Planning Time To Write

In his book, "Achieving Financial Independence as a Freelance Writer," Ray Dreyfack, a full-time freelancer for 30 years, suggests that writers "ease" into full-time writing while maintaining their day jobs. If you're following this advice, either by choice or by necessity, you know that it's not always easy. Obligations to jobs and families tend to take priority over writing. It's easy to lose focus of your writing goals when you have so many distractions in your life.

It is possible to pursue a career as a freelance writer, even though you can't commit yourself to it full time. All you need are three things: time management skills, desire, and a day-planner. If you have the first two, you can get the third after you read this article!

Schedule Your Week

As in any part-time job, you must determine your hours of availability. Every Sunday evening check your calendar for the upcoming week. Schedule yourself "off" for the days filled other obligations. Establish what your work hours will be before you do anything else. Write your work days and times in your planner.

Writing Goals

Most experts promote the practice of setting writing goals. However, plans such as, "write something everyday" or "research on Mondays, write queries on Tuesdays," (you get the picture), are too vague for writers operating on a time crunch. What happens if your child has a band concert on Tuesday? Not only will that throw you off course for this week, chances are, it will also set you back the following week. These disruptions in such a loose plan can cause frustration and weaken your writing resolve. For greater productivity, set your goals on a weekly basis, after you've determined your hours of availability. Plan what you will do at each work session, according to the time available, and write it in your planner. This way, you'll be focused the minute you sit down, instead of trying to decide what you should do.

Create A Secondary "To Do" List

This list is separate from your weekly plan. It contains tasks that require a small block of time to complete. Organizing files, writing greeting card ditties, sending out reprint offers, and researching markets are some examples. This list is where you turn when you unexpectedly find yourself with extra work time. It will also come in handy on those days when your work time has been unavoidably reduced. Without this list, you may end up spending this precious time trying to decide what to do with it. Designate an area in your planner for this list. Remember to cross off your accomplishments and add to your list as needed.

Organize Your Supplies

Keep everything you need in one area. Nothing wastes time like repeatedly getting up to retrieve items you need. If you have an office or work area, keep your most important tools of the trade close at hand. If you don't have an area designated for your writing, a bin with everything you'll need works just fine.

Use an area in your planner to keep track of your writing supplies. Make a list of everything you use. As you begin to run low on any of the items, make a note to replenish your stock as soon as possible.

Show Up For Work

This is probably the most difficult part of all, because there are always going to be reasons for not writing. After you've made your schedule, do everything in your power to stick to it. No employer in their right mind would pay an employee who always makes excuses for not showing up. If you want to get paid for your writing, you must plan time to write!

Karen Bianchi is a freelance writer who also holds a part-time "day job." She has 4 kids and is the editor of http://www.AwesomeMomsNetwork.com

Increase Your Website Traffic in 10 Foolproof Steps

Increasing website traffic is certainly your goal if you have a website. However, creating web pages that attract visitors is significantly different than simply building an attractive website. You need to make sure you put as much effort or more into getting people to your website than you spend designing your web pages. Read the following 10 foolproof steps to increasing your web traffic and boosting your sales.

#1 Set a Goal

If you don't know where you're going, you will never know when you get there. It is very important to set a goal so you know what you want your website to accomplish. In order to achieve success or know when you are successful, you must have a goal.

#2 Develop a Plan

Once you have a goal or set of goals, you need a plan to take you there. Make sure you are very specific about your plan and lay out the step by step objectives to help you meet your goals. Also, you will want your plan to be measurable so you can track your results and see what is working and what is not.

#3 Links

You want to do your best to have as many links pointing to your Website as possible. The more web pages you can get to add links to your site, the more traffic you will receive.

#4 Good Link Partners

While you want many links to your web site, you want them to be good links. This means making sure that the web pages linking to your web site are quality sites that receive high levels of traffic. The Google toolbar will help you determine if it is a good site with high levels of traffic.

#5 Prepare Yourself for Responses

If you are not prepared for increases in traffic, responding to new customers, and staying in contact with other web sites linking to your page, then will lose have a difficult time building a successful online business. Make sure that you have the resources to handle increased e-mail.

#6 Newsletters

Newsletters are a great way to increase the number of visitors coming to your site, especially if the newsletter contains valuable information. The reason for this is people will subscribe to the newsletter, recommend their friends, and so on and so forth. A newsletter is a great way to increase traffic.

#7 Forums

Start a forum on your web site and watch your traffic grow. People enjoy a space where they can trade ideas and ask questions, and a forum is the best way to do this. Websites with forums have increased levels of traffic to their web sites.

#8 Get Top Rankings with Popular Search Engines

Most people use popular search engines when trying to find information. As such, you will want to make sure that your site is ranking as a high result in the popular search engines such as Yahoo, Google, and MSN.

#9 More Pages

The more pages you have on your web site, the more information you can include. You can target more keywords as you build more pages which increases your search engine listings and boosts the amount of visitors your website will receive.

#10 Keyword phrases

Keywords phrases drive people to your web site. It is important to have as many keyword phrases that are directly and indirectly related to your products as possible in order to broaden your search results and increase your traffic.

Michael Turner reveals step-by-step how you can increase search engine traffic in his free 7 part mini-series. Grab it now at http://www.powertraffictactics.com/

Anam Chara - The Flow of Life

I am deeply drawn to the above Irish Blessing.

This blessing works for me on very many levels. It includes many words I love. These are the words "listen, "river" and "trout." Two of these words, "listen" and "river" bring me into the present. The other evokes memories of the past. This blessing helps me become a presence and an evoker. I am able to evoke memory.

I have called this blessing "The Blessing of Flow." This is the nearest metaphor I have to explaining the essence of what it means to live in being and to be fully alive. This symbol of a river is a great image to represent the flow of life. It is a metaphor I evoke often in order to remind me that "I am" is flow.

I live close to a river.

This is the river Shannon in Ireland. I live close to the source of this river. I live close to where she rises up from deep underground at a place called "The Shannon Pot." This is a deep still place. At this place the water is dark peaty brown. It is a barren place. It is a place of silence. It is a place where one comes to listen. It is a place of rising up and a place where one might be lifted up.

To listen to the sound of a river is an act of presence. You have to be there with this flow of energy that has no beginning or end. You have to be with this metaphor of freedom of emotional expression. You have to be there as one who is sensing and sensational. Just sitting or standing one looks at this flow of life. Water is life and we are mostly water. One is reminded that one is simply a flow of energy. This is the flow of an eternal energy.

This Irish Blessing reminds me of the great Zen saying, "The river flows and the grass grows by itself." Such a beautiful and profound saying. I find all sorts of meaning in this saying. It is a saying that I love to relax into. The deeper I relax into this saying the deeper I go into allowing it to touch this soul.

This is a great Irish Blessing.

An Irish Buddha could almost have spoken it. It is a calling to be present. To catch a trout you have to be present. You have to be able to listen to the river. You have to be able to read the rhythm and the dance of the river. If you are not present to the river you miss. You have to know the river and then you will know that which lives in the river.

I spent many years between the ages of ten to twenty fishing and reading rivers around my home in the City of Armagh. I would lose all track of time. I would be happy alone on the bank of the Callen river. This would be day or night when I would go seeking that illusive trout. As time went on I learned to know the river. I learned its rhythms. I let the stillness and the meditative silence of being there enter my heart.

Many great teachers have loved rivers.

This Blessing uses the image of a trout as a metaphor for a living energy that lives in flow. I think this trout is a representation of soul. It lives in the essentialness of the flow of the Divine. When you listen, and this means you have to be silent, you will catch. You will catch a glimpse. This is a glimpse of the free flowing being you are.

Great teachers have spent time sitting beside rivrs learning to allow wisdom to arise. One of my most recent teachers via the written word is Anthony de Mello. I am presently reading his wonderful book "Walking on Water." This seems to be an appropriate title for the reflection on this Irish Blessing. This book is subtitled, "Reaching God in our time

I love a story that Anthony de Mello tells in this wonderful book "Walking on water." Let me share this story with you.

"A wise old boatman was taking pilgrims to a shrine. One day someone asked him," Have you been to the shrine?" "No, not yet," said the boatman, "because I still haven't discovered everything the river has to offer me. In this river I find wisdom;, I find peace; I find God." But the pilgrims didn't even notice the river, their minds were so focused on the shrine they couldn't see the river."

This is wisdom. This boatman must be a being of love. He is not yet interested in the shrine. A shrine means "a place for books." Too often these books become places where we practice not flow but fundamentalism. This means we take the "fun" out of the religious experience and become "mental." We reverse the process of living. Life becomes not an experience of being but a practice according to a set of rules and commandments. The shrine becomes a dead thing rather than the living water of life.

I love to imagine this boatman of the river.

He would be so alive. He is not a person of social authority. He is a being of authenticity. He will row the pilgrims to the shrine in silence. He will be listening. He will be out in this boat in all the elements. He is an elemental being. He is a being of essentialness. He or she is humble. He has still much to learn. He is not yet ready to go to the shrine. He is not yet ready to go to "the chest of books."

I suspect he never will go to the shrine. One day he will disappear. He will disappear as did the maiden Sionann who gives her name to the river Shannon. He will not become one who is a pilgrim. He will not be one to whom flow becomes foreign experience.

This boatman will live between two shores much of his life.

These are the shores of the visible and invisible worlds. For him the river will never be in any one moment the same. He will live and love this river. He makes his livelihood from this work of being on the river. I suspect he loves this work. This river is his teacher. He knows the joy of wisdom simply by listening to her flow. He is a pupil of the Divine. He is a receiver of the grace of the feminine.

This boatman is a presence. He is sitting rowing pilgrims toward "a chest of books." They will debate the content of these books - these pilgrims, these foreigners (root of the word pilgrim is from the Latin "periginus" meaning "foreign"). The Pilgrims in this story appear to be great logic choppers. They are not ready for entering the river. This is the place of flow without beginning or end.

Life is not contained in a chest. Try and contain it in the boundary of a book and it becomes foreign. It becomes a foreign body. If you are intelligent you will begin to smell something fishy. Something begins not to smell so sweet. There is the smell of something not totally alive.

If you are lucky you will have the "inner telling sense" to leave the shrine. You will walk to the river. You might come across a boatman. You might even meet with the real kings of the river. You might meet with Jesus, Buddha or Mohammad sitting silently listening to the river. They are each listening in their own way. Just sitting silently they know the river flows and the grass grows by itself.

They know this is forever enough.

? Tony Cuckson 2004

Tony Cuckson is an Anam Cara. This Celtic term means "Soul Friend." He specializes in providing insight for the spiritual journey, Blessings for YOU, words of wisdom and finding inner peace. Visitors to Irish Blessings Matter website and Tony's Blog get the opportunity to develop a purpose driven life through articles, newsletters and other programs.

Get your free report called "7 ways to it's a wonderful life" at http://www.irishblessingsmatter.com/, or go to Tony`s Blog at http://www.irishblessingsmatter.info/ for YOU Blog, where you will find links to information related to spiritual parenting, spiritual coaching and spirit in business.

The Clock is Ticking on Your Leads

Every day is critical when you are in the business of sales. That lead you receive today could very easily be gone tomorrow.

It is very important to act on your lead the very second you get it, not an hour later, or a few days later.

The second it is in one hand, the next hand should be dialing the phone.

Too often leads and referrals are taken for granted, sales people assume that because someone gave them a lead, that it is exclusive to only them. It is not, at any time one of your competitors can call that person and offer them a better price or a better service.

I once worked with a guy in the mortgage industry. He received a lead from someone in his networking group on a Wednesday. He called the lead the very minute he got back to his office, and he was on his way to building a very nice relationship with her. By Thursday the two of them had come to a decision on a rate and product for her home that she was refinancing. Everything was moving along nicely.

Or so it seemed.

When he called her on Monday to follow up, it turned out that she was working with another loan officer, and would no longer be needing any of my co-worker's services.

As it turned out, his customer was at a family reunion over the weekend. While making small talk, she mentioned that she was in the process of refinancing her home.

One of her third cousins just so happened to be present at this conversation, and subsequently chimed in when he heard the word refinance.

He proceeded to tell her that he was a loan officer and that if she allowed him an opportunity, he could most likely get her a better rate. After some more small talk, she decided that since she was only three days into the process of refinancing with someone else, that it wouldn't hurt to give someone in her family an opportunity to do business with her.

So much for my co-workers loan.

So keep this in mind the next time you receive a lead. It is not a given. Give your leads the same amount of attention as you would give a customer you worked your tail off to get, or one with a high profile.

Keep in mind, every time you make contact with your customer, you are building a rapport with them, and strengthening the relationship you have with them. The more they speak with you the more they will get to know you and trust you.

It doesn't matter if the lead is from a friend or a family member. If your customer can get a better deal with someone else, nine times out of ten, they will take the better deal.

So call your leads as soon as you get them, give them exemplary customer service, be accessible at all times to answer their questions, and keep things moving. And remember, the clock is ticking on your leads.

Jay Conners has more than fifteen years of experience in the banking and Mortgage Industry, He is the owner of http://www.jconners.com, a mortgage resource site, he is also the owner of http://www.callprospect.com, a mortgage lead company.

How to Beat Your Rivals on Google AdWords

Google AdWords is a great tool for driving traffic to your site; but you need to know how to make the most of the system. Many people just find they end up spending loads of money bidding on super-competitive keywords and sooner or later their ads get disabled for under-performing. While your competitors seem to be getting the top spot time and time again! Want to know how to beat them? Read on..

1. Always specify negative keywords. For example, if your product requires payment, include -free as a negative keyword; that way your ad won't be shown to people who include free in their search and you won't have to pay for visitors who have no intention of spending any money!

2. Bid on AS MANY relevant keywords as possible. If you're only bidding on a dozen keywords then you're probably bidding on the same ones as all your rivals and you'll end up having to pay too much per visitor. If you can think of interesting new combinations of keywords that none of your rivals are bidding on, you'll be able to get high up the results very cheaply. Of course, these less common keywords get searched for less often and will therefore bring in less visitors, but because you're paying less, these visitors are potentially more profitable.

3. Try to split your keywords into groups of similar words and then create a separate campaign for each group. In each campaign you can reword your ads so that they are exactly relevant to those keywords. This will dramatically improve the click-through rate. If you Ad contains any of the exact words which the person searched for, then it makes those words bold, and they are more likely to be clicked on. So make sure that each campaign's advert is very closely relevant to the keywords/phrases you bid on.

4. The higher your click-through rate (CTR), the higher you ad will be shown. Even if you are bidding less money than the person above you, if your ad gets a higher CTR Google will show yours higher. If your ad does not get at least 0.5% CTR, google will disable your ad; so do not bid on keywords that are not directly relevant to your adverts!!

5. For every keyword or phrase you bid on, you should also bid on "keyword" and [keyword]. Putting the keyword or phrase into "inverted commas" means that your ad will show any time someone searches for that word/phrase as part of a search with other terms included, putting it in [square brackets], means that your ad will show when someone searches for that phrase and NOTHING else. Google prioritises ads that are closely targeted to what people have searched for, so this will help you get higher up the results.

6. Always run at least two, differently worded, ads for each campaign. Google will automatically show both adverts alternatively, and you can then see which advert gets a higher CTR (i.e. which ad people are more likely to click on). When you've had a good number of clicks you can decide which advert is most effective and delete the less effective one. Then create a new second advert and see if you can get a higher CTR with a different type of wording. This way you are constantly improving the wording on your adverts to make them as attractive and effective as possible.

Steven is part of London web designer Cleartide's team in charge of managing Create a website and 2Clicks.com - the easiest way to build your own website - They specialise in web design, development and strategy.

Finding Answers to Underachievement

Finding answers to a child's underachievement is often a difficult and complex process. Let intuition be your guide, knowing when and how to ask the right questions. Here are 7 steps to get you started:

1. Narrow the Problem.

By the time a family member or teacher steps in to help an underachieving child, it may be months or years since problems may have first appeared. It can be extremely difficult sorting out the source of difficulties, and what problems (depression, anxiety, apathy) are primary or secondary. Nevertheless, narrowing the problem is often the most first step in finding specific answers to underachievement, and realize it may take some time. Look for patterns in certain subjects, assignments, homework, or teachers. Are there more problems taking information in or getting it out? Did things get more complicated in middle school or when classroom expectations increased? Could there be a 'silent' learning disability? Could your child be overscheduled? Are problems related to subject areas like reading, writing, or listening?

2. Identify Strengths.

Realize the importance of strengths in designing solutions. Children need to feel good enough about themselves to have the mental energy to tackle school frustrations. Underachieving children often they have no strengths and they may even have existential depression. Also learning strengths should tell you the best routes for overcoming learning or performance 'blocks'. Look for strengths in personal or hands-on learning, language, or the visual arts. Problem solve best memory routes and styles of expression.

3. Share Your Stories.

Realize that you are probably a powerful role model. Share your realistic stories about learning difficulties, personal obstacles, and discuss what you continue to grapple with. Be aware that underachieving children easily succumb to 'catastrophism'. Encourage them, and give them perspective.

4. Commit to a Change.

Most children are already exhausted and defeated by the time you try to work with them. Encourage them to commit to a change and start small. The answers will be found by problem solving, and encourage them to celebrate every small bit of progress as it arrives.

5. Don't Forget Your Parachute.

Encourage realism and don't expect all your changes to work the first time. Underachieving children often need some aggressive accommodations (reduced work load, assistive technology, adjusted deadlines) at first to allow them to develop and become efficient with new styles of processing information or expressing ideas. Don't forget to take breaks and to enlist the cooperation of teachers as you devise a plan for overcoming your child's underachievement.

6. Adopt a Team Approach to Problem-Solving.

Partner with your child problem solving situations and crises. Let your child express her worries and desires. Develop a plan that seems sensible to you both, and then push forward.

7. Remember the Big Picture.

Realize that many of the anxieties of underachievement come from personal fears of futility and catastrophe. Fears about time running out and bleak futures need to be confronted and carted out to the waste bin. What you need to do is focus on the present, plan sensible changes, allow time to see their effects, and adjust plans accordingly. Constantly redirect the focus on the big picture - how can we help make them more happy, reduce their frustrations, accentuate their talents, and prepare them for their future.

About the Authors: Brock and Fernette Eide are physicians and consultants to a wide range of parent, teacher, and clinical groups seeking more information about learning and brain-based solutions. Together they have authored more than 50 articles and they speak internationally for keynote lectures, seminars, and small groups. The Eides have a free Neurolearning Newsletter and can be contacted through their website at: http://www.neurolearning.com or by email at: feide@u.washington.edu or drseide@neurolearning.com.

Cholesterol Prescription Medications Can Kill You

While there are numerous options for people to lower cholesterol naturally, thousands and thousands of people are taking prescription medication to lower cholesterol ? risking some very dangerous side effects.

These side effects can include:

? An increase in cancer risk
? Elevated liver enzymes (causing liver damage)
? Yellow skin / yellow eyes
? Rhabdomyolysis (degenerative muscle tissue condition)
? Impaired kidney function
? Muscle weakness and pain
? Dizziness
? Gas
? Headache
? Heartburn or indigestion
? Nausea or vomiting

Crestor, a prescription medication to lower cholesterol, has been linked to the death of a patient who developed a suspected case of severe muscle wasting. Company spokesman Steve Brown said "the death may have been due to a condition known as Rhabdomyolysis and the incident had been reported to regulators worldwide." Brown declined to say where the death occurred or what dose of Crestor the patient had been taking

For people that are looking for supplements to help lower cholesterol levels, there are many natural supplements available that can lower cholesterol and some of these can even be more effective than the prescription medications ? with the added benefit of zero side effects.

A new product and website just released can show you many natural ways to lower your cholesterol, including over 35 natural supplements that will help to melt away high cholesterol levels. You can also find plenty of information on how to naturally lower cholesterol levels without any supplements whatsoever.

This is what one person had to say "?and on behalf of my wife I'd like to say thank you. Her cholesterol is down, her weight is down and her blood pressure is down (after a 7 year struggle) and the best part was that it was pretty easy to do"
Peter Bezant ? USA

The above statistic about the death of a patient should serve as a warning. There really is no reason for anyone to be taking prescription medication to lower cholesterol. The side effects are just too dangerous. And when you consider the numerous natural options, including foods and supplements, that are readily available to lower cholesterol, prescription medication should not be an option.

For additional information on how to lower cholesterol naturally visit http://www.lower-cholesterol-naturally-fast.com

Lower Cholesterol Naturally Fast was developed specifically to educate and offer people with high cholesterol, natural options to lower their cholesterol ? natural options that don't have any dangerous side effects

Ramzi Abboud is a recognized authority on the subject of lowering cholesterol. His website, http://www.lower-cholesterol-naturally-fast.com provides a wealth of information on every thing you'll ever need to know about lowering cholesterol, including information on over 40 natural supplements that can help to melt away your high cholesterol levels.

5% Down Vs. 10% Down - A Comparison

It has always been an issue for home buyers to save their down payment. Many people, on advice from various people wait to save 10%, rather than moving into the home sooner with 5% as a down payment This is not always a good idea. Let me explain;

We have 2 young couples, the Jones' and the Smiths. They both have the same amount of money to spend on housing and saving ($1000/month). From that $1000, they are paying their rent of $750/month, and saving the other $250 for their down payment. In fact they're identical people.

The Jones' and the Smiths are both looking to buy a $100,000 property. As such, they will need $5000 as a down payment if they purchase at 5% down, or $10,000 if they wish to have 10% as a down payment.

To date, they have both saved $5000 with which to purchase a property. The Jones' have decided to buy now and accept that they only have 5% as a down payment The Smiths' have decided to wait until they can raise 10%; thus saving themselves some CMHC costs.

What the Smiths' aren't realizing is that while they wait, the cost of the property is increasing... thus incrasing the amount of money they need as a downpayment.

They've also not taken into account that the money they are paying in rent is being thrown away, while they could have been putting that against their mortgage.

Sure, saving the CMHC fees is a good idea. But is it necessarily the right way to go? Not always.

If it takes the Smiths an extra 2 years to save up the extra money, the property could have increased by as much as $15,000 in that time.... meaning that they'd need more of a down payment, as well as having a larger mortgage than if they'd bought earlier.

If you'd like to read this article in full, including graphs showing the difference between the Smith's and the Jones' then go to our website at www.workingtogether.ca and review the article titled "5% Down Vs. 10% Down - A Comparison". You'll get the idea; and possibly save yourself a lot of money!

About The Author

John Carle & Sharon Gregresh are Realtors with Royal LePage - ArTeam in St. Albert, AB. They pride themselves on providing more than just real estate sales and listings. Their clients benefit from a much larger spectrum or real estate services. Contact them any time at information@workingtogether.ca or through their website at www.workingtogether.ca They can be reached by phone at (780) 458-5595

Creativity Management and Good Ideas

Some ideas occur in the office and others occur away from the office.

If you think of creativity as problem identification and idea generation, then it follows that problem identification and some of the more straightforward ideas will be generated in an office environment.

An office environment is also helpful in that, with goals, targets, people management and so on, it forces output, which produces better results than a "do your best" approach. There is a positive relationship between the quantity of ideas and quality.

However, richer and more complex ideas require the mind working on problems at various cognitive levels ? the process of incubation ? and are more likely to be produced without time pressure and when the mind is engaged in other tasks, which is why it is often said that good ideas are produced "out of the blue" and away from the office ? in the bath, walking across a zebra crossing and so on.

Creative Thinking is a process that, roughly, goes like this:

a) Identify the problem

b) Intensely investigate the problem

c) Separate creative from critical thinking ? use techniques to force out ideas

d) Seek stimuli

e) Constantly engage with the problem

f) Allow unconscious processes to take over through rest and engagement in unrelated activities

This illustrates that it is not the place that is most important, but the process.

This topic is covered in depth in the MBA dissertation on Managing Creativity & Innovation, which can be purchased (along with a Creativity and Innovation DIY Audit, Good Idea Generator Software and Power Point Presentation) from http://www.managing-creativity.com

Kal Bishop, MBA

**********************************

You are free to reproduce this article as long as no changes are made and the author's name and site URL are retained.

Kal Bishop is a management consultant based in London, UK. He has consulted in the visual media and software industries and for clients such as Toshiba and Transport for London. He has led Improv, creativity and innovation workshops, exhibited artwork in San Francisco, Los Angeles and London and written a number of screenplays. He is a passionate traveller. He can be reached on http://www.managing-creativity.com

Fashion After 40

With so many designers and trends targeting the svelte body of the twenty-something, is it possible to look fashionable as the years pass and your body begins to tell the tale?

Absolutely!

In fact, with a little ingenuity and sleigh-of-hand, it's easy to be fashionable and stylish regardless of how many candles are on your birthday cake.

Now let's be frank: unless you work out religiously, you probably don't have the same body at 40, 50, or 60 that you did at 25. Time, gravity, and pregnancy all take their toll on the female body, as does menopause. And when you mix a mature body with fashions obviously made for a younger person, it can lead to self-doubt, frustration, and confusion.

But it doesn't have to be that way. Getting older also means getting wiser, and like a fine bottle of wine, you're improving with age. So you don't have the same body as those twenty-somethings you see in magazines or on TV. So what? Would you REALLY trade everything you've learned since your twenties for the body you had back then? Probably no sooner than you'd like to re-live puberty, thank you very much.

So how can you be fashionable without wearing all those body-conscious clothes so en vogue these days? By remembering the "3 C's" when you dress: clean, classic, and coverage.

CLEAN

Clean lines create a clean silhouette which makes the body appear more youthful by skimming the trouble spots instead of calling attention to them. Complicated cuts, seams, and details usually call for a killer body to pull off, so if you haven't got it, steer clear of those styles.

CLASSIC

Classic styles are called classic because they remain in style year after year. Why? Because they look good on so many bodies! Sheathes, A-line skirts, flat front pants - all tend to flatter a variety of shapes. What's more, because they remain in style year after year, classics are easier on the budget than trends.

COVERAGE

Covering appropriately is the key to aging gracefully. If your upper arms, thighs, and d?colletage have all seen better days, it's time to cover them up a bit instead of sharing the wear-and-tear with the world. Now I'm not talking about draping yourself in a tent for the rest of your life. Far from it. I'm talking about wearing short sleeves instead of going sleeveless, Capris instead of shorts, and modest necklines instead of plunging necklines.

Now I know that covering up the parts that used to turn heads and draw envy can be tough to take for some women. Which is precisely why beautiful jewelry and fine fabrics are the revenge tools of choice for many well-dressed mature women.

So your bustline isn't as perky as your twenty-something daughter or granddaughter. So what? Add a beautiful necklace and draw envious glances from women of all ages. Don't have the same backside you did as a teen? Encase it in a fine fabric and see how many men go out of the way to hold the door open for you. People will look where you focus their attention, so use that knowledge to redirect their interest to the parts you want them to see.

Or, as actress Cybil Shepard once said, "I like to flaunt what I have left."

Don't flip through fashion magazines and bemoan the fact that you don't look like the models. Instead, look at the various fashion elements to determine what will and won't work for you. Are printed scarves all the rage this year? Grab a few and be trendy. Are mini skirts the style of choice? Pass and bank your money.

See how easy this is?

"A woman has the age she deserves," Coco Chanel once said. You don't have to go under cover and dress "like a little old lady" just because that's what your mother or grandmother did. You're your own person.

If you remember to dress in clean lines and classic styles and cover appropriately, you can still be fashionable - AND draw long, lingering glances from handsome men -- whatever your age. And if THAT doesn't make you feel like a blushing girl again, then honey, nothing I can say will!

Diana Pemberton-Sikes is a wardrobe and image consultant and author of "Wardrobe Magic," an ebook that shows women how to transform their unruly closets into workable, wearable wardrobes.

Visit her online at http://www.fashionsavvy.com.

7 Surefire Ways To Repair Bad Credit

Do you have a poor credit rating? If so, you are one of tens of thousands of Americans with the same problem. In fact, it seems that this has become a national 'disease.' And just what do people need that have a disease? They need a cure.

Here are some sure-fire solutions to ' repair bad credit '. Keep in mind, like most 'diseases,' credit repair can take some time, but complete healing is possible.

The First Step

The first thing you need to do is find out what is being reported about you. This is easy and inexpensive. For under $10, you can get your credit report from one of the three main credit reporting companies: Equifax, Experian, or TransUnion. Keep in mind however, that if you have recently been denied credit, you can get a free report from the same credit bureau the lender used to reject you as long as you do so within 30 days.

What You Don't Need

You don't need a repair clinic. Why? There is no legal way to 'repair' your credit. Those that claim to know loopholes and shortcuts are merely out for your money. They may even get you into legal trouble by having you fudge the facts or creating a whole new file for you. Anything legal that a clinic can do, you can do just as easily and without the cost of 'professional' help.

Further Steps to Take

1. Stop using your credit cards immediately. Put them somewhere where they will not tempt you. You may consider keeping at least one card for emergency purposes. Additionally, with poor credit, you may find it more difficult to get a credit card in the future. If you keep at least one account open, then you won't have to worry about applying.

2. Be Honest With Yourself. Taking a good hard look at your financial situation, particularly if it isn't good, can be very difficult. Yet, to get out debt you have to fully understand what the situation is.

3. Find the Errors. Believe it or not, up to 40% of all credit reports have errors in them. If you find that your credit report shows something that is not true, you need to write to them with all the details. Be sure to use certified mail so that you can keep track of who you wrote to, when you wrote, and who received the mail on the credit bureau's end. Then ask the credit bureau to send a corrected report to anyone who has requested a report on you in the last 6 months.

4. Find the Omissions. By law, you are allowed to add information to your report that you believe will help your rating. This might be additional information about a repayment of a loan, good credit you have with companies that do not report to the credit bureau, or salary increases.

5. You Must Have a Plan. Whether you determine to pay your bills down little at a time, take a second job, go to credit counseling, or file bankruptcy, you need to make a plan and stick to it. In order for your credit to be improved, you have to have a plan and then take action!

6. Talk to those that you owe. Creditors want their money. They do not want you to default (quit paying). In fact, most creditors will work with you to get a reduced payment schedule. If you can keep them from reporting you to the credit bureau, then it won't hurt your credit. The catch here is this: be sure to stick to the new negotiated plan ? they won't renegotiate if you fail to comply.

7. The Best Cure is Time. Have you ever heard the saying 'time heals all wounds'? It also heals your credit. After 7 years, most items will be dropped. This is good news if you are working to correct your credit. As each year passes, more and more bad items will drop off and more and more good items will be included. Eventually, the disease will be cured.

Follow these steps and you will find that your credit looks healthier and healthier each day. Eventually this path will lead you to full recovery. Good Luck!

Wesley Atkins is the owner of http://www.credit-cards-advisor.com- which aims to get you fitted with the best credit cards to suit your situation. With numerous credit card articles and easy online credit card applications you will never choose the wrong credit card again.

Marone Memoirs: An Immigrant Story - Review By Amanda Evans

Marone Memoirs ? An immigrant Story by author Sarah E. Lingley is the story of her great grandparents Raffaele and Rosa Marone and their voyage to freedom in America. This book chronicles their journey and subsequent life in America.

Raffaele Marone, tired of his life in Laurenzana, Italy, travels to New York to begin a new life. Raffaele continually travels between America and his homeland of Italy where he is to meet, fall in love with and marry Rosa. His marriage is welcomed under the strict understanding that he does not take Rosa to live in America (the reasoning behind this comes from an incident in Rosa's childhood explained in the book). This restriction is to be revoked later and both Raffaele, Rosa and their children immigrated to begin a new life in America.

The story portrayed in this book is that of the lives of Raffaele and Rosa Marone and that of their children. Author Sarah E. Lingley with the help of Marone's living daughters recalls this story beautifully and reminds us all of family and family love.

Sarah Lingley has an extraordinary gift for story telling and keeps readers intrigued throughout this book. Her attention to details is also outstanding. This book is a definite must for anyone with a keen interest in family history or if it is just a love for reading you will enjoy this also. This book is available from all leading book sellers including Amazon and Barnes and Noble. You can also receive more information by visiting the website of the Author Sarah Lingley http://themovingpen.com

Amanda Evans is webmaster for http://www.amandawrites.com a website dedicated to helping others achieve their dreams of becoming writers. You can subscribe to the free monthly newsletter Writers Passion. Amanda Evans is also the author of the newly published "From Those Death Left Behind" a collection of poetry and stories describing the grief and emotions of a family that lost a member to suicide. This book can be purchased at http://www.lulu.com/content/120733

Whats On Your Business Card?

A professional business card says more about you and your business than any other tool in your marketing arsenal. You need a card that looks good, tells what you do and makes it easy to contact you.

Here's how to use the necessary ingredients to create a great business card

Your name should be the biggest part of the card. Right there where the eye can pick it out without searching.

Avoid the old trap of name and phone number in 6 point type in the lower right corner.

Your card's purpose is to get people to remember YOU and contact YOU. So put YOU in the middle, big. A fancy company logo is not you. YOU are the most important element of your business card.

The second most important element of your new business card should be your preferred method of communication. If you are a cell phone junkie, your cell phone number should be the biggest on the card. If eMail is your thing, your address should be prominent and near your name. No need to post every contact method. An option would be to add your company logo, albeit small, in the corner of your card.

Don't use clip art to create your logo. No logo looks a lot better than one from page 23 of the clip art book. You can have logos professionally designed for less than $500 bucks.

Next, you need a one sentence version of your elevator speech. Condense your elevator speech to one sentence that will fit on your business card, under your name and contact info. Across the bottom is a good spot.

An elevator speech is what you say to someone who asks "What do you do?" in an elevator going down from the 25th floor.

For some tips about crafting an elevator speech, send a blank eMail to elevator@BIGIdeasGroup.com.

Your name, contact information and shortened elevator speech (let's call it a selling sentence) are more important than any other elements of your business card. More important than paper stock (always use a high gloss card stock), colors (0nly in a photo or logo) or fonts (easy to read). Cards DO get passed around.

If someone who has never met you is given your card, they must be able to determine who you are and how you can help them. "Joe Jones, Plumber" might work, but it doesn't convey what you can do for them. "Joe Jones, I show up on time, smell good and fix your leak, guaranteed", says a whole lot more. Now your business card is selling YOU.

For more about business cards, get my article "What Does Your Business Card Say?" BizCardSay@BigIdeasGroup.com

?2005 BIG Mike McDaniel, Professional Speaker and Former Major Market TV News Anchor. The BIG Ideas Group helps small business grow with mastermind groups, seminars and sales training. MailTo:Mike@BIGIdeasGroup.com

http://BIGIdeasGroup.com

Subscribe to "BIG Mike's BIG Ideas" Newsletter subscribe-956603364@ezinedirector.net