Thought 4 The Week October 6, 2008

Word of the Week: partisan 1par.ti.san noun (Etymology: Middle French partisan, from north Italian dialect partiźan, from part part, party, from Latin part-, pars part Date: 1555)

1: a firm adherent to a party, faction, cause, or person ; especially : one exhibiting blind, prejudiced, and unreasoning allegiance 2 a: a member of a body of detached light troops making forays and harassing an enemy b: a member of a guerrilla band operating within enemy lines

Leadership Quote: A man who wants to lead the orchestra must turn his back on the crowd.

Thing To Ponder: Why is bra singular and panties plural? 

Philosophical Quote: Before enlightenment – chop wood, carry water.  After enlightenment – chop wood, carry water. 

Useless Knowledge: The Sanskrit word for “war” means “desire for more cows.”  

Inspirational Quote: Your current safe boundaries were once unknown frontiers.

Motivational Push

7 Top Questions to Ask Yourself Daily

Living with purpose and passion is based upon decision. You may choose to live day after day, one after another, in a completely ordinary existence. OR you can choose to greet each day with a possibility mindset. A purposeful mindset. A Passionate mindset.

Begin each day with these questions and be amazed.

1. Why is it important for me to engage myself in my work passionately and purposefully each day?

2. How will I choose to allow my attitude effect how I address stressful situations at work today? How can I be more affective and proactive in regards to stress and attitude?

3. When am I most likely too react with the most passion and purpose today? Meeting with clients? Working on my computer? Following up on a lead? Take note of what makes your passion come alive, so you can use it to better your work performance.

4. Where within the organization am I best able to express my passion and purpose? Is it working with my peers? My supervisors? Clients? Interdepartmentally? Where physically do I perform the most purposefully?

5. With whom do I need to spend time in order to maintain balance as I pursue my passion and purpose? Within the organization, who best supports me?

6. What choices will I make today that align my purpose and passion with the tasks at hand at work?

7. Who am I called to be today as an expression of my passion for living?

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Thought 4 The Day – 09/28/08 September 29, 2008

 
Word of The Day: lacunae: \lə-ˈkü-nə, -ˈkyü-\ noun a blank space or a missing part : gap : deficiency 2. a small cavity, pit, or discontinuity in an anatomical structure
 
Leadership Quote: He makes a great mistake … who supposes that authority is firmer or better established when it is founded by force than that which is welded by affection.
 
Thing To Ponder: Why is bra singular and panties plural?

Philosophical Quote: The human mind is inspired enough when it comes to inventing horrors; it is when it tries to invent a Heaven that it shows itself cloddish.
 
Useless Knowledge: Charles Lindbergh took only four sandwiches with him on his famous transatlantic flight.
 
Inspirational Quote: Hell is the knowledge of opportunity lost; the place where the man I am comes face to face with the man I might have been.

A Motivational Push
 
WHAT TIME IS IT?

There was a wealthy business owner who used to walk to his company every morning.  As was his custom he would proceed through the town and stop at the window of the jeweler’s shop.  He would wind his watch fully and reset it to the exact time on the big clock in the jeweler’s window.  He was very particular about having the right time, as he was the one to blow the steam whistle at his factory, at 5 o’clock, to signal the end of the day.



Inside the shop the jeweler recognized his frequent visitor and, although they had never spoken, was curious about this gentleman.  One day the jeweler decided to step out and greet the man.


“I notice every morning that you stop by and look in my window, but you have never come into the shop.  Is there something I can help you with?”


“No, thank you,” replied the gentleman, “I just stop by to set my watch, I know I can trust your big clock for the right time.”


“You certainly can,” said the jeweler with some pride, “That is a fine clock.”


“And tell me how do you set its time?” the gentleman inquired.


The jeweler replied, “I listen every evening, at precisely 5 o’clock, for the steam whistle at the local factory.”

Thought 4 The Week – 09/28/08 September 29, 2008

Word of The Week: tetchy • \TETCH-ee\ • adjective : irritably or peevishly sensitive : touchy 
 
Leadership Quote: Leadership is lifting a person’s vision to higher sights, the raising of a person’s performance to a higher standard, the building of a personality beyond its normal limitations.
 
Thing To Ponder: Why is the third hand on the watch called the second hand?
 
Philosophical Quote: How often one sees people looking far and wide for what they are holding in their hands? 

Useless Knowledge: The fingerprints of koala bears are virtually indistinguishable from those of humans, so much so that they could be confused at a crime scene.
 
Inspirational Quote: What are these tools, these techniques of suffering, these means of experiencing the pain of problems constructively that I call discipline? There are four: delaying of gratification, acceptance of responsibility, dedication to truth, and balancing.
 
Motivational Push
 
The Journey
 
One day you finally knew
What you had to do, and began
Though the voices around you
Kept shouting
Their bad advice -
Though the whole house
Began to tremble
And you felt the old tug
At your ankles “Mend my life!”
Each voice cried.
But you didn’t stop.
You knew what you had to do,
Though the wind pried
With its stiff fingers
At the very foundations,
Though their melancholy
Was terrible.

It was already late
Enough, and a wild night,
And the road full of fallen stones.
But little by little,
As you left their voices behind,
The stars began to burn
Through the sheets of clouds,
And there was a new voice,
Which you slowly recognized as your own,
That kept you company
As you strode deeper and deeper
Into the world,
Determined to do
The only thing you could do -
Determined to save
The only life you could save.

By Mary Oliver 

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The Happier Life Chronicles – Thought 4 The Week August 24, 2008

As the list of life’s stresses increases exponentially, we find ourselves consumed with finding quick fixes while trying to maintain some semblance of normalcy.  Gas, food, health care and education top just about everyones’ list as culprits.  Some hypothesize about the reasons, while others determine to take action.  We look to hybrids, farmer’s markets, foreign pharmaceuticals and alternative modes of education to solve our problems and ease our minds.  It’s a different world than our parents or even their parents grew up in.  This fast paced society, calls for more money, more time, more, more, more…until you’ve given of yourself completely.  However, in the midst of it all, there must be time for a mental revival.  A time dedicated only to renewal of our minds.  A sabbath, if you will.  A time set aside for a specific thing. 

From this mode of thinking, the Thought 4 The Week was born.  I firmly believe that we must start our week, not with an empty canvas, but with a canvas containing a background of inspiration and motivation.  A background, that no matter what is painted on the canvas, the background will permeate and continually hint at the beauty beneath. 

The Thought 4 The Week contains six elements: Word of the Week, Leadership Quote of the Week, Thing To Ponder, Philosophical Quote of the Week, Useless Knowledge, and Inspirational Quote of the Week.  The contents of each of these elements are by no means original, however, when pooled together, they can foment a newness and rev you up for the week to come. 

Thought 4 The Week

Word of the Week
Ambisinister: (am-bi-SIN-uh-stuhr) adjective: Clumsy with both hands.

Leadership Quote of the Week
“If it’s a good idea, go ahead and do it. It’s much easier to apologize than it is to get permission.”
Admiral Grace Hopper

Thing To Ponder
Why is it that people say they “slept like a baby” when babies wake up every two hours? 

Philosophical Quote of the Week
“Our eyes can only see our beliefs. Our beliefs cause us to make assumptions, draw conclusions and cause confusion. Our five senses are very limiting.” White Bison

Useless Knowledge
The name of the first presidential airplane was the Sacred Cow.

Inspirational Quote of the Week
“Whenever you are confronted with an opponent, conquer him with love.” Mahatma Gandhi

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The Happier Life Chronicles – The Journey May 21, 2008

“We are so often caught up in our destination that we forget to appreciate the journey…” Author Unknown

There is a tendency, when striving toward success, to focus on the destination.  We are taught that this is the only way, the recipe, if you will, for success – envision yourself being successful and you will BE successful.  No one can dispute this tidbit of advice, for most successful people you ask will relay, almost verbatim, the exact quote, “I just saw myself being successful at __________, and within ______ years, I’m making more than I ever dreamed.”  Sound familiar? I thought so.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not knocking the ’success visionaries’.  It is good to maintain a healthy dose of mental directives when it comes to progress in life.  However, and perhaps this might impact you, most people spend so much time concerned with the goal, they overlook how they made it to the goal. 

I’ll take an ethereal/philisophical approach to this subject.  Goals we have set for ourselves or that have been set for us, are truly just markers for the next level of achievement.  The true achievement is what you must learn, apply, fail at, succeed at, and release in order to reach the goal set forth.  It is the character you build by sacrificing your time and energies for a specific purpose.  The person who starts the pursuit of the goal is rarely the same person who attains the goal.  You are different, your thoughts, your feelings, your belief about yourself.  It is in this that we can appreciate what the journey does for us.

“We do not care of what we have, but we cry when it is lost.” Russian Proverb

Could it be that we major in the minors?  The goal, in this scenario, being the ‘minors’.  When character is built and cultivated during a journey, the goal can truly, only be seen as the by-product.  However, in a results-driven environment, where the bottom-line is all anyone cares about, the path you took to get there is nothing more than an after-thought.  That is until another hurdle has to be jumped or deadline needs to be met.  This is when we employ the ‘path’ or ‘journey’, the lessons learned and the character built, to manage and secure that success…to meet the bottom-line.

The journey, whether a stroll in the park, a marathon, or an artist’s sketching, stretches our mind and our constitution.  The journey creates formidable strength and produces all that is needed.  Yes, the goal is celebrated, however, the journey should be revered.

The Happier Life Chronicles – Appreciate Me! April 30, 2008

Apparently this is the time of year when the Big Kahunas show appreciation to the Little Kahunas… in short, it’s Staff Appreciation week.  If your past experiences are anything like mine, you’ve come to expect the ever-so-un-impressive staff appreciation gift. You know the kind – anything with your company’s logo printed on it; $10 gift cards to, oh, say, Target (I mean really, what can a gal get at Target for $10), now a $10 Starbucks card might be cool, but still a little unimpressive.  Okay, maybe I’m asking too much, but dargone it, we get up every morning, don our sleekest business casual attire, arrive relatively on time, and work our gludius maximuses into gludius minimuses to get, yes, a $10 Target gift card, once a friggin year.  As my boss put it (and boy am I hoping he’s not reading this), in this economy, you should be happy to just get a paycheck.  Ouch!  He was right (now I really hope he’s not reading this, because admitting that he’s right opens up a whole new can of worms).  In this economy, looking for a gift that is even remotely in the triple digits, from your place of employment, from your spouse, from your kids, from anybody, is just a little much to ask.  Anyhoo, back to the appreciation thing… I was literally blown away at the lengths my company went to in order to show their staff that we were appreciated.  I mean really!  We had a lunch time movie, we received these awesome umbrellas (for when the rain comes), they even fed us (and me especially with my V/V self) each day of the week!  OMG!

All of this appreciation got me to thinking.  From my statements above, it’s clear that I expect some level of appreciation from the people and entities in my life and I risk to bet you do to.  When I considered what it is that I regard as appreciation from others, it was inevitable that I pondered my own ways of showing myself appreciation.  Do I go out and purchase a diamond trinket for myself?  Do I say “Thank you, me, for picking up those clothes on the floor”?  Do I take myself out for dinner on special occasions?  No. No. And No. Through these answers, it became evident that I don’t appreciate myself nearly as much as I should.  Do you?

As is my custom, I don’t bring up problems unless I have suggestions to fix such problems.  Here on this very page I have assembled a list of, Oh-So-Awesome ways of showing thyself the appreciation thou deserveth!  Pick one, pick them all and if you don’t find anything that suits you, think of something else and send it to me.

Ways to Appreciate Yourself

• Comparisons are for weenies – As hot as you are, as intelligent as you are, and as funny as you friggin are, there is absolutely NO need to compare yourself to anyone in this galaxy!  Comparing yourself to others only activates insecurities within.  If you do it, stop.  If you don’t do it, don’t start.
• Don’t fear failure – Part of appreciating yourself is trying things you are interested in.  Yes, you run the risk of failing, but you also run an even bigger risk of succeeding.  Imagine what a boost it would be for you to succeed at something you’ve never tried.  
• Me Time – If you haven’t checked out my post on Adult Time Joys, you should do that right after you’re done here.  You’ve got to get out there and spend some time with others, enjoying yourself!  There is no better way to appreciate you, than to allow you to enjoy yourself.
• Get a mantra going – I love these.  You can make up something like, “I appreciate me for being a great mom, for being a great cook, for being a gold-medal wife, and for being a great employee.” Just find something that speaks to the things you want to appreciate yourself for and say it, as often as you want to.
• Check yourself out, NAKED – Oh yeah! Go ahead baby, check out that badunkadunk! Look at those curves and those legs, go ahead.  It’s all you!  Focus on the parts of your body you hate the most and find something positive to say about them.  Like for instance, that stubborn baby belly fat that still exists 12 years later, just remember how beautifully you carried your son/daughter (even if it was 12 years ago), and what a gift it was to incubate such a joy in your stomach for those months.  This little exercise should be so much fun.
• Appreciate others – Think about the people in your life who you wish would appreciate you more (spouse, kids, parents, boss, co-workers, friends), and appreciate them.  Don’t just say nice things every now and again, but go out of your way to show them (in ways they understand) that you appreciate them.  You’ll see how soon the actions are reciprocated.  It’s karma, what goes out comes right back around.

So this is my list for how to appreciate oneself.  If you find there are more ways, please, by all means, send me a comment and tell us all about it.

 

Make Your Ends Meet – Money Saving Ideas April 26, 2008

If things continue going the way they have been, we’ll be sitting around in a few years saying, “Remember when gas was $4.00 a gallon? Ah, those were the good old days.”  But until we make that inevitable statement, we’ve got to find ways to put a lid on that siphon attached to our wallets.  There used to be a time when I didn’t mind paying a high price for the things my family needed.  Nowadays, I find myself averaging if we can go another week without running out of toilet paper (just picture that one); or negotiating between shampoo and shower gel (I got the shower gel and used it as shampoo as well as body wash).  Bottom line – times are tough and money is tight!  

It became evident that the stress of my financial situation was overpowering my usually rational thought  process, when I nearly beat my farmer’s market grocer with a stalk of celery after he told me it was $3.00 a bunch.  It was time for an intervention.  Like I said, times are tough, and people get crazy when times are tough.  I have instead decided to implement a few money saving tricks into my lifestyle, that have so far been working and keeping me from an assault & battery charge.

1. Public Transportation – I’ll admit it.  I drove a MEGA gas guzzler and every time I put my foot on the peddle, I could feel my wallet shudder, not to mention the emissions!  So, I parked that sucker and opted in to the transportation reimbursement program offered at my job.  They pay for parking or bus passes.  I evaluated my situation – gas was a significant drain on my finances (upwards of $400/mth) so utilizing public transpo really did the trick for me.  It also gave me some extra sleep time on the way to work.  
2. Farmer’s Market – Oh the joys of NOT having to pay almost $50.00 for one bag of groceries.  I always carry only $40.00 with me to the market.  With this $40.00, I get the following items: 2 bags of raw almonds, a week’s supply of broccoli, celery, spinach, cauliflower and carrots.  I also get some flowers (they usually die within the week), a week’s supply of pears, apples and grapes.  Then, I pick up lunch – yes, without exceeding that $40.00.  Obviously, for a person like me (Vegetarian/Vegan), the farmer’s market is like heaven, but looking at the cost of meat these days, you might want to consider becoming V/V.
3. Buy in Bulk – I’m pretty much a minimalist, but when it comes to kids, you’ve got to have their stuff on hand, otherwise you’re screwed.  I started using an online baby store called Diapers.com, where I can buy just about anything for my son and have it mailed directly to my door.  Hooray, they just launched their ‘green section’, this is the area in which they’ve assembled all of the eco-friendly products for tree-huggers like me.  After comparing calculations for buying in bulk or otherwise, I realized that I’ve been saving about $5.00 per purchase.  Also, if I spend over $50.00 (which I ALWAYS do – have you seen the price of diapers lately?), I get free shipping.  

As another means of trying to save, I subscribe to an online newsletter called Dollarstretcher. com.  The ezine is filled with helpful hints (sent in by real people) to get you on the saving track.  I’ve scoured several of the installments I’ve received over the past months and have reprinted them here.  Check them out and if the shoe fits, by all means, try that sucker on.

• Homemade Mixes - A great way to save time, money and eat healthier is to make your own mixes for cookies, pancakes, quick breads or anything you bake in the oven. I save the 32-ounce yogurt containers I buy and then I put a piece of masking tape on the cover to label the mix. I measure all dry ingredients into the containers (flour, baking powder, baking soda, cocoa powder, salt, etc.). I alter my recipes, substituting with healthier flours (soy, pea, whole wheat, buckwheat). Once a month, I create the mixes we’ll use for the month. It is such a time and mess saver, and we don’t use store mixes, which can get expensive.
• ‘Frugalize’ your gift giving - Instead of buying yet another toy that will be forgotten, give kids “gift certificates” good for lunch with dad or mom, miniature golf trip, batting cages trip, etc. Make it something your kid always wants, but you feel is a splurge.
•  Cheap Mattress Protector - If you have a child who is toilet training or just needs a mattress protector, why not buy a shower curtain at about $2 instead of the terribly overpriced “store bought” protectors? They work extremely well with no leaks and are also fully washable.
• Don’t buy plastic zipper bags - Don’t waste your money on food zipper bags. Many items purchased at the grocery store come in zipper type bags, including deli meats, tortillas, cheese, raisins, frozen items, etc. They can be washed and used again and again. It’s a good ideas to use an anti-bacterial spray, too.
  For items that do not have to be completely airtight, use produce bags, bread bags, cereal liners, etc. These are also great for freezing meats into smaller portions and then placing all the contents into one larger zipper bag.
• Cheap Chips - We love to eat tortilla chips with our homemade garden salsa, but cheap chips are often greasy and unhealthy. The low-fat baked chips are way too expensive for us! So we get white or yellow corn tortillas in a package of 36 for about $1.50, cut them each into eight triangles (this can be done quickly in a stack and with a pizza cutter) and spread them on cookie sheets. I sprinkle them with water to make them crispy, add seasoned salt or whatever other seasoning we have around, and then bake them at 375 degrees for 12 to 15 minutes. These chips are very low fat, high in fiber and taste great! Best of all, they cost much less than the national brands of baked chips.
• Shower Moisturizer - I take an inexpensive pump container of body lotion (after about half is gone) and then add some baby oil, shaking it up very well. Then after showering, while still in the tub and before toweling off, I rub it all over myself. Then I “pat dry” so that most of the lotion mixture stays on. It works as well as expensive shower moisturizers and also leaves your towels smelling great! Also, it doesn’t make the bottom of your tub slick like straight baby oil due to the much thicker consistency of the lotion.
• Make the salad yourself - When shopping in the produce department, I usually buy bagged pre-washed salad to save time and money because it is just the right amount for a family of four. This week I compared prices and the cost of a bag of leaf lettuce was half as much and would make twice as much salad. By dividing it up after washing, we can have salad for two meals and save on the cost. Also those carrots that are “mini” are much more expensive than the carrots that need to be washed and peeled. Now we can have our greens and save some green too!
• Free Mailing Packaging - I save the extra tough plastic-like mailing bags from packages that I receive in the mail and turn them inside out to reuse. They look like new and are free.
• Discount Student’s Instruments - When my son was taking clarinet at school, I determined that I didn’t want to rent one and I didn’t know enough about the instrument to make a wise choice of buying one. So, I called the company that provides the rentals for the schools. They were happy to sell me a refurbished clarinet for far less than the cost of a 9 month rental. The staff there knew what the school’s requirements were, the kind of instruments the teachers wanted the kids to use, and were very forthcoming. I saved a lot of money by purchasing that used instrument on my own rather than going thru the school’s rental program.
• Children’s Party - For your child’s next party, consider having a “book exchange” instead of gifts. Here’s how it works. Each child who attends the party brings one wrapped book (age appropriate of course). At the start of the party, all of the books are put into a bin. Then, when the party’s over, each child gets to choose a book to take home as his or her party favor. We tried this for our daughter’s fourth birthday party recently and it worked great. The parents all loved the idea because they didn’t have to worry about what to buy for a gift. And it freed us up from having to buy or make goody bags, which usually just consist of candy and/or cheap plastic toys anyway. At our party, everyone remembered to bring a book. However, I’d recommend placing two or three wrapped books in the bin yourself in case anyone forgets to bring one.
• The Eating Out Bank - I recently started my own “Stop Eating Out” plan. I used to stop at Starbucks and get coffee and a sandwich every workday. Then at lunchtime, I drove to various fast food places for lunch. No more. I started bringing lunch, embracing the concept of small meals with the right amounts of protein, starches, veggies, and sweets for my sweet tooth. When I do this, $5 goes into the piggy bank. So I’m sort of “paying myself” to not eat out! And I think I’m eating healthier, too.
• Homemade Non-Stick Spray -I bake a lot. Instead of buying expensive cake release or nonstick spray I make my own. It’s just equal parts of flour and shortening plus a little bit of vegetable oil to make it more spreadable. I usually use one cup of flour, one cup of shortening and two tablespoons of oil. I mix it up and store it in an airtight container. Just brush it into your pans. The results are great.

If you have any other money/time/sanity saving ideas, please leave a comment letting us know who you are and what your tip is.

Adult Time – Find it & Savor it April 22, 2008

After watching Madagascar for the 27th time with my toddler, who, by the way, only wants to hear the song at the end of the movie (“I Like To Move It, Move It!”), I realized, I hadn’t even so much as glimpsed at a non-animated/puppet TV show since, well, a long time.  My head is constantly filled with the ABC song and Old McDonald (you know, the one that had a farm – EIEIO).  And then, there’s my almost guaranteed response to everyone who asks how I’m doing…”Super Swell, thank you”.  Super swell???  I’m 30+ years old and my response to my well-healed, well-educated colleagues is, yup, “Super Swell”.  Bearing all this in mind, I’ve decided to compile a list of “Adult Time” joys for you and me.  While spending quality time with your spouse/significant other is definitely “Adult Time” worthy, that’s not what this is about.  Intimacy, and all the ‘additional’ stuff that comes along with it are great, but I’m talking about hobbies, interactions with friends, ecetera ecetera.

After a short investigation for my Adult Time joys project, I came across several great suggestions for moms across the status spectrum – busy, not-so-busy (I don’t know any mom that’s not-so-busy, but whatever), working full-time, stay-at-home, working part-time… you name it, there are hobbies and great activities for you.  So read on and if you think you’ve got a great hobby or activity I’ve failed to mention, please, by all means, post a comment and tell us all about it.

Scrapbooking – I have been amazed by the creations coming out of some of these scrapbooking ladies! From what I understand, it doesn’t take a Picasso to do them either.  This is truly for any level of busy you’ve got going on.  Search your phonebook or the web to find scrapbooking groups in your area.  Who knows it could turn out to be something you truly enjoy.  I have a friend who started out doing this as a hobby, then, due to her obvious skill and simply marvelous talent, she’s now doing it as a business.  Check her out with her scrapbooking self – tinakeyner.typepad.com.

Photography – What a wonderful way to experience the world!  Capturing a scene from your perspective and memorializing it truly shows you how you see things.  Now you don’t have to go out and splurge on a million dollar camera, start with a disposable, then upgrade, then upgrade again.  There’s really no wrong way to do this.  If you prefer to have a little company, take a photography class and go out taking pictures with your classmates or just some friends with similar interests.  Just have fun capturing the pictures around you.    

Write a Book – Collaborate with an ADULT friend on writing an ADULT book.  Many of my friends ventured to write kids books and then realized, ‘OMG, I deal with my kids all day long and the only form of escape I have is writing a kids’ book?’  Then, of course, the idea was scrapped.  Not you, though.  Write a love story or a mystery novel.  Heck, get it published!  You might be the next Stephen King (only way cuter and with a  much better physique).

Take a Dance Class – This, by far, is my favorite.  I love shakin’ what my mama gave me!  It doesn’t matter if you dance like Elaine (on Seinfeld), or both of your left feet are crooked – dance is like music, universal. Look for dance classes at your local community college or community center.  Not only will you enjoy yourself, you’ll lose weight, meet others and have Adult Time joy in the process.  Warning: If your dance style could in any way endanger those around you, you may want to opt out of this one.

Start jogging – Some moms I know can’t live without their daily run.  Some moms I know would never come back if they started running.  But for those of you who would, think about this as a form of spending some much needed Adult Time.  Jogging/Running is fantastic on many levels and while you’re out, you can pick up the groceries and dry-cleaning – JK.

Hit the gym – On the same note, the gym would be a great place to make some new friends and engage in endorphin-releasing, sweat-inducing, heart-pounding Adult Time.  Don’t think I need to delve too deeply into this one… it kind of speaks for itself.

Volunteer – Volunteering at your local community center, elderly facility or library is a great way to get out there and start engaging in Adult Time.  You get to satisfy your desire to help others while fulfilling your desire to help yourself our of Romper Room!  Check out any volunteer opportunities in your local area – volunteer.com

Girl’s night out – OK, so this is not so novel, but much needed.  I don’t suggest doing it every week, but once a month is pretty reasonable.  Send an evite and gather up all your girlfriends (especially the ones with kids – kill two birds with one stone), and just hang out.  Get dressed up, put on make-up and do your hair. Resurrect the sizzlin’ hot chick you were before breast-pumps and pureed pears. 

Alright, it’s your turn.  If I haven’t exhausted every possible Adult Time joy out there (which, I’m most certain I haven’t), please post a comment suggesting your favorite one and any links to more info about it.  

So, You Want To Work From Home! April 16, 2008

I’ve often wondered how to get someone to pay me a competitive salary to sleep all day.  Perhaps, some of the nighttime cold medicine companies need a few “guinea pigs”!  But since those particular companies only test their products on animals and especially since I don’t advocate using OTC’s, that one is out the window.  If you are at all like me, and have dreamt of staying at home while making money ‘in your undies’, then this post will knock your socks off! 

 

“Anyone can start a business”, says Bunmi Zalob, founder of UnBusy Mom (www.unbusymom.com), a workshop that teaches mothers how to create bliss at home through a work/life balance.  “The trick to being a successful entrepreneur mom is to run your business, not have it run you”, she says.  Bunmi is one of those lucky moms who get to use their passion and make money on a very flexible schedule. She’s a mom who believes that being busy is a state of neurosis. “I’m a mom who believes that every woman is born with a skill to share with the world and family should in no way derail that process. An UnBusy mom says yes to help, yes to planning, and yes to creativity. She says no to clutter (both physical and spiritual), no to negativity, and no to isolation.”

So for those of you who want to have your cake and eat it too, there’s hope.  If you want to run your own successful business, yet still have some quality family time, as Bunmi is convinced you can, read on.  I’ve researched a few profitable home-based businesses and have ‘interviewed’ some of the movers and shakers in this industry in order to bring you an itemized, but meaty (veggie, of course) collection of work-from-home businesses. Here are some great money-making ideas for you:

 

Internet Business Opportunities – You can find opportunities with companies like Home Business Frontiers, AllBusiness.com, and FunCareers.com.  These types of work-from-home companies require internet-access and just a few brain cells. How much can you expect to make? Well that’s all up to your tenacity, but some of these sites boast earning potential in the six figures.  For example, an Online/Phone Surveyor can make anywhere from $0-$100,00.00 if the stars align just right with the perfect mix of company and payment selection.  But be warned, not all internet businesses will render you a whopping income. You have to research each company to find out what their pay scale is.  THEN, and that’s a big then, you have to have the frijoles to get people to trust you and give you their business.  Have you received an email from an internet business lately?  Delete/Spam Blocked!  Or better yet, have any of your evening meals been interrupted by a surveyor? Mine too, and I think I said something like, “Who are you looking for? (pause for response) Oh I’m so sorry, but she’s been abducted by aliens!” 

 

Home Day Care – For those of you who relish the thought of spending time with your kids, the neighbors’ kids, the playground kids, everybody’s kids so much that you want to do it for a living… Heaven help you!  J.K. No really, starting a home day care may be just what you are looking for.  With childcare costs on the rise and parents having to spend more and more time at work away from their children, you’re looking at a cash cow of a opportunity.  This, however, is a business with extreme scrutiny involved, you’re dealing with other peoples’ kids on a day to day basis, essentially being mommy for 8-12 hours a day – any diaper rashes (your fault), any scratches or scrapes (your fault), and any innocently spoken foul language (yup, you got it – your fault).  However, the positives far outweigh the negatives and you’ll get at least a quarter of the credit, oh and all of the pay.  As far as income, you must research the going rates in your community, but first you must get certified.  Nobody’s going to let just any old Joe Schmoe watch their kids all day with no proof of legal sanity.  For more info go to the National Resource Center for Health and Safety in Child Care and Early Education’s website: www.nrc.ucnsc.edu

 

Avon/Mary Kay Representative – How many times have the ladies in your life approached you to buy Avon or Mary Kay products?  A lot, I assume.  And have you ever wondered (to yourself, of course), “How much is she making doing this?” So have I, and while neither company is specifically sharing the actual income of their reps, they do encourage them to do their best with itty-bitty incentives like, oh say, cars and trips.  I look at it this way, you call a few gals over or go to their house, or meet at Starbucks and show them what you’ve got and see who bites.  Office settings are the Trifecta of money making for businesses like these – low cost, superior products, willing and able consumers.  You can’t go wrong there.  Check out their respective websites for more info.

 

Multi-Level Marketing Opportunities – This is not for the shy or reserved or introverted applicant! Just a warning. Companies like Zrii and Melaleuca provide the opportunity to health-conscious representatives to promote wellness products, whether online or in person.  These companies pay on two different levels – amount of people signed up and/or amount of products sold.  The common denominator in both of these is serious, unadulterated, self & product promotion.  The products themselves have received stellar consumer ratings, in fact Zrii, although not explicitly selling its products, boasts a rejuvenating, preservative-free wellness drink endorsed by Deepak Chopra of all people.  The key to success in these types of businesses is to know your product and know your audience.  It makes absolutely no sense selling eco-friendly, breast-pumps to Buddhist monks – translation? You get no sales!  For more info on these companies check out their websites: zrii.com & melaleuca.com.  As comprehensive as they are, neither website answered all my questions, so I found reps from each company who did, their info is as follows: Zrii Rep – Gary 818-667-9179 or gchernyavsky@msn.com, Melaleuca Rep – June 808-216-8864 or Sunday.topratebiz.com. Like I said, this ain’t for the thin-skinned but the rewards can bolster you into six figures.

 

Online Travel Agent – If you love to travel and have the gift of gab you will do well in this line of employment.  Not only do you sell travel vacations via internet at competitive prices, but you get to travel to exotic destinations for free!  Your Travel Business (ytb.com) has done all the work for you.  There may be an initial fee involved, but it could definitely be worth it to get free travel. For more info, contact George at thirdwindtravel@sbcglobal.net.

 

So you see, there are more than enough opportunities out there for anyone willing and able to work from home.  Do your research, write out your plan and go for it!  Don’t be discouraged and don’t be afraid if you make a mistake or get overwhelmed.  There’s a light at the end of the tunnel and there are always resources to help you make it through. Like the UnBusyMom said, you’ve got to run your business, you can’t let it run you.

 

If you run a home-based business, send me a comment letting me know what you do and how you maintain sanity doing it.  Who knows, this might be some free advertising for you, because in order to be successful, you’ve got to be a shameless, self-promoter!  If you don’t do it for you, who will????

The Happier Life Chronicles – How To Wake Up Happy March 26, 2008

I know you’ve planned a serious ‘beat-down’ for the office perker-upper… you know who I mean – the person that walks around the office every morning greeting everyone and happily encouraging you to have a ‘nice’ day.  It’s tough to wake up each and every morning seizing the day with passion and marked determination, especially when all you really want to do is pull the covers over your head and catch some more “z’s”.   I feel your pain and because of that, I have set out to do what any self-respecting pain-feeling blogger would do for a friend in need.  I’ve assembled a list of 10 tricks to helping you wake up happy.  Check them out, try them out, and if you don’t wake up bright and early with happiness in your soul within a week, switch to the night shift!

How To Wake Up Happy – 10 Steps

1.  Eat light before retiring for the night.  If you’re chowing down on a double cheese burger w/ x-large fries and a diet coke (to reduce your calorie intake, of course), you’re going to find that your tummy will be a little pissed at you and will have no trouble letting you know throughout the night!
2. Don’t skimp on your sleep time.  If you need 8 hours, don’t try to shave 1 1/2 hours off, you’ll pay for it – or rather your co-workers and family will pay for it with your grumpy attitude.  And you’ll probably be sleeping out that 6 1/2 hours on the couch till you cheer up.
3. Wake up w/o assistance.  The blaring sound of an alarm clock is nothing less than annoying (which is why it’s so effective).  But who WANTS to wake up to that every morning.  You can try a CD alarm clock or a Zen Alarm Clock which plays sounds from nature or chimes to gently lift you from your slumber.   
4. Smile as soon as you wake up.  All I can say about this one is, “Fake it till you make it!”  
5. Have something to look forward to.  Think about that great cup of coffee you’ll be having in about 10, 15, or 30 minutes.  You could even plan to meet with friends later on in the day, just for a pow wow or perhaps, happy hour.
6. Open your windows wide.  Let the sunshine in (sorry, but I just couldn’t resist).  There’s nothing like a little sunshine to pull you from your unconscious state.
7. Have a mantra.  You could say something like, “Wow! I’m awake and boy am I glad about that!” OR “It’s great to wake up to a new day full of promise.”  Just pick something that makes you feel good to be awake.
8. Sing a song.  Personally I like the Mr. Rogers song… “It’s a beautiful day in the neighborhood, a beautiful day for a neighbor.  Would you be mine, could you be mine, would you be my neighbor.”  Boy, I’m already feeling better.  You can even make up your own ‘good morning song’ and remember, this isn’t American Idol, so you don’t have to sing on key… heaven help us!
9. Scream good morning to the world.  You may not want to try this little tip if you have ‘company’ in your bed.  In fact, depending on the thickness of your walls, you may want to amend the ’scream’ part and settle for ’say’.  
10. Keep items of beauty by your bed.  Perhaps you like colorful flowers or paintings.  Some people keep photos of family members or pets.  Whatever makes you happy when you look at it… put it right by your bed side, so that when you wake up, it’ll be the first thing you see.

Waking up happy can be difficult for even the greatest optimists.  There is always hope though and as you continue to practice happiness, it’ll get easier and easier to BE happy.