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Wayne Mitchell owns Central Coast Candies online candy store.
He sells a good selection of delicious chocolates, snacks, and even sugar free candies. You may also enjoy:
chocoholic
While many people think of a gazebo as a larger, wood structure
with steps leading up to a floored platform and a cupola style
roof, keep in mind that a gazebo could also be defined as a
temporary tent or pavilion like structure. This type of ?garden
gazebo? is a wonderful solution for people who have some type of
upcoming event where shade from the hot sun is needed. However,
a garden gazebo can also be set up quickly should an unexpected
rain or used when guests show up for a barbecue, at which time
it can be taken down at the end of the day.
As with a permanent structure, a garden gazebo comes in a
variety of sizes, colors, and amenities. For instance, you
might consider a smaller blue gazebo without sides. On the
other hand, if you plan having several people over, you could go
with a larger size and attachable screen to help keep insects
out. As far as colors and designs, the possibilities are fun or
sophisticated, whichever you prefer.
If you want to build a garden gazebo to become a permanent
feature of your property, we highly recommend cedar. This
particular material is simply beautiful and handles the outdoor
elements perfectly. A cedar garden gazebo provides a durable
and strong structure but also one that is lightweight. Being a
natural resistant to bugs and decay, cedar should always be the
top choice although you will find many other types of woods and
materials.
If you want to build your own gazebo, some of the additional
plans you will find beyond the garden gazebo include a spa
gazebo, entertainment gazebo, private teahouse gazebo, and so
on. Now, if you want the best of the best, then you could
purchase a 10 x 20 foot garden gazebo, perfect for birthday
parties, weddings, or just friendly gatherings. One option is a
gazebo made from white powder coated steel tubes, creating a
look of elegance.
This particular type of garden gazebo has six included
sidewalls, four of these with windows that can be opened so you
can enjoy a soft breeze. Other amenities are the guy ropes and
ground pegs, impact resistant joints, and special PE material.
With this large size, you still get extra durability and
stability. Best of all, this garden gazebo handles rain and
wind with no problem, allowing the party to continue even if
weather does not cooperate.
For your new garden gazebo, you can purchase various types of
furniture. For instance, if you are hosting a wedding or
wedding shower, white folding chairs would be ideal. However,
if you were having a few close friends over just to hang out,
cushioned lawn furniture would suffice. For a festive look,
drape miniature, twinkling or butterfly lights around the edge
of the roof or add a soft flowing fountain near the entry door
or in one corner on the inside of the garden gazebo. To
completely the ?garden? look, planted flowers and plants placed
randomly inside and around the outside of the gazebo would be a
beautiful touch.
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Dion Semeniuk has developed experience into transforming your backyard into your very own resort. To learn how the gazebo can achieve this, visit the Garden Gazebo website.
Many business owners sincerely believe they understand their company brand. They can describe it, quantify it and explain its place in the market. They can recount corporate history and accomplishments and detail future plans and goals. These are all necessary items for communicating a company’s brand message, but they are also the most superficial ones. These descriptive attributes tell us about what the business does, but not who the company is. The true power of a brand does not come from the what, where, when and how. It comes from the ‘who’ and ‘why.’
Think about it for a minute. Almost every organization can cite what they do, where their offices are located, when they started and how they do what they do. It’s the same in science and many other fields. Experts explain how things work, but not why they work. The real effort, the real sweat and tears, comes from digging deeper beneath the surface and asking the tough questions . . . ‘Who are we as a company and why do we do what we do?’
This exercise requires some honesty, reflection and soul searching on the part of those in leadership. Perhaps that’s why Henry Ford said, ‘Thinking is the hardest work there is, which is probably the reason why so few engage in it.’ This exercise may seem like splitting hairs, but the results can be profound. The early owners of the railroad industry deemed themselves invincible because they owned the railways. They could describe their business in very specific terms, including the miles of track, the number of boxcars, the annual revenues. But these wealthy business owners eventually faltered because they never realized who they were? providers of mobility. In this broader, more expansive view, they would have naturally evolved their business into cars and then planes. They would have known they provided freedom of movement to people and products, and in that role they would have constantly searched for more efficient ways to provide that service. Instead they said they owned railroads ? a shallow well.
If you can discover who you are as a company, and why you do what you do, then you can transcend the ups and downs of the marketplace. You can survive a drought. You will remain relevant and avoid riding a trend into the ground. Apple has remained relevant precisely because it did not cling to its initial identity as a computer company. Apple saw that it could enhance people?s lifestyles digitally. That opened the door to music, movies, editing, podcasting and a slew of new opportunities. Compare that to Gateway Computers. What if Gateway had seen itself as truly a ?gateway?? Then perhaps they would have made similar shifts in their business. Instead they are largely viewed as a computer company. And when you become tied to a product vs. a concept, you become a commodity. Can you say railroads?
Take a look at your company. Who are you? Why do you do what you do? What is your real benefit to your customer? It’s not in the actual service or product you provide — that is subject to constant change. The truth of who you are and why you do what you do is much deeper than that. When traced fully back, it will lead to an intangible concept that can transcend concrete products and services. Take out your mental shovel and spend a few days digging deeper. You may just discover a fresh new source of ideas, inspiration and revenue.
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Phil Davis is owner and president of Tungsten Brand Marketing, a naming firm specializing in branding and repositioning companies, products and services. Phil’s work and company naming philosophy can be viewed at http://PureTungsten.com
When you first bring your profession home and begin your stay at home business, you will soon yearn for that tiny little cubicle that you had when you were at an office working for someone else. At least when you were in your own cubicle, you were able to turn your back on impositions and get your work done. However, in an at home atmosphere, this does not always happen. When working for an employer, usually it was a nine to five job where your productivity did not have that much influence on your paycheck at the end of the week. This is not so with your own business. Your salary is DIRECTLY proportional to your productivity. You will need to learn early on in your business how to combat these interruptions, stay focused and on task or you will not be in business for yourself for very long.
To be able to overcome your distractions, you will need to recognize where they are coming from. Are they self imposed or are they from family and friends? One self-imposed distraction that can be extremely disruptive is procrastination. It is also easy to fall off task when we have too many interests and try to do all of them at once. This may seem like multi-tasking but really you are just spinning your wheels and exhausting yourself. Self-inflicted distractions are the most difficult to conquer but it can be done. By following a few simple steps, you will have no problem winning against the time wasters.
1. Quiet Time: It is not necessary to step into your office and become involved in the first task on hand immediately. Take a moment to sit and look at your computer and look out of the window. Better yet, step outside for a moment in the morning sun and clear your mind of the daily family activities. This is what you would normally do on your commute from your home to a normal job at an office. Take ten minutes in the morning to begin the transition from family/house life to work life. Begin to think about the projects that are a priority for the day.
2. Create a To Do List: After you have spent a moment ?commuting? to work, begin to create a to do list of the projects and tasks that need to be done. It is okay to add to this list throughout the day for additional items that you might have forgotten about. When creating your list, do not just write down a general idea of the project. Give your task a name and break it into milestones. This will eliminate procrastination and make the task easier to manage. This is especially important for long-term projects. Each time you cross off an item on your to do list, it will give you a feeling of accomplishment.
3. Have a Set Schedule for Tasks: Most employees have a set time to work such as your old ?nine to five? job. It is also important to follow this same rule when working from home. Have a set time that you will begin work and close up shop at a certain time. Since you own the business, you can choose if you want to work ten hours straight through or break your day into two work periods of five hours each. Also, set a fixed time to answer your email and other daily tasks. You do not have to answer every email that comes to you within minutes of receiving it. Sometimes it is even easier to just turn off your email program all together until your set time.
4. Shut the Door! With smaller children, you will need to address each issue as the need arises. That is not so with older children. They will understand when you tell them you need to work from x to y. Hire an in-home babysitter for younger children or enlist an aunt or grandparent if possible. If the phone becomes a distraction, turn the ringer off for an hour so that you can concentrate on your task. Most of all, do not permit family and friends to distract them. Be firm with them and let them know that you are at work and cannot be disturbed for x amount of time. You will be glad you did.
The main key to successfully staying on task while working at home is to identify the problem that exists and nip it in the bud quickly.
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Copyright @ Suzette Walker http://lovetodream2.com helping others to achieve financial freedom. Most financially successful individuals grow rich by starting their own business. You too can own your own business.
Elaine buys a Mercedes. You get jealous and buy one too. Elaine hires a butler. You get one too. Elaine announces she?s pregnant with twins. You are furious. You can?t let her beat you at anything. You scream at your husband. He shakes his head in disbelief.
The Roadmap
Do you have a roadmap for your family? Our world is on a technology roller coaster. Society continues to change instantly. It is tougher now for individuals to cling to meaningful family traditions. Many parents and children do not see examples of good family role models. Many people are just content to be like everyone else. American children are heavily influenced by a media-driven culture that teaches we need it now! Children pick their examples of good behavior from watching million-dollar super stars. Are adults any different?
Do you have model for your family? The right family model can help move a family toward a desired endpoint. Families need to have some direction. God should always play a central part of family living. The Barna Research for the Tyndale House showed that 80% of people feel the Bible is the most influential book in history. The Bible—society has seen no other book that contains such insight and depth relating to life. In the book of Genesis, man is created in both the image and likeness of God.
God’s ideal plan linked one man and woman for a lifetime. ‘For this cause a man shall leave his father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife; and the two shall become one flesh.’ Although this may seem controversial to some, it contains the most consistent definition for the family. Individuals can use this concept as the foundation for assisting them with their family goals. The traditional family is very relevant. It will continue to serve as an anchor as America moves into the next millennium.
The Panic Button
Today?s families face huge challenges. Many people do not want to accept the responsibility of parenting—they want to live a carefree life with no accountability. The bitter taste of failed previous marriages has prompted many people to condemn the institution of marriage. The high percentage of divorce in society has left children feeling insecure. Although the Bible uses a traditional two-parent model for families, being a single parent or having some other nontraditional arrangement, such as adoptive parents, doesn’t mean an individual doesn?t have a family. Members of a family share common experiences, and this is critical to family stability. Take the family self evaluation test for your family:
- Are you happy with your family life?
- Do you have a family model?
- Are you competing with other families?
- Do you have a vision for your family?
- Are you willing to make your family vision a reality?
The Right Solution
Many people fail to see the significance of having a model to follow. Trying to implement any model without understanding the basis could leave a family with unrealistic expectations. Families are not mechanical machines. There is order in the universe created by a power higher than the human civilization. Many people reach their middle years with bodies, relationships, and jobs reasonable intact; however, a voice usually cries out that something is missing. People try to fill the emptiness with diversions such as work, money, possessions, or relationships; however, these things don’t bring inner peace. If there is no solid foundation, the house will fall. What model are most people using in America? Determine if you have the best model for your family. Start today!
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Daryl and Estraletta Green provide personal advice all around the country. Daryl is the author of two books, Awakening the Talents Within and My Cup Runneth Over. They have been noted and quoted in such media organizations such as USA Today, NBC?s Alive at Five, Heaven 600, Answerline, American Urban Radio, The Bev Smith Show, The Hallerin Hill Show, Ebony Magazine, and BET?s Buy the Book. The Green?s nationally syndicated column, FamilyVision, reached 200 newspapers and over 12 million readers.
To get a free one hour personal coaching session, you can contact them at http://www.darylandestraletta.com
Like every parent, I search for authentic ways to allow my kids to learn. Our most recent adventure has been a lemonade stand in the front driveway.
We started with ten glasses of lemonade, a plate of Rice Crispies squares and lots of enthusiasm. Child 1, (six years old) was keen and had no trouble marketing his wares. Child 2, (five years old), was quickly injured by a small rock on the concrete and soon retreated to the safety of her room.
Lesson 1: Expect difficulty.
Things will always go wrong. Be prepared to work hard and to do everything yourself to accomplish your goals. Ownership has benefits but also means personal sacrifice.
?Would you like some lemonade?? Child 1 yelled gleefully to cars and pedestrians passing by on our relatively quiet street. Sometimes, they stopped and he made a sale. However, it took several attempts and lots of rejections, albeit polite ones.
Lesson 2: Selling is challenging.
Marketing a product requires great interpersonal ability and persuasion skills. It?s not easy and it requires a zen-like acceptance of rejection. As any successful sales representative will tell you, it?s important not to dwell on those who decline your offers.
Child 1 remained resilient and positive in the face of adversity. In the 90 minutes of the stand?s operation on a sunny, Friday afternoon, he served about ten customers and made about $7.00. For ten glasses of lemonade and ten squares, each priced at $.20, this should have brought in $4.00. The total should have been even less considering Child 1 ate one of the squares and drank three glasses of lemonade. This leads us to the next lesson of small business.
Lesson 3: You can get tips.
Satisfied customers are frequently willing to pay more than the asking price. For good service, they will often give bonuses in the form of tips. The good will established in previous relationships will also pay dividends.
Other customer service lessons also emerged in the course of this authentic learning activity.
Lesson 4: Products have to be safe and politely served.
In a lull, Child 1, who was lounging in at the lemonade stand in bare feet, became interested in playing with his toes. This was how he killed time in between customers. However, this activity also provided a teachable moment. We talked about public health issues, such as any germs that could get into the food and make people sick. Because of the unappetizing nature of his amusement, we also discussed the importance of allowing customers to select their own squares and lemonade, without any contact by him.
Etiquette also developed as a topic. Child 1 practiced courteous treatment of customers in the form of thanking them for patronage and encouraging them to have a pleasant day.
The evening after the lemonade stand experience, Child 1 discussed how he would spend his ample earnings. Dad, the family pragmatist, had an excellent idea.
Lesson 5: Re-invest in the business.
In this case, Child 1 paid $.38 for another pack of powdered lemonade and $.07 each for three disposable plastic glasses. He has temporarily warehoused these to use these for a subsequent lemonade stand on another sunny afternoon.
I?m confident that the lessons of the lemonade stand don?t end here. A competing stand from another neighborhood child, for instance, would offer additional lessons. As an observer and facilitator at the stand, however, I?m amazed at the strength of this activity for learning potential.
Lessons from the lemonade stand are as memorable and appealing as a frosty glass of lemonade on a hot, sunny day.
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Gwen Pawlikowski is a freelance writer from the Greater Vancouver area of Canada. Experienced in both journalism and education, she combines those interests in http://Ladies-room.net/, an ezine that focuses on community development for women. A mother of two, Pawlikowski is interested in the ways parents can provide meaningful learning opportunities for their children.
I?ll admit it; I am a long time, chronic procrastinator. I am a true professional at putting things off. If it can be done tomorrow, then why should I waste my time doing it today? Besides, if I sleep on it, I?ll be better able to handle it once the time comes to actually do it.
I have developed a complex system of rationalization which enables me to put off nearly any deadline, thereby freeing up my time in the immediate future for more important things. These include, but are not limited to;
- Thinking up excuses for why I have not even started the project that is now overdue
- Franticly writing articles on procrastination to fill my past due writing quota
- Watching The Flintstones and Looney Toons on Cartoon Network for inspiration
- Keeping up on the latest world news on Fark.com
Someday I will write a program that helps me manage the complicated mental dance steps required to keep my life in some semblance of order. It is going to require advanced AI routines to predict the wild flowcharts of logic needed to keep track of what needs to be done yesterday in a way that won?t interfere with what needs to be done two weeks ago.
Once the program is complete, I will have a simple daily schedule which will show me at a glance exactly what tasks I can safely postpone for at least 24 hours. I?m sure the program would sell like hotcakes if I ever got around to marketing it.
I?ll finish this article later, right now I have some important research to do…
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Article by Mr. Shannon Baker, over 20 years persuading computers to do his bidding, when he has the time: http://www.fix-my-slow-computer.com
Today?s mini blinds offer a sleek streamlined look and many advantages that work well in virtually any room. One advantage about mini blinds that is popular is that they can be used in combination with various other window coverings or stand alone for a clean-lined
look. Mini blinds come in wide selection of sizes, shapes, hues and finishes that allow you to create a beautiful and custom environment for your room.
Another advantage is that they provide excellent privacy and are a very effective means in controlling direct sunlight and glare.
Mini blinds offer the consumer different price options depending on their budget. When choosing your mini blind it is important to realize that not all are created equally. The three basic types of mini blinds are vinyl, aluminum and wood. The most expensive is the wood mini blinds and for some people the natural beauty of wood is the only way to go. Aluminum mini blinds are the next price level and provide a low cost, durable solution with the largest color selection. The higher the gauge of the aluminum slat the more durable which means that the chance of permanent bending or denting is lowered. Both wood and aluminum blinds can be custom made.
The advantage of vinyl mini blinds is that they are the least expensive for those needing to watch their budget. They are also well suited to rooms with high-humidity such as kitchens, bathrooms and laundry rooms. They are easy to clean, durable and highly resistant to sun bleaching.
Faux wood mini blinds control light and privacy as effectively as wood blinds, yet they?re made of a polymer which makes them sturdy, resistant to moisture, easy to clean and impervious to warping, cracking or peeling.
Discount mini blinds are available but consumers need to look for the highest-quality blind rather than just shopping for price. This will ensure that their not sacrificing quality for price. People that shop online are able to find high-quality blinds at a reasonable prices. Online retailers are able to offer these prices as they do not have the high overhead cost of a sales staff and can pass that savings on to you. It?s easy to shop online as long as you know the size of your window, design and color that you are looking for.
Mini blinds work well to cover windows in doors where you do not have much room between the blind and the door handle.
A couple of disadvantages of mini blinds to note is that they are not air tight and they do not provide a lot of insulation. Also some imported vinyl mini blinds contain lead which is a health hazardous substance. Vinyl blinds produce in the United States or Canada are lead-free.
There are many advantages to mini blinds and they will add a visual comfort and privacy
level that everyone deserves in their home.
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Carol Coutts is a successful author who provides information regarding home d?cor via
http://www.windowshadesblind.com
Pop-ups. They’re annoying and you wonder why anyone would use them. You see them a
lot when you enter many commercial sites. Heck, even I use them now after telling myself I wouldn’t. If everybody hates them, what’s the point?
The point is that they work.
The fact pop-ups are annoying and impossible to ignore sells things. It also gets sign-ups, generates leads, causes clicks, or any number of other things that make site owners money, so long as it will fit in the mini-window. I use them to generate RSS feed syndication or newsletter sign-ups. In fact, most of the ones that I’ve ever seen are used to capture eMail addresses for opt-in eMail marketing such as newsletters.
So, if you want to use a pop-up window, how do you get the most out of it? Here are a few tips:
- Use a DHTML window. These types of pop-ups are part of the existing page, which means they can’t be stopped by a pop-up blocker. Traditional pop-up windows are becoming all but useless as pop-up blockers are commonplace now.
- Make it attractive: Your pop-up window has to be more than just an annoyance. Take the time to make your pop-up window attractive. A single ad or a short description with a simple, small form combined with a nice layout should do. I’ve seen pop-ups that look as though they were thrown together without any thought at all, and the first thing I thought was ‘This site is trash’. If you don’t want your visitors thinking this about you, take a little time to insure your pop-ups look clean and well-organized.
- Don’t spam: Don’t spam pop-ups every time a visitor changes pages. Make it the first thing a person sees when they enter your site, then limit it’s appearance with a cookie setter so that it only triggers once per some event. Some common events are once per user session (pop-up on visitor arrival, then not again until they leave and come back), or once per day (like mine). This keeps your windows effective without making them so annoying your visitors leave and never come back.
If you’re not programming proficient and you want to use pop-ups, you can buy programs that make DHTML window code from a wizard-driven menu. Some include the ability to add pop-up limiting cookies so that you don’t spam. This is the variety I recommend.
In the end, remember not to treat your pop-ups like mudslinging. They have more of a purpose than to be thrown mindlessly at visitors in the hope something sticks. Take a little time to make a nice pop-up and trigger it sparingly, and they’ll effectively sell for you too.
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Ryan Ambrose is the web master of Financial Self-Reliance, a web site about how to actually make money online. Learn more about how to make money with a web site by clicking here today!
You can overcome the fear of public speaking.
It has been said to: To overcome fear do what you fear.
Asking someone to speak to a group of their peers can be the most intimidating thing anyone ever faces in business.
For most people their next question is: ?How can I get out of this?
It is however a great and grand opportunity to speak in public. We all get the jitters at times. I believe you can overcome the fear of public speaking because I did. Here are a few tips to make it easier to do.
1. Know the material you will speak on.
2. Decide; what are the important things I must get across to the listener?
3. Write out your talk like you are talking to a friend.
4. I like to either have an outline or cards with my key reminders of what I am to say. (the reason I prefer an outline is cards can be fumbled & dropped.)
5. Practice your talk in front of a mirror. Revise points that do not flow right.
6. If you will be using a microphone, opt for a lapel mike if available, as that leaves your hands free.
7. If you are a little nervous it is o.k. (The audience want you to succeed.)
8. Relax, physically relax your body before you get up to talk. Remember to stop & breathe. Pauses are good since you may be tempted to talk too fast.
9. Look at people. If you find someone up front that you know well you can look at them & talk like you are talking to them part of the time.
10. Get you audience involved by asking questions that call for them to raise their hand to agree and raise yours first. You could ask a question like: ?If you have ever felt that way raise your hand.? As you raise your hand, they will to. Zig Ziglar tells how he greets people with ?good morning!? any time of day & 9 out of 10 answer ?good morning!? back even at night.
There are some things that we all do automatically.
11. Leave the off color jokes at home. You will offend someone or everyone.
12. Plan to arrive earlier & check out the room ahead of time.
13. Greeting people ahead of time as they arrive will make make them feel
welcome and make it easier to talk to them.
14. Believe it or not because you were bold enough to do this talk it will go
much better than you imagine. Every time you talk you will gain experience
& skills.
15 Join a toastmaster club & polish your skills with like minded people.
Remember: You can overcome the fear of public speaking.
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