Monday, May 31, 2010

Happy Memorial Day in honor of all those who died serving our country!

Photo © Chris Graham

Special salute to all those currently serving our country including my brother, Specialist Waller Uh-60 Blackhawk Crewchief, Army National Guard.

Saturday, May 29, 2010

Help Save the Wildlife!!

Help Save Wildlife Affected by BP Oil Spill

National Wildlife Federation and Partners Launch Second-Fastest Mobile Text2Give Campaign in History

05-05-2010 // Aileo Weinmann

With 200,000 gallons of oil gushing every day into an already fragile and vulnerable ecosystem, the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico is shaping up to be one of the worst environmental disasters in our nation’s history. It is a direct threat to more than 400 species of wildlife – many still in recovery from Hurricane Katrina.
National Wildlife Federation (NWF) is on the frontlines: President and CEO Larry Schweiger has been working with local and regional partners, surveying the impacts, keeping the story as headline news, and consulting with officials on the ground.

NWF is calling on the public to help save wildlife during this unprecedented environmental crisis. With the help of their partners at Merkle, Inc. and Mobile Giving Foundation, NWF launched the second-fastest mobile giving campaign in history. NWF is especially grateful to all of its wireless carriers who moved so quickly to address the urgent need.

The Text2Give campaign allows the public to simply text the word WILDLIFE to 20222 on any mobile device through any carrier to donate $10 to NWF. Every dollar will go directly to help save wildlife affected by the oil spill and to conserve and restore these vital wetlands.

The speed and efficiency of the NWF Text2Give campaign only underscores the severity of the situation.
“Our treasured wildlife are innocent victims in this terrible crisis,” said Schweiger. “They cannot save themselves – it’s up to us to save them. That’s why I’m asking everyone to give what they can today.”
NWF is also asking that people with social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter to post a message asking friends and family to help out, too.

“The more people we can get to spread our message, the more impact we can have for wildlife affected by this senseless tragedy,” said Jaime Matyas, executive vice president & chief operating officer of National Wildlife Federation. “So please tweet, post a Facebook link, send out e-mails and text messages. Get the word out however you can and ask everyone to text WILDLIFE to 20222 right now! We need immediate support.”

Text "WILDLIFE" to 20222 to Donate $10

Monday, May 24, 2010

My Review of Shiny Dots Print 24" Expandable Hardside Rolling Suitcase

Originally submitted at CSN Stores

Hit the airport in style with the colorful Dots Shiny Print Collection by International Traveller! Keep all of your belongings safe and organized with this hardsided and expandable luggage collection. Available in a variety of polka dot color combinations, you are sure to find the luggag...

Very cute!

By Trendy Traveller from Virginia on 5/24/2010

Pros: Easy To Carry, Good Capacity, High Quality, Easy To Identify, Easy To Access Items
Best Uses: Long Vacations, Family Trips
Describe Yourself: Comfort-Oriented, Modern, Stylish, Career
Travel Frequency: 0-5 Annual Trips
Primary use: Personal

I like this luggage! It's very cute and stylish. Looks just like the photo and has more space than I thought. Seems to be made very well. Enjoy :)

(legalese)

Friday, May 21, 2010

Need Some Self Improvement Tips? Keep Reading..

Welcome to WomenEntrepreneur.com!

10 Action Tips to Enrich Your Life

Use these tips to avoid paralysis--and loss.

By: Kim Kiyosaki | 04/18/2010

URL: http://www.womenentrepreneur.com/2010/04/10-action-tips-to-enrich-your-life.html
In order for things to happen in your life, you have to be in motion. Nothing occurs without motion. One word I've heard out of people's mouths lately is the word "paralyzed." Many people are feeling out of control or just flat-out confused about what to do in today's economy, so they do nothing--they're paralyzed.
As Albert Einstein said, "Nothing happens until something moves." People who do nothing--who are waiting for things to change or, worse, to go back to the way things were--will lose. I believe that everything happens for a reason. And the reason behind this economic fiasco may be an opportunity staring you in the face. The most important thing, in my opinion, is to stay in motion and take action.
Here are 10 things you can do today to keep in motion.

Answer this question: What is the one thing in your life that, if you did it, would have the greatest positive impact in your life? The answer will probably come to you instantly, so don't discount the first answer that pops into your head. Once you know what that one thing is, commit to make the changes needed to achieve it. For some it might be losing 30 pounds and getting healthy. One woman knew immediately that she needed to end a toxic relationship with her boyfriend. For many women, the one thing may focus on profession or finances. We all have one thing in our life that, if handled, would make all the difference.
Read a book. Ask yourself, "What do I want to learn next?" It may be related to business, investments, a hobby or personal development. What do you want to learn for your own business, financial and personal growth? Then begin with a book on the subject to start the creativity flowing.
Play a game. Games are a great way to learn. Get together with a few friends in the evening and play a game that has a learning component to it. My husband and I created Cashflow 101 so people could teach one another about money and investing. Monopoly is another great game that teaches you to acquire properties and conduct business.
Learn one new financial word every day. When you hear a financial word you don't understand, look it up on Wikipedia or in a financial/investment dictionary and learn the meaning.
Watch your words. Pay attention to the words you use. What are you saying to yourself? Are your words supportive and positive? "I can do this." "I'm my own financial expert." Are your words demeaning, negative and harmful? "I'm not smart enough." "I don't know what to do." What you say to yourself and what you say to others can determine the quality of your life. Your thoughts truly do create your reality. One of my favorite books of all time on this subject is As A Man Thinketh by James Allen.
Know your numbers. Tell yourself the truth about where you are today financially. List all income. List all expenses--and don't shortcut this step. Include all of your financial debts, IOUs, and agreements you've made with individuals, companies, friends and relatives. Review your personal financials twice a month, and twice a month ask yourself, "How can I improve my financial situation?"
Buy a 1-ounce silver coin. Find your local precious-metals dealer. What good is buying silver? Three reasons:
- For a little less than $20, you now own a commodity, a commodity that is a consumable. It's used in cell phones, computers, light bulbs, televisions, etc. And the demand for silver is only increasing. There is actually more gold in the world than there is silver.
- It's a hedge against inflation. As the dollar continues to go down in value because the government is printing so much of it, silver generally goes up. This is why I save very few dollars and, instead, convert my dollars to silver.
- At the end of 2008, the Dow was up approximately 17 percent, gold was up about 25 percent, and silver was up approximately 50 percent.
Attend a seminar or meeting on investing or business. Many free or inexpensive meetings and seminars offer valuable information. Just be aware that if an educational meeting or workshop is offered for free, then the presenter is probably there to sell you something. Your job is to discern the difference between real information and the sales pitch.
Start a part-time business. This can be as simple as buying a gumball machine and putting it in a local independent business such as a bookstore, car wash or toy store. Use your artistic abilities to create products to sell at arts-and-crafts shows or on the internet. Is there a hobby you do for fun that you could turn into a part-time business? If the idea takes off, it could grow into something much bigger.
This may be the most important thing you can do: Think for yourself. So much information is available today and so many opinions exist that it's important not to go along with the crowd but to truly do your own thinking to figure out what's best for you. Too often people looking for the hot tip or the quick fix take the first answer that comes along instead of thinking through the situation. As Henry Ford said, "Thinking is the hardest work there is, which is probably why so few people engage in it." Here is an example of someone not thinking for himself. I was watching one of the national morning TV programs. It had a panel of financial experts answering people's questions. One man called in and said he had lost his job 10 months before and wondered whether he should cash in his retirement fund or sell his house. That is all the information the "experts" received. What advice was he given? One expert, without knowing his financial situation or what options he had available to him, told him, "You should sell your house." He said, "Oh, thank you so much for your advice." I was outraged! First, I was livid that someone representing herself as a financial expert would give such bad and potentially dangerous advice without knowing the facts. Second, I was upset that this man would actually consider following this terrible advice. Thinking for yourself does not just apply to your financial life--it applies to every area of your life. There was a time in my life when I began questioning what I'd been taught by my parents, teachers, friends and colleagues. Was I operating on their thoughts and ideas or on my own? I began to discover my strengths, my weaknesses, my gifts and talents, and what was truly important to me. Think for yourself was a powerful step for me in being true to myself.

Sunday, May 9, 2010

Happy Mother's Day!

Happy Mother's Day to all Mom's, Grandmother's and Guardians! Your hard work is Appreciated! Special Mother's Day wish to my Grandma - Mary, my Mom - Alice, my older sister - JaLisa, my younger sister - Jessica, and my sister-in-law - Janie! Love you guys!!

Friday, May 7, 2010

Stay Abreast of Industry News

Did you know that a recent poll conducted across the BusinessWorkforce.com Network found that more than 33 percent of business professionals do not keep up with the latest trends in their industry? If you were a hiring manager, wouldn’t you want to hire a professional who was well informed and could contribute by providing fresh new ideas and add value to your business?

One of the easiest ways to stay ahead is to stay informed. So what are some of the best ways to stay in the know when searching for a job? Located below are some ideas to consider:

Attend Classes and Seminars. Furthering your education and knowledge in your field will not only keep you up-to-date on new developments and techniques, but it will also help you become a memorable candidate to potential employers. Attending classes or seminars and noting them on your resume shows that you take initiative and have the drive that employers are looking for in a candidate. If you are a professional entering a new industry, this is a great way to learn about a new career path before taking that first step.
Search Online Articles and Blogs. A great way to find valuable information about your field or industry is to search and visit sites that provide valuable articles or blogs about the latest topics of interest to you. Don’t forget to visit our Career Resources area often to read the latest articles to help you grow personally and professionally.
Read Industry Magazines. As a job seeker, it is important to be on top of the latest news affecting your industry and know which companies and industries are hot and which are not. By staying educated you will demonstrate your knowledge to potential employers in this increasingly competitive job market and get ahead of other candidates.
Look to Government Resources. Are you familiar with the Bureau of Labor Statistics? They provide a wealth of information on the employment and job markets across a variety of industries. Is your industry growing or shrinking? Do you know the salary range for your industry or what skills you need to enter or stay ahead in your position? You can access the latest employment and job information by visiting their site.
Join a Professional Membership Organization. There are numerous benefits to becoming a member of a professional organization. You will gain access to important networking contacts in your field, receive invitations to networking events in your area, and have access to seminars, classes, and other educational opportunities to help you stay informed. Consider it free education!

At BusinessWorkforce.com, we want to help you gain the knowledge that you need and the competitive advantage that you deserve. We are excited to offer you a complimentary one-year subscription to an industry magazine of your choice. You can search from hundreds of leading industry publications. We encourage you to take advantage of this special offer.

Get A Free Industry Magazine

Now that you have been introduced to some helpful resources to gain a competitive advantage in your job search, we will soon share the many benefits of advancing your career by furthering your education. Until then, located below are a few helpful resources to help you along the way.

Career Resources

Read Career Articles Access More Resources

Best regards,

The BusinessWorkforce.com Team
BusinessWorkforce.com

Monday, May 3, 2010

Marketing Yourself

Develop Your Personal Brand
Personal branding is an ongoing process that should exist throughout your job search process and entire career. The goal of establishing a strong personal brand is to differentiate yourself among other professionals by demonstrating your unique value to employers. Below are a few steps you need to take to successfully build your brand while marketing yourself to potential employers:

Increase Your Visibility. The first step towards building your personal brand is to get your name out there. The best way to establish a presence in your field is by attending industry meetings and conferences, participating in panel discussions or volunteering for committees. You never know when your contacts will be able to help you along your job search.
Stay Connected. It is important to stay in touch with old contacts as well as continue to build and maintain your current network on a regular basis. Don’t be someone who reaches out to contacts only when they need something. Foster those relationships, especially the important ones!
Create an Online Presence. Take professional networking to the next level by joining online social networking sites. Consider starting a blog on your area of expertise or creating a website that showcases samples of your work. Make an effort to meet other professionals online by commenting on relevant blogs or connecting with professionals through their social networking profile. Consider creating an online career portfolio and remember to manage your online reputation to ensure you are always presenting yourself in a positive, professional manner when interacting online.
Establish Key Differentiators. Identify what makes you distinctive from other candidates and make sure to communicate it to potential employers. It is important to be honest about who you are as a professional and understand your strengths and unique value you bring to the table. It’s also important to recognize your weaknesses and develop a plan for personal improvement. By knowing yourself, you can more effectively promote yourself to others.
Be Consistent. Ensure that you have a consistent message when speaking with potential employers, colleagues and other professionals. While you may not realize it, everything that you do or say contributes to your personal brand, including the way you conduct yourself in meetings, in phone conversations, through email communications and how you dress.
Seek Feedback and Evaluate Progress. Once you have established your personal brand, it is important to continue to gauge how others perceive you. Test your market value by gathering constructive feedback from your co-workers, peers, family and friends. By understanding how others view your personal brand, you can learn what steps you need to take to position yourself for success.

Market Yourself
Developing your personal brand is one of the first steps towards effectively marketing yourself to potential employers and elevating your career. Employers appreciate job seekers that take the initiative to get noticed and differentiate themselves from other candidates in their industry.

Consider using a resume distribution service to effectively reach employers that are searching for candidates just like you. Remember, some employers choose to search resume databases for candidates instead of posting jobs. You want to be seen by these employers. Don’t delay; employers are searching for candidates like you right now!

Distribute Your Resume

Have you ever wondered if you have what it takes to be your own boss? Look for the next Job Search Guide email which will discuss the benefits of freelance consulting and owning your own franchise business with very little investment.

In the meantime, located below are a few helpful resources to help build and maintain your personal brand. Have a great day.