately. Read the rest of this entry »

by Rev. James L. Snyder

Once again, we, the American consumer, have been treated to a celebrity apology. I am not sure what we have done to be treated to such highfalutin entertainment. If I could find out, I would immediately stop doing whatever it is I was doing.

I certainly do not downplay apologies. Heaven knows, I have done my share of apologizing throughout the years. And, reflecting on past activities, I am looking forward to many more apologies in the future. In fact, right now I just would like to apologize for anything I might do or say in the future that would in any way offend anybody. I feel better now that I have said that.

As a connoisseur of apologies, I would like to point out that there are three types of apologies common to mankind. I want to emphasize the word “man.” It seems to me, as someone of experience, that we, husbands in particular, are usually on the husband-side of making an apology. I do not know if it is supposed to be this way, but it usually ends up this way as a matter of course.

The first type of apology is when you have done something wrong and you know it. Believe me, nobody since Adam has ever done anything wrong and not known it. They may deny it, but behind every denial is a lie.

I think doing something wrong is universal among everybody born of a woman. Everybody makes a mistake at some point in his or her life. Those who have made no mistakes are living in a fairytale world of make believe. They make believe they are perfect and people not wanting to cross them go along with the ruse. But normally speaking, making a mistake is part of growing up.

Making a mistake is not the problem; it is what you do after you have made that mistake. That is where apology comes into play. Read the rest of this entry »

by Shelly Hill

When it comes to networking on forum boards, are you building a quality business reputation? Do you even know how to properly network on forums?

I would like to share a few important tips on how to make your networking experience a positive one, for you and your business reputation.

1. Read All Rules and Guidelines. It is very important to read all of the forum board rules, before proceeding with your first post. Rules and Guidelines vary from forum to forum, don’t assume they are all the same. If you feel you can abide by the rules posted, then it’s time to proceed to step 2.

2. Fill Out Your Forum Profile. Your forum profile is very important, so please don’t overlook filling it out. Try to be as complete as possible with the information requested on your profile. Forum members do read new member’s profiles. It’s a great way to let others know about you and your business, without having to spam an Ad. It’s equally important to make yourself a signature tag, while filling out your profile. Most forums won’t allow business links in the body, of the message board post. Read the rest of this entry »

by Rev. James L. Snyder

This week the Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage and Yours Truly had the privilege of attending our youngest granddaughter’s second birthday party. I wanted to go to her third birthday party but she was not old enough yet. So, I will have to wait another year.

On the way home we sat in silence thinking about the party we had just attended. It just does not seem possible that we have eight grandchildren. I broke the silence with a little comment along this line. “I’m just not old enough to be a grandfather of eight grandchildren. I don’t feel old enough to be a grandfather”

From the other passenger in the car came a rather sarcastic snicker, if I say so myself.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” I retorted.

“Well,” she said rather slowly as if she was trying to collect her thoughts and use the right words, “believe me, putting all feelings aside, you’re old enough.”

I did not quite know what she meant by that, and I was afraid if I ask she would tell me. I quickly changed the subject and said, “Didn’t Jordin look cute with birthday cake all over her face?”

She laughed.

Then, I thought I was talking to myself but apparently, I said it aloud, a least loud enough for my wife to hear. “I wonder what it’s like to be two years old?” Read the rest of this entry »