Dalunara

Full Tilt Poker Rakeback

Many a player has asked “Why would I sign up for a rakeback? I play on the web when I have an inducement to clear.” However what if you decide to play poker full time? There are a lot of bettors who are extremely dissapointed at ignoring rakeback deals but nowadays they have opted in for every leading poker web site and skins. Don’t make the same mistake. If you are a player who stakes up to one or two dollars and only bets when you are clearing bonuses, you are taking usually around a hundred percent rakeback considering the bonus payment on the wager. A certain major website lately closed accounts of bettors that played on the website entirely for this purpose. Who knows if this practise will perhaps become a new trend. If it happens then immediately a poker rakeback is an essential.

Soon you may just find your best game and find yourself extremely lucky, that’s if you aren’t by now. I was injured in an accident and found internet poker whilst recovering, I have never had any regrets. That’s more than 2 years ago and believe me I have never needed a job in those two years all because of internet betting and rakeback. It is good plan to look ahead. Think of it as an investment fund, even if you don’t believe poker rake back is necessary for you right now it might be a fantastic investment in the future, there’s nothing to lose. If you are looking at signing up for a different poker room checking out a rake back offer has to be a good strategy.

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Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) has helped millions of people recover from alcoholism. For many women, however, AA may not be the best choice when it comes to the difficult task of quitting drinking. The main reason it may not be the best choice is this:

AA is based on the philosophy that self-centeredness is the root of alcoholism. In other words, AA’s approach is to instill humility and minimize egotism in its members.

While this method may have been appropriate for white males in the 1940’s when AA was founded, it does not meet the very different needs of women. Here’s why.

- Women who have a problem with alcohol oftentimes suffer from feelings of guilt and low self-esteem.

- Women already judge and berate themselves mercilessly.

- What women need to recover is to develop a sense of competency in themselves and rebuild their feelings of self-worth.

- Quitting drinking requires overcoming dependencies, forgetting the past and planning for the future.

SELF EMPOWERMENT, NOT HUMILITY, LEADS TO SOBRIETY

I agree that it is necessary for a woman to have humility in order to accept that she has a drinking problem. But taking humility beyond this first step is actually counter productive for the woman alcoholic.

Jean Kirkpatrick, Ph.D., founder of the Women for Sobriety Program (WFS), writes that “to accept humility is absolutely the worst thing that could happen to a woman alcoholic.” From long experience Jean understood that for women to overcome feelings of helplessness and powerlessness they must have a program that helps them to rebuild their self-image.

DOES GIVING YOURSELF UP TO A HIGHER POWER WORK FOR YOU?

The main component of AA’s program is spirituality. Specifically, they believe that in order to recover, one must surrender one’s will to a higher power.

WFS, on the other hand, does not encourage reliance on a higher power or something outside yourself. Women for Sobriety believes that your power must come from within.

THE WOMEN FOR SOBRIETY PROGRAM WORKS

This new, empowering method for women to quit drinking produces concrete results. An interesting study was published in the American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse by L. A. Kaskutas in 1996.

What the study found was that after women became really aware that they had to do something about their drinking, the percentage of women who were sober within 1 year after attending Women for Sobriety meetings was 38%. In contrast, the percentage of women who were sober within 1 year after attending Alcoholics Anonymous meetings was 26%.

WHY HAVEN’T I HEARD OF WFS?

One of the reasons why AA meetings are so prevalent is the fact that one aspect of their spiritual philosophy is a strong emphasis on service. Specifically, AA members are encouraged to attend meetings for life, and be part of a sponsorship program where experienced members assist beginners.

In contrast, because WFS encourages self-sufficiency, it does not promote lifelong attendance at meetings. Also, although WFS does not have a formal sponsorship program, it encourages an informal support structure among the women. A result of this WFS philosophy of leading women away from dependencies is that meetings are not as widely found with the Women for Sobriety Program as they are with AA.

The Women for Sobriety web site does, however, provide support in the form of on-line meetings, chat, and a bulletin board. They also have a large collection of popular books on recovery as well as their own literature for sale. This contrasts with AA meetings where only AA approved literature is allowed.

WFS MEETINGS ENCOURAGE CONVERSATION BETWEEN WOMEN

I like that WFS permits a wide range of meeting topics. And one of the best aspects of the WFS meeting format is that conversation is encouraged whereas AA has a strict “no cross-talk” rule during meetings.

Another difference between WFS and AA is that one-third of WFS members also attend AA meetings because they need more frequent meetings to stay sober and they like the fellowship and support. Women for Sobriety is open to this approach and, in fact, states that their Program “can be used with or without AA.”

AA, however, tends to discourage attendance at alternative programs. This can be seen through some of the wording in the introductory portion of the meeting where it is stated, “rarely have we seen a person fail who has thoroughly followed our path,” and, later: “many of us thought we could find an easier, softer way. But we could not.”

WOMEN’S REACTIONS AFTER ATTENDING THEIR FIRST WFS MEETING

Power comes from looking forward not back. It is very important for women to have a positive, proactive force supporting them when it comes to quitting drinking. This is different than the AA approach of focusing on negative memories of the past to prevent drinking in the future.

A classic example of this is I have had many women come to my Women for Sobriety group and tell me that after hearing a person’s drinking story at an AA speaker meeting, they felt so badly when leaving the meeting that they just wanted to go out and drink. In contrast, many women share with me that they feel positive and hopeful for the future when they get out of our WFS meeting.

WHERE YOU CAN LEARN MORE

If you are curious about learning more about the Women for Sobriety Program, click on the link I’ve provided below. There you will find some resources that I have put together for you. Some of these resources include:

- Statistics on reasons why women like or dislike WFS and AA

- Specific details about the entire Women for Sobriety Program

- A revealing book describing the AA Program from a woman’s perspective

- Why the Women for Sobriety Program may not be for you

http://www.ajpip.com/addictions/site_map.htm

AA has been responsible for helping women get and remain sober for many years and I applaud their efforts. However, I spent 3 years in and out of AA at the beginning of my sobriety and I was never able to get my heart into the program.

During that 3 years I purchased and read all the WFS literature and finally engaged the help of a private therapist. When I finally got empowered enough to start a WFS meeting in my area, my ability to stay sober became permanent.

I DID IT, YOU CAN DO IT TOO!

I have been sober for 8 years now. I attribute my continuous sobriety to several things that the WFS Program revealed to me:

- The importance of getting to know myself and the reasons why I drank

- How to develop a lasting positive self-image

- The power was within me to pursue my true interests

- That long-term sobriety is possible with the support of like-minded women in my WFS group

Jeannie Long

The hoodia information that is currently available comes mostly from a British pharmaceutical company called Phytopharm, but they do not like for their findings to be applied to natural hoodia gordonii products that are currently on the market. They say that the hoodia studies that they have completed at this time show that hoodia gordonii is safe and is effective as an appetite suppressant, but they say that the hoodia gordonii products that are currently on the market may not be genuine hoodia gordonii. They also say that the active molecules may not be present in sufficient amounts to cause the desired effect. Perhaps they would have been happier if they could have kept all hoodia information “under wraps” until they were ready to release their product.

The independent hoodia study performed by Brown University Medical School in Rhode Island concluded that hoodia gordonii affects nerve cells in the hypothalamus which monitor blood glucose levels. Undoubtedly future hoodia studies will be based on their research. When we have not eaten for a while, blood glucose levels drop. The brain sends out a “hungry” signal. We eat and blood glucose level stabilizes. The brain sends out a “not hungry” signal. According to the hoodia information that is currently available, which relies heavily on this study performed at Brown, hoodia gordonii causes the brain to send out a “not hungry” signal, even though we have not eaten. However, hoodia studies do not indicate that hoodia gordonii has any real effect on blood sugar levels.

It does appear, according to the research done at Brown, that an increase in ATP in the bloodstream follows injection of hoodia gordonii extract. At least this is the effect that it had on the rats’ bloodstreams that were used in this study. It is this hoodia information that leads professionals to believe that hoodia gordonii could increase metabolism, as well as suppress appetite. ATP supplies large amounts of energy to the cells of the body for various processes, including metabolism. So, some current hoodia information states that hoodia gordonii can increase energy.

Informal hoodia studies have been performed by practitioners interested in their patients’ progress while taking supplements containing hoodia gordonii. Hoodia information obtained from these sources indicates that those people who continue to take the supplements (some people drop out because of price) experience a decrease in their appetite. Weight loss varies depending on individual lifestyle. Psychological cravings are not always alleviated and you still may not be able to get over the urge to clean your plate, because that is what you were taught to do as a child. But, if you are busy then you may not even think about food, in fact you may need to remind yourself to eat. As a reminder, this is hoodia information obtained from informal hoodia studies. Complete clinical hoodia studies are still underway at Phytopharm and have not been released at this time.

There is a lot of hoodia information out there. Some of it is based on scientific evidence and some is conjecture. There are products which mix other herbs (usually stimulants) with hoodia gordonii and there are products which claim to be 100% hoodia gordonii powder obtained from the hoodia plants grown by African farmers. Many people have had to use a little trial and error to find a product that works well for them. If you are considering a hoodia gordonii supplement, check with your doctor first and if you have any unusual side effects (formal and informal hoodia studies have shown no side effects associated with the use of 100% hoodia gordonii products) report those to your doctor, along with the ingredients in the product you are taking. Current news about hoodia studies will be posted in a timely manner at the Hoodia Info Blog.

For more information about the results of hoodia studies, visit the Hoodia Info Blog at http://hoodiainfo.blogspot.com.

Patsy Hamilton is an editor of the Hoodia Info Blog.

Having a popular website, or popular company of any type, is entirely dependant on sales. Effective sales at that. Maintaining a healthy profit is key to the long-term survival of your web site or business and this means knowing the difference between your effective sales leads and your ineffective sales leads.

Small Business Owner

Lead management software is perfect for the small business owner or webmaster of a website. You may have numerous different affiliate links and many different salespeople. Sometimes it can be very difficult to manage your prospective clients. By using lead management software you can keep track of your sales force or each of your affiliates.

Salesperson

Perhaps you are a salesperson or sales executive responsible for selling goods or products for one or many companies. Lead management software can provide a similar service for you too. By essentially managing the tracking of your sales, lead management software will free up much more of your time providing you with the opportunity to do what you do best. Sell.

Lead management software is useful for absolutely anyone who needs to track, manage and maintain his or her sales leads. Internet marketers will find lead management software particularly useful. Often we find ourselves spending more time working out the efficiency of each avenue of sales than we do actually advertising and selling. Lead management software will give you all the statistics you could need.

What’s It For?

You will be able to track how much you are paying for your advertisements and how much return they give for your investment. That way you can remove or improve the campaigns that don’t give a decent return. Using good lead management software, you can know which of your campaigns are worth investing more money into or which campaigns you should be repeating, and which you should be dumping.

With lead management software you can keep, manage and update all of your vital contacts’ information in one place. You can keep track of whom you’ve assigned each of your sales leads to, you can also record where that sales lead came from and how you got it.

The Bottom Line

Organizing your leads and all the information surrounding them will not only lead to a more effective sales campaign it will also increase the time you have creating leads and selling to your new prospective clients. If you sell a useful product, whether it be consumable or not, one of the greatest ways of making money or winning contracts is through follow up business. If you own a website, this usually involves sending an email to a previous customer. Lead management software can effectively manage this process for you, sending emails at predetermined times, managing responses and updating all the required details.

Halstatt Pires is with the Internet marketing firm – www.marketingtitan.com – a San Diego Internet marketing and advertising company offering automated web site systems through www.businesscreatorpro.com.

The claims about flaxseed are true, it does prevent heart disease and cancer. Flaxseed contains alpha linolenic acid which is why it is good for the heart. Ground or whole flaxseed also contains lignans which act as an antioxidant. Antioxidants are known as cancer fighters. Centuries ago flaxseed was used as the major source for fiber and used for linen, seeds, and oil. Today, linseed oil still has a variety of industrial uses and is the main component of paints, and linoleum. However, flaxseed oil does come in an edible form. Similar to canola and olive oil, flaxseed oil is unsaturated and great for the heart.

Beyond flaxseed’s qualities it contains lignans and is one of the best sources of the essential fatty acid alpha – linolenic acid. This is an omega-3 oil which is similar to the fatty acids found in fish oil. Essential fatty acids are ones in which the body cannot produce therefore we must consume them. Essential fatty acids are important in cell membrane health, regulation of blood pressure, and protein production. Omega-3s reduce blood clotting which reduces the chance of a heart attack. Increasing the amount of omega-3s in the diet by taking flaxseed oil is a good alternative to taking aspirin. Flaxseed may also act to reduce cholesterol levels because it contains soluble fiber.

Many scientific studies have linked the increase of alpha-linolenic acid in the diet to lower rates of heart disease, deaths from heart attacks, and high cholesterol. Additionally, in clinical tests flaxseed oil reduces the chances of a second heart attack. Flaxseed, walnuts, canola oil, and soybeans are all high in alpha-linolenic acids. Eating right is the best way to maintain a healthy lifestyle and you can eat your way to health. Flaxseed is a tasty way to include essential fatty acids in your diet – eat for a snack, top muffins, add to cereal, or in a stir fry.

FlaxSeedPro is a great provider of 100% pure organic golden flaxseed flaxseed info

Since Dr Basant Puri, a consultant psychiatrist and senior lecturer at London’s Imperial College MRI unit, released his findings on Omega 3 and its effect on brain function and depression, many studies have been performed regarding the beneficial effects of this fatty acid. Studies over the past two years have consistently confirmed that Omega 3, a substance lacking in today’s “diet” is a key component in the brain’s development and proper functioning.

The notion that Omega 3 was linked to depression and other mental illnesses came about based on studies conducted at Harvard University in 1999 on people with bipolar and a 1996 study by the Journal of the American Medical Association studying the prevalence of depression across ten countries. The Harvard study found that fish oil was an effective treatment for bipolar. The study conducted by the Journal of the American Medical Association was expanded upon in 1998 when it was discovered that depression was lower in countries that consumed higher levels of fish.

Omega 3 As Part Of A Healthy Diet

Omega 3 is a substance found most commonly in fatty fish such as fresh salmon, tuna, mackerel, pilchards and sardines. Over the last 100 years the western diet has shifted radically to include far less fish and thus the Omega 3 fatty acid. During the same time depression is estimated to have increased up to 100 fold.

To maintain ideal health, the average person should consume five grams daily of essential fatty acids (divided between Omega 3 and Omega 6). As this is not likely to change at any point in the near future some recommendations have been laid out for those who choose to take Omega 3 supplements. These recommendations will be listed further below in the section titled, “Omega 3 Supplements”.

Omega 3 And The Brain

While the benefits of Omega 3 fatty acids can be noticed on many levels, the biggest breakthroughs documented have occurred in improved mental functions and health. Omega 3 has been reported to be effective in the treatment of depression. Numerous studies have indicated that during double-blind tests, patients suffering from depression who take Omega 3 over a placebo report significant benefits.

Similar results have been reported in the treatment of bipolar and schizophrenia. There are theories that Omega 3 could be used to treat other mental conditions such as attention deficit disorder, borderline personality disorder, dyslexia and cognitive impairment however at the time of this writing these beliefs are unsubstantiated by anything more than preliminary data.

Omega 3 And The Body

The main reported benefits of Omega 3 for the body occur in the heart. The American Heart Association recommends eating fatty fish at least twice per week in order to reduce the likelihood of heart disease.

While research is still ongoing into the effects of these fatty acids on the heart, research to date has shown that they:

• decrease risk of arrhythmias, which can lead to sudden cardiac death

• decrease triglyceride levels

• decrease growth rate of atherosclerotic plaque

• lower blood pressure (slightly)

Additionally, Omega 3 has been reported effective as an anti-inflammatory. And according to an article by Judith Horstman for Arthritis Today, “There’s strong evidence that fish oil supplements with omega-3 fatty acids can ease rheumatoid arthritis (RA) symptoms, help prevent Raynaud’s syndrome spasms and possibly relieve some lupus symptoms.

There is some limited evidence that the reduction in Omega 3 in the average western diet can be a contributing factor to the rise in:

• asthma

• chronic fatigue syndrome

• cystic fibrosis

• osteoporosis

• prostate cancer

Omega 3 Supplements

Any good doctor or nutritionist will tell you that the best way to get any nutrient is to go right to the source and eat it through the foods they originate. In the case of Omega 3 this would most likely be in the form of fatty fish, flaxseed, walnuts, canola oil and soybean oil. That said, this is not always possible given the average westerner’s diet and lifestyle. Additionally, for those suffering from sever depression or using Omega 3 to combat an existing condition, the amount contained in the foods we eat may not provide enough of this fatty acid. If this is the case then it is important to know what you are looking for.

The supplement should be high in EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid). EPA, along with DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) are the two active ingredients in Omega 3. EPA is considered to be the therapeutic element. It is thus important to purchase a supplement higher in EPA than DHA.

Additional Notes

Due to the recent developments and study of Omega 3 and all of its potential health benefits, the majority of studies and information on it are preliminary and based on smaller test groups. Additional research is underway and should provide additional insight into how it works and exactly what its role is in the brain’s functioning and development.

Currently additional studies are ongoing into the roll of Omega 3 in brain and nerve regeneration, depression, heart disease, arthritis, cancer, neck and back pain, stress and an assortment of other mental and physical conditions.

About The Author

Information on Omega 3 and its properties provided by Mind1st.co.uk. Mind1st in the sole distributor of PuraEPA with 90% pure EPA. Visit their website for more information on Omega 3 fish oil and how it works.

I realize this sounds like a broken record, but if you want to loose weight and keep it off then you need weight loss exercise as part of your routine! Whether you think “but I don’t want to exercise, I hate exercise, I don’t need to exercise”… or whatever other excuse you might have, the fact is weight loss exercise is the key to success.

The bottom line is you can join whatever fad diet you want.. if you do not start a weight loss exercise routine then your chances of successful weight loss will be dropped dramatically. Sure you will loose some weight, after all that is achieved simply by consuming less calories then your body requires to function. The problem is simply starving your body causes it to go into a fasting state. This is a defensive move that your body takes to help you survive, what happens is your metabolism slows down which in turn gives you a felling a fatigue plus it tries to store up extra fat reserves.

This is why weight loss exercise is so important!

Now you might be thinking, will not my body do that even if I am working out?

Think about this for a second, say you consume 3000 calories a day and your body burns 2200 with your everyday activities, if you suddenly cut those calories to below 2200 and do not start any weight loss exercise program then your body simply resorts to a fasting state and tries to protect your body from starvation. Now you will loose fat, however your body will also loose muscle as it tries to fill in those calories that you are not taking in… and worse of all you will feel hungry, lethargic and miserable. Your mouth will be drooling for food and you will feel like crap

Ok so what does weight loss exercise have to do with this?

Exercise causes your body to burn calories; it also increases your energy levels. So instead of starving yourself thin, keep eating the same amount of calories you are currently eating and instead increase your calorie burning to overtake your consuming. Now that might sound hypocritical because would you not still be starving yourself. Simply no… your muscles will be getting worked, your heart will be pumping and your body will become an efficient calorie burning machine. Once you start exercising you will find that you will want to start eating healthier and you will start eating foods that are not empty calories… that is foods with high calories and fill the gap for only short periods of time.

However, this is not a completely true statement… the reason is because everyone is different. So if you start an exercise routine and still feel you are ravenous for junk food, then intervention is needed. For some this could be as simple as taking a fiber supplement that expands and fills the gap others might try different appetite suppressants that fool the body into not feeling hungry. The point is, start a weight loss exercise program and listen to your body. If supplements are needed in conjunction with a weight loss exercise routine, then try them, but please don’t try just starving yourself thin.

Your proposal is selling for you when you’re not there, so it must reflect your standards of professionalism.

Like it or not, sales proposals are a tool of the trade, and writing a well-crafted proposal can mean the difference between winning and losing a client’s business, especially if you are selling to major accounts. Decisions can take months. Multitudes of people at different levels in the customer’s organization have input and influence. Even in less complex selling situations, the buyer may request a proposal.

In the audio book, “Sound Advice on Sales Strategies,” Tom Snyder of Huthwaite, the creators of SPIN Selling says that when it comes to sales proposals, “It’s important to keep in mind that a proposal must sway key decision makers and influencers you haven’t met, not just the ones you have.”

“Consider how you will ensure that these people actually read your document,” says Snyder. That means making it as easy as possible for people to read, and focusing the document on the client and their needs. “Build a strong business case that justifies the cost and addresses the client’s business issues,” says Snyder. “Show how your solution meets the needs and delivers benefits.” And, he adds, don’t pile all of the technical detail into the body of the proposal.

Decision makers weigh all of the risks before bringing a new solution into their organization, and won’t purchase until those are resolved. Face it head-on. “Assess the risk inherent in the decision,” says Snyder. “Show how your solution will minimize those risks.” For example, the risk of implementation is always a primary concern. Your sales proposal should provide clear implementation plans that show how obstacles will be overcome.

You may need to work through a number of iterations when writing a sales proposal. “Make sure you’re hitting the mark,” says Snyder. “Check your draft proposal with your sponsor – your internal champion – before submitting the final version. “

Finally, when it comes to winning sales proposals, Snyder says it’s helpful to remember an old adage, “If it’s worth doing, it’s worth doing right. Your proposal is selling for you when you can’t be there, so it has to reflect your standards of professionalism.”

Tom Snyder offers advice on planning and executing sales strategies each week in the free audio-newsletter from What’s Working in Biz, http://www.whatsworking.biz/full_story.asp?ArtID=92

About The Author

Richard Cunningham is a principal of What’s Working in Biz, http://www.whatsworking.biz, a publisher of business audiobooks and online audio programs on marketing, sales, and small business strategies.

It’s mid-March already. How are those New Year’s Resolutions or intentions coming along? Are you like most people who have long-since abandoned their resolutions (sometime around Jan 28th) or are yours limping along, but with less vim and vigor than you would like? If you are going strong…you can stop reading. For the rest of you, this article gives some simple strategies to overcome the top 5 ways we shoot ourselves in the foot.

1. PROCRASTINATION

Topping the list is our good friend, procrastination. Procrastination is a symptom of an underlying issue, so the key to curing procrastination is to know its cause.

Is your procrastination the result of being overwhelmed by everything you have to do? Then try creating manageable chunks of work for yourself. Write out only the top 3-5 things per day that you must get done, rather than a list of 22 items you will carry around with you for weeks.

If your procrastination is the obstinate side of you saying “I don’t want to”, stop and listen. If you don’t have to do it, fine. Don’t. But if you still handle it then perhaps you need to reward yourself a little bit more. Dragging your heals may be a sign that y need to take better care of yourself or create more space in your lives. If you take care of a procrastination, give yourself a nice ’spacious’ reward, like a walk, time to read a good book, or coffee with a long-missed friend.

2. INDECISION

A close cousin of procrastination, indecision plagues many of us at critical times. We get caught in ‘circular thinking’going round and round with all the pros and cons of a particular set of decisionswithout getting anywhere in spite of the dizzying ride.

The first step is to get out of your head. The best decisions are made with a combination of gut instinct, emotion, and intellect. When there’s indecision, there’s likely a battle between what our head says is the ‘right, smart, or rational choice’ and what our heart says is the ‘right, good, or desirable choice’.

When two sides are caught in a conflict, bring in a mediator. In this case, your instincts are the best mediator. Consider the decision. What in your heart-of-hearts (in your gut) is the decision you most want to make? Now, if you had no other choice but to make that decision, how would you make it work? Answering these questions honestly can help bring heart and head together for a truly great decision.

3. FOLLOWING SECONDARY GOALS

Secondary goals are basically consolation prizes. We pursue goals that won’t ultimately make us happy, yet seem easy or sensible. Secondary goals are often the result of our putting the unimportant before the important in our lives. We put off our happiness today, thinking that the sacrifice will lead to happiness tomorrow. But, tomorrow never comes.

Identify the 5 most important things that make your life full, happy, complete. How much of your daily energy is spent on these areas, versus any number of other ones? Are you pursuing goals today that won’t make you ultimately happy? Set one goal for yourself that will honor what is most important in your life.

4. STORY TELLING

Story telling is about the stories we tell ourselves. We create entire stories in our minds and we believe them to be true. Such as, “I can’t ask him for help, he’s too busy to help me out”. Or, “I can’t go for the job I really want because it will mean a pay-cut and having to start all over again”. Or, “I really want to have a special relationship but I have to lose weight first”.

These stories may or may not be true (most likely not 100% true!). We self-sabotage by believing the story without testing the facts. We act AS IF the story is true when, in fact, we have NO EVIDENCE that it is true.

The key to beating this saboteur is awareness. You may already know what stories you are telling yourself. If you are not sure, pay attention and the next time you find yourself thinking a thought that includes a BUT (I really want x BUT, blah blah blah), you’ve found a story you are telling yourself. Test your story. Be a tough investigator. Do I know that this is true? How do I know it is true? Can I be absolutely, 100% certain that it is true? If it is not true, how would I act differently?

5. TOLERATING

As adults, we become experts at “putting up with” things in our lives. We tolerate an awful lot, either because we get too busy, feel too guilty, or just stop paying attention. Tolerating things keeps you stuck, and drained. Tolerations in our lives consume so much internal energy that we’re not able to move forward with our goals and ambitions. Thus, the cycle of tolerating continues.

If tolerations are zapping your vim and vigor for living your life, it’s time for a change. Write a list of everything you are currently putting up with. Choose 1 to eliminate todayby either doing it, delegating it, or detaching from it (let it go). Notice how much energy you get by eliminating items from your list. Now, keep going.

Shooting ourselves in the foot can become an art form. We get so gifted at it, we begin to expect it before we even start. But, patterns can be changed with awareness, and consistent action. Most likely, you’ve seen an old friend (your personal saboteur) somewhere in this article. Be willing to try new ways of approaching your life. Get creative and don’t forget to have fun.

Shawn Driscoll, owner of Succeed Coaching & Development, partners with motivated professionals to dramatically improve the quality of their career and lives. She challenges clients to stop struggling and sacrificing in the name of making a living and inspires them to re-define success on their own terms. Pick up your free copy of her special success report “How to Chart Your Course for Success and Fulfillment” at http://www.succeedcoaching.com/report.html.

An emotional boiling point was reached in the anti-telemarketing hysteria that came over America about a decade ago.

This spilled over into legislation providing for the establishment of the Do Not Call Registry, enabling tens of millions of people to opt-out of receiving unwanted sales calls at home.

Now that this legislation has been in effect for a number of years, and there are fewer unwanted calls being made and received, are consumers becoming more receptive to cold calls received at work?

Or, are they just as prickly about being pitched at their desks as they are at their dining room tables?

While there isn’t a scientific answer to this question, there is an anecdotal one that comes from the annals of door-to-door selling.

Crews that are deployed in residential neighborhoods are often instructed to knock on doors where signs are posted that warn, “No Solicitors.” This seems strange, doesn’t it?

Here’s the logic: People who hide behind such signs have so little sales resistance that they have to announce it to the whole world. And to whom would you prefer to sell, to those who are the most resistant or the least?

Ironically, those who logged their names onto the Do Not Call Registry are perhaps the very easiest to sell also, wherever they are situated, in the workplace or at home.

Their location may be irrelevant.

At the same time, because they haven’t been practicing saying no at home, you might infer they’re rusty at slamming the electronic door in the faces of telemarketers.

Thus in this battle of wills, the advantage may have shifted once more to those who dial and smile.

Dr. Gary S. Goodman, President of www.Customersatisfaction.com, is a popular keynote speaker, management consultant, and seminar leader and the best-selling author of 12 books, including Reach Out & Sell Someone®, You Can Sell Anything By Telephone! and Monitoring, Measuring & Managing Customer Service, and the audio program, “The Law of Large Numbers: How To Make Success Inevitable,” published by Nightingale-Conant. He is a frequent guest on radio and television, worldwide. A Ph.D. from USC’s Annenberg School, a Loyola lawyer, and an MBA from the Peter F. Drucker School at Claremont Graduate University, Gary offers programs through UCLA Extension and numerous universities, trade associations, and other organizations in the United States and abroad. He holds the rank of Shodan, 1st Degree Black Belt in Kenpo Karate. He is headquartered in Glendale, California, and he can be reached at (818) 243-7338 or at: gary@customersatisfaction.com