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Restaurant Map Guide

noreply@blogger.com (historicman) — Sat, 9 Jul 2011 03:04:00 -0700

Traditionally, when people were looking for a new restaurant, they would pick up a copy of Zagat's or some other fancy food guide. But in just a few short years, online maps have come a long way and now offer local information on businesses, shops and eateries too. Sites like Google Maps allow users to create their own maps of favorite establishments that they can save or share with friends and family. There are hundreds of food maps online, although a few noteworthy ideas have risen to the top.

On the West Coast, what could be better than eating a real, authentic Mexican taco out of a truck? With heaping portions, loads of options and mama's homemade guacamole, you just cannot go wrong. You just can't get that level of deliciousness from a restaurant, Californians say. However, it can be tricky to locate these trucks, especially if you are from out-of-town. Thus, Yumtacos was born.

Creator Joshua Lurie-Terrell of Sacramento, California said he had been keeping a list of the best taco trucks for quite some time. "As soon as friends of mine knew I had this list, people were calling me all the time," he admits. From there, transferring the data onto a Google map was no problem. Once the site was live, people could add their own taco truck sightings. Yum Tacos primarily focuses on California, although authentic Mexican taco trucks have been plotted from as far away as Baltimore, Maryland.

Another site, Chinesefoodmap, is based on mapping out the Chinese restaurant locations for Chinese immigrants. Web users will also have access to reviews, menus, driving directions and other local information. Creator Brian Hui first created this site only in Chinese and focusing on Los Angeles and San Francisco Bay Chinese food establishments. However, the site has grown nationwide to metros like Houston, Seattle and Atlanta, and an English version inevitably popped up as well.

Users of Google Maps have created a number of restaurant "mashups" based on the Google template. One of the most notable sites is Menurequest, which features more than 5,000 links in New York, San Diego, Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, Napa Valley, Philadelphia, San Francisco, and Washington DC. Users can visit the restaurant's website, read reviews, get driving directions and make online reservations through this amazing map. These are just a few of the food maps available to culinary curators. Perhaps your very own city has a site designed just for hungry local residents like you.

Complete Map Guide

noreply@blogger.com (historicman) — Fri, 8 Jul 2011 03:01:00 -0700

Satellite maps are a great resource to use when advertising a location, or to determine what the neighborhood and street of a location will look like. Is it an address you have never been to before? Do you want customers to know what the front of your building looks like? Is there nearby parking? This is the way to use Google Maps to your advantage.

The first step is to open a web browser and go to Google, then click on the link at the top of the page labeled Maps. Next, type either the name of a business or an address into the search bar at the top of the webpage. Be sure to include a city and state if possible, to help narrow your results. You can also type a business name and an address at the same time to find a business close to that location.

Once you have pulled up a map of a business, address, or place of interest you will have the options of reading and writing a review, learning more information about the location, getting directions, searching for a nearby location, zooming in, saving the location to My Maps, and sending the information. There will also be information such as the address, phone number, and website of the location you searched for.

Google Maps also allows users to view traffic, a simple map, a satellite map, and a terrain map. While viewing a satellite map, it's possible to view the map from a street view by dragging and dropping the little stick figure at the top of the zoom-in/zoom-out bar, or by clicking on a specific direction to see road at that stage of your trip. Feel free to drag the street view photo, as this will cause the photo to rotate so you can look down the street and behind you! It is also possible to move up and down the street to see what the neighborhood looks like, simply click on the arrows in the center of the photo (on the white line where the street name is provided). From the street view, you may also zoom-in by double clicking on the photo.

At the top right of your map you will always see three options: Print, Send, and Link. Print will allow you to print a basic map of the location you entered. Send will allow you to email or send to a phone, car, or GPS. You will be able to send to multiple destinations and include a personal message. Link will provide you with a link that can be used in an email or instant message, or with HTML that can be used for a website.

Using the Print, Send, and Link features as well as the zoom-in and street view features is a powerful tool for both marketing and your own personal use. Google Maps (http://maps.google.com) is an easy to use tool that is both free and useful.

Book to Have Acne Free Face

noreply@blogger.com (historicman) — Mon, 4 Jul 2011 02:29:00 -0700

Chris Gibson's book Acne Free in 3 Days will definitely help anyone who is serious about not only gaining control of their acne but also maintaining healthy skin altogether. When I say serious, I mean you are willing to following the program Chris has developed with discipline and ambition. If you think you are going to read for 3 days and wake up on the fourth morning with a new face, stop reading this review and read one that will lie to you.

Speaking of reading, the ebook is only 72 pages long. Chris makes it clear in the first 15 pages of Acne Free in 3 Days that his journey was a journey of persistence. You will appreciate his method when you read his painful ordeal. You can finish his whole ebook in about an hour or two. The items you will need to buy can be found in your kitchen or easily purchased for about $20-30. That's cool: a short book with an inexpensive supply list. You can't beat that.

Acne Free in 3 Days works so well for same reason it is challenging. In order to get the most out of the program, you are going to have to purify you body. Acne Free in 3 Days is based on detoxifying your body of the substances that promote acne. That's why the ebook title is so accurate. You can be acne free in 3 days, if you have a mild case of acne. If you've read this far, I'm sure you understand that it may take longer for more severe cases.

By following the plan outlined in Chris' book, not only will you get rid of your acne, but you will also become a much stronger person. By cleansing your body of the toxins that promote acne, and other things, you are going to put yourself in a position to keep that healthy glow. The good thing about holistic remedies is that the effects stay with you as long as your stick with the remedy. Unlike medication which your body eventually builds a tolerance for.

Can you imaging how good it's going to feel when you don't have to worry out how your face looks? Stop imagining and take action! Buy Acne Free in 3 Days now. The sooner the better.

Review-Burn the Fat Feed the Muscle

noreply@blogger.com (historicman) — Mon, 4 Jul 2011 02:08:00 -0700

Tom Venuto's book Burn the Fat Feed the Muscle, available for digital download, explains in-depth, a non-traditional system for lowering one's body fat percentage and keeping the fat and weight off permanently. Unlike other aggressive weight loss plans, this book involves no supplements or drugs, time consuming exercises, or large scale cooking of several meals a day. The objective here is to take in the right type of nutrition where you're not storing or accumulating any additional fat, and you're providing only your muscle tissue with the necessary proteins to grow.

The book Burn the Fat Feed the Muscle can be used in a couple different ways. A lot of hard core, power dieters and those active in the gym can provide some direction and a unique approach that they haven't seen before. People who have never dieted or put out any real effort to trim down fat or lose weight can benefit because the book Burn the Fat Feed the Muscle provides a better starting point than many.

Readers have said about the book Burn the Fat Feed the Muscle, that the articles included are inspiring and provide a whole new look to the idea of developing unstoppable fitness motivation, basic health principles, and combining diet and exercise.

Sacrifice is something most people have come to accept when they get into a program like this, but the book Burn the Fat Feed the Muscle focuses on the methods that let you make sure you're still enjoying life while staying healthy and thin. I always laugh how some obese people who refuse to diet or exercise often criticize certain weight loss methods by saying "That's not a healthy diet." It's true, there are some hard-core diets that starve your body and rob you of the important nutrition you need to stay healthy, but the nutritional approach discussed in the book Burn the Fat Feed the Muscle provides all of the necessary variety of the right foods so you can stay healthy.

The book Burn the Fat Feed the Muscle is being commonly regarded as a "must" for anyone who has tried out a lot of the conventional diets, books, and exercise programs, and doesn't seem to make any headway. When you consider the significant gains that people have been seeing from this, it definitely makes it something worth looking into.

Review of Secrets of Power Negotiating

noreply@blogger.com (historicman) — Sat, 2 Jul 2011 05:24:00 -0700

As you read Roger Dawson's book - 'Secrets of Power Negotiating: Inside Secrets from a Master Negotiator' - you will learn so many new strategies, tactics and skills required for successful 'Power' negotiating that your whole concept of negotiating may well change. This book is one of those rare finds: An "Inside Secrets" book that really does show you useful negotiating tactics that you can apply easily in your daily life and going about your business. In fact, whilst they may not be absolutely classed as secrets, I didn't know some of these things before.

The insights you can gain from this book will resonate with real, everyday situations you might encounter such as buying a car or agreeing a holiday destination; but also more serious matters all the way through to resolving difficult business issues. As with most 'Secrets' the ideas themselves are no more than good common-sense approaches, but if you haven't thought of them, some are mind-boggling such as the advice to physically flinch when you hear the other side's first offer.

Beyond this, you'll learn a lot more about other techniques such as 'acquiring a winning personality', 'reading other people' and 'building confidence'. This book is jam-packed with practical tips, and nuggets of information that make you say "of course!"

You will probably think at first-sight that you already know a lot of the ideas presented as secrets, and perhaps you do, but if you stay with it you'll realize that you can see better ways of applying the knowledge you already possess. However, I believe there may be much in the book that you didn't know and it will add to your overall fund of negotiating knowledge.

It's also well written and the layout is easy to follow making it an extremely powerful, great to read.

Review of Good to Great

noreply@blogger.com (historicman) — Sat, 2 Jul 2011 04:52:00 -0700

What makes a company Great? Jim Collins set out to answer this exact question when he and a group of researchers started writing the no. 1 Best Seller Good to Great. Good to Great is a terrific read for anyone interested in creating a great organization.

Good is the enemy of great! Why is Good to Great so Great? Well, Good to Great answers the search for enduring excellence. It is not just a business problem; it's a human problem. The principles within this book can be applied to other organizations, not just business enterprises. Good schools can learn to become great schools. Good government agencies can learn to be great government agencies.

So, just what does make a company great? Collins identifies 6 key attributes:

1. A Great Company Has Level 5 Leadership

Level 5 leaders have goals of building a great company in the next generation, comfortable with the idea that most people won't even know that the roots of that success trace back to their efforts. As one Level 5 leader said, "I want to look out from my porch at one of the great companies in the world someday and be able to say, 'I used to work there.' "

In contrast, the comparison leaders are concerned more with their own reputation for personal greatness, often failed to set the company up for success in the next generation. After all, what better testament to your own personal greatness than that the place falls apart after you leave?

2. First Who, Then What

The main point of this chapter is to get the right people on the bus and the wrong people off the bus before you figure out where to drive it. Letting the wrong people hang around is unfair to the right people. The right people will do the right things and deliver the best results regardless of the incentive system. The second key point is the degree of sheer rigor needed with regard to people decisions in order to take the company from good to great. Good-to-great companies know people aren't your most important asset, the right people are.

Good-to-great companies placed greater weight on character than education, skills, or experience when hiring. The reason: you can teach skills, but character, basic intelligence, work ethic, and dedication to fulfilling commitments are values that are ingrained in a person.

Good-to-great companies were rigorous, but not ruthless. People who did not fit the mold eventually quit or were told to find opportunities elsewhere. The most rigorous discipline was found at the top, where the largest burden of responsibility lies.

Other attributes of great companies include:

3. Confront the Brutal Facts (Yet Never Lose Faith)

4. The Hedgehog Concept (Simplicity within the Three Circles)

5. A Culture of Discipline

6. The Flywheel and the Doom Loop

Tips to Define Own Way

noreply@blogger.com (historicman) — Sun, 26 Jun 2011 08:12:00 -0700

Have you ever thought that you just did not get your way? Think about it. At work you do a few task but you never get the recognition that You so richly deserve. You work your fingers to the bone but somehow you are always overlooked. It is your way or the high way. For example, every year you pick the vacation spot and no one else has a say.

Is it really about you? Honestly, does everything have to be done your way? Do you think that you know what is best for everyone?

If you answered yes to any or all of these questions then it is not too late. Besides having a Scrooge encounter with three ghosts there is a better way of finding the better choices.

"The Purpose Drive Life" is truly a handbook for the modern man and woman. Today, our very culture has been streamlined to the point of the "Me Attitude." We have been hyped to the point that we do not think of ourselves and that we should.

Guess what? That is the wrong attitude to have and if you look closer to our children you will see that they have become a more focused version of "Me" than you are. Does that scare you? It should.

Unfortunately, the media, entertainment industry and marketing have pushed this new attitude on all of us and we have become brainwashed into thinking that it is okay. Well, it is not okay. At some point in time, you may feel rejected or discarded and you will wonder why no one cares. This is why.

So I recommend that Rick Warrens book "The Purpose Drive Life" become your next reading material. It is well written and it is a far cry from boredom. You will quickly see your own life within the pages which will captivate you.

Review-7 Habits of Highly Effective People

noreply@blogger.com (historicman) — Sun, 26 Jun 2011 07:55:00 -0700

Stephen Covey's 7 Habits of Highly Effective People was the self help of the 1990's. Enthusiasm and marketing of this book have dropped off in recent years but the lessons in the book are as applicable today as they were 10 years ago.

The overall philosophy of the book is based on a maturity continuum which travels from Dependence (you) to independence (I) to interdependence (we). Habits 1, 2, and 3 deal with self mastery and private victories and assist in the transformation from dependent to independent. Habits 4, 5, and 6 build teamwork, cooperation and communication. These include Public Victories and transfer from the independent to the interdependent.

Habit 1: Be Proactive

There are 3 accepted theories of determinism to explain the nature of man.

1) Genetic determinism: it's inherited in your genes

2) Psychic determinism: Freudian, learned early from your parents

3) Environmental: this is from your boss, your spouse, the kids, the economy, policies, etc.

However, between stimulus and response, man has the freedom to choose. You can choose through self awareness, imagination, conscience, and independent will.

Reactive vs Proactive

Reactive people are affected by their environment, the weather, how others treat them. Reactive people are driven by feelings, by circumstances, by conditions, by their environment. Proactive people are still influenced by external stimuli but their response to it is a value based choice or response.

Self Awareness

Circle of Concern: where do we focus our time and energy? i.e. our health, finances, children, work, national debt, etc.

Circle of Influence: these are the concerns we have control over either directly (problems involving our own behaviour) or indirectly (problems involving the behaviour of others).

Any time we think the problem is "out there", that thought is the problem. We empower what is out there to control us. This paradigm approach is from the outside-in, example "that much change before I can..." The proactive approach is to generate change from the inside out.

Habit 2: Begin with the End in Mind

To begin with the end in mind means to start with a clear understanding of your destination. It means know where you are going so that you can better understand where you are now and so that the steps you take are always in the right direction.

Imagine your eulogy at your funeral. What would your friends say? What would you like them to say? Your family? Your co-workers?

"Begin with the end in mind" is based on the principle that al things are created twice. There's a mental of first creation and a physical or second creation to all things. There is an idea before there is an action.

Management is a bottom line focus: How can I best accomplish certain things? Leadership deal with the top line: What do I want to accomplish? Management is doing things right, leadership is doing the right things. Management is efficiency in climbing the ladder of success; leadership is determining whether the ladder is leaning against the right wall.

A Personal Mission Statement

The most effective way to build a personal mission statement is to begin with the end in mind. Focus on what you want to be (character) and do (contribution and achievements) and on the values upon which being and doing are based. Begin at the very center of your Circle of Influence. Different people have different paradigms for the source of their center, i.e. spouse, family, work, pleasure, money, self, but perhaps the center should be based upon principles instead?

Habit 3: Put First Things First

Effective management is all about putting first things first. While leadership decides what the "first things" are, it is management that puts them first, day by day, moment by moment. Management is the discipline carrying it out.

The successful person has the habit of doing the things failures don't like to do.

"Time Management" is actually a misnomer, time carries on despite us and we could never manage it. But the challenge is not to manage time, but to manage ourselves.

Question: What one new thing could you do on a regular basis to improve: a) your personal life, and/or b) your professional life?

Urgent: requires immediate attention, usually visible, often popular with others, right in front of us, often easy fun to do

Important: implies results, contributes to your mission, values, goals, generally more tedious without gratification.

We "react" to urgent matters, but must be proactive in regards to important matters.

Most people spend most of their time in Quandrants I and III. However, Quadrant II is the heart of effective personal management. It emphasizes relationship building, long range planning, exercising, preventative maintenance, and preparation. By expanding Quadrant II, you reduce Quadrant I

There are 3 general faults of time and life management:

1) the inability to prioritize

2) the inability or desire to organize around the priorities

3) the lack of discipline to execute and stay with the priorities

6 Important Criteria for a Quadrant II Organizer

1) Coherence: harmony/unity/integrity between your personal mission statement, roles and goals, priorities and plans, desires and discipline.

2) Balance: all roles are balanced, i.e. worder, spouse, parent, friend, self.

3) Quadrant II focus: organize on a weekly/monthly basis. The key is not to prioritize what is on your schedule but to schedule your priorities.

4) A "People" dimension: involve/interact with others, delegate.

5) Flexibility: you planning tool should be your servant, never your master.

6) Portability: carry your tool with you

Habit 4: Think Win/Win

Win/Win is a frame of mind and heart that constantly seeks mutual benefit in all human interactions. Win/Win sees life as a cooperative, not a competitive arena.

Other paradigms include:

Win/Lose: this is most popular in business, sports, academics and even as control in some relationships.

Lose/Win: low self esteem, always put others before themselves regardless of the results.

Lose/Lose: this one is popular in divorce - if I can't have it, nobody will.

Win: a person with this mentality thinks in terms of securing his own ends and leaving it to others to secure theirs.

Win/Win or No Deal: if both parties can't win, then walk away, keeping trust intact.

Character is the foundation of Win/Win

Three essential character traits include:

1) Integrity: goes back to your personal mission statement and values

2) Maturity: the balance between courage and consideration

3) Abundance mentality: the paradigm that there is plenty out there for everybody. This is the opposite of the scarcity mentality.

For Win/Win the focus is on the results, not the methods. The essence of principled negotiation is to separate the person from the problem, to focus on interests and not on positions, to invent options for mutual gain, and to insist on objective criteria - some external standard or principle that both parties can buy into.

First - see the problem from the other point of view

Second - identify key issues and concerns (not positions)

Third - determine what results would constitute a fully acceptable solution

Fourth - identify possible new options to achieve those results

Habit 5: Seek First to Understand, Then to be Understood

Communication is the most important skill in life. "Seek first to understand" involves a very deep shift in paradigm. We typically seek first to be understood. Most people do not listen with the intent to understand; they listen with the intent to reply. They're either speaking or preparing to speak. They're filtering everything through their own paradigms, reading their autobiography into the other people's lives.

When another speaks we're usually listening at one of 4 levels:

1) Ignoring - not really listening at all

2) Pretending - "yeah, "uh-huh", "right"

3) Selective listening - hearing only parts

4) Attentive listening - focusing and paying attention to the words

But few people practice the 5th level - Empathic Listening. This form of listening gets inside another person's frame of reference. They see the world the way they see it. They understand their paradigm and how they feel.

Next to physical survival, the greatest need of a human being is psychological survival; to be understood, to be validated, to be appreciated.

Because we listen autobiographically, we tend to respond in one of four ways:

1) We evaluate: we agree or disagree

2) We probe: ask questions from our own frame of reference

3) We advise: give counsel based on our experience

4) We interpret: try to figure people out, explain their motives, based on our own paradigms

Some people believe empathic listening takes too much time. But it really is short term investment for long term gain. Know how to be understood is the other half of Habit 5 and is equally critical in reaching Win/Win solutions.

To best be understood, one must possess:

1) Ethos: personal credibility, integrity, competence. Much of this comes from a character ethic and your personal mission statement

2) Pathos: the empathic side, the feeling, the emotional alignment with the other person's communication.

3) Logos: the logic, the reasoning part of the presentation

Habit 5 is powerful because it is found right in the middle of your Circle of Influence.

Habit 6: Synergize

Synergy is the essence of principle-centered leadership. It catalyzes, unifies, and unleashes the greatest power within people. Simply defined the whole is greater than the sum of its parts, 1+1= 3, or more.

Most people can recall at least one synergistic event in their lives that had a profound effect, i.e. team spirit, an emergency... To many, such events seem unusual, out of character, even miraculous. But this is not so. These things can be produced regularly, consistently, almost daily in people's lives. But it requires enormous personal security and openness, and a spirit of adventure.

One can even be synergistic with one's self. When a person has access to both the intuitive, creative, and visual right brain and the analytical, logical, verbal left brain, then the whole brain is working. There is psychic energy taking place in one's own head. The result is a logical AND emotional response.

Synergy requires trust, openness, a Win/Win attitude, and the ability to value the differences.

Habit 7: Sharpen the Saw

Habit 7 is personal Production Capability (PC). It's preserving and enhancing the greatest asset you have - you! It's renewing the 4 dimensions of your nature:

1) The physical dimension: eating the right food, getting sufficient rest and relaxation, and exercising. This is a high leverage, Quadrant II activity that most of us don't do consistently because it's not urgent.

2) The spiritual dimension: your core, your center, your commitment to your value system. It draws on the sources that inspire and uplift you and is very private. Some may choose religion or meditation. Some may find it in nature away from the noise and commotion of the city and unifying with the harmony and rhythm of the earth.

3) The mental dimension: most of us experienced out mental development and study discipline through a formal education. But once we graduated from school we let our minds atrophy. Surveys show that a television is on in most homes 35-45 hours per week!

These three dimensions represent the "Daily Private Victory". One hour per day will affect every decision and relationship. It will greatly improve every other hour of the day, including sleep, and it will help you handle all challenges.

4) The Social Emotional Dimension: while the physical, spiritual and mental dimensions are closely related to Habits 1,2,3 - centered on the principles of personal vision, leadership and management, the Social/Emotional dimension focuses on Habits 4, 5, and 6, the principles of interpersonal leadership, empathic communication, and creative cooperation. If our personal security comes from sources within ourselves, then we have the strength to practice the habits of Public Victory.

The 4 Dimensions Organizational Equivalents

1) Physical: expressed in economic terms

2) Mental: recognition, development, and use of talent

3) Social: human relations and how people are treated

4) Spiritual: finding meaning through purpose or contribution and through organizational integrity

If all 4 dimensions are not addressed, the organization will face problems in the form of collective resistance, adversarialism, excessive turnover and other deep cultural problems.

Freee Ebook to Download for Blogging

noreply@blogger.com (historicman) — Wed, 22 Jun 2011 23:50:00 -0700

There is a new ebook on the market about making money using free blogs online and is fast climbing up the popularity ranks. The tagline for this ebook is "Make Mounds of Money Blogging Part-Time", and the author apparently makes $9000 a month for one affiliate product. So the question is whether or not "The Blogging Cash Machine", by Danny Warner, actually makes good on its promises. As a guy who has made a full-time income from exclusively free methods, I decided to investigate.

Part 1: Keyword Research and Selecting your Niche Market

A very thorough introduction to the bread-and-butter of founding a successful blog, accessible enough for even the greenest of newbie’s to understand. Warner even explains what a keyword actually is, before telling you exactly how to find good keywords and providing a formula on how to assess whether or not they will be profitable. An excellent start and very reassuring to those who consider themselves technologically-challenged.

Part 2: Setting up your Blog

Once again, Warner doesn't spare the detail. He tells you exactly what blogs are, compares the different blog platforms (such as Blogger and Wordpress), and then goes into rich detail about how to effectively set them up. This is as step-by-step as it gets, but without compromising on the little tips and tricks that you can make on your blog's settings to boost your profit margin.

Part 3: Monetizing your Blog

This section is one of the highlights of the ebook. As we have now come to expect, Warner starts off by simply explaining what methods are available to make money from your blog, ensuring no reader is left behind. Then he walks you step-by-step on how to add affiliate links and Google Adsense. Now this is really standout, because Warner uses colorful diagrams to show us exactly where the Adsense should be placed and, thankfully, tells us exactly where to cut and paste our code in order to achieve maximum profitability. This gives you incredible versatility, and it is utterly paint-by-numbers; read the instructions and apply as directed.

Part 4: Generating Content for your Blog

This section covers the information to put in your blog. Warner provides some neat templates, so you should never be short of ideas on how to structure your content. It is also explained how to use PLR articles, outsourcing articles, using forums and many other methods. On top of all of that, there is a guide on how to optimize your content to provide good rankings for your posts.

Part 5: Search Engine Optimization (SEO) for your Blog

Now we get to the juicy bit. "The Blogging Cash Machine" makes it incredibly simple to quickly set up a blog, add content and monetize it. But that won't be worth squat if you can't drive traffic to your site. This is where SEO comes in, and Warner doesn't even spare the kitchen sink. You'll learn about - and how to - add back links, anchor text, blog submission, directory listing, articles, press releases and forums. And as though it isn't enough to give complete step-by-step guides to all of these methods, you also get relative lists of resources so you know exactly where to do your submitting and general SEO.

Part 6: Advanced SEO Strategies that will take you to the Top of the Search Engines

The final chapter deals with very dynamic techniques to boost your blog from mediocrity to dominating the search engines. I can't give away too much about what Warner writes here for obvious reasons, but they are certainly very viable methods he has written about.

Although it is a reasonably streamlined ebook that won't take you more than an hour to finish, it is packed with juicy strategies from start to finish. And it is written in an entirely newbie-friendly way that doesn't isolate more experienced marketers.

Future of Internet Marketing

noreply@blogger.com (historicman) — Wed, 22 Jun 2011 23:38:00 -0700

The author of "The Long Tail" is editor in chief of Wired magazine, a publication that has been observing (and sometimes hyping) the transformative energy of new media.

In this book, he details the shift from a hit-driven entertainment and media industry into one in which hits lose in importance, while much of the profit lies in selling the hundreds of thousands of non-hit titles. A crucial insight came when the CEO of a "digital jukebox" company asked him to estimate what percentage of the 10,000 albums available on the jukeboxes sold at least one track per quarter. Anderson guessed 50 percent, but was off by a wide margin, as the answer was 98 percent.

The author then started investigating sales of companies such the music service Rhapsody, DVD rental service Netflix and online retailer Amazon. What he found was that while traditional retailers (think in this case Tower Records, Blockbuster and Waldenbooks) make most of their profits through a relatively small number of hits out of a restricted number of offerings, these new companies can expand their range of items enormously (at extremely low cost to them) and make substantial profits in the "long tail" of non-hit items that would not be profitable for brick-and-mortar stores.

Anderson develops the concept into the central metaphor of a society characterized by abundance of content, rather than by scarcity (as when people had only a few TV stations and whatever local record or book stores offered). Instead of a hit-driven culture, we are moving into a niche-driven one, in which online aggregators (Amazon, eBay, iTunes, etc.) and filters (Google, blogs, etc) offer an unprecedented variety of niche markets for almost any conceivable taste.

Marketing vs. Travel and Tourism

noreply@blogger.com (historicman) — Sun, 19 Jun 2011 13:54:00 -0700

One of the smartest things a city can do is to invite people to come and spend money. It helps if there is a compelling reason such as world class museums, historical cultural attractions, excellent weather, great food, great accommodations, corporate meeting facilities, and/or recreational stuff to do. But that's just a start, as there needs to be a cohesive plan, and each business needs to grab onto that theme and create marketing and branding synergy.

Ah yes, easier said than done, and anyone in this sector knows it, but that doesn't make it impossible. As a retired franchisor who has set up franchisees servicing customers in 400 cities and 23-states, I've seen it done right, and yes, I've also seen what happens when it is done wrong. Today, I am retired in a region with 150 golf courses, and visitors from around the world come to spend their various currencies in our city. "Excellent indeed," I say, but it didn't happen by accident.

If you run a business in the hospitality industry, or the travel or tourism industry, then there is a very good book that I'd like to recommend to you about marketing. It is a book that I own in my personal business library, and one you should too if you are serious. The name of the book is-"Marketing in Travel and Tourism" by Victor T.C. Middleton with Jackie Clarke, Butterworth and Heinemann a Division of Reed Publishers.

It is important to learn the five main sectors which surround the travel and tourism industry. You will begin to understand issues with supply and demand, and how you can affect buying behavior, referrals, and introduce branding to your area. You will learn how to mathematically calculate the amount of sales and tax revenue garnered from various businesses within the tourism industry in your region. Becoming a destination spot is not easy, but it is possible.

A coordinated effort is needed between airlines, hotels, taxicabs, and major attractions. The book also explains how to create an economic development association which brings money into your area. And, then how to reinvest some of that money to create an ongoing synergy and get your region firing on all cylinders. Right now with the economic conditions the way they are, I can't think of a better book for the economic tourist committee members to read. This is why am recommending this book to you right now, and hope you'll be found it helpful.

Britain Travel Guide

noreply@blogger.com (historicman) — Sun, 19 Jun 2011 13:41:00 -0700

Eyewitness guides are characterized by their colour, which differentiates them from most other travel guides. Maps, photos and diagrams light up the pages and bring to life what can be experienced when travelling. Information in other guides may be more precise, detailed and comprehensive, but readers who enjoy Eye Witness Guides do so because visually they are stimulated and excited by what they see on the pages.

Great Britain - An Eye Witness Travel Guide begins with an introduction containing maps, information about society, politics, culture and the arts, and history. To whet the appetite further, the history of gardens, stately homes, heraldry and the aristocracy, rural architecture, the countryside, walkers' Britain, the traditional British Pub and British Food, are all colorfully explained and illustrated so that the reader is provided with an idea of what is essentially British.

The remainder of the book is divided into a sections related firstly to London and then to Southeast England, The West Country, The Midlands, the North Country, Wales and Scotland. Each section is comprehensively covered, and significant cities for example Bath, Oxford, Glasgow and many, many others, are given special attention. Every so often the reader will come across a snippet of information such as Beatrix Potter and the Lake District, punting on the Cam in Cambridge, the stained Glass of York Minster, building with Cotswold Stone, the Dissolution of the Monasteries, the Edinburgh Festival and the Bronte Sisters which serves to put these things into their geographical context.

Information about major streets, usually shown as a conventional map, frequently appears in Eye Witness Guides as an overhead drawing often in 3D. Noteworthy buildings such as Blenheim Palace are presented in the same way. It is much easier to visualize than a conventional map or plan. And while this may reduce the accuracy of the information provided, it is more useful for the tourist who is probably after impressions rather than detail. And if detail is required other avenues to obtain it can readily be sourced.

Useful chapters at the end of the book cover accommodation, where to eat and practical information such as business hours, the National Trust, hospitals, communications, and currency. And even most of these pages, which in most travel guides are usually only consulted for information, are in colour with drawings and photos and consequently a real pleasure to read. There is a section giving travel information, air, rail, car, coach and on the canals. The index is comprehensive and useful.

Altogether, Great Britain - An Eye Witness Guides is a really visually attractive book that is a pleasure to read. It can be used to prepare and excite the traveler, but it also serves to as charming reminder of past holidays.

Have Some Great Pet Care Book

noreply@blogger.com (historicman) — Thu, 16 Jun 2011 11:40:00 -0700

Book-1: Pets and the Planet: A Practical Guide to Sustainable Pet Care Written by Carol Frischmann

This guide offers you all the facts you'll need to value sustainability in the framework of pet parenting and equips you with the knowledge to choose wisely for you, your pet, as well as the environment. It outlines the environmental costs of pet ownership and offers a variety of environmental friendly choices for every family with pets, such as selecting pet food; purchasing pet toys (who knew?) and equipment; getting rid of your pet's waste and steering clear of household toxins. Carefully researched and crammed with practical guidelines for starting "green" pet practices, "Pets and the Planet" is an effective map for sustainable parenting for your pet.

Wiley Publishing

Book-2: Goodbye, Friend: Healing Wisdom for Anyone Who Has Ever Lost a Pet written by Gary Kowalski

Any one who may have lost their pet will find comfort in author Gary Kowalski's sweet supportive book. Goodbye, Friend. The author is the minister of Burlington Vermont's Unitarian Universalist church. Upon completion of this book, his elderly dog, Chinook, died. Kowalski's new book is full of supportive and empathetic counsel to help you through the loss of your pet. He includes ceremonies, rituals and spiritual guidance. There are precious readings and poems that offer solace. The author's tone is a comforting one, not unexpected for a pastor whose profession it is to be thoughtful and wise. The book also talks about animals' sadness when they lose someone close to them or another family pet who may have been their buddy for a long time. He explains the various life spans of animals; their growth, needs and illnesses. They are very similar to our own: the need to eat healthy, to exercise daily, to sleep soundly, to enjoy life, to savor companions and to anticipate routine. Kowalski shares advice on nurture yourself after the death of a cherished pet and how important honesty is when speaking with your children about this transition. Kowalski's guide is very therapeutic support when an excellent friend dies, but also impresses his key point: that our pets are essential and they are worthy of our respect and nurturance. Kowalski offers the perfect path to grieving the loss of your pet and holding them in high esteem for eternity.

Book-3: Dr. Pitcairn's New Complete Guide to Natural Health for Dogs and Cats written by Richard H. Pitcairn, D.V.M

In excess of 400,000 copies of this cherished classic have been purchased ever since its initial publication over two decades previously. The guide that's the conclusive manual for an all natural diet and lifestyle for cats and dogs has been totally updated and edited for the very first time in nine years. Written using the tenderness and empathy which have earned them a nationwide fan base, Richard H. Pitcairn, DVM along with his wife, Susan Hubble Pitcairn, considered authorities in chemical-free nourishment and natural treatment for pets, demonstrate how cat and dog lovers the way to supply the most beneficial friendship and ongoing care and attention. The book now includes ecological factors, such as contaminants equally within the home and outside, in addition to current hot-button subjects, including Mad Cow disease, Lyme disease, plus the West Nile virus. They have modernized lots of quality recipes for scrumptious and healthy pet food and goodies. Along with helpful tips for dealing with emergencies and an exhaustive Quick Reference segment, they provide distinct guidelines for avoiding, diagnosing, and the treatment of an array of pet diseases and conditions with unique focus on homeopathic, herbal, and nutritional treatments.

Anyone who is active in their own health management through healthy nutrition and exercise will find that Dr. Pitcarin and his wife support that lifestyle for your pet as well. If you want your pets to be healthy, Dr. Pitcarin's New Complete Guide to Natural Health for Dogs and Cats is the best read for you.

Great Book for Dog Training

noreply@blogger.com (historicman) — Thu, 16 Jun 2011 11:26:00 -0700

Have you bought a new puppy and don't quite know how to go about potty training him? Does your dog constantly embarrass you with his insistence on smelling the crotch of everyone who comes through your front door? Is your dog exhibiting aggressive behaviour to the point of nipping at children? If you answered yes to any of the above questions, then you just might be in need of a dog training boot camp manual - something that will guide you on what to do with your dog and prevent you from going totally crazy.

Wouldn't it be nice to have your dog sitting calmly by your side when you open the door to greet a guest? Wouldn't it be wonderful to be able to take your dog out for a walk without having to constantly tug on his leash in order to prevent him from chasing after children and other animals? Wouldn't life be perfect if your dog would heel, stay, and sit every time you tell him to and simply await your command rather than insist on what he wants to do? A dog training boot camp manual will certainly help you achieve these things and more.

Let's take a look at one such manual - an eBook entitled "Dog Owner Boot Camp." Is this eBook the dog training boot camp manual that will solve your dog problems? Let's find out. The book's author claims that this manual promotes a dog training system that is designed for dog owners who have very little or no training experience at all. She also says that the eBook will make you realize that dog training can be very simple and that it can be fun for both you and your dog.

Dr. Steve Kornfeld, a world-renowned veterinarian with over 14 years of experience, says that this dog training boot camp eBook has effectively captured the real essence of owning, training, and raising a dog. In fact, Dr. Kornfeld says that the book is remarkable for its discussion on the special relationship between dog and owner in a manner that makes it seem almost as if it was written by a dog!

The eBook uses easily understood step-by-step instructions that guide you through the entire process of becoming a responsible dog owner. It begins with the process of finding the right breed of dog and then guides you through the intricacies of each stage of your dog's life. It helps you understand why your dog behaves the way he does and tells you how best to handle a specific behaviour. And because caring for a dog requires more than just obedience training, the book also delves into the subject of grooming.

The eBook is not only very comprehensive; it is made even more remarkable by the fact that the words it contains are spoken right from the heart of a dog owner who knows exactly what she is talking about. If dogs were sold with a dog training boot camp manual, then this book would probably be the manual of choice.

Book Review-The Little Mornings

noreply@blogger.com (historicman) — Thu, 9 Jun 2011 05:30:00 -0700

The Little Mornings, by C M Albrecht is a murder mystery with 262 absolutely absorbing pages. We have three main characters here - the grandfather, an alcoholic of questionable character, a slightly off balance woman (Angie) and an impressionable young man (Darcy) who becomes mixed up in a whirlwind of events. Murder, thievery and lies keep the unsteady relationship between Darcy and Angie on edge. Keeping a secret is no easy task, especially when someone else pops into the scene with inside knowledge to the truth. Darcy, unable to control the events, becomes another person entirely from the one we knew in the first few pages of the book.

Grandfather's description of a writer's methods to reach their creative dreams had me laughing out loud - because it was so true. As were the frustrated, aspiring writers and the over worked publishers. I felt the book was very realistic in this regard.

I loved the first few paragraphs - they really pulled me in. I kept hearing Humphry Bogart's voice in my head narrating the story as I read along. I sat on the edge of an uncomfortable plastic chair 2 days ago and opened the first page to begin reviewing The Little Mornings. I meant to take only a ten-minute break from my day to enjoy the sunshine. The next thing I knew, my leg and butt-cheek were both completely numb and lifeless... and I was on page 50! So be warned, readers, this book may very well take you out of commission for a few days. I could not wait to get back to it every minute I had to spare!

Amazing Thriller Book Review

noreply@blogger.com (historicman) — Thu, 9 Jun 2011 05:12:00 -0700

Carol Bennett writes a stunning mystery-thriller. Her chilling entrance is one I have encountered only rarely in a book. Here, we have a victim who looks like he had been swarmed by bees in the middle of a storm, but the reader is lead to believe that it was something much more ominous and that it is about to get worse.

There are many characters in the tale, but a group of teenagers that are about to graduate from high school (Mike, Jack, Jared, Jenny, Tracy, Dana, Alan) and Sheriff Nate are the main characters. The lead character, Mike, is more like a father figure for the group in that he concerns himself with the needs of his friends and becomes a compassionate leader to his community during an emergency. His girlfriend Dana, as a sweet and supportive character, gives him strength. Shy, Jenny who is blooming into a beautiful girl has a crush on Mike's friend Jack, which sends Alan into a jealous frenzy. Though James and Tracy are dating, their buddy Jared holds a secret fondness for Tracy.

Carol did a wonderful job in portraying the characters in Unspoken Dreams. I was so involved in the story that by the time Mike finally broke down in grief for his friends' death, I had tears running down my cheeks - this was less than 2 dozen pages into the book! Mike's humorous relationship with his parents had me laughing aloud. And I felt real pity for Alan's situation.

An excellent read for those who love a good thriller with a solid rate of tension throughout the book.

Understand Your Sexual Life

noreply@blogger.com (historicman) — Sun, 5 Jun 2011 07:26:00 -0700

Much has been written about sexuality as well as theories have been formed about it. Most people seem to be curious about sexuality and want to explore the mysteries that are attached. However, not much has been revealed about the "why" certain behaviors occur until Dr. Aline Zoldbrod published her book "Sex Smart: How Your Childhood Shaped Your Sexual Life and What to do About it."

Zoldbrod explores the multidimensional nature of human sexuality by presenting information through a cognitive base as well as emphasizing skills in communication and self-awareness. She covers sexuality from biological, moral, psychological, and social perspectives with research, client experiences, and theory.

According to Zoldbrod, what is considered as "normal" sexual behavior is typically based on observations made of family and society. She explains that how we are treated or what parameters are set upon us during our childhood reflects on sexual development. Touch, trust, feeling good about the body as well as oneself is just of the few dynamics that shape the attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors.

"Sex Smart" gives the reader the opportunity to analyze, reflect, and come to terms with their own sexuality and behaviors through explanation and reading vignettes about experiences of others. After each chapter the reader can do exercises and self-assessments to become aware of their own issues and development. "Sex Smart" also gives the opportunity to examine the factors and decisions one has made in the past, and find ways to explore and replace them with new healthy patterns by re-writing the scripts brought down through the generations.

Although I highly recommend this book for every reader, it is necessary to note the importance of having a therapist at hand to discuss issues as they come during the reading and exercises of "Sex Smart." This is not a book to skim through in a day, nor is it a book to take lightly. It is a book that evokes much inner thought and exploration of behaviors and attitudes that have been framed within the identity of the reader.

Book Review-Fragments of Reality

noreply@blogger.com (historicman) — Sun, 5 Jun 2011 07:03:00 -0700

"Fragments of Reality" is a deep book of fragmented thoughts, random memories, and moments of questions racing through this philosophical mix and match prose. Poetry and essays grace the pages to make the reader stop and consider so many issues of life, some often not even an average thought of a typical mind, yet the author still somehow makes you stop and think about them.

Far from your average book, "Fragments of Reality" brings you to the depths of the author's soul and makes you reach into the depths of your own. Poems of love, beauty, grace and sadness are amongst essays that speak of the meaning of life and the simple idea of being. Simplicity often overcomes complex issues, making the reader understand with few written words but so intense you must stop to ponder.

This book would be a wonderful gift to that deep thinker in your life. Perhaps a graduation gift to someone special who may want to begin their journey in life with a deep, meaningful start. Simply not your average book, it's a deep, philosophical journey that takes you on a trip you will always remember. I guarantee you will walk away with thoughts deeper than you ever have reached before.

Books for Young Adults

noreply@blogger.com (historicman) — Tue, 24 May 2011 23:28:00 -0700

It's important for teenagers to read books. There are many books for young adult readers. Sometimes teens get so busy with school, sports, work, and their social lives that they do not cut out time for themselves. Reading can be that time, a time to center one's self, explore new places, learn about new people, go on an exciting adventure, and relax. Teenagers are emotional by nature and development and need time to just chill (as they say). Chilling with friends is very stimulating while relaxing and reading can be calming. Thoughts can settle in and a young person can find a balance point in his or her mind. Reading is important for those reasons alone. Television is also too stimulating to provide that quiet time for teenagers. Any stressed out adult will tell you that they need time to relax but can't find it. Teaching teenagers early to take care of themselves, take a break, center and relax is something that we should be teaching and modeling for them from an early age. Books for young adult readers can help them relax and become readers.

Reading is also quite educational, especially if the reading is beyond the books that teenagers are supposed to read in school. Teenagers love to find an author that they like; it makes selecting books for young adult readers easier. They can to the library or book store and find something they know will entertain them. Boys and girls both like J.K. Rowling. Many teenage girls love Sarah Dessen, Sophie Kinsella, Laurie Halse Anderson, Stephanie Meyers, Ann Brashares, Lisi Harrison, and Yvonne Collins while boys seem to prefer John Flanagan, Eoin Colfer, Cornelia Funke, Christopher Paolini, James Patterson and Michael Lupica. If you can get your teen interested in a book for young adult readers by one of these amazing writers or others, then they may become/remain lifelong readers.

Usually kids who enjoyed reading in elementary school will continue throughout middle and high school. Sometimes however the social elements of high school take over and they stop reading. It is a shame to stop reading when one's frontal lobes are not fully connected yet, which they aren't until the mid twenties according to research. Reading may help teens consider others before themselves just by opening themselves up to read others' experiences or finding themselves relating to a character. I don't know if that is proven anywhere, but I really believe it is true. It doesn't matter if teens read fiction or nonfiction as long as they are reading.

Reading expands one's knowledge. Nothing you read can be unread after you've read it. Intelligent books change the reader. Even though you have read a book once doesn't mean you shouldn't reread it. There are some books in which you find new meaning or you gain a new understanding of each time you reread them. Younger children like to reread their favorite books all the time. That practice however does not need to end when a child becomes a teenager. Rereading books is a great practice especially books for young adult readers. Sometimes we miss symbols and hidden meanings, and sometimes we just want to visit old friends. Visit an old friend at the library today!

Tips to Find Best Career

noreply@blogger.com (historicman) — Sun, 22 May 2011 23:22:00 -0700

An activity undertaken with a missionary spirit, backed by thorough research, by a person who is eminently qualified for the task, and executed with professional competence, cannot fail to achieve its objectives. Devajit Bhuyan has authored a book, which is better described as a digest, in which he has meticulously explored and mapped the cavernous paths of the world of careers, which exist today.

The book is outstanding in that though the title is an innocuous - "Multiple Career Choices," and like many others of its kind, could be a matter-of-fact statement of uninspiring facts and figures, the author has offered a fascinating guided tour of the complex world which every young person must undertake, if he or she wishes to enter a profession or career, best suited to the aptitude, circumstances, aspirations, and capabilities which are unique to every individual.

"While choosing a career one must give due importance to personal values and opts for a profession that is more in sync with these. An overemphasis on money can only lead to short-term gains but long-term unhappiness with the extra money being spent on visiting doctors and psychiatrists. Therefore think wisely before opting for a career."Devajit Bhuyan is imbued with the sense of concern exhibited by a parent, whose offspring is about to embark on the most important aspect of life - the choice of a career, which will enable the youngster to live a happy, healthy, profitable, and rewarding life, usefully employing the talents nature has gifted, and the education that has been provided.

He stresses the importance of having a mission, an aim, and a goal. A career should be by choice, not by chance, with awareness of one's SWOT Analysis - Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats.

The author details nine career drivers - Material Rewards, Power and Influence, Search for Meaning, Expertise, Creativity, Affiliation, Autonomy, Security, and Status.

He emphasizes the value of Benchmarking - finding and implementing the best practices, instead of reinventing the wheel and setting one's own standards. The book details the best jobs of the 21st century, the changes in career preferences over the decades, the top 20 challenging jobs, and the factors to be kept in mind while choosing a career, e.g., Intelligence, Personality, Interest, Aptitudes, Physique, Gender, and Age.

It lists hundreds of career options available, the courses of education needed for them, the Colleges, Universities, Deemed Universities, and other institutions with details including the websites, Specialized Courses, Diploma Courses, Degree and Post Degree courses, and various branches of Engineering, Examinations and Tests.

It clarifies through a Question and Answer section, many needed facts about professions.

Professions gaining in importance, Optical Physics, Robotics, Micro Technology, Ocean Engineering, Nanotechnology, Safety Engineering, Financial Engineering, etc. are among those described.

Educational Consultants and Recruiting Agents, the criteria on how to choose a Computer Institute, and Registering for Admission Tests, are among the wealth of chapters in the book.

If your children or wards are entering the upper stage of secondary education, it is time for you to acquire the knowledge offered in this book. If they are already at the stage of having to choose a career, it is still not too late to "look before they leap."

It is better to spend time and efforts studying the vocational landscape, admirably portrayed in "Multiple Career Choices," than having our youngsters undergo a lifetime of regret and frustration.

How to Catch Success

noreply@blogger.com (historicman) — Fri, 20 May 2011 23:44:00 -0700

"Kick Start Your Success" is a book that lives up to its name. It is truly a way for a person to "kick start" his or her own success, whether it be personal or professional. In this small volume, the author provides the reader with a clear, concise outline of four basic steps to help turn goals into a reality. At the end of each step, the author provides a simple exercise for the reader to complete, which helps cement the concept in that chapter. These exercises are easy to follow, and help bring a clearer understanding of the principles in the book.

The first step really shows how important it is to recognize how your goal will help others, rather than just how it will help you. Also, this chapter points out the necessity of flexibility. We have to be willing to change and adjust our goals as we become closer to achieving them, and as our circumstances may change. Next, you are shown how important wording of a goal is. By showing the impact this goal will have on others in clear terms, it is easier for others to help you attain that goal. In the third step, the power of positive speaking is demonstrated.

The author describes a "success script" as an essential tool in working toward a goal. In speaking positively, you are more able to attract success. Lastly, the author talks about taking action each and every day in order to make goals and dreams a reality. By putting these four steps into practice, and making them part of daily life, it is possible to achieve any goal a person may set.

Kick Start Your Success may be a slim volume, but it supports the age-old adage "Good things come in small packages". There is not a single extraneous word in this book. The writing is clear and concise, and very easy to read. It is written in a friendly manner, and helps take the intimidating thought of an unattainable goal and helps break it down into small, manageable steps. Mr. Wolter has provided a wonderful reference to anyone who has great ideas, but a hard time making them a reality.

Get Wealth by Relaxing?

noreply@blogger.com (historicman) — Thu, 19 May 2011 05:18:00 -0700

Relax Into Wealth, How to Get More by Doing Less, just mentioning the title of this book one can only smile and think of a calm and leisure experience of enjoying life while allowing the abundant wealth available to arrive at his or her door.

Combine Alan Cohen's compelling title with the cover art of a beautiful beach view with a hammock in which to sit while overlooking a beautiful blue ocean with a white sand beach and I can certainly tell you, I was curious enough to buy!

My excitement and anticipation was great as I read through the entire book enjoying Alan's stories and writing and ideas and completely ignored the workbook-type questions at the end of each chapter. Like most readers, I was looking for the quick answer to my wealth dilemmas, reading and skimming while searching for the answer to wealth and prosperity!

Did I find the quick answer?

Like most important things in life. No. I did not; yet I did find and learn some much more important personal lessons. Like all good lessons, lessons I didn't even realize I needed to learn - for me life-changing lessons.

I have to say, hands down that I found Alan Cohen's book Relax Into Wealth, the best book I have ever read on the subject of money. I love this book and let me tell you why:

1. The book is written very personally. I have not read any other books by Alan Cohen to know if this is just his writing style but there is something very comforting about reading a book about wealth and finances and money that is written as personally as this book. Something about his writing is very trusting and very, very real.

2. The stories and ideas and chapter activities are very thought provoking in a change your mind sort of way - a way that made me think about money very, very differently and it is known that if you want to change your life, you have to change your life and if you want to change your life, you have to change your thinking. Honestly, my thinking and my life has been changed by reading this book. Those are the best sort of books in my book.

3. As printed on the back cover "Nothing pays like . . . being yourself. Well, not only did my thinking change but I really made some major life career/financial decisions while reading this book. One of the biggest surprises that I got out of this read was that I really got clear about my purpose in my life and it has been with me ever since reading the book. I know what I want to do with me to build my wealth.

4. The book has great short chapters with workbook questions at end of each chapter. This style of writing makes the lessons very interactive and I found that I remember the teachings and ideas about dealing with money because of how it is written in an interactive style as I am sure the writer intended.

In summary, this book is a wonderful read for anyone desiring to know and acquire wealth in their lives. It's not a formula or a technique but it does inspire some very interesting personal ideas which can lead you to your financial destiny.

Book Review-Automatic Millionaire

noreply@blogger.com (historicman) — Tue, 17 May 2011 23:12:00 -0700

The Automatic Millionaire is a no.1 bestseller, and a quick read by David Bach. It's a good introduction to some solid financial principles. Here is my review of David Bach's "The Automatic Millionaire":

The Latte Factor

You may have heard this term, coined by Bach in this book. The basic principle is that we all have a "latte factor" or money that we fritter away. Bach's recommendation is that this because the few dollars a day that is put into a retirement account for your future. With charts showing different dollar amounts, with different interest earnings, for different lengths of time are compelling. Again, great news if you are young. But, your retirement account will be pretty meager if you start in your 50s by saving a few dollars a day.

Pay Yourself First

Most of us have a bad habit of spending whatever comes in. If you wait until everything else is paid for before putting aside money for yourself, it's unlikely that you ever will. As with any successful savings plan, Bach recommends you take the money for your retirement account out first - before you spend money on anything else.

Automation

This is another smart tip. If you automate the process, you will be less likely to stop saving, or skip a month because something else came up. Bach recommends that you take advantage of an automatic deposit program if your company offers one. Otherwise, he recommends you set up on automatic withdrawal with the retirement fund company or an automatic payment plan with your bank.

Save Up for a Rainy Day

This is often called an emergency fund. Again, Bach recommends automating this savings plan to build up a savings account equal to at least 3 to 6 months of your expenses although he says that you should save more if that's what it takes to make you feel comfortable.

Home Ownership

Everyone knows (or should know) that you want to buy instead of rent, and you want to own your home outright in less than the standard 30-year mortgage. In keeping with the "automatic" theme, Bach recommends arranging with your mortgage company to make payments every two weeks instead of monthly. In doing so, you will cut about 10 years off of your mortgage - and tens of thousands in interest payments.

Becoming Debt Free

If you are in debt, Bach recommends automating the payment process to get out of debt. The logic here is that if it's automated, you won't miss any payments which would result in late fees and possibly higher interest fees. He recommends only borrowing to buy something that will appreciate in value (like a home), and to pay cash for everything else. He recommends renegotiating your interest rates, consolidating your credit cards, and devoting ½ of your "pay yourself first" money to paying off your debts. I was surprised that he didn't mention the debt snowball method here, as that seems to be the most effective way to eliminate debt in the shortest possible time.

Affiliate Maraketing Common Mistakes

noreply@blogger.com (historicman) — Sun, 15 May 2011 23:23:00 -0700

In his ebook "Affiliate Mistakes Special Report," Chuck McCullough teaches you how to spot and avoid or correct ten simple, yet costly errors that can seriously damage your efforts to promote affiliate programs successfully. Instead of writing about the broad based generalities of affiliate marketing, Chuck takes you by the hand and teaches you why most affiliates never make a dime in commission. Then using a detailed and systematic approach, he provides you with an effective, easy to implement solution to correct these mistakes.

The ebook prints out to about 151 pages and although some of the information may seem pretty basic to some advanced affiliate marketers, it does cover in detail how to avoid the mistakes that 95% of all affiliate marketers are making. Most of this ebook delivers rock solid information that both beginning and intermediate affiliate marketers can put to use.

Chuck McCullough is the owner of AffiliateMatch.com one of the most visited affiliate program directories on the internet today. Chuck also owns FindSticky.com and publishes the Affiliate Informer Newsletter. Chucks' experience in affiliate marketing along with his unique perspective and boundless enthusiasm, make him very qualified to write a report on affiliate program marketing.

In "Affiliate Mistakes Special Report," Chuck doesn't just tell you what the most common affiliate mistakes are, he provides you with a very clear and concise solution to each of the mistakes. Chuck has divided up each of the mistakes into a chapter of its own.

In Chapter 1 on why you should actually own the products you promote and Chapter 2 about trying to promote too many programs at once were two dynamite chapters. They were 100% right on the mark. McCullough must not believe in appetizers, because he gives you the meat and potatoes right off the bat in this report!

Chapter 5 provides a glimpse into Chuck's "unconventional wisdom" which proved to me that Chuck was holding nothing back in this report. There is also an additional chapter on Advanced Topics and two other bonus chapters. One of the bonus chapters provides you with a nifty "secret".

Though Chuck's expertise in affiliate marketing is clearly evident throughout the book, I thought a section in chapter 7 about calculating the worth of a visitor when you are purchasing traffic from pay-per-click search engines was a bit confusing. However, after my 13 year old son explained it to me, it became crystal clear. So, maybe this initial confusion on my part should be attributed more to my mathematical dysfunction and less to Chuck's formula.

In his sales copy, McCullough asserts that anyone can learn the exact methods necessary to have a profitable online business. Now, I am the world's leading skeptic when a person says "anyone". However, after reading this report, I can see how he can actually back up this claim.

Chuck takes the high road in his report and tells you right up front that making money on the internet is hard work. He deserves high marks for his honesty. Making Money on the internet is certainly not as easy as some of the "gurus" would have you believe. What makes this report different in my opinion is that McCullough's approach is not only about affiliate marketing it's also about business building.

If you are interested in promoting affiliate programs and building your online business the correct way, then I give "Affiliate Mistakes Special Report" my highest recommendation and a 9 on a scale of 1 to 10.

How to Control Your Health

noreply@blogger.com (historicman) — Sat, 14 May 2011 22:41:00 -0700

In "Recapture Your Health," the authors have given the reader the power to take control of their own health, regardless of a specific diagnosis, financial standing or insurance issues. This book provides a proven, sure-fire way to take care of yourself in your own home, on your own terms. There is no need for a specific diagnosis, therefore making this book applicable to anyone who wants to take the necessary steps to better health. The steps required for better health cost nearly nothing, so there is no need for expensive supplements, special foods, or costly medical insurance.

This book is set up in an extremely easy to use format. While it is recommended to read the whole book to better help you implement this program, the authors have provided a number of "Quick Start Guides" on each subject so that the reader can implement the program immediately as he or she reads through the book.

Part I of the book discusses the individual segments of the "3LS Program". These segments are: "Skilled Relaxation", "Perfect Whole Foods Diet" and "Right Exercise". Each segment (or "leg" as referred to by the authors) is explained in detail, and is shown how to work with the other legs of the program. In addition to simply explaining each leg of the program, the authors also help show how to put them into practice in your everyday life.

In Part II, holistic healing takes center stage as the authors explain the general practice of holistic healing and how it pertains to the 3LS Program. This is also where the authors go into more detail on chronic illness and how the 3LS Program can help combat the symptoms of illness. The book goes into further detail on chronic illness, showing there is more than one way to implement the 3LS Program, including using it concurrently with traditional medicine. Finally, the authors go into the ways that health is about more than the physical aspect, but also of emotional well being.

Regardless of a diagnosis or specific health need, this book would be beneficial to anyone who is trying to get control of their overall health. While we all know that eating right, exercising and relaxing are important to our health, this book explains very clearly and easily how we can make these three things work together to make us healthier. It is always a big step to make major changes to your lifestyle, but in "Recapture Your Health," the authors guide you through it step by step, making it much easier to make the necessary changes.