How to Lift Yourself to Greatness

What made Henry Ford to become so successful in life and Americas' most rated industrialist? Thomas Edison had less formal schooling but he turned out to be the greatest inventor in history. There is great benefit in taking charge of your life and doing things that will lift you to greatness over the course of time.

The most profound fact concerning humanity is this: The creator gives all men control over only one thing and that is your own mind. You have the prerogative to think your own thoughts and live your own life. If you exercise this power with discretion, you may lift yourself to great heights of achievement in any field you may choose whether you attend formal schooling or not.

How then can you live your own life?

Take Responsibility For Your Life

Don't blame anyone for your misfortune. Think more about what you can do to change the situation.
You are the only one to help your build confidence. The best place to take charge of your life is your mind. Allow only positive thoughts that can trigger creative instinct in you. Encourage thoughts that will build you up and fire you to great heights of achievement.

Learn To Turn Adversity Into Advantage

What are your assets? What things do you know how to do best? What values do you cherish most. What do people like about you? Are you honest and confident? Do you know how to manage other peoples' monies?
In time of adversities, your gifts and competencies are your greatest assets. Outline them and find out a means of putting them to use.

Many years ago, a young man faced misfortune and was desperately in need of a job. He was disillusioned and discouraged. He needed a meal ticket and a place to sleep. That was all he desired. Yet he had the potential to earn a fortune if he could adopt the right attitude. It took an experienced mind coach to reveal his assets to him after some questioning. He could cook and sell effectively.

Following the counsel of his coach, he used his selling ability to persuade housewives to invite their neighbours for a home-cooked dinner and then sold them all cookware. At the end of four years, he was earning more than a million dollars a year. He took responsibility and turned adversity to riches. He became lifted up to greatness.

You too can be great. Follow this simple instruction. Learn to be live your own life. Take responsibility for anything that happens to you and finally, turn your adversity into advantage using your gifts.

Solomon Benard is a freelance writer and publisher. He shares success nuggets(Magic Keys To Success) at http://blog.benardsolomon.com

Live Every Day As If It Were Your Last

Do you know how long you will live? Most of us do not. We can hazard a guess or a wish, but unless we are staring death in the face then we do not know. While I often urge my readers to live their lives fully and joyfully, recent events here in the bluegrass have made me even more aware of the need to live my life as if each day was my last.

I live a few miles east of Lexington, Kentucky, where on Sunday Comair Flight 5191 taking off from Bluegrass Airport with 50 people on board crashed and 49 were killed. The victims of the crash had family and friends who loved them and had lives to be lived. Some were young people just embarking on life. One couple had just been married the night before. Another couple was engaged to be married. Many passengers were middle aged and had already made wonderful contributions, for example one man was Habitat's National Volunteer of the Year in 2004, but who knows what other lives and events they could have influenced in the long decades they should have lived. However you can be sure that none of those people expected their lives to end that morning.

Life is like that. Simply being a human alive brings risks. Sometimes it is disease, sometimes accident, and sometimes deliberate violence, but we do not know what day will be our last and that is why it is so important to live life fully and joyfully.

If you knew today was your last day then what would you do? I'm not suggesting you quit your job, tell off the neighbors or stop paying your bills, but rather to look at the areas of your life that matter most to you. You know what they are and while there are certainly common areas they are also as individual as humans. Do more every day to appreciate and enjoy the people and activities that make your life worth living.

How often do you tell those closest to you how much they matter to you? Do you say "I love you" every day? When did you last embrace the person that is nearest to your heart? When did you last simply spend time together?

Treat yourself well at least once a day. I do not mean you need to splurge and buy yourself a present every day, but rather to give yourself some time every day to relax and enjoy life whether it is reading a book, watching the sunset, or snuggling with your dog.

What regrets would you have and what dreams would be unfulfilled? Remember, putting off your hopes and wishes for future years can well mean you never give them a chance. Find a way to follow your dreams and live the life you desire.

Finally, take a look at your life and root out the causes of your distress and unhappiness. No matter whether you live one day, one year, or one hundred years, life is simply too short to spend it with people you do not like and/or doing things that make you unhappy. Change your life now and may your next 100 years be filled with joy.

Live every day as if it were your last and make sure to tell and show your loved ones how much you care, treat yourself well, pursue your dreams, and jettison the life-wasting debris in your life. May we all live our lives to the fullest.

Deanna Mascle hopes you will find more inspiration and motivation at her site Daily Quote at http://Daily-Quote.net which offers inspirational, motivational, and thought-provoking quotes.

Motivation and the Mind - How to Think Yourself Thin, Healthy, and Happy

"it doesn't take much strength to do things, but it requires a great deal of strength to decide what to do."

-Elbert Hubbard.

A friend recently sent me this quote and it struck me as very true, especially when it comes to figuring out the big things-like love, life purpose, family..oh yeah, and taking care of ourselves. Let's face it-with over 60% of us overweight and almost twenty percent on antidepressants and anti-anxiety drugs (a three fold increase in just ten years)-it's obvious that we don't know how to care for ourselves very well. We learn a lot in school growing up but there isn't a class in how to be happy, how to love ourselves and others, how to figure out what we really want from life, or how to nourish and accept our bodies.

So it's up to us, as adults who want to be fit and lead full lives and pass that on to our children, to begin to learn how to nurture ourselves. And we can't do that until we know one thing-what makes us tick, what is the spark that pushes us toward health. We have to know what motivates us or we will never truly be able to reach our goals.

I am a quitter. It's true. Almost everything I have ever done I have quit, and often it is just when I am getting good, getting comfortable. I come so close to figuring it out, mastering it and then 'poof'! For some mysterious reason my fire just goes out. Suddenly the excuses are flying-it's too cold to run, I'm just not in the mood to write, I love that yoga class but it's too late at night...you see where I am going. Only recently have I been able to really sit down and start to figure out why this is the case. Motivation is different for all of us, but there are definitely patterns that we fall into. So read on and find out where your motivation lies and how to harness your spark to truly reach your goals:

Look Ma, No Hands!-Now our ego loves to 'become'. It wants the characteristics but not so much the verbs. It readily clings to 'I am a runner' and not so much the act of running. It also loves to brag. For some of us, the ego has become a trap. When we are praised for what we 'do' outwardly and not for who we 'are' internally, we often learn that the praise from others is worth more than our own feelings. I often fell into this trap. Instead of getting motivation from myself, I got it from telling others about what I was doing and getting their praise or even acknowledgment.

The problem with this is that, once everyone knows, it is no longer new and there is less gratification. Less gratification equals less motivation. And so then you are on to the next new thing....always hoping for that quick fix from others. The same thing happens when you are losing weight. You might start having people comment on how good you look and you lose the motivation...suddenly it's okay to eat junk again or slack on exercise because others have rewarded you-despite the fact that you haven't reached your goal. Our egos aren't going to go away, they are part of us. So we have to outsmart them by acknowledging that they are there, that they want the approval of others, and then engage our friends and family into making us accountable to ourselves. How do we do this?

* Pair up with a friend or loved one and exercise with them. This will help keep you from slacking when the going gets tough. Just make sure that they are not motivated in the same way you are or you might end up eating ice cream instead of exercising!

* With those closest to you, explain how you are motivated and expressly ask them to (gently!) keep after you. Have them ask you often if you are still meeting your goals and press you (gently!) to increase those goals.

* Ultimately, lasting motivation is going to have to come from within because at the end of the day, we are left with ourselves. So explore shifting motivation. Try thinking and writing about why you are trying to eat better or exercise, what it is about that particular fitness regimen you like etc. You just might find that it is more about yourself than you think.

* Keep some goals secret. Many business and motivation coaches say that the most vulnerable time for a new business is in the beginning stages, when it is pretty much just an idea. When we tell others about it then it can weaken the idea, dilute it. The same goes for any life change. So try not talking about what you are practicing so much. It is good to get support, but if that is the only way you know how to keep motivated, you risk becoming addicted to outside praise. So make a deal with yourself that you will only talk about your goals once a week-the rest of the week it is up to you to motivate yourself. Like the tip above, you might be surprised by what you find.

The Kitchen Sink- Here's another one that many of us fall pray to. You've been doing so well, eating right, exercising every day and then something happens, something to stress you out. A fight with a loved one, a sick child, a bill you forgot to pay...the stress pushes you and you push back-at yourself. You take a couple of days off, eat junk or stop exercising. And then you say 'well I've already blown it so I might as well blow it some more' and off you go...coming up to the surface only when you feel bad enough again to want to make it right. I call this the kitchen sink mentality, and unfortunately, it often hits the most intelligent of us out there, those of us that think globally and creatively.

The thing is, when you have a hard time thinking in steps, but instead are a 'big picture' person, it is easy to psych ourselves in or out of doing something. We often miss the small things that can make or break our goals. I once had a friend describe it like this: Imagine your life is like driving at night. You can only see that small area in front of your car that is illuminated by your headlights but you don't freak out at the darkness out there, at all that space you can't see. You have faith that the road and that your destination is there and that by paying attention to what you can see, that you will get there in the end. Life is like that. We have to have faith that the small things we do will add up into big goals, that the two pounds we lose this month will equal twenty pounds by the end of the year; that by walking those two miles now, we will eventually be able to run them. Some good ways to keep to the small goals:

* Know that slipping up is part of the process. What we ultimately want is balance. So instead of feeling that all of our goals are lost if we do something we don't want to, instead try to see it as natural. Then we are less likely to sap motivation. Life isn't about perfection, it is about balance.

* Make a dream board. Take a journal or a piece of poster board and cut out images that represent your goals-what you want in all areas of your life. Keep it where you can see it. This helps allow our subconscious to recognize what we want and frees up our conscious minds to be able to focus on how to get there.

* Write lists. Those of us who think globally tend to dislike lists, but by adopting them it helps keep the small goals out there where we can see them. So break your goals down into monthly, weekly, and daily acts and then post these lists where you can see them. Check in on them in the morning and at the beginning of the day and week so that you know exactly what it is you want to do. Again, this helps keep us focused.

Show Me the Money- We live in a culture that is expressly materialistic and many of us have learned to reward ourselves with material objects. This is one of the reasons that so many of us struggle with our weight-we use food as emotional support and succor. Some of us also fall into the pattern of needing material rewards as a motivating factor. This can be great when being used to reach short-term fitness and diet goals-making a bet with someone not to eat junk food or to exercise every day for a week-but in the long-term this type of motivation always falls flat. There has to be some kind of deeper, behavioral motivation in order to make lasting changes and reach long term goals. Figuring that out is complicated but can be done:

* Join a support group or try counseling. Understanding how and why you eat is important, as is knowing what your trigger points are-do you eat when you are bored or stressed or sad or excited?-being aware of the situations that make you vulnerable can really help in becoming more mindful and in the moment and increase the ability to control eating and exercise. Likewise, talking through patterns and problems can help remove the emotional components of eating and help us want what is best for ourselves.

Boda Weight Loss
Boda Blog

Reconciling Passion and Balance

How do those who are deeply passionate about their work balance their lives? I have written a few articles on the topic of balance and could list several ways "to balance your life" but that does not seem to answer the deeper question that is being asked. This question is directed towards those of us that feel a connection with our work that makes it an extension of who we are. This question I suspect is much more complicated than the basics of work/life balance.

I had someone say to me once that part of the root meaning of the word passion is to suffer. I suspect that those people who are truly passionate about what they do can relate to this definition of passion -to be passionate about something is to be consumed and driven by it. Where in this experience is the concept of balance? Passion might compel you to write at 3am in the morning and to work for days without showering, with little sleep, and with barely eating. This is not balance and this is not the work-alcoholism of the typical American that might be remedied by the standard concept of balance.

Anyone who has been passionately connected to his or her work knows that the self is not always maintained in process. The creative element that is a part of visioning and passionate action requires dissolution of the self. This makes it challenging to deeply understand what balance is all about under these circumstances.

However, if we substitute caring for ourselves in place of balance, we get a bit closer to something that might serve those of us who are so intimately connected with our passion. While balance might imply that we spend a certain amount of time doing separate activities, caring for ourselves implies that we are an essential part of our passionate work. If we are not healthy, then our work is not healthy either.

If we are not healthy, then our work is not healthy.

Period and no exceptions.

While the metaphysics of this statement are intriguing, these questions will help us more in the end. How might your approach to work change if you looked at it from this fresh perspective? What would you being willing to settle for in terms of self-care?

When we realize that at the point where we are truly passionate about our work we are no longer separate from it, then we can begin again to include the part of our work that we may have been neglecting ourselves. We recognize that every piece of self-care is a reflection of this same passion that drives us. We receive the gifts of our passion and bring ourselves into passionate balance.

Do you feel that there is more to you than you have yet lived but you don't know how to access it? Or you have such great ideas but never seem to be able to follow through on them? Larger Visions is the key to effectively creating change when it comes to these and other challenges. It's time for you to do what you DREAM of doing with an ally who understands you, standing by your side and offering you essential support and tools. This is what I provide. To receive your free consultation and to get started right away visit: http://www.largervisions.com

Kate Siner Francis Ph.D

You Can Overcome Fear - Discover How To Silence Fears Forever

Are you letting fear stop you from doing what you want to do? If fear is robbing you of your dreams it's time to change your focus.

Fear is a by product of your thoughts. To overcome fear you need to change the way you look at things and change the way you think about them. Fear is rarely a reflection of your current reality, it's usually a result of anticipating negative future events.

People respond to fear in different ways, they

• avoid things and find ways of getting around them
• give in to the fear and do nothing at all
• let the fear be a catalyst and provoke them into action

The thing you fear the most is often the one thing that's standing in the way of what you really want. Don't let fear rule your life. Recognise it for what it is and let your fear act as a motivator to get you to where you want to be. I'm sure you've heard the phrase, 'feel the fear and do it anyway'; it's possible to feel fear yet move past it and go for what you want regardless.

In the past I've let fear hold me back from doing many things that I really wanted to do. I eventually decided that it was time to do something about it. I didn't want to get to the end of my life and be full of regret for all the things I hadn't done. I decided it was time to face my fears and push past them.

When I stopped to think, I realised that the things I feared rarely actually happened. Then, I started to ask myself, "What's the worse thing that could happen if I did ...?" "Would that really be so bad?"

I began to realise that I'd been letting ridiculous things stop me from stepping out of my comfort zone. I had a choice. I could carry on being afraid and let those fears stop me from doing things, or I could face the fears and go ahead and do things in spite of feeling afraid.

I decided that I wasn't going to let fear of failure stop me any longer.

"You gain strength, courage and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You are able to say to yourself, 'I have lived through this horror. I can take the next thing that comes along.' You must do the thing you think you cannot do." Eleanor Roosevelt

I encourage you to press on and do what needs to be done, if necessary, do it afraid. There is no magic solution. The key is to recognise the fear for what it really is and refuse to let it hold you back from your dreams. The antidote to fear is to take action.

• develop a clear strategy for overcoming your fear
• begin taking action
• do something every day towards overcoming your fear

Your plan will never be perfect. Make adjustments as you discover what is working and what isn't. When you start taking action the fear will begin to lose its power. Focus on your plan and take some action every day.

It's unlikely that the fears will ever completely go away; fears have a habit of creeping up on you when you're not expecting them. Just tell them that you're not going to listen to them, take a deep breath and dare to live life the way you want to live it.

When you step out of your comfort zone and start to do things that you've been afraid of doing you soon begin to discover that the fear was bigger than the thing itself and there really wasn't anything to be afraid of. Things are rarely as bad as you think.

Don't let fear rob you of your dreams. Do something towards overcoming your fears every day. Keep pushing through and silence your fears forever.

If you'd like a monthly dose of encouragement subscribe to my free newsletter - The 5 Minute Life Coach. When you subscribe I'll send you a valuable free guide - Be Your Own Life Coach Now. This step by step guide will help you to start changing your life straight away. And each month, I'll send you a link to a valuable free eBook. You can start transforming your life today.

You'll find more coaching articles at http://www.christianlifecoaching.co.uk

Lynne Lee is a Christian life coach and spiritual mentor. She helps people to re-design their lives around what matters most.
Copyright: Lynne Lee - All rights reserved

Hard Times

As the end of 2008 comes closer and closer it appears that these financial times are going from bad to worse. Every day a new and greater problem manifests itself. We could not have imagined the chaos that is spinning towards us, obliterating everything in its path. Millions loosing their jobs while the banks borrow from the Fed at no interest and the credit card companies increase their interest rates to their customers and then let go of their employees. Major scams are being uncovered daily. Who would believe that one man could have built up a 50 Billion dollar house of cards closing down humanitarian charities and turning millionaires into paupers? Will it ever end? And when it ends will there be anything left of our once great country.

Sadly the blame falls on our elected officials and ourselves who have forgotten who elected them. Our government is now full of experts who don't care about the will of the people.

How did we get here? And where are we going? Will the majority of people still live off their credit cards while their homes go into foreclosure? Are there any solutions to our problems?

Try this on for size. Ancient civilizations were equipped the same as us, however they lacked the technology we have discovered. Instead, they developed means or modalities to uncover their character and spirit. To be honest and reliable is a hard task. It takes practice and experience to mature into a trustworthy individual. It is easy to go along with the will of the ego, easy to forget who we really are. Ancients had the same problems we experience in our daily lives. They got the flu. They had mother in laws. They had money problems, and yet many were able to find their true paths in life. Can a self-realized person lie cheat and steal?

Opening up to your real self takes discipline that can be acquired by learning a task and sticking with it through thick and thin. Make an agreement with yourself not to give up. Then find a modality within which you can work in order to develop yourself. Individual efforts are best. Be it running, martial arts or knitting. Stick with it until it becomes part of you. Then, internal doors will open for you and you will begin to feel in touch with your true self. Learn to listen within yourself and follow through on your intuition. Eventually you will find your spirit and know your path in life.

http://www.realyoga.org

Self Motivation - Leaders Can't Lead Without It

Entrepreneurs and emergent leaders develop passions for ideas, ideals, or tasks that give them the enthusiasm to "go for it" even when others criticize, object, resist, or ignore an opportunity or threat. A self-starter takes the initiative and the risk to transform their ideas or ideals into results that benefit others. All leaders have to rely upon their own instincts and establish an environment that motivates others; sometimes in lonely and uncertain conditions. They must influence others to motivate themselves who, in turn may become leaders in their own right.

Self motivation has five ingredients: positive attitude, ambition, confidence, commitment, and self assessment.

Positive attitude:

Attitude reflects an individual's positive or negative state of mind towards an event, activity, condition, item or another individual. Attitude affects actions; it is easy to be negative and think of barriers, obstacles, and failure. Whereas contingency plans should always be considered to prevent or recover from negative outcomes, it is better to think of what is possible than what isn't. Attitude can be changed through persuasion; favorable results and success stem from positives attitudes. Hence, it is important to examine the benefits of the situation or proposition, and think in terms of how the best results can be achieved effectively and efficiently.

Ambition:

Ambition is the basis of motivation for achieving status, power, and results. Ambition requires an aspiration (ideal or dream) - a mission and a vision, and self-esteem - the belief in oneself to achieve a positive result.

Confidence:

Confidence is the level of certainty that a hypothesis regarding an intended action or outcome is correct. With respect to accomplishing the intended outcome, confidence is the level of certainty that the related people, processes, and products and/or services are capable. Self-confidence is belief in one's own capabilities. Confidence is the basis for motivation for action.

Commitment:

Commitment is the pledge to an aspiration and creates the obligation to engage and remain in activities that realize it.

Self assessment:

Self assessment is the willingness to understand one's own strengths and weaknesses so as to undertake a specific role and associated responsibility. The consequence is taking advantage of strengths, improving weaknesses, or compensating for them by engaging others.

The criteria for self assessment include: aptitude, qualifications, ability, proficiency, and experience:

• Aptitude - suitability for a role
• Qualifications - standard conditions or requirements to perform the role and accept the responsibility
• Ability - expected quality of performance
• Proficiency - level of competencies (knowledge and skills)
• Experience - application of competencies (or lack thereof) to actual situations, with the related learning

Competence includes:

• Personal - intra (self) and inter (relationships with others) - oral and written communications, and appearance
• Professional and technical
• Enterpriship - entrepreneurship, leadership, and management

Leaders cannot attract followers unless they are self-motivated; they can manage but they cannot lead.

The ability to self-motivate is an enterpriship competency.

And to assess your enterpriship competencies in thirty minutes or less, claim your opportunity for instant access when you go to http://www.fromvisiontovalue.com

From Nigel A.L. Brooks - Management Consultant and Motivational Speaker http://www.bldsolutions.com

How to Deal With the Number One Creativity Drain - Anger

My sister and I were having a conversation a while back about how draining anger is and in the middle of the conversation I said it also robs you of your creativity. We both had a "Yep, that's true," kind of moment as the truth of this statement sunk in.

I'd never said anything like that before, but the instant it came out of my mouth I knew that it was absolutely true.

At its core, creativity is all about problem solving; creating a positive solution to or for something. Anger, on the other hand, is all about festering deeper into negativity. In fact, many times when we get angry we do things we regret because we say we just weren't thinking clearly. Creativity requires clear thought. The channels of creative thought need to be cleared of the debris that anger will leave clogging up your path. Debris like: Bad attitude, negative thoughts, repulsive energy, retaliation, and fear. Well, you might be saying, angry people come up with creative solutions to their problems as well. My answer is, yes you're right they do; but I'm talking about creating that brings more abundance to yourself and to others as well.

Of course in life there will be things that happen that cause us to experience the deep range of our emotions. In my opinion as we grow and become more conscious our job is to manage these emotions.

Not to long ago I found myself in a situation that had me angry. I was literally seeing red. I started spinning my wheels I was so angry. I was ranting on and on about it for a day or so until a thought crossed my mind: "You've really got to stop building a fortress of anger. Be disappointed, deal with that and move on." That was my aha moment. I was creating a sanctuary of anger that would keep me locked in that state if I wasn't mindful. No forward motion. No creativity available to come up with positive solutions to keep me on track no matter what.

In that moment realized that what I needed to experience and express was the disappointment and then move on, which I did. This is how I now continue to choose to deal with situations that upset me. I experience the disappointment, & move on to an attitude of "Now what can I do to move myself forward." In fact, when you raise that question that's when creative thinking will be at its absolute best.

And now I invite you to join me for my weekly teleseminars to learn about the 6 Essential Skills for maintaining your motivation no matter what's going on. Visit http://www.increaseyourmotivationmojo.com to sign up and receive the schedule.

Download a free motivation enhancement tip sheet by visiting http://www.increaseyourmotivationmojo.com & signing up for my newsletter to learn how to live your personal best and maintain your motivation mojo no matter what's going on! For the past 15 years Denise Hart has been teaching women how to discover success strategies in record time that improve the bottom line in all areas of their lives & offering free weekly teleseminars, as well as online courses with a workshop environment.

Need Motivation For Weight Loss? Here Are Some Easy Ways

Finding the motivation for weight loss is a challenge many struggle with. If you're one of them, it's time to turn things around. The most important factor in motivation is discipline - not like an army drill sergeant yelling 2 inches from your face - but taking small steps and sticking with them to let the results keep you motivated. Here is the easiest way to accomplish this.

First, set a small goal. 5 pounds is a very realistic one to accomplish, and can be done in as little as two weeks. That's permanent loss, and it doesn't matter what your metabolism is like or whatever excuse you may have.

Now you have a goal. A realistic, motivating goal. If you want to lose that weight, you need a plan. It's hard to stay motivated without a plan. Find something you can stick to - You don't need to be a fitness guru or dietitian to figure something out.

For you to lose 5 pounds in two weeks, try eating 300 less calories per day (which is as little as a can of soda and a cookie), and walking for only 15 minutes. It doesn't matter if it's just around the block twice, do it. If you're having trouble even eating slightly less every day, try an appetite suppressant like Green Tea. Add a cup of green tea to every meal, and I guarantee you won't even miss that extra snack.

Now that you have a plan, make a promise to yourself that you're not going to fail. If you say "NO" to a few sugary, fatty options every day, and stick with some very light exercise, you WILL see results at the end of 2 weeks. Try your hardest to stick with it, and don't step on a scale til 14 days has passed.

You may be shocked to have lost 7 or 8 pounds - Even if it's 3 or 4, you know that your goal of having a lean, toned body is possible! Simply readjust and keep going. CLICK HERE for reviews on the easiest and fastest fat burning secrets. Don't spend any more time with unnecessary fat, put this plan into action immediately to see results right now

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Become a Food Champion - Taco Bell Employee Motivation Case Study

For those of us that are Fast Food Achievers, we know that sometimes the service at QSRs - Quick Service Restaurants leaves a lot to be desired and yet when you are on the go - sometimes that is all that is available before your body goes on a hunger strike. You can just imagine how hard it must be to get quality labor at a fast food restaurant, considering how hard it is to find good workers in your current work environment.

Today, I happened into a Taco Bell and ordered a Burrito Supreme, double wrapped, with extra cheese, guacamole and onions. The young gal looked up to me and suggestive sold me an "Extra Large Drink" to go with it. Considering the problems of Global Warming, I did not want to overheat in traffic and definitely needed some extra high-fructose corn syrup. Yes, I am an American, could you tell?

Luckily, the high-energy, big smile employee was a "Food Champion" named Melissa. I thought, wow, no wonder the service was so good, this gal was a Food Champion no doubt. Excellent indeed. So, I said; You are a Food Champion?" and she said; "I AM" with an even bigger smile.

I then asked another girl between the stainless steal taco bell making slide table and the drive thru station if she was a Food Champion too? She said; "No, I am just the manager." Wow what a great attitude at that Taco Bell. I think I will be choosing Taco Bell next time I am starved with no time to spare. Apparently, Taco Bell has cracked the code on employee motivation, they have empowered their frontline by turning them into trained food champions - Now everyone is a winner at Taco Bell.

"Lance Winslow" - Online Think Tank forum board. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; http://www.WorldThinkTank.net/. Lance is an online writer in retirement.

7. What Does The Word Power Mean To You?

Before I started to walk the path I am walking today, I had certain ideas about what Power is.

My definition of Power was: being measured by the amount of money I had. After all in todays world we are generally measured by our place in society and by the people that we know.

Power to me was the ability to control everything around me and even to manipulate people or situations for personal gain.

I had this strong urge to be in control of practically everything in my life. Suddenly occurring situations at work always needed to be reported to me, because I had the feeling that I could handle such situations much better than any other person. It used to be really difficult for me to delegate certain tasks and I did not even notice that I started to talk to people in such a way that things were always done the way I wanted them to be done. Even if that meant that I had to make certain promises or keep them happy for a while. As long as I was sure that things happened my way.

The same happened in my earlier relationships. It was me who decided what happened, what we were going to do, when we were going to do it and how. In some situations I even threatened my partner to walk out of the relationship if certain things would not happen the way I wanted.

Power to me was domination.

My mentor taught me to look at how I used power for my personal intentions and he made me ask myself:

Did my approach to Power serve the whole?

He made me see that our minds contain so many different images of what Power looks like and how it acts.

We commonly see Power as being capable of abuse, domination and destruction, versus healing and creation.

Negative displays of Power have become images that we integrated into our consciousness and we are trying to fulfil or avoid them.

It is here that we have to make a shift.

- It is not who we know, it is how well we know ourselves that will take us where we want to be in our lives.

And in my opinion, as far as that goes, this simple statement is an act of Power.

- It forces us to find the means of creating our own happiness from within, rather than from an external place

or source, so we become the centre, instead of us placing the centre upon anything else.

I hope you have enjoyed this article and that you realize that these self motivation tips are the key to growth. Therefore I recommend you to have a good and conscious look at how you are presently functioning in your life and if necessary do some self motivation exercise in order to obtain the necessary self motivation skills.

Ab van Deemter (http://www.passiontogrow.com) is a Personal Growth specialist and a spiritual person, who believes in sharing his knowledge of personal perseverance. He has studied metaphysics and other holistic methods for many years and embarked on a life of success. With successful tools for personal freedom he has made it past a life full of obstacles and now mentors and teaches business owners, their staff, his own employees, as well as a large group of private individuals.

We All Need A Little Help - Benefits of Attending a Live Seminar

Many times in recent months I have been asked the same question in many different ways, all of which come down to the same baseline question, and that is simply to explain the huge benefits and mostly unseen advantages of attending a live seminar. That is to say a day when a number of like-minded people come together for education in the very same subject.

Already as I extend the root cause of the question asked for some the penny that drops as they say, will at least have started to move into position. Take any number of people you care to think of all dedicated to the same subject and keep them from seeing each other again. Whatever skill had brought them together will not progress in any one of them alone. Solitaire is a very lonely game and has no champions or medals no rewards. The result will be the same as if they never came together in the first place. This most often is exactly how well motivated people are in the first place. For the majority of the time surrounded by those who do not have the level of get up and go, far worse in most cases they try to hold the go-getter back don't rock the boat style of approval is very common.

The go-getter must meet and associate with others of a similar disposition, a species breeds with its own, game players support each other and their team, and the go-getter will go further and faster as a result of contact with others. All people everywhere form friendships with those of a like mind, a like occupation, a like business. More than this, they form clubs, meetings and gatherings. Slimmers help other slimmers, what about organisations such as alcoholics anonymous, check out religious orders. Without such contact with others of a similar persuasion the motivated individual will not build up their level of drive or success, worse is that the amount they possess is usually forfeit to the waves of negativity poured over them by the disbeliever.

In this short report you can believe I really know what it is I am talking about. There are many who read motivational books, play discs, both audio and video to try to maintain their level of motivation, sure at least that is better than nothing. There is however no substitute for the full game plan and quite simply that is making contact with your species at the right time and in the right place, the live motivational seminar. I remember everyone I attended since I was a youth. The knowledge and contacts have been indispensable to me. Further I remember every single one I have given or presided over, to which end not one single student attending has ever forgotten. Nowhere on earth can the success seeker be better introduced to success than the live seminar. In the case of an on-going series of such events just as the level of motivation is increased, so is the volume of success that is located.

I have attended product and motivation seminars with some of the biggest names, both in manufacturing history and service industry. Seminars that lasted just one day and others several weeks. Both at home and abroad there's no substitute. The profit of this quite simply can be seen by observing the performance of those who attend and those who do not. Give time to thinking if you had never been educated to read how would you cope with this article you are reading now. Try to answer this question. How are you ever going to be able to count your fortune if you are never shown how to earn it. Success in anything is another name for a skill and in all cases skills are learnt from those who have it, not those who simply talk about getting it some day. No matter what subject you would like to learn the better the master, the teacher, or proven winner, then the more they have to teach and the more you can learn. That fact is so true you already know it to be so.

Most people actually want to be average, I don't have a problem with that, they do. Average people don't attend seminars, they don't have much to show for life and no-one remembers them when they're gone. The only way forward is by education. Today the whole world realises that but yet lessons in true motivation by the leaders in the field are extremely rare. Most work in this subject is not by those who have tasted success first and teach the results of it. The student or seeker of such skill and knowledge should take into account and give very serious thought to the fact that good people are busy doing something, and that this in itself translates to they continue to do so until they find something better to do. With that in mind and fully understood, we can see that good people become better still as a result of correct training or education in whatever subject they may chose. The common overriding factor that every single person in the world could add to their portfolio in this light is the clarity of purpose given by a programme of motivation of goal-setting. The light which shows you the way through the tunnel is far more important than just finding the light at the end of the most proverbial tunnel that most adages speak of. This is exactly what the live seminar provides. Exactly in the same way that looking at pictures and photographs of anywhere you like is only a substitute for being there in person. The live seminar with all its extra benefits is the same.

One of the most famous songs of years past was entitled 'I would walk a million miles for one of your smiles', or in other words, don't send me simply a photograph. To this end I have travelled the world for such valuable training, information and education. The only question this leaves is how serious are you, how far will you travel. So many times this is the factor that separates the players and those who simply stand by until the days they wish they had, but for a vast assortment of reasons cannot as time has past them by.

Please visit me at Knoll House Interforum where you can book your own personal tuition session or attend a Live Seminar.

To read a more comprehensive background on my qualifications as a Motivational speaker and tutor please visit Mr Salesmanship's website

If you enjoyed this article and would like to read more articles by Mr Salesmanship please visit my Squidoo Lensmaster Page where you will find many more inspirational works.

Reasons Why You Might Want to Use a Realtor

While looking for a home in today's market, you may be looking for places to cut costs in your job hunt and in the price of the home. You may think a good place to cut costs is to represent yourself and be your own real estate agent. But beware.

The real estate market is tricky, and deciding to go it alone may not be the best idea. A well-trained and qualified Realtor can help you in more ways than just finding you properties to see, and you'll probably regret trying to go without.

A good Realtor can save you time by searching the market for you, so you don't have to, and only finding homes that you would be interested in. Although you could look online or in your local classifieds, Realtors have access to other avenues of finding properties for sale. They might have tips from old contacts, or even homes that they are representing the seller on.

A realtor can also negotiate a better price for you. If you are hoping to drive a hard bargain, a realtor is truly your agent working for you with the seller. He or she knows the market and the amount of money a home is worth, so leave it to them to snag you a bargain.

Finally, they can walk you through the contract and mortgage phase of purchasing a home. Both of these are complicated and confusing, and your realtor can answer any questions and facilitate these components of home buying.

RE/MAX of New Jersey (http://www.remax-nj.com) is a real estate brokerage that has New Jersey Realtors. Billings Farnsworth is a freelance writer.

Real Estate Transactions Without All The Paperwork

Going paperless is a dream for many busy real estate agents, but until recently it was an intimidating prospect. However, new digital laws and creative real estate technology companies are helping make the switch less intimidating, and Realtors who've been ready for years can now leave paper behind, affordable. Without stacks of documents to move from place to place, real estate transactions are much faster and more economical. Many agents and investors working without paper can close more deals simply because they have more time - that kind of progress bodes well for the industry as a whole.

The road to a paperless real estate industry in the U.S. began in 2000, with the legalization of electronic signatures. While most real estate agencies, government branches, and investors lacked the technology to sign things digitally at that point, it was important legal hurdle that enabled many industries to look at paperless transaction methods. By the end of 2005, more than 60 counties (the primary storage point for real estate records) across the nation had developed electronic records management systems and that number has continued to increase steadily. Other government steps toward paperless real estate have included the Uniform Real Property Electronic Act, the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act, and the federal Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act.

Mortgage companies have also played a role in the switch to paperless real estate. In recent years the Mortgage Industry Standards Maintenance Organization has implemented many standards for electronic mortgages, which have been followed by lenders across the nation

With those two cornerstones in place the paperless real estate industry has been able to grow freely. Real estate title companies that have existed for decades are now offering paperless transaction closing services attracting thousands of new clients each year. All a Realtor has to do to get a paperless transaction started is fax or scan an original document and send it to the paperless transaction company. Once the paper has been digitized (usually to a secure website), paperless management companies enable both agents and investors to access the document and make changes as the closing draws near.

It may be easier than you think to liberate yourself from paper, and free up more time for your real estate business.

Utahpropertyfinder.com has a variety of resources to help you buy and sell Salt Lake City Utah homes for sale. The site includes area information, details on buying and selling services, a custom property search, so you can compare prices on Salt Lake City real estate.

Real Estate Careers - Information about a Career in Real Estate

Real estate agents are independent licensed professionals. Many people call this a job but it really is an entrepreneurial, independent position, IE: Business. It is better classified as a business because it carries the following characteristics:

1. It has multiple start up costs.

2. Licensed by State or Province.

3. Many agents operate under business names.

4. Expenses such as: Shuttling potential clients around, dinners & lunches with potential clients, advertising costs & office expenses etc.

5. Most agents right off most expenses as a business for tax reasons.

Jobs on the other hand are generally free to find & get started. You do not have the opportunity to right off expenses because you will be classified as an employee.

How much can you make as a real estate agent?

First of all real estate agents get paid by commission. They usually get paid anywhere from 5 to 10 percent of the selling price of the home. This can be good for you if you are a good salesman. The more homes you sell, the more income you can make.

Here are the 2006 US Estimates from the lowest to the highest:

The lowest 10 percent earned less than approximately $20,170.

The average agent (25 - 50 %) earned approximately between $26,790 - $39,760

The top 5 percent earned approximately $111,500 +

How much does it cost to become a real estate agent?

It may cost you anywhere from $2,000 to $5,000 to go through the full licensing procedure depending on what state or province you are located. This is only the bare requirements of obtaining a real estate license. Find a licensed school near you for more detailed information on obtaining your license.

How many positions are there?

Based on the constant up & down real estate market, it would be very hard to say exactly how many positions there are currently. You would have to take in to consideration how many agents may be potentially leaving this industry, the amounts of properties for sale & the current market (buyers or sellers).

In 2006 in the US there were approximately 432,000 positions. You would also have to take in consideration to what area you are planning to business in. Generally if you are in a big city there will be more positions available but also a lot of competition as well.

What does it take to succeed in real estate?

The real estate agents who do extremely well are usually in the top 5 percent. You can drive down any street in your neighbourhood & plainly see the main names of these top earners almost everywhere. Most of these people have one thing in common. They are achievers & very good in sales. More than that, they are very good communicators, quick thinkers, organizers, & excellent in customer service. It takes a special breed to become a top realtor. It all starts with a burning desire or passion for this business. Many have gotten in to this industry & out just as fast mainly because of the transition from employee to entrepreneur. It takes a lot of courage for anyone to make this transition because of the whole principal behind this. Most people want job security & have a hard time digesting the fact that their commissions are not guaranteed. The flip side on this issue is that the top real estate earner has surpassed this level of thinking & reaps the rewards of being an entrepreneur.

If you are considering real estate as a career & are prepared to do what it takes to succeed then this can be a very rewarding career move. If you are the type of person who wants to stay safe with a steady pay check this may not be for you. Please keep in mind that anyone who makes $100,000 + per year most likely has made a commitment to their business & themselves.

The top realtor's have gone the extra mile in this career & are highly compensated for their efforts.

Other options instead of real estate:

1. Life insurance agents.

2. Mortgage specialists.

3. Car Sales.

4. Travel Agents.

5. Direct Sales Consultants (Home Based)

Rory Singh is a Home Business Development Coach and Professional Marketing Consultant. To learn how to set up & run your own online business successfully & efficiently visit: http://www.networkopportunities.net

5 Safety Rules to Guide Showings and Open Houses

The nature of the Realtor's profession is such that one can reasonably expect to be meeting clients at homes and hosting open houses where one is alone. There are enough news stories about robbed/raped/murdered Realtors that one should know to be extra careful when putting oneself in a situation where one is alone. Attacks happen on men and women alike, so it is important for everyone to follow safety guidelines.

Rule #1: Never be afraid of looking weird or losing a sale by being too safe.

Insist on meeting people at your office, preferably when someone else is there and it is clear that you have people who know where you're going, with whom and for how long. Get the information of the person that you are showing a house to - driver's license or other ID, name, address, etc. If you feel better knowing that your spouse or a friend is with you, take them along. This is one of the best ways to avoid problems, although it doesn't mean that you can relax your guard. At Open Houses, when just about anybody can walk in and around, this can be a really important part of staying safe. Have pepper spray dangling from your key chain. If you have a concealed carry permit, by all means carry a firearm if you are well-trained and confident in its use.

Rule #2: Learn to defend yourself and others.

Carefully investigate self-defense courses and take some that have the best likelihood of giving you skills you can use as soon as possible. While karate, jiu-jitsu and other martial arts are very effective and valuable when one has been practicing them for a time, for people who are just starting out in self-defense, a quick-and-dirty course in basic holds, strikes, blocks and immobilizations is going to give more resources faster. If you are interested in self-defense as a long-term activity, see if your instructor also offers courses in quick self-defense techniques.

Rule# 3: Be aware of your surroundings.

You should always keep track of who is around you and what they are doing, and that goes double, triple, quadruple when you're in a situation where you don't know the people very well. Don't let people get around you and trap you in rooms or in corners. You can do this without being too obvious. When hosting an Open House, be aware of how many people are going through the house. Thieves and worse have been known to target Open Houses, knowing that the owners are probably not around and the host is often alone.

Rule #4: Be assertive.

If someone is giving you trouble or a bad feeling, don't be afraid of telling them, "No". You don't have to go down in the basement with them and you don't need to accompany them into every room. Give yourself some breathing space and if someone violates it, tell them to back off. No sale is worth the risk of harm and any genuine buyer should respect your wishes in the matter. Don't hesitate to call the police if someone is giving you trouble. The first tactic of many predators is intimidation, to see how much they can make you give.

Rule #5: Be ready and willing to fight back.

Many predators target people who look like they won't give much trouble. Someone who fights back, screams and makes the predator's life very uncomfortable has a better chance of avoiding injury and death. Even the knowledge and willingness to do so can make someone more confident and less of a target by predators. That being said, whether to fight back and how much to fight is a personal decision that the individual makes on their own and no one knows what they will do when in a life-threatening situation. Go with your instincts and most of all, try to get away rather than being a hero.

Accepting that there is danger in being a Realtor and that some people target Realtors is the most important part of staying safe. Many victims of crime never thought it could happen to them and didn't take steps to minimize their risk. By accepting the danger, you will have taken the first step to defending yourself.

David Ellis is a realtor specializing in St. George, UT real estate. David's dedication to customer service and knowledge of the Southern Utah real estate market that makes him the smart choice when thinking about a move to Utah. Contact David today for information on the growing home market in Utah or visit online at http://www.davidellisrealtor.com

For Sale By Owner Misconceptions

With the rising popularity of selling homes by owner, have risen some misconceptions that should be straightened out to clarify the process. The first thing that we should look at is how financing works in the FSBO world. One thing that occurs more often than it should is when buyers think that "for sale by owner" means that the owner is also offering financing. Most of the time this is not the case. This error is usually seen when people with little or damaged credit feel that it is in their best interest to avoid mortgage brokers & realtors. This is a huge mistake as individuals such as mortgage brokers are experienced and trained to deal with these individuals and to help them repair their credit and obtain a favorable mortgage.

Its a good idea to seek out a mortgage company that is experienced, even specializes in the financing of FSBO sales. These companies differ from most mortgage companies in that their services are more comprehensive than most. They have expanded their offerings to include many things not usually covered by traditional mortgage companies such as closing contracts, title issues and inspections. The closing of a home contract is one of the more confusing aspects of the purchase process and should be handled by a trained professional. Also take into account that most mortgage companies rely on realtors to bring them the bulk of their business, therefore they are ill-equipped to provide educated FSBO financing. This is why its good to find a FSBO specialist mortgage company when dealing with someone who is selling their home themselves.

Another misconception deals with the fact that the buyer is saving money by dealing with an FSBO situation. The truth is that usually the seller is the one trying to save money on agent commissions. If they have subtracted the price of the agent from their asking price, it is possible to save some cash.But this is hardly ever the case. Most FSBO sellers are listing their homes at market value as if an agent was selling the home. Then they attempt to do everything themselves and pocket the cash that would normally go to the agent.

HomesByLender.com is the elite source for FSBO financing and homes for sale by owners. Utilize our nationwide search to locate FSBO homes in any state or town. HomesByLender.com is your one-stop FSBO information source.

How To Find An Experienced Monticello Illinois Realtor

Finding a professional Monticello Realtor in Illinois is the
best way to find the perfect property or home. A licensed
realtor can assist you in locating the type of property you
want in the price range you desire. Monticello Illinois is
located in Piatt County and is in the suburban
Champaign-Urbana area. Monticello is a community of small
neighborhoods and is within easy access of the larger
metropolitan area. Citizens in the Monticello area play an
active role in their community and enjoy a wonderful
standard of living. Realtors in the Monticello area can
show you any type of property you desire and will treat you
with the utmost courtesy and professionalism.

Property and homes in Monticello and the surrounding areas
are reasonably priced and values are expected to rise in
the coming years. An experienced realtor can help you find
the most home for your money and will help you through
every step of the buying process. Monticello Illinois is a
great place to purchase a home and the business and
employment opportunities are plentiful thanks to the
growing economy in the Champaign-Urbana metropolitan area.
Finding a realtor in Monticello is the best place to start
when beginning a search for property. You realtor will show
you all properties that meet your criteria and will help
you in getting the best price possible.

If you are considering purchasing property in Monticello
Illinois or the surrounding areas, contact a professional
realtor today. Your realtor will help you find the most
home for your money and assist you in obtaining financing
if you so desire. Monticello is a community with modern
convenience and small town charm. A local realtor will help
you with all your real estate needs. Professionalism,
courtesy, and a genuine desire to help you find the ideal
property are what you will find when you contact a
Monticello Illinois realtor now.

Charles & Susan Truett are the website owners of Central Illinois Realtors Online. For a comprehensive listing of Monticello Illinois Realtors, visit:

Monticello Illinois Realtors Online

If Your House Won't Sell, Read This Now!

There aren't many feelings worse than when your house won't sell after many months of trying. However, no matter how long you've been waiting for your luck to change, you can still get your house sold within the next 3 weeks if you implement a few simple sales tactics. This article gives you a few methods that you can try instantly.

Reach A Broader Buyer Base With Online Advertising

If you haven't done this already you've been missing out. Internet advertising is cheap, and often free. Most sites allow you to design your own personal ad that sticks out from the crowd. The key is to make it unique. If you've already tried the "cheap, good house, must sell, price negotiable" tactic, it's time to reconsider your sales copy. Be exciting, be original, be confident.

House Staging To Impress Your Buyers

This is an old trick, but if you haven't tried it yet, maybe you could give it a shot. The basic idea is to hire a bunch of posh-looking items to place in your house to give it an upmarket look for your showing. It may sound like a rather simple technique, but you'll be surprised at how many people fall for it.

Host An Event Style Mass Showing

Because of the shear volume of buyers out there at the moment, it might be a good idea to hold an event on your property. You want to invite as many people to your house as possible for a cheese and wine type event in the early evening. This technique works hand in hand with house staging, and gives a good impression of competition and style. To get more people to your event, consider taking your price down to your lowest comfortable price. If your place is a real bargain you're more likely to get people bidding over the asking price if they sense a lot of competition.

If your house won't sell and you're desperate to get things moving as fast as possible, check out this Quickly Sell House website now for a tried and tested sales method that will have your property sold in only 21 days!

Tips Before Buying a Lake House

Purchasing any property will likely be a major significant decision. Buying Lake Property is no different, matter of fact it make take more research and due diligence. What you probably don't know is that there are many factors that come with purchasing lake property that makes more unique that just any regular property. With that said, I've complied a few pointers for you to consider. I hope they may benefit you in some way.

-Always try to physically see the lake property. No matter how many photos you see or how detailed the description....nothing can substitute seeing it in person.

- Hire a licensed Realtor. One who is an expert with Lake Homes or Lake Property. Some simple research is all that is needed. Make sure the are in fact an expert and live in the community. The benefits are overwhelming and it will not cost you a dime!

- Find out how much pricing differs per county or location of property on the lake. You'll always pay more for full views, deep water, and flat lake lots.

- Get as much documentation on the Lake Property as possible. Surveys, Plots, Tax Records, Disclosures, Set backs, anything along these lines.

- Determine what type of lake it actually is. Does the lake fluctuate in water levels? How does that affect your access to the lake?

-Check to see if there are any flood plain restrictions. If you build or buy in a flood zone you may have a tough time getting insurance.

- Check to see if there are any covenants or restrictions. You may want to increase your dock size or add an out building, but will not be able to due to an association.

- If your are purchasing a resale lake home or are building a new construction lake house, definitely get it inspected by a licensed home inspector.

- Get a termite inspection.

This is not a catch all list but hopefully it will get you started on the right track!

Find Lake House
http://www.findlakehouse.com

How To Protect Your Kids at the Pool

A university statistics professor in the United States, Steven D. Levitt, was struck by how many children had drowned in swimming pools. They were the kind of deaths that don't make the newspaper-unlike, for instance, a child who dies while playing with a gun. He got curious, and went looking for numbers that would tell the story.

After conducting a detailed scientific study, he concluded the following; "If you both own a gun and have a swimming pool in the backyard, the swimming pool is about 100 times more likely to kill a child than the gun is."

Drowning is one of the major causes of accidents involving children worldwide, resulting in serious injury and death. Thousands of tragic accidents involving swimming pools highlight the sad fact that kids and pools can be a very dangerous combination. A number of child deaths have occurred while parents have been looking away, or were not in the vicinity. Other heart-rending events have involved children's long hair being caught in pool water pump inlets, which have also led to drowning.

In a number of cases, accidents happened even though the child knew how to swim. The result of this study serves to highlight the significant hazard that swimming pools present to children, compared to other dangers. Toddlers, in particular, often do something unexpected because their capabilities change daily.

Submersion incidents involving children usually happen in familiar surroundings. In another study, 65 percent of the incidents happened in a pool owned by the child's family and 33 percent of the incidents happened in a pool owned by friends or relatives.

Child drowning is often a silent death - there's no splashing to alert anyone that the child is in trouble. Pool submersions involving children happen quickly. A child can drown in the time it takes to answer a phone. 77 percent of the victims had been missing from sight for five minutes or less.

Here are some easy tips you can use to reduce the risk;

Supervise

Never allow your youngster to swim alone without any adult supervision. It is vital that persons be

around, ready to help if needed.

Does Your Pool have a Fence?

Enclose your pool with a fence at least 4 feet (1.2 Metres) high, and a gate which can be locked. Do not leave the pool open and accessible, as children can fall inside. In many communities having a fence around a pool, with a lockable gate, is a legal requirement.

Cordless Phone

Always have a phone nearby the pool. This should ensure that nobody has to leave a child alone in the pool to answer the phone when it rings. A cordless home phone can be a good solution.

Social Gatherings

During social gatherings at or near a pool, appoint a "designated watcher" to protect young children from pool accidents. Adults may take turns being the "watcher." When adults become preoccupied, children are at risk.

Slips & Falls

A number of children are injured when they slip and fall around the pool on wet tiles or concrete; consider having your child wear a pair of anti-slip pool shoes when around and even in, the pool.

Life Saver

You should ensure there is always a life saving flotation device handy, such as; a lifesaver ring or foam flotation device near the pool. This could be very handy if an adult happens to be around to help rescue a child from the edge of the pool - but who cannot actually get in the pool and swim. However, do not use flotation devices as a substitute for supervision. Remove toys from in and around the pool when it is not in use, as toys can attract young children closer to the pool.

CPR

Every parent and guardian should be conversant in basic Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) techniques in case of any accident. Survival depends on rescuing the child quickly and restarting the breathing process, even while the child is still in the water. Seconds count in preventing death or brain damage.

Jump, Don't Dive!

Teach your children that diving should only be performed in special pools, or in designated areas. It's very easy to misjudge the depth of a pool, or mistake the shallow-end for the deep-end and suffer a serious neck or head injury.

Long Hair

If your child has longer hair, consider the use of a swim cap which will ensure their hair does not become tangled in pool equipment.

Small Water Bodies

Avoid leaving your kids alone even with small portable pools or other water bodies such as buckets or fountains. There is always a danger of drowning occurring even in small bodies of water.

Again, please watch what your kids are doing whenever they are near water. Supervise their activities and never leave them alone in or near any pool. If a child is missing, check the pool first. Seconds count in preventing death or disability. Go to the edge of the pool and scan the entire pool, bottom and surface, as well as the pool area.

Roger Hall of COEGA Sunwear develops tips and clothing that provide women and children with Style, Comfort and Protection. Find out how to protect yourself with more popular FREE Tips for active women of all ages, available at: =>store.coegawear.com/index.asp?PageAction=Custom&ID=20

Wood Panel Renovation - San Deigo Home Tips

The old paneling in your home has turned too ugly to even bear and yet you cannot change it because of its very exorbitant cost. It gives you a feeling of depression and you have gone to the level of thinking of selling your home off just to get away from those irksome panels. Just do not feel down as you are not the only one facing this problem. There are millions of other people too who just hate the ugly look of the paneling in their home. There are a few tricks that can help you repair those panels and get rid of that horrendous look.

A few ideas are her for you to check, with the help of which you can readily brighten up the dingy walls and the ugly panels. Only be prepared to endure some elbow grease which is surely better than the ugly look of those panels.

Painting the Paneling: One way of giving them a professional look is to paint the panels. But you just cannot splash a tin-full of paint and expect it to look good. If you try that out it will give a bad look to the panels. Panels absorb the paints easily and this would show the panels again and might even leave some yellow streaks on the base. The key to a good painting is surface preparation. Just degrease the surface from dirt and muck with a good cleaner before painting it. A gloss-removing substance has to be applied before the degreasing solution is put on the panels. It should be then left to dry for a night. The panel is then absolutely ready to get painted. After the first coat of paint you should leave it to fry before applying the second coat.

Painting Wallpaper: There is a kind of wallpaper available in some wallpaper stores; those wallpapers can be painted again. This gives the look of a painted wall to the paper. You can choose a color and apply it on these wallpapers and it will look really great. The awfully dingy wood paneling gets a brand new look. Other colors can also be used to give a 3D effect to the whole thing. The wallpapers should be hung according to the direction. The paper has to be soaked in water prior to the painting and left to hang for a few minutes. This makes the paper ready to be painted with the color(s) of your choice. I did this to my own basement after replacing the windows.

Glazing the Paneling: By glazing the panel you can add a nice shine to it. The panel should be cleaned with a degreaser solution. Then the panel has to be colored according to your choice. It should be left overnight to get dried. Then you mix a satiny top shade with a glaze in correct proportion and paint over small sections of the panels. Determining how much shine you want, just wipe off the excess glaze with a clean sweep. The brush should be cleaned with mineral oil and let dry before storing them for future use.

Being specifically passionate about basement window, Johnathan Bakers was publishing a lot of detailed reports in this specific field. You can discover his writings on over at http://www.replacement-windows-tips.com

Finding the Right Types of Paint For Your Home

It is no secret that repainting your home can be a big undertaking. First you have to decide whether you will complete the project on your own or hire a contracted painter to complete the job. Then you have to decide what color you want to use in the painting project and how much the entire project will cost you. However, in the end, nothing can freshen up the look of your home and create jealous neighbors quite like a new paint job.

If you are thinking of having your home repainted, you might be thinking of finding the right types of paint for your home. This can be a very big task if you are going to attempt the painting project on your own, because there are many things to consider when deciding on a type of paint. You will have to think about what brand you want to purchase, how much you want to spend on the paint, and which type is the right one and will last the longest. When you go to the store to buy the paint for this project, there will hopefully be assistants there that will help you with all of these paint questions. Probably one of the biggest decisions if you are going to paint your home by yourself is how much you are willing to spend on the paint. You will probably want to use the highest quality paint that you can afford for this project because it will not only last longer, but will do a better job of protecting your home than other low cost paints.

The benefit of hiring a contracted painter for your painting project versus trying to complete it by yourself is that you will not have to worry about finding the right types of paint for your home. A professional painter should be trained in the correct types of paint to use for your painting project and will be able to choose the one that will work best on your home. Therefore, really one of the only decisions that you will have to make is what color you would like to have the house painted, which can be a big enough decision in itself.

When deciding whether to complete the project on your own or hire a contracted painter, you might just want to schedule meetings with a few painters to discuss how they would complete the project to get a feel for which decision is best for you.

There are many things to think about when it comes time to have your house repainted. If you decide to complete the project on your own, you will have to make many decisions regarding finding the right types of paint for your home. If you hire a contracted painter on the other hand, they will already known which types of paint will last the longest on your home and will help protect your home the best. Either way, hopefully when your painting project is completed, you will be able to take some time to relax and enjoy the fresh look that the new paint job has given your home.

Justin recommends contacting
College Works Painting a long established and professional company for more information on the correct paint used for exteriors or to simply schedule a painting job with College Works visit them online today.

Pricing a Home - For Sale by Owner

Properly pricing a property is one of the most difficult but important parts of selling a home. You want to maximize your profits but you also don't want to price too high because then you will find yourself with little interest in your house. For homes for sale by owner, this task can seem even more daunting since there is no real estate agent to help. However, there is much you can do in finding the proper price for your home.

The best thing to do when pricing an FSBO home is to compare it with similar houses on the market. The key here, of course, is to try to find homes which are as similar as possible to yours which have recently sold or are currently on the market. You will want to make sure, of course, that houses are in the same, or at least in a similar, neighborhood, before you even look at anything else.

Getting Data on Other Homes on the Market

When putting up a house for sale by owner, it is up to you to find out relevant information for home pricing. There are many ways to go about finding information on homes. For example, you can simply look through the classifieds, or the real estate listings put out by agents. You can even check out FSBO web sites and other locations for homes in your area which are currently on the market.

In many localities, you can also find information on recent real estate transactions at City Hall. This can be a good way to find out about homes sold in your area. If you are willing to spend a bit of money, you can even hire a real estate estimator, however most private real estate sellers prefer to determine pricing on their own.

Comparing Homes

When comparing homes to yours, there are a few things you will want to look at. First off is the square footage. You should look at the area not only of the house itself, but of the entire lot.

Next, look at the number of bedrooms and bathrooms. Once again, you should look at the square footage of these rooms. If the houses are similar in overall size, however, the size of individual bedrooms and bathrooms should be similar.

If you have done any upgrading to your kitchen or bathrooms, look for this in comparison homes. If you have not upgraded kitchen or bathrooms, you will want to take that into account for homes that have, since that will increase the price somewhat.

Lastly you should look at the overall condition of the home. Is it in good repair? What is the state of the landscaping? How much curb appeal does it have?

The more homes similar to yours you can look at, the better. The more data points you have, the better estimates you can make on what the price for your house should be. Even if you can't find homes similar to yours, you can still determine whether you ought to go higher or lower based on what you see.
Copyright (c) 2008 Wes Fernley

http://www.GetitListed.ca offers for sale by owner (FSBO) listings for all of Canada. Are you looking to sell or purchase a home? Check out our listings to find the perfect home for you and your family.

Pricing a Home - For Sale by Owner

Properly pricing a property is one of the most difficult but important parts of selling a home. You want to maximize your profits but you also don't want to price too high because then you will find yourself with little interest in your house. For homes for sale by owner, this task can seem even more daunting since there is no real estate agent to help. However, there is much you can do in finding the proper price for your home.

The best thing to do when pricing an FSBO home is to compare it with similar houses on the market. The key here, of course, is to try to find homes which are as similar as possible to yours which have recently sold or are currently on the market. You will want to make sure, of course, that houses are in the same, or at least in a similar, neighborhood, before you even look at anything else.

Getting Data on Other Homes on the Market

When putting up a house for sale by owner, it is up to you to find out relevant information for home pricing. There are many ways to go about finding information on homes. For example, you can simply look through the classifieds, or the real estate listings put out by agents. You can even check out FSBO web sites and other locations for homes in your area which are currently on the market.

In many localities, you can also find information on recent real estate transactions at City Hall. This can be a good way to find out about homes sold in your area. If you are willing to spend a bit of money, you can even hire a real estate estimator, however most private real estate sellers prefer to determine pricing on their own.

Comparing Homes

When comparing homes to yours, there are a few things you will want to look at. First off is the square footage. You should look at the area not only of the house itself, but of the entire lot.

Next, look at the number of bedrooms and bathrooms. Once again, you should look at the square footage of these rooms. If the houses are similar in overall size, however, the size of individual bedrooms and bathrooms should be similar.

If you have done any upgrading to your kitchen or bathrooms, look for this in comparison homes. If you have not upgraded kitchen or bathrooms, you will want to take that into account for homes that have, since that will increase the price somewhat.

Lastly you should look at the overall condition of the home. Is it in good repair? What is the state of the landscaping? How much curb appeal does it have?

The more homes similar to yours you can look at, the better. The more data points you have, the better estimates you can make on what the price for your house should be. Even if you can't find homes similar to yours, you can still determine whether you ought to go higher or lower based on what you see.
Copyright (c) 2008 Wes Fernley

http://www.GetitListed.ca offers for sale by owner (FSBO) listings for all of Canada. Are you looking to sell or purchase a home? Check out our listings to find the perfect home for you and your family.

Get the Price You Want From Your Property

There are a few steps that homeowners can undertake before marketing their home to obtain the best possible price. The first step is to appoint a home appraiser to give you an appraisal. When looking for a home appraiser, it is vital to find a reputable expert. Asking neighbors and real estate agents will ensure that you find the right individual. In lieu of hiring an appraiser, acquire a property pricing report. Some know this report as an Automated Valuation Model. It will contain information regarding the estimated market value of your house in a minimum and maximum range as well as sales reports from nearby sold property. The county courthouse can supply this information.

Next, get your property inspected. This will provide you an overall evaluation of the condition of your plumbing, electrical wiring, heating and AC units and structural foundation. This assessment can be a marvelous selling point when showcasing your home to potential buyers. Many homeowners receive their reports and go on to make the necessary improvements to increase their home's worth.

Furthermore, you may want to purchase a home warranty, which will insure appliances that you choose to leave behind like refrigerators and stoves if they cease to function. A home warranty will encourage home buyers to meet your asking price without much difficulty.

An excellent way to begin making home improvements is to look at your home with the attitude of a potential buyer. This even includes driving up to the house and checking out the landscaping and front of the house. Would you be impressed if you were searching for a new home? Evaluate every room and hallway of your home. This will help you observe details about your house that you may have become adapted to seeing. What are some things you would like to see changed? Create a list of cosmetic upgrades that would improve the appearance of the house.

The necessity for cleaning, home renovations and painting are very considerable issues that could hamper you in receiving the price you want. If there is any noticeable damage to your property, it is best to fix the problem rather than bring down the price of your home. Giving your home a fresh coat of paint can drastically improve the look of the property. Homes that have a clean finish and have been scrupulously maintained appeal to home buyers. You want to have your home outshine the other listings in your area, and nothing puts a finish on a home like a recently painted exterior. Windows are frequently overlooked in the renovation process. Cracked glass, dirty sills and split panes will turn off the home buyer driving by or touring the property.

Presenting a beautifully landscaped yard is sure to attract a home buyer's eye. Working on your house's front and backyard will showcase the natural beauty surrounding the home. It might take some work, but it is also a particularly cost-effective way of enhancing your home's appearance. Cut shrubs and tree limbs that may be blocking views of the terrain. Plant local flora and tidy up flowerbeds that are appear unkempt. Driveways may be in need repair or construction. Swimming pools should be perfectly pristine and all outdoor amenities should be immaculate.

Once you have finished beautifying your home, you are now prepared to show it to buyers. After following these steps, you can be confident that you have properly given yourself the best chance to get your best price.

Locate amazing homes in California: 1 Story Homes in Temecula, CA and Murrieta Gated Properties.

Types Of Liens On Real Estate

-A lien is a legal recorded claim against a property. The claim encumbers the property as a means to collect money owed, such as a mortgage, property taxes, or an unpaid debt owed to a contractor who performed work on the property. There are other reasons liens are recorded against a property.

-Equitable lien. When a property is held as collateral and the parties agree in a document, that the property is used to secure the debt.

-General liens. These liens all real estate and personal property. Court ordered judgments, probate actions, and IRS taxes fall under this category.

-Judgment lien. This is the result of an action by a party or government agency through a court of law to collect payment on a claim.

-Involuntary lien. State statues create real estate property taxes. These taxes are a claim against the property and the property owner assumes the statue when purchasing a home. Unpaid taxes can result in a specific involuntary lien.

-Specific liens. Special assessments and mechanics liens fall into this category. Unpaid contractors from home repair and remodeling projects can file a specific lien. Homeowner associations and local governing bodies can issue special assessments for repairs and improvements. Failure to pay these special assessments can result in lien being placed against a property.

-Voluntary lien. When you have a mortgage and voluntarily agree that the mortgage lien is security for the lender in case you default on a mortgage loan.

Mark Nash is the author of "Fundamentals of Marketing for the Real Estate Professional", "Starting & Succeeding in Real Estate", "Reaching Out: The Financial Power of Niche Marketing", and "1001 Tips for Buying and Selling a Home". Mark is a contributing writer for: Realtor (R) Magazine Online, Broker Agent News, Real Estate Executive Magazine, Principal Broker, and Realty Times. His tried and true real estate tips has been featured on Business Week, CBS The Early Show, CNN, HGTVpro.com, The New York Times, and USA Today. Purchase his books at http://www.1001RealEstateTips.com .

Residential Solar Power - Do it Yourself

The earth at present is facing the dilemma of reduced non-renewable energy resources. At present the focus of the human race is clearly on materials through which we can fulfil our energy needs without being under the fear of finishing them off for good. Solar energy is one of those energy sources. Residential solar power plan is a very good idea. Imagine having your own solar power generator and all, and not to worry about the electricity bill. Also, with the use of solar power you will be fret to use as much of the solar energy as you may want to. The total usage of the solar energy on the earth at present is less than 5%. Residential solar power thus has a lot of potential.

It's something great that you can build residential solar power generator by your own two hands. Just imagine generating your own renewable energy for any purpose you desire. For building your own solar power resource, you will need photovoltaic cells. You will also need a tool kit, solders, silicon wires, glass, copper wires, and ultra violet coating for safety purpose. By using these materials you can very easily build your own solar power generator.

Residential solar power usage will reduce the burden on the current non-renewable most widely used energy resources. Usage of solar power will not only be good for you as you will not need to worry about electricity bill, but it will also help the economy to get strong once again.

Earth4Energy Link to learn how to make your own solar power for residential use.

Is Racism Still an Issue in North Idaho?

With Ruby Ridge to the north of Sandpoint and the former Aryan Nations to the south, visitors often quiz locals about the perception of racism and extremism in North Idaho. Panhandle citizens are at times surprised by the questions. To many that live in artistic, eclectic North Idaho, the questions seem out of place with the area they have come to know as tolerant and neighborly. Most intolerant areas drive visitors and new inhabitants away; Sandpoint and North Idaho attracts with a booming tourist industry and fast-paced growth, and its reputation for accepting one and all.

North Idaho has long been a magnet for spirited people with vastly varying lifestyles and views. Long before the current influx of people and tourists came the hippies. Artist Ed Keinholz made Hope, Idaho his home in 1978, and soon afterward North Idaho became known as an artist colony. While the state has consistently voted Republican in national presidential elections, North Idaho has more mixed political leanings. Obama signs are everywhere. Perhaps only Moscow, with its collegiate influences, has the same political outlooks.

The questions persist in spite of local views. National coverage is beginning to show North Idaho in a different light, but Ruby Ridge is revisited in documentaries and news coverage year after year. Controversy continues over the handling by the ATF with the arrest of Randy Weaver in 1992. Randy Weaver moved from Iowa with his family to northern Idaho during the 1980s in order to "home-school his children and escape what he and his wife Vicki saw as a corrupted world." This is a common theme for many moving to the area. Like many who move here, they were looking for an area far-removed from their neighbors to teach their children the lessons they felt important. This is often a goal for many teaching racist ideals.

Idaho can be remote. Some estimates place up to 75 percent of the land in North Idaho in federal or state hands. The U.S. Census published only 15.6 people inhabit each square mile in Idaho, compared to the national average of 79.6. Bonner County has slightly more with 21 people per sq. mile, but Boundary County with only 8 has one of the lowest numbers in the state. Extremists look for such counts when choosing an area to relocate to.

Add to that demographic the homogenous make-up of North Idaho. With a population over 95 percent white, racists have found the area alluring in the past. Many residents say that prejudice does not even come into their minds. Jed Sigman, owner of Advance Childcare, one of Bonner County's largest daycares, says, "We aren't like the south where prejudice is a part of daily life. We didn't grow up even seeing blacks or Hispanics. The thought of hating a person for their skin color just didn't even occur to us."

When asked about the Aryan Nations in the Coeur d'Alene area, Sandpoint resident Jaime Grainger stated bluntly, "We kicked those bums out years ago." The Aryan Nations compound was effectively put out of business in Hayden, Idaho in 2000 when the Southern Poverty Law Center won a $6.3 million judgment against the group. They still operate, but not as openly as a decade ago. The founder of the Aryan Nations, Richard Butler, moved to Idaho from California, but it has been reported that his followers have relocated to Pennsylvania?

Many do move here, sans prejudice, to live a more natural life with greater privacy. Idahoans pride themselves on the values of privacy and personal freedom. In an unusual coalition, state GOP members and the ACLU joined forces to modify or defeat the Patriot Act, which many here feel intrude on their ideals of personal privacy. In Congress, Republican Governor Butch Otter was mostly conservative, but showed slight libertarian leanings, as reflected in his opposition to the Patriot Act. Other state Republicans shared this view. The Idaho GOP platform plank in 2004 made the issue clear: "The Patriot Act is necessary to facilitate the cooperation between law enforcement agencies. We support appropriate amendments to limit the incursion upon personal freedoms, rights, and liberties of American citizens."Other Idaho Republicans have also been vocal in their opposition to the Patriot Act.

The reasons are varied, but among other arguments, Idaho enjoys gun laws that allow carry permits, and hunting is one of the big draws to the state. The fear among many gun owners in Idaho is that the Patriot Act will lead to a lessening of gun ownership rights.

Guns are important here. Guns are the reason Randy Weaver was targeted by the ATF. After selling two sawed-off shotguns to a government informant, the ATF attempted to arrest Weaver. Weaver maintained the shotguns were not illegal, and in the ensuing standoff, both Weaver's son and wife were killed. With strong views of personal liberties and privacy prevalent in the area, many local residents feel the government was the real villain at Ruby Ridge, and local opinions have been broadcast over the national airwaves for years. With such opinions part of the myth presented to the rest of America, the nation gets a picture that North Idaho is not a tolerant region. However, the subsequent investigation showed the ATF in a poor light. This, combined with other national fiascos in Waco and other areas, has ameliorated opinions.

Randy Weaver was not a native Idahoan. As the population grows, natives are becoming a smaller majority. While most of North Idaho welcomes visitors and newcomers, many find the changes distasteful. Some of the loudest against change are not originally from Idaho. There are many groups against various points of growth in North Idaho. NICAN, a group that opposes the proposed Sand Creek Byway, has over 250 members, many who came to North Idaho from other states. This is patently distasteful to some that grew up locally. One home-grown inhabitant of Sagle, Idaho complained, "It's not that I don't want them to be politically active, I just would like to see people from here be the ones that make the decisions. I don't like it that they bring their attitudes from California or Oregon and try to make us just like the place they wanted to get away from."

Other long-time residents remember wistfully how idyllic the area was just ten or fifteen years ago. Jeane Fontaine, owner of Packages Plus in Sandpoint remembers wistfully, "It sure was great here ten or fifteen years ago. I mean, growth is good, but Sandpoint was such a nice small town. It's still pretty nice, but it was paradise then."

The influx of former policemen like Mark Furman retiring to the area is also pointed out as a sign that the area is racist. "Absurd!" said one former LA County Sheriff. "We came here to get away from racism and crime. After twenty years working in Los Angeles, where you see racism every day, we wanted to find a haven where we would never see it again."

How is racism handled in our schools?

One school in Twin Falls uses this lesson for elementary age children. To teach how racism feels to those that suffer from prejudice and segregation, approximately 200 fifth graders at Summit Elementary School in Twin Falls, Idaho are randomly assigned the color green or yellow. Not allowed to speak to classmates of another color, the point is further reinforced by segregating bathrooms. For the first time in 16 years, in February 2008, a parent complained.

How does the clergy handle racism in North Idaho?

Literally dozens of articles on the web have recently accused Planned Parenthood of Idaho of blatant racism, though to believe everything posted on Google takes a leap of faith. Earlier this year, when a southern Idaho radio talk show broadcast inflammatory racist comments, dozens of blogs sprang up to denounce the show and speaker. Typical of one such blog, the blogger wrote, "racist comments have no place on public airwaves and no place in our communities."

Recent years indicates a decline in hate crimes in Idaho. The Idaho State Police published in 2003 that there were 20 such incidents, down 54 percent from the previous year, and in 2005 hate crimes totaled 27 incidents, 20 in 2006, and 38 in 2007. These hate crimes do not limit themselves to acts against blacks or Hispanics. In 2007, an American Indian girl was beaten by an adult woman who shouted "white power," then the girl was subsequently harassed for the next several days by the woman's sons. According to statistics, hate crimes directed at Native Americans are as prevalent as against any other group in Idaho.

Skin color does often prompt attacks, however, with comparatively low numbers reported, many back up the premise that prejudice in North Idaho is not readily apparent. One blogger writes, "I'm olive-skinned rather than brown-skinned. I've lived in North Idaho (if you toss Lewiston into that mix) for 25 years. I've experienced only one touch of prejudice in all that time -- from a clueless dentist in Lewiston (1983) who kept making reference to my 'Italian' heritage."

Other states with similar populations have similar numbers, and some states with smaller populations, such as Vermont with a reputation for liberalism and tolerance, have higher incidences of hate crimes. North Idaho has comparatively few hate crimes. In 2006, one incident was reported in Boundary County, two in Kootenai, and none in Bonner County. Most were reported in southern Idaho.

In 2006, after 29 years of debate, neighboring Washington adopted a law barring discrimination in the workplace and in public accommodations based on sexual orientation. Idaho has still not adopted such a law.

As recently as February 2007, guest columnist Ryan West penned an article in the University of Idaho newspaper, The Argonaut, titled: Racism a reality in most of North Idaho. While still in high school in North Idaho, Ryan remembers "hearing the words "n--r" and "f--t" used in every other sentence by male and female students." He also writes, "I know that some people will read this and think 'Well I grew up around there, and I never experienced that type of behavior.' That's fine. They're either fortunate or oblivious."

White supremacists literature is still mailed out to North Idaho residents from time to time, though less frequently than in years past. The last mass mailing in Bonner went out to 6,000 residents in 1999. Though the mailings now are less in number and not as often, locals still receive them.

As the more tolerant attitudes become part and parcel of local living, those with extremist views have become less vocal espousing their opinions. There is no way to know how many people are truly racist in North Idaho. However, controversies such as local growth and the Sand Creek Byway have brought very derogatory attacks and even lawsuits. If lack of tolerance for other's views is the indicator, then perhaps irrational suspicions are part of North Idaho lore. On the other hand, one reason racism and extremism becomes part of any community is that people are silent against intolerance. North Idaho has healthy debate over many subjects. Education is ongoing, and people do speak out against injustice.

Racism seems to be slowly dying in the rest of the nation, and North Idaho is no different. While it may exist here, one rarely hears the 'n' word spoken in public. Most people I know would stand up against any person brave enough to rant racist views in open forum. Perhaps my circle just does not come into contact with that circle often enough to know if racism is truly a problem in North Idaho.

Is racism alive in North Idaho? Perhaps, but, as visitors often remind us, it is not accepted by the rest of the nation, and should not be tolerated by we who live in North Idaho, even if we are believers in personal privacy and liberties. With the presidential election having the first viable female and black presidential candidates, certainly few would say that times have not changed greatly. Racism is alive in America, and certainly has reared its ugly head in North Idaho, but it has been fought both through governmental processes and in the court of public opinion.

North Idaho is a paradise as much for its people as for its natural beauty. Prejudice and racism detract from the soul of the people who live in North Idaho. Perhaps these attitudes are on the wane, but without constant vigilance against those that advocate hate, it will continue to be part of the myth of North Idaho.

Gary Lirette, host of North Idaho Business and North Idaho Arts and Adventure on KSPT and KBFI, and Realtor for Tomlinson Sandpoint Sotheby's International Realty

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