by: Bill Knell
Honest advice and practical suggestions for people who want to start a real world small business.
Owning a real world small business can easily be your ticket out of the work a day world. You’ll still be working, but for yourself! This can, all at once, be gratifying, frightening, annoying and rewarding. The result of all your efforts depends more on you, then anything else. Even in the planning stages, it’s you that will have to make all the tough decisions and live with the consequences once your small business is up and running. If you’re an unyielding perfectionist, don’t quit your day job. Starting a business takes a lot more then just attention to detail, it requires flexibility, patience, self motivation and discipline. If that’s you, let’s move on to the next step.
No matter where you live, buying, starting or planning a small business can be a big headache. Between the red tape created by tax laws and what seems like a never ending parade of forms and inspectors, the task can be daunting. And that’s just one small part of the process. Once you leap over all the financial and bureaucratic hurdles, there’s still that annoying little detail of actually being able to make a profit. Many small businesses fail because by the time the owner gets the shop or service up and running, they are already too financially, emotionally and physically exhausted to make it work. So what’s a future small business owner to do?
If you’ve already got an idea and want to try and make it work, look for the path of least resistance to your goal. Start small. Many small businesses are unsuccessful because the owner fails to test market their idea on a smaller scale. I know someone who began a telemarketing business in his home. He started with a small contract to raise money for a charity, one phone and the local phone book. As the money began to trickle in, he dedicated a room in his house to the project, bought a couple of folding tables and chairs and added some additional phone lines and employees. All the while he did a lot of research on the telemarketing business, finding out what equipment was needed, desired and affordable. When it was time to expand again, he rented inexpensive storefront space in a strip mall that was down on it’s luck. As his company grew, he took over two more adjacent storefronts, computerized the whole operation and had a number of contracts going at the same time. If you can’t keep your overhead low, you will never show a reasonable profit.
Nothing can knock the wind out of a person or family like the failure of a small business. That’s because many people try it the good old fashioned way. They max out their credit cards, take out another mortgage on the old homestead, borrow money from every friend or relative who ever owed them a favor and dump it all into what they are certain will be the next Starbucks. When things go bad from a starting point like that, there’s no place to go but down! Before you bet the farm on your dream, take a step back, examine your plan and consider the alternatives. Create a parachute for yourself. Don’t over borrow, keep a cash reserve to cover living expenses and personal bills for at least six months and pay off as many personal debts as possible before you start your business. If you’re already seriously in debt, it’s not a good time to start a business. A new business is unlikely to help you pay off large, existing debts. In many cases, it may temporary place you deeper in debt then you have ever been before. The type of small business you choose to open should be dictated by your present finances, not future situation or borrowing ability.
You walk past that cute little store in the mall and say, “I could do that!” But while you’re looking at all the great stuff in the window, did you take the time to notice whether or not there were any customers in the store? If so, were they buying anything? If you’re planning to buy an established small business, make sure it’s not a lemon. And even if it’s not, jumping into an industry you have no first hand knowledge of can be a big mistake. It’s possible that the shop owner has a customer following, connections and supply sources that are unique to them. It may be a family operation. If it takes three or four experienced people working together to keep a store profitable, there is no way you will be able to step into those shoes without taking a gigantic risk.
But what about Joe’s Burger Stand? I mean the guy seems to rake in the cash. And then there’s Betty’s Boutique. Her store always seems to be crowded. Aren’t these good bets? For Joe and Betty, they might be fine. But how much do you know about the burger or boutique business? If you have even the vaguest notion of trying your hand at an existing or brand new retail or food establishment, it’s going to cost you some money and that’s just the beginning! You’ll need the physical constitution of a horse, understanding friends or family and time to take the necessary management and food service certification courses at your local community college. A little knowledge may be dangerous, but none is deadly when it comes to the world of small business.
It might surprise you to learn that the most successful small businesses started by first time owners are not retail stores or food shops. They are lawn and landscape services, movers, cleaning or maid services, onsite windshield replacement, painting, household repair and come to you or neighborhood minor auto repairs. All these businesses have low overheads, most are not expensive franchises and many require substantially less initial investments then retail establishments. They also tend to skirt many of the inspections and licenses needed by storefronts. The success of a service related business depends on how much competition there is, the skill level of those offering the service and how much people are willing to pay for it. To make a long story short, the best service related business to own is whatever service most people in your area want, need, can afford and can’t get.
One of the big questions you need to ask yourself before investing in a new or established small business is, “How many headaches am I prepared to deal with?” Unless you are the luckiest person that ever lived, the odds are that you are going to be sued, robbed, vandalized, run afoul of an inspection or have a code violation at one time or another. If you not up to dealing with those sorts of hassles, then a storefront is not going to be the right choice for you. If a service type business doesn’t appeal to you either, there are still some interesting choices. If you can’t be the store, how about supplying it? Unique craft ideas and items are highly sought after. There are huge numbers of small consignment craft malls and stores springing up everywhere. Unique, one of a kind clothing products are also in demand. Decorated shirts, pants, dresses and bags move fast and fetch big bucks. Whatever the stores won’t buy, you can always try selling online.
Tap into the market for used or bargain goods. Second hand or bargain furniture and clothing stores were the fastest growing and most successful storefront-style small businesses in 2002. Everyone needs furniture and clothes, but what happens when cash is tight and you can’t get credit? You go to second hand stores. Although it’s not something I would encourage given the neighborhood repercussions, I know of more then a few people that make a ton of extra money by having a garage sale twice a month.
You can collect used clothing or buy discontinued and imperfect new clothing cheap by the box. Just adding a few studs or an appliqué to some used quality jeans or imperfect new items can make them worth ten or twenty times what you paid. Purchase used furniture at house or apartment sales, clean it up and resell for a nice profit. Buy discontinued furniture kits, put the stuff together and sell a five dollar set of book shelves for ten. Given the recent baby booms, quality new and used children’s clothing at cheap prices is always in demand and presents a good business opportunity. People are looking for bargains. If you can offer them new or used clothes for prices from a dollar to twenty five dollars, you’re likely to make some fast money.
Almost any small business or service you start in the real world, can use the internet as a source of attracting customers. The biggest mistake that anyone with a service or business can make is to avoid having a website. Even if it’s just an online business card with contact information, that gives you access to many more people in your area who own computers, go online and are likely to look there before ever picking up a phone book. It’s also a time saver. If you offer a service like wedding, family or portrait photography, you can display some of your work on your website. This allows potential customers to take a look at your work, without taking up your time. If they like what they see, they’ll call or email. Posting your price list will eliminate having to deal with bargain hunters on the phone. You can visit my website at http://bkspeaks.cjb.net for a list of places to get free websites and free site building help.
Word of mouth is still the most powerful way of attracting customers. No matter what small business idea you plan to pursue, make sure that you are ready, willing and able to offer your customers a good deal and excellent service when they need it. People are so used to substandard service, that even when a barely competent person goes the extra mile for them, they sing that person’s praises to all their friends. Go the extra mile, charge prices that will bring them back, be totally honest and offer the kind of service you would like to receive. These are non-negotiable items when it comes to being a successful small business owner.
Beware of ‘junk’ franchises. These are offerings made by companies that get rich from selling equipment to unwary people wanting a turnkey style, get rich quick small business. The worst of these are the used pay phone and cheap vending machine deals, but non-existent routes for food, prepaid phone cards and novelty items are also right up there. Companies run ads in Entrepreneurial magazines offering exclusive distributorships for rechargeable or prepaid phone cards, cheap candy, junk novelties or out of date CDs right in your own area. They claim to offer routes with established businesses ready to buy their products. That actually means they give you exclusive rights to try and sell their stuff to any small stores in your area that will buy. The vast majority will not, and don‘t be surprised if your ‘exclusive territory‘ is just a few business blocks wide! Meanwhile, your stuck with a contractual commitment to buy a certain number of items from the company each month as part of your franchise. Many of these companies will insist on a prepayment of three to six months worth of products before they will award you the franchise, with a need to buy more each month allowing for non-existent growth.
If you want to invest in a small, turnkey style franchise like cleaning, resurfacing, weight loss schemes, vitamin products or most anything, try and link what you already do or the resources you already have to your future business. If you’re a Realtor, for example, a carpet or house cleaning business might be a natural extension of your profession. People selling or renting a home need it cleaned. If you’re a fixit person, you can offer your customers name brand tile or carpet cleaning. Franchise pavement or roof resurfacing and deck resealing is also a plus that can add to your income. Auto mechanics working for themselves can make some nice extra bucks by offering windshield repairs, tinting or auto painting. Most small franchises should be thought of as an extra income with a growth opportunity.
Before you call that 800 number for franchise information or visit your local business broker, spend a lot of time looking in the yellow pages and visiting some small businesses in your area. If you see a lot of empty storefronts, that will tell you that normal retail doesn’t work well there. What services are most needed? How much are they charging and do they seem to be operating at a profit? If you are still a bit stumped or concerned, try a business consultant. That’s one of the services that I offer. A good business consultant is not going to charge you an arm and a leg, but they will point in directions you may not of thought of and may need to go to give you a better shot at success.
About the Author
A native New Yorker now living in Arizona, Bill Knell is a forty-something guy with a wealth of knowledge and experience. He's written hundreds of articles on a wide variety of subjects. A popular Speaker, Bill Knell presents seminars on a number of topics that entertain, train and teach. A popular radio and television show Guest, you've heard Bill on thousands of top-rated shows in all formats and seen him on local, national and international television programs.
© 2007 - All Rights Reserved
For more information visit http://www.profitliner.com
Sunday, 13 May 2007
All Successful Entrepreneurs Do This
by: John Baker
All Successful Entrepreneurs Do This
By John Baker
http://www.best-home-business-ideas.net
Everyone wants to make money! Some want to make money
by owning their own business. All successful entrepreneurs
have the self discipline to build their business. Most of us have
heard the saying "you need money to make money". Basically
what this means is you must invest money in your business if
it's to make money. Some 24% of all startup small
businesses fail within two years. That's because the life
of your business depends on you during these early years.
If you must depend on the business it will probably fail.
The first years of a business rarely show profit, because you
are re-investing your money back in it.
Most of us spend money on entertainment, whether it's
eating out at nice restaurants, movies, cars, bikes, games,
big toys, etc..... Some of us can come up with cash for
our online business by not eating out one time a month!
That should not be so hard to do, as lots of us are spending
more and more money on weight loss products!
If you want your business to grow you must feed it. You must
spend money to make money, even if it's a small amount, it
will still grow some. You cannot win the lottery without
first buying a ticket!
All successful entrepreneurs spend a certain amount each
month on their business. Sure you say they are making money
so they have it to spend. But actually you start out
investing a larger percentage of your profits then you will
later on as your business grows. Most people who start an
Off-line business usually invest a large amount of capital
before they see any money coming in. You have to continually
re-invest your money.
That's where an On-line business is unique. You can start
with very little capital and invest as you learn. You do
still have to invest some money and time, or you will not
grow. You have to spend wisely though, where you will see
results. You must read and do some research before you
spend. There are lots of ways to throw your money away if
you are new and not careful. There are also many ways to
receive valuable information online that's Free. One way is
reading Free articles by those who are successful. You will
find many of these Free articles at:
http://www.best-home-business-ideas.net
Also if you're in an MLM or affiliate program, you should
have an up-line leader. They will help you along with good
advice because it's in their best interest for you to
succeed!
-----------------------------------------------------------
This article may be reprinted providing it is published in
it's entirety, including the author's bio and hyperlink to
the URL below.
-----------------------------------------------------------
About the Author
The author, John Baker, is the editor of
Best-Home-Business-eNews. A newsletter dedicated to
supporting the home business entrepreneur. If you're looking
for some of the best home business opportunities, tools,
thoughts, ideas, and support from a dependable source, come
by, visit,and grab a FREE subscription today at:
http://www.best-home-business-ideas.net
or email your questions to:
mailto:admin@best-home-business-ideas.net
© 2007 - All Rights Reserved
For more information visit http://www.profitliner.com
All Successful Entrepreneurs Do This
By John Baker
http://www.best-home-business-ideas.net
Everyone wants to make money! Some want to make money
by owning their own business. All successful entrepreneurs
have the self discipline to build their business. Most of us have
heard the saying "you need money to make money". Basically
what this means is you must invest money in your business if
it's to make money. Some 24% of all startup small
businesses fail within two years. That's because the life
of your business depends on you during these early years.
If you must depend on the business it will probably fail.
The first years of a business rarely show profit, because you
are re-investing your money back in it.
Most of us spend money on entertainment, whether it's
eating out at nice restaurants, movies, cars, bikes, games,
big toys, etc..... Some of us can come up with cash for
our online business by not eating out one time a month!
That should not be so hard to do, as lots of us are spending
more and more money on weight loss products!
If you want your business to grow you must feed it. You must
spend money to make money, even if it's a small amount, it
will still grow some. You cannot win the lottery without
first buying a ticket!
All successful entrepreneurs spend a certain amount each
month on their business. Sure you say they are making money
so they have it to spend. But actually you start out
investing a larger percentage of your profits then you will
later on as your business grows. Most people who start an
Off-line business usually invest a large amount of capital
before they see any money coming in. You have to continually
re-invest your money.
That's where an On-line business is unique. You can start
with very little capital and invest as you learn. You do
still have to invest some money and time, or you will not
grow. You have to spend wisely though, where you will see
results. You must read and do some research before you
spend. There are lots of ways to throw your money away if
you are new and not careful. There are also many ways to
receive valuable information online that's Free. One way is
reading Free articles by those who are successful. You will
find many of these Free articles at:
http://www.best-home-business-ideas.net
Also if you're in an MLM or affiliate program, you should
have an up-line leader. They will help you along with good
advice because it's in their best interest for you to
succeed!
-----------------------------------------------------------
This article may be reprinted providing it is published in
it's entirety, including the author's bio and hyperlink to
the URL below.
-----------------------------------------------------------
About the Author
The author, John Baker, is the editor of
Best-Home-Business-eNews. A newsletter dedicated to
supporting the home business entrepreneur. If you're looking
for some of the best home business opportunities, tools,
thoughts, ideas, and support from a dependable source, come
by, visit,and grab a FREE subscription today at:
http://www.best-home-business-ideas.net
or email your questions to:
mailto:admin@best-home-business-ideas.net
© 2007 - All Rights Reserved
For more information visit http://www.profitliner.com
Confessions of a Personal Fitness Trainer
by: Deborah Caruana RN, MES, CPT
As your personal fitness trainer my passion is to teach, coach, understand, push, prod, cajole, investigate, research and apply, over and over… As a ‘Fitness Role Model’…well…I feel vulnerable with weakness, so, in hopes we can all learn, from my own weakness, here goes…My Confession.
Last year I had a number of clients who started stubbornly on the Atkins diet despite my warnings. Immediately I saw almost profound results in their weight loss. I reminded them it was the loss of water weight, and warned of the strain on the kidneys and the high cholesterol risk.
During this time I was mastering my yoga practice as a complete vegan but found that my immune system had been profoundly compromised and I was currently on my third cold for the fall season
Atkins was in the media again because of new study results indicating lowered cholesterol. I went to the Atkins book yet again with a more open mind, and decided to try the diet. I liked the contrarian view point to the current AMA position of the low fat diet, which seemed to be producing a society of increasing obesity. Atkins view of sugar as the culprit making you fat, not fat, made sense and the extra work from all the protein for the kidneys… it’s benign. I wanted to use his diet as a tool to get myself entirely off of any sugar.
I started out on the high protein, low carb aspect of the diet. As I reintroduced the animal proteins into my diet I could feel myself get stronger and the colds, finally stopped. I also saw my muscle bellies start to open and swell again. The cold of winter was not as painful as it had been while on my vegan diet.
I then summoned up the courage to start bringing fats into my diet, including bacon, egg yolks, cream cheese, heavy cream, whipped cream, even bacon rinds. On a daily basis I would marvel at having eaten these “forbidden foods” only to awaken the next day thin, svelte. I couldn’t believe this, result! I was loving eating all these foods so familiar yet banished since …childhood
I was in full swing eating the high fat, high protein, low carb diet at the time when the pictures on my website were taken. www.vitalsignsfitness.com I felt strong, but I had no energy!!! My walks on the beach were lethargic, I had to force myself to go that extra mile. I was thin but I felt like a beached whale. My love affair with Atkins continued a few more months. I followed his prescriptions religiously.
Eventually I had to add more carbs, I needed more energy. By carbs I mean vegetables, salads and whole grains. At this point I gained back the total of two pounds I had lost on Atkins. Body fat went from 16% to 18%, my energy was better. After 7 months I decided it was time to get the blood checked out and to my horror discovered that my cholesterol which had always been around 150 had rocketed up to 300!! Luckily my HDL to LDL ratio was still at a healthy level. Thanks to my forcing myself to exercise, I kept my HDLs high.
I immediately started drinking hot lemon juice with cayenne pepper every morning to clean my blood. I have now thrown away all the high fat foods and have once again, come back full circle to moderation and balance. A balanced diet. It takes a little more discipline but my energy is back and I can now eat the same meals as my husband so dinner preparation is simpler. My weight has not changed since I gradually introduced the carbs. I avoid at all costs the “white foods” flour, sugar, milk. I drink unsweetened soy milk I avoid foods in packages, boxes and bags. I feel a fine layer of fat but that’s okay its winter, I need it, and in the summer, heat always melts it off. I am completely off sugar and alcohol to keep blood sugar low.
Log into www.vitalsignsfitness in the Chat page where a discussion has already begun re: Atkins and other diet plans, add your comments or just read and muse. Or go to the Nutrition Program page and find out how many calories (protein, carbs, fats) you should eat to sustain your current or ideal weight.
Deborah Caruana RN, AAHRFP, NASM, ACE,
www.vitalsignsfitness.com
email deb@vitalsignsfitness.com
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
DEBORAH is a highly respected authority in personal training for overall health and fitness, with more than 22 years of experience and success.
© 2007 - All Rights Reserved
For more information visit http://www.profitliner.com
As your personal fitness trainer my passion is to teach, coach, understand, push, prod, cajole, investigate, research and apply, over and over… As a ‘Fitness Role Model’…well…I feel vulnerable with weakness, so, in hopes we can all learn, from my own weakness, here goes…My Confession.
Last year I had a number of clients who started stubbornly on the Atkins diet despite my warnings. Immediately I saw almost profound results in their weight loss. I reminded them it was the loss of water weight, and warned of the strain on the kidneys and the high cholesterol risk.
During this time I was mastering my yoga practice as a complete vegan but found that my immune system had been profoundly compromised and I was currently on my third cold for the fall season
Atkins was in the media again because of new study results indicating lowered cholesterol. I went to the Atkins book yet again with a more open mind, and decided to try the diet. I liked the contrarian view point to the current AMA position of the low fat diet, which seemed to be producing a society of increasing obesity. Atkins view of sugar as the culprit making you fat, not fat, made sense and the extra work from all the protein for the kidneys… it’s benign. I wanted to use his diet as a tool to get myself entirely off of any sugar.
I started out on the high protein, low carb aspect of the diet. As I reintroduced the animal proteins into my diet I could feel myself get stronger and the colds, finally stopped. I also saw my muscle bellies start to open and swell again. The cold of winter was not as painful as it had been while on my vegan diet.
I then summoned up the courage to start bringing fats into my diet, including bacon, egg yolks, cream cheese, heavy cream, whipped cream, even bacon rinds. On a daily basis I would marvel at having eaten these “forbidden foods” only to awaken the next day thin, svelte. I couldn’t believe this, result! I was loving eating all these foods so familiar yet banished since …childhood
I was in full swing eating the high fat, high protein, low carb diet at the time when the pictures on my website were taken. www.vitalsignsfitness.com I felt strong, but I had no energy!!! My walks on the beach were lethargic, I had to force myself to go that extra mile. I was thin but I felt like a beached whale. My love affair with Atkins continued a few more months. I followed his prescriptions religiously.
Eventually I had to add more carbs, I needed more energy. By carbs I mean vegetables, salads and whole grains. At this point I gained back the total of two pounds I had lost on Atkins. Body fat went from 16% to 18%, my energy was better. After 7 months I decided it was time to get the blood checked out and to my horror discovered that my cholesterol which had always been around 150 had rocketed up to 300!! Luckily my HDL to LDL ratio was still at a healthy level. Thanks to my forcing myself to exercise, I kept my HDLs high.
I immediately started drinking hot lemon juice with cayenne pepper every morning to clean my blood. I have now thrown away all the high fat foods and have once again, come back full circle to moderation and balance. A balanced diet. It takes a little more discipline but my energy is back and I can now eat the same meals as my husband so dinner preparation is simpler. My weight has not changed since I gradually introduced the carbs. I avoid at all costs the “white foods” flour, sugar, milk. I drink unsweetened soy milk I avoid foods in packages, boxes and bags. I feel a fine layer of fat but that’s okay its winter, I need it, and in the summer, heat always melts it off. I am completely off sugar and alcohol to keep blood sugar low.
Log into www.vitalsignsfitness in the Chat page where a discussion has already begun re: Atkins and other diet plans, add your comments or just read and muse. Or go to the Nutrition Program page and find out how many calories (protein, carbs, fats) you should eat to sustain your current or ideal weight.
Deborah Caruana RN, AAHRFP, NASM, ACE,
www.vitalsignsfitness.com
email deb@vitalsignsfitness.com
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
DEBORAH is a highly respected authority in personal training for overall health and fitness, with more than 22 years of experience and success.
© 2007 - All Rights Reserved
For more information visit http://www.profitliner.com
Boring Ol' Cardio
by: The Icon Diet Reader
Cardio is a very important aspect of any work out. There are numerous benefits to a good cardio routine. In the real world, there are many ways to get a good cardio workout. You can jog, play sports and get chased by the police. In the gym cardio usually revolves around a handful of machines. There are the stair climbers or steppers, the elliptical trainers, tread mills, and bicycles. That's about it. A good cardio routine can last anywhere from 20 minutes to an hour and is really intensive. The problem is that when you are on a cardio machine, you do the same thing over and over. What I am trying to say is that for most of us cardio gets boring after about five minutes. Don't lie, you know what I am talking about. The best I have every heard about cardio is ‘I don't mind it.' In other words, I get really bored, but I will keep doing it cause it works.
Being bored is horrible. Being Bored is even worse when you know you have another 25 min left and the seconds crawl by like eons. So what gives. Why does cardio have to be so boring? I think it's a safety issue. In the real world if you go running or play soccer for example, you environment and all its inputs are constantly changing; you run by different scenery, you miss the shot on goal. These changing characteristics are what make the whole process fun. In the gym, however, since space is limited, you have to do your cardio rooted to one spot. Very little happens to your environment to elevate the boredom. Imagine though, if you could have all the excitement of a soccer game while sitting on a recumbent health cycle? At first you may think it's a great and fun idea. No more boring cardio! Think about it and it becomes a little terrifying. The sheer amount of stimuli hitting you from all angles, your mind would exhaust quickly and you would run the risk of injury (not to mention getting overwhelmed). That is why cardio machines are so boring. They design them to be boring so you don't hurt yourself. So when you climb up onto your favorite elliptical trainer, remember that its boring for a reason.
What can we do to make cardio more fun? Being new to the world of the gym I think I have some neat ideas to make cardio a more exciting activity. Ok that's a lie. I don't have any way to make cardio more exciting, but I do think there are some techniques to make the cardio experience pass more quickly, which, when you think about it, is the next best thing. I really try to distance my mind from my body. I try to unplug. I daydream, listen to loud music and think about my shopping list. For a whole week I designed a basement apartment for my house. It was quite the undertaking. Really focus on not thinking about time. Cover up the timer, know where the near by clocks are and avoid looking at them. Do what ever it takes to detach your self from the realm of the here and now. Remove yourself from our world governed by the second hand. Slip into recesses of your mind and tune out. While the cardio won't go away at least you can distract yourself. Cardio machines make cardio boring and boring cardio is hard to stick with. Take comfort in knowing that your body loves the attention of a good cardio workout.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
The Icon Diet offers a step by step weight loss
information package to help people lose weight quickly, naturally and effectively. Visit the site by going to...
http://www.zizzoo.com/guides/loseweight/index.php
© 2007 - All Rights Reserved
For more information visit http://www.profitliner.com
Cardio is a very important aspect of any work out. There are numerous benefits to a good cardio routine. In the real world, there are many ways to get a good cardio workout. You can jog, play sports and get chased by the police. In the gym cardio usually revolves around a handful of machines. There are the stair climbers or steppers, the elliptical trainers, tread mills, and bicycles. That's about it. A good cardio routine can last anywhere from 20 minutes to an hour and is really intensive. The problem is that when you are on a cardio machine, you do the same thing over and over. What I am trying to say is that for most of us cardio gets boring after about five minutes. Don't lie, you know what I am talking about. The best I have every heard about cardio is ‘I don't mind it.' In other words, I get really bored, but I will keep doing it cause it works.
Being bored is horrible. Being Bored is even worse when you know you have another 25 min left and the seconds crawl by like eons. So what gives. Why does cardio have to be so boring? I think it's a safety issue. In the real world if you go running or play soccer for example, you environment and all its inputs are constantly changing; you run by different scenery, you miss the shot on goal. These changing characteristics are what make the whole process fun. In the gym, however, since space is limited, you have to do your cardio rooted to one spot. Very little happens to your environment to elevate the boredom. Imagine though, if you could have all the excitement of a soccer game while sitting on a recumbent health cycle? At first you may think it's a great and fun idea. No more boring cardio! Think about it and it becomes a little terrifying. The sheer amount of stimuli hitting you from all angles, your mind would exhaust quickly and you would run the risk of injury (not to mention getting overwhelmed). That is why cardio machines are so boring. They design them to be boring so you don't hurt yourself. So when you climb up onto your favorite elliptical trainer, remember that its boring for a reason.
What can we do to make cardio more fun? Being new to the world of the gym I think I have some neat ideas to make cardio a more exciting activity. Ok that's a lie. I don't have any way to make cardio more exciting, but I do think there are some techniques to make the cardio experience pass more quickly, which, when you think about it, is the next best thing. I really try to distance my mind from my body. I try to unplug. I daydream, listen to loud music and think about my shopping list. For a whole week I designed a basement apartment for my house. It was quite the undertaking. Really focus on not thinking about time. Cover up the timer, know where the near by clocks are and avoid looking at them. Do what ever it takes to detach your self from the realm of the here and now. Remove yourself from our world governed by the second hand. Slip into recesses of your mind and tune out. While the cardio won't go away at least you can distract yourself. Cardio machines make cardio boring and boring cardio is hard to stick with. Take comfort in knowing that your body loves the attention of a good cardio workout.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
The Icon Diet offers a step by step weight loss
information package to help people lose weight quickly, naturally and effectively. Visit the site by going to...
http://www.zizzoo.com/guides/loseweight/index.php
© 2007 - All Rights Reserved
For more information visit http://www.profitliner.com
The Moral of the Story is...Use Stories to Sell
by: Lisa Lake
Every story has an emotional response to elicit. When campers are sitting around a fire in the dark woods, they tell stories that generate fear and excitement; stories about psychotic killers with hooks for hands, and teenagers who pick up strange hitchhikers.
When women have lunch with their girlfriends, they tell amusing stories about their husbands and boyfriends to relate to each other. And when you tell a story on your website, in an article, or even in an ad, you are letting people know that, "this product, service, or business opportunity worked for other real live people, so it could work for you, too!"
People don't remember statistics, but they have a special storage compartment in their brains for stories. Stories are an innate part of human beings. As long as there have been people, there have been stories. They are a part of every culture that is or ever was, ranging from writing on walls, to oral traditions, to dramatic plays, to the modern novel. Stories capture our hearts and imaginations, so we tend to pay more attention to them than we would, say, hard-sell ads.
Consider how often you leave the room during commercials, as opposed to how often you leave during Friends or E.R. Maybe the difference is no more than the mode of presentation. If commercials were 30 minutes long and told a story, maybe we wouldn't lunge for the remote or leave the room when they came on.
I'm kidding about the 30 minute commercial, but I'm not kidding about using stories to sell. Let's talk about how you can use stories in your own copy to keep people's attention, build trust and credibility, and, most importantly, sell.
After reading a fair number of popular novels, you may begin to notice a pattern in how the protagonists of the story develop. Although you aren't writing a novel for your website, ad, or article, you can use this same process of development in your stories to help you sell.
Let's take a closer look at character development in popular writing and see what we can incorporate into our own stories, to increase sales and build credibility:
1. Remember the past--Whether you are relating your own story, or the story of someone who enjoyed success after doing business with you, give that person a past. In a novel, main characters don't appear out of nowhere. They have a past that begins before the circumstances of the novel. Similarly, when you tell a story in your copy, you need to let your readers know about your protagonist's past.
For an example, see Jim Daniels' story (http://bizweb2000.com) of how he built his Internet business. The story doesn't start with him at the moment his business took off. It starts with him working a miserable 9 to 5 job he hated. Then it moves to him working to build his Internet business.
Giving the protagonist of your story a past helps the reader to relate to that person, making them more three-dimensional and easier to believe in.
2. Generate empathy--You want your reader to feel what the protagonist is feeling. The information you convey must touch something in the reader, making him/her think, "I know just how that feels."
The more your reader can relate to the protagonist of the story, the more they will see their own lives paralleling that person's. For example, say you tell a story about the trials a woman with weight problems went through, how she felt about being overweight, and then tell how she was able to change her life with your weight loss supplements. If the story is told in a way that makes the reader recognize feelings similar to those of the overweight woman, they will be likely to buy the product.
3. Generate sympathy--This is a different task than generating empathy. When you feel things empathetically, you are feeling what someone else is feeling. When you feel sympathy, you feel concern or sorrow for someone else.
The purpose of generating sympathy is to get the reader more involved in the story. We all love conflict and turmoil, so the more there is, the more interested we are. If you tell a story about a woman whose husband died, leaving her with debt and four kids to take care of, we feel a great deal of sympathy for her. And just as we all rubber-neck at the scene of a horrible accident, we can't stop reading about someone one else's problems and trials.
4. Show how the protagonist changed--If you read an entire novel in which the main character never learned anything or changed in any way, you would shut the book thinking, "What was the point?"
If the person you tell a story about doesn't change for the better, the story won't do you any good. When you are using a story to sell or build credibility, it must always have a happy ending. And that happy ending must come about because of your product, service, or business opportunity.
Don't be afraid to tell your story every chance you get. If you don't tell your story, other people will. And they often won't get the details right.
I remember a woman who owned a big string of electronics stores in the Southwest. Everyone in town knew the story about her first arriving in the area, with only $300 in her pocket to start her first store.
One day I had a chance to ask the entrepreneur about this story. "Gosh no," she laughed. "I don't know where that story comes from. I started my business with a mountain of market research and plenty of investment money."
The moral of this story is, follow the character development patterns used by popular novelists. Using these techniques, writers keep people involved in a story for hundreds of pages. You will certainly be able to draw readers in and keep their attention for a few paragraphs.
Lisa Lake has created a list of top promotional methods on her http://MyAdBlaster.com. Lisa also writes ad copy that sells for DrNunley's http://InternetWriters.com Reach her at mailto:lisa@myadblaster.com or 801-328-9006.
© 2007 - All Rights Reserved
For more information visit http://www.profitliner.com
Every story has an emotional response to elicit. When campers are sitting around a fire in the dark woods, they tell stories that generate fear and excitement; stories about psychotic killers with hooks for hands, and teenagers who pick up strange hitchhikers.
When women have lunch with their girlfriends, they tell amusing stories about their husbands and boyfriends to relate to each other. And when you tell a story on your website, in an article, or even in an ad, you are letting people know that, "this product, service, or business opportunity worked for other real live people, so it could work for you, too!"
People don't remember statistics, but they have a special storage compartment in their brains for stories. Stories are an innate part of human beings. As long as there have been people, there have been stories. They are a part of every culture that is or ever was, ranging from writing on walls, to oral traditions, to dramatic plays, to the modern novel. Stories capture our hearts and imaginations, so we tend to pay more attention to them than we would, say, hard-sell ads.
Consider how often you leave the room during commercials, as opposed to how often you leave during Friends or E.R. Maybe the difference is no more than the mode of presentation. If commercials were 30 minutes long and told a story, maybe we wouldn't lunge for the remote or leave the room when they came on.
I'm kidding about the 30 minute commercial, but I'm not kidding about using stories to sell. Let's talk about how you can use stories in your own copy to keep people's attention, build trust and credibility, and, most importantly, sell.
After reading a fair number of popular novels, you may begin to notice a pattern in how the protagonists of the story develop. Although you aren't writing a novel for your website, ad, or article, you can use this same process of development in your stories to help you sell.
Let's take a closer look at character development in popular writing and see what we can incorporate into our own stories, to increase sales and build credibility:
1. Remember the past--Whether you are relating your own story, or the story of someone who enjoyed success after doing business with you, give that person a past. In a novel, main characters don't appear out of nowhere. They have a past that begins before the circumstances of the novel. Similarly, when you tell a story in your copy, you need to let your readers know about your protagonist's past.
For an example, see Jim Daniels' story (http://bizweb2000.com) of how he built his Internet business. The story doesn't start with him at the moment his business took off. It starts with him working a miserable 9 to 5 job he hated. Then it moves to him working to build his Internet business.
Giving the protagonist of your story a past helps the reader to relate to that person, making them more three-dimensional and easier to believe in.
2. Generate empathy--You want your reader to feel what the protagonist is feeling. The information you convey must touch something in the reader, making him/her think, "I know just how that feels."
The more your reader can relate to the protagonist of the story, the more they will see their own lives paralleling that person's. For example, say you tell a story about the trials a woman with weight problems went through, how she felt about being overweight, and then tell how she was able to change her life with your weight loss supplements. If the story is told in a way that makes the reader recognize feelings similar to those of the overweight woman, they will be likely to buy the product.
3. Generate sympathy--This is a different task than generating empathy. When you feel things empathetically, you are feeling what someone else is feeling. When you feel sympathy, you feel concern or sorrow for someone else.
The purpose of generating sympathy is to get the reader more involved in the story. We all love conflict and turmoil, so the more there is, the more interested we are. If you tell a story about a woman whose husband died, leaving her with debt and four kids to take care of, we feel a great deal of sympathy for her. And just as we all rubber-neck at the scene of a horrible accident, we can't stop reading about someone one else's problems and trials.
4. Show how the protagonist changed--If you read an entire novel in which the main character never learned anything or changed in any way, you would shut the book thinking, "What was the point?"
If the person you tell a story about doesn't change for the better, the story won't do you any good. When you are using a story to sell or build credibility, it must always have a happy ending. And that happy ending must come about because of your product, service, or business opportunity.
Don't be afraid to tell your story every chance you get. If you don't tell your story, other people will. And they often won't get the details right.
I remember a woman who owned a big string of electronics stores in the Southwest. Everyone in town knew the story about her first arriving in the area, with only $300 in her pocket to start her first store.
One day I had a chance to ask the entrepreneur about this story. "Gosh no," she laughed. "I don't know where that story comes from. I started my business with a mountain of market research and plenty of investment money."
The moral of this story is, follow the character development patterns used by popular novelists. Using these techniques, writers keep people involved in a story for hundreds of pages. You will certainly be able to draw readers in and keep their attention for a few paragraphs.
Lisa Lake has created a list of top promotional methods on her http://MyAdBlaster.com. Lisa also writes ad copy that sells for DrNunley's http://InternetWriters.com Reach her at mailto:lisa@myadblaster.com or 801-328-9006.
© 2007 - All Rights Reserved
For more information visit http://www.profitliner.com
The Dangers of Canine Parasites
by: Rose Smith
When you get a puppy, one of the first things that you
need to do is make an appointment with the vet to get
your new family member his or her vaccinations. Along
with any recommended shots, your cuddly canine will
probably get a dose of a de-worming formula to rid
them of any internal parasites.
Hookworms
Some parasites can be very dangerous to your dog,
especially to puppies. For instance, a hookworm (about
1/8" in length) will adhere itself to the small intestine
and begin to suck the blood from your pet. It can cause
severe anemia, followed by circulatory collapse, severe
diarrhea, hemorrhaging, shock and finally death.
Puppies may receive hookworms through the mother's
placenta during the gestation period or through the
mother's milk when nursing. This is why it is very
important that new puppies receive a de-worming formula.
These parasites can also enter an adult dog quite
easily when your pet walks over soil that contains
any contaminated feces from other animals. In turn,
your dog then licks his or her paws and ingests the
hookworm larvae. Even without the paw licking the
larvae can burrow through the skin and into the dog.
Once inside, the larvae migrate to the small intestine
where they grow into adult hookworms, usually within
14 days.
A female hookworm will begin to lay eggs... 20,000 of
them per day! As you can see, it is vitally important
to have your favorite canine de-wormed should they
become infested with hookworms. If you see symptoms
such as diarrhea, weakness, pale gums, or weight loss,
take your canine to the veterinarian immediately for
diagnosis and treatment. Diagnosis is usually made
through a small stool sample. Treatment consists of
an oral or injected medication which kills the adult
hookworms, but not the larvae. This treatment needs
to be repeated again in 2 to 4 weeks to kill the larvae
that have emerged as adults. In cases of severe anemia,
your dog may require a blood transfusion.
Roundworms
Roundworms are another common parasite most often found
in puppies. The worms are usually heavy-bodied and
grow to about 6" in length.
Infection usually occurs as larvae that have lain dormant
in an adult female dog are reactivated when the female
dog becomes pregnant. The larvae begin to migrate through
the placenta to the liver of the fetus. They also will
migrate to the mammary glands of the mother, so that the
puppies can also become infected while nursing.
The time from roundworm larvae infection to the adult
stage is about 27 days. Most roundworms live about 4
months in the puppy and are usually expelled by the
natural immune system of the puppy before 6 months of
age.
So, if puppies naturally expel these parasites, how do
adult dogs end up with them? The adult dog ingests them
by eating some food supply that contain the larvae.
Tapeworms
Another very common worm is the tapeworm. This worm
lives in the intestines of both dogs and cats. The worm
is transmitted by fleas. When a dog or cat has fleas,
they will naturally ingest the tapeworm while grooming.
The tapeworm then makes its way to the intestine.
There are usually no noticeable symptoms for the most
part, although sometimes your dog may show some stomach
upsets, diarrhea or just seems somewhat lethargic. You
can often tell if your pet has tapeworms by finding
small, whitish worm segments that look like small grains
of rice under the tail of your pet or on its bedding.
Also, you dog may begin "scooting" their rear end along
the floor because of irritation. It takes approximately
three weeks from the time your dog ingests the flea
until you begin to see tapeworm segments.
Although not generally harmful to an animals health,
tapeworms are certainly something you'll want to rid
your dog of. One of the first treatments for tapeworms
is to begin a program of flea control treatment program
for your pet and the immediate environment of your house
and yard.
About the Author
Rose Smith is the author and owner of Caring For Canines,
a web site that provides information on natural dog health
care. Please visit us at: http://www.caringforcanines.com
© 2007 - All Rights Reserved
For more information visit http://www.profitliner.com
When you get a puppy, one of the first things that you
need to do is make an appointment with the vet to get
your new family member his or her vaccinations. Along
with any recommended shots, your cuddly canine will
probably get a dose of a de-worming formula to rid
them of any internal parasites.
Hookworms
Some parasites can be very dangerous to your dog,
especially to puppies. For instance, a hookworm (about
1/8" in length) will adhere itself to the small intestine
and begin to suck the blood from your pet. It can cause
severe anemia, followed by circulatory collapse, severe
diarrhea, hemorrhaging, shock and finally death.
Puppies may receive hookworms through the mother's
placenta during the gestation period or through the
mother's milk when nursing. This is why it is very
important that new puppies receive a de-worming formula.
These parasites can also enter an adult dog quite
easily when your pet walks over soil that contains
any contaminated feces from other animals. In turn,
your dog then licks his or her paws and ingests the
hookworm larvae. Even without the paw licking the
larvae can burrow through the skin and into the dog.
Once inside, the larvae migrate to the small intestine
where they grow into adult hookworms, usually within
14 days.
A female hookworm will begin to lay eggs... 20,000 of
them per day! As you can see, it is vitally important
to have your favorite canine de-wormed should they
become infested with hookworms. If you see symptoms
such as diarrhea, weakness, pale gums, or weight loss,
take your canine to the veterinarian immediately for
diagnosis and treatment. Diagnosis is usually made
through a small stool sample. Treatment consists of
an oral or injected medication which kills the adult
hookworms, but not the larvae. This treatment needs
to be repeated again in 2 to 4 weeks to kill the larvae
that have emerged as adults. In cases of severe anemia,
your dog may require a blood transfusion.
Roundworms
Roundworms are another common parasite most often found
in puppies. The worms are usually heavy-bodied and
grow to about 6" in length.
Infection usually occurs as larvae that have lain dormant
in an adult female dog are reactivated when the female
dog becomes pregnant. The larvae begin to migrate through
the placenta to the liver of the fetus. They also will
migrate to the mammary glands of the mother, so that the
puppies can also become infected while nursing.
The time from roundworm larvae infection to the adult
stage is about 27 days. Most roundworms live about 4
months in the puppy and are usually expelled by the
natural immune system of the puppy before 6 months of
age.
So, if puppies naturally expel these parasites, how do
adult dogs end up with them? The adult dog ingests them
by eating some food supply that contain the larvae.
Tapeworms
Another very common worm is the tapeworm. This worm
lives in the intestines of both dogs and cats. The worm
is transmitted by fleas. When a dog or cat has fleas,
they will naturally ingest the tapeworm while grooming.
The tapeworm then makes its way to the intestine.
There are usually no noticeable symptoms for the most
part, although sometimes your dog may show some stomach
upsets, diarrhea or just seems somewhat lethargic. You
can often tell if your pet has tapeworms by finding
small, whitish worm segments that look like small grains
of rice under the tail of your pet or on its bedding.
Also, you dog may begin "scooting" their rear end along
the floor because of irritation. It takes approximately
three weeks from the time your dog ingests the flea
until you begin to see tapeworm segments.
Although not generally harmful to an animals health,
tapeworms are certainly something you'll want to rid
your dog of. One of the first treatments for tapeworms
is to begin a program of flea control treatment program
for your pet and the immediate environment of your house
and yard.
About the Author
Rose Smith is the author and owner of Caring For Canines,
a web site that provides information on natural dog health
care. Please visit us at: http://www.caringforcanines.com
© 2007 - All Rights Reserved
For more information visit http://www.profitliner.com
Pit Bulls and Heartworms
by: je Dunn
Pit Bulls and Heartworms
By: je Dunn
It is surprising how many people are still confused about heartworms and the effects that a heartworm can have on
your pit bull dog.
First lets look at what heartworms are and how your dog can become infected.
Heartworms are transmitted by mosquitoes into the dog’s blood stream. The immature heartworms called microfilaria
travel through the blood stream.
The microfilaria settle into the heart chambers and major pulmonary blood vessels. This causes a blockage of the
blood flow and pathological changes to the surrounding tissues.
This blockage happens when the larvae grow into adult worms. An adult female heartworm can grow up to fourteen
inches and can live as long as five years.
A female heartworm can produce thousands of microfilariae, which is transmitted into a mosquito when it bites an
infected dog, and subsequently injected into the next dog that that mosquito dines on.
What Are The Signs That A Dog May Have Heartworms?
Usually the first system is weight loss. The dogs’ hair may become dull and brittle.
The infected dog also may tier easily.
A persistent coughs and or labored breathing.
In more progressed cases victims may vomit blood from ruptured lungs.
If the disease is not prevented or caught in time the result will be a slow painful death from congestive heart
failure.
What Do I Do If My Pit Bulls Is Infected?
Treatment is available but it can cost hundreds of dollars, and may be ineffective depending on the degree of
infestation.
The best defense against heartworms is routine checkups with your vet. Giving your dog heartworm medication once
a month easily prevents heartworms.
Warning: You Must Have Your Dog Tested For Heartworms Before Starting Heartworm Medication!
About the Author
je Dunn has published several books on dogs and has free information all about dog training, health, and care at: Pit Bulls
Health Tips
© 2007 - All Rights Reserved
For more information visit http://www.profitliner.com
Pit Bulls and Heartworms
By: je Dunn
It is surprising how many people are still confused about heartworms and the effects that a heartworm can have on
your pit bull dog.
First lets look at what heartworms are and how your dog can become infected.
Heartworms are transmitted by mosquitoes into the dog’s blood stream. The immature heartworms called microfilaria
travel through the blood stream.
The microfilaria settle into the heart chambers and major pulmonary blood vessels. This causes a blockage of the
blood flow and pathological changes to the surrounding tissues.
This blockage happens when the larvae grow into adult worms. An adult female heartworm can grow up to fourteen
inches and can live as long as five years.
A female heartworm can produce thousands of microfilariae, which is transmitted into a mosquito when it bites an
infected dog, and subsequently injected into the next dog that that mosquito dines on.
What Are The Signs That A Dog May Have Heartworms?
Usually the first system is weight loss. The dogs’ hair may become dull and brittle.
The infected dog also may tier easily.
A persistent coughs and or labored breathing.
In more progressed cases victims may vomit blood from ruptured lungs.
If the disease is not prevented or caught in time the result will be a slow painful death from congestive heart
failure.
What Do I Do If My Pit Bulls Is Infected?
Treatment is available but it can cost hundreds of dollars, and may be ineffective depending on the degree of
infestation.
The best defense against heartworms is routine checkups with your vet. Giving your dog heartworm medication once
a month easily prevents heartworms.
Warning: You Must Have Your Dog Tested For Heartworms Before Starting Heartworm Medication!
About the Author
je Dunn has published several books on dogs and has free information all about dog training, health, and care at: Pit Bulls
Health Tips
© 2007 - All Rights Reserved
For more information visit http://www.profitliner.com
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)