10 Reasons to Offer Employee Training Online

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Online learning is now a billion-dollar industry. From students to hobby enthusiasts, training online has benefits for many different people. Offering online training for your employees can benefit your business, too.

In todays digitized, global economy, work looks different than it once did. Hours are more flexible now, and many jobs can be done remotely.

You might no longer need your employees to come into the office for every aspect of the job. You dont need them physically present for training, either.

From saving money to adding convenience, there are many benefits to offering employee training online. Lets take a look at the top 10 reasons to start online training for your business read on to learn more!

1. Helps Build Knowledge and Skills

The first and most important goal of employee training online is to help them build up knowledge and skills that will improve their ability to do the job.

This goes both for new employees and those who have been there a long time. For new employees, online training is a great way to make sure they are all getting the same knowledge. It allows you to train them no matter where they are or when they are available.

For older employees, online training is a great way to make sure they keep up to date as the job changes. If you implement new software or different customer service techniques, online courses can get everyone on the same page.

Its also a good idea to make sure employees take regular refresher courses to refresh their knowledge from time to time.

2. Boosts Job Satisfaction

When your employees have access to online training, theyll feel more confident about their ability to do the job. This helps increase job satisfaction across the board.

Your employees will know that you care about them enough to make important knowledge readily available. This can help keep them happy at their job, increasing employee retention rates.

Having better retention rates saves your business money since you wont have to find and train new employees as often. An online training program is an inexpensive way to make sure your current employees stay interested and happy.

3. Pinpoints Strengths and Weaknesses

Often, it takes a long time on the job for an employees strengths and weaknesses to become apparent.

Online training speeds up this process, so you can quickly see what each employee is really capable of.

This is a great way to catch weaknesses and work on them before they become a problem. You can also put each employees strengths to work faster because how they perform in online training will highlight these things before they start working in earnest.

4. Keeps Everyone Up to Date

As your business grows and changes, there will always be new information for employees to learn. Online training helps make sure that everyone stays in the loop.

If theres a new product launch coming up, offer an online course about its features. Maybe your company is unveiling a new app or logo design. No matter what it is, your employees will appreciate feeling like theyve been kept in the loop.

5. Can Be Fun

There are many ways to make training online fun for your employees.

Try making a game out of the training. Offer rewards for completing courses, such as points or a leaderboard. Bring out the competitive spirit in your workers to keep them invested.

6. Gives an Opportunity for Feedback

Its important for workers to feel like they can give feedback and be heard.

Online training can offer a great avenue for feedback. Employees may feel more comfortable communicating online than walking into an office. This allows your remote employees to add their voices to the conversation, too.

Try offering an online survey to gauge how your employees feel about the online training and the job overall. Youll boost employee retention and gain valuable feedback from your workers.

7. Boosts Camaraderie

For remote workers, workplace friendships can feel like a thing of the past. Even for employees who do the job in person, having an online venue to bond with coworkers can be a great thing.

Allow your workers to chat with each other online. Offer a social media group or a Slack channel along with the online courses.

Job satisfaction will be higher when people can connect with each other. Employees can also learn from each other when they have an opportunity to ask questions of their coworkers.

8. Can be Personalized

Online training is a great way to offer personalized feedback and resources for your employees.

Offer courses that focus on peoples individual needs and goals. Let them choose some elective courses in addition to the mandatory ones.

Make sure to offer unique courses for different jobs or departments within the company. Although some courses should be taken by all employees, a one-size-fits-all approach actually isnt ideal for online training.

9. Makes Learning Mobile

The best online training courses are mobile-friendly, so they can be accessed on tablets and smartphones as well as laptops.

If an employee can access your online training software while on a long train ride, or while on a working vacation, theyll get them done faster. Employees appreciate the convenience, and mobile-optimized courses are a great way to keep learning within their reach.

10. Encourages Collaboration

The more the online training mimics the real job, the better employees will be able to perform. If group work is part of the job, make sure that its part of the training too.

Group training helps your workers think collaboratively. Encourage group work and problem-solving in your courses. This is a great idea for employees who will be working together on projects in the future.

Start Training Online Now

Employee training online is an essential part of running a successful modern business.

Whether your employees are remote, or in the office every week, online training is a great way to keep everyone on the same page while increasing job satisfaction.

If you havent tried online training for your employees yet, its time to make this a part of your training program. Want to learn more about how to write a great online course? Check out these tips to get started.

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10 Necessities For A Home Based Business

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When you make the decision to earn income from the internet you will need to go through a set up process to be ready for business.

Following are the basic steps in setting up for home business success.

1. Attitude

The key to your business success is your attitude.

Treat your business like a business.

This is critical whether you are working part-time or full-time. One of my colleagues is a mother who works from home around her family. She has always put her family first whilst at the same time developing her business. She says, "I work part-time, but I have a full-time attitude."

Put another way, "If you have a hobby attitude you will have a hobby income, if you have a business attitude you will have a business income."

You can be successful working part-time and you can be successful working full-time but it is highly unlikely that you will be successful working in your "spare time".

2. Working Environment

A space that you can call your own, free from distractions for your scheduled time.

A comfortable chair and organized desk.
Stationery supplies as required. For example:

- pens
- highlighters
- stapler
- hole punch
- sticky tape
- note book(s)
- a simple filing system
- ring binders
- manilla folders

Consider the value of a broadband connection. Your time is valuable and a broadband connection can allow you to get more done in a given time frame.

3. Schedule

Develop a schedule that works for you, your family (or "significant others") and your business. When you allot a block of time for work then use that time for work. Equally important is to schedule time for your other commitments - family time, self education ( reading, listening and viewing), "health time" (exercise, cooking and eating), and leisure time. During these other times don't work. After all if one of the reasons to work from home is to spend more time with your family then you don't want your working at home time to consume your family time.

You are working for yourself and your schedule (by your choice) is your "boss". When you have people calling you or dropping around unexpectedly or maybe out-of-town visitors may want to catch up with you then you need to make a choice. Are you committed to your own business success? What will be your choice in these situations? Only you can decide what is important to you.

In a family environment you may need to negotiate with your partner and children to have your business time agreed upon, during which you will not be interrupted. Put this schedule prominently somewhere so all family members are aware of your work schedule.

4. Describe Your Business

Be able to describe your business concisely; a powerful one or two sentence description that someone can repeat in describing your business to others. A unique and memorable tag line can also be invaluable for promoting your business.

5. Know Your Product or Service

Once you have selected your product or service to sell, it may or may not be something that you use yourself but you need to know your product intimately. If you are selling ebooks then know the content and its value. If you are selling software then use it know it "inside out". You will develop a reputation of providing quality information and because of your product knowledge you can become the preferred supplier.

It is not practical to use certain products (for example a woman may choose to sell man's shoes or vice versa) in which case the seller won't be a product user, however the seller can still know the benefits and features of the product intimately.

6. Administration

Use good record keeping practices.

This may involve a consultation with a tax advisor who can let you know about the optimal way to set up your financial records and what records need to be kept. Your advisor will also recommend record keeping systems and you can find out what software may simplify this aspect of your business. Additionally your obtain advice on the best arrangement for your bank accounts. You will most likely be advised to have a separate bank account.

You will also need to keep track of your various logins, usernames and passwords. A very handy little software tool for this is Treepad available as either the free Lite version (without password protection) or the commercial Plus or Biz versions. http://www.treepad.com

There are other useful tools for this also from a simple paper notebook to free and commercial password keepers. One popular solution is Roboform that will remember your login details and can automatically fill out your login and other registration forms. http://www.roboform.com

7. Computer Protection

Your computer is the lifeline to your business dealings and must be protected including the data that is stored.

You need a virus scanner, personal firewall, anti-spyware and anti-adware and preferably an email scanner with the ability to delete suspect of spam email from the server before it is downloaded to your computer.

Some suggestions are:

AVG Anti-Virus: http://www.grisoft.com
Spybot S&D: http://www.safer-networking.org
Microsoft Anti-Spyware:
www.microsoft.com/athome/security/spyware/software/default.mspx
Adaware: http://www.lavasoft.com/
Mailwasher Email Scanner: http://www.mailwasher.net

8. A Domain Name

You will most likely need a domain name for your business and one cost effective registrar is GoDaddy, http://www.godaddy.com.

9. Payment Processing

You will need a way to process credit cards; that may be using services such as:
- PayPal https://www.paypal.com
- Storm Pay http://www.stormpay.com
- 2 Checkout http://www.2checkout.com
- Clickbank http://www.clickbank.com or others.

This is the most economical way to get started. Once your business picks up you may need to look into your own merchant account for credit card transactions.

Consideration may also be given to other forms of online currency such as eGold http://www.egold.com

10. Email accounts

Once you have your own domain you can use an associated email account. This can further assist in the promotion of your business and promotes a more professional business image.

As a final comment on continuing in your internet business, conduct your business ethically, provide extraordinary service and be proud to put your name to the products or services that you are selling and you will be on track to developing a sustainable long term internet business.

10 Jobs That You Can Work from the Comfort of Your Home

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For many people, the ultimate dream is to be able to work from home. However, you have to disciplined in order to do so since it can be easy to become distracted from your work if you're not careful. If you are someone that can keep track of their work without being tempted to take a nap every hour, then you may want to look into one of the following ten jobs, all of which you can perform from the comfort of your own home:

1. Customer Service Representative

Many customer service reps now work from home since all they need is access to a computer and a phone. You'll need to have excellent speaking abilities and communication skills. Some of the tasks you'll be expected to perform include informing customers, helping customers place orders and helping to solve customer problems.

2. Transcriptionist

Transcription jobs require little to no experience at entry level positions. However, knowing how to type well is going to make the job a lot easier. Basically, the job entails listening to audio files and typing them out. You'll need to be good at grammar and spelling. Being able to type at a fast rate will help enormously as well.

3. Translator

You'll need to know whatever language is being translated in addition to English in order to be a translator, and you'll be required to translate audio or text into text depending on the job. Most translators actually do their job at home, although you'll most likely need a bachelor's degree as well as proof that you're fluent in two languages to get a translating position.

4. Virtual Teacher

Many educational classes are now being taught online via Skype or even in pre-recorded sessions. This is a great option for anyone who wants to teach but dislikes the school setting. However, you will most likely need to be licensed to teach in your state.

5. Virtual Assistant

If you're going to work as a virtual assistant, then organization is absolutely key. You can't be someone who is typically messy and has a difficult time finding things around the home. Not only do you have to be well organized, you have to be able to multi-task. Many employers hire virtual assistants as a way to cut down on employment costs. You can expect to perform general assistant tasks, from answering emails and helping with social media to entering data and managing schedules.

6. Copywriter

If you're a writer, then you can work as a copywriter for various online publications or blogs. Anyone can become a copywriter, although experience and expertise will allow you to earn more than novice writers. You can get a job writing for various websites, or you can freelance through various content mills that pay writers by the word.

7. Web Developer

Web developers can not only get paid to work on websites from home (often in a freelance capacity), but they also get paid really well to do so. However, you will need some relevant education in addition to provable experience with website design.

8. Data Entry

Many businesses require substantial amounts of information to be entered into their systems, whether its analytical data or information used to track inventory or shipments. Performing data entry shouldn't be too difficult as long as you have typing skills, which means that you can work from homeand often on your own schedule.

9. Social Media Manager

Since social media managing is strictly an online job, there's no reason for you to be holed up in an office to do it. There is also a big demand for social media managers since social media has become integral to marketing in this day and age. In fact, in addition to having experience using social media, having a marketing background will be extremely beneficial. 

10. Accountant

If you have an accounting education and previous experience in accounting, then you could run a small accounting business out of your home. If starting an accounting business from scratch sounds like too difficult a proposition, you may want to consider investing in accountancy franchise opportunities. By buying into an accounting franchise, you'll still be able to work from home, but you'll be given full support in getting your business off the ground.

For many people, working from home is the American dream. These are ten jobs that can be done at home; however, you can also invest in franchises that allow you to work from home as well.

10 Hobbies You Can Start In These Vacations That Will Prove Productive!

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Every individual has some interests and hobbies they have left behind with time and other commitments and also some because of the kind of financial burden some of these hobbies can be. But wait, we have a solution to this. With these 10 DIY hobbies youd not only do what you love but also save up on that extra expenditure.

Gardening : It gets you going, gives you good worthy benefits like free vegetables that are ten times anything you'll get in a shop. This vacation you can have your own organic natural garden and get pesticide free vegetables and organic products for yourself and your family. You can simply plant various saplings and blossoms so your place looks prettier than before. Needless to say this way you will go further close to mother nature!
Cooking : So if you know how to cook daily essential, this vacation learn to cook something different. Try your hands at a different cuisine or maybe multiple dishes from all over the world and get creative with some awesome DIY food crafts which will help you decorate your food and the crockery too. Also try having dinner parties and cook everything you managed to learn. Afterall cooking is an art that will save your life when you are away from the conform of your home and in a condition where you need to prepare your own food. 
Scrapbooking : Anyone who cherishes collecting and capturing moments forever will love scrapbooking. Its also a great DIY craft idea for gifting. Put in all the effort with your own hands and you can make completely flawless scrapbooks for your loved ones.
Stitch Crafts : This vacation indulge in making some really quirky and useful runners for your sofas and dining tables or end up making cool tee-shirts for yourself and your family. Stitch craft can be so much fun. Experiment with all the junk at your place like broken buttons, little cloth pieces and left over laces to create some magical utilities with your own hands.
Blogging : Write about anything youve experienced be it travel, philosophy or food. Blogging is one hell of a hobby you can continue all your life and vent out everything youd want the world to know. There are numerous bloggers who are making even their living out of blogging. You could be the next blogging star in the line?
Travelling : Wanderlust can make you explore and discover so much more in the world and vacations are the best time to travel, experience sunny days at the beach or maybe chilly winters in the mountains.
Pick your instrument : If you love music you can pick musical instruments. Every time is the right time to learn music. Guitar, Violin, Piano or the Xylophone, take coaching and be a pro at it.
DIY Art and Crafts : This is the most easy and low cost hobby anyone can have. Use the internet to check out awesome techniques to create wealth from best out of waste creative craft ideas. Some ideas could be decorating candles, making some really pretty photo frames or t-light holders etc.
Physical fitness : Sounds more like a compulsion to keep the body fit but some people really like the idea of it and can pursue it as their interest or hobby. Give into it with all the dedication and enjoy how vacations transform your body for the good.
Organic Products : We really lack some wholesome organic all natural body products in the markets now. So why not create some? Using vegetables and fruits at home, we can make some really healthy face packs and scrubs which not only benefit the skin but also saves us good money.

With all these amazing hobbies you can definitely make the best use of your time, enhance your skills, relive and enjoy doing your childhood favorites once again all over.

9 Valuable Tips to Avoid Stress

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Today I will teach you how to deal with stress. At least it would give you some valuable tips. Stress is the major cause of many diseases these days.

What's the bottom line then?

One must manage stress and not let it over power you. In this way you can live a healthy life. Let's proceed further now and look at how to avoid stress by various ways,but before that I will recommend you Never Eat Anything When You Are Actually Hungry! this cause your health.

So Let's start......

It is a fact that many people do not know that they are under stress before the physical symptoms come into picture. Do not live it unattended at any cost. And do not wait till it makes you ill.

Reducing stress is very important.

Here are some ways to manage stress:

1.Introspect and try to identify when you are stressed:

This would help you to keep those things at bay that give you stress. Better to avoid them than tackle, isn't it? For this, one can maintain a diary and note down those circumstances or situations that make you stressful. Once you have noted these down, think of ways to tackle it in future. Would be tough at start, but would become used to it.

2.Practice relaxation:

A lot of us do not take out time for relaxation, in our packed daily schedules. Relaxation is vital for your mind and body to relieve stress. Not only this, it will help to fight negatives.

3.Proper time management:

This technique is not only useful to avoid stress at work, but at home as well.Practice to do those tasks which you love the least first. This helps to reduce stress up to a large extent. Plan your time accordingly. If planning is proper, then execution is not much of an issue. Proper time management leaves sufficient time for each and every task.

4.Positive thinking:

This is one mantra which you ought to follow. A difficult thing to bring into practice, but an effective way to fight stress. Negative thoughts bring along anxiety, stress and other things. You tend to over-think and that is bad for you. Learn from failures and treat them like your steps towards success. Look at positive sides of everything.

5.Work on physical aspects as well:

Individuals are better ready to adapt to stress when their bodies are sound. Weakness in itself is a noteworthy wellspring of anxiety. Joining times of physical exercise into your normal schedule will enhance muscle control, make you feel more healthy and grow your self-regard. Attempt to improve your eating routine and evade stimulants however much as could reasonably be expected. Overabundance caffeine or nicotine can make people feel restless or nervous. Additionally, guarantee you get enough rest.

6.Talk to others:

Despite taking care from all aspects, sometimes you may succumb to stress. Whatever the reasons may be, if you come under stress speak it out. Talk to any person whom you are comfortable with. It can be your friend, relative, parents etc. If you hide your feelings, they can aggravate and lead to suicidal tendencies at times as well. Therefore, it is better at times to express whatever you have inside.

7.Be content:

Remaining content with whatever you have is important. Desires and wishes do not have any end. The keep on growing ever. You need to set limits to it. It does not mean that you do not grow or progress. Be happy and work towards your goals. Don't associate happiness with achievement of your goals. Otherwise, you will never be happy.

8.Hobbies:

Hobbies can help you relax, they can be anything that you love. Be it any sports, painting reading etc. There are many of those to indulge into. They will make you feel better and rejuvenate you to return back to your work. This is because, during hobby related activities you are enjoying it to the fullest.

9.Meditation:

Meditation can help you to keep your mind at peace. It is a way of relaxation and an exercise for mental health. Just like your body, your mind also needs some exercise. Meditation helps to increase your focus and attention. In this manner, you can focus at will and keep all other thoughts at bay.

These are some effective ways which you can adopt to tackle the monster called stress in your life. Try and work at it. Slowly you would get used to it.

9 Tips to Maximize Your Home Business Productivity

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Running a home business presents challenges: kids, pets, or laundry constantly threaten to interrupt your workflow. To combat the potential distractions, use the following nine tips to keep the interruptions at bay and increase your home business productivity.

1. Designate your workspace

If you work from home, you need an area dedicated to that business. It could be a commandeered breakfast nook or an unused third bedroom. Whichever area of the home you choose, make it your own. Renovate a spare bedroom, if needed, or work with an interior designer. These professionals can help you maximise the space as well as suggest ergonomic furniture and other helpful business accessories. The quality of your work space has been shown to influence productivity.

2. Dress for the day

Your friends might joke you can roll out of bed and straight into work, but home business owners know better. They leave the bed and dress to impress because clothing often affects attitude. Studies have shown that people who dress more formally engage in higher levels of abstract thinking. If youre on a conference call with a potential lead, you want to be fully alert and positive. It could be the thing that convinces the caller to make a purchase or set up a retainer.

3. Identify your best times to work

If youve been running a home business for a while, you know when your peak productivity hours occur. Guard them jealously. These hours are the ones when the work comes more easily. Says Steph Taylor, founder and director of health and wellness marketing agency Wildbloom Creative, Its important to work when you have more energy and recognise when you just need to chill out and not be too hard on yourself.

4. Take breaks throughout the day

Once you know your best work hours, dont forget to take breaks throughout the day. An activity tracker works wonders in this regard; it can remind you to stand and move around for a few minutes every hour. Other home business owners like Rachel Ballard, food blogger at The Country Contessa, recommend an online timer. Ballard sets the timer for forty-five minutes and works until it goes off. She then takes ten to fifteen minutes to do something elsewalk around, start a load of laundry, etc.before starting the timer to work again.

5. Set your hours

Taking breaks is vital to your work day, but making sure your work day ends is also vital for your health. Taylor mentions the importance of this old proverb: All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy. Prevent burn-out and set aside work at a regular time every day to do something rejuvenating. Spend time with your kids, take a walk or read a book. Do things you know relax and re-energize you today so that youre ready to tackle the workload tomorrow.

6. Organise your workload

A failure to plan is a plan to fail. Home business owners understand the reality all too well, perhaps explaining why many of them swear by to-do lists, planners, wall calendars and apps. These tools allow them to control each day rather than the days controlling them. Some of these business owners also write a task list at the end of every workday so that they can dive right into the work the next morning.

7. Invest in productivity tools.

If you arent sure where the hours in your day are going, find out. Numerous web-based platforms and mobile apps can monitor your day to assess where time gets lost. Fred Davidson at Simple Condo Advice highly recommends Freedom, a tool that blocks notifications, applications and even the entire internet for certain time periods. He uses the tool to safeguard specific hours and keep on task with the work at hand, be it creative projects or communication with clients. Home-business owners also agree that a reliable internet connection is essential to ensure that your productivity is not intermittently disrupted.  

8. Get outside the house

Some home business owners find their work rhythm at home, while others require some social hubbub in the background. Figure out what environment suits you best. David Poulsen of Cut Cable Today says that regardless of your introverted or extroverted nature, using a coffee shop or co-working space every so often will help you maintain contact with the living and boost overall productivity and positivity.

9. Find other areas where you can save time

If you find yourself spending more time preparing meals or picking up kids from school than working, determine ways to reclaim the lost time. When it comes to kids, you might need to discuss options with your partner. Meals afford an easier solution: prepare lunches and dinners in advance.

Increasing home productivity is possible, as evidenced by the nine tactics listed here. But how do you get more done? Share your thoughts in the comments below or on social media!

7 Very Doable 2013 New Year Resolutions

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Here are seven very-doable New Year Resolutions for 2013. With any one of these simple steps you could easily get in better shape and slow the aging process THIS year for a younger, more vibrant you. Let's see if one or more of these 2013 resolutions appeals to you.

1. The Chewing-Gum Approach to cutting calories -- Resolve to take smaller-size bites of food and keep the food in your mouth and chew it until all the flavor is gone. With this little technique and watching your portion sizes, you get to enjoy and savor all the flavor in your favorite foods and satisfy your hunger -- all while consuming substantially fewer calories.

2. The Top 10 -- Several times each day, such as right before meals, snacks and bedtime, take a minute to mentally list ten things, people, happenings ... you truly appreciate. These can be friends, family members, some quality you like about the individuals, or small things (e.g.,that pair of shoes that look particularly good on you AND are comfortable, too); in this case, size really doesn't matter. What does matter is that you experience feelings of gratitude while thinking of the aspects of your life that are worth appreciating. Nothing lowers stress and slows the aging process as do thoughts of appreciation.

3. Exercise Your Mind -- Decide that in 2013 you will enjoy a mentally challenging game each day. It could be a crossword puzzle, Sudoku, KenKen or one of several other puzzle choices. If you don't have time to devote to solving one of these time-consuming mental games each day because of your very busy schedule, then take two or more days to complete the game. Just make sure to put in at least five minutes each day in working toward the solution. Your dendrites and axons will thank you with a sharp mind in the decades surely to come.

4. Breathless in Seattle or _______ -- Decide that every day you are going to enjoy an aerobic activity that gets you out of breath, or at least breathing deeply at some point. During your walk, for example, make sure there is a hill or steps in the middle of your session that makes you huff and puff as you climb them. When we perform a physical activity for as little as 10 seconds that gets us out of breath, it signals the release of human growth hormone (Hgh) from the pituitary gland into the bloodstream to start the process of repair and regeneration of cells to fight free-radical damage and reverse the general aging of the cells of the body and the brain. IMPORTANT: Always check with your health-care professional to make sure it is safe for you to perform strenuous exercise.

5. Up the Dietary Ante Little By Little -- Completely revamping one's diet all at once is seldom sustainable unless the individual is extremely motivated. For most of us, making small changes, one at a time, is more likely to result in a lasting improvement in our diet. Decide on one improvement you are going to make to your diet in 2013. It could be as simple as adding a daily dark leafy green vegetable, putting the salt shaker away or substituting water or tea for your afternoon soda.

6. Keep in Touch -- Each day, send a note or an e-mail to an old friend you haven't been in contact with for quite a while, just to say, "Hi!, how are you, I'm thinking of you, remember when we...?" By the end of the year you'll have brought a smile to the face of several friends, acquaintances and family members -- to the tune of 365 re-connections. It is well known that staying socially active is one of the ways to stay youthful and well as we age.

7. Try Something New -- Do something new and different each and every day. It could be as simple as driving a new route to the store, visiting and exploring a new website, or trying a new food or recipe. On the other hand, it could be something more comprehensive, like taking up a new sport or hobby or traveling to a country or state you've never visited. In this last scenario, you could plan time each day to learn a little bit more about the places you're about to visit, including the customs and language.

There you have it. Seven simple steps you can take to make 2013 your best year ever. Any one of these resolutions can be easily achieved -- a resolution you can keep for the whole year for a younger, more vital you. Or maybe you have your own idea of an easy-to-do New Year's Resolution that's just right for you in 2013. Happy New Year!

7 Tips On How To Deal With Missing Your Ex

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For those who have just ended their relationship, there will surely be moments when you will miss your ex.

Here are seven tips on how to deal with missing your ex girlfriend or boyfriend.

1. Remind yourself that your relationship is over.

For as long as you are hoping to be back in a relationship again with your ex, you will continue to feel that you are missing someone in your life. You have to be determined in realizing that the relationship is over and there is no use thinking of having another chance at getting your ex back.

2. Return your ex' stuff.

Schedule an exchange of items with your ex and let him/her know that you are giving them back their stuff, and you are expecting your things back also. This way, you do not hold on to these personal items for sentimental reasons, reminding you of your ex often. If there are other things you forgot to return, just throw it all away to avoid having constant reminders of your ex' presence in your life.

3. Write your ex a letter... then burn it.

This is a good way to get all your pent-up emotions out of your system. One of the main reasons why partners still miss their ex is because they really have not fully expressed themselves yet. Writing an honest letter is a good outlet to let it all out, and when you burn the letter you can enjoy watching your words go up in smoke.

4. Hang out with your friends again.

You will surely miss your ex if he/she took up most of your time. Usually, when you are in a serious relationship, your friends and family get a bit neglected. Now may be the best time to reconnect with your old friends and spend more time with them to get your mind off missing your ex partner.

5. Get into a new hobby and meet new friends.

Now that you have more time in your hands, you can fill it with new activities or interests. Think of the things that you wanted to do but never got around to doing it because you didn't have the time then. Before you know it, you may actually be enjoying your new hobby, making more new friends along the way.

6. Get a new pet.

Whether a cat, dog or a bird, reconnecting with another being can help you deal with reality. A pet can demand attention which you may be willing to give now that you have no one to give it to. When you miss your ex, you can also reach out to your pet that loves you unconditionally.

7. Start going out with other people.

The world keeps on moving even if yours stopped for a while when your ex broke up with you. It is about time you start mingling again and date every once in a while. Do not worry if your first date is lousy or you do not click with another person at once. Like everything else in this world, it will just be a matter of time.

Once you start enjoying yourself again, you are sure to miss your ex less and embrace your new life more.

7 Tips for A New Art Collector

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Collecting art is not just for the wealthy but has become a popular hobby for many people today.

As people begin to appreciate certain styles of art, there becomes a supply and demand situation where prices can indeed reach almost unattainable limits. These types of collectors purchase strictly as a form of investment.

But there are many beginners who pay little attention to the rules of the art world and instead buy what they like. There may be a theme associated with a collection you are drawn to or there may be up and coming artists you admire and want to invest early in their career.

Whatever the case, there are a few tips to pay attention to regardless of your experience as you begin to add to your own collection.

Where To Start

1. Do your research. If you are interested in an artist or a specific piece to add to your collection make sure you have checked out the galleries in your area before settling on your next purchase. Most galleries will have additional information available on the pieces you are considering.

2. Visit the museums in your area and get on their mailing lists to ensure you will be invited to any new openings or special events. Although you cannot purchase from a museum, you can find invaluable information in the featured publications.

3. Don't buy it if you don't like it. The idea of collecting is that you enjoy the pieces you purchase and wish to display them proudly.

4. Check out the non-profit art centers in your area as well as any artisan fairs that may be scheduled throughout your city. There is often art for sale at these events as well as artists and experts on hand to help guide you in your own collection.

5. Go to your local library for books and magazines on art collecting. They will have a wealth of knowledge on collecting and offer tips to help you understand what to look for. They will also and suggest areas you may have over looked when searching for specific pieces.

6. Find fellow art collector by attending similar events. Exchanging opinions and ideas can be very rewarding in new friendships and in networking for new pieces for your collections.

Go online. There is a mountain of information on the internet that can help you narrow down your preferences and build your knowledge base in any aspect of the art world.

The Choice is Yours

The sky is the limit when it comes to collecting and the value of art is unique to each individual. Someones masterpiece may be an acquired taste and the more you learn about your personal preferences, the more extensive your collection can become.

Its all a matter of personal style.

7 Things You Can Learn from Sailing

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Sailing can be many things: a competitive sport such as sailboat racing, a fun and adventurous holiday, or an active hobby. Sailing trips can be relaxing, but also filled with adrenaline. They're perfect for groups of friends, families, couples, for team building events, and for solo thrill-seekers as well.

If you're already into more active hobbies or maritime activities such as scuba diving, fishing or surfing, you just might fall in love with sailing. It is definitely a hobby that brings you closer to nature, as you learn to appreciate the power of currents and winds, and the simplicity of moving across vast bodies of water.

Sailing can also teach you a lot. With each new sailing trip, you'll have the opportunity to develop useful skills  such as working in a group, depending on yourself, navigating according to winds and using a compass and a map. You'll also acquire nautical terminology and, overall, grow as a person.

Let's look at some of the most important things you can learn from sailing:

1) Planning ahead

Sailing requires detailed preparation before embarking on a journey. This means getting to know your route, checking the weather conditions and packing your clothes accordingly. It also means making sure you have all the documents you might need: boat license, your personal IDs, a passport if you're traveling abroad, as well as foreign currency. Another thing sailors need to consider and plan ahead in order to ensure everyone's safety is whether to hire a crew or not. If there are no professionals or people with advanced sailing experience in the group, getting a chartered boat is always advisable.

2) Thinking like a minimalist

Related to planning ahead, sailing can make you think more like a minimalist. Sailboats are usually very limited in space so unless one is sailing on a million dollar yacht, every bit of room needs to be utilized. For this reason, sailors are taught to think practically and bring only the things they will most definitely need. These are usually clothes, emergency ratios, medicines, non-perishable foods, canned goods and plenty of bottled water to last for the duration of the trip or until a harbor checkpoint is reached. Gadgets like smartphones are also necessary for communication, while tablets and laptops can come in handy not only for staying in touch with civilization but also for following weather forecasts.

3) Working in a team

There are many activities that can teach you how to work in a team, but few of them are as good as sailing. If you go sailing with a group of friends, you'll notice how quickly you'll develop into a boat crew. (Of course, this doesn't mean you shouldn't hire a crew in case you need it.) As a matter of fact, many companies take their employees on sailing excursions exactly because sailing builds team spirit. It takes a whole crew to handle a sailboat, pull the ropes, hoist the sails, follow the weather, navigate, and take care of food and medical supplies. It is most definitely a team effort.

4) Depending on yourself

In a crew, just as in any team, every person is assigned with certain duties. These duties need to be respected as all the team members depend on each other, but they're also an opportunity for every individual to learn to depend on themselves. After all, there are always situations where only one person is able to perform certain assignments so they are forced to develop their independence and self-assurance.

5) Learning how to navigate

Another very useful thing that sailing teaches is how to navigate. In fact, it is a skill that can be used throughout the entire life, regardless of whether one is on water or on dry land. Sailors learn how to read nautical maps and use a compass, how to properly follow weather reports, how to differentiate winds and currents and determine the route based on their directions. Perhaps the most interesting way of navigating one can learn by sailing is celestial navigation. Also known as astronavigation, this skill lets the person specify their location by looking at the starry night sky. And the best part about it is the fact that it requires no tools, which means it can be used even when modern equipment fails.

6) Respecting others

Sharing a boat with a group of different people makes one realize the importance of mutual respect and proper conduct - especially when it comes to safety and personal space. There's even sailing etiquette, a set of rules that regulate behavior on board to ensure that everything goes smoothly and that everyone gets along. The rules contained in sailing etiquette are tightly related to sailing, but many are in essence common good manners that play an important role in building any interpersonal relationship:

Asking permission to board. Just like knocking on somebody's door when visiting, before stepping on a boat, each person should ask for permission from the highest official present at the given moment.
Avoiding overpacking. It is important to respect other people's personal space and avoid taking up too much room by bringing unnecessary items. Everyone also needs to make sure to always keep their things in designated storage areas.
Thinking about the safety of others. It is advisable to check up on people and make sure that everyone is safe.
Bringing something others can use. For example, some scuba diving equipment won't take up too much space, but can be a source of fun for everyone.
Offering help. When enthusiasm gets the best of them, people sometimes do things which are more annoying than helpful. For this reason, each crew member needs to make sure they don't get in anyone's way and that they always ask and offer help.
Avoiding making a mess. Remembering to keep things neat and tidy is essential. Each crew member should take care not to leave their things around, to pick up the trash, use the restroom (known on a boat as the head) accordingly, and keep the noise down at times when it might cause inconvenience to others.

7) Learning to be open to new experiences

"Not all those who wander are lost", says a popular quote from Tolkien's "The Lord of the Rings", and this is definitely true when it comes to sailing. People take up this hobby to explore new sights and sounds, discover new places - and perhaps make some new friends along the way. And for those who favor sailing as a long-term hobby, the biggest exploration that occurs is usually that within themselves. Sailing helps them to improve both physically and mentally, and get to know themselves better.

7 Tax Tips for Musicians

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For many musicians, the idea of making a decent living doing what they love is practically a dream come true. However, making a profit in the music industry can be difficult enough without having to worry about the tax laws and restrictions that can make life even more complicated. Luckily, there are plenty of steps a musician can take to make sure they are fully compliant with the IRS and their state taxing agency.

Classify Yourself

You need to decide exactly what type of musician you are before you can even begin thinking about taxes. What course is your career taking? Are you in a band? Are you interested in being a music teacher? Or, do you offer lessons from your home or at a nearby music shop. Once you have classified yourself, if will be easier to keep track of your finances and tax liability.

$600 Rules

No matter what type of musician you are, if you make more than $600 in a year doing something then you will need to report your income to the IRS. Whether you make that much in tips from performing at clubs, or from teaching the piano to a family friend, it will need to be reported to the IRS.

Teaching Advantages

If you are a music teacher at a school, you may be able to take advantage of several tax deductions available to teachers. One of the most useful tax advantages for teachers is the educator expense deduction that allows qualifying teachers to deduct $250 worth of out of pocket expenses for classroom supplies. For more information on tax tips for teachers, including the educator expense deduction check out this article on CEO Roni Deutch's personal blog.

The Business of Music

If you teach music classes from home or a business, you may be able to classify yourself as a small business owner. Speaking of teaching from home, if you have a separate room at home that is used to run this business then that room may qualify for a home office deduction. If you have not already, you may need to get a small business license from your city or country, and if the business expands you may even need to get a federal ID.

Quarterly Payments

If you are earning income from your music, either teaching or performing then you might want to consider making estimated quarterly payments. If you wait until the end of the year, then you might end up with a massive tax bill, and possibly even penalties and fees. To learn more about making estimated payments check out this post from earlier in the year.

Deserved Deductions

If your music career turns into a legitimate business, not just a hobby, then you can take advantage of all the business friendly tax incentives. First and foremost you can deduct all expenses related to the business from your taxable income. Just remember to keep all of your receipts and records of purchases. Some common music business deductions include instruments, sheet music, trade magazines, lessons and training costs, travel expenses, etc.

At Home, and On the Road

If you are a solo artist or part of a band, that performs at several venues across the country, then your taxes are going to get a little more complicated. Unfortunately, income taxes are due in the state that you earned the money in. Therefore, if you live in California but get paid $1,000 to perform a show in New York, then you are going to need to file state tax returns in both California and New York. Filing returns in multiple states can become very complicated, and you will need to keep a detailed record of all venues you are paid to perform at.

The Tax Lady Roni Deutch and her law firm Roni Deutch, A Professional Tax Corporation have been helping taxpayers across the nation find IRS tax relief for over seventeen years. The firm has experienced tax lawyers who can fight IRS tax liens on your behalf.

7 Steps to Keep YourHobbies and Marriage Intact - Save Your Marriage

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Ian and Kim were a couple who came for marriage counseling, as they were constantly fighting over Kim's love of fashion and the financial cost of her shopping sprees, her husband Ian couldn't keep up with it and thought that there were far more important things to be spending money on. Kim felt hurt that Ian didn't try to understand her passion and angry as he spent plenty of money out socializing and drinking. They came to save their marriage, as after years of not understanding each other's interests they had grown so far apart, they were living separate lives under the same roof.

Reshma and Binod another couple that sought marriage counseling to save their marriage, were also struggling to see eye to eye over the amount of time Binod would spend watching cricket, tennis, and football on TV. Any game, any time of day when he wasn't working he would want to sit and watch TV, this drove Reshma crazy, she was concerned what that would teach their 3 children and annoyed he didn't seem interested or make an effort for family time.

It can be difficult if you or your partner have a hobby you passionately embrace and the other one sees it as nothing but an intrusion. Yet it is critical to reach a compromise to prevent frustration and resentment from building, as resentment can often lead to angry silence, withdrawal or explosive rows. Here are 7 Steps to Keep Your Hobbies and Marriage Intact - Save Your Marriage

1. Recognize we all have hobbies. I've noticed working with many couples, that on average men tended to have one hobby that takes up a lot of their time and women had several activities (which they weren't counting as hobbies). For instance, I love to run, swim, practice yoga, write, dance, cook and try alternative healing courses. None of these hobbies individually take up much of my time, but collectively they add up to be more than some of the most consuming hobbies.

2. Ensure you both have hobbies. Expecting your partner to be your hobby or vice versa can be a recipe for disaster. It's just like expecting them to make YOU happy, only YOU can do that. If your spouse is having difficulty to accept your hobbies and have none of their own, help them to find something enjoyable and stress-relieving.

3. Find the good. We tend to love our hobbies, to us they are noble, important and engaging. If you think your spouse's hobby is silly, trivial or dumb or they say the same about yours, you are judging each other, when you need to be supporting each other. Look for the good in each other's hobbies, for example Kim explained to Ian, that he was benefitting from her fashion and make up passion, as she always looked good and took care of her appearance, which he always complimented her on. The benefit to Resma of Binod's hobby was that he could play with the children and watch TV at the same time, so she could get on and do things she needed and liked to do. Plus she was grateful that his hobby was not a financial burden to them.

4. Accept all hobbies, as they are part of who we are. When we reject the hobbies of our partners or they reject ours, we are in some way rejecting a part of each other. As our hobbies make us who we are and for most of us are a source of stress relief and happiness. Would you rather prefer a grumpy, bored spouse with plenty of time or a happy, content spouse with a hobby? I'd choose the second.

5. Learn about each other's hobbies. I love the statement "If you can't beat them, join them!" I think this is a great approach in marriage to learn more about each other's passions, it will enhance your conversation and connection, even better if you can join them.

6. Always have at least one hobby you share. Find a hobby you look forward to doing together, this will help you become closer and strengthen your relationship. If we engage in all our hobbies without our spouse, we miss the opportunity for the fun and excitement to be brought into the marriage.

7. Talk about your boundaries. Despite the above we all have boundaries, Think about what you both really need to be happy. Chances are its often not the hobby that really bothers us. Its the time or money spent on it, especially if the time or money isnt being spent on something else important to us!
Ask yourselves what is it that bothers you? Could it be you want more time as a family? More intimacy, affection or appreciation? Are you concerned financially that you won't have enough money for the car, holiday or children's needs?
Learn to share what precisely what is on your mind so you can move forward and compromise. Be vulnerable and you will reap the rewards! Rather than say I hate you doing that stupid hobby" instead say, I miss being with you and would love to spend more time together Or if your partner has a problem with your hobby ask them lovingly what concerns they have. Then work out a compromise that suits you both and fits in with the family.
Hobbies can help a marriage if the right balance is struck, aim to support one another and speak up if you need to.

From my heart to yours,
Nicola

6 Tips to Remove YouTube Addiction

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By The Pioneer of Subliminal Messages Online.

Yes, you don't watch a lot of television but you're spending too much time in YouTube. This video-sharing website has garnered millions of followers all over the world, for only a very short time. With so many videos to watch you can't help but spend the rest of your day doing nothing else but that.

Now just imagine how it can affect you personally. You can no longer complete your tasks, you spend less time on productive activities, and you may even distance yourself from your loved ones. It's not really surprising that you'll end up suffering from depression and a lot of stress later.

But how do you exactly get rid of YouTube addiction? Here are seven tips:

1. Just block it. If you don't want to watch any YouTube videos, then just block the website from your computer. A lot of websites and plug-ins can already do that for you. Every time you check on YouTube, you'll end up having an error page. Further, to make sure you don't delete the plug-in, you can look for a tool that allows you to add passwords. Have someone set it for you.

2. Spend less time in front of the PC. You won't be tempted to watch YouTube videos if you also spend less time with your PC. Besides it's really not a good idea to spend more than 4 hours in front of your computer. You don't have to cut everything off suddenly. If you spend 8 hours with it, you can reduce it to 6 or 5.

3. Take up a sport. A sport can be a good motivator for you to spend less time with YouTube. In fact, it can increase your self-confidence, plus you're forced to spend more time with your friends and perhaps your family. It also feels so good if you win competitions.

4. Choose a hobby. If you don't like sports, then at least pursue a hobby, and hopefully it doesn't involve computers. If you're a mom, arts and crafts would be perfect. You can share the hobby with your kids. If you're a dad, creating furniture and fixtures may be an exciting hobby, which may even turn into a profitable venture.

5. Go to the outdoors. There are a lot of things you can do outside of your home, but you're missing all of them since you're just there, watching YouTube. Try being in the outdoors at least an hour a day. And if you can afford it, spend a night in the mountains camping or even travel outside the state or outside of the country.

6. Encourage yourself to just do it. Unless you have the will to get rid of your YouTube addiction, you'll never be able to do it. But how? Use subliminal messages. Affirmations have a way of changing your present mind-set from "cannot" to "can." The moment you wake up, say the following lines:

Today, I'll spend more time on things that make me grow.
Today, I will spend more time with friends and family.
Today, I'll relax and spend my day with a lot of quiet and peace.

6 Simple Steps to Create a Perfect Online Portfolio

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Whether you are a programmer, designer, photographer, or writer, having an online portfolio will significantly increase your online visibility. Its essential that your online portfolio presents both your work and your talent in the best way possible. This will increase your chances of success in the freelance world, or when it comes to job applications. Just follow these simple steps and success is practically guaranteed.

Choose a platform and make it look good

Dont worry if youre not experienced when it comes to web design and programming, there are plenty online platforms and websites with the beginner-friendly usability that will help you effectively showcase your talent. In most cases all you have to do is select the appropriate website template and start filling out your portfolio.

Keep your work relevant

No matter what, dont let the work in your portfolio become outdated. Whether you have one page portfolio website, or several URLs of your work, your portfolio should always be fresh and up to date. This doesnt require much effort, just enrich it with the latest screenshots and links from time to time. It is always better to have fewer but more fresh projects in your portfolio, than to include outdated work, which will surely bring down your average.

Organize everything

The way you showcase your work will have a significant impact on whether visitors and/or potential clients bounce off, or stay and browse your portfolio for a while. You can organize your work in a number of ways, by industry, project or maybe media type but whatever you choose dont forget the most important part to provide all the necessary information. Include a brief but interesting description about the project and company you worked with, what your main task was and all the goals you have accomplished.

Include all services you provide

If you're looking for clients who require a type of services that you provide, display those services. Single out the projects where you had to use each of your specialties and showcase them first. For instance, youre a graphic designer who specializes in logo design and business branding. The smart move would be to include two or three projects that display your latest work in those fields. Of course, dont forget each project should have an adequate description and should be categorized appropriately.

Less is more, always

Remember, your best work should be the center of attention of your portfolio. Dont overcrowd the website, keep the design clean, interface simple and easy to navigate. People will always appreciate the simplicity better than if you include every piece of work youve ever done. Display only the work or projects you are really proud of, and also include the type of work you want to be doing in the future.

Introduce yourself

This is where you explain who you are. Personalize your about me page, tell your story, let your personality shine, dont just provide your past job experiences and personal skills. Here are some basic guidelines for you:

Its important to have a unique point of view on the industry youre working in. Come up with something creative, share a story from your own perspective. Leverage the power of visual storytelling to stand out from others.
Tell your backstory let people know how you become the person you are today. Was there a particular point in your life, or maybe some experience when you were young that made you pursue this path?
Be welcoming and open-minded. If you have a hobby include it; if youre passionate about something - about me page is the perfect place to put all those peculiar things for other to see.

6 Rules Of Composition

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As in the words of Andreas Feininger, an eminent American photographer, a photographer is like an artist who has the power to control the subject matter of his photography. He has the ability to control space, form, light, texture, speed, etc. The only one thing, on which he doesn't have control, is the 'composition'.

Composition is the process in which different elements or parts of an image are brought together to form a significant whole. A good picture cannot just be created with a click of a button, especially, when digital photography has made things easier and there are now a host of photography holidays and photography courses on offer making it even more accessible for everyone! The essence of a picture lies in its perfect composition.

Now, composition is something for which you need to have a different outlook apart from your passion for photography. While the basic rules are taught at the very beginning of a photography course or photography holiday, it is practice that makes a photographer perfect.

However, there are some basic rules of composition following which you can improve your skills as well as your photographs.

1. The Rule of Thirds: If you are on a photography holiday, then keep the Rule of Thirds on the top of the list while taking a photograph. This is the most important rule of composition as far as placing the subject matter of your picture is considered. According to this, a frame is first divided into three horizontal and vertical parts. The subject, when placed at the intersection of these lines, makes the best shot. This rule is also applicable when there is more than one subject. Photographers capturing a landscape can decide how much horizon to focus on with the help of this rule. This makes the picture more focused.

2. Frame: Framing includes the use of natural surroundings to add depth to the subject. This can be anything like a window, doorway, tree, etc. Using this rule can help you to focus on the subject and bring it to light. In certain cases, it is better to use a dark frame so that the subject achieves maximum brightness. For the depth, it is better to use a narrow aperture. Such techniques are frequently used by photographers on nature or wildlife photography holidays.

3. Texture: The texture of the subject photographed generates interest in other's mind. This rule is important while picturing leaves, rocks or walls. To make the texture stand out, focus should be on the angle of the light. If the light comes from the side, then the creation of shadows in perfect places will highlight the texture more.

4. Lead Lines: At times, straight, curved or parallel lines in a photograph are helpful in grabbing the attention towards a subject. Keep this in mind while photographing a road, stream, river, bridge, etc. The diagonal placement of these objects is preferred over a horizontal appearance.

5. Colour: This is an essential element in photography whether it is digital photography or still photography. Vibrant colours make a picture look alive and a good composition of one or more colours can make a picture stand out.

6. Simplicity: Last but not the least, keep the picture simple, especially, when the subject is in close focus. In such cases, it is advisable to keep the background as simple as possible.

These are the fundamental rules of composition that should be considered while taking a picture. Though the rules of composition are an integral part of all photography courses in London and photography holidays, it is better to have hands on experience on it.

5 Ways To Make Some Extra Income Online

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Whether you are satisfied with your monthly earning or not, an extra income would.t heart, right?

There is no such thing as easy money and you should always put your education and improvement on the first place.

However, here are 5 ways how to increase your earnings without the need to quit your job!

1.Freelancing

Nowadays, online freelancers can make quite an income by doing the thing they are best in form their homes. You dont need to make such a radical step and be a full-time freelancer, but extra hours will bring extra money! You can chose to work a part time job or apply for a project you think is suitable for you.

Check out the two most popular platforms for freelancers, Upwork and Freelancer, but join some forums and facebook groups in your niche, as well. There you will find many useful tips but maybe job listings also. Make sure your resume is well written and that it describes exactly what you are best in. Building a profile on above mentioned networks will take some time, but it can result in many jobs, connections and.dollars!

2.Sell your used items online

Selling your both used and unused (never wanted) items online is quite easy, doesnt require much time and can be a decent source of income. The choice is wide: DVDs, clothes that dont fit you anymore (or are just outdated), video games, toys or whatever items you think are useful for others. Check out local websites that allow this type of reselling and start getting rid of your old old stuff today!

3.Trade stocks

Even though this can be risky, if you dont invest a lot, yoo wont risk a lot, right? But you might end up earning quite an income!

Before pushing the trade button, make sure youve read enough about the stock market on relevant websites, blogs and forums. There are numerous online courses and webinars available as well. Also, in order to eliminate currency exchange risk, use a local online trading broker that allows trading in your local currency.

Be patient, disciplined and not greedy!

4.Be a baby (and pet) sitter

These jobs are not proper online ones, but the easiest way to find them is actually on the internet. There are bunch of websites that offer sitting jobs, just (again) find ones that are local.

Babysitting was always (..or at least most of the time) a good, fun and easy way to make some extra cash. You dont need to do it on a regular basis, you can just help out some parents that want to go out, travel or just enjoy their time alone and start with just an hour or two with their child. Who knows, maybe this will turn out to be your dream job...it happens a lot!

The second, a bit more modern, option is to be a part time pet sitter. There are numeros websites that offer daytime or overnight jobs like this. Like any other job, you should consider the application very serious: resume, photos, previous experience etc.

  5. Be a tutor

Online tutors are getting very popular nowadays: from maths and science to language ones. The payment varies depending on the subject matter and your qualifications.

Even if you are not a regular tutor, there are for sure some things that you are good in: cooking, DIY, make up...are just some of the ideas.

Again, find websites that offer tutoring jobs but this time there is no need to go local, just dont forget to mention the language you will be tutoring on!

Good luck and remember: stay motivated and determinated!

5 Things To Know When Making Clock Frets

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Some of the techniques when cutting out fret patterns have always been the same techniques and methods used over the years when working with longcase clocks. I find them easy and most importantly faster when trying to make a living repairing or building new longcase clocks.

Having cut out hundreds of fret patterns when working on new and antique longcase clocks, I find the hardest part of making a fret is getting the perfect fret shape to fit the hood.

1. USE GREASEPROOF PAPER AND A WAX CRAYON FOR MARKING OUT THE OUTER SHAPE.

If you are working on an antique longcase clock and the fret is missing from the hood, the best way is the traditional way by using greaseproof paper and a wax crayon or soft leaded pencil. You can lay the greaseproof paper over the area where the old fret is missing and you can then rub the wax crayon over the fret shape, giving you the outer edge shape of the fret on the paper.

2. USE AN OLD CEREAL BOX FOR THE CARD TEMPLET.

This is just a rough pattern at this point. Now transfer the shape of the fret onto a thin piece of card, you can use an old cereal box or the like, then cut out the shape of the fret.

Once the card is cut to the correct fret shape it is very important to make sure the card cut out fits tight in the fret hole or space of the old fret you are replacing.

When you have your card template fitting correctly you now need to make two more templates exactly the same shape and size as your original, these are used to sandwich the veneer you are making the new fret from, and this will give it strength when cutting the fret out and stop any breakout of the veneers.

3 GLUE THREE SHEETS OF VENEER TOGETHER FOR THE FRET THICKNESS.

The actual fret is made from sheets of veneer, normally you can glue together three sheets of veneer using PVA glue and a small veneer press, or two boards and a heavy weight on top.

When the sheets of veneer are dry transfer the shape of the card template onto the veneer ply and cut out. This is done with a scalpel or sharp chisel and make sure the veneer frets fit like you did with the card cut out, some times a file is needed to make a really good fit.

When this has been done you need to glue the fret pattern to one of the card templates, depending on what pattern you have chosen, some times you may have to juggle the pattern around to fit in side the fret shape.

Now you can sandwich the veneer you are making the new fret from between the template with the fret pattern on at the top, and a blank card template at the bottom by taping the edges together with masking tape.

..Template with Pattern.

....Three Ply Veneer.

...Blank Card Template.

4. USE A SMALL BLADE AND HAVE THE FRET SAW ON LOW SPEED TO KEEP IN CONTROL.

When your fret is taped up and ready for cutting out you need to drill holes in the parts of the fret that has to be cut out and removed.

5 Steps to Choosing the Right Martial Art for You

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One of the questions I get asked most frequently, in several different variations is about which martial art an individual should study. Generally which martial art, and more importantly which school to choose are fundamental decisions someone should make. My answer is usually something along the lines of, choose the school and the system that you are going to stick with and stay with it for the rest of your life.

The reality is that the answer is going to be different for every person. What I will attempt to do in this article is give you a set of general guidelines. I will talk in very broad terms about different martial arts, and what to look for in a school. Ultimately every teacher, at every school, in every system is going to be completely different.

1. Dispelling a common myth

Just like with religion and politics, many people honestly believe that what they do is the best thing in the world. One only has to make a cursory study of the psychological principle of cognitive dissonance to see why this is so. So many schools out there claim to be teaching, the ultimate, deadliest, most secret, guarded system of self defense ever invented by the gods of combat. To be quite blunt they are full of crap.

In one respect, much of this stuff is a marketing stance. Heck, everybody wants to study the best thing in the world. If such a thing existed everybody would study it. Some martial arts schools can become very cult like as well, and this is where the cognitive dissonance comes in. The practitioners actually believe their marketing stuff.

The truth is that style is not going to fight for you you are. Every person is different and there is not one best system for everyone. It would be quite scary for me to face a sumo wrestler in combat, but it would also be silly for me to expect to take up Sumo and be good at it.

Claims of superior systems that can make you as deadly as a Navy SEAL in 24 hours also stem from American culture. It is unfortunate that we of the MTV and Internet generation are always looking for a shortcut, a quick fix. It makes many of us miss a lot of very valuable and important stuff.

2. Lets start with you

If I can help you answer a few key questions about yourself and your interests, you will have done most of the work toward picking out a martial arts school that is best for you.

First and foremost, what do you want to get out of martial arts training? Yes, yes, I know you want to learn self defense put that on the list. But people study martial arts for a variety of reasons. You want to get some exercise, you want to meet new people, you want to get rid of stress, you want a new hobby, and you think the uniforms look cool. Really think about it and write down your reasons. Everything is valid and your reasons are your own. Then I would prioritize your reasons which ones are more important than others. Maybe getting into shape is your main goal if so, that may help determine a place to study.

3. What style?

Now, lets talk a little bit about systems or styles. A system is just the type of martial art you will be studying like Karate, Kendo, or Kung Fu. The differences between styles may also help you to determine where to look.
The main difference between most martial arts style is focus. Some arts like Tae Kwon do focus on large kicking movements, while others like Kendo focus on a particular weapon. Body type and interest (as we discussed before) will help you think a little about style focus. For example: I am built like a fireplug short and wide, am somewhat slow and am very interested in the self defense aspect of training. Ketsugo Jujutsu turned out to be the best style for me as it focused on unbalancing the opponent, the kicks were low to the ground, and the fighting in close where we short guys excel.

Beyond focus is a scale of formality to informality. To me formality is a measure of emphasis on things like training etiquette, ceremony, style of dress, method of addressing seniors etc. Many Japanese and Korean styles are very formal. On the far end of the informal scale you might have a cardio kickboxing class at local gym. On the far end of the formal scale you might have a style like Kendo which places a lot of emphasis on appearance and etiquette.
Neither formal nor informal is better or worse; it is a matter of preference. I personally enjoy some of the formalities of traditional Japanese martial arts. For me they build character and shape a strong state of mind that carries over into day to day life. For others, the formalities may be difficult to grasp and they may wish for something less formal.

The following is a list of styles I have arranged from most to least formal. This arrangement is from my own best knowledge and is neither absolute nor inclusive. Many would rightfully disagree with where I have placed things on the list, but this is meant to be a general guideline. Again, every single teacher in every different school is going to be different. This is meant as a starting point:
-Formal
Kendo / Kumdo
Aikido
Tae Kwon Do
Karate
Jujutsu
Kung Fu
Silat
Ninjutsu
Tai Chi / Bagua / Hsing-yi
Arnis / Kali / Escima
Capoeira
Kickboxing
Boxing
-Informal

While youre on the web already, it would pay off to do some research. Look up a few sites for a few of the styles I have listed here. Get some general information about focus and formality. See what strikes you as interesting. Make a small list of styles you might be interested in pursuing.

4. Practical Issues

OK, now youve done some soul searching and some research and you have a list of styles you might be interested in learning. Now we have to talk a little bit about lifestyle. If Kendo interests you, but the nearest school is 200 miles away it may not be a practical choice.

You can certainly look through your yellow pages to find schools close to you or ask people you know if they know of any schools. A word to the wise: friends will always try to get you to come to their school and may get offended of you dont or if you visit and then dont want to sign up. Thats definitely something to consider.

Some practical things to consider are school location and proximity to home / work, costs and your ability to pay dues and other fees, class schedule and how it fits into your schedule. Other things may also be important to you like parking, and facilities write them down.

You should narrow down your potential list of schools based on your criteria, but you should still plan on visiting more than one to give you a sense of comparison.

5. Choosing a school

The following are a list of things I suggest you look for when choosing a school or instructor. To me, these factors are more important than any other of the above factors and can make or break your martial arts experience.

When you call the school, are all your questions answered, and answered honestly? Sometimes someone will answer the phone that may not be able to answer all your questions. They should pass you on to someone who can , or have someone call you back.

Every school out there should offer at least one free trial class before you sign up. How else can you determine if you want to study there? Your best bet is to try out several different schools to give you some comparison.

When you visit the school, is the practice safe, or are students allowed to train in dangerous ways or without proper supervision?

Is the school itself hygienic and free from unsafe conditions?

Do students and teachers show respect toward everyone? This extends beyond formal bowing and address to making sure everyone is learning and nobody is being abused.

Be prepared that many schools these days require a contract like a health club. Make sure you are clear on the terms of the contract if you do decide to sign one, and do not be afraid to walk out if you are uncomfortable with the terms.

Be very wary of cult-like schools that try to up-sell you to intensified black belt programs and the like. While some of these may be legitimate, there are many scam artists in black belts out there. You should be very clear about what you are paying for up front.

Do the teacher and senior students display a lot of skill in the art they are teaching? This may be hard to determine since great martial artists are often very subtle. However, the teacher and students should display knowledge, skill, and balance which might be more obvious.

Most importantly, trust your instincts. If something about the school doesnt sit right with you, then it probably isnt right. Look out for the fast talking salesman who tries to sweep your concerns under the rug.

Remember that choosing the right teacher and the right school is more important than the actual style. If you choose a school that you enjoy, study with a teacher you like, and train with students that inspire you you are likely to stick with your martial art. The longer you stick with it the better youll get. Hopefully you will discover a very positive lifelong journey that will shower hidden benefits on you as my martial art has upon me.

5 Reasons to Take Up Sailing as a Hobby

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Our selection of past times and hobbies is often relative, and influenced dramatically by our upbringing, individual tastes and more significantly our location. Just as an individual who has grown up in an industrial town and cold climate is unlikely to develop a passion for surfing, so too those who do not have easy access to water are not prone to falling in love with the art of sailing. To those who are familiar with the coast or have a connection to the sea sailing is a popular past time however, either as a competitive or a purely recreational activity. Here are some of the best reasons to pursue sailing as a genuine passion in your life: -

1.An Inexpensive and Easy to Learn Activity: We live in an age where value for money remains king, and this applies to both our professional and personal lives. The consumer is increasingly conscious about their expenditure, and sailing provides a relatively inexpensive and easy to learn past time. With boats for hire, inexpensive maintenance costs and thousands of accessible instructors and clubs across the globe, sailing can deliver an exceptional thrill without breaking the bank.

2. It is Both a Thrilling and a Relaxing Experience: As strange as this sounds, sailing can provide a thrill for many different demands. Although a predominantly relaxing past time that appeals to romantics or those with a penchant for exploration, when sailing in adverse weather or high winds it can be a thoroughly exhilarating experience. So regardless of your nature or goals in life, sailing can play a key part in your day to day activities.

3. A Genuine Family Activity: We have already discussed the numerous instructors and sailing clubs that exist across thousands of coastal communities, but another thing to bear in mind is that these hubs are very child friendly. With specific training programs for children and well as adults, sailing can actively be the ultimate family experience. What could be better than traversing the ocean waves with your family in tow to share a unique and exciting adventure.

4. A Boost to Your Well Being and Lifestyle: This may be an unheralded benefit of sailing, but it can in fact provide a tremendous boost to your levels of fitness and well being. With balance and poise being such an important part of sailing, traversing slightly choppy waters can strengthen both your legs, arms and lower abdominal muscles. In addition to this it provides a marvellous opportunity to take in fresh and rarefied air, allowing you to live a healthier and more relaxing lifestyle.

5. It Provides a Boost to Your Mental Performance: While it is a physically proven fact that fresh air and exercise stimulate your mental performance, it is less well known that sailing also improves your levels of focus and concentration. As a sailor you must constantly be aware of your surroundings, the weather conditions and fellow vessels, and learning to maintain this focus can help you to develop a higher degree of mental capacity.

The Bottom Line

These 5 points are perhaps the most immediate reasons why you should consider taking up sailing as a hobby, and it certainly stands as one of the more financially viable and interesting activities that you can undertake in 2012. After all, in an age of electronic games, HD television and social networking, sailing is something that provides a refreshing change of focus and helps to create a healthier and more active interaction between families.

5 Hobbies That Can Improve Your Life

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This past year, I moved into my first apartment. There were several surprising things about this process, the foremost among them being the price of a rug.

There I was, with what I thought was a decent budget of $50, scanning the dregs of Craigslist for the cheapest of the cheap. Even on Craigslist, my options were more or less limited to doormats and runners with unidentifiable stains. On the next tab, I stared longingly at trendy Persian area rugs and natural Kilimanjaro runners in bright shades running for thousands of dollars.

Having lived in a dorm with a meal plan for most of my early adulthood, I was suddenly confronted with the horrible truth: things cost money. And I was poor. In light of my revelation, I began to furiously configure ways in which I could do more with less. In my quest to remain in my meager budget, I picked up several hobbies which allowed me to recreate things I yearned for on store shelves. Not only did this save me a lot of money in the end, but it changed the way I spend my money to this day.

Rug Hooking

As aforementioned, my tussle with a rug for my room was one of the most challenging aspects of decorating the apartment. I had almost given up, when, by chance, I found a video of a woman rug hooking on Youtube. The concept is simple: you pull loops of yarn through a woven base material like burlap with a crochet-like hook. This allows you to create beautiful hand woven designs, not just for rugs but for pillows and other textiles as well.

Sewing

This is one of the first and most vital hobbies I picked up. I bought an almost new Singer beginner sewing machine for sixty dollars from a woman down the street, stole a bolt of leftover fabric from my mom, and took to Youtube to teach myself the ins and outs. This is probably my most useful skill, and one of my favorite hobbies. Though I quickly learned buying fabric could be almost as expensive as purchasing whatever pillow case or dress I was eyeing, my sewing skills allowed me to alter my own clothing. Thrifting is a pretty popular hobby, but few people see the thrift store for what it really is: a giant, cheap, fabric store. I shop the larger clothing items, eyeing only fabric and maybe style, depending on what I'm making. Then I can seam rip the fabric apart into large sections, launder them, and start a new project for about $3.00. Learning how to sew myself has also changed the way I shop. Now, I examine stitching, construction, and material. I always ask myself "but could I make this"? And if the answer is yes, I don't buy it.

Thrifting

As I mentioned before, the thrift store has revolutionized how I make my clothing. Similarly, it has almost single handedly furnished my apartment. There's really nothing more satisfying than finding a great piece at the thrift store for less than twenty bucks. It's more difficult, sure, but that's why it becomes a hobby. I've established a ring of local thrift shops that I visit weekly, and sometimes daily. Stopping in frequently is the key to catching good items right as they come in.

Gardening

Though my gardening experience is perhaps more unconventional than most because of where I live, one of my favorite hobbies is visiting the local plant store on the weekend to survey the in-season plants or pick up a new succulent. My roommates and I spend half our time in the kitchen, figuring out creative ways to fit herbs and succulents into our small space. Some of our favorite solutions include saving cute soda and beer cans, drying them, and then cutting the top off of them to make small, colorful planters.

Painting

Though this hobby has less of a monetary benefit, it probably contributes the most, at the risk of sounding clich, to my inner peace. I spend my most tranquil afternoons watching painting tutorials on YouTube and playing with my paints in my room. I bought a pack of gouache paints from the local art store, which I enjoy because of their matte finish and near poster-like effect.

Obviously, these are the hobbies that improve my life, though they may not reap the same benefits for others. It's always important to consider capital costs and learning curves when adopting a new hobby, because it's easy to get suckered into buying all sorts of products you don't actually need to start. Take my advice: start with the basics, find some tutorials you enjoy, and don't buy a thousand dollar rug.

5 Date Ideas With Your Hubby

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In the hustle and bustle of the city life, we often end up spending time with our laptop, mobile phone, and Television. The pressure of work often takes a toll on our personal life and we start hiding behind the veil of these modern technologies. But imagine, one day when you would be old and gray and your younger generation would be super advanced, what would remain with you? Memories would remain loyal to you till then and if you want to save some nice stories to narrate to your next generation, you got to create some magic now. When was the last time you and your hubby had a conversation without the mobile? Cant remember right? Make your love life a golden one with these 5 date ideas with husband.

On any full moon, prepare for the candlelit dinner at your terrace. When you are in close vicinity of nature, even for a small time, the laptops and mobiles would take a back seat. Promise each other that on every full moon, you would be relishing dinner at your terrace with some candles and cozy cushions. This would be the most romantic thing for your spouse or fiance and you would relish the memories for long.

Weekends mean hogging and sleeping and clearing the domestic chores. It would always be the same. On your next weekend, book a hotel room in your city and lock yourself up with your hubby and just enjoy the room service. You would get enough space to talk and flirt with each other and this would bring back the intimacy you had at the time of your courtship. All in all, you will talk more and discuss things that always remain in the back of your mind and you do not tell each other thinking about the busy schedules that life has pulled you in.

For the next anniversary, take him by surprise by enrolling both of you in a dance class. It may be Rhumba, Salsa, or Freestyle type of dance. This learning together would really create some great memories.You can even indulge yourself in some new language speaking classes or yoga classes. Choose a hobby that you both would like to pursue and enjoy at the same time.

If you had a love story that started in school, I would insist to go back to school on any special event or just on any weekend and revisit those places where your romance churned. The back benches, blackboard, swing, Neem tree, etc. would refresh a stock of memories.

Both of you must be having a bucket list right? If that is hidden somewhere under your bills and responsibilities find that out and click on the adventure trip to the mountain. And that would be the best Valentine gift for husband this year. Pack luggage and set yourself on the course of an adventure trip together just like the old times. Staying away from your busy life will help breathe moments that you miss in your day to day life.

Never let the fire of love cool down in your relationship. With the busy lives we are involved in, we often forget to care about the people who are most close to us. Eventually, we start taking them for granted in a way as we know they will always come back to us no matter what. Lets promise us that whatever the situations be we will spend time with our loved ones surprising them every now and then to make them feel that they are most important parts of your lives even when we are not thinking of them in our busy schedules.