Getting the Story Down

Questions and answers on writing life experiences for ourselves and others.

Index of Questions

1. Why is it important to record life stories?

2. What if your life seems boring and ordinary? Who will want to read it?

3. What is the best way to capture the story? Video, oral tapes, written narrative etc.

4. What is a story? Definitions of different types of life experiences and how they are captured.

5. Who's who in the capture of a life event: Story teller, listener, interviewer, historian, audience, transciptionist, archivist etc.

6. What is the role of a listener? How should the questions be phrased so that bias or personality is subdued and the storyteller is in charge?

7. Is the role different if the storyteller is facing a life threatening disease?

8. How do you handle it if in telling of the story emotions and repressed feelings surface?

9. How do you get enough information? When do you turn to family members or public records?

10. How much time does it take to complete a story? Everyone is so busy and life goes by so quickly, how can I ever squeeze this in?

11. What is truth? Why would two different people present at the same event see it entirely different and which version do you believe and record?

12. How should you convey the story? First person, third person, lots of photos with captions, small easily read sections or one long letter?

13. What are the main types of personal anecdotes, life events, experiences, tragedies and triumphs that make a good memoir?

14. How do you narrow it down to the "real" story? What is hidden beneath the iceberg?

15. What are some questions to jog memories?

16. What about editing, spelling, composition etc? What if others judge your work and find it less than perfect?

17. How do you structure the narrative so that it is interesting, believable and leaves the message the story teller wanted to convey?

18. What do you do with the narrative when you have finished writing it?

19. Who does the finished work belong to?

20. Where can you find additional assistance on personal historians or story telling issues?

21. Where is the paper and pen?

If you are interested in getting the answers to these and other questions about life story writing, please contact us at judywright@artichokepress.com and sign up for a tele-class and our FREE e-zine: "The Artichoke" - finding the heart of the story in the journey of life..

?Judy H. Wright, Personal and Oral Historian - www.artichokepress.com

The Inn at Woodstock Hill: Classic New England Atmosphere in Beautiful Northeastern Connecticut

Many vacation spots purport to offer true relaxation, but upon closer inspection impede the promise with myriad outlet stores, souvenir shops, heavy traffic akin to the kind you were trying to ecsape, and trendy restaurants offering lots of attitude and very little food.

The Inn at Woodstock Hill, in Northeastern Connecticut's pristine town of Woodstock, avoids these modern day tourist trappings by just being itself. And, in turn, you can be yourself. Beautifuly situated in the gentle rolling hills of a town center with no traffic, gas stations and few stores, The Inn at Woodstock Hill is like meeting that special, once-in-a-lifetime love--once you meet this romantic vacation destiny, you're sure to return again and again.

Around the corner from the bustling downtown complete with a produce stand, a church and colonial homes (the town's idea of a strip mall are rows of apple orchards), the placid Inn at Woodstock Hill could convince the most hardcore business executive to slow down, breathe in the untouched air, and marvel at the old and wise tall trees. First, consider the nice, warm people who make the Inn at Woodstock Hill such a special place. They just don't tell you to have a nice time, but actually are part of that experience with nice conversation and a graciousness only known in a previous New England era. They make you feel like a part of their lives, and that is truly rare in this one-hour, fast food, drive-through society in which we live.

The Inn, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, stands majestically on Plain Hill. Built in 1816, the Inn largely consists of a Federal/Georgian style mansion with a carriage house and two barns. Later additions were built in the last half of the 19th century. In 1927, a caretaker's cottage, with three guestrooms, was built.

Everything you see here is truly beautiful, the prototype for an elegant country inn. As you drive up the circular entrance drive, you see the manicured gardens and know that you are in for a special treat. Upon entering the remarkably renovated inn, the warmth of classical archways draw you deeper into the heart of the stately establishment, to the reception desk. Surrounded by floral wall and window treatments and scattered, but well-placed thriving plants reminiscent of your grandmother's house, you are suddenly feeling more relaxed and begin eyeing the comfortable-looking seating in the sitting rooms, lined by shelves of old classics (and also a children's literature section) and newer releases.

The Inn at Woodstock Hill offers 22 beautiful rooms. We recently had the honor of staying in a room with a strikingly charming 20 foot high ceiling, antique and period reproductions and a four poster canopy king sized bed. Big windows provided wonderful views of the open land and hills beautifully framing the backyard. We later realized that modern amenities also existed such as cable television, videos, a telephone and computer jack, but none of that interested us much. We were strictly interested in doing nothing, which is ultimately everything.

So comfortable was our nap that we almost forgot about our dinner reservations downstairs at what turned out to be a truly remarkable restaurant. We walked down the elegant red carpeted, curved staircase (which was wrapped in tulle, with just the right amount of ivy and floral accents to make you feel as if you were royalty floating down to meet your subjects) straight to a charming little dining room with candlelight, a fireplace and old world furnishings. This was the smaller dining room which was long on warmth, ambience and an incredibly fine menu. We devoured some crab cakes, as good as anything we've had in Maryland. The caesar salad mixed fresh dark greens with a "just right" dressing. After finishing some wonderfully warm homemade bread, we then fell in love with the irresistablly tender and tasty Long Island duckling with a brandied lingonberry glaze. The New York sirloin steak had perhaps a little too much pepper, but that was no problem, as the quality of the steak rivaled the best steak houses in New England. For dessert, we sampled a fallen chocolate cake, which we had instantly fallen for. Not in recent memory had we tasted such a rich, yet airy chocolate, with just the right amount of raspberry sauce, ultimately designed to finish within seconds because of its incredible taste.

After dinner, we walked off some of the food by experiencing the other rooms at the Inn. The main living room has yet more stunning period furnishings, a roaring fireplace, classic hardwood floors and large, open windows to view those rolling hills beyond scenic Route 169. The main dining room is like a larger version of the smaller dining room, but probably more reminiscent of an old world hotel dining room. Candlelight, soft music, polished silver, beautiful crystal and fine linen are just a few of the touches, which complement the superb food.

Before retiring for the evening, we chatted for a while with a manager who told us of the virtues of the Woodstock area, also known as part of the "Quiet Corner" of Connecticut. He, as well, as other Inn personnel are either happy transplants or lifelong residents. It was touching to hear someone speak from the heart on the place they have chosen to live, instead of uttering cookie cutter promotional talk. Just like the leisurely look of the Inn, the personnel talks in a most relaxed and friendly tone. You never feel an aura of pretentiousness, which could be the case at such an elegant, historical setting.

We slept so well that night in one of the most comfortable beds known to us. Refreshed the next morning, we walked down that memorable staircase one more time to have a fine continental breakfast, with fresh fruit, muffins and bread serving as quality offerings.

We then rested a little more in our room, hesitatingly signed out, and promised to come back soon. Traveling home on scenic Route 169 -- one of the most beautiful bucolic drives in New England -- gave us some great last memories of this underrated region, but in our minds, we wanted to turn around and head back to the Inn at Woodstock Hill. Just hours after leaving the Inn, we missed it greatly, indeed like meeting that special someone for the first time, and then eagerly awaiting that second date. We can hardly wait for that second date, with an eye to commit ourselves, forever, to frequenting this classic New England inn.

The Inn at Woodstock Hill, 94 Plaine Hill Road,Woodstock, CT 06281-2912. Phone: (860) 928-0528

Visiting New England.com (http://www.visitingnewengland.com) is a lively travel and vacation web site, focusing on travel essays, reviews, resources and gift ideas. From dining and lodging to discovering the best tourist destinations (well known and hidden gems), Visiting New England.com is written by native New Englanders, having an inside scoop on the wonderful six state region.

Remote Viewing - Making Light of the Dark

Even Pandora and her box come in two versions. In one, the hideous woes of the world are let loose while locking hope inside. In another, life's joys are allowed to overflow their container, leaving the dark behind. In both versions, the light and dark of all metaphor clearly exists in perpetuity.

In fact, light and dark do more than merely co-exist. These major components of creation make up the container of all things. This dynamic juxtaposition is what holds our very life in its hands - the cosmic glue that binds us all to the pulse of spiritual continuity. As Pandora eventually discovers, it is the box that is the illusion.

What's In the Box?

The last half of the 20th century, the Soviet Union loomed large in the picture of potential threats. When word got out that Russian scientists. were experimenting successfully with psi phenomena for espionage and remote influencing, Washington began to take notice. So it comes as no surprise to learn that Remote Viewing began life as a secret so tightly guarded that outside of the scientists and small groups of research subjects involved, only a handful of elected officials and a precious few generals knew of its existence as a developing intelligence gathering and counter-espionage tool. Its official definition:

"? the learned ability to transcend time and space to view people, places and things remote in time and space, gather intelligence and report back on same."

Paranormal research was not unknown. Now, however, government was willing to pay. Something previously sneered at had suddenly become the agenda that stretched the minds and hearts of those who had sworn to defend their country with all means at their disposal. ?But "Remote Viewing"? That was heretofore undemonstrated courage of a different kind!

Under the watchful eye of the CIA and the Department of Defense, collaboration began between science and "psience", to coin a phrase. What emerged was an artful protocol, the brilliant construction of artist and psychic, Ingo Swann, who, together with other team members, produced an untiringly researched, scientifically documented experiment. With courageous support from some upper echelons of the military, a top-secret unit of psychic spies, was born.

Whatever can be said in hindsight about the experiences of those who were chosen to serve in this way, one indisputable fact remains: Remote Viewing changed the lives of these men and women and their families and friends forever. Trapped in that proverbial box was not only the "secret weapon" of a privileged few but a tool of enlightenment awaiting freedom.

Blowing the Lid Off

Enter Psychic Warrior. The controversy and intrigue surrounding the publishing of David Morehouse's book still reverberates today. Armed with the knowledge that their secret was about to see the light of day, the CIA began to release its own "expose". As the box cracked open, information and misinformation was released to bolster the illusion of containment. Pandora winked.

As Psychic Warrior and the former cadre of Remote Viewers drew global attention, the powers that be decided to officially pull the plug. proclaiming it a defunct unsuccessful experiment in wishful thinking. But Remote Viewing was far from dead.

Mining the Gold

I am a Remote Viewer, trained by one of the original members of the unit. As a therapist, knowledge of trauma and the workings of the brain and nervous system renders the connection between Remote Viewing and the quest for expanded consciousness and healing unmistakably clear.

I have yet to find a process which offers a more distinctly lucid vantage point from which to view the anatomy of human behavior, conscious and unconscious. For me, therein lies the gold. As much as it is awe-inspiring to view things remote in time and space, it is the simultaneous view of the human process that never ceases to amaze. It is the expanded knowledge of self and the palpably extended worldview of one's existence with which one walks out of the classroom and back into life that makes the difference.

Contrasts abound. The farther out we look, the deeper inward we see. What began as a tightly contained "dangerous" secret now takes its place as a global tool of conscious enlightenment and spiritual worth. What was produced in the darkness of suspicion and couched as a threat to survival has emerged as a mighty implement of truth with the potential for breaking the global cycle of trauma. Remote Viewing is a gift belonging to us all that is well worth unleashing.

(Copyright Talia Shafir, MA, C.C.Ht., 2004, all rights reserved)

Talia Shafir, MA, C.C.Ht., is based in Sebastopol, California and is the co-founder of the Center for Integrated Therapy, a haven for a broad spectrum of transpersonal, body-centered work. A regression therapist specializing in an embodied approach to acute trauma and long term post traumatic stress, she holds a masters from Columbia University. She works with clients both in the Greater San Francisco Bay Area and internationally.

Talia trained and worked with David Morehouse and several other members of the former military "psychic spy" unit. She now teaches and lectures about Remote Viewing throughout the country, adding her insights for its use as a tool of expanded consciousness and personal growth.

For information about workshops and trainings upcoming in the area, log on to http://www.soulview.com

Lock, Stock, and Barrel!

The other night I was watching a classic western from 1969, Sergio Leone's "Once Upon A Time In The West".

There's a scene in this movie where an auction is being held for the widow Jill's land holdings. In this scene, the auctioneer gavels the auction open by pronouncing that the land is now for sale "lock, stock, and barrel".

Now I have heard this clich? "lock, stock, and barrel" many times before in my life. Haven't you?

I got the gist of its meaning by the context in which it was spoken.

But upon hearing it the other night, I realized that I couldn't put into my own words what the phrase means, or its history if ever asked.

Perhaps "stock" referred to livestock (which are farm animals).

Barrel - well they stored flour, sugar, and a lot of other staples in barrels in the old west.

And lock - maybe that referred to getting the keys to everything or something (I don't know - I am really reaching here on this one).

I thought that this would be a cool thing to read up on and share. So here it is.

"Lock, stock, and barrel" in common usage means you are getting the whole thing or everything inclusive being sold, and no less. My thesaurus shows "finite quantity" as a synonym for this phrase.

The three nouns "Lock, stock, and barrel" refer to the three parts of a musket rifle. Boy was I way off on that.

Stock and barrel make more sense now. A rifle has a barrel that the bullet (or musket ball) flies out of. A rifle also has a wooden stock by which you hold and steady the rifle with.

And lock refers to the firing mechanism of a musket rifle. Turns out the firing mechanism used to be called the firelock.

No way would I have guessed that one.

Lock stock and barrel then refer to getting the whole rifle, not just part of it.

So now you know just what someone means the next time someone tries to sell you a farm lock, stock, and barrel!

? 1999-2004 Shamus Brown, All Rights Reserved.

Shamus Brown is a Professional Sales Coach and former high-tech sales pro who began his career selling for IBM. Shamus has written more than 50 articles on selling and is the creator of the popular Persuasive Selling Skills CD Audio Program. You can read more of Shamus Brown's sales tips at http://Sales-Tips.industrialEGO.com/ and you can learn more about his persuasive sales skills training at http://www.Persuasive-Sales-Skills.com/

10 Secrets to Free Publicity

Public relations is popular because it is very cost-effective and it works. If you send out one press release, for example, and it gets into print, it could generate more interest in your product or service.

Businesses that want a leg up on their competition need to focus on boosting their public relations (PR) efforts. This keeps them from going under when the economy is weak, and gets them ahead of their competitors when sales start picking up. Now is the perfect time to get a fresh start on your publicity strategies.

Here are ten tips to help you use free publicity to kick-start a business into high gear:

1.Articles: Articles don't have to be long; they just need to be informative. Writing articles gives you instant credibility, too. Submitting online, as well as offline, provides another good chance to get your name in print at no cost. Be sure to put your contact information in a contact resource box at the end of the article.

2. Press releases: Reporters everywhere are looking for stories, and a press release gives them the information to write that story. Just make sure it's newsworthy, not just an advertisement.

3. Newsletters: Writing a newsletter is another way to keep your name top-of-mind. This can be online or offline. Both contain content valuable to your target market and many times advertise your products and services. The cost of this is nothing, yet the return potential is infinite.

4. Business cards: Think of your business card as a small billboard and start handing them out everywhere. Include them in all your correspondence ? even in your bills!

5. Public speaking: Speaking in front of an audience usually makes you an expert. People like to buy from experts. If they're in your audience, then they'll remember your expertise and come to you when they need your product or service. Speaking is free, and it's just like making a sales call to many people at one time.

6. Free reports: Offering a free report online is a good way to get an e-mail from prospects so you may market to them later. This is the whole basis of permission-based marketing, or opt-in lists. You can do the same thing offline.

7. Radio: Radio is expensive, you say? Not if you are being interviewed or calling in on a talk show. Getting interviewed is free, except for your continual follow-up with producers. Calling in is free, but sometimes it's hard to relay contact information.

8. Online forum participation: There are many online newsgroups or forums for a particular subject area. Participating in these is another way to get your name out. Many online forums will let you put an e-mail signature with a link to your site or message with another site linked. Take full advantage of this; these links get clicked often when of interest to the forum participants.

9. Strategic alliances: Introduce yourself to other businesspeople who don't compete with you but sell products or services to the same target audience. Offer to promote them if they promote you. Make sure they're people you like and trust.

10. Letters to the editor: Many times a letter to the editor has a better chance of getting published than the actual press release. You'd be surprised how many people read this column in publications. This is also another way to become friends with the editor. If they see you enough and match you with a newsworthy press release, then your chances of getting a press release in print increases.

Shannon Cherry, APR, MA helps businesses, entrepreneurs and nonprofit organizations to be heard. She's a marketing communications and public relations expert with more than 15 years experience and the owner of Cherry Communications. Subscribe today for Be Heard! a FREE biweekly ezine and get the FREE special report: "Get Set For Success: Creative, Low-Cost Marketing Tips to Help You be Heard." Go to: http://www.cherrycommunications.com/

The Personality of a Virgo Child

Your Virgo Baby..

August 23 - September 22

Virgo children are honest and reliable and usually tidy, although they may have bouts of being disorganised. Quick and alert, your Virgo child can be an excellent mimic, and is likely to be an early talker and, later, an early reader.

Virgo children are usually shy amongst strangers and can become upset if teased. Sometimes Virgos are fussy eaters, but they will try very hard to please if they know what is expected of them. Your Virgo child will need lots of encouragement to make friends and develop relationships. They sometimes have little confidence in their own attractiveness to others and opt for solitary pursuits. Parents will need to give lots of hugs and affection to build self-confidence. Virgo children can sometimes feel lonely.

Young Virgos will be helpful around the house, especially if imitating an adult, and careful with their belongings. They can become irritated if other children fail to meet their own exacting standards when playing with toys or tidying them away. Parents of Virgos should encourage the reading of fairy stories and myths and play make-believe games. When they are older, Virgos enjoy remembering magical moments.

A typical Virgo child is healthy, although if they become unhappy or worried about something, they may succomb to hypercondria. Typical illnesses include diarrhoea, appendicitis and indigestion.

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Author: Tony Luck who runs a site with advice about having a baby and childcare. Included is the famous Chinese Birth Chart which supposedly forecasts whether you will have a boy or girl.

A Look at Meditation

I've counseled many people from every background and led workshops and lectures about self-empowering topics for about 25 years. Over that time, I saw a need. Everyone was searching. What they were looking for was unclear, many times. But the search was on. While I could meet many of their immediate needs, through counseling, they still needed a source, or connection with who they really were.

This was not a religious pursuit, per se, but a spiritual one. We all need to know our inner self. And the best way for us to get there is through meditation: a quiet time of some sort---contemplation. So out of that need, I saw an answer. Spreading information about basic meditation became my mission.

Almost all of the information I received about meditation over the years was through personal experience-trial and error. I did not read any books on the subject. They all seemed too deep and philosophical. And many times, the books included a whole cultural exploration. This is good for someone looking into historical information, or perhaps a religious belief. But just to know the basics of what meditation is and how to do it, there wasn't anything.

I've been able to connect very well with the groups I've spoken to because I've been in their shoes. I had first hand experience looking for my own inner self. And so, the column you see here will explore for you, the personal experiences of the proverbial searcher.

I had just graduated from high school, and was looking for some kind of personal project for the summer. Since I lived in a very small town, and it was in the 1960's, I was very surprised to find a yoga class being offered at the nearby middle school. I was always open for the new and different, and this fit the bill.

I joined the class as soon as I could and found myself in some very strange positions. But there was one position that I kept going back to. It was sitting cross-legged with my hands resting on my knees, palms up. It immediately made me sit straight, and my spine was relaxed.

While practicing this position at home, a strange thing happened. I began to feel unusual. There wasn't any way I could describe it. But it was a kind of light-headed feeling---almost like dropping off to sleep---but I was awake.

I asked the instructor about it on the very next session. She assured me it was fine. But I had my reservations. So I stopped. I didn't go back to the class. And I didn't continue with the yoga practice.

I found out much later that I was beginning meditation. The instructor must have been concerned about giving too much information about yoga philosophy and the spiritual traditions of Eastern India. Our community was extremely slow about accepting new ideas. She was probably reluctant to introduce something new that could cause problems. So the yoga positions were only taught as an exercise.

I imagine many new or different ideas were stifled in the beginning. Some hesitate to share information for fear of being rejected or ostracized. And some of us hesitate to look at new information because we're afraid of rocking the boat.

As you explore the concept of meditation, you will learn about the varied benefits that can be brought about by meditation, including health, emotional release, and self- empowerment. You will realize that meditation is about ease.

The Purpose of Meditation

Meditation is a way to connect with the inner self, or what some believe is the Divine Spark of God that we all are. It is to become quiet: to allow all outside disturbances to fade away, to be comfortable with the quiet. That quiet, or silence, which is allowed in, can calm the mind, restore the body, and define a spiritual path. Let's take this opportunity to try a sample meditation on for size. Remember that this is a sample. It gives us the chance to practice. And in practicing, we learn.

Bringing In A Quiet Moment

Take a moment out of your busy day. Go for a five-minute walk by yourself. Pay attention to the sound of your footsteps. Let it become even with your heartbeat. When this rhythm within you overrides the sounds of the day, take a deep cleansing breath. Look at the sky. Watch the clouds. Just enjoy the moment. This is the skill of meditation. It is nothing harder than that: just taking a moment, and relaxing into it. Allow your mind to relax into it.

This is just a very quick way for everyone to get some idea of what meditation is like. There are plenty of different types of meditations, as many as there are people. It requires a few undisturbed minutes, dedication and a desire. It will open up a whole new world for you. Just give it a try.

Copyright 2003, Melissa Leath

Rev. Melissa Leath is a personal growth and metaphysical counselor and meditation instructor. Explore more about the ease of meditation by visiting her website: http://www.MeditationMadeEasy.com

Cash Til Payday Loans - When Is The Best Time To Get A Quick Cash Loan

There are times when a cash advance loan or payday loan may be a good way to get you out of a tight, financial scrape. There are times when a payday loan may be a wise decision. Keep in mind, this is assuming that you definitely have the ability to pay back the loan right away. Here are some examples of times when using a payday loan might be a good idea:

1. If the late fee on not making the payment that you would need to make, would be more than the fee for taking out a payday loan.

2. When, if you don't make the needed payment on time, it could hurt your credit. Your credit is something you cannot erase. Having the payment show up late on your credit, can make it harder for you to obtain a loan for years, while a fee for a payday loan is only temporary.

3. When there is a much more serious, long-term consequence to not paying for your immediate need, more serious than a $30-50 fee.

4. To save yourself from bounced checks, the fees for bounced checks can quickly total much more than the fee for taking out the cash advance loan.

The bottom line is, you want to make sure before you take out a payday loan that you are doing it for the right reasons. The only major consequence to a payday loan is the fee incurred. If having the money right then can get you out of a much more serious bind than a $30-50 fee, then it is probably a good solution to a temporary problem.

The times when a payday loan would not be wise, would be to make an impulse purchase or to have some extra money, when it is not absolutely crucial to have it. The reason for that is that the fees on a cash advance or payday loan, are small for just a few weeks, but if, for any reason you are unable to pay the loan back right away, those fees can add up very quickly and make it more and more difficult to pay the loan back. So, you want to make sure that you are using the loan to pay for a necessity. So, if you are sure that you have enough money coming in to pay back the loan, and in the long run, getting the cash advance or payday loan will either save you money or keep you from serious or long term consequences, then it is probably best to get the loan.

To view a list of recommended payday loan companies online, visit this page Recommended PayDay Loan Companies Online.

Carrie Reeder is the owner of ABC Loan Guide. ABC Loan Guide is an informational loan website with informative articles and the latest finance news about various types of loans.

Winning the Thought Battle

If you have read my articles or heard me speak, you know that I always come down to action. We need to act if we are going to be successful!

Yet, our success starts long before our actions. In fact, our success begins in our thoughts.

The process is that thoughts become actions and actions produce results. So the equation starts with the thoughts. So the key to success is to start with and control the thoughts that we have. Good thoughts become good actions become good results.

But there is this predicament we have as humans. It is this "battle" we have with our thoughts. Thoughts of depression, negative thoughts, thoughts of fear etc constantly creep into our minds and cause us to act in certain ways that are going to produce the antithesis of the kind we want that will produce success.

So what can we do to win the battle with thoughts? Here are a few main points. Apply these immediately and then constantly and you will be on your way to winning the thought battle.

Guard your mind. Pretend that behind that forehead of yours is a very precious thing ? your mind ? because it is precious. If you had a storehouse of gold in your house, you would hire an armed guard to stand watch and keep all the bad guys out. Yet, many of us let any old ting come into our minds. We need to keep the bad thoughts, the negative thoughts O-U-T! Now when I say this, I mean both the ones that start in our heads and the ones that come from external sources.

Proactively place good thoughts in your head. Just like a garden, where you weed, or pull the bad stuff out, and plant, put the good stuff in, so we do the same thing with our thoughts. Buy tapes and music that will produce good, happy thoughts in your head! Watch TV programs and videos that put good thoughts in your head!

Avoid the naysayers. They are all around you. You work with them, you live near them ? some are even in your family! Whatever you do, do not let them affect you with their negative thoughts. Spend as little time as you can with them (unless it is your spouse or kids ? then you need counseling!)

Act on the positive thoughts that you do have. When a positive thought comes into your head, act on it! This will begin to produce a "bridge" between what you think and how you act! This will then make that transition even easier as time goes by!

Four key ideas to win the thought battle: Guard your mind. Proactively place good thoughts in your head. Avoid the naysayers. Act on the positive thoughts that you do have.

Go forth and Win the Battle!

About The Author:

Chris Widener is a popular speaker and writer as well as the President of Made for Success, a company helping individuals and organizations turn their potential into performance, succeed in every area of their lives and achieve their dreams.

To see Chris "live" at the upcoming Jim Rohn Weekend Event as he speaks on the subject of Secrets of Influence go to http://Chris-Widener.InspiresYOU.com/ or call 800-929-0434.

Shopping Tips: How to Make The Right Choices

Spending a lot on clothes or wearing designer labels does not guarantee that you will look chic; nor does having a large wardrobe guarantee it either. How good you look depends largely on what you choose to wear and how well it suits you. It may be the latest fad and look great on the department store model but not do anything for you. This is why it is important to know your body shape, the styles that accentuate it and how to create a fabulous look without spending a fortune.

1. Start your clothes shopping like you would shop for groceries ? with a list. Take inventory of what you have in your closet and what new items will expand your wardrobe. Whatever you buy should match at least 3 other wardrobe pieces.

2. To get more for less, buy timeless basics and stay away from fads. For example, a skirt with layers of frills may be in style this season but be totally wrong for any season after. It will end up sitting in your closet and be on your "bad purchase" list.

3. If you are starting a working wardrobe and want to get a jump-start, try making black a basic color. It will be easy to coordinate with other items and always looks great.

4. Try on everything before you buy and make sure it feels comfortable. If it rides up, itches, is too tight or can only be worn on special occasions then it is not a good purchase.

5. Do not buy items that are 50 ? 70% off if it is not something that you would want to buy at regular price. It is not a great deal if it doesn't' fit with your existing wardrobe. It will end up at the back of your closet.

6. Shop for what you need keeping quality in mind. Before buying take into consideration washing instructions. If you have to spend a lot on dry cleaning then your bargain is no longer a bargain. If you are afraid to wash it maybe it's best left in the store and if it has cheap workmanship don't buy it. Look for high quality at a lower price at the end of the season.

7. To create a stunning image consideration must be paid to grooming such as hair, skin, teeth and makeup. The best outfit in the world will look horrible if the woman does not have good grooming habits.

? Copyright Sheila Dicks 2005

Sheila Dicks is an Image and Wardrobe consultant who helps women feel more confident by dressing to suit their body type. To get tips on how to dress slimmer and find your best styles get a copy of her ebook "Image Makeover" at http://www.how-to-dress.com or go to http://www.sheilasfashionsense.com to get the Free Report " 7 Things Your Girlfriends Won't Tell You About Beauty and Fashion".

How To Boost Your Credit Score

Years ago your credit score was a big secret, known only to a select few such as your mortgage and credit card companies. In 2000, Fair, Isaac Co., the major supplier of credit scoring software, announced they would begin sharing credit scores, also known as FICO scores, with consumers.

What is a credit score? A credit score is a tool used by credit grantors to determine your ability to repay your debts. The information in your credit report is compared and evaluated against tens of millions of other consumer credit reports which gives you a credit score or number ranging from 350 (highest credit risk) up to 800 (lowest credit risk). A higher score means you are less likely to make late payments or default on the credit extended to you. Your credit score will change as the information in your credit report changes over time.

Following is a short overview of the five major categories of credit information that are used in determining your credit score and guidelines for scoring higher.

PAYMENT HISTORY (35 percent)

Paying your current bills on time is the single most important factor in obtaining a high credit score. This category includes credit cards like Visa and MasterCard, retail accounts, installment loans such as those for a car or education, loans from finance companies, and home mortgages. Also included in this category are matters of public record such as bankruptcies, liens, wage garnishments, and collection accounts. The key to a higher score: Pay your bills on time!

HOW MUCH DEBT YOU CARRY (30 percent)

This category considers the amount of debt you owe on your various credit accounts. If you've "maxed out" your available credit, this could indicate that you are overextended financially and won't be able to make your payments on time or repay your debts completely. This category also examines how many of your accounts carry balances and how much money you've already repaid. Closing accounts with a zero balance does not generally improve your score in this area. The key to a higher score: Keep your credit card balances low.

LENGTH OF ESTABLISHED CREDIT (15 percent)

The longer you've had credit accounts the higher you will score in this area. The age of your oldest account and the average age of all your accounts are used in determining your score. Old accounts that have gone unused are also considered. The key to a higher score: Establish good credit and keep accounts active.

APPLICATIONS FOR NEW CREDIT (10 percent)

Opening multiple credit accounts within a short period of time represents a greater risk of becoming overextended. Each time you apply for credit an inquiry is made into your credit history and these inquiries show up in your credit report. A high number of credit inquiries will lower your score.

Some inquiries are not considered in your score. These include: requests by you for your credit report, inquiries from companies for pre-approved offers or companies that already do business with you, along with inquiries from potential employers. Some requests for credit are treated as a single inquiry especially when you are shopping for the best loan rate. The key to a higher score: Only apply for and open new credit accounts when you need them.

YOUR CREDIT MIX (10 percent)

This category examines the types of credit accounts you have and how many of each. Can a person have too many accounts? Yes and no. It really depends on whether you have an established credit history or no credit history at all. The key to a higher score: Open credit accounts only if you intend to use them.

Don't despair if you have a low score or are just beginning to establish credit. Your credit score will change for better or worse depending on how well you understand and use these five keys to your advantage in planning your financial future.

About The Author

? 2004, James H. Dimmitt, http://www.yourfreecreditreportnow.com

James is editor of "TO YOUR CREDIT", a weekly free newsletter to help you manage your personal finances. Subscribe to the newsletter by visiting http://www.yourfreecreditreportnow.com. He is also author of "Identity Theft - How to Avoid Becoming the Next Victim!" available at http://tinyurl.com/bc45

jimdim815@aol.com

How to Survive Sudden Leadership Challenges - Covey Has Some Clues

I have decided to start with this text as simply far too many people have said to me I should - it clearly has an enormous following of people who found the message rang true for them.

In the introduction to the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People Covey talks about how we perceive reality based on certain beliefs or paradigm.

As an example, he tells the story of a ship in a fog, apparently on a collision course with another craft. The captain, having become quite agitated at the other crafts refusal to alter course, experienced a significant paradigm shift when it was realised that the other craft was a lighthouse. The captain then faced a situation in a new light(no pun intended). His reality and behaviour altered by the new understanding. The message is that often we forget that what we think is reality, is only what we see. Just ask any magician!!

A strong thread through this first section is that people don't do things to you. They are acting on their reality in the same way as you are seeing motives behind their actions based on what you can see. When the feeling of being "done to" rises we too often look to blame something external. What Covey is saying, is that only by understanding the perceived reality of the do'er, can we find the common reality necessary to both appreciate the true middle ground.

This is not easy. When I have been in the position where I was sure someone was doing something just to get back at me, I struggle to even consider their position in any unfiltered light. I have needed someone I trust to take me aside and say "Listen Steve, no matter what you think, this person is doing this because they truly believe it for the good of the group". This was something I would not even had heard from the person in question, and frankly was not that easy to hear from my then trusted coach. Covey has a great quote "What you are shouts so loudly in my ears I cannot her what you say" -how many times has that been the case?

He speaks of an "inside-out" approach to problems, that means to start with ourselves and what?s happening on the inside. As an example this approach says that private victories precede public ones, that keeping promises to ourselves precedes keeping promises to others.

"Character is a composite of our habits"

"habits are the intersection of Knowledge, Skill and Desire."

These statements under pin the rest of the book.

Covey talks about three levels of maturity. Dependence where everything is about "you"(someone else) that we are dependent upon. Independence, where its all about I - I am responsible and I can do it. This is where I feel many leaders stop. With the confidence of only themselves they try to drive others to their dreams.

Interdependence is where its all about we. Being a natural introvert, this is something I have to learn. I am far more comfortable doing my stuff on my own. The thought of having to rely on others for part of my dreams does not feel natural. That may be a bit harsh, in fact there are a few individuals I have worked with where is has not been an issue of leadership, more of partnership. My issue is to expand these to a wider number of people.

Covey talks about how interdependence can feel like dependence and therefore not a step forward. Often phrased as "doing their own thing" or being liberated people move back from potential interdependence to independence.

The rest of the book is divided into three main parts. The first three chapters deal with taking people from dependence to independence. Now if you are like me, you think this is a step you have already taken. This maybe so, but these chapters are going to heighten our self awareness and cement us at or above the level of independence. Covey describes these as "Private Victories".

Habits four to seven are the "Public Victories" that will move us from independence to interdependence, and the last habit is about continuous improvement.

Covey then talks about efficiency as the necessary balance between return and investment. Or as he calls it Production and production Capacity (P/PC). An interesting quote here for me was "..always treat your employees as you would have them treat your best customers." He speaks of how you can employ people but the extra special part of the individual has to be won, passionate employees are there for more than the money, is the way I see it. This is where the interdependence and trusting those you work with all starts to come together.

The final message of the introduction is:

"No one can persuade another to change. Each of us guards a gate of change that can only be opened from the inside".

For me this is a moment of commitment. I feel that I have a choice here and now. I can leave the gate closed and go on as before, or open it and dive into the rest of this text... "and see how deep the rabbit hole goes" as Morpheus said.

Be brave, be famous.

Cheers Steve

Come with me as I discover the keys to surviving sudden leadership... http://2leadership.com

Print Your Marketing Postcards For A Penny, Address Them For Free, and Automate the Whole Process

This article will show you how to cut your printing costs to a penny and have your postcards addressed for free without doing it all yourself, reducing the time you invest in your mailing to almost nothing.

So, you have a list of hot prospects in hand; you need a way to get your marketing message in front of them with the hope that a reasonable percentage will call you. You decide that you want to send a postcard to each prospect.

You open the yellow pages and randomly select a printer.

After explaining what you want, she gives you a quote of eleven cents per postcard. That seems like more than you wanted to spend, so you call a few more printers. Several phone calls later, you finally get a quote that meets your budget--six cents each.

A week later you have the postcards in hand. You sit down with your list on one side and a pile of hundreds of postcards on the other side (if you aren't sending at least hundreds at a time, don't expect much of a response). You pop a couple of your favorite DVDs into the disc changer and settle in for an evening of addressing your postcards.

You finish the first and cross it off your list. After scribbling through the first fifty, you look at the clock and realize this is taking much longer than expected. All the same, you are determined so you continue.

Two movies, two pens, and one band-aid later (for that pesky papercut), you finally reach the end. The smile that cracks on your face is broken by the thought that you still need to stamp them. One movie, one sponge, and hundreds of stamps later, you really reach the end.

Despite the feeling of accomplishment, you can't help feeling dread at the thought of going through the process again in two weeks when you mail to the list again (if you are not following up with your prospects multiple times, again, you are wasting your time). There must be a better way.

Does this scenario sound familiar? If so, then keep reading. I am about to show you how you can change that. You will be able to quickly setup multiple mailings in advance, sit back, and just wait for them to go out on the specified date.

For those who haven't yet experienced preparing your mailings by hand, feel free to try it for yourself once and then we'll see you back here in a couple weeks when you are ready to appreciate what I am about to share.

Leveraging Your Time Effectively

Time is as precious as your cash flow and it should be leveraged just as carefully. Developing efficient systems and automating repetitive tasks is essential to your success as a business. When it comes to postcards and other similar mailings, the United States Postal Service has taken care of this for you. The postcard mailing system I am about to share with you is based on a service available online at:

http://www.usps.com/mailingonline

The first time you visit the Mailing Online web page, you will need to click on the Sign-Up button. Signing up for a personal account allows you to save postcards and mailing lists so that you can easily reuse them in the future. Now let's talk about some of the benefits that this service has to offer.

A Penny per Postcard for Printing

Normal postage for a postcard is twenty-three cents. The cost of mailing out a postcard through Mailing Online is twenty-four cents. This is like getting your postcards printed for a penny each and addressed for free.

Avoid Numerous Steps and Saves Hours of Your Time

Avoid picking up your cards from the printer, addressing and stamping them by hand, and delivering them to the post office for mailing. The money saved is significant and the time saved is huge.

Use Ready-Made Templates to Create Your Mailing Pieces

Mailing Online provides templates for you download and open in several popular applications such as Microsoft Word. This makes designing you postcard easy. Then you upload the postcard to Mailing Online to use in your mailing campaign.

Easily Upload Your Mailing List

Mailing Online allows you to easily upload your mailing list from several different file formats including Excel and MS Word.

Verify Your Addresses against Official Post Office Records

Mailing Online will automatically check you mailing list against official post office records. You will be told if any of your addresses do not match. Then you can decide whether to eliminate these addresses so that you don't waste money on invalid addresses.

Choose from Several Mailing Formats

You can also choose to mail a variety of other mailing pieces including brochures, letters, and self-mailer flyers. Mailing Online provides the templates you need to create these mailers. However, I suggest using this service primarily for postcards. I have not tried their flyers, I think brochures are pointless, and I imagine their letters are label-addressed which is puts your mailer in the junk pile as soon as is seen by your prospect.

Saving Mailing Lists, Postcards, and Mailing Campaigns for Future Use

You can save your lists and postcards to be easily reused for future campaigns without uploading them again.

Schedule Mailing Campaigns to Go Out at a Future Date

You can pick a date in the future for you mailer to go out. You could even set up an entire sequence to go out on autopilot. For example, you could schedule a postcard to go out right away, another one in 10 days, and another in a month. This allows you easily follow-up with your prospects.

Your Postcard is Only as Good as the Marketing Message it Delivers

Without getting into a discussion on copywriting, I want to make the following points about your postcard design:

1. Your postcard will only be as good as your marketing message. You have about two seconds to attract the reader's attention before your postcard ends up in the garbage. The best way to accomplish this is with a well-written headline.

2. Don't waste a lot of space on your logo or other fancy graphics. Don't waste a lot of space on your company's name or your contact info. Focus on telling the reader what you have that can benefit them.

3. Make sure you make it clear what you want the prospect to do next. Most likely this will be to call you or a message hotline.

4. Since postcard space is limited, just share the most important aspects of your marketing message. Tell the reader how they can get more info if they are interested by sending them to a web site or by asking them to call you to receive more information (i.e. the rest of your marketing message). This is called two-step marketing.

About The Author

Jason Van Orden

www.jasonvanorden.com

"Discover how to attract more leads and maximize revenue with a minimum investment of your time and money."