Web Conferencing 101

First, a small disclaimer: No matter how you slice up conferencing solutions, the categories you use to group them are mutable and subject to instant revision. Combinations of various elements make some applications basically impossible to categorize. Depending on how you look at it mail lists are even a form of conferencing and so is email. Real-time versus asynchronous is even becoming blurred as text, audio and video merge in varying combinations.

That said and out of the way, lets look at some of the ways conferencing solutions are categorized.

1. Real-Time Conferencing. Real-time conferencing refers to synchronous communications such that the participants are concurrently virtually present and able to actively interact as if they were physically co-located. Some typical and common applications are instant messaging and interactive chat, participatory webinars, interactive webcasting, online interactive teleseminars.

Now these are primarily web-based, however the old-time telephone conference call is still widely used. Call-in teleseminars are also common. Today however, they are merging into web applications as VoIP services with gateways into landline telephone systems become widely available.

2. Video conferencing is generally considered separately because it is a far more bandwidth intensive activity. To achieve reasonably acceptable simultaneous live video and audio, you need serious bandwidth. And the more active participants involved the more serious the problem becomes. Internet chat services with webcams are one rather simple form of video conferencing that's quite popular for individual person-to-person links, but clearly not of sufficient quality to use for business purposes or for larger groups. Some video conferencing is one-way video with interactive audio. Others require high-speed networks or dedicated connections. High-end solutions may work well for large corporations because of the savings involved in reducing travel expenses and time lost from productive work.

3. Forums, message boards, bulletin boards and so forth. These are asynchronous forms of conferencing or discussion solutions. Even blogs and wikis may, at times fall into this category. Generally these are linear or threaded, topic centered meeting places with chronologically tagged sequential entries that make up a discussion. Some prefer the linear mode as being easier to use and follow while others insist that threaded tree-like structures often more scope and the ability to develop sub-topics integrated into the main topic. Whatever one's preference, these are excellent solutions given the nature of the evolving internet and the need for participation by persons in time zones spread across the world. Real-time communications can be a burden when day/night cycles are offset by large amounts. Forums, with their purpose centered focus can develop extensive and dedicated communities which can be a source of extremely valuable knowledge and experience.

4. Collaborative team- or group-based work environments. These kinds of solutions can also include on-line virtual classrooms in several forms. The most sophisticated of these solutions include both real-time and asynchronous modes with audio, video, messaging and conferencing built-in. While some of this software is in use over the internet (again, some collaborative workspaces have been developed based on blogging platforms and even forum software is sometimes used this way), the more resource intensive versions are generally used on dedicated networks and intranets with high bandwidth. Many of these applications are oriented more toward in-house corporate uses.

So, do you suppose this covers it all? Just those four areas reflect a huge growth of the available modalities for conferencing and meeting over only a few years ago. Remember the old landline conference call? Once it was a major deal to be able to add a third person to a phone call. Now you can spend months just researching available solutions.

And this really doesn't even touch systems such as desktop video conferencing, the extensions of phone conferencing and the interaction of VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) services with all forms of web conferencing. Attending teleseminars in foreign countries, once prohibitively expensive for many, is now an accessible alternative with low-priced VoIP gateway services that allow fixed price calls to any landline or mobile phone.

As internet service continues to increase in speed and decline in price, the utility of these kinds of conferencing solutions will continue to expand. The growth of the cybersphere and the elaboration of purpose driven and affinity communities on the internet will continue to drive the development and integration of conferencing and communication software and services. In a very real sense conferencing software is at the heart of the new realities that the explosive growth of internet usage in every corner of the world is creating. These are social applications and they are changing how people live, interact and view each other.

There is yet another form of widely used "conferencing" software which is rarely mentioned in this connection. Multi-user, real-time, online games of all types from role=playing to live gambling (play poker with your friends, live roulette, etc.). Some of these systems are highly sophisticated and a lot of people love them. Their attraction lies not only in the ability to vicariously be someone (or something) else or to do things that may not be available locally, but in the social interactions and the communities that develop. While surfing is pretty much an unsocial activity, people are social creatures and the popularity of all types of solutions offering interactive contact and a sense of community reinforces this.

Marketing use of audio conferencing in the form of teleseminars and pre-recorded audio streams have undergone tremendous growth in the last year alone. Bandwidth still limits the quality of the video that's often used with pre-recorded audio to fairly static material. But this is changing as compression and streaming technologies improve. The major breakthrough that's still to come is the technology to effectively and affordably do, first, one-way live high quality video and beyond that live interactive multi-way video over the internet. If it seems like a difficult, perhaps impossible task, think again about what's happened in the last five years. And the future is arriving faster all the time.

Copyright 2005 Richard Keir

Richard writes, teaches, trains and consults on business and professional presentations and eCommerce related matters. For more information on web conferencing, VoIP, conference calling and related subjects visit http://altaglobal.com - find more on wireless and cellular subjects at http://www.altaglobal.org and check http://www.altaglobal.net for networking and security.

Gods Name... Creation and Undoing!

Over the past number of years, while going through my studies and research, information and answers come to the surface that are most astounding. I have come to understand things differently than I was taught in years of Catholic schooling. Although, I still believe in the "bigger picture" and "something greater", it has taken on a different tone and context. It has turned from a fearful system of faith to a confident system of knowledge and thought.

One of the many things I've thought about, as you can see from previous writings, is the existence of a single being or god --- God for many religions. Indeed, the belief of having a singular being encapsulate all of the wonders of the Universe makes it much easier to live with the unanswered questions that we're all taught to accept in faith through fear-based religions. But, although I stray, my research and questions always come back to the fact that there is one, singular being that does encapsulate these wonders --- it is the individual human being and their soul.

The soul is the wonder within us that we all tend to seek outside of ourselves. We're always looking for these "great answers" from a greater being when the answers reside within. However, this brings up an interesting myth I had heard some years ago. It is said that the God that so many religions worship has a name that is not known to human-kind. The story notes that, in the beginning, to initiate the creation of the Universe, God's "true name" was spoken. However, if God's true name is spoken in reverse, it will undo all of creation.

Indeed, few of us know God's true name because we're so busy chasing and looking for this elusive being outside of ourselves. But, looking within will show you your true God and, with that, His name is your own. In the beginning of our lives, our own Universe, our name was spoken. However, by speaking of ourselves in reverse, "speaking our name backwards", or not following our true goals and desires with the gifts available to us all, we can undo our own creation. I don't mean that you'll disappear in a puff of smoke, but your existence here on this planet will be meaningless, thus undoing the "purpose of your own personal creation".

Consider that by looking inward you can create any Universe you desire. Look inside for the creator and the encapsulation of all the wonders of your Universe. Your life can be what you desire simply by demanding of your God, yourself, your manifestations of life.

About The Author

Edward B. Toupin is an author, publisher, life-strategy coach, counselor, Reiki Master, technical writer, and PhD Candidate living in Las Vegas, NV. Among other things, he authors books, articles, and screenplays on topics ranging from career success through life organization and fulfillment. Check out some of his recent print and electronic books as well as his articles covering various life-changing topics! For more information, and to find out about his upcoming title on book publishing, e-mail Edward at etoupin@toupin.com or visit his site at http://www.toupin.com!

Copyright (c) 2004 Edward B. Toupin

12 Handy Tips for Generating Leads through Cold-Calling

Cold calling can be a great way to generate quality leads. You get to speak to the gatekeepers and stakeholders, and you get a great insight into their requirements and influences.

But cold calling is an art-form. It can be daunting, it's always a lot of work, and you always need to make a good impression. So you need to do it right. Following are some tips which will help you do just that.

1) Record everything

Always write down all details of every phone call. Write down any names and titles you learn. Not just the name of the person you're trying to contact. The receptionist's name can be vital to remember as they're often gatekeepers. Write down when you called, and when you said you'd call back.

2) Use a database or spreadsheet to record everything

You'll never manage by hand, and Excel spreadsheets aren't user friendly in the long term. If you're prepared to invest in a real CRM (Customer Relationship Management) tool, that's a great idea. If not, you there is a cheaper alternative. I created my own database using Microsoft Access. Visit http://www.divinewrite.com/downloads/contacts and jobs.mdb to download a 208KB working copy for FREE. You'll need Microsoft Access 2000 to run it. I'm no database expert, so it's not a work of art. It'll certainly get you started though. (TIP: When using the database, press Ctrl + ; to enter today's date.)

3) Always call back when you said you would

Don't let them down. They may not even remember that you committed to calling back. But if they do, and you don't meet your commitment, you'll lose valuable credibility and respect. And wherever possible, work to their schedule. You're here to help them, not make things harder.

TIP FOR COPYWRITERS: If you're an advertising copywriter or website copywriter, ask to speak to the Marketing Manager (or if the person who answers the phone says they don't have a marketing manager, ask for "the person who looks after your advertising & website" - all businesses have that person - it's generally one of the owners).

4) Always try to get on with the gatekeepers

Receptionists and personal assistants have great influence, and quite often do more of the real work and decision making than the person you're trying to contact! Make friends with them and you've got a foot in the door. (But don't waste their time or crawl ? they get a lot of that!)

5) Keep it short 'n sweet

When you do get to speak with someone, keep it short 'n sweet unless they want to talk a lot. The purpose of the phone call is to get their attention, let them know you're there, get their name and contact details, and assess whether they have any requirement for your services. (TIP FOR COPYWRITERS: If you're an advertising copywriter or website copywriter, you might have called about brochure writing and then find out they need web writing.)

6) DON'T HARD SELL!!!

Don't pressure people or make it hard for them to get off the phone. Tell them what you do and that you'd like to send them an email with a link to your website with samples and testimonials (or with an attachment containing samples), then leave them to it.

7) Follow up with an email

If you have permission, always send a follow-up email ? and do so immediately. Be specific in your subject line. (TIP FOR COPYWRITERS: If you're an advertising copywriter or website copywriter, use the words "advertising copywriting" or "website copywriting" in the subject. Most people don't get many emails with this in the subject line, so it'll be distinctive and probably won't be snuffed by their spam filter if they have one.) Address the email to them (e.g. "Hi Joe"), keep the email short 'n sweet. Include only the essential info, make it easy to read and conversational, and bold the important words or phrases as they'll probably only skim it. Include a link to your website, reference the day and date you talked on the phone (and thank them for that time), mention any names you learnt (e.g. receptionist's name, especially if the receptionist gave you an email address but you didn't actually get to speak to the decision maker), tell them that you'd like to follow up in a few weeks (assuming the conversation indicated that this would be a good idea).

8) Follow up with another call

If the lead looks promising, make sure you follow up. And when you do, always mention the day and date of the original call, as well as the fact that you sent an email. Give a quick summary of who you are and what you do, and say that you're just calling to make sure they got the email. Most of the time, you'll find the lead will talk to you about your services, if only to remind themselves of what you do!

9) Don't expect to make too many calls

On a really good day, I've made 80 cold calls. Most days, though, you should be very pleased to average around 40. You'll spend a lot of time playing telephone tag.

10) Don't leave message

Unless you absolutely have to (or you've just about given up on the lead), don't leave messages. Most people have trouble returning phone calls from people they know and like; returning phone calls from someone who's trying to sell them something isn't high on their list of priorities.

11) Don't expect to qualify too many leads

Depending on your business, if you get one good lead a day, you're probably doing very well.

12) Don't expect immediate conversion

Unfortunately, most leads take a long time to come to fruition (up to 2 years). So you have to be prepared to be patient.

Good luck and happy calling!

About The Author

* Glenn Murray is an SEO copywriter and Article Submission Specialist. He is a director of PublishHub and also of copywriting studio Divine Write. He can be contacted on Sydney +612 4334 6222 or at glenn@divinewrite.com. Visit http://www.divinewrite.com or http://www.publishhub.com for further details, more FREE articles, or to purchase his e-book, 'SEO Secrets'.

How to Take Advantage of Public Relations

Decide once and for all to do something about those outside audiences whose behaviors affect your organization the most.

When members of those "publics" of yours perceive and understand who and what you are, and like what they see, the behaviors that flow from those perceptions will put a smile on your face.

Good things happen like converting sales prospects into customers, convincing existing customers to stay with you, or even toning down activist rhetoric. Even internally, productivity often increases when employees conclude that you really do care about them.

It's all possible when you commit your organization to confront head-on those key target audience perceptions and behaviors.

Easy to do? Well, it's not so hard when you have a roadmap to guide you.

Right at the top, try listing, say, your top three outside audiences whose behaviors can really affect the success of your organization. Let's pick the audience at the top of the list and go to work on it.

Can't take any chances on being wrong about what they think of you, so now's the time to start interacting with audience members. Ask a lot of questions. What do they think of your services or products? Is there a hint of negativity in their answers? Do you detect the evil effects of a rumor? Are their facts inaccurate and in need of correction?

What information gathering like this does for you is let you form a public relations goal. It could be as simple as correcting an inaccurate perception, clearing up a misconception or spiking that nasty rumor. Your goal might even have to take aim at a widespread belief that's just plain wrong.

With your goal set, how will you actually affect those perceptions? Of course, that takes a successful strategy. But when it comes down to really doing something about opinion, we have only three ways to go: create opinion if there is none, change existing opinion, or reinforce it. Just make sure the strategy you choose flows logically from the public relations goal you set.

What exactly will you say to the members of your key target audience? Well, that depends largely on what changes in perception and, thus, behaviors you want. Your message must be clear as a mountain stream and, above all, factually believable and persuasive. It should be direct and as compelling as possible. Might help to try it out on one or two audience members and get their reactions.

Dare I call this part fun? Communications tactics, I mean? There are dozens available and they all will reach members of your key target audience with varying degrees of efficiency. You could use personal meetings, emails, letters-to-the-editor and brochures, or you could try open houses, speeches, radio interviews and even a news conference. There are many, many more.

But now, you can't avoid this. You must once again interact with members of your key target audience or you will never know if your goal, strategy, message and communications tactics ever worked.

When you again meet with these individuals, you'll be asking questions similar to your first opinion monitoring session.

Difference this time is that you're hot on the trail of altered perceptions because you know they will almost always lead to the change in behavior you really want.

Does it look like you were successful in cleaning up that misconception? Or in rooting out that wrong but deep- seated belief? Or shooting big round holes in that mischievous rumor?

If you're not happy with your progress, consider altering the mix and frequency of your communications tactics. And don't forget to take a hard look at your message. Was it REALLY clear? Did your facts and figures support your contention that the rumor is not only unfair, but hurtfully wrong?

Finally, as noted at the top of this piece, when members of your key audiences really understand you and your organization, good things usually happen. Things that really will put that smile on your face.

Please feel free to publish this article and resource box in your ezine, newsletter, offline publication or website. A copy would be appreciated at bobkelly@TNI.net.

Robert A. Kelly ? 2003

About The Author

Bob Kelly counsels, writes and speaks about the fundamental premise of public relations. He has been DPR, Pepsi-Cola Co.; AGM-PR, Texaco Inc.; VP-PR, Olin Corp.; VP-PR, Newport News Shipbuilding & Drydock Co.; director of communications, U.S. Department of the Interior, and deputy assistant press secretary, The White House. mailto:bobkelly@TNI.net. Visit: http://www.prcommentary.com

Eco-Parenting

Arabella Greatorex, owner of The Natural Nursery, reports on the rapidly rising demand for natural, environmentally friendly and ethically sound parenting products and highlights some of the concerns that have fuelled these demands.

Organic Food

There has been much media debate around the promotion of heavily processed foods to children, part of a long standing concern about the quality of food on offer in the UK. While some say the jury is still out on issues such as pesticide residues in fruit and vegetables, it is worth noting that only 30 additives are allowed in organic food, compared to over 300 in non-organic. Specifically, organic food bans the use of tartrazine (linked to hyperactivity in children) and GM ingredients.

The Soil Association reports that sales in organic food grew by 10% last year overall and purchases from farm shops and box schemes by a whopping 16%. This means that over 75% of households bought some organic food during 2004.

Organic baby and toddler foods now account for nearly half of total baby foods in the UK, with its market share growing rapidly, highlighting the level of concern felt by parents, and is a trend that looks set to continue.

Cloth Nappies

Modern cloth nappies bear no resemblance to the old-fashioned terry squares you probably wore as a child. They are cheaper and more hygienic to use than their disposable counterparts and parents are fast cottoning on to this. Ten years ago, only 2% of parents used cloth nappies; that figure has now grown to over 15% and is rising steadily.

Despite this growth in cloth nappy use, Bristol City Council still spends around ?500,000 each year dealing with disposable nappies. Conventional disposable nappies can contain up to 200 chemicals and some estimates say they will take over 200 years to decompose.

The alternative is to use cloth nappies, which are now available in a wide range of shapes and sizes and can be just as easy to use as disposables. You can choose from so soft organic terry or a natural eco-look or funky fleece prints or even retro patterns to really make a statement. They can be flat, shaped or stuffed, depending upon your child's personal needs and you will find other "clothies" are more than happy to help you decide which nappy is right for you.

They could help you save money as well; the Women's Environmental Network estimate that savings will be around ?500 for the first child and more for subsequent children, even taking into account the cost of home laundering.

Chemical Free Toiletries

Your skin will absorb around 60% of products applied to it and Green People estimates that the average woman will absorb about 2kg of chemicals through toiletries and cosmetics over one year, up to 75,000 different chemicals! We all know how sensitive a baby's skin is and rates of eczema are rising fast with almost a third of babies now suffering from it.

Many people believe that the chemicals in the lotions and potions that we use are to blame. Even some so called "natural" products contain a range of chemicals that are believed to cause or exacerbate skin conditions or be carcinogenic, even if they are originally plant derived. Worryingly, a product needs to contain only 1% natural ingredients to be legally labelled "natural".

Natural, organic and chemical free toiletries are no longer the preserve of the health food shop but are widely available on the high street or from specialist internet companies. The Soil Association estimate that there will be a 20% increase in the number of licensed organic manufacturers this year, reflecting the huge surge in demand, especially amongst families with young children.

Fair trade

When you are buying clothes or toys for your baby, international trade may seem like a remote issue but by choosing carefully, you could make all the difference to someone else's life. Farmers in the developing world are ill-equipped to cope with dramatic changes in commodity prices, which are caused by factors outside the control of the individuals most concerned.

Parents are being offered an increasing range of fairly or ethically traded products, including clothes, shoes, toys, toiletries and nappies. Sales of "Fairtrade" marked goods are now well over ?100m per year in the UK alone, up 46% on last year and we eat a third of a million fair trade bananas every DAY!

The growth in organic cotton

Most people assume that as cotton is a natural product, it is produced naturally, unfortunately, this is not the case. Around 150 grams of hazardous chemical pesticides will be used to grow enough cotton to make one t-shirt. The cotton farming industry accounts for about 1/4 of the world's insecticide use as well as huge amounts of fertilisers that can end up in the water system and food chain.

The World Health Organisation estimates that 20,000 people die every year in developing countries as a result of poisoning from pesticides used on non-organic cotton. Worryingly, much of the world's cotton production comes from genetically modified crops: over 2/3rds of China's cotton crop is GM.

Luckily, more and more organic textiles are now available and there has been an 80% increase in the worldwide production of organic cotton in the last 2 years, with sales in the UK alone now worth over ?20m from almost zero a couple of years ago. You can now buy organic clothes, bedding, towels, sheepskins and nappies from a range of suppliers ? even good old Marks and Spencer sell a range of organic cotton yoga clothes.

Katharine Hamnett, fashion designer, says: "This is part of a rapidly growing trend reflecting increasing consumer awareness and concern over global issues to do with the impact of pesticides, herbicides, dioxins and toxic chemicals used in textiles, on the environment and human heath. The good news is that this shows people are actually looking for positive alternatives."

And for the daddies

The Ecologist Magazine recently studied the contents of a can of shaving gel and found it to contain "several skin irritants, four potential carcinogens, three central nervous system poisons and two reproductive toxins" - and all this before breakfast!

Arabella Greatorex is the owner of http://www.naturalnursery.co.uk, an online store selling organic and fairly traded products for families including organic clothing and nappies, fairly traded toys and natural toiletries.

Teens And Cell Phones

Let the battle begin, should teens have cell phones? Well you will be pleased to know that over 94% of parents agree that cellular phones are good for teens and that's according to a survey conducted by AT&T with parents and teens in LA and New York. Most teens have their very first cell phones by the age of 15 and in many cases 13. Like with all mod cons teenagers want them but they should be used in a practical manner.

The Bill

Paying for the cellular phone is one thing but the on going costs thereafter tends to cost some friction in households. If you are the parent who insists that your son or daughter has a cell phone then understandable you should pay the bill once it's within reason. Teens who insist on having a cell phone should pay some part of the bill with their weekly allowance that you give them. Teens who are left without any supervision on bill phones will run riot and it will be you who foots out the bill. Even if you have the money to pay the bill monthly no matter how high you should draw the line, you may not always be there to pay for everything. Prepaid cell phones are a good idea to keep the expense down, the calls are more expensive to make on these phones but you can only make the calls once the credit is there. It is a great way for teenagers to learn about financial management of their own bills.

Teens and camera phones:

Camera cell phones are more popular with teens for the obvious reasons. It's easy to use and fool around with and let's face it they are harmless fun. There is a downside to having the camera phone and that's the ongoing cost. If the phone is prepaid it's simply, you can only text friends photo's when you have the credit but if the phone is linked to monthly bill payments camera phones are by far the more expensive to operate. If your teen insists on sending SMS via the camera phone, why not encourage them to do so through email. Simply connect the phone to the PC via a usb cable (normally supplied with the phone), upload the photo's and with broadband in most area's email is much cheaper.

What are the main reasons parents offer teens cell phones?

Knowing that your son or daughter is safe and sound is priceless. If ever they need your help you are only a phone call away. With many late teens driving cell phones are a necessity, let's face it most cannot even change a puncture. Please remember if you allow your teen a cell phone in the car, make sure you or they purchase a hands free kit or earpiece. Teens have so many things to talk about and can get so wrapped up in conversation that the driving aspect takes a backseat. For a few more dollars play safe.

Trust your teen with the cell phone:

We live in a world of technology and it's going to keep growing at a rapid pace, all teenagers are curious. Once you have gotten over the argument of bill payment your teen will be fine, they may overindulge on the first bill or two but by confiscating the cell phone for a day or two will soon teach them the importance of money management. You will always know where they are and from the sound of their voice on the other end of the phone your mind will be put at ease.

Cellular phones family plans to keep costs down:

Family plans from cell phone carriers such as AT&T are ideal if there is more than one cell phone in the household. It helps keep the costs down and maximise the free talk-time minutes per month. If one person is not using up the free minutes the other can before they are lost. Some cell phone carriers are offering rollover minutes. Rollover minutes allow all the used free minutes from one month travel over to the next so you are not losing out. Cingular offered this and since they merged with AT&T, AT&T customers can avail of this too, remember the onus is on you to ask them.

About the Author
Declan Tobin is a successful freelance writer providing advice for consumers on purchasing a variety of Prepaid Phone Plans which includes Cell prepaid plans, Carriers, and more! His numerous articles provide a wonderfully researched resource of interesting and relevant information for all of your phone interests and needs.

Military Loans ? Serving Financial Need of Those who Serve the Country

Military loans are overcoming financial difficulties for army personnel who have served the country with a dedication which can't be put in words. Military loans are offered to both serving army persons and those who have retired from the service. Military loans are an exclusive and resourceful way of providing army personnel with loans to make their home improvement, or getting higher education or vacation or car buying or any other personal use.

Military loans are offered at lower interest rate as compared to the loans offered to other people. Military loans are flexible and have special offers with easy approval. Many private online services offer military loans to active duty and career retired men and women of armed forces.

Applying for military loans would require you to show the details about your military identification along with your personal information. Your application will be analyzed keeping in mind your level of duty, credit history and financial needs. There are innumerable military loan plans to compliment your rank and financial situation.

Most military loans do not require any collateral to be place, so you don't have to pledge any of your valuable assets like your property or home. Military loans for army personnel are typically unsecured loans. However, unlike unsecured loans the interest rates are low and can be paid early without any penalties, fees or penalties.

A good credit history is integral to finding a good military loan. You won't find a better military loan product in case you have an awful credit history. Past credit history can do all the work for you, if you are trying to find a good loan rate. There are discounts and offers for military personnel but nothing can compensate for a truly upright credit history. But it does not mean under any circumstances that you cannot get a military loan with bad credit. However, it is still good to keep out of debts and keeping credit history clean.

Military loans are provided to all ranks and enable you to borrow loan amount ranging from ?500 to ?10,000. Military loans for army personnel can be either beneficial or disadvantageous. They can have the effect of solving emergency or other financial needs. There have been cases of overcharge and deception with military loans. Therefore, caution is advised while loan borrowing. Some loan lenders are charging outstanding fee for military loans. There are chances of deception on internet also. Falling prey to them will lead to heavy financial loses when you can easily get low interest military loans. Try approaching a site that is completely dedicated to the cause of helping military personnel their families, and their spouses. Approach a site which charges fair rates and has a good standing with the military community.

Military personal can find loans of their kind auto loans, va loans, payday loans, personal loans, home loans, computer financing. Military personnel and retirees should do research about military loans before they settle on a particular loan. Do not settle for the first loan, you qualify for. You can find loan lenders on the internet who tell whether you qualify within five minutes. Otherwise the process might take about 24 hours. A simple online form would start the process for military loans. The information that you provide will remain confidential and secure with the loan lender.

Military loans like all the loan types are meant to be paid back. So, planning repayment makes sense. Special advantages of military loans make it easier for you to repay it. You can have access to military loans anywhere and they can even be mailed.

Military loans are exclusive service for those who serve in the military. Fighting each day for the freedom of your country with your life at stake is difficult. Finding a military loan for your situation should not be the same. Military loans for army personnel are a tribute to these men and women so that they can meet their financial needs online.

Amanda Thompson holds a Bachelor's degree in Commerce from CPIT and has completed her master's in Business Administration from IGNOU. She is as cautious about her finances as any person reading this is. She is working as financial consultant for chanceforloans .To find a Personal loans,bad credit loans,Debt consolidation,home equity loans at cheap rates that best suits your needs visit http://www.chanceforloans.co.uk

What is Your Recovery Rate?

What is your recovery rate? How long does it take you to recover from actions and behaviours that upset you? Minutes? Hours? Days? Weeks? How long? The longer it takes you to recover the more influence that incident has on your actions, the less able you are to perform to your personal best. In a nutshell the longer it takes you to recover the weaker you are and the poorer your performance.

Just ask yourself:

How many times have I got upset with my spouse or partner for something the children did hours ago?

How many times have I missed an opportunity because I was still focussed on an upset and all I could say was 'NO' to everything?

How many times have I driven my car erratically because I was still thinking of an incident that made me angry?

The point is: a poor recovery rate affects your health. A poor recovery rate affects your well being. A poor recovery rate stops you from living to your potential.

You are well aware that you need to exercise to keep the body fit and, no doubt, accept that a reasonable measure of health is the speed in which your heart and respiratory system recovers after exercise. Likewise the faster you let go of an issue that upsets you, the faster you return to an equilibrium the healthier you will be. The best example of this behaviour is found with professional sportspeople. They know that the faster they can forget an incident or missed opportunity and get on with the game the better their performance. In fact, most measure the time it takes them to overcome and forget an incident in a game and most reckon a recovery rate of 30 seconds is too long!

How long does it take you to recover and overcome and forget and incident at work or at home?

A method that I and many others use to help us reduce the recovery time is the method of the FULL STOP.

Imagine yourself to be an actor in a play on the stage. Your aim is to play your part to the best of your ability. You have been given a script and at the end of each sentence is a full stop. Each time you get to the end of the sentence you start a new one and although the next sentence is related to the last it is not affected by it. Your job is to deliver each sentence to the best of your ability.

Now think about your life. Imagine life is no more than a play, a drama and we each have a role to play in that drama. Your job is to play your part to the best of your ability and the better you play your part the more chance that you will inspire others around you to improve their performance. Each incident you face is a new sentence. Just put a full stop behind it and start again. Accept that every time you meet someone or have a conversation with a person on the telephone or even send an email it is a new incident.

You have both moved on since you last met, so remembering the last occasion only keeps you in the past and stops you moving forward. Stops you seeing new opportunities. The next time you see the person that upset you, or you upset, is a new occasion there is nothing to be gained by continuing from where you left off. The incident has finished. You are both in a different place now. It is a new sentence so start again.

My grandmother used to call it destiny. "Accept what has happened as part of your destiny and live with it", was a favourite phrase of hers. You cannot change what has happened. Sulking or Brooding will not help. Analysing will only give you a headache and keep it fresh in your mind. In the same way that you cannot enter the same river twice, you will never face the exact same incident again so why analyse that one? You can however notice whether you have a habit or thought pattern that clicks in in certain circumstances and stops you performing to your best. You can then look at the habit and decide how you can change it.

The secret to a better life is be like the sportsperson, ask yourself:

Did I recover quicker today than I did yesterday?

Did I recover quicker this time than the last occasion I faced a similar incident?

Did I allow myself to be average today?

Did I equal or improve on my personal best today?

Don't live your life in the past! Learn to live in the present, to overcome the past. Stop the past from influencing your daily life. Don't allow thoughts of the past to reduce your personal best. Stop the past from interfering with your life. Learn to recover quickly.

What we are suggesting is not an easy path. To work on your recovery rate and make changes in your thoughts, behaviour and attitudes requires a great deal of effort. However, the rewards are also great. It is important that you don't force yourself to work on your recovery rate because you think you ought to or must or because you feel it will 'make you a better person'. There's no benefit in that because you will not stick to the task. You will make a great deal of effort at the beginning but when you are not achieving the results you want you will stop or look for another technique. Only when you really feel you want to change.

When you realise life is not working for you at the moment using the methods you are using will you put in the effort to change your behaviour to improve your recovery rate. You can only improve your recovery rate when you can see that there is great benefit for the self.

Once you decide you wish to improve your recovery rate, you will start to check and change your thoughts and behaviour and make effort to perform to your personal best. You can check your progress by measuring the speed in which you are able to apply a full stop. The time it takes you to let go. The time it takes before you are functioning at or near your personal best again.

Check yourself:

What was my recovery rate after the argument with my partner?

What was my recovery rate after I lost a sale?

What was my recovery rate after I received a ticket for speeding?

What was my recovery rate after I heard a friend was ill?

What was my recovery rate after I got frustrated with myself over????

But remember; Rome wasn't built in a day. Reflect on your recovery rate each day. Every day before you go to bed, look at your progress. Don't lie in bed saying to yourself, 'I did that wrong'. 'I should have done better there'. No. Look at your day and note when you made an effort to place a full stop after an incident. This is a success. You are taking control of your life. Remember this is a step by step process. This is not a make-over. You are undertaking real change here. Your aim: reduce the time spent in recovery.

The way forward?

Live in the present. Not in the precedent.

Graham and Julie live in the Canary Islands where they pursue their love of writing and photography. To see more of their work please go to: http://www.desktop-meditation.com

Monster Hunt: Ledge Lunker Blues Part II

Originally published in Procats Online Magazine

Settin' It Up

Once Jeff has picked his area by marking the right bottom contour near the thermocline and the right space between the fish and the bottom, he is ready to deploy the drift socks. Williams will usually only use on drift sock or "sea anchor" to set his drift at the right speed and path.

Some anglers use two anchors out the side of the boat but Jeff prefers to drift with the socks either out the front or the back to get a more controlled drift. If the wind is moving at a fairly good clip, Jeff will fish from the front so the wind doesn't push his boat too fast. If the wind is fairly slow, he will fish from the back so the wind has more of a flat surface to push on, thus speeding up his drift. Jeff notes that he will catch more fish if he speeds up or slows down the drift when he needs to cover more or less water.

Also of note is that matching the speed of the boat to the activity level of the fish seems to work best on certain days. "You just have to fish and vary your drift speed till you start hookin' up with fish. I like to start with a certain drift speed and then go faster or slower from there."

If Jeff is catching fish fairly consistently he will leave the boat speed alone. If he goes very far without a hook-up and he is still marking fish on the graph, he will slow down or speed up if he thinks it is necessary. On windless days, Jeff will use his bow-mounted trolling motor to create a drift.

Fresh Bait

Jeff says that one of the most important parts of his fishing success is having fresh bait all day long. He motors to areas that hold shad such as bays, and cuts, and then moves slowly around till he locates schools of shad on his sonar unit. From the front of the boat, he throws a 16-foot diameter 1-inch mesh cast net and usually gets enough bait fairly quick. As soon as he nets the first few gizzard shad he tosses them into a top-quality aerated oval bait tank made by Grayline. After he has caught enough big shad he drains the water out of the tank then refills it.

"If I want the freshest bait possible I have to get the water changed. When shad get stressed they regurgitate and their stomach acids build up in the tank's water and burn their gills. By changing the water, you remove all that and the built-in tank filters will do the rest."

Williams uses either chunks or fillets depending on what works the best for that day. He makes sure to cut the chunks at an angle so they are streamlined enough not to spin much.

Ready to Go

We've got the right bait and figured out where to fish and set up the boat for the right drift by deploying the drift sock according to the power of the wind. Now its time to look at Jeff's drift rig set-up. Jeff has experimented with many different snagless sinker styles including bottom-bouncers, weighted welding rods, modified egg sinker rigs, pencil weights, and others but he has finally decided on one that works best for him. He ties a short piece of 20 pound monofilament onto a small snap swivel then threads on eight ? ounce egg sinkers onto the line and then fastens the last one to the line.

You're Ready

Well, there you have it folks. Jeff's simple yet effective summertime pattern he uses to catch blue cats on reservoirs can be used on lots of big lakes across the country. Get out there and drift, pay close attention to what's happening while you're on the water drifting and you'll be catching blues like he does in no time. Chances are if you spend the time on a lake that has some monster-sized blues, you may be surprised just how big a fish you can handle!

Copyright ? 2004-2005 Jeff Williams and Procats

ozark-lodges-fishing-trips.com/ledge-lunker-blue-catfish.htm

You have permission to publish this article free of charge as long as you are not selling it and that you include the author bylines immediately visible with the article and, if published in an electronic medium such as on a web site, you provide a link back to www.ozark-lodges-fishing-trips.com in the author bylines, both where the web address is listed as well as well as with the text "Truman Lake Hybrid Bass and Lake of the Ozarks Catfish Fishing Guide Service":

Jeff Williams runs a Truman Lake Hybrid Bass and Lake of the Ozarks Catfish Fishing Guide Service offering lodging and guided trips in Missouri. To book a trip, learn more tips, or find out how Capt. Jeff would fish your own local waters, call 1-866-HOOKSET or visit http://www.ozark-lodges-fishing-trips.com today!

Identity Theft - How to Protect Yourself

"Like the tan? I got tons of sun on that Caribbean cruise. First class tickets to Florida and back! Nope, not an airline upgrade. 5-star service all the way, baby! Hotels, restaurants, theme parks?you name it! Look?I took pics with my new cell phone! Hey, let me know when you're free to take a spin in the car ? it's a 2005 sports model, fully loaded! Yours truly, Chad E. Charlatan, is going to the top! Nope, no job. But I didn't pay for anything myself. I don't care who Ms. Donna Knowe-Bedter is, but it's not my fault if she doesn't keep tabs on her credit card statements. One day I'll thank her for being so rich!"

In a perfect world, everyone is honest, with good intentions.

We don't live in a perfect world.

ID thieves are supreme opportunists. Read the news? Hackers can break into corporate computer systems and steal information on clients and customers. "Skimmers" can be attached to credit card readers, and used to store credit- and bank-card numbers. Identity thieves may pose as employers, landlords or even utility company representatives to get at your personal and financial info. Other thieves may use their employers' authorized access to obtain credit reports or other information. Databases and other records can be stolen from employers; thieves may bribe fellow employees who may have access to important data. They may steal your mail and take credit card offers, tax information and other documents. "Dumpster diving" involves digging through garbage to find information such as bank statements, or credit card information. And there's always the age-old method of simply stealing your wallet or purse.

New ways of stealing your identity pop up frequently. "Phishing" became prominent in 2003 and 2004: well-designed emails and websites convince victims to provide information. Emails look legit, but release any information and the nightmare begins. The cost? Damages now top $1 billion per year. How's that for a nightmare?

Thieves get new phone services, auto loans and credit cards using stolen information. Victims may find their mailing addresses changed, and their credit ruined. ID thieves can file for bankruptcy in the victims' name to escape debt, and drain accounts by counterfeiting checks and debit cards. They can also open bank and credit card accounts using their victims' names.

Your name may be given to the police during an arrest. If the real thief is released, and fails to arrive for a court date, you may be arrested. And out-of-pocket costs to clean up the mess can be staggering.

Be savvy, capiche? Thoughtful planning can prevent the pain of a stolen ID.

* Buy a shredder. Shred documents with your name, personal information such as social security numbers, phone numbers, addresses, birthdates, credit applications, financial documents, and medical and insurance information. Whole documents can be used against you. Confetti can't.

* Get your credit report. Verify it. Manage this tool carefully, and use it for protection. It's worth it.

* Secure your computer against online theft. Your PC is a gateway to private information. NEVER leave an online connection open if you are away from your computer. Use a firewall.

* Change passwords often. Use passwords with numbers and symbols that are easy for you to remember, but hard for someone to figure out.

* Some programs allow the PC to fill out forms automatically. Convenient, but your PC may be hacked for info. Disable this feature.

* Call your credit card companies and make sure there are no surprises on any of your credit cards, then request that restrictions be placed on each card. Example: you can request for no phone charges, or limits on single purchases. Violating these restrictions stops the transaction. Nightmare avoided.

* Mailbox secure? Stealing mail is one of the easiest ways to steal your ID. Get a lockable USPS-approved mailbox.

* Be extremely picky about giving out your Social Security Number. Resist giving out that very personal piece of information. Check the privacy act of 1974. Homework: go to http://www.faqs.org/faqs/privacy/ssn-faq/ on the web for more information.

* Other information, like your mother's maiden name, seems harmless; those items are often used as verification of ID. Don't give it out. Keep yourself to yourself, and stay educated.

Having your ID stolen is a terrible experience, and consumes much time, finance and energy. For your own sake, the sake of your sanity and your safety, set aside a few minutes to follow the advice above. Protect yourself the next time someone says, "?and your name is?.?"

To send comments or to learn more about Scott Pearson's Investment Management services, visit http://www.valueview.net

Scott Pearson is an investment advisor, writer, editor, instructor, and business leader. As President and Chief Investment Officer of Value View Financial Corp., he offers investment management services to a wide variety of clients. His own newsletter, Investor's Value View, is distributed worldwide and provides general money tips and investment advice to readers both internationally, and in the U.S.

Why You? -- Professional Identity Branding

You can have first-rate products and services, but if you can't establish the need, communicate the benefits and differentiate yourself from the competition in ways that make people want to do business with you, you'll forever be selling up hill.

As Robert Krumroy, Identity Branding, Inc. says: "Branding is about the customer--who has never met you--being able to answer the question: 'Why you?'"

Your "Value Proposition"

Your brand can be based in large part on your "value proposition," which is what differentiates you from your direct and indirect competition-and, if it's good enough, will draw people to you.

Your value proposition should be a clear, concise statement of why your business is unique and a better choice. Your market positioning, competitive analyses and SWOT analysis (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) gives you everything you'll need to develop a value proposition based on your strengths, your competition, what your "ideal" customer wants from you, and how this benefits people in your markets.

This message must be delivered to your markets consistently and repeated frequently. If prospects understand what they need, trust you and connect emotionally with your message, sales resistance melts before your eyes. Yes, it's that powerful!

My Value Proposition:

First Impressions, Last

Short-term, smart professional branding gives you the immediate recognition, market access and momentum you need to attract customers and build sales; long-term, it can help increase market share, foster customer loyalty, sustain your client-building efforts-and practically guarantee clients will eagerly refer you to others ("Hey, look what I'm part of! You should be too!").

Branding should be part of your annual marketing/advertising expense budget. The Small-Business Administration advises entrepreneurs to use 5% of gross sales on advertising, but that varies depending on sales volume and location.

Everyone Has a Brand

"Everyone has a brand, like it or not," adds John Melchinger, The Marketing Coach?. "You have one. It may not be the one you want and you may not be nurturing it, but it's yours nevertheless. Not to shape your brand rigorously and nurture it is to leave it to your public to decide. That is the much less effective alternative."

Building Your Brand

The purpose of this exercise is to create a short message people will remember whenever they think about you. When part of a coordinated marketing plan, your professional identity brand will drive customers to your business. You will also need to give some thought to which medium to use.

Example: This is Joe Financial Advisor's brand identity. It's deceptively simple, yet sends a compelling message to his target market, Tool & Die Makers:

Insurance Solutions ? Precision Business & Personal Planning

Why are we a Tool & Die Maker's insurance solution? Because we care and take the time to understand your unique needs.

Write your own message here:

Need help building your brand? Try this?

? Give stamped, self-addressed envelopes to 25 personal and business acquaintances.

? Ask them to write down how they'd describe you to someone who doesn't know you or what you do. Let them know you're looking for objectivity, not what they think you want to hear.

? Don't pressure them; they don't even have to tell you who they are their replies (it would be better if you didn't know).

Compare the results of this survey with your own view of who you are and what you do based on your value proposition.

? Brainstorm: begin jotting down key words that could become part of your businesses brand name and slogan.

? Compare against your SWOT analysis.

? Then stop: leave these alone for a week, then come back and repeat this exercise until you're satisfied with the results.

Choosing media

Brainstorm ideas for communicating your brand. Write them down, confer with others, research?

? Which media will be the most effective?

? Which media will be the most efficient?

? Which media will integrate well with each other?

? Which media do you have the resources to implement and sustain now?

? How frequently should you communicate with your audience?

? What combination of effectiveness, efficiency and simplicity will best reach your audience with available resources?

When you're ready, summarize your conclusions in your Marketing Plan (you do have a marketing plan, don't you?).

But can you do all this yourself? Should you?

Of course, hiring a full-time marketing professional for your small business may not be feasible. That's why outsourcing might be your best bet

Want More? Send questions and comments to w.willard3@knology.net.

Bill Willard has been writing high-impact marketing and sales training for over 30 years-but as Will Rogers put it: "Even if you're on the right track, you'll get run over if you just sit there." Through interactive, Web-based "Do-While-Learning?" programs, e-Newsletters and straight-talking articles, Bill helps small-business owners and independent professionals get the job done: profitably improving performance, helping grow your business, skipping expensive mistakes, making the journey to success faster, smoother, easier. And fun!

Fax Advertising : Hitting Your Target Immediately

In the business of marketing and advertising, it used to be that companies that wanted to get the word out quickly to key customers on a new development would rely on email with follow-up phone calls. But with the new technologies available in fax broadcasting, fax advertising has taken over as the advertising medium of choice when it comes to contacting your customers at the speed of light.

Fax Advertising Puts Your Message in Their Hands

A perfect example of how fax advertising hits your target customers immediately with your critical marketing communications is the use of fax broadcasting in the travel industry. With public transportation, time is of the essence. Thousands of travelers depart every hour all over the world, and things can change in a heartbeat. Anything that can speed things up in the travel business can save companies millions, and keep valuable customers from heading over to the competition for their travel.

Fax advertising has proven to be the perfect tool for handling the lightning-speed requirements of the travel and transportation industry when they need to get their advertising in their customers' hands at a moments notice. For example, one cruise line has 10 cruise ships that set sail about 14,500 times per year. With those kinds of numbers, unsold berths on each ship can add up to tons of lost sales throughout the course of a year, and it can be almost impossible to make potential customers aware of the empty berths at the last minute when a ship needs to take off.

Fax advertising to the rescue! That same cruise line has begun using a highly sophisticated fax advertising system which allows them to identify those travel agents that have been making reservations for customers most recently. The line is able to blast last- minute fax broadcasts to those travel agents, offering discounts if someone want to purchase a last- minute ticket for the empty berths right before a ship sets sail. The fax advertising has resulted in a huge increase in sales as a result, despite the last minute time crunch.

The same applies for the airline industry, where the timing of flight arrivals and departures is tight and quick communication is a must. One small, upstart airline was innovative enough to employ fax advertising to win business away from the competition. When a large competitor airline had to temporarily stop operations due to a strike, the small upstart went into action with a fax broadcasting campaign, quickly notifying travel agents of its excess seat capacity in certain areas and its ability to accommodate passengers left out in the cold by the strike. Even though the strike was over in a week, it was still enough time for this innovative air carrier to sell seats to lots of people who couldn't delay their travel plans for the strike, thanks to the speed of fax broadcasting.

You may be in a business where time is of the essence. Maybe you have excess capacity that has gone wasted because you just couldn't offer it to customers due to time constraints. Or perhaps there have been times when your own competitors have dropped the ball, but you couldn't take advantage of the situation quickly enough to use it to your advantage. If you find your business in these types of situations, fax advertising may be your perfect solution. If you're interested, test the water. Hire a fax advertising services firm and do a few trial runs. If your sales take off as a result, you can expand your fax advertising instantaneously with a simple mouse-click. Who knows; like the travel industry, you may find your sales taking off and heading for the clouds.

Chris Bradley is V.P. of 3 Cent Fax Broadcast.com, where they help business save money and increase profits with their do it all fax service, where they do all the work and you can concentrate on your business. To learn more about their money and time saving service by clicking here ... fax broadcasting.