A Cosmetic Surgery Loan Can Make You Look Better
People are never satisfied with what they have. There is always an urge to have more. People want more money, more success, more fame, etc. The same thing happens in case of appearance. Looking more beautiful has always enticed human beings – men as well as women. Right from the ancient times, women have been wearing make up to look beautiful and more appealing. There is a boom in the cosmetics industry world over.
With the advancement in medical science in the last one century, people can now improve their appearance in a more conspicuous manner. Cosmetic surgery has revolutionised the way people make changes to their appearance. There has been a rise in the number of cosmetic surgeries in the UK. The most popular cosmetic surgery among women is breast augmentation. Among men, rhinoplasty comes at the top. Other popular cosmetic surgeries include blepharoplasty, face lift, neck list, abdominoplasty, liposuction, etc.
Cosmetic surgery is very expensive. It is not in the reach of a common man. The worst part is that cosmetic surgery is not covered by health insurance schemes. You have to use your savings to undergo such treatment. If you do not enough money for this, you can take out a cosmetic surgery loan. Lenders want to take advantage of the expanding cosmetic surgery market. They are now offering loans ranging form small amounts to large amounts. You can obtain a secured or an unsecured loan depending upon your requirement.
For a small surgical procedure, you can take out an unsecured loan. Lenders do not offer large amounts of unsecured loans but since a minor surgery is not very expensive, an unsecured loan will be sufficient. A secured loan is ideal if you are planning to undergo a major cosmetic surgery. You can spread the repayment of a secured loan over a long period of time so that the amount of monthly installments becomes small. Another advantage of a secured loan is a low rate of interest. You can obtain a secured loan only if you have some property to offer as a security to the lender. If you are a homeowner, you can offer your house as collateral to get a secured loan. Apply for a secured loan only if you are confident that you will repay it since your property may be repossessed by the lender if you default in the loan repayment.
Author:
The author is a business writer specializing in finance and credit products and has written authoritative articles on the finance industry. He has done his masters in Business Administration and is currently assisting Apply-4-loans as a finance specialist.
For more information please visit http://www.apply-4-loans.co.uk
Arithmetic Magic – The Introduction
So you think you’re not good with math. Hmmm. Well that’s
something I hear all the time so you shouldn’t feel too bad. The
truth is, many, many people, at one time or another, have felt
the same way, and have experienced something which has made them
feel bad about math and numbers in general. So the common
complaint, “I was never good at math,” or “I hate numbers and
math,” is as common as the common cold and sometimes just as
annoying. Interestingly, what I have discovered from working
with students through the years is that this feeling of
inadequacy often stems from some negative experiences with the
subject. This might very well be the case with you. Perhaps you
had a hard time in one of your math classes and felt very
frustrated by it. Perhaps you struggled year after year because
you could’nt understand the material being taught, or because
the pace was too fast. Perhaps you didn’t understand because the
subject matter was presented in a way that did not get across to
you. Sound familiar?
My concern with the above scenario is that, uncorrected, this
problem usually leads to feelings of frustration and inadequacy
toward math in general. A likely–yet very undesirable–end
result would be the drawing of incorrect conclusions about
yourself and your abilities. Do these sound familiar?: “I’m just
not good at math and never will be,” or “I’m just not smart
enough to do math,” or more general and even more crippling,
“I’m just not that smart.” I cannot count how many times I have
heard such statements, the like of which only serve to drain the
energy and stunt the educational gains of even the best of us.
Unfortunately, these statements crystallize into attitudes and
beliefs which become difficult to shake off. However mistaken
these beliefs might be, their burdensome influence remains for a
very long time– sometimes even for life. The end result–math
illiteracy.
This is very unfortunate–even tragic–since the ability to work
with numbers and do math are skills that have countless
benefits. After all, no one should be doomed to mathematical
illiteracy, especially when the alternative is so near within
reach. Let’s consider the importance of basic math skills in
everyday life. For one, you couldn’t count without math, pay
bills and then balance a checkbook, understand basic financial
matters, such as by how much money will grow at different
interest rates, or even figure how much change you should get
after a simple purchase transaction. What a sorry state we would
all be in if we couldn’t do these simple things! Now think for a
second. Suppose you could add, subtract, multiply and divide
numbers so that routine calculations were no longer a bother.
Numbers are now no longer your enemies but your friends. A very
likely consequence would then be that the word math no longer
triggers a bunch of negative impressions but rather positive
ones. You now consider yourself good at a very tough subject and
therefore consider yourself a “cut above the rest.” The
implications of this new self-appraisal are enormous.
Furthermore, imagine having a simple method which allowed you to
figure percents easily. Then you could figure discounts in a
store and know exactly how much less you would pay for items
that go on sale. As you will soon see, working with calculations
involving percents is nothing more than understanding decimals
and how to multiply numbers. Of course, rather than figure the
discounts yourself you could wait until you got to the cash
register to pay for the items. This would always be a
possibility, but once again these methods do not only have one
practical use. If they did, their value would be that much less.
Percents figure in many other areas of the real world, not just
in purchase transactions. In short, these newly acquired skills,
whether they be in the area of multiplication and addition, or
in the area of percent problems, will certainly open up all
sorts of possibilities within the mathematical realm and unleash
capabilities within you that you never thought you possessed. In
short, this is the aim of Arithmetic Magic: to foster an
appreciation of mathematics through the study of the basic
arithmetical operations.
With this goal in mind, many positive things are achieved.
Specifically, as you learn the techniques in this book, your new
ability to work with numbers will definitely give you an
advantage–an edge, sharp and cutting–to whatever you do. Aside
from giving you a command over numbers, which will come in handy
in daily life and serve you countless times in your days going
forward, the techniques will pave the road toward new-found
confidence and a boost in attitude towards your mental
abilities. This–more than the computational ability–is the key
payoff. Personally, it would be difficult for me to estimate the
number of times I have used these techniques or the number of
ways in which they serve me. In fact, I am constantly coming up
with new combinations of the techniques and teaching both myself
and my students new methods based on existing ones. You will
find yourself doing the same as you read this book with an open
and hungry mind.
For those of you who think the ability to work easily with
numbers is beyond them, think again. From my experience, I am
convinced that the ability to work well with numbers is not
solely a byproduct of inborn talent. This is in spite of what
many might think. Barring any severe mental abnormalities, an
individual can improve his ability at math. Even the so-called
“classified” individuals, whether they be considered “learning
disabled” or afflicted with ADD (Attention Deficit
Disorder)–whatever such classifications might mean–have
benefitted from these techniques. Part of the inability to do
math seems to be simply that, when it comes to math and working
with numbers, many individuals concede defeat before even
trying. Because such people “throw in the towel” before the
fight is over and never attempt to do the math, they reach the
mistaken conclusion that math and numbers are just not for them.
An erroneous, yet very sorry, conclusion.
Consequently, if you’ve been frustrated by math– and its
fiendish counterparts, numbers–it should be refreshing to hear
what I have discovered regarding this particular illness: you
can do math and you can work with numbers. This is something I
am sure of and, by the time you’ve read this book, something I
will have proven to you. I can state this positively from
experience. What you need, and what is absolutely essential, is
the right approach. Time and time again, I have found that many
people cannot work with numbers because they have simply
convinced themselves that they are bad at math. Why? It seems
that these unfortunate individuals experienced some frustration
with the subject early on. Because these early failures have far
outweighed any successes, these same individuals come under the
mistaken notion that they cannot do math. This situation now
sets in motion a negative cycle. These early failures–or “lack
of successes”–snowball to the point of no return and form a
downward spiral. Once this happens, the individual is then
certain that math is not a fun subject and one to be avoided at
all costs. After all, you can’t do something if you believe you
can’t.
Admittedly, mathematics is not an easy subject. Math has its
roots in numbers and although the more abstract branches of this
subject might find themselves far removed from numbers, the
foundation in numbers is still there. You cannot escape them.
There is even a whole branch of mathematics devoted to the study
of numbers and number properties called Number Theory. It would
seem then that the royal road to understanding math lies in
understanding numbers and that the two were inseparable. I say
royal because even such famous mathematicians as Pythagoras–you
know the one with that famous theorem in geometry– have written
that numbers and counting formed the foundation of all
mathematics. Moreover, since math–with its many branches and
applications– serves as one of the principle tools to
explaining the world around us, and since these things we call
numbers find themselves intricately woven into all of
mathematics, a good understanding of them can certainly help
pave the way to a better understanding of mathematics in
general. Even doing calculus requires that you understand the
basic arithmetic properties of numbers. As though this were not
all, one very real and definite benefit in learning and studying
mathematics comes from the educational gain made in rational and
logical thinking. Now that’s a nice payoff!
What I have laid out here in four simple chapters is the basis
for understanding numbers. This is done through a study of the
four basic arithmetic operations: addition, subtraction,
multiplication, and division. As you will soon see, each of
these operations finds itself related by special properties to
the other. This relationship allows us to simplify even further
the study of these basic operations. I do use some basic math
terminology but I deliberately avoid getting weighted down in
special names. Far more important than memorizing any
terminology is understanding and learning the techniques and
knowing how and when to utilize the methods.
As someone who struggled with math–who understands the
frustrations and feelings of inadequacy that this subject can
rain upon you–I put this book together with the confident hope
that it will help you gain a whole new perspective on math and
numbers. This new attitude might foster a desire for further
study, and this would ultimately lead to a higher rate of math
proficiency. I am delighted to tell you that in overcoming my
frustrations toward math and numbers, I have benefited
enormously from gains made in selfconfidence towards this
subject and many others. I now approach any subject matter or
challenge– whether personal or academic–with a feeling of “I
can do it.” If after reading this, your attitude towards math
and numbers has changed to a more positive and less fearful one,
then my goal will have been accomplished.
One final note that should set you in a very positive frame of
mind before reading is the following: the arithmetic techniques
presented here are not only empowering but also mind
stimulating. They are confidence boosting. Now I am quite aware
that in the high technology world of today, calculators are
readily available and found everywhere; even cellular phones
have these built-in devices ready to serve you. But the truth of
the matter is that even though technology is everywhere, the use
of such technology is sometimes limited. The point of this
discussion is that there is something special about knowing how
to do something, and this is particularly true when you can do
something that others think is hard. Such as mathematics. The
other point is that knowledge in and of itself has a very
rewarding aspect to it, one that often cannot be thoroughly
evaluated or appraised. So you are not learning these techniques
solely to do away with your calculator, as this device will
always have its uses. You are learning them so that you come to
understand that what you thought was undo-able is actually
do-able and what you thought might be impossible is actually
possible. This fact is very empowering indeed and can serve as
the very bridge to higher achievement.
So let’s get going and begin our journey into Arithmetic
Magic. May you never be the same again.
Low Budget Wedding Reception
The reception alone will bust your wedding budget if you’re not
careful. Of course, the most obvious way to save money on the
reception is to keep it small. Where you host this grand
occasion could make or break you.
Your low budget wedding remedy? Find a reception location
that’s free or low cost.
A free location may include, your home, or a friend or family
member’s home. A low cost option might include the Church
reception hall, the local fire department’s reception room, and
club hall rentals. Most will have a kitchen area for preparing
and serving food.
Sometimes you will even find a local restaurant that
specializes in low budget wedding receptions. These will likely
offer a package for the reception which may include dinner and
limited beverage with the rental of restaurant space or banquet
rooms. Check hotels in your area for banquet rooms as well. Some
may rent the banquet room alone and/or offer reception packages
as an option.
Leave no stone unturned in your search! You may happen upon a
gem of a deal that will save you alot of money. Ask around. Get
recommendations from friends and family. Do a local search on
the internet. We have several plantations in our area who offer
wedding reception packages. These are elegant locations and are
usually competatively priced; Including options for the low
budget wedding.
Make a list or chart to record all your findings. Record not
only price but services available, and packages available. Then
you can compare where you will get the most for your money.
For instance, you may be able to rent a space for a really
cheap rate and hire outside catering for the dinner. But, if
you find a location that costs more but will offer you a
package that includes the catering, it may be the better deal
in the long run.
The one big exception to this scenario is if you opt for a
potluck reception. Many guests may be pleased, if not relieved,
to be given the choice to bring a reception dish in place of a
wedding gift. You will find that low budget reception packages
usually come with a low budget menu as well. If you choose this
option, you will save greatly on catering expenses. I am certain
your guests will be more pleased with the menu selections. This
would be your best low budget wedding option and will save the
most money.
The Potluck Reception
Don’t be shy to pursue this potluck reception idea. It is truly
the traditional way to celebrate. And, it is truly the number
one low budget wedding option.
Today’s weddings are so commercialized. You will learn that
caterers offer very limited menus to very limited budgets!
Guests will likely be very pleased and welcome the idea of a
potluck reception.
The potluck reception goes well with any wedding theme. If you
are shy about approaching this option you can simply call it an
“Old Time Traditional Wedding Celebration” The potluck dinner
will suit this theme quite naturally and no-one will even
question it!
You may even want to pick an “Old Time” theme for your
decorating and favors. This will further incorporate the idea
of an old time tradition theme. Perhaps a 50’s theme or a 20’s
theme. These are both popular old time themes.
Simply slip an added note with the invite, or on the invite, to
give guests this option. For example the note might read…
~Our reception will be an “Old Time Traditional Celebration”
with a potluck dinner. ____ Please check here if you would like
to bring a dish for the reception in place of a wedding gift.
Call with dish suggestions please.
Have them call to get or offer suggestions on a dish so you
have control over the menu. No one is obligated to
particitpate, but I’m sure you will be surprised at how many
guests will opt for this.
You and your guest will be equally surprised at the great
variety and quality of the dishes provided. Guests will want to
bring only their best recipes to a grand occasion such as a
wedding reception!
Cheryl Johnson is a mother of four helping
herself and others become and remain debt free. Publisher of
Simple Debt Free Living at http://www.simpledebtfreeliving.com – A self-help plan, ideas, and resources for household
budget planning, debt elimination, and frugal living tips. Money saving tips for groceries, clothing, monthly bills, medical expenses, home and car buying, weddings, gifts, and much more.
How to Escape Out of Thought Traps?
Have you ever been really sure about something, only to find out you were mistaken?
Did you notice how you operated “as if” you were correct? You may have even seen, heard, touched, tasted, or smelled the world in a way to support your stance. And perhaps you felt you had solid logic to support this position.
So how did the possibility of an opposite opinion make its way through your logic and basically the reality as you knew it, to get you to change your mind?
Did you fight hard to stay where you were? Did you go through so called “denial”? Did you lock in to your position, and build up a wall to prevent entry of any contrary thought?
Now the question I have for you is, “Were you keeping them out or were you trapping yourself in?”
In sales, a prospect may be dead-set in his view about a particular product or service. Now the sales rep may know that the prospect does not have all the facts yet, so he sets out trying to convey this to the prospect.
One of two things can result. One the prospect tightens the grip on his view or two he begins to shift his perception. Now this of course depends on the rapport and sales strategy used by the sales professional to enter into the prospect’s “thought blockade” and free him from that “one” perspective.
Listen to the conversations around you, perhaps even the words coming out of your own mouth, are you building your own thought blockade or “thought trap”?
If so, how do you get out? Then (If so desired!) how do you get others out?
RECOGNIZE THE TRAPS!
Let’s start by looking at the traps of the intellectual mind, the one who weaves such wonderful webs of logic that leaves us feeling good while keeping us quite stuck.
Trap One: Being Right
I often tell the couples l work with, “Do you want to be happy or do you want to be right?” Surprisingly, I see quite a lot of incongruent responses. It is like they know they should say “be happy” and (that’s why they do), but in fact, they really want to say “be right”.
Now the real interesting thing is that the intellect wants to be right, regardless of you being right or not. Confused?
Then let’s make an important distinction.
You are not your intellect! You the being (soul) are much, much more! The intellect’s limitations are not your limitations to the degree that you can separate your “self” (soul) from the intellect. Recognizing these traps and how to avoid them will help in that separation process.
Trap Two: Validation
The intellect seeks constant validation. It is constantly saying recognize me, notice me, “Hey! I’m over here!” Whether it is validation from authorities or peers, this need for validation becomes a crucial trap to avoid.
Kids learn this early on. A child comes home with their report card in hand and an eager look of anticipation, waiting for those few key words, “Oh honey, you did great!” Yeah! The kids can now feel worthy. Now imagine what happens when this is compounded over a few decades. Pretty soon we are all looking for validation in every direction.
Trap Three: Sharing
I’ve just got to tell you about this one. Oh you won’t believe it. The intellect likes to share things. Through sharing it can feel more validated and of course be right.
Ever felt like crap and wanted to let others know that you felt that way? Did you hope they would sympathize with your story and tell you how right you are in feeling this way? Hoping they would validate your stance?
If so, then you fell into another trap to feed the intellect while starving your real self.
Trap Four: Safety
As the intellect spins its logic, forming a thought blockade, it is also creating a sense of safety. If it constructs well-thought-out logic that sounds reasonable, it is safe from any challenges.
So what happens when a contrary idea comes knocking on the door? The intellect’s internal safety procedure is kicked in. You may have seen the behaviors that go along with such an internal process if you have ever challenged someone’s “sacred cow.”
A woman called me up a few weeks back and wanted me to see her son because he was very messy. She asked if I could hypnotize him to always clean up after himself. I told her that it certainly was possible; however I wanted to know a few things first.
So I asked her what happens to her when she sees that he hasn’t cleaned up after himself? She replied with great tension in her voice, “Well that just makes my blood boil!” So I asked if it always made her blood boil. She stammered, “Yes!”
Then I asked her what she thought about her response she had to his messiness. I asked her what kinds of effects she thinks this may be having on her own body, her health. I continued by saying, what if she could see a messy room and her blood not boil. Talk about running full force right into a sacred cow. (Moooove!)
Her intellect’s safety alerts kicked in immediately. She got very defensive and went on tirade about how she was right, and no one could see all that she went through day in and day out, raising three kids while working, and if her blood didn’t boil she would become just as lazy as her son, and the whole house would be a wreck.
Then she ended the call by saying that she was perfectly fine, and it was her son who had the problem.
Now how many of you identified with her story, sympathized with her stance? Did you get sucked into the trap? Did you let her logical retort validate your own stance?
Go back and read it again. What did she do? How did she trap herself? Her intellect screamed bloody murder the moment we came up on her sacred cow of cleanliness.
It started by building a logical argument around why she was right and he (or me, for challenging her) was in the wrong. She used that along with the lack of validation and recognition from everyone else to validate her logic. And finally, she felt compelled to share it with me to externalize the trap and manifest it into reality.
By sharing, the logic is not just a construct in her mind anymore. Adding voice and breath to it begins to give it a life of its own. This is where the pointing begins. And remember whenever there is one finger pointing outwards, there are three fingers pointing back to the person doing the pointing.
Getting Out of the Trap
Now that you know what to look out for, you can begin using the tools below to stay out as well as help others to stay out of those thought traps. Remember this takes practice. The hardest step is to recognize it. The moment you do recognize it you are in a sense already on your way out. But then it is about freeing yourself from the logic that the intellect has spun around the trap.
Even then you may find it is easier to spot other people’s traps quicker than your own. And the reason for that is because your own logic is most seductive to you not to others. So while they may be seduced by their logic, you can clearly see through it. And it certainly works the other way around as well. So go slowly with this at first. You don’t want to find yourself at the end of the week with no friends because you challenged all their sacred cows without maintaining rapport.
Now the simplest way is to first recognize the trap and then begin questioning it.
Who, What, Where, When, and How.
Avoid “Why” because you will only get justifications, which only help build the thought blockade stronger.
For example, when working on your own thought trap, you may want to begin like this:
Who says you’re right? How do you know? According to what criteria? When am I wrong? When was the last time? Where was it? What was going on then? Who was I wanting validation from then? How did I get it then? What did I do as a result of it? What other choices did I have available to me then? What about now? How would things be different if I responded differently?
If you are familiar with the meta-model, you can use it to guide you to different ways of looking at the trap? And as you start finding the edges, the boundaries of the confine, you can find the doorway out of the trap.
Another tool is to use your vertical and lateral thinking strategies to leap you or others out of the trap. In some cases, these strategies will not get you totally out of the trap, but it will begin expand the boundaries, giving you an opportunity to find your way out. Let’s use the lady who called me as an example.
(Staying vertical to her position) I could have said to her, “Well, if you can’t keep a house a clean without your blood boiling, then perhaps you should hire a 24-hour maid.”
Vertical thinking leads you up and down the same line of thinking, regardless of whether you are speaking at levels of abstraction or levels of specificity; the topic doesn’t change.
(Going lateral to her position) Or I could have said, “A friend of mine had a problem with a wrecked house, so she went out and got herself an apartmentNo more wrecked homes.”
Lateral thinking begins one place and ends up at an entirely different place. A conversation may begin at A and end up at D, with transitions B and C explicitly stated or just processed internally by one or both parties.
As you begin discovering your own traps, whether they appear as beliefs, values, or ideals, and regardless of how many layers of logic that are piled on top, you now know how to dig your way out. The more you do this, the more flexibility you will create within your own system. You will find that you don’t fall into your own thought traps or anyone else’s.
Remember to go easy on yourself and to enjoy the process!
As the director of the CORE Changes Institute, Oz Merchant, trains and coaches individuals for personal and professional excellence utilizing cutting-edge transformation technologies such as NLP, Hypnosis, TFT, and EFT to name a few. Get access to the Success Skills E-Letter and remember to get your free copy of his latest e-book “11 Simple Lessons to Manifest Your Destiny,” at http://www.CoreChanges.com
Data Compression For All
Anyone who has seen the movie’ Honey I shrunk the kids’ can imagine how useful compression can be. Compression, which has become anonymous with Zip files work
off the same idea only with a (add your joke here)’slightly’ different technology.
You will find a lot of data compression programs in use today and some are easier and have better features than others, so in this article I will talk about compression in general, but may through in a couple of examples for comparison.
The first thing you need to know is that there can be more than one compressed file; you can have an archive (a multiple of files). The main benefit of this is that the user can:
*Save valuable disk space
*Can send and receive files on the internet quicker
*Speeds up your processor
*Depending on the file compression program can reduce files as much as 90%
The user should also be aware that files can only be opened with the original compression program that compressed it. Think of this as a form of protection, if you will since this is like an encrypted file or archive. Adding a password is another way to insure files are safe from prying eyes and some compression programs let you do this at any level of compression or decompression with the associated commands (update,move,feshien,add). Only individual files can be password protected not whole archives.
Ever since the first personal computers (PC’s) came about people found how easy it is to load up there drives with programs and downloads that eat up much of there memory. That’s why developers created data compression programs in the first place, to free up hard drive space and increase processor speed.
There are a lot of data compression programs and they are not exactly alike because they use different data compression algorithms. One popular program, for example looks for repeating words or phrases and assigns them there own character or number value.
A lot of users don’t fully understand the more advanced features of their data compression programs so they are not really getting there full value. Syntax command lines are a good example of this confusion. There are four basic commands in syntax (the shape of a command line);
*Command: The task to be preformed like add, delete or update.
*Archive: the name of the archive.
*Switch or Option: lets user specify a file option like adding file directories for compression.
*File: name of file(s) to be processed.
A user can compress files four basic ways:
*Add files to archive – old files with same name are overwritten.
*Move files to archive – upon compression old files are deleted.
*Update files – makes sure you have the most recent file version.
*Freshen files – almost like update, seeks out the last modified file and adds it to archive.
The above commands have there basic functions but can do other things. Ex. the update & add commands can create and compress files and the Freshen command can create a new archive.
There are only a couple of data compression programs out there that give the user more than one compression method – PKZIP AND ARJ.
PKZIP has what they call an imploding method and a shrinking method; without going into great detail imploding uses less memory (90k), and is very through. This is the default setting. Shrinking is fast but uses a bit more memory (128k), works great for smaller files.
ARJ gives the user more options for data compression. It uses multiple settings (m1 to m4),
This is a tradeoff of prosessing speed versus packing dentisy. There are 2 more options available here but test runs show no significant change in time or compression.
Even with experienced compression users, extracting compressed files with a newer version of a data compression program may prove difficult, so programmers created self extracting files (SFX) to enable beginners to easily use compressed files. This small program may be part of the original program or added after as a separate program.
I realize some of this may sound confusing and for that I apologize, and after all, people will compresses data using only the basic functions and be happy and content because it suits there present needs. In conclusion you can tell there are many options available when using any data compression program and it is well worth the time (got time on the week end?) and effort to learn some of the advanced features if you want to save some serious space on your hard drive.
Robert Hanania is a student of the internet, learning about home based businesses and computers. Robert is currently promoting his web page. All are welcome to visit him at:
http://www.fileanddatarecovery.com
Get Organised Before Your Kids Grow Up
Hi!
A couple of years ago I attended a presentation from Parenting Expert and well-known author, Stephen Biddulph on “Raising Boys”. My son, Trent was 11 at the time so I was interested to hear what Stephen had to say. In fact, so were the 800 other parents in the room!
The key point that I picked up on was that boys from the age of 6 – 14 really need ‘time’ with their dads. That is the most influential period in their lives when they bond with him. And the type of time they need is not all thrown into a ‘once a week’ or ‘month’ block or some exotic holiday once a year, they need to spend time with their sons on a regular basis. Otherwise how can you build a strong and stable relationship?
For the single mums reading this, don’t despair. If you are estranged from your partner and bringing up your son is your responsibility, having a positive male role model in his life i.e. uncle, brother, grandfather, teacher, tennis coach, etc. will work as well.
What’s happening in our society in the chase for the almighty dollar and in many instances the big ego; our relationships are breaking down. People are totally dominated by their work and have little energy to invest in themselves and their families.
Navigating Work and Family Life
In his article Navigating Work and Family Life, another leading Parenting Expert Michael Grose says: “… Research by Australian Institute of Family Studies fellow Virginia Lewis supported this view of family time. Lewis found that many children of working parents wanted to play more and interact informally with their parents. They didn’t mind if their parents worked reasonably long hours but they resented it if their parents came home stressed or grumpy. It seems that many parents need a wind-down time so they can switch from work mode to parent mode”.
Planning Personal Time
It’s very interesting to note that every client I have coached … male or female, whether they are the business owner, director, executive or whatever title they hold, all have the same common goal… they want more time for their personal life.
They do not want to start work at 7.30 a.m. and return home at 7.00 p.m. They are committed and enjoy what they do, however they are not prepared to sacrifice their own relationships and wellbeing anymore. THE PRICE IS NOT WORTH IT!
You Can Turn Your Life Around
And do you know what the three key things you need to do to turn your life around? Learn to say ‘no’, how to manage your time, and then take action.
That’s right. Everyone tells you how busy and how little time they have, yet most people do nothing to learn the skills that will have a dramatic impact on their work and personal lives.
You have to plan time to get things done. Do you want to spend more time with your family? Do you know how to plan for it? How much time do you spend working? How much time do you invest in yourself to learn how to be more effective? Are you hoping that one day, work will ease off and then you can spend more time with your family? Do you really need a bigger house, nicer car or overseas holiday? Will that improve your relationships? Do you think that you’ll (hopefully) stumble on the secrets to getting more time back in your life? If that’s the way you live your life, your kids will probably be all grown up and not really need you.
Cats in the Cradle
For those of you old enough to remember, Harry Chapin recorded a song called “Cats in the Cradle”. It was about a young boy whose Dad was always busy working. He never seemed to be available when his son wanted to be with him. Over the years this continued until the boy became an adult. By then his Dad had retired and had time on his hands, however his son had now become too busy to see his Dad. He too was working and had kids. The tables had turned. All of a sudden the Dad realised what he had done. He was too busy caught up in his work and missed out on his son growing up.
The Final Word
For those of you who have managed to maintain a good balance in your life, congratulations. No doubt you are happier, healthier and more fulfilled. For the rest of you who are unhappy, unhealthy and unfulfilled, then you need to take action if you are serious about wanting to make changes. Do it, because nothing changes if nothing changes!
And remember the definition of insanity – doing the same thing and expecting a different result.
Have a great week,
Lorraine Pirihi
Lorraine Pirihi is Australia’s Personal Productivity Specialist and Leading Life Coach. Her business The Office Organiser specialises in showing small business owners and managers, how to get organised at work so they can have a life! Lorraine is also a dynamic speaker and has produced many products including “How to Survive and Thrive at Work!”
To subscribe to her free ezine visit http://www.office-organiser.com.au
Light Up Your Life!
How many times have you been left standing in the dark
desperately trying to find something in your purse? Well, if
Rosanna Kilfedder has her way, those dark times are coming to an
end.
A student of Brunel University, Rosanna has developed an
illuminating idea. She has designed a solar powered handbag,
with a lining that lights up, so women will have a simpler time
finding things in their purse in the dark. Mobile phones, PDA’s,
and other wireless devices can also be recharged from the
handbag’s battery.
The handbag, called Sun Trap, uses a solar cell to transfer the
energy collected from the sun’s rays to an internal battery. The
zipper on the bag acts as a switch to activate the illuminated
lining. The lining is made from an electroluminescent material
similar to that found in mobile phones. The bag goes dark when
the zipper is closed, or when it has been left open for more
than 15 seconds.
Rosanna is quoted as saying, “I had the idea for Sun Trap after
seeing so many of my friends frantically searching their bags
for house keys, usually on a dark door step. I also noticed
friends using their mobile phones like torches to examine the
contents of their bags, which gave me the idea of lighting up
the bag.”
The “Brunel Enterprise Centre”, which helps students and
academics develop their ideas commercially, is now giving
Rosanna assistance in applying for patents. They have also
supplied her with a mentor, who is advising her on the best
approach to bringing her invention to market.
Rosanna has already won an award for her design, and is working
hard to get this brilliant product into the marketplace. Her
handbag was designed with both usefulness and safety in mind.
The idea of including a charger for mobile phones is a wonderful
addition to an enlightening idea! How many times have you been
out and had to make a phone call, only to find that you have
forgotten to recharge your phone? Well done, Rosanna. We look
forward to seeing it on the high street!
For more information on this excellent invention, please visit
Rosanna’s website at www.rosannakilfedder.com.
Ignorance and Punishment
The fact that one is ignorant of the law does not a sufficient defence in a court of law make. Ignorance is no protection against punishment. The adult is presumed to know all the laws. This presumption is knowingly and clearly false. So why is it made in the first place?
There are many types of laws. If a person is not aware of the existence of gravitation, he will still obey it and fall to the ground from a tall building. This is a law of nature and, indeed, ignorance serves as no protection and cannot shield one from its effects and applicability. But human laws cannot be assumed to have he same power. They are culture-dependent, history-dependent, related to needs and priorities of the community of humans to which they apply. A law that is dependent and derivative is also contingent. No one can be reasonably expected to have intimate (or even passing) acquaintance with all things contingent. A special learning process, directed at the contingency must be effectuated to secure such knowledge.
Perhaps human laws reflect some in-built natural truth, discernible by all conscious, intelligent observers? Some of them give out such an impression. “Thou shalt not murder”, for instance. But this makes none of them less contingent. That all human cultures throughout history obtained the same thinking regarding murder – does not bestow upon the human prohibition a privileged nomic status. In other words, no law is endowed with the status of a law of nature just by virtue of the broad agreement between humans who support it. There is no power in numbers, in this respect. A law of nature is not a statistically determined “event”. At least, ideally, it should not be.
Another argument is that a person should be guided by a sense of right and wrong. This inner guide, also known as the conscience or the super-ego, is the result of social and psychological processes collectively known as “socialization”. But socialization itself is contingent, in the sense that we have described. It cannot serve as a rigorous, objective benchmark. Itself a product of cultural accumulation and conditioning, it should be no more self evident than the very laws with which it tries to imbue the persons to whom it is applied.
Still, laws are made public. They are accessible to anyone who cares to get acquainted with them. Or so, theoretically. Actually, it is inaccessible to the illiterate, to those who have not assimilated the legal jargon, or to the poor. Even if laws were uniformly accessible to all – their interpretation would not have been. In many legal systems, precedents and court decisions are an integral part of the law. Really, there is no such thing as a perfect law. Laws evolve, grow, are replaced by others, which better reflect mores and beliefs, values and fears, in general the public psychology as mediated by the legislators. This is why a class of professionals has arisen, who make it their main business to keep up with the legal evolution and revolutions. Not many can afford the services of these law-yers. In this respect, many do not have ample access to the latest (and relevant) versions of the law. Nor would it be true to say that there is no convincing way to pierce one’s mind in order to ascertain whether he did know the law in advance or not. We all use stereotypes and estimates in our daily contacts with others. There is no reason to refrain from doing so only in this particular case. If an illiterate, poor person broke a law – it could safely be assumed that he did not know, a-priori, that he was doing so. Assuming otherwise would lead to falsity, something the law is supposed to try and avoid. It is, therefore, not an operational problem.
Sam Vaknin ( samvak.tripod.com ) is the author of Malignant Self Love – Narcissism Revisited and After the Rain – How the West Lost the East. He served as a columnist for Global Politician, Central Europe Review, PopMatters, Bellaonline, and eBookWeb, a United Press International (UPI) Senior Business Correspondent, and the editor of mental health and Central East Europe categories in The Open Directory and Suite101.
Until recently, he served as the Economic Advisor to the Government of Macedonia.
Visit Sam’s Web site at samvak.tripod.com
Corporate Apparel
When it comes to the fashion industry, fashion keeps on changing and opinions about fashion vary from person to person. The needs of people also change with the times. The corporate world however is inclining more toward a trend of employees wearing more casual-looking and comfortable corporate apparel. For instance, Levi Strauss and Nike have come up with their own brand of corporate apparels.
Today you would find customization vendors dealing exclusively in ready-made as well as customized casual corporate apparel. These corporate apparel companies take bulk customization orders at a nominal price. The yardstick of a good customization vendor is that he has not only been in the corporate apparel business for years, but also has an idea of what his clients want.
You need to ask your customization vendor to accommodate the accepted social and business standards along with the casual look in the corporate apparels. Casual corporate apparel is something, which are fashionable and also look professional at the same time. For instance, women should avoid wearing sleeveless polo shirts. Full-sleeve polo shirts, polo sweaters and golf shirts are quite acceptable for both men and women.
You need to sell casual and customized corporate apparel with your company logo to your clients, employees and the people in order to make them feel proud about it. Holding award ceremonies and gifting your employees with customized corporate apparel for their performance would not only motivate them to work better, but it would also serve as a life-long souvenir. Such programs go a long way in helping you enhance your company’s corporate image.
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Fraudulent Tax Shelters – KMPG Goes Down Hard
In the largest criminal tax case ever filed, KMPG has copped a plea to using fraudulent tax shelters to bilk the government out of 2.5 billion dollars. KMPG has agreed to pay a fine of $456 million dollars, but nine of its executives still are under indictment.
Son of Boss Tax Shelters
From 1996 to 2003, KMPG promoted a tax strategy known as the Son of Boss. This shelter was used to create phony tax losses that could be claimed by wealth individuals looking to write off tens of millions of dollars. KMPG promoted the structure despite the fact it’s own internal tax attorneys warned the structure was fraudulent and could result in criminal charges. So far, wealthy individuals participating in the scheme have paid over $3.7 billion dollars to the IRS.
There should be no mistaking the impact of the plea agreement in this case. KMPG may have enjoyed the huge fees earned from the scam, but it is paying an incredible price for pursuing this practice. The price paid includes:
1. 456 Million Dollar Fine,
2. Permanently barred from providing tax services to wealthy individuals,
3. Permanently barred from involvement in any pre-packaged tax strategies,
4. Permanently barred from charging a contingency fee for work,
5. All actions monitored by government appointee for three years,
6. Full cooperation with government in indictments of individual KMPG employees.
Remaining Indictments
While KMPG pled guilty, it left its employees out to dry. An interesting maneuver since one can assume KMPG enjoyed the millions of dollars produced from the fraudulent tax shelters. Those under indictment, who are all now former employees, are:
1. Jeffrey Stein, former Deputy Chairman of KPMG, former Vice Chairman of KPMG in charge of Tax and former KPMG tax partner;
2. John Lanning, former Vice Chairman of KPMG in charge of Tax and former KPMG tax partner;
3. Richard Smith, former Vice Chairman of KPMG in charge of Tax, a former leader of KPMG’s Washington National Tax and former KPMG tax partner;
4. Jeffrey Eischeid, former head of KPMG’s Innovative Strategies group and its Personal Financial Planning Group and former KPMG tax partner;
5. Philip Wiesner, former Partner-In-Charge of KPMG’s Washington National Tax office and former KPMG tax partner;
6. John Larson, a former KPMG senior tax manager;
7. Robert Pfaff, a former KPMG tax partner;
8. Mark Watson, a former KPMG tax partner in its Washington National Tax office.
In Closing
In the end, KMPG led clients down a very dangerous path for the apparent purpose of generating revenue. While even bad publicity is supposed to be good publicity, this situation seems to suggest the opposite.
Richard Chapo is with www.businesstaxrecovery.com – recovering overpaid taxes for small businesses. Visit our article page – www.businesstaxrecovery.com/articles – to read more tax articles.